REVIEW: “Wonka” (2023)

December 28, 2023 by Keith Garlington

Director Paul King’s “Wonka” sets out to tell the origin story of none other than Willy Wonka, the popular chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s beloved 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. The story (co-written by King and Simon Farnaby from a story conceived by King) follow Willy’s challenging early days in Europe. King has called his film a companion piece to Mel Stuart’s 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”. You can certainly feel that connection.

I don’t have much of a history with the Wonka character or the previous two movies. I’ve seen them both but never felt the same affection that many do. And that’s why “Wonka” was such a pleasant surprise. It turns out to be a delightful fantasy film for the entire family that features a terrific ensemble, great production design, good humor, and even better musical numbers. Oh, and there’s the hysterical Hugh Grant who quite honestly steals every single scene he’s in (and that is no exaggeration).

The film kicks off with a fabulous opening number as Willy Wonka (an affable and energetic Timothée Chalamet) arrives in a European coastal town with very little money but a really big dream. He desperately wants to open his own chocolate shop in the town’s famed Galeries Gourmet. There he hopes to make the finest magical chocolates to share with the world. But as he quickly learns, that’s easier said than done.

**Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures**

The wide-eyed Willy is a dreamer at heart. He prides himself in being a magician and an inventor. But his true passion is chocolate – something handed down to him by his late mother (played in flashbacks by Sally Hawkins). Unfortunately the ambitious but gullible Willy doesn’t have a good grasp of the real world and is immediately duped by the devious Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman) and her lunkheaded goon Bleacher (Tom Davis). Under the guise of kindness, the pair offer Willy a room for the night but trick him into signing a binding contract (always read the fine print) that confines him to labor in her basement laundry.

Willy joins several others who also failed to read the fine print. He takes a liking to the small group of coerced laborers, especially a resourceful orphan girl named Noodle (Calah Lane). The two have a great rapport and the brother-sister dynamic that develops is one of the sweetest (bad pun intended) ingredients in the film.

Noodle helps Willy slip out of his confinement so he can begin selling his chocolate. But he runs into bigger challenges than mean old Mrs. Scrubitt. It turns out there is a cartel of chocolate shop owners (played with hilarious over-the-top panache by Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, and Matthew Baynton) intent on squashing any competition. They ensure their chocolate dominance through bribes to the crooked sweet-toothed police chief (Keegan Michael Key) and an equally corrupt local cleric (Rowan Atkinson).

Then there’s the nagging issue of the small green-haired orange-skinned man who keeps slipping in and stealing Willy’s chocolates. He identifies himself as an Oompa-Loompa and he’s played by the riotously starchy Hugh Grant. It’s such a wildly absurd pairing (Grant and Oompa-Loompa) but it works so well thanks to the effortlessly droll veteran actor. He had me smiling every time he popped up on screen.

The ‘overcoming adversity’ tale that follows sticks close to formula as Willy the confectioner and his new friends go head-to-head with the choco-conglomerate. Yet King (best known for his terrific “Paddington” films) infuses the movie with his own charming effervescent style of storytelling, slyly navigating through some surprisingly dark themes with a warm and genial spirit. And to his credit, King gets the tone just right, whether he’s submerging us in his sugar-coated fantasy, tenderly touching our emotions, or playfully venturing into full heist movie territory.

As for the music (and yes, “Wonka” is very much a musical), none of Neil Hannon’s original songs will stick in your mind. But that’s not to say they’re bad. In fact the songs are perfectly in tune with the storytelling and the smile-inducing musical set pieces offer entertaining rushes of vibrant creativity. And kudos to Chalamet who does a great job balancing all that’s asked of him. He’s a nice fit for a story that smoothes off most of the Dahl’s sharp edges and embraces the childlike sense of wonder that makes this movie such a treat. “Wonka” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 4 STARS

REVIEW: “The Boy and the Heron” (2023)

December 27, 2023 by Keith Garlington

The renowned Studio Ghibli and animation legend Hayao Miyazaki return with their highly anticipated “The Boy and the Heron”. It’s the 82-year-old Miyazaki’s first feature film since 2013 – the year he announced his retirement after the release of the critically acclaimed “The Wind Rises”. But to the elation of his many fans, the beloved filmmaker had a change of heart and began working on a new feature-length project in 2016. After a lengthy production (one made lengthier by the COVID-19 pandemic) it has finally made its way to theaters.

To be completely honest and forthright, I’m hardly what you would call a Miyazaki connoisseur. I haven’t seen all of his movies nor have I ever felt inclined to. That’s not to say I haven’t respected him as a filmmaker. Quite the opposite. I’ve often lamented the fact that his movies have rarely registered with me in the same way they do with his legion of passionate fans. That said, Miyazaki’s career is nothing short of inspiring and his legacy is undeniable.

