Tag: AntonioBanderas

Babygirl

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

From director Halina Reijn comes an erotic thriller about power and the lengths people will go to for their desires. Romy (Nicole Kidman) has it all. She’s the CEO of a high profile company and she has a doting husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas) and two daughters. But something is missing. Embarking on a torrid affair with a much younger intern named Samuel (Harris Dickinson), Romy puts everything on the line.

Kidman is one of the greatest actors of our time. I’ve been a fan of hers since Moulin Rouge! and this performance is definitely one of her best. She really gives it everything she has and bares it all. It’s vulnerable, nuanced and twisted all at the same time and I sincerely commend her for her dedication. Dickinson was impressive as well. There was something slightly unnerving about the character of Samuel, though I just became more and more enthralled by him. I would have loved to learn more about his backstory. Banderas also gave a solid performance as well. He really makes you feel for his character.

The subject matter of this film is not for the faint hearted. With many explicit scenes, one may wonder if they’re really necessary. While there is a lot of sex, it is integral to the plot and to Romy’s story as she explores a side of herself she didn’t know she wanted. These scenes are never gratuitous and instead serve a purpose. They may even be uncomfortable, but they are real and honest.

Power is the running theme throughout. Romy is the matriarch of her family and the big boss at work, but that isn’t really what she wants. Though she claims she needs to be in control, the tables are turned when Samuel comes around and starts telling her what to do. It’s almost as if the two are dancing around one another, pushing the limits and seeing how far they can really go before it all goes up in flames.

I’ve seen a lot of divisive reactions to Babygirl and I agree that it’s not one of those films that’s just black and white. It’s a study of these characters and what really makes them tick down to the deep, dark crevices of their minds. The performances alone made this worth watching for me. With that impending feeling of doom, I was completely engrossed and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny

Published on by Daniela1 Comment

Growing up with three brothers, I was exposed to movies that I otherwise wouldn’t have watched on my own. Indiana Jones was amongst them. It seemed like they were always on in my house and I felt like I owed it not only to myself, but to my family who introduced this hero to me, to witness this final adventure.

Indy (Harrison Ford) is struggling to fit in with the new era as his retirement looms near. When an all too familiar evil returns, he is thrown back into the life he thought he’d left behind to prevent an ancient artefact from falling into the wrong hands.

There’s been a lot of talk about the de-ageing technology that was used in the first portion of the film. In order to set up the plot, we had to go back in time to see a young Indy in 1939. Instead of recasting the role, they decided to go the CGI route. I have to say that for the most part it worked – seeing Ford in his prime again was quite something though it certainly wasn’t perfect.

With every Indy film comes fight sequences and chase scenes galore. Just when I thought they couldn’t outdo themselves, another would come along and knock the other off its feet. It’s important to suspend some disbelief here, but that’s part of what makes these films so fun. The subway chase and the whole third act were really cool!

The additions of Phoebe Waller-Bridge as goddaughter Helena, Ethann Isidore as Helena’s sidekick Teddy and Antonio Banderas as old friend Renado, were excellent and fit right along the rest of the cast. While I didn’t find Mads Mikkelson’s Dr. Voller to be very menacing, he does a great job at portraying the villain so I almost didn’t even mind it. And with returning faces Jonathan Rhys-Davies as Sallah and the incomparable Ford himself, I had a great time.

To think that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is supposed to the last of the franchise doesn’t seem real. It has meant so much for so many people and although Ford says it’s time to hang up the hat, I think the legend of this character will live on forever. Is this film perfect? No, of course not. But it’s filled with a ton of nostalgia that fans will appreciate and that’s all that really matters.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard

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Unlicensed and under scrutiny, bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) decides it’s time to take a break. All seems to be going well until hitman Darius Kicaid’s (Samuel L. Jackson) wife Sonia (Salma Hayek) tracks Michael down and asks for his help. Soon, all three find themselves in a mission to save Europe from madman Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas) and his evil scheme to get rid of Europe and change the world as they know it forever.

I had been looking forward to this one. 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard was a ton of fun and I thought that this would be similar. Having to wait for more than a month to see it was tough and I couldn’t wait until it hit Demand so that I could finally check it out. Sadly my excitement was short lived.

First of all, there was way too much going on plot wise. More than half of the time I was confused and had to ask my husband what was happening. Also, I know for movie purposes that certain things are heightened, but it seriously bugged me at how unrealistic some of the scenes were. Unfortunately, a lot of eye rolling occurred.

Ryan Reynolds is hilarious and I have seen the majority of his films. That being said, I’m starting to think he plays himself in his various roles and I’m not sure if I mean that positively. It is as if they are starting to all blend together into one with their similarities. I did think that Salma Hayek was the best part even though she was seriously over the top. If I close my eyes, I can still hear her screeching voice. I must add that it is also always a treat to see Morgan Freeman.

While Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard was a letdown for me, there were some parts where I found myself laughing out loud. I also enjoyed the action sequences and thought they didn’t let up for one second. At the end of the day though, the movie was a mess and I kind of wish I had just given it a miss.

Rating: ♥♥