Displaying items by tag: Alfred Molina

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES

US, 2026, 111 minutes, Colour.

Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Donald Sales, voice of Alfred Molina.

Directed by Olivia Newman.

The remarkably bright creatures in this story are sea creatures, especially an octopus who spent over 1000 days out of the ocean, now in the display in the aquarium. His name is Marcellus, and he is a central character here, telling the story of his life in the voice of Alfred Molina, making comments about the humans and their limitations and the superiority of sea creatures.

While the humans in the story may not be as remarkably bright as the sea creatures, the audience will find themselves identifying more and more with two of them.

At this stage in review, it is probably important to note that this is a film for audiences who enjoy feelings, emotions, not afraid to run the risk of sentimentality. Which means that it is definitely not for audiences who have more serious attitudes towards life and emotions, thatnthey are not really for display, especially in films like this.

This having been noted, Remarkably Bright Creatures will engage most audiences. And there is Sally Field, almost 80, 60 years of top-lining film and television, a widow in a small town on the US north-west coast, keeping busy as she cleans the aquarium, chatting to Marcellus, revealing her sadness, especially in the loss of her son. The other main character is Eric, Lewis Pullman, something of a drifter, with a band, the other members pulling out, his being stranded in the town, no money, helped by the sympathetic storekeeper, Ethan (a genial Colm Meaney) and getting a job to replace Tova at the aquarium.

We observe. Marcellus observes, all this. Eric is not very good and Tova takes him under control cleaning detail. And she has to make decisions, offered a place in an aged care centre, whether to sell her house, urged on by her longtime gossipy friends, but, all the time wondering about the death of her son.

We enjoy the bonding between Tova and Eric, also some stories about Ethan and his devotion to Tova, Tova learning more about her son and his past.

And, for audiences who love sweet endings, and more than a touch of cheerfulness, the ending here they will find one of the best.

1. The title and expectations, tone? And the sea creatures, seen underwater, seen in the tanks, the focus on the octopus, devil eel?
2. The small town setting, on the coast, American north-west, weather, atmosphere? The aquarium, display, the children, behaviour, licking the glass,, leaving the mess? Tovs and the cleaning, so much of the action in this space? Her home, the views, the town itself, shops, the streets, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. Marcellus, the octopus, the voice of Alfred Molina, the commentary, his life story, captured, counting the days, his life coming to an end, his observations about humans, the skills of an octopus, superior, his sympathy for Tova, reaction to Eric, gradual sympathy, intervening? His escapes, Tova rescuing him? Finally, his observations about the friendship, the future, Tova and her rescuing him, returning him to the sea? And the rescue of the next octopus, the background story, the continuity of the display?
4. Tova, Sally Field’s presence, her story, her age, love for her son, the clash, his going out in the boat, the finding of the boat, the speculation that he had committed suicide? Tova and her searching for a reason? Over the decades? And the death of her husband? Living alone, managing, keeping busy at the aquarium, the phone calls, the offer of the room at aged care, her finally agreeing? Her friends, the meeting, all the gossip, their personalities, trying to organise Tova, the lunch, the daughter arriving, Tova asking her for the yearbook, encounter with the couple to buy her house, indication of a name, finding the name? The son and his girlfriend?
5. The decision to sell the house, the agent, pressing the house, the preparation for sale?
6. Eric, driving into town, car failure, not enough money for repairs, the encounter with Ethan, his store, kindly, suggesting the job, going to the aquarium, the discussions with Terry, Tova and her breaking her ankle, needing replacement at work, her criticisms of Eric, the detailed explanation of how to clean? And Marcellus observing?
7. Eric, the band, his ambitions, his absent mother, the flashbacks, no explanation of his father? The phone call, the band members, the pregnancy, pulling out? His surviving in his van? The encounter with Avery, the attraction?
8. Gradually bonding with Tova, her becoming motherly, reprimanding, teaching, encouraging the date, their walking, talking, the effect on him? The outing with Avery, the paddles, the discovery that she had a son, his reaction and moving away?
9. Ethan and his devotion to Tova, setting up the dates, his telling his story and following bands, the awkwardness, spilling and stains? Eric explaining things to Tova?
10. The ups and downs of the relationship, Tova and her moods, the move, the gossip from her friends, concern about her son, Eric fixing the house and her ousting him? His finding the box under the floor, the photo?
11. The significance of the ring, Eric with his father’s ring, the phone call to the suspected father, difficulty tracking him down, eventually meeting him, the fact that the man was gay?
12. The importance of the reading, EEL, Marcellus and his intervention, Tova seeing it, her son’s name, and a realisation for Eric who his father was, for Tova?
13. The future, mother and son, life together…?

