Displaying items by tag: Allison Williams

REGRETTING YOU

US, 2025, 116 minutes, Colour.

Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, Clancy Brown, Sam Morelos, Ethan Costanilla.

Directed by Josh Boone.

Based on a novel by Colleen Hoover might be enough recommendation for audiences to see this film. Her novels have been highly popular, especially in the United States. There is an appeal to younger generations as well as to older readers.

There was a film version of It Ends With You. Now there is Regretting You. And early in 2026 there will be Reminders of Him. And Colleen Hoover fans will be glad to hear that there will be another film towards the end of 2026, Verity.

The initial appeal of Regretting You is with the younger audience, two couples, early 20s, their lives before them. Two are quiet. Two are eager extroverts. And then the revelation that one of them, Morgan, played by Allison Williams, is pregnant. And the father to be is Chris, played by Scott Eastwood (reminding audiences of his father, Clint). The other two in the group are the very outgoing Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald) and the quiet Jonah (Dave Franco). But, this is just a prologue.

The main action of the film in fact takes place 17 years later. Morgan is the devoted mother of her daughter, Clara (Mckenna Grace) and most of the action concerns this relationship. Morgan has been married to Chris all these years and he is still rather happy-go-lucky. Jenny has also grown up and is pregnant – and the revelation that Jonah who had disappeared 17 years ago has now returned and is teaching at the local school.

Will this simply be a pleasant family story? Or what will be the implications of the title, the regrets.

Needless to say, there will be some complications. Especially in the relationships of the older generation. But, the centre of the film soon becomes Clara, enthusiastic teenager, devoted to her father, often having emotional clashes with her mother, feeling her over-protective. She is very friendly with Miller (Mason Thames), both the same age, school experiences, bonding, ups and downs in their relationship. Then there is a car accident which turns everybody’s lives upside down – with a great number of regrets.

Depending on your life’s experience, there will be sympathies for some characters, irritation with the behaviour and attitudes of others. And, when things become rather dire, can there possibly be a hope of a happy ending? But who wants to leave the cinema feeling emotionally down? So, the ending is not without hope!

1. The popularity of Colleen Hewitt’s novels? Adaptations?
2. The Middle America setting, the small town of Dillon, 30,000+? A story of ordinary Americans?
3. The setting, the youngsters together, School memories, the outings, Chris and Jenny, outgoing, the games, together? The contrast with Morgan and Jonah, more introverted? And the news that will Morgan was pregnant, Chris the father?
4. 17 years later, Morgan married to Chris, their life together, domestic scenes, Clara, her age, admiration for her father, her relationship with her mother, her mother protective, mortgage retirement, not fulfilling ambitions, devoted to family?
5. Jenny, Morgan’s sister, younger, Morgan helping bring her up? Her relationship with Jonah? His absence, return, teaching at the school? Jenny pregnant? The gatherings?
6. The focus on Clara, independence, her father, her mother and the arguments? Her friendship with Lexi? The encounters with Miller? Discussions, his girlfriend? Their encounters, the attraction? Miller, moving the signposts for pizza delivery? Clara giving him a lift, meeting his grandfather, his grandfather’s comments? Smoking, lungs, illness?
7. Clara and her devotion to Jenny, the birthday party, the making of the cakes? Clara and her texting Jenny? About Miller? About her mother? The sudden stopping?
8. The accident, the deaths, the revelation of the affair? The impact on Morgan? The impact on Jonah? Not telling Clara? The funerals? Clara leaving, going with Miller, smoking, her mother tracking her on the phone, the confrontation? The further difficulties? Clara and her confiding in Lexi?
9. Miller at the diner, his friendship with Ethan, the showing of the films, the dates, Ethan awkward but skilful with the camera, Lexi and the relationship with Ethan?
10. The baby, Jonah and his devotion, suspecting that the baby was Chris’s? His reaction, separation, yet dependence on Morgan? The cave and the baby? Clara and the baby?
11. Clara, with Miller, the discussions about sex, her inviting him over, the window, the condom, his care, her reluctance? Morgan finding her, the reactions?
12. Morgan and Jonah, mutual support, the love from the past, decorations, the kiss, Clara finding them? Reaction?
13. The drama, Clara and her puzzle about Jenny and the stopping of the texts, the car, her discovering the truth?
14. The awkward birthday party, Morgan inviting Miller, Lexi present, tensions, Miller leaving?
15. The happy ending, everybody together, Miller’s grandfather and the inheritance, the background of studies, Jonah teaching them, scholarship to school, Clara getting in, not telling Miller, his eventually getting in – and his showing of the film, happy times?

