Films round-up
Meg 2: The Trench - Jason Statham is back for more giant shark cheesiness, and it's pretty much what you'd expect. Obviously it's a sequel, so there have to be more giant sharks (as well as a giant octopus, because why not?). Cliff Curtis, Page Kennedy and Sophia Kai also return from the first installment, now joined by Wu Jing. There's a plot involving eco-warfare vs. big business, in which espionage and double-crosses abound, but it's a flimsy set-up really for a succession of stand-offs against the sharks, a rapidly flooding underwater base and the gleeful destruction of a tropical tourist paradise. It's big, not clever, and fine if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.
A Haunting in Venice - Ken Branagh returns for a third outing as Hercule Poirot, and I enjoyed this one more than the previous two. While it lacks the flashy setting of the Orient Express or a Nile riverboat, the low-key haunted house vibe makes for a more character-driven piece and the story is more interesting. Poirot is lured out of retirement in Venice by mystery writer Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) first to debunk a seance, then to investigate a supposed suicide. The supernatural undertones mean you can't always believe what you see. How close it all is to the Hallowe'en Party novel on which it's based, I couldn't tell you, but it's a well-constructed puzzle into which every piece slots without making me feel cheated, which is unusual for me with Agatha Christie.
The Creator - Rogue One er, creator, Gareth Edwards brings us this Earth-based sci-fi which feels very much in the same mould. It's the near future, some years after AI triggered a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles, kicking off a war between the anti-AI West and an AI-supporting Asian facton. Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) begins to question whether he's on the right side as his undercover work brings him closer to the daughter of an enemy leader (Gemma Chan) and a "super-weapon" which turns out to be an artificial child (newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles). More Blade Runner or Spielberg's A.I. than Terminator, it's not the most original or unpredictable of stories, but it is very well told. Strong performances, morally grey situations and topical subject matters all help, and it's not short on action either.
Dream Scenario - Nicolas Cage plays Paul Matthews, a nerdy professor who, for unknown reason, starts appearing in the dreams of people all over the world. Naturally, this makes him an instant media phenomenon, something he never would've wished for, and which quickly takes some darker turns as it affects Paul, his wife (Julianne Nicholson) and two daughters. Not as funny as the posters would have you believe, it's an odd little film - part black comedy, part serious commentary on the impact of pop culture fame on people's lives, part surreal fantasy. It's not completely successful as a film, but it is genuinely original, and that makes it both interesting and admirable.
The Marvels - A joyful return to form for the MCU. After several more ponderous films, this refreshingly tight 1h45m adventure sees Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) team up with Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) to defeat Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton). The plot is thin and full of silliness, but it's good silliness and it has real heart as well. Mainly it's an excuse to have these characters bounce off one another. The chemistry between the three heroes is great, and the way they find their powers entangled makes for some funny and inventive character moments and action scenes. Samuel L. Jackson gives us one of his most entertaining turns as Nick Fury too, but it's the inclusion of Kamala and her family from the Ms Marvel TV series that is this film's secret weapon.
A Haunting in Venice - Ken Branagh returns for a third outing as Hercule Poirot, and I enjoyed this one more than the previous two. While it lacks the flashy setting of the Orient Express or a Nile riverboat, the low-key haunted house vibe makes for a more character-driven piece and the story is more interesting. Poirot is lured out of retirement in Venice by mystery writer Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) first to debunk a seance, then to investigate a supposed suicide. The supernatural undertones mean you can't always believe what you see. How close it all is to the Hallowe'en Party novel on which it's based, I couldn't tell you, but it's a well-constructed puzzle into which every piece slots without making me feel cheated, which is unusual for me with Agatha Christie.
The Creator - Rogue One er, creator, Gareth Edwards brings us this Earth-based sci-fi which feels very much in the same mould. It's the near future, some years after AI triggered a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles, kicking off a war between the anti-AI West and an AI-supporting Asian facton. Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) begins to question whether he's on the right side as his undercover work brings him closer to the daughter of an enemy leader (Gemma Chan) and a "super-weapon" which turns out to be an artificial child (newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles). More Blade Runner or Spielberg's A.I. than Terminator, it's not the most original or unpredictable of stories, but it is very well told. Strong performances, morally grey situations and topical subject matters all help, and it's not short on action either.
Dream Scenario - Nicolas Cage plays Paul Matthews, a nerdy professor who, for unknown reason, starts appearing in the dreams of people all over the world. Naturally, this makes him an instant media phenomenon, something he never would've wished for, and which quickly takes some darker turns as it affects Paul, his wife (Julianne Nicholson) and two daughters. Not as funny as the posters would have you believe, it's an odd little film - part black comedy, part serious commentary on the impact of pop culture fame on people's lives, part surreal fantasy. It's not completely successful as a film, but it is genuinely original, and that makes it both interesting and admirable.
The Marvels - A joyful return to form for the MCU. After several more ponderous films, this refreshingly tight 1h45m adventure sees Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) team up with Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) to defeat Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton). The plot is thin and full of silliness, but it's good silliness and it has real heart as well. Mainly it's an excuse to have these characters bounce off one another. The chemistry between the three heroes is great, and the way they find their powers entangled makes for some funny and inventive character moments and action scenes. Samuel L. Jackson gives us one of his most entertaining turns as Nick Fury too, but it's the inclusion of Kamala and her family from the Ms Marvel TV series that is this film's secret weapon.