Displaying items by tag: Glenn Close

WAKE UP DEAD MAN

US, 2025, 144 minutes, Colour.

Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl MacCormack, Thomas Hayden Church, Jeffrey Wright, Annie Hamilton, James Faulkner, Bridget Everett.

Directed by Rian Johnson.

In 2019, movie audiences worldwide enjoyed a very entertaining murder mystery, Knives Out, a very starry cast, an offbeat private detective, genteel and from the South, Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig. Three years later, writer-director, Rian Johnson, was successful again with The Glass Onion. And audiences wondered, now three years later again, whether this film, Wake Up Dead Man, could be a successful.

It is.

And, once again Daniel Craig’s charmingly eccentric Blanc, a star cast for character actors, a murder in an equivalently locked room, plenty of suspects, gradual revelations, twists (although many audiences probably pick the murderer but will be surprised at all the motivations and turns in the plot). There are references to Agatha Christie and Roger Ackroyd. And, Benoit Blanc uses the John Dickson Carr thriller, The Hollow Room, as a template for his theories.

No difficulties in recommending Wake Up Dead Man to murder mystery audiences – plenty to entertain, almost 2 ½ hours worth.

But, the surprise is the Catholicism pervading the whole story and treatment. Which meant checking whether writer-director, Rian Johnson is Catholic. In fact he grew up in a close evangelical community.

The filmmaker made Dead Man in large part to excavate his deeply religious youth, a core part of his identity that gradually faded in adulthood. “I slowly realized I was writing this through the lens of me, now,” Johnson says. “I had to step back into me, 30 years ago, and tap back into the things that inspired and drove me as a Christian”. David Canfield, 21 Nov. 2025. Hollywood Reporter.

The events take place in the fictional parish in New York state, Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, ruled over by an eccentric parish priest, Msgr Wicks, Josh Brolin rather savage, something of a cult leader in his hold over a group of parishioners, helping them, but exercising power, an angry man (and there is an interesting background to his place in the church), taking a stance against any inroads against him and the church, siege mentality. The common-sensed local Bishop, Jeffrey Wright, appoints an earnest young priest, Father Jud, to bring some balance to the parish. Father Jud is played by Josh O’Connor, one of his best performances, a former boxer with responsibility for death, changing his life, very much focus on Jesus of the Gospels, pastorally earnest. (Perhaps Rian Johnson had seen Mark Wahlberg as Father Stu!) An eventual clashing with the parish priest and his loyal parishioners.

The film introduces quite a range of characters, all potential suspects, the devoted manager of the parish, Glenn Close; the local doctor, Jeremy Renner; the local lawyer, Kerry Washington; an oddball novelist, Andrew Scott; a wheelchair-confined cellist, Cailee Spaeny; the caretaker, Thomas Hayden Church; a young would-be politician, Daryl McCormack (who has a marvellous short scene where he explains how he has campaigned in an enormous litany of every cause, every controversy, every movement in contemporary politics, especially in the USA).

And the murder takes place on Good Friday, and some rather fanatical beliefs and manoeuvrings in rising from the dead.

One of the features prominent in the film is that of confession, several between Msgr Wicks and Father Jud, some revelations of conscience, personality, some twists of conscience. And, Benoit Blanc, who declares himself absolutely rationalist, has to admire Father Jud, wants to save him from all the suspicions, sees that his Gospel compassion has something to commend it and arranges that the final revelation should take place in the church, everybody present, and that the murderer admits guilt in the framework of confession.

Many audiences will just observe this Catholic framework – but, the characters, the situations, the sins, repentance, the contrast between authoritarianism and pastoral enthusiasm make a difference for a Catholic audience.