M3GAN 2

US, 2025, 120 minutes, Colour.

Alison Williams, Violet McGraw, Jenna Davis, Amy Donald, Ivanna Sakhono, Brian Jordan Alvarez.

Directed by Gerard Johnstone.

The first Meagan film was billed as horror. But it was horror in the tradition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a focus on scientific experimentation, the producing of a creature who went on to wreak some havoc even while geared for being protective of the young. It was not horror and the popular sense of slasher and gore. It was more a film of menace.

And, now the sequel. Not accurately described either as horror (and disappointing the slasher fans and their expectations). This sequel is something of a Meagan Resurrected. And, it is more of science-fiction, science fantasy, concerns about the future. And there is a strong focus on a I, the humans developing get, the robots and androids getting lives of their own, especially in international in war situations, exploited by military and government. There is a final message that humans and a I should coexist and should develop together.

But, before that final message, the audience is introduced to a creation beyond Meagan herself, and adult creation, Emilia, a demonstration for military interests of her skills in infiltration, fighting capabilities – and then discovering she has an AI mind of her own.

The film then introduces the main characters from the first film, especially technical expert, Gemma, and the young Katie for whose company Megan was originally created. And, their associated scientific friends. Gemma is once again her intense self, righteous, single-minded, wanting to prevent active of Katie. But Katie seems to have developed a strong willpower herself.

So, a set up of conflict between Amelia and Meagan, much of it taking place at a huge exhibition for the promotion of AI. The problem is that many do not recognise Amelia as she mingles amongst the guests, especially tantalising a wealthy entrepreneur, played comically (as usual) by New Zealand’s Jermaine Clement. An overpowering him, Emilia then is well on the way to control over the United States and beyond.

There is also the technical millionaire entrepreneur, Christian (emphasis on the final syllable!). The climax is in a huge underground complex where the I power is protected, everyone involved, fights, timing, altering brains, Megan having power to live inside Gemma’s mind… And, lots of martial arts between the creations and the huge tough security.

As with the first film, it is more entertaining than might have been expected.

1. The popularity of the original film? The Frankenstein tradition, scientists in technology, creating creatures, the consequences for good and evil?
2. This sequel, more a science-fiction, science-fantasy drama with comic touches?
3. Issues of artificial intelligence, progress, artificial intelligence and speed, control, dominating humans? Threats and dangers? Conflicts? Possible disasters? The message of coexistence with AI and mutual development?
4. The new situation, the introduction of Amelia, the military observation, the confrontations, spying skills, military skills, visualisation, female, glamorous? Then her killing the scientist and going out of control?
5. The scientists, the dilemmas, military, political? Amelia on the loose? Having to find her? The leader, presented with comic touches? Is associates?
6. The return to the characters from the original film, Gemma, her skills, serious, self-righteous, protective of Cady, Cady older, able to look after herself, her reaction to Gemma? Cole and Tess, from the previous film, with Gemma, with Cady? The attack by Amelia?
7. Cady, a relationship with M3gan, care, attack, distraction from the previous film? Cady preserving M3gan, the reconstruction, the voice and personality, a more sympathetic M3gan? Gemma, the reaction, controlled, protective of Cady, a challenge from the military? M3gan reconstructed, protecting her skills, martial arts?
8. The exhibition, the presence of the entrepreneurial, self-confidence, power and wealth, control? His roving eye, seeing Amelia, her being seductive, the episode together, his advances, her controlling him, getting the information, control of the power grid, his showing her to, how to close it down? Her attack on him, his death?
9. Megan at the exhibition, the dancing, popularity, the crowd?
10. The change of atmosphere, the setting up of M3gan versus Amelia, the fights, the mayhem?
11. The role of Christian, his power, wealth, technological know-how? The information about the underground preserving of the central control? Palo Alto?
12. The setting up for the confrontation, the military representative and Amelia controlling him, wounded but surviving? Cole and his penetrating the corridors? Cady and her being captured? Gemma captured, the mind control? Christian and his ambitions, betrayal, speaking to the United Nations?
13. Amelia, his control of Amelia, her rebellion, solution? M3gan, destruction, but getting into Gemma’s mind, able to reboot herself?
14. The final confrontation, the timing, Amelia and her decisions, making and her being in Gemma’s mind, emerging, the final confrontation?
15. The message at the end, Gemma and her address, the role of artificial intelligence, coexistence, developing together?

