Displaying items by tag: Henry Cavill

ENOLA HOLMES 3

UK, 2026, 105 minutes, Colour.

Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Billy Partridge, Himesh Patel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Hattie Morahan, Susan Wikoma, Joe Azzopardi.

Directed by Philip Barantini.

Enola Homes is the sister of Sherlock and Mycroft, the creation of Nancy Springer in a series of popular novels. This is the third of the books to be filmed. It presupposes most of the central characters and the cast return for this version. Millie Bobby Brown is lively and older. Henry Cavill returns as a sombre Sherlock. And, there is the creation of their mother character, a rebel, explosives, demonstrations, somewhat alienated from her family, Helena Bonham Carter enjoying the role.

The marriage is to take place in Malta, most of the action there, Malta and British occupation (and with some sequences railing against British colonialism) and some complications with the military and justice.

Enola (alone spelt backwards) the talks to camera and explains that the good film starts with a wedding – but, she hesitates, his pursued by Dr Watson with the news that Sherlock has been kidnapped. She is committed to finding her brother, using his methods to deduce what has happened to him.

She is in love with the Duke of Tewkesbury, played again by Louis Partridge. Then his mother is also abducted and there is intense deliberation to discover what has happened to Sherlock.

At the beginning, the audience has been introduced to a plot focusing on Tewkesbury, and Moriarty, now a female villain played by Sharon Duncan Brewster, pursues Sherlock and takes him.

Sherlock does leave a clue on the mirror, the name of the Afghan town,Khost. So, questions about Afghanistan, the role of Tewkesbury’s father, Afghan soldiers, payment, doubledealing, cover-ups…

Which all leads to various adventures, and Enola going into action, exposes, confrontation with Moriarty – and happy ending and the possibility for a fourth episode.

1. The popularity of the series? Sherlock Holmes sister? Comparisons with Sherlock? Her skill as a detective?
2. The British settings, the action taking place in Malta, the vistas of Malta, landscapes, the cities? The musical score?
3. Enola, her age, from the previous films, relationship with Sherlock, comparisons, her relationship with her mother, eccentricities? Seeing her at work as a detective, using Sherlock’s methods? Her commentary throughout the film, looking to camera?
4. The opening, a wedding, Tewksbury at the altar, the congregation, no bride, her decision-making, getting into the carriage, pursued, Dr Watson, the news of Sherlock’s abduction? Her becoming involved, leaving Tewksbury at the altar?
5. The character of Sherlock, his reputation, his letters, logical, not emotional, the interactions with Enola, with Dr Watson, Watson reminiscing about the relationship, the Team, his diaries? Knowing in advance, the past with Moriarty, at the dinner in Malta, seeing the soldiers, pursuing him, disappearance?
6. The prologue, England, Moriarty in jail, being freed, the name Tewksbury, her mission, the implication of the British officers in Malta?
7. Enola, her pursuit of the soldier, his being killed, the local police, the interrogation, the British officials intervening, her freedom? Her pursuit of the woman, the warning, the woman killed? Her looking for clues after Tewksbury’s mother was kidnapped, finding the medals? Using Sherlock’s methods, reflections?
8. The local revolutionary, following Enola, the confrontations and fight, his motivations, against the colonialism of the British, and seeing the colonialism in action?
9. Tewksbury, the past stories, relationship with Enola, the scenes of proposal, her acceptance, the bond between them, the swimming sequence? His mother’s abduction? Working with Enola? Dr Watson and his collaboration?

• The arrival of Eudoria, her personality, and dominance, with her daughter, the wedding, her reputation explosions, collaborating with the investigation, going to the headquarters, wanting the documents, the attack on the soldier, the search, finding information about Afghanistan, the gold, the stealing? Sherlock and his clues, writing the name Khost?
• Moriarty, the past with Sherlock, vengeance, her plan, the commission from the British, her setting up all the clues, luring Enola along the way, her vengeance and killing her agents the abduction of Tewksbury’s mother, the scenes in the cell, the water, interrogation, pouring out the water?
• Tewksbury, the explanation of the cave, Enola working out where the gold was, finding it?
• The buildup to the final confrontation, her putting the gun on Moriarty, Moriarty and the explosives, the local soldiers, then Moriarty’s squad, the shootout?
• The release of the mother, the expose of the officials, the gold the betrayal, the hiding, the discovery, the exposure of the British? Tewksbury and his disappointment with his father?
• Enola, whether she should become lady Tewksbury or not, the class issues, the jokes about class, Enola and the discussions with Tewksbury, his giving up his title?
• An enjoyable Holmes adventure, Sherlock, Enola, Moriarty? And the future?

IN THE GREY

UK/US, 2026, 98 minutes, Colour.

Henry Cavill, Jake Gylenhaal, Eliza Gonzalez, Carlos Bardem, Michael Vu, Fisher Stevens, Rosamund Pike, Kojo Attah, Jason Wong.