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON

US, 2024, 90 minutes, Colour.

Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, Benjamin Bottani, Tanya Reynolds, Jemaine Clement, Alfred Molina.

Directed by Carlos  Saldanha.

Eagerness to see Harold and the Purple Crayon will depend on whether audiences grew up with Crockett Johnson’s classic story and illustrations (and his nine other books in the series as well as the television episodes). Those who do not know Johnson’s books, Harold began life in 1955 as a four-year-old, inhabiting a fantasy world where, if he needed or wanted something, he simply drew it, and there it was. However, in later books, he was an adult.

In this version, Harold is living a happy life, and drawing with his crayon, solving every need with a drawing = and there it is.. He is accompanied by his close friends, Moose and Porcupine. So, a pleasant opening, an introduction into Harold’s world, his conversations, his listening to the voice of his creator, whom he calls Old Man (voiced by Alfred Molina), but with a desire to go out into what he calls “The Real World”.

And, out he goes, in the form of Zachary Levi. Soon after Moose emerges but in human form, played by comedian Lil Rel Howery. But it takes rather a longer time for Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds) who discovers her friends missing, but does not emerge in the real world anywhere close to them, spending a long time in the search, looking for clues – and they are always purple.

And the purple crayon! Whenever Harold draws, it is with his beloved purple crayon. And, when he emerges into the real world, he simply puts his old talent into practice, drawing a purple bike, replacing a flat tire was a purple one, painting of a house, purple no limits – even later, a plane which flies through the city.

Harassed mother Teri (Zoe Deschanel) driving with her son, Mel (a likeable Benjamin Bottani), an intelligent boy who has a secret invisible mini-dragon friend, crashes into Harold and Moose on their bike. Which leads to a whole lot of adventures, searching for The Old Man, all kinds of funny and dangerous escapades and situations, and some villainy in the form of Jemaine Clement, librarian who they think will be able to find The Old Man but, frustrated with his Game of Thrones -like novel not being accepted, steals the purple crayon for dastardly purposes.

The film will appeal to boys of Mel’s age, 13 and down. As regards adult audiences, parents, the difficulty is the character of Harold, a child in an adult’s body, uttering childlike (and childish) comments (and, for this reviewer, difficult because actor Zachary Levi has played the central role in the least liked superhero films, the two Shazams).

But, within the limits it sets itself and the limits for the age audience and identifying with Harold, it can be quite a nice pastime.

1. The original books, the story, the sketches? Television episodes?
2. The intended audience, children, boys identifying with Harold, the age group, 13 down, identifying with Harold but also with Metal?
3. The animation style, bringing Crockett Johnson’s style to life, simple, creative? And the decision to have a purple crayon? And breaking it, Mel having half and being creative, Gary stealing the half, swallowing it, having the power, bringing it up again? The adventures of the crayon?
4. Harold, visually, Moose and Porcupine, visuals? Their adventures, Harold drawing, solving every problem? The voice of The Old Man, the creator? Narrative? Harold wanting to find The Old Man, to go into the Real World?
5. Drawing the door, going into the real world, in the person of Zachary Levi? His voice and tone? Moose following, transformed into human, Lil Rel Lowrey, African-American? Porcupine later discovering they had gone, transformed, into the girl, but not near Harold and Moose, tracking them down? The detectives and their suspicions?
6. Exhilaration in the Real World, looking for the Old Man, the man in the park, his reaction, talking to the detectives? Drawing the bicycle, enjoying the ride, the city, the transition to Teri and Mel, the absent father, the argument, Mel and his invisible dragon friend? The crash? The reaction, the flat tire – and Harold drawing the purple tire?
7. Teri, exasperated, mil wanting them to come home, in the house, the room, painting the house purple, the meals and the pies? Teri and her work, not liking it, at the supermarket, her boss and his comments, getting the two to take her place, Mel and the trouble at school? The chaos in the store, pratfalls and mayhem? Teri sacked?
8. Mel, the friendship, the visualising of the Dragon?
9. The episode of drawing the plane, flying, the exhilaration, the dangers, and the sky writing of Teri’s phone number in the sky, asking for the old man, the incessant number of phone calls?
10. The library, Gary, smug, his novel, the fewer the reading, their walking out? His infatuation with Teri? Mel and his dislike? The issue of the old man? Gary offering to help? The drama, getting them into trouble, Gary doing the drawing, the forcing the crayon out of him?
11. Happy ending, Porcupine finding them, their being together, Mel happy, his mother? And the glimpse of Gary and his imagination and Teri in his fantasy, turning him down?
12. Younger audiences identifying with Mel, with Harold, the impact for parent audiences?

