Displaying items by tag: Gugu Mbatha Raw

FUZE

UK, 2025, 98 minutes, Colour.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Saffron Hocking.

Directed by David Mackenzie.

A British action thriller with some surprises.

The title refers to a bomb crisis in central London, a World War II bomb discovered on a building site, calling in the experts, the detailed study of the bomb and the ability to defuse it, military personnel, and also London police involved in evacuating the area and keeping the situation under control.

This scene to indicate that Fuse is a fairly straightforward action thriller with Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the expert for defusing the bomb and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as the police superintendent.

But, there is more, much more.

While the bomb diffusing is going on, the audience sees a group of bank robbers entering a precinct, heavy equipment, drilling through a wall, getting into the room with safe deposit boxes, a search for uncut diamonds. Theo James is one of the gang, keeping an eye out for the police and the situation with the bomb defusing. Sam Worthington is a member of the gang.

Gradually, a young corporal working on the defusing and suspicious raises questions. Police searching the area for evacuations come across the robbery.

With the explosion of the bomb, the attention of the drama goes to the criminals, their escape, issues of diamonds, contacts, setups and betrayals… There is also the involvement of a family who live in the building near the bank and are kept for the interrogation.

And, just when the issues of the diamonds and betrayals seem to be explained, there is a whole lot more in the film, twists and drama and explanations right up to the end - not what we might have been expecting.

1. The title and expectations? Bombs and explosions? Defusing?
2. The impact of the plot, the situation, the police, the expert, the evacuation of the area, the details of the defusing? And the introduction to the theme of robbing the bank? Audiences wondering about the connection?
3. The London setting, in the city London, the building area, the bomb, World War II? The police and their involvement, communications? The expert, at the shooting range, his background, Middle East, the stories, comrades dead? The squad, the various personalities, the young corporal and his expertise, working with the bomb, the equipment, the timing, on an off? The police and the equipment, supervising, the screen and indication of the bomb and its activity? Phones and Communications? Timing, split-second? Alerts, scares?
4. The situation in the city, the police, the range of people on the move, police barriers? The introduction to Romeo and his family, the plane to catch, anxiety, the language? Seen in the park? Eventually their wanting to return, their address in the suspicious building? Bringing them home, the lift out, carrying the grandfather and chair upstairs? Interrogations, language issues? The grandfather and his assistance in giving information?
5. The bank robbery and the insertion in the main theme, the personalities, the team, their cover, overalls, the drilling, explosions, personal interactions, opening up the boxes, the cash, the jewellery, the uncut diamonds? Karalis on guard, his being seen by the two police, decisions to be made, the escape, the sewers, the car, the different personalities? The escape, the rendezvous with Karalis, the sewer stench and its being used to help the escape, the police guard, getting through, the arrival of the rendezvous, the splitting, the issue of the uncut diamonds, Karalis going outside, his partner coming in, the shooting? The issue of the diamonds, smashing, the fakes? The buildup to the confrontation, cars and pursuits, the shooting?
6. Zuzana and her role, personality, taking command, assessing situations, communications? The news about the robbery? The evacuation over?
7. The issue of the corporal, the bomb, the timing, his realising that it was not a World War II bomb, trying to speak to the authorities, his interaction with Will Tranter, eventually Will Tranter meeting the superior officer, conversations, acceptance of the job done?
8. The twists, the explanations of the end, going back 10 years, Romeo situations in Afghanistan, Tranter and standing on the bomb, as his assistant, the vehicle, Karalis and his presence, the strategy of the attack, the shooting, defusing the mine? The involvement of each, the connections, Karalis and the revelation, the actual uncut diamonds, eluding the police at the airport, the group meeting in Istanbul – and the final commentary on what happened to each of them and the diamonds?

IRREPLACEABLE YOU

US, 2018, 96 minutes, Colour.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michiel Huisman, Steve Coogan, Timothy Simons, Jackie Weaver, Kate McKinnon, Christopher Walken, Zack Cherry, Brian Tyree Henry.

Directed by Stephanie LaIng.

This is a romance, a romantic comedy with quite a difference. It is a film about terminal illness, the period before death, dying. But, despite the sombre themes and some of the implications, this film has a lighter, often more positive touch.

It is an American production but the lead, Gugu Mbatha=Raw, is British – and Steve Coogan appears in a rather understated role as the leader of a therapy group.

The audience knows almost from the beginning that the central character, Abbie, dies, with her partner, Sam (Michiel Huisman) visiting her grave.

Abbie and Sam have been sweethearts since they were toddlers at school, a visit to the aquarium scene, a story about a fish biting another and their becoming one, she biting Sam – and their remaining together all through childhood, teens, adulthood. She is a dominating character, controlling. He is rather passive, a boring lecturer, often withdrawn. But, they are a loving couple.

Thinking she is pregnant, the resulting examination indicates that she has terminal cancers. So, the film is very frank in using the word death and dying rather than simply passing or passing away. Audiences can empathise with Abbie, her reactions, her feelings, the treatments, some of the resistance, her participation in therapy group, including her crocheting and her resistance (and the glimpses of the eccentric characters in the group).

But, one of the main focuses is her wanting to prepare a future for Sam, interviewing women, setting up online information, dominating him, including getting him to go to an art gallery opening, setting him up with the artist.

One of the members of the group, Myron (Christopher Walken at his sympathetic best) befriends Abbie, sharing a lot of her life and her ideas, trying to get her to focus on herself and her experience in the present, to stop her trying to control the future.