Directed by Guy Ritchie.

A thriller set in the world of high finance, in the space between the black-and-white of law and disorder, in the grey. And quotations  come to mind, “the love of money is the root of all evil” and, for players like mercenaries, playing “for love of the game”.

25 years of action shows have been written and directed by Guy Ritchie, moving initially from low crime, Lock, Stock, Two Smoking Barrels, through a range of underworlds to the world of Gentlemen criminals. And, now a worldwide, international perspective.

Though Ritchie’s world has been largely a world of men, on both sides of the law. This time, the main player is a woman, Rachel, played with glamour and aplomb by Eliza Gonzalez. And, in the corporate world, she confronts a female executive, played incisively by Rosamund Pike. But, in a man’s world, Rachel still has to be rescued!

The villain is the dictator, Salzar, his Island, his own army, yacht luxuries, his own plane, wheeling and dealing in finance with his own crooked lawyer, his murderous henchmen. But, Rachel also has her team, two buddy mercenaries she has rescued from prison and who are loyal to her, played by Henry Cavill and Jake Gylenhaal, very cool in crises, but always smart and coming to the rescue. And, a retinue team of experts in surveillance and logistics.

And, all this is necessary, because Rachel will confront the dictator, continually successfully, using the power of law. But, he will capture her and she will need to be rescued – the first part of the film elaborates setting up the plan if she needs an escape route; the second part of the film going into the actual detail of the escape.

Made for entertainment, dipping into the world beyond most people’s imagination of international finance and doubledealing, but skills in confrontations, and always at the ready, and weapons galore, an action show.

1. The root of all evil, a love of money; love of the game?
2. Guy Ritchie, his reputation, crime thrillers, action? Now international finance?
3. The credibility of the plot, real aspects, heightened aspects? Intrigue, action?
4. The situation, world finance in the 21^st-century, banks, finance companies, dictators? Ruthlessness? Use of the law, private armies, the world of luxury?
5. The role of men and women, Rachel as the lead, strong character, ingenious, planning, in action, confrontations? But still needing to be rescued! The financial world, New York, Bobby, her power, manipulation, confrontations?
6. Salazar, his being threatened, his henchmen, the murders? The repercussions for the finance company?
7. Rachel, her confrontation with Bobby, the issue of the deal, the fee, her hold over Bobby? The final confrontation, the phone ringing?
8. Horowitz, and manner, regularly visiting him, the office, interactions, Bronco present, fiddling with the statue, the microphone? Verbal gameplaying?
9. Bronco, Sid, in prison, the release, Rachel freeing them, mercenaries, their skills, her dependence on them, their dependence on her, the plans, execution, the range of staff, surveillance, Logistics?
10. The plan, Rachel and Salazar, the continual encounters, Salazar being outmanoeuvred, his yacht and luxuries, finally agreeing?
11. Rachel in the desert, the camp, the attack and killings, imprisonment, her watch, summoning the mercenaries?
12. In prison, the plans, the first part of the film and rehearsal, the attention to minute details, vehicles, across the valley, the boat? The second half of the film, everything being fulfilled?
13. Rachel, the escape, action, the helicopter pursuing, shot down, Baker and the explosion, the escape to the boat?
14. Rachel, success, Bobby defeated, her boss exposed? Ready for the next action?

ARGYLLE

UK/US, 2024, 140 minutes, Colour.

Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Arianna DeBose, Dua Lipa, Richard E.Grant, John Cena, Samuel L.Jackson, Sofia Boutella, Louis Partridge, Ben Daniels.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn.

Has there been any research done about film fans who decide that they are against a film before they see it, still determinedly actually pay for their ticket, then spend a great deal of their time lamenting about the time wasted in watching the film and devoting more time and energies to badmouthing it, especially on social media, and on movie blogging sites? The immediate response to Argylle would be a good case in point. A great deal of social media time and space devoted to lambasting it.

The accompanying question for discernment would be: why not look at the cast and the director, discern that it would be an action show, espionage, probably a lot of spoof, and, with the history of the director, lots of colour and over the top action: give it a try. There would be quite a number of things to enjoy. And, that is probably the point, Argylle was made for enjoyment rather than for minute critical analysis.

Matthew Vaughn has had an interesting career, from the gangster Layer Cake, X Men, Kick Ass, the Kingsman series. And, this time he has had a $200 million budget. A lot of it up there on the screen in colour, special effects, spectacular action sequences.

The basic idea is enjoyable, Bryce Dallas Howard is Elly Conway, a rather mousy writer of spy thrillers. After a signing she is actually whether like Frederick Forsyth, John Le Carre, she is a spy herself!  But, soon she does get herself into spy situations, a scruffy fan on a train, Aidan (Sam Rockwell enjoying himself all the way through) revealed through as many fight variations you can have on a moving train, to be a spy, reader of all Elly’s novels, out to protect her.