THE PERFECTION

This, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.

Alison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Webber, Alaina Hoffman.

Directed by Richard Shepard.

By the end of The Perfection, the audience knows that it is been through quite an ordeal with the two central characters. And not in any anticipated way.

Interest in the film will depend on identification or not with these two central characters, Charlotte, Alison Williams, a talented cello player, her training interrupted by her having to look after your mother for 10 years, Lizzie, Logan Browning, a talented cello player who has had a successful career. After her mother’s death, Charlotte makes contact again and meet patrons and teachers at a recital in Shanghai where Lizzie is to be a judge of a competition. The film sets up the relation between the two.

There are glimpses of the Chinese countryside as the two go on an economy bus ride, Lizzie becoming very ill, Charlotte caring for her, this is linked with an outbreak in China (the film coming out a year before Covid!), leading to drastic action to help Lizzie.

Then quite an unexpected twist, a rewind, a different interpretation as to what happened.

Then, back in Boston, Lizzie made unwelcome because of her being unable to play the cello, Lizzie deciding to wreak revenge on Charlotte and abducting her and bringing her to Boston. Then, another rewind and different interpretation.

Which leads to something of Grande Guignol, Gothic horror ending.

The screenplay certainly keeps the attention with its twists, the experiences of the characters, revelations at the end, and the condemnation of exploitation of vulnerable children.

1. Psychological drama, becoming a horror drama?
2. The world of music, the Institute in Boston, the heritage from the 1920s, cello? The students, the staff, Anton presiding, his kingdom, his ancestors? The return after Shanghai, inside the building, more sinister?
3. The musical score, the performances, the cello?
4. The introduction to Charlotte, the close-up of her dead mother, her sitting in the chair, indications of memory, attempted suicide, the institution? 10 years of care for her mother? The flashbacks to leaving the cello Institute, the sighting of Lizzie on the stairs? The aftermath of her mother’s death? Reaching out to Anton and Paloma?
5. Shanghai, the vistas of the city, atmosphere, the competition, performances, socials? Anton presiding? Welcoming Charlotte? The young girls, the scholarship, Lizzie as judge, meeting Charlotte, her admiration, Charlotte’s devotion to Lizzie and her career? Charlotte as judge? The gossip during the recital, the parents and the affair, giggling, the celebration, dancing, the mention of the disease in China, the man collapsing?
6. The attraction between the two, the sexual encounter, the aftermath? With Lizzie inviting Charlotte to go on the holiday? The hangover? The medication? The rough bus, Lizzie unwell, determined to go, the journey, being sick, the appeal to the bus driver, his refusal, the helpful young man, the passengers giving the water? Out of the bus, continuing the journey, ousted? The walk to the town, Lizzie, unwell, the vomiting, the bugs, the manifestations on her arm, Charlotte offering the cleaver, her cutting off her arm?
7. After horror aspects, the rewind, the different interpretation, Charlotte and the hallucination medication, supporting Lizzie but actually making her worse, speculation about Charlotte and her motivation?
8. Lizzie, the return to the Institute, the amputated hand? Anton and Paloma, rejecting her? Her motivation, revenge, going to Minnesota, the confrontation with Charlotte, abducting her, taking her to the Institute, in the car boot? Anton and his response, Charlotte and jealousy? Her being tied up, too close a piece, her not being allowed to make a mistake, otherwise punishment?
9. The next generation, the Chinese girl, her mother, shone around, the hopes and promises?
10. The revelation about Anton, the two men on the staff, Paloma, the use of sexual abuse, punishments, the flashbacks?
11. The rewind, Charlotte and her motivation to bring Lizzie to her senses, acknowledge the truth, their planning together, poisoning the two men, stabbing Paloma, confronting Anton?
12. The brutality of the stabbing and hacking attack on Anton?
13. The finale, the two playing the cello, Anton mutilated, retribution?