1. Audience enjoyment murder mysteries? Literary tradition from Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr…? The film tradition? This third Benoit Blanc mystery?
2. Audience enjoyment of Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, from the south, manner, speaking, clothes, style? The previous films, his status as detective, clues, interrogations, explanations, the dramatic confrontations, the accused, the suspects, the murderer?
3. Father Jud and his story, writing up the accounts, his voice-over, his own story, young, boxer, killing his opponent, later saying he hated him, his sense of guilt, his discovery of Jesus, motivations, priesthood, the interview with the Bishop, his being reprimanded by the panel, his manner, vocabulary, talk about his faith and pastoral perspective? The Bishop sympathy, the new appointment?
4. The warning about Msgr Wicks, Jud arriving, the encounter, at Wicks’ and his appearance, manner, way of speaking? His long status of the church? The back story, his father, widower, becoming a priest, establishing the church, his daughter and her ways, pregnancy, unknown father, the ministry of her father, his death at the altar, the inheritance, her wanting it, the destruction of the church and her anger, the encounter with Martha as a little girl, her death? The father and the mausoleum? Msgr Wicks, ordained, the church, the small congregation?
5. Msgr Wicks, conservative, angry, feeling the church was under siege, his hold over the community, words of help, yet humiliating them, making them dependent? His thundery sermons? The encounter with Jud, the boxing, the sparring and the demonstration of asserting oneself? The issue of confessions, his talk about himself, especially the sexual dimensions of his life, and the later information about his prostate surgery and his assertions? Forcing Jud to confess to him? Jud and the uncomfortable experiences? The prayer penances? Time passing?
6. The information about Martha, as a little girl, with the elderly priest and her devotion, the fight with his daughter and her death? The doing all the work in the parish, older, prim and proper, accounts, the organ playing, her devotion to Msgr Wicks? Her reaction to Jud? To the other parishioners? The homilies and her looking in admiration to the monsignor?
7. Dr Nat, the doctor, devoted to his wife, her suddenly leaving him, his drinking, wanting her back? Vera, the lawyer, keeping the parish accounts? Cyrus, her looking after him, his growing up, his political ambitions, the sequence of his describing all the issues and causes that he had tried out? His use of the media, filming everything? Simone, her age, playing the cello, her incapacities, retiring, giving her money to the Parish? Lee, author, the lurid titles, his retirement, his house has a fortress with a defensive mode? Supportive of monsignor?
8. The image of the Catholic Church, the progressive and pastoral perspectives as embodied by Jud, contemporary involvement in the Gospel and Jesus message for those in need? The contrast with the isolating, the defensive, the exercise of power, and the moral double standards?
9. Monsignor and his meetings, the revelation of the meeting where he denounced everyone, their loyalties to him, the humiliations?
10. The presence of Samson, gardener, alcoholic, monsignor rehabilitating him, Martha and her devotion? The television, his watching the matches? The interrogations by Blanc?
11. Jud, his prayer meeting, their attendance, the reactions, the monsignor coming in, punching Jud? The atmosphere for Holy Week?
12. Good Friday, the ceremony, all present, the homily, the singing of the chant with the cross, monsignor exiting, his collapse, Jud going in, dead, stabbed, the blood? The closed room?
13. The police, the information, Jud under suspicion, his behaviour? The personality of the investigator, her tough stances, interrogations, suspicions of Jud?
14. The calling in of Benoit Blanc, entering the church, the discussions with Jud, his not being a believer, the vocalising of attitudes of agnostics and atheists, criticism of belief? Yet his polite listening to Jud and the others, and his later moments of acknowledgement of faith and belief, his finally organising the final confession? His methods, the reliance on The Hollow Room, John Dickson Carr, going to the various possibilities?
15. The developments of the case, the issue of the excavator for the mausoleum, the autopsy, Jud being present, having to leave the room, monsignor being buried in the mausoleum? Martha, her fussing, with the police, with Benoit Blanc, her belief in the resurrection, her continued prayer?
16. The resurrection episode, Samson in the coffin, emerging investments, the range of cameras in the church and the mausoleum, motions filming, Jud arriving and slipping in the mud? His seeing the light, discovering Samson, his death? The police and further suspicions? Martha and her acknowledging that monsignor had risen from the dead and gone to heaven?
17. The revelation that Cyrus was Msgr’s son, the unknown mother, Vera and her disgust and relationship with Cyrus, his bonding with monsignor, taking his name, being the heir, wanting to discover his grandfather’s inheritance? The keepsake, the apple, the lawyer, the search of documents? Benoit Blanc and Jud and their search?
18. The further investigations, going to the doctor’s house, the discovery of monsignor’s body, the doctor dead, the further mystery?
19. Jud, his sense of guilt, wanting to confess? Benoit Blanc’s reaction, assembling everybody in the church, the explanations, but his wanting to show compassion like Jud to those in need of compassion? Arranging the confession sequence?
20. Martha, the confession, her explanations, the various clues, the background of the old priest, her devotion to him as a little girl, her contempt for his daughter, the truth about the old man’s death, swallowing the jewel, its being buried with him, Martha keeping the secret? Her shock at hearing the truth, turning against monsignor, side issue of the phone call to find out who booked the machine, Jud and his long discussions with Louise, pastoral compassion? That Martha had booked the machine, to get to the body of the old man, to retrieve the jewel? The solution to the mystery, the camera and the experts explanation about time lapse, Jud and his concealing the drink and monsignor’s reputation, but his collapse with the drugs, Martha selling the emblem on to the chasuble (and the background of the visit to the bar and the implement, Jud and his despair, throwing the implement through the window, their being two? The doctor doing the stabbing? Not able to find the alcohol container behind the door? Her plot with the doctor, to resurrect monsignor through Samson, the doctor and his greed, killing Samson, his explanation to Martha, going back to the house, the issue of the poisoned drink, Martha distracting the doctor, switching the cups, his death, her throwing him down the steps? Her retrieving the jewel? Her drinking the poison, her death?
21. The aftermath, Vera leaving town, Cy and his further political ambitions, Lee and his book on publication and signing autographs, Simone playing the cello again?
22. Jud, the discussions with the bishop, the support from the Bishop, going back to the church, the audience thinking he was using the money from the jewel – the renovations of the church, the restored crucifix – and the final revelation of the jewel buried in the crucifix?
23. Satisfying murder mystery, death in the locked room, clues, investigation, solution?

