ALADDIN – A Movie Review

Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, David Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen Jordan A. Nash, Amir Boutrous

Creative Team: Songs by Alan Menken, Tim Rice, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul • Choreography by Leah Hill • Screenplay by John August & Guy Ritchie • Directed by Guy Ritchie / 2019

My Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)

The Plot: Aladdin is a poor young guy who falls in love with a beautiful girl, without knowing that she’s a princess. But he is pure of heart and so is forced by the bad guy, Jafar, to enter the cave where a magic lamp waits to be collected. Inside the lamp there’s a genie and Aladdin’s life is going to change.

The Movie: The 1992 Disney animated movie is one of the best of its genre, with an unforgettable Robin Williams giving life to the fabulous genius. Years later, the movie was adapted to the Broadway stage as an entertaining colourful musical. Now, it’s back to the movie screen in a real-life (well, almost) new version of the original.

Did we need this new version? Maybe not, both the original and the stage musical are better, but when the movie is as amusing and enjoyable as this one is, why not? Okay, Will Smith isn’t Robin Williams, but his genie is funny and he has a good time doing it. At his side, Mena  Massoud is a kind of silly Aladdin, always with an idiotic smile on his face, but he is a nice boy. Better is the beautiful Naomi Scott as the princess, strong and independent, her character is the big change on the story; she’s no longer a princess in need of rescue. But for me the big surprise is Nasim Pedrad as the humorous princess’ maid.

As for the movie, it’s a highly colourful one, a little bit loud and with plenty of action and magic to keep us entertained. It’s also a musical and this time around the big number isn’t “A Friend Like Me”, but “Prince Ali”. Practically, all the songs written for the original are here, but none of the ones written for the Broadway musical. There’s a new song, “Speechless”, but it’s forgettable and not up to the other ones.

I believe that, like me, fans of the original will have a good time seeing it, but keep in mind this isn’t as good as the that one and how could it be? So, keep an open mind and enjoy the magic of it!

MARY POPPINS RETURNS – A Movie Review

Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Joel Dawson, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Jeremy Swift, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, David Warner, Jim Norton, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury

Creative Team: Songs by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman • Choreography by Rob Marshall, John DeLuca & Joey Pizzi • Screenplay by David Magee • Based upon the novel by P. L. Travers • Directed by Rob Marshall

My Rate: 10 (from 1 to 10)

The Plot: Michael Banks, is now a widower with three little sons, on the brink of losing their home. But Mary Poppins is back to help him and his family 

The Movie: Since I saw the trailer for this movie that I’ve been very excited about it, but I never expected to fell in love with it in just a couple of minutes. But I fell head over heels for it! I know the original is an eternal classic and I enjoyed it very much, but I’ve to confess that, although it had better songs, I prefer this sequel… it’s very rare for that to happen to me!

I think director Rob Marshall did an amazing job recreating the magic of the original and giving it a modern pace that takes us from one scene to another with rhythm, imagination, humour and magic! He has a terrific sense of how a movie musical should work and took full advantage of the means at his disposition. Visually, the movie is amazing and the scenes between humans and cartoons are so real that we forget they are special effects.

It’s true, the characters sing and dance every time they get a chance and I love it! The sequence at the “Royal Doulton Music Hall” is fabulous and “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” is terrific and contagious. But there’s more, including a hilarious Meryl Streep giving us “Turning Turtle” and the great Angela Lansbury with the melodious “Nowhere to Go but Up”. The song “The Place Where Lost Things Go” is beautiful and “Can You Imagine That” magically funny.

In the title role, Emily Blunt is perfectly perfect, showing us what a great and versatile actress she is (early this year she was fighting monsters in A QUIET PLACE). I love Julie Andrews, but Blunt made the role her own. At her side, Broadway’s Lin-Manuel Miranda is the nice Jack, a lamp lighter who believes in magic. As Michael Banks, Ben Wishaw is like a lost big kid in need of a miracle and, has his sister, Emily Mortimer is sweet and always giggling. In a change of character, Colin Firth convinces as the bad guy and Julie Walters is funny as the Bank’s house maid. I already mentioned Meryl Streep, she’s at her best here, enjoying every minute of her performance and dear old Angela Lansbury is sweet as over. One last word for Dick Van Dyke, who played the characters of Bert and Mr. Dawes Senior in the original, and here plays, sings and dance as Mr. Dawes Jr. Having him in the cast was a nice touch by Marshall.

I can’t recommend this movie enough! The world is in terrible need of believing in the magic of Mary Poppins and the movie melted my heart, put a big smile on my soul and made me cry of happiness! I don’t know about you, but this is one of the best movies I saw this year! Don’t miss it and let Mary Poppins magic live in you; it’s good to be a child again!  

A STAR IS BORN – A Movie Review

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Dave Chapelle, Alec Baldwin, Marlon Williams, Brandi Carlile

Creative Team: Songs by Lukas Nelson, Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Mark Nilan Jr., Nick Monson, Aaron Raitiere, Paul Blair and others • Screenplay by Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters • Original Story by William A. Wellman & Robert Carson • Directed by Bradley Cooper

My Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)

The Plot: Jack is a famous singer/composer whose career, because of drugs and alcohol, seems to be downhill. One day he meets Ally, an aspiring singer/composer, on a drag club and falls in love with her. Seeing her potential as an artist he pushes her to the front of his concerts helping her to become a star on her own.

