Displaying items by tag: Harriet Walter

SHELTER

UK, 2026, 107 minutes, Colour.

Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Bill Nighy,  Daniel Mays, Harriet Walter, Naomi Ackie, Michael Schaefer.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh.

The popularity of Jason Statham’s thrillers over more than 25 years is quite extraordinary. He has a rather taciturn screen presence but somehow rather convinces audiences of his integrity, intensity, physical abilities, an action hero for every occasion.

This thriller has been directed by Ric Roman wall, director of several of Jerry Butler’s action thrillers. But, it has a British setting and, surprisingly, quite a strong supporting cast of British character actors, with Bill night he has the head of MI6, ultimately a sinisterly shrewd character, working with Harriet Walter as the Prime Minister. Naomi and is a second in charge forced to face and sold ambiguous situations. Daniel Mays has a very good role as a retired computer expert who has set up a hyper surveillance program.

It emerges that Jason Statham is Mike this is a the demands of loyalty and executions by the head of MI6 and the arrangement was made in the program that he was dead. However, his picture in the AI has been substituted with that of a terrorist, meaning the invasion of his lighthouse island where he has hidden away.

The complication and the tone of the title is that a teenage girl delivered the food to his island, has to be rescued from a storm, is sheltered by Mike and witnesses his demolition of the invading true.

Complications, Chase, identities, moving to London, contact with the human traffic who was protected in the past and who can obtain passports, meanwhile the Mac nations of Bill Nye and drawing on the members of his task force, leading to the invasion of London night club – and the young girl, now very attached to Mike, unwilling to leave him, escaping to Spain and Mike having his final confrontation with the head of MI6.

And epilogue with the young girl insane – and some indications that Mike has survived. No problems there is a Shelton 2.

1. A Jason Statham action show? Compared with his others? Action, humanity? And British intelligence?
2. The title, the islands shelter for Michael Mason? His finding shelter for Jesse?
3. The island, the Lighthouse, remote, the Outer Hebrides? The sea and its roughness? The transition to the town stone away, the roads, the farms? Shops? The transition to London? The city, MI6, acknowledging in espionage, the club, the wharf? The epilogue in Spain?
4. The mystery about Michael Mason, living alone, with the dog, his sketches, his friend bringing the suppliers, Jesse Carrington the door, asking questions, will Mason abrupt? The storm, her uncle, her rowing, the capsise, the boat going down, his being tracked? Mason, his vote, the rescue?
5. The relationship between Mason and Jessie, looking after her, her ankle, the questions, named the dog Jack, the meals, playing chess? Minimal revelation of himself?
6. Transition to Westminster, the Prime Minister, her background with manifold, MI6, the special squad, the rules, loyalty, the Prime Minister and dismissing Montfort, the political manoeuvre, his freedom?
7. The attack on the island, Mason and his preparations, the traps, the fight, the deaths? The threat to Jessie? The death of the dog?
8. British intelligence, Montfort and his role, controlled, Roberto, her being in charge, the young woman assisting her and her intelligence and discoveries, Roberto being used, the technical equipment and surveillance, Mason and his mission, getting information, sparing the line, who they think his death, the changing of the photo, the wrong target?
9. Mason, the attachment to Jessie, by the clothes, the medication? The attack, the escape, at the farm, the pursuit, the attack, the father and his son, calling the police, the police, the assassins? The shooting the farmer?
10. Going to visit, his past, setting up the program, concealing Mason’s death, Mason want him to care for Jesse, the discovery of his cancer? The car, fleeing, Booth and his being in contact? The limitations of his equipment?
11. The travel to London, the continued pursuit and surveillance, Roberto the puzzle, discovering the truth about Montfort, Mumford and his own equipment, his eyes, his mentality, control and loyalty?
12. Going to the club, the owner, protected, trafficking, Mason persuading him to arrange the documents and vote for Jesse? The attack in the club, the shootouts? The escape to the war, Jessy wanting Mason to come with her, the attack, on the boat, her escape?
13. Mason, the confrontation with the assassin, the fight, his death? Mason then going to Montfort, the confrontation, the explanations, Mason not shooting the past, shooting Montfort?
14. Roberta, the revelations, the role of British intelligence?
15. The epilogue, Jessie in Spain, waiting from Mason, his setting in the chest piece, happy ending – and Mason vanishing?

AND MRS

UK, 2024, 111 minutes, Colour.