THE INSTIGATORS

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau, Jack Harlow, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ron Perlman, Toby Jones, Ronnie Cho, Ving Rhames, Paul Walter Hauser.

Directed by Doug Liman.

This is a robbery story with a very strong cast, intended as an enjoyable pastime. Audiences might like to ponder who the actual instigators are in this story and what they were instigating in reality!

The setup is a buddy film, but two unlikely characters forced to work together, involved in a high-stakes robbery. We are introduced to the two, Matt Damon, always a solid presence, in therapy with his psychiatrist, Hong Chau, wanting an exact amount of money to be able to reunite with his son. By contrast, there is the alcoholic ex-conman played by Casey Affleck.

The situation is an election in Boston, Ron Perlman as the Mayor, corrupt, aiming for re-election against his ethnic rival, played by Ronnie Cho. The mayor is surrounded by his yes-men, especially his lawyer, played by Toby Jones.

In the meantime, there is a range of criminals played by Michael Stuhlbarg and Alfred Molina. They have the plan for the buddies, with the young nephew, to rob the vans carrying the money before it is delivered to the mayor.

They might be instigators but, of course, everything goes wrong. The money has already been transferred, they go into the Mayor’s office, still his keepsake with the number of his safe, a shootout, and escape in the van, chases through the city…

Ving Rhames appears as a corrupt police investigator.

When they are taken, there is a siege situation and the therapist is invited into mediate – enabling her to get out with some of the money to pay off Damon’s debt in view of a happy ending, and Casey Affleck escaping to Canada. The reason that they do escape and there is a happy ending is that the new Mayor, coming into possession of the money, anonymous money from the previous corrupt Mayor, is not declared and they can keep it as long as the two are not arrested and brought to court. So, off to Canada and happy ending.

The director is Doug Lyman (Bourne Identity, Jumper, Edge of Tomorrow), skilled at some action shows – but this is more relaxed for streaming audience.

1. Title? Robberies? Who were the instigators?
2. The Boston setting, the neighbourhoods, public spaces, the streets, car chases and pursuits, the mayor’s office, meeting places planning the robberies? The election – the rooms, corridors, social areas, the strong room with the safe? The musical score?
3. The situation, introduction to Rory, therapy with the doctor, her questions, his responses, his crisis? The situation with his son? The need for money?
4. The setting up of the robbery, the mind behind the robbery, his moods, dealing with his men, with Scalvo, young and inexperienced, the connections with Richie at the bakery? The plan, the testing of Rory and Cobby, details of the plan? The corrupt Mayor, as target, corruption and money?
5. Rory and Cobby, personalities, interactions, slow, the as matter-of-fact, the precise amount needed, the bargain with the boss?
6. The setup, the vans, the election night, the television news, the alternate candidate, Rory praising him, the presumption the corrupt Mayor would win? The scenes of the Mayor, his staff, tough tactics, reliance on his attorney, Alan Flynn?
7. The comedy of the robbery gone wrong, the timing, the amount of money, the earlier van taking the money, guns and shooting, confrontations, the little money in the safe, Rory and the bag, the shooting, the deaths, Scalvo dead? Cobby wounded?
8. Going to the doctor, the pressure on her, the discussion about her being a hostage, going with them, treating the wound, the consequences? Her later being chosen as the mediator for the hostages, her bargain with Rory and getting the money out under her uniform, helping Rory with his debt – but continually asking how he was feeling, especially during the negotiations? And copy finally returning to her?
9. The mayor, his cronies, the defeat, Cobby with the money, the various positions, having the code number to the mayor’s safe, his not being able to remember, the various combinations?
10. The boss, fleeing, contact with Richie, Richie and the interviews, sending the henchmen, tracking down Rory and Cobby, their escaping him? Frank, in the pay of the mayor, the dealings with Richie, his continued pursuit of Rory and Cobby? The finale and their doing the deal with him? And the final credits seen of the boss dead in the snow?
11. The vans, the pursuits, the desperation of the chase, guns, Cobby wounded again, his complaints?
12. The confrontation with the mayor, his desperation, the arrest, in jail?
13. The return to the scene of the crime, Alan Flynn present, to do a bargain deal, opening the safe, all the money? The dilemma, the doctor as mediator? The device for escape, throwing the safes out the window, the scattering of money everywhere, the crowd racing for the money?
14. Rory, finally, deciding to give himself up? The new mayor – and the information about the contracts, the new potential corruption? The two men let out, Rory going to see his son, reconciliation?