Displaying items by tag: Juno Temple

ROOFMAN

US, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.

Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelssohn, Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple, Emory Cohen, LaKeith Stanfield, Melonie Diaz, Lily Collias, Tony Revelori, Jimmy O.Yang, Uzo Aduba.

Directed by Derek Cianfrance.

Roofman was the nickname given to man who burglarised a number of franchises, especially McDonalds, 45 times, by digging through the roof and stealing whatever cash was available. And, the film is based on a true story – with some photos of Jeffrey Manchester, the Roofman, and information that he is still in jail.

This is a kind of night out entertainment although it does provoke some thought and some conscience-checking because Jeffrey Manchester is not your ordinary criminal, robbery, yes, but a genial and kind disposition, liking people and wanting to be liked. So, with a variation in the song from The Sound of Music, “what do we do with a problem like Jeffrey?”.

And the main aspect of the problem is that Roofman is played in a pleasantly likeable fashion by Channing Tatum.

When we first meet Jeffrey, he has been discharged from military service, successful action, with the gift for accurate observation, praised by his fellow military friend, Steve (LaKeith Stanfield). Jeffrey is married with a young daughter and younger twin boys, but separated from his wife. What is he to do to support them! Well, we see him dig through the roof of McDonald’s, confront the staff, putting them in the freezer though giving his coat to the manager who forgot to wear his and is cold. 44 McDonald’s robberies later, Jeffrey is arrested at his daughter’s birthday party and off to 45 years in jail. That does seem a bit harsh because while he took the money, he was always considerate to the staffs.

Prison. He is compliant and helpful. But, out he goes, a skilful escape, hitchhikes, and, for a large part of the film, after digging through the roof of the local Toys R Us store, conveniently settling in to a hiding place and establishing a routine, roaming by night, eating M&Ms, disastrous for his teeth, pawning DVDs to pay for treatment, observing all that was going on in the store. Then he ventures out, attracted by one of the staff, Lee, played sympathetically by Kirsten Dunst.

So, a charming life outside the store, off to church with Lee, the sympathetic pastor played by Ben Mendelssohn, relationship with Lee, trying to relate to her daughter’s, including a harum-scarum road trip to buy a car to win over the older daughter.

The tantalising thing is that we are wondering what will happen to Jeffrey, now using a false name during the day, the police still searching for him, possibility of a relationship with Lee and the daughters, a plan to pay his friend Steve for a false passport and flee the country, more robberies to pay for the passport, $50,000, and some violence and arson on Jeffrey’s part.

So, an entertainment, sometimes serious, frequently humorous, touch of romance, a thief’s method in derring-do - and often checking ourselves about our approval and disapproval of Roofman, and wondering why we like him.

1. The title, based on a true story, the final photos in the credits, the final information about Jerry Winchester?
2. The comic tone, sentiment, story of a thief, fraudster, but kindly, conscience issues?
3. The portrait of Jerry Winchester, Channing Tatum’s presence and performance, genial even while criminal? The opening, the McDonald’s, through the roof, confrontation with the staff, into the freezer, the manager cold, Jerry giving his coat? Taking the money? His motivations, his military career, success, capacity for observation? End of service, friendship with Steve? His wife, his young daughter, the twin boys, the separation, contact with them? The need for money? Another 44 McDonald’s robbed?
4. His daughter’s birthday party, the candles and wishes? His arrest?
5. In court, the McDonald’s staff, 45 years, in prison, friendly, work, useful, accepting his fate? The possibility for escape, the truck, the board concealing him under the truck, the escape, in the bush, the driver relieving himself, Jerry’s escape, getting rid of clothes, hitchhiking, coming to Charlotte? Trying to contact his wife and daughter, the refusal?
6. Seeing the Toys R Us, in through the roof, his finding the secure place to hide, settling in, the bed, the M&Ms, the effect on his teeth and the dentistry and the pawning of the DVDs to pay for it? Roaming the store, the toys, washing, the comfort of the night and settling in? Observing the manager, his strictness, observing Leigh and the other workers, sympathy for Leigh, single mother, asking for some time off, the manager refusing? His altering the security system? Security cameras not working? His own screens and his surveillance of the manager and the workers? His prospects? The police still after him?
7. Coming out of the security, his new name, the encounter with Leigh, the returned toys and his donation, in the church, pastor Ron and his wife, singing? The further encounters with Leigh, the relationship, her invitation, at home? Her two daughters? His friendship with Dee, Lindsey hostile, their suspicions, harshness, close of only with Dee, the car and driving, the reckless ride, the reaction of the salesman, bonding with Lindsey? A future with them all?
8. At the church, the pastor’s wife, the organisation of the meal with the single women, the flirting and his charm?
9. Steve’s return, the issue of the passport, Steve’s girlfriend and her reactions, needing the money for the passport, the robbery, digging into the wrong shop, breaking down the wall, the alarms? Getting away? The dental records, starting the fire, the destruction of the premises?
10. The episode of the shower, seeing the naked man, the police, the presumption that it was a homeless person?
11. Jerry, the decision to go, the plan, the plane ticket, in the store, the episode with the manager, the money, the spray from the cash, his concern, phoning for the ambulance, arranging for Leigh to be absent, her arriving, recognising him, his escape?
12. Driving to the airport, the phone call, his decision to return, Leigh giving him up, the arrest? What might have been?
13. In prison again, the information of two further escapes, still in prison at the making of the film? The visiting? Her comments? And the photos during the credits?