The Movie: This is the fourth time that this award-winning story serves as the basis for a movie. The first time was in 1937 as a melodrama starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March; in 1954 it became a musical with Judy Garland and James Mason and in the 70s a pop/rock musical starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. I believe you already know all about that and that this new adaptation of the story is closer to the 70s version than to the others. Before going on, I just want to tell that, not surprisingly, my favorite is the Judy Garland version.

I have to congratulate Bradley Cooper for such a strong debut in the director’s chair. He shows a steady hand and knows how to deliver emotional scenes without being too lame. He’s also excellent directing his cast and himself; in fact, he gives us one of the best performances of his career. And he also can sing!

As for Lady Gaga, she is a revelation as an actress and, at least for me, as an excellent singer. Although she reminded me of Streisand, she makes the role her own and deserves the reviews she’s having. For me, the only problem is that she didn’t convince me as the pop star her producer turns her into. She isn’t comfortable on that role (the number introduced by Alec Baldwin is terrible) and her character seemed to me too strong to let that happen.

The best thing are the concerts numbers on the first half of the movie, where “The Shallow” and “Always Remember Us This Way” become highly emotional moments that gave me chills up and down my spine. I also loved the scene on the drag club, where Lady Gaga delivers an exciting “La Vie en Rose”; she’s also terrific with the beautiful ballad “I’ll Never Love Again”.

Maybe I’m imagining things, but I think Cooper gives us a small tribute to Judy Garland when, almost at the beginning of the movie, Ally goes through an alley singing the kind of song Garland sung and a tribute to Streisand by having Ally being discovered in a gay club.

I don’t doubt the movie will be on the Oscar run and that its stars and songs have a strong chance to get deserved nominations. I enjoy seeing it, but I didn’t fall in love with it; the problem is the second half of the movie, when Ally become a star like any other pop star. Gaga is great, but Cooper is better!

 

 

MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN – A Movie Review

Cast: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies, Jeremy Irvine, Josh Dylan, Hugh Skinner, Andy Garcia, Dominic Cooper, Cher, Meryl Streep

Creative Team:Songs by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus • Screenplay by Ol Parker, Richard Curtis and Catherine Johnson • Choreography by Anthony Van Laast • Directed by Ol Parker

My Rate: 4 (from 1 to 10)

The Plot:Years after the events of the first movie, Sophie is rebuilding Donna’s hotel and having problems with her husband; she also finds out she’s pregnant. At the same time, we follow Donna’s young life and how she met Sophie´s three fathers. 

The Movie:It’s true, here we go again through Abba’s songbook and back to the dreamy Greek island where the action takes place. Unfortunately, this time around, the story is uninteresting, and everything seems kind of forceful.

I love musicals (theatre or movie) but I know that when the characters start to sing and dance it must look as natural as possible and that doesn’t happen here. I don’t believe I’m saying this, but there are too many musical numbers in here and, practically, all of them seem unnatural. There’s no magic here and there isn’t enough fun.

Take for example the university number (anyone remembers GOOD NEWS?), it’s completely out of place and what is Celia Imrie doing at the end of it? And what about the “Waterloo” number? As for Cher’s “Fernando”, it couldn’t be more artificial. Anyway, the best number is the one with the boats arriving on the island with everyone singing and dancing.

But the cast is still having fun, although the young generation lead by the radiant Lily James and Amanda Seyfried aren’t up to the veterans. In fact, the movie only comes really alive as soon as Christine Baranski and Julie Walters appear on the screen. They’re the best thing about this sequel. As for Cher, what happened to her? Strangely, she moves like if she was Frankenstein’s monster. The best new addition is Omid Djalili as the funny border officer.

This still is a feel-good movie, there’s more than a good laugh in here and it’s great for an Abba sing-a-along, but it’s a pale sequel to the original.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN by Michael Gracey

The Plot: P. T. Barnum is a poor man who falls in love with a rich girl, Charity. Decided to give her the magical life he promised her, he takes a chance and creates a show around freaks, with him being the master of ceremonies.

The Movie: Imagine a mix of the movie MOULIN ROUGE with Cirque Du Solei and you’ll get the right idea about what this is. Fortunately, the mix results in an entertaining and sometimes riveting musical. Visually strong, with colorful costumes and sets, an atmospheric cinematography by Seamus McGarvey and an excellent work of editing.

The screenplay it’s kind of superficial and that steals strength to the story. Even the characters aren’t much more than caricatures and it’s a pity, because they are a very interesting lot. I would have love to know more about the bearded lady (a strong Keala Settle) or about Anne, the black trapeze artist (Zendaya). As Barnum, Hugh Jackman is a true master of ceremonies and gives all his energy and love to the role; it’s impossible to dislike him, even when he is exploiting the freaks or turning his back to them. Pretty boy Zac Efron shares with Zendaya the most beautiful moment of the movie and poor Michelle Williams never has a chance to shine. On the other hand, a gorgeous Rebecca Ferguson, although dubbed, almost steals the movie from Jackman.

I don’t care for the score, is too pop for my taste, but it works with the action and the circus numbers are really thrilling. There’s a sense of wonder all through the movie that got me glued to my seat and just for that I have to recommend this movie. As a musical lover, I don’t have a problem with the characters singing whenever they like, but if this is the kind of thing that annoys you, keep away. Otherwise, come to the circus and let Barnum/Jackman make their magic on you.

Rate: 7 (from 1 to 10)