“The Boy and the Heron” sees Miyazaki drawing from his own childhood to tell a warm-hearted coming-of-age story. It’s told from the perspective of 12-year-old Mahito (voiced by Soma Santoki), a character whose experiences echo Miyazaki’s in a number of ways. Both were deeply affected by the losses of their mothers. Both had fathers who worked for companies that manufactured parts for fighter planes. Both were part of families forced to evacuate to other cities due to bombings in World War II.

“The Boy and the Heron” gets its title from Genzaburō Yoshino’s 1937 novel of the same name, but their connection is largely thematic. This is very much an original Miyazaki story set in the turbulance of 1943. A few years after the loss of his mother and amid the growing chaos from the war, 12-year-old Mahito and his father Shoichi (Takuya Kimura) leave Tokyo for the countryside to live with Natsuko (Yoshino Kimura), Shoichi’s new pregnant wife who is the younger sister of Mahito’s late mother.

Still grieving his mother’s death, Mahito is cordial but lukewarm towards the kindly Natsuko. During the day, while Shoichi is away running a nearby air munitions factory, Mahito mostly avoids his ‘new mother’ and her gaggle of elderly maids. He spends chunks of his time exploring the grounds which is where he discovers a creepy old tower grown up and in disrepair. Even stranger is his encounter with a bizarre and pesky talking grey heron (Marsalis Suda).

Things move further into the fantastical after Natsuko wanders off into the forest and goes missing. As parties search for her in our world, Mahito, paired with the suspicious Grey Heron, venture into the tower which turns out to be a gateway to a parallel universe. It’s an bizarre place filled with wild characters, weird creatures, and profound truths that may help Mahito cope with his sadness and find happiness in what he still has.

There is a lot in “The Boy and the Heron” that Miyazaki fans will recognize. There is the exquisite hand-drawn animation featuring painterly compositions with gorgeous backgrounds and rich detail. There are his classic themes of loss, grief, and childhood, all treated with his signature sense of optimism. It seems these and other Miyazaki trademarks have made the film a little too familiar for some ardent lovers of his work. But as someone who sees himself as more of an admirer than an authority, I found myself mostly swept away.

Admittedly the movie did lose me a bit in the second half where the wackiness reaches its height. Yet I was still captivated by how Miyazaki maintains his thematic connections throughout. And the way he steadily mirrors reality with the otherworldly is impression. It all leads to a truly touching ending that brings the entire story to a beautiful conclusion. As for Miyazaki, if this is his final feature, he has gifted us with something delightfully charming and artistically precious. “The Boy and the Heron” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 4 STARS

New Character Posters Drop for Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon” Franchise

December 26, 2023 by Keith Garlington

The first cut of Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire” has released and Netflix has dropped a series of cool character posters to go along with it. To absolutely no surprise the film has been met with scalding reviews from many critics. Yet equally predictable is the film’s enormous success as it quickly became the #1 movie on Netflix worldwide.

This first installment in Snyder’s sprawling space opera introduces us to a fascinating original world full of interesting characters, jaw-dropping locations, and of course stylish action. It’s a fun two hours but it does more to entice than fulfill, ramping up the anticipation for the already announced extended cut. You can read my full review of “Rebel Moon – Part One” HERE.

Check out the new “Rebel Moon” character posters below…

REVIEW: “Memory” (2023)

December 26, 2023 by Keith Garlington

The immensely talented duo of Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard lead the way in “Memory”, the new film from the often provocative yet thoughtful Michel Franco. This engrossing adult drama about two broken souls finds its strength in the transcendent performances of its two leads and in Franco’s resonating script which analyzes the human condition from a perspective we’re not used to seeing in his films.

Chastain plays Sylvia, a single mother and recovering alcoholic. When not working at an adult daycare center or attending AA meetings, she’s raising her daughter Anna (Brooke Timber) the best way she knows how. Sylvia is a loving mother, but overprotective which is a byproduct of her own childhood trauma. It’s a past that still haunts her and has defined so much of her adult life.

The story takes off in earnest after Sylvia agrees to attend a high school reunion with her well-meaning but persistently uncomfortable sister, Olivia (Merritt Wever). As Sylvia sits at a table, alone and detached, an unknown bearded man (Sarsgaard) locks his eyes onto her from across the room. He slowly makes his way to her and takes a seat. His sudden appearance prompts her to grab her coat and hurriedly leave. The man creepily follows her from a distance, first to the subway, and then as she makes the dark walk home.

Franco infuses the scene with mystery. Who is the man? Why is he following her? Why is she so afraid of him? The questions only mount the next morning after Sylvia discovers the man asleep outside of her apartment building. We soon learn the man’s name is Saul Shapiro and he has early stage dementia. Through a series of unlikely circumstances a relationship develops between the two. Sylvia is even hired by Saul’s brother Isaac (Josh Charles) and niece Sara (Elsie Fisher) to sit with him during the day.

As the story progresses we notice some striking parallels between Sylvia and Saul. They went to the same high school and they both are outsiders (in their own ways) within their upper-class families. Yet there’s more to their stories, especially Silvia’s which comes to light after some dark secrets are unearthed. But Franco doesn’t paint every detail or spell out every emotion. Even more, he never caters to our expectations. There are several moments where he lures us in only to flip the script and go in an entirely different direction.