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE

US, 2024, 109 minutes, Colour.

Tom Hardy,  Chiwitel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Clark Backo, Alana Ubach.

Directed by Kelly Marcel.

It seems that diehard Venom fans are quite pleased with this third film, the story of journalist Eddie Brock, Tom Hardy,, his being associated, Simbiotically is the word, with a parasite that lives inside him, Venom, transforming into a fearsome creature, helmet head and face, strong gnashing teeth, beyond pterodactyl wings… But, quite a conversational style voiced also by Tom Hardy, as an immigrant to the US, eager to see the Statue of Liberty and enjoy the American lifestyle, a gambling spree  in Las Vegas!

However, this is an episode which may not use many converts. In many ways, the film is frequently quite grotesque, not only Venom and his dark visuals as it takes over Eddie, but a grim opening, way beyond the extremities of the universe, a sinister Xenolphage who exhorts even more fearsome and ugly creatures to destroy a codex (actually inside Eddie and Venom) and annihilate the world.

Tom Hardy, who  contributed to the story with the writer of all three Venom films, Kelly Marcel, who now directs, tends to be fairly weary of it all while Venom is excited! And the film is very episodic, a kind of Roswell site about to be demolished, Chiwiltel Ejiofor is the military commander, Juno Temple an ambitious scientist, the exploits in the underground laboratories exploring parasites and Symbiotes. Eddie and Venom are in Mexico, board a plane (on the outside) for New York are involved in a sky high confrontation with monsters, falling to earth, and continually pursued by the military.

Then, cheerfully, there is a rather hippie family, led by Rhys Ifans, believing in aliens and eager to see them, giving Eddie a lift who befriends the family. But, Venom is eager for a Las Vegas experience, Sally playing the machines and losing.

But, everyone comes together at the site to be abandoned, all kinds of special effects, explosions, pursuits, mayhem… But, of course, the ending (for most if not all). A distraction came while watching the film, and a felt need for distractions for the reviewer, wondering what would God’s response be as God sat down to watch Venom, thinking about the wonders of creation and realising that it might be beyond divine powers to imagine such a grimly contorted scenario as this one!)

1. Venom in the Marvel Universe? Preceding films? The continuity? This film is a climax?
2. The theory of Symbiotes? Origins, appearance, creatures and monsters, helmet heads, teeth, tongues, wings, transformations? Linking with humans? Two personalities in one? With Eddie, his history, previous crises, the death of Patrick?
3. The opening, the extremes of the universe, grim and dark, the Xenophage, bound, voice, the other creatures, the mission, the target, the Codex? The mission to Earth?
4. Eddie, his personality, his link with Venom, Tom Hardy using both voices? In the bar, drunk, the drinks, the bartenders, the manifestations? The future, to leave Mexico, to go to New York, the Statue of Liberty?
5. Introduction to Teddy Paine, the dream, with her twin brother, to be an astronaut, the storm, his death, her waking, call to work, her work with the Symbiotes, Sadie as her assistant? Her interactions with Strickland? The laboratory, below the Earth, elaborate? The work, the samples? Investigations? Reviving Patrick, the interrogations, his information?
6. The situation with the plant, extensive, to be decommissioned, three days, the remnants?
7. The targeting of Eddie, the mechanisms for surveillance, tracking him? The squads available to Strickland, the pursuit, the fight on the plane, the helicopter and the military, dropping into the water, confrontation with them, their deaths? The consequences for Strickland? His return to the plant?
8. The encounter with the family, Martin, his background, preoccupation with aliens, gathering the family, travelling in the van, his wife’s support, the delight of the little boy, the questionings of the daughter? The encounter with Eddie, his friendliness, Eddie trying to keep Venom under control? The singing of the David Bowie song? The bonding, dropping Eddie in Las Vegas, giving him the $20?
9. The Las Vegas episode, Venom wanting to gamble, the lack of money, hitting the poker machines, the people observing? Eddie looking drab, the encounter with the man in the suit, Eddie looking respectable? The encounter with the friend, up to the apartment, Venom enjoying the dance?
10. Eddie, to the plant, with Teddy Paine, with Strickland, the encounter with Patrick and the explanations?
11. Martin, the family, arriving at the site, under the fence, on the tower, able to observe everything, the collapsing tower? The final disillusionment with aliens!
12. The buildup to the confrontation, the special effects, the creatures arriving, the commands of Xenophage, the staff, the destruction of the underground laboratory, on the surface, the Symbiotes escaping, making contact with Teddy Paine, the pursuit of Sadie?
13. The buildup to the final drama, Strickland being wounded, on the platform, his code and eyes, setting the destruction in process? The explosion and destruction?
14. The aftermath, Eddie, the hospital, separation from Venom? And the views of the Statue of Liberty?
15. The final credits, possibility for future Venom stories?