We have already seen part of one of her novels in action, with Henry Cavill as her muscular hero (despite that awkward Mohawk hair style), in action in Greece, with his tough associate, John Cena, an agent killed, and an unsatisfactory to Elly’s novel. And, Argylle will reappear throughout the film, in Elly’s eyes alternating between Argylle and Aidan.

While Elly’s mother, Catherine O’Hara, is keen to help her daughter with her writing and plot development, we discover the malevolent influence of the renegade Directory the, Bryan Cranston. Plenty of star power in this film, including Oscar-winner Arianna DeBose as an IT expert spy, Samuel L.Jackson as the retired head of the CIA, Sofia Boutella as an exotic mastermind.

Maybe by about a third of the way through or more, there is the temptation to think that this is perhaps a bit more routine than hoped for. But, then the twists start. And then twist on twists! And, the spending of the budget on big action sequences, the audience thinking that one that involves all kinds of smoke and technicolour clouds isn’t bad, but then there is the ice-skating on an armaments floor covered in gasoline, a number of the spectacular leaps and action shots during the skating, some tension in the revelation of who is spying on whom, and a desperate fight interrupting the sending of an important file, a surprise rescue and a final explosion.

This is rather a different role for Sam Rockwell and he seems to relish it. And, a bit more admiration for Bryce Dallas Howard by the end – and, as she grows older, she will enjoy sitting down with her grandchildren to watch it again!

1. The films of Matthew Vaughn? Heroes and superheroes? Reality and fantasy? Action? Colour? Effects, action?
2. The big budget, the strong cast, the action sequences, choreographed, the special effects, extravagant? The overall effect? “Mindless entertainment”?
3. The introduction, the episode in Greece, Henry cavill as Argylle, in action, in the club, the dancer, seductive, explosions, the revelation about controls and the Directory, the glimpse of the Director, the death of the agent in the car, and the dancer scooped by John Cena as he drank his coffee?
4. And the revelation that Argylle was a character, Elly Conway as the author, the series of books over five years, bestsellers, the book signing, the fans, asking whether she was a spy like Frederick Forsyth and John Le Carre? Her being quiet and demure, mousy?
5. Her relationship with her mother, the phone calls, the discussions of the plot, the mother’s contributions, wanting to come to see her to discuss the developments?
6. The train sequence, Aidan sitting in the seat, hair, suspicious, reading Argylle, the discussions, his being a spy, the consequent mayhem, the fights all through the train, rescuing Elly?
7. The revelation of the Directory, Rogue agency, Ritter as director, his manner, treatment of his underlings, his rifle, shooting? His wanting to get Elly? The revelation about Elly, the stories paralleling reality?
8. The narrative of the plot, comic book, images of Argylle mixing with Aidan during the fights? Argylle and his advice to Elly?
9. The importance of Alfie the cat, his appearance, bond with Ellie, her carrying him everywhere, his being in danger, Aidan’s allergy? His part in the heroic action? The discovery of the actual Alfie, in France, Samuel L.Jackson, the visit, the explanation of Pinot Noir, yet his complete set up in France, in the past with the CIA? His determination to unmask and capture Ritter?
10. The twists? Dramatically effective? Tantalising? A further twist and revelations? Aidan telling Elly that she was a top agent, her disbelief? Gradual returning of memories? Her mother’s arrival and the truth about her mother, psychologist, the capture of Elly, transforming her character? Her father, Barry – and his threatening Elly, Ritter and his control?
11. Ritter and his staff, interrogations of the Elly, discovering where Alfie was? Elly rediscovering her past skills?
12. Aidan, his roles in the past, his love for Elly, overhearing him, sense of betrayal? Issues of trust?
13. The visit to the Keeper of Secrets, the background of Bakunin, his code, Ritter wanting it, the killing of Bakunin, the interaction with the Keeper of Secrets, her court, socials, Aidan and Elly dancing, not drinking, having possession of the code?
14. The buildup to the confrontation, Ritter and his forces, Elly, in the dress, her wig, transformed? Going into action, the gasoline on the floor, the troops, the memories of her skating, the accident, but her skills, getting the knives escapes, the choreographed skating, the aerial manoeuvres? The buildup with the smoke, the variety of colours, a technicolour extravaganza?
15. The irony about the psychologist, Aidan shooting her, the bullet proof vest, her reappearing, Aidan and Ellie trying to transmit the code to Alfie, his watching the sports, the interrupted transmission, the fight, the psychologist and her control, Ellie trying to defeat Aidan? The arrival of the agent (in the background story of the experiments, trajectory of bullets, life saved)? Her getting rid of the psychologist? The successful transmission?
16. Argylle and his reappearance? In the novels? His being a James Bond style character? The atmosphere of this kind of international espionage throughout? The irony of the transformation of the mousy author into the super agent? And the romance? And the books?