Displaying items by tag: Fiona Shaw

LADIES FIRST

US, 2026, 93 minutes, Colour.

Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Tom Davis, Emily Mortimer, Werucha Opia, Charles Dance, Fiona Shaw, Richard E.Grant, Kathryn Hunter, Bill Paterson, Ron Cook.

Directed by Thea Sharrock.

There has been a constant popularity in films of role reversals, parents becoming children, children parents, and, sometimes, the role reversals of men and women, being transported into an alternate universe. And that is the case here – but, it is a remake of the 2018 French comedy,. I am not the Easiest of Men which was released at the time of the #Me Too emergence.

Perhaps 2026 is a bit late for Ladies First as some reviewers have suggested. However, as we watch it, the comedy of the men behaving in a female way, was to be subservient, accepting this, exasperated, finding ways to overcome it as well as the comedy of the women behaving in insensitive macho attitudes and manner, it does make its points for a wide audience.

And, this version has many advantages. Who better than Sasha Baron Cohen, memories of Borat and his other films and satires, playing the misogynistic, obnoxiously insensitive male, paying lip service to female executives and ignoring them at meetings, seeing himself as a contemporary Lothario, but remaining male throughout the story, forced to face the macho-women mirror images of his objectifying behaviour. Many tangles, many humorous moments, many satiric barbs – and his finally getting the message.

The other advantage is having Rosamund Pike as the co-star, her two previous films, Now You See Him, Now You Don’t and In the Grey, saw her cast as rather ruthless business women and she draws on this when, after being introduced as a 20 year employee at the firm, receiving a token promotion but ignored at meetings, and then transformed into the hard-hearted executive dramatising and exercising all the ambitious, unscrupulously dominating mirror of male behaviour.

And, there is a strong cast character actors in supporting roles. The usually urbane Charles Dance has become a rather simpering assistant. Kathryn Hunter, rather tiny, a cleaner in the office, always getting in the executive’s way, transforms into a hard-drinking, dominating CEO. Richard E.Grant, is a pigeon-man vagrant who understands the situation, trying to give advice to Sasha Baron Cohen.

Also a plus is the director, Thea Sharrock, who has made the sensitive, The Beautiful Game, as well as the sharp satire of Wicked Little Letters.

So, a whole lot of reversal situations, most of them very funny, but always the consciousness/conscience check that male chauvinism is being sent up as exercised by the women and that the men are experiencing as women, the continued putdowns, targeted male superiority, male exploitation and harassment.

And, for those who enjoy words and play on words, there are all kinds of funny moments and quick quips, Queens Cross instead of King’s Cross, the end of the prayer as a-woman, a variation on frequently used swear word. And, on a broadcast, Pope Beatrice IV.

Sad to say, this kind of comic role reversal, perhaps required somewhat less than in times past, is still very relevant.

IF

US, 2024, 104 minutes, Colour.

Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, voices of: Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr, Alan Kim, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Blake Lively, Sebastian Maniscalco, Christopher Meloni, Matthew Rhys, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amy Shumer, Jon Stewart, Brad Pitt.

Directed by John Krasinski.

If has been written and directed by John Krasinski, director of the app a Quiet Place films, and best known on television for The Office as well as being Jack I am. In checking on his background, we find that he has two daughters with his wife, Emily Blunt. And we get the impression that he might have created this story and this film for his daughters.

Certainly, the film has a great appeal for young girls – and their parents. It is a very pleasant film in itself, a pleasing film for its audience, an entertaining fantasy. What If…?

There is happiness and sadness as the film begins, the little Elizabeth, always called Bea, has a loving mother and father. But, we see her mother is ill and sadness in store for Bea.

Some years pass quickly. Bea (an impressively convincing performance from young Cailey Fleming) is now 12, rather sombre, asserting that she is an adult not a child. Her father, always a cheerful and jokey character (John Krasinski) is sick in hospital and Bea is staying with her grandmother (an enthusiastic Fiona Shaw).

But, there is something strange going on in the attic. And, here the fantasy begins. And a reminder that IF is short for Imaginary Friends. And the important question, where do Imaginary Friends go after we have forgotten them. So, we begin to find out, Bea mellowing a little, especially in the company of the rather quizzical Cal (Ryan Reynolds). And, to our delight, there is quite a range of fantasy characters, each very idiosyncratic. And it is very hard to go past delight in the giant roly-poly Blue, getting into all kinds of scrapes, eager, funny comments – and all with a welcome voice of Steve Carell. There is also a kind of pixie-insect, and dancer, Blossom (an enjoyably Phoebe Waller-Bridge).

Krasinski must have a lot of friends in the industry when we look at the huge list of voices of the various IFs – not that we recognise most of them while we are enjoying the film but a heavy satisfaction of having so many talented voices in the list (and the enjoyable credit which those charging out of the cinema as soon as credits appear will miss, the introducing of Brad Pitt as Keith the IF who did not speak – Keith is actually invisible provides a happy pratfall joke right at the end.)

And everyone joins together in a kind of mission, seeking out the adults who have forgotten their IF and all kinds of funny and serious attempts to rekindle their party childhood feelings.

Lots of sentiment, lots of fun, enjoyable for children, and even the possibility for melting the hearts of any sceptics – or critics!

1. The What if…? Of the title? The IFs, imaginary friends?
2. The target audience, younger audience, girls in the audience, families, parents and the older generation? Something for everyone?
3. The plot and its fantasy, audiences surrendering to the fantasy world, the fantasy world interacting with the real world?
4. John Krasinski as writer and director, sensitivity towards children?
5. The star cast, the voice cast and the celebrities, the joke about Brad Pitt?
6. The setting, Elizabeth, her age, called Bea, the relationship with her mother, with her choking father, the sadness, her mother’s death, the impact?
7. The years later, her father in hospital, staying with her grandmother, not wanting to be considered as a child, rather severe in her manner? Her visits to her father, his continually joking, her stern reactions, a relationship with her grandmother, in the house, the meals?
8. The noise in the Attic, her going up, the discoveries? Are gradually seeing the Ifs? Her initial reactions, interactions with them, softening her attitudes, joining with them in their mission, to reconnect older people who have forgotten their imaginary friends?
9. The range of the Ifs? Ryan Reynolds as Cal, his management role, interactions with the others, supervision, corrections? His own personality, sometimes stern, sometimes humorous? A guide for Bea? Steve Carell as Blue, an attractive character, his comments, his behaviour, getting into strife? The contrast with Blossom, appearance, voice, businesslike, background as a dancer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge? The range of the other characters, visually, the voice cast, their activities?
10. Cal taking Bea to Coney Island, the headquarters, meeting Lewis, Louis Gossett Jr, benign, advice, walking with Bea, his wistfulness, about the adults losing memories of their imaginary friends?
11. Episodes with the little boy in the hospital, his injuries, shrewd, talking with Bea, friendship, trying to get him an imaginary friend, the initial failure – and success at the end?
12. Her father, the flowers, the jokes, his concern and love, the operation, the aftermath, the friendly staff and nurse? Recovery?
13. Her grandmother, the photos, memories of the past, her grandmother thinking to be a dancer when she was young, the musical themes from Spartacus, her dancing, in touch with her past?
14. Blue, tracking down the awkward businessman, seeing his awkwardness, making the contact, disturbing him, the connection and the glow, going confidently into his work?
15. The characters and their discovery of their memories?
16. The effect on Bea, and his concern, the connection, and the discovery that he was her imaginary friend?
17. Memories of childhood, sadness of forgetfulness, joy of remembering?