Aisling Bea, Billy Lourd, Susan Wokoma, Harriet Walter, Sinead Cusack, Peter Egan, Omari Douglas, Samuel Barnett, Paul Kaye, Elizabeth McGovern, Colin Hanks.

Directed by Daniel Reisinger.

Most of us may have to look twice at the title. Is there a misprint? An omission? No, in fact the title is quite accurate. And, if one were looking for a smart title, we might suggest A Post-mortem Romantic Comedy.

While the film is British, the writer is an Australian playwright living in London. And, the director is also Australian. Some audiences may sense a somewhat Australian sardonic tone, the humour in the seriousness.

This is Gemma’s story. She is played by Aising Bear. She is in a relationship with an American, Nathan, played by Colin Hanks. He has proposed. And while she has accepted, the engagement is still on something of an emotional long finger.

There is quite an early twist of the plot, something which advertising and trailers may quickly indicate. However, this review will take the reticent stance.

We spend a lot of time in London, with Gemma, with her close friends, happy flashbacks with Nathan and scenes of a sense of his presence with her all the time, with her parents, who are supportive of her engagement to Nathan and are eager for a happy resolution of the engagement despite Gemma’s hesitations.

Also in the picture are Nathan’s relations, the visit to London from his somewhat wacky sister, Audrey (Billy Lourd, Carrie Fisher’s daughter, in fact) and a visit to the United States to visit their mother, Elizabeth McGovern, a long way from Downton Abbey.

There are some legal difficulties which are pursued throughout the film, especially in approaches to the Chief Justice for various permissions required. And, as a bonus for audiences of British films and television, she is played by Harriet Walter.

Ultimately, there is a happy ending, a wedding ceremony, and we realise what the title means.

1. Curiosity about the title? The explanation, engagement, the wedding?
2. The British setting, Australian writer and director, humorous tone, satiric tones, romantic tones?
3. The structure of the film, the present, the range of flashbacks, building up the picture of Nathan and his relationship with Gemma? His appearances in her imagination?
4. A romantic comedy, a post-mortem romantic comedy, marriage and commitment to a dead’s powers? In terms of realism? In terms of imagination and comedy? The background of legal issues and precedents in the UK and France?
5. Gemma’s story, her relationship with Nathan, his American background, her life, work, exercises, returning to find Nathan has died? The impact on her, grief, surprise? Her reliance on her best friend, flight attendant with her stories, consolation and support? The response of her parents, their understanding, discussions?
6. The issue of the funeral, the arrangements, the messages for Audrey, not picking up her phone, Nathan’s sister, arrival in the UK, thinking it a joke, the reality, vomiting into the Prada bag? Her personality, erratic? Her stories about their mother? Abandoning them? The later visit by Gemma to their mother, her life, conversations, Audrey outside, eventually coming in, the mother’s hard stands, not consenting to the wedding, the later scenes of rethinking, the photo, change of heart?
7. The funeral, the speaker, the parody of this kind of speech, Audrey and her attack, ousting him? The effect on everyone?
8. The idea of the wedding, the research, the approach to the Chief Justice, the impersonation of the court, sitting in on the prostitution case, the farcical aspects? The application, the letter, the return, the discussions with the Chief Justice, the eager assistant supporting the idea, the continued meetings, her turning down the issue, the legal precedents, her own life? The final meeting, the eventual persuasion, and her seeing herself in a good light?
9. Manager of the restaurant for the wedding, his criticisms of Nathan and online rules, the confrontation with Gemma? Agreeing to hold the reception? The final sequence in the middle of the credits at the reception?
10. Nathan’s best friend, arriving, no refund for the ticket, his attraction to Gemma’s best friend, together, talking, dancing?
11. The gay friend, his support, is officiating at the wedding? Attracted to the Chief Justices assistant?
12. The film showing Gemma’s moods, frame of mind, the reappearance is of Nathan, her imagining him, reassessing the engagement, the flashback to the proposal, the reasons for acceptance, her not having the opportunity to explain her commitment to Nathan, the urgency of the quest, the interviews with the Chief Justice, with Nathan’s mother (and going to America with the comedy of the best friend having to go through security so many times)?
13. The ultimate ceremony, her hesitations, her mother absent for the moment, the deep commitment, the ceremony, the aftermath and the celebrations and support?
14. An offbeat idea, a post-mortem romcom?