“Memory” wraps up with a moving third act that brings the film’s mature themes to a thoughtful and satisfying place. As with the rest of the movie, it doesn’t take our emotions for granted. Franco does a good job earning our investment and he delivers a touching payoff. He gives his two stars some really good material to work with and has the smarts to let them carry the bulk of the dramatic load. As a result, Chastain and Sarsgaard turn in two of the year’s best performances, cementing Franco’s latest as an exciting and unexpected turn for the notoriously daring filmmaker.

VERDICT – 4 STARS

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2023 by Keith Garlington

You can almost hear the voice of late, great Andy Williams singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. It’s Christmas day and I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope all who celebrate has a special day full of family, food, and festivities.

I also want to say “thank you” for another great year for this little site of mine. Just by reading, liking, commenting, and conversing, you help make this whole movie review gig worthwhile. I’m really excited to see what kind of movies we will be talking about in 2024. May God bless each of you and your families, and I hope you all have a healthy and prosperous new year.

Five Phenomenal Christmas Movie Meanies

December 24, 2023 by Keith Garlington

For those who don’t know, The Phenomenal 5 was a once prominent feature on this site. It was a blast to do and with the holidays upon us I thought it would be fun to look back at one of my Christmas themed lists – Five Phenomenal Movie Meanies. Originally shared ten years ago, this list features five Christmas movie misers who have become synonymous with the holidays. These are fantastic characters who could use a good dose of Christmas spirit. Now with so many Christmas movie meanies out there I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But I have no problem calling these five grumpy sticks-in-the-mud phenomenal.

#5 – Burgermeister Meisterburger (“Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)

Ok, so this is a cheat as it’s not from a movie. I don’t care. I love Burgermeister Meisterburger. Not only does he have one of the greatest names, but he’s a fantastic Christmas “movie” meanie. This stop-motion television classic from 1970 has been a perennial favorite particularly with older audiences (such as myself?). One of the many reasons I love it is because of Burgermeister. This cranky old cuss is the head of the fittingly named Sombertown and has the nerve to ban toys and imprison anyone caught with one. The great voice actor Paul Frees plays Burgermeister and he is such a treat. He brings this great character to life and I had to sneak him on my list.

#4 – Hans Gruber (“Die Hard”)

I still don’t consider “Die Hard” a Christmas movie (a debate for another time), but I’ll play along for the sake of this list because it certainly has a memorable holiday meanie. Evil German mastermind Hans Gruber and his merry band of terrorists crash the Nakatomi Plaza Christmas party and take the building hostage. Talk about a Grinch! The police department, SWAT teams, and the FBI all converge on the skyscraper, but Gruber is always one step ahead of them. What he didn’t count on was the “poison pill” (aka John McClane) running loose in the building foiling his plans. Alan Rickman gives a standout performance as Gruber in what was his feature film debut (still hard to believe).

#3 – Granville Sawyer (“Miracle on 34th Street”)

The sniveling and fidgety Granville Sawyer certainly tried to put a damper on Christmas in George Seaton’s wonderful “Miracle on 34th Street”. As Macy’s resident psychiatrist in name only, Sawyer is tasked with giving the store’s new department store Santa (aka Kris Kringle) a psychological evaluation. But Sawyer’s ego kicks in when Kris turns the table on him and he makes it his goal to have Santa Claus committed. Porter Hall is perfectly cast and you’ll certainly want to thump his head just as Santa did. In the end he gets whats coming to him and all ends well in this all-time Christmas classic.

#2 – Mr. Potter (“It’s a Wonderful Life”)

An argument could be made that old man Potter from Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the meanest, most despicable miser in any Christmas film. Henry Potter, a wealthy slumlord, is a constant thorn in the side of Bedford Falls and particularly George Bailey. He drains money from the small town and tries his best to shut down the Bailey Building and Loan which is the community’s one safe haven from Potter’s tyrannical hand. Potter lies, cheats, and steals. It’s no wonder we can’t stand the guy. The great Lionel Barrymore is brilliant in his portrayal and he gives us an unforgettable Christmas movie meanie.

#1 – Ebenezer Scrooge (“Scrooge”)

There have been many cinematic tellings of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. My personal favorite is the movie/musical from 1970 starring Albert Finney. Now we all know the story of Scrooge. He’s a miserable old miser who makes everyone around him equally miserable. He hates people and he most certainly hates Christmas. But three Christmas spirits bring along an amazing transformation in Scrooge. Finney is great as both the lovable and detestable Scrooge. And while I’m a little picky when it comes to musicals, the numbers in this film are a real treat. I know Scrooge is an obvious choice, but how could he not top this list?

There they are – a look back in time at five of the meanest Christmas movie characters. What do you think? Please take time to share your thoughts or your choices in the comments section below. And Merry Christmas.