BACK IN ACTION

US, 2025, 114 minutes, Colour.

Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Mckenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson, Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close, Jamie Demetriou, Andrew Scott.

Directed by Seth Gordon.

After more than 10 years away from the screen, Cameron Diaz, so popular in the 1990s and 2000s, returns to the screen, with some enthusiasm.

This is an enjoyable action show even if, some critical of this kind of show tell su we have seen most of it before. But, is that necessarily a bad thing!

Cameron Diaz works here with Jamie Foxx, secret agents, plenty of action to establish their characters, but betrayals, suspicion of the MI6, their being abducted, a fight in the air, crash landing and the decision to disappear and lead an ordinary life.

Then 15 years later, we see the now-ordinary American couple, their two teenage children, the complaining suspicious daughter, the precocious young son, devoted parents in Middle America, at home, sports and teachers meetings, Mother too demanding. Then exhibiting rather martial arts skills when least expected.

Blame social media for breaking the secrecy but, in an encounter in a club to rescue her daughter, mother goes into action and is photographed, displayed on social media, their American handler immediately coming to catch up with them, his being shot at, and their going on the run with their children, no explanations, the children continually amazed.

They go to the grandmother in England, an elitist British spy in her day, owning a mansion – and, a great bonus, one of those very eccentric performances from Glenn Close. And, into the bargain, the MI6agent is played by Andrew Scott, increasingly popular and versatile on stage and screen, especially with his interpretation of Ripley.

Plenty of action, quite some comedy with the grandmother’s toyboy in training for the Secret Service and not too good at it, Jamie Demetrio, betrayals, climaxes, and final action in the Thames.

Yes, maybe we have seen a lot of it before, but no harm now in seeing it in the hands of Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close.