Which means then there are ups and downs of the relationship, some feelings of alienation, some frankness, truth-speaking, reconciliation and hope.

So some interesting characters amongst the supporting cast including Kate McKinnon in the group and, towards the end of the film, a key scene with Jackie Weaver.

For audiences interested in frank films naming death and dying, the 2025 Goodbye June is well worth seeing.

1. A film about dying, life before death, preparation for death? For the ill person? The partner? The others?
2. The New York settings, the city, apartments, doctor’s offices, therapy meetings, hospital, the streets, the rivers, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The opening, the aquarium, the story about the fish fighting and becoming one, Abbie and her biting Sam, the stitches, his telling the story, the young children, playing on the beach, the bond? Growing up, partners, life, his academic lectures, the students bored, his dividends, and in charge, dominant, thinking she was pregnant? The decision to marry, preparations for the wedding ceremony, the cake…?
4. Benji, his character, friendship with Sam, support, talk, the opposite? Abbie, her mother, the death of her father, her mother concerned?
5. The pregnancy test, the interview with the doctor, the discovery of the tumours, the diagnosis, terminal? Issues of treatment? The encounter with Dominic, his friendship, brashness, helping Abbie? The various sessions, her finally giving up on him?
6. The therapy sessions, Mitch and his quiet running of the sessions, the importance of the crocheting, the talk at the meetings, the various members, Kate and her touches of meditation and New Age, Bill, Jim, Meryl and their personalities, comments? Abbie’s reactions, keeping her distance, outbursts?
7. The character of Myron, his interest in Abbie, their talking, his terminal illness, his attitude towards life, the outings with Abbie? The discussions? His stories about Estelle, the unwanted couch?
8. Abbie, controlling, wanting the best for Sam, her decisions to plan his future, the interviews with the women, looking at the website, preparing his profile, discussions with the artist in the restaurant, organising his going to the opening, Myron and the buying of the clothes, Benji and his comments, Abbie watching with the binoculars? Benji leaving, Sam, awkwardness, the bar, the encounter with the artist?
9. And, her reactions, upset, distance from Sam, the effect on his classes? Separation, the meetings, Myron and his talk, bringing her to acknowledge her controlling attitudes? Seeking Sam, the reconciliation?
10. The preparation for the wedding, her mother, her mother going to support groups, the wedding dress, the cake? Her final visit to the therapy group?
11. Abbie growing weaker, the preparations for the wedding, her death?
12. Sam, the decision to have the party, the wedding party, the guests, the dress, the cakes, the dance space? His speech, reading out her letter?
13. The phrase, Too soon, for jokes about death, the tone of her letter, hopes for the future, too soon?

LIFT

US, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Vincent D[Onofrio, Ursula Corbero, Billy Magnusson, Yun Jee Kim, Jean Reno, Jacob Batalon, Burn Gorman.

Directed by F. Gary Gray.

Lift is a lighthearted, serious escapade action adventure. It has been directed by F.Gary Gray, skilled in this kind of entertainment like the remake of The Italian Job.

The main surprise of the film is Kevin Hart in the leading role, the action hero. His delivery and speed is rather toned down from his usual action comedies. And he seems to be enjoying himself as a romantic hero with the criminal touch.

In fact, the film has quite an extensive international cast, British Gugu Mbatha-Raw as an Interpol officer, Australian Sam Worthington as her boss. And, in the supporting cast, Americans, Koreans, Latin Americans – and, a veteran French villain, Jean Reno.

And there are some attractive and exciting international locations, opening with an art heist in Venice.

That the core of the story is Interpol’s desperation to catch Kevin Hart and his gang, getting Gugu Mbatha-Raw to be part of the impossible heist of a cargo of gold, being transferred to Switzerland to the villain so that he can finance terrorists to his financial gain.

The gang is a motley crew, international, hackers, safe crackers, and a gentleman who can disguise himself and infiltrate situations, played by Vincent D’Oonfrioi. Part of the enjoyment is their working together, personalities, clashes, expertise, and/or combining to capture the gold.

And, of course, there is a romantic touch because the Interpol agent and the leader had been romantically involved in the past, leading to tensions, and the breakdown of tensions, especially with the success of the mission.

One of those lavishly produced action adventure pastimes.

1. Action entertainment? International, exotic, and impossible highest…?
2. The international cast, Kevin Hart more subdued, criminals, interval, villains?
3. The tone, the sequences in Venice, the introduction to Cyrus, his abilities, artworks, his team, the techniques of stealing?
4. The portrait of the team, international, personalities, talents, seeing them in action, execution of the robberies, the planning and their expertise, the final heist of the gold? Camilla as the pilot, Magnus as the safe cracker, Mi-Sun as the hacker, Denton, the aged gentlemen, his many disguises?
5. Interpol, the organisation, Gladwell and her role, her commitment, Huxley as the boss, Australian accent, demanding, seeing him in pursuit, the chases, failure, his determination, demands on Gladwell?
6. The situation, the arch criminal, wealth, Switzerland, Gold, supporting terrorists, his staff, the range of thugs?
7. The plan, Gladwell to go undercover, her previous relationship with Cyrus, their sparring, her meeting with the various members, reluctance, commitment, the various details of the planning?
8. The flight, arrangements with the plains, hacking, deceptions, alternate plans, hacking, the safe on the plane, getting the gold? The various steps, tensions, action sequences, in the air, on land?
9. The buildup to the confrontation, the criminal, assured, the authorities, the failure of his plot?
10. The group, bonding, the success, Cyrus and Gladwell – and the possibility for sequels?