1. Straightforward title? The initial action, 15 years of domestic life, back in action?
2. References to James Bond and Jason Bourne, espionage action, old-style films, dangers, undercover, expertise in fighting, weapons? The espionage situation, MI6, the CIA? Belarusian terrorists? The lull in the 15 years, then back in action, no holds barred? The musical score?
3. The opening, the disguise, the social, Chuck and his control, meeting the host, getting his fingerprint, opening the safe, getting the key, the dangers, the escape? The encounter with Baron, the past relationship? On the plane, abducted, the fights, the death of the pilot, the crash, the parachute and the landing, the decision to disappear?
4. The 15 years, domestic comedy, the almost-Boomers, their style, compared with the children, 14 and 12, life at school, studies and friends, boyfriends, the club and dances, the young boy intelligent, studious, and the parents spying on them, using all the technology, the reaction of the children?
5. The episode at the club, the fight, going online, their being identified, Chuck arriving at the door, his being shot, the gunmen, getting the children, the car, the pursuit? The puzzle of the children? Emily and Matt have become very domesticated, but going into action again, Emily exhilarated by the fight the club?
6. The issue of the key, Matt hiding it with Emily’s mother, going to England, the flight, the continued bewilderment of the children, at passport control, the fake passports, observed, getting the rental car, the drive, the pursuit, at the diner, the petrol in the flamethrower, the fighting techniques, the children in the English breakfast, using the pewter, enabling the pinpointing of their presence?
7. The continued chase, barren in pursuit, shooting the truck with the pipes and blocking the road? Barren discovery going to Emily’s mother is? His knowing that Emily thought he was a traitor?
8. Emily and the story about her mother, the dispute between them, boarding school in America, her mother is a spy? Glenn close enjoying this rule? Nigel, the toyboy, training for the Secret Service, his ineptness, his dumb remarks, yet the romance? Boys showing him up with throwing the darts and weapons?
9. The siege of the house, finding the Chuck was the traitor, his explanation of his being sacked because of their disappearance? His contact with the various groups?
10. Emily’s mother, her manner, career, tough, British, not embracing? It is in Nigel? Matt recovering the key? The abduction of the children? The discovery of the event at the Tate Modern?
11. Dressed up for the occasion, getting in, Chuck with the key, Daphne and her controls, the option, the bidders, turning the lights of the city on and off, opening the floodgates for the Thames?
12. Confrontations, the pursuit, taking the children, on the boat, Chuck in his communication with Daphne, grandmother to the rescue with the shooting, Emily and Matt, on the bikes, the tactics, into the boat, risking the children, the fights?
13. Nigel, the encounter with Daphne on the crash, with the computer, his dithering, ultimately succeeding despite himself? Send himself as a hero?
14. The final rescue, everybody in the US, the soccer match, the daughter and her success, reconciliation between Emily and her mother, Nigel present? Get into the car, and Barry with a proposal for future action?

THE DELIVERANCE

US, 2024, 112 minutes, Colour.

Andra Day, Glenn Close, Anthony B.J enkins, Caleb MacLaughlin, Demi Singleton, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Monique, Omar Epps, Colleen Camp.

Directed by Lee Daniels.

It is more than half a century since The Exorcist made such an impact on worldwide audiences. And there have been so many sequels, imitations, parodies over the 50 years. The 2020s saw a renewed interest in exorcism films but, at the opening of this film there is a declaration there is a difference between exorcisms and the ritual of deliverance from evil power.

For almost the first half of the film, it is a portrait of a dysfunctional African-American family living in an urban neighbourhood. The focus is on Ebony, played by singer Andra Day, addictions, term in prison, husband away in Iraq, though new house. She tries to manage the children, older teenage Nate, younger teenage Shante, and she favours little boy, Dre. There are tensions in the house, Ebony and her drinking, Irresponsibilities, trying to maintain discipline. The further complication is the presence of her mother living with them, and Ebony’s resentment towards her mother and her upbringing, her mother’s irresponsibilities. Her mother now has cancer, having chemotherapy, but also a religious conversion. And, she is white. And she is played by Glenn Close, obviously enjoying herself in an offbeat role, tough, domineering, echoing her performance as the raucous grandmother in Hillbilly Elegy (the biography film of J.D.Vance, that J.D. Vance).

But, soon there are echoes of The Exorcist as well as such house possession films as The Amityville Horror. And the evil manifests itself in Dre, withdrawn, talking with an imaginary friend, and the house filled with flies, foul smell.

While the parallels with the mother in The Exorcist and Ebony emerge, process of Deliverance is more complex, social welfare arriving to take on the children, Ebony’s mother and her continuing illness, Ebony herself resentful of her mother placing a crucifix on the wall.

In the 2023 sequel to The Exorcist, the ritual is not confined to Catholics. It opened up the possibility of other exorcists from denominations or other religions. This time, the Deliverer is a woman pastor of the church, calling herself an apostle, failing in a past attempt at deliverance but now engaging with Ebony to confront the bizarre behaviour of her children, the alarmingly sinister reappearance of her dead mother, the shape shifting in possession of the various characters by the Demons.

But those sceptical of such stories of possession and exorcism and deliverance, it will just be an equivalent of a social horror film. For those who find such stories credible, this is a different perspective, the experience of the African-American family, the influence of evangelical Christianity and beliefs.

1. The title, exorcisms, the contrast with deliverance from evil power?
2. An African-American urban story, family, dysfunctional, challenges? The transition to the demonic? The religious dimension? Health and psychological dimension? Confronting evil?
3. The city, the neighbourhood, the streets, homes, interiors? Schools? Hospitals? The musical score?
4. The opening part of the film, the family dynamics? Ebony, husband in Iraq, moving, the new home, her personal problems, addiction, drinking, past prison sentence? Custody of her children? Relationship with her children, home life, her responsibilities, irresponsibility, drinking? STONE attitudes? The presence of her mother, her mother’s background, treatment of her as a child? Her mother’s conversion, cancer and chemotherapy? The details of life in the family, meals, conversations, the children’s attitudes towards her mother?
5. The character of Alberta, Glenn Close, raucous and rugged, her past, relationships, African-American partner, the birth of Ebony? Bringing her up, the antagonism? The coming to live with the family, criticisms of the meal, her comments, with the children, her chemotherapy, the flirtation with the assistant? The clashes with Cynthia? Putting up the crucifix and Ebony’s hostility? The buildup to her death?
6. The children, their ages, going to school, the taunts from the children in the street? Nate, his age, contact with his father, the money, hiding the alcohol from his mother, confronting her, wanting to leave? Yet genial with the others? Shante, her age, prim, reading and study, the issue of her birthday party? Dre, his age, talking with his imaginary friend, going to the basement, going to school, favoured by his mother, yet her discipline with him?
7. The new house, the screenplay intimating an evil presence, Dre talking to his friend, going to the basement, the flies, the smell? The visit of Cynthia, her supervision, Ebony’s hostility, wanting to talk with the children? The official position, criticisms, visits, the story of the death of her child?
8. The woman taking the pictures, in the car, assumption she was with Cynthia? The later revelation, the background of the Church and the churchgoing? Her seeing herself as an apostle? The story of the family living there, and not be able to help the boy? The visuals of the family turning on each other, the mother and her killings? The presence of demons, demonic possession and behaviour?
9. Dre, the bizarre behaviour, withdrawals? The scene of the mess in the room and Ebony’s behaviour? Nate and his trying to strangle Dre in the bath? The continued bizarre behaviour? Cynthia, the withdrawal of the children?
10. Ebony, the talking with the apostle, getting herself in order, the attempt at the deliverance ritual, the death of the Apostle? Ebony, gaining strength, her spiritual attitude, prayer?
11. The crucifix, in flames, the death of her mother, the Demon shape shifting, in various forms of family, the diabolical presence of her mother, the teeth, the condemnations?
12. Ebony, overcoming the demonic presence? The future with her family?