Tag: DavidHarbour

Thunderbolts*

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

After many delays, Thunderbolts* has finally hit the big screen. When a group of antiheroes find themselves as targets, they band together to embark on a dangerous mission.

Florence Pugh captured audiences from her very first appearance as Yelena. Her deadpan, dry humour made her edgy even when you knew there were many more layers underneath. She is the driving force of this film and rightfully so. The rest of the team consisting of Sebastian Stan as Bucky, David Harbour as Alexei, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava and Lewis Pullman as Bob were so completely mismatched yet perfect together. On the surface it seemed like they had nothing in common, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

After relying heavily on CGI and silly gimmicks, this is a more stripped back version of an origin story. While we had been previously introduced to these characters, we didn’t really know much about them. Here we got to learn about what makes them tick as well as the darkest corners of their minds. Though there are plenty of action sequences and some comedic moments, the film also focuses on themes of loss, grief, addiction and mental health. I don’t think I’ve seen these depicted in a superhero film before and as someone who has dealt with some of the above, I really found myself relating to what the characters were going through.

It’s no secret that Marvel has been struggling as of lately. Ever since Endgame, there have been a slew of less than mediocre instalments that I can barely even remember now. The excitement I used to feel before going into these films became like a chore. That was until now. Thunderbolts* was everything I never knew I needed and I can’t help but wonder…is Marvel back? I guess only time will tell.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

We Have A Ghost

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If Casper had a baby, it would be We Have A Ghost. Based on the short story Ernest by Geoff Manaugh and adapted into a film by Christopher Landon, the film follows the Presley family who move into a dusty old home that just so happens to inhabit a ghost. Youngest son, Kevin (Jahi Winston) isn’t afraid however and the two strike up a friendship. Unfortunately Kevin’s dad Frank (Anthony Mackie) gets himself in too deep, looking to turn the ghost into a social media sensation.

David Harbour as the phantom Ernest and is truly the soul of the movie. As he isn’t actually able to speak, each emotion is conveyed by facial expressions. I thought this would get tiresome, but it just goes to show that Harbour was a great choice for the role. The relationship that formed between Ernest and Kevin carried the film; Kevin considers Ernest to be just a regular guy and is totally devoted to helping him.

The rest of the cast do a decent enough job. Mackie, in an unlikable role as a father who just doesn’t seem to really get it, is convincing. It was also a lot of fun to have the incomparable Jennifer Coolidge as psychic Judy Romano. She wasn’t featured in many scenes, but when she was on screen, she shone bright. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for Tig Notaro who once again seemed out of place in a subplot that I didn’t quite feel was necessary.

While the pacing was a bit all over the place, especially in the second half, and I did not understand the point of the CIA storyline, there was something heartwarming about We Have A Ghost. I’ve always loved the found family trope and this time around was no exception. This may not be a movie I’ll be running back to watch anytime soon, but it was one I had a good time with in the moment.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Black Widow

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The long awaited return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally here! After its release was delayed for over a year, Black Widow landed in movie theatres and on premium Disney + this week. The story follows Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) after the events of Captain America: Civil War. When a conspiracy arises with ties to her past, Natasha must dig up the parts of her life that she had hoped to keep buried forever. Not only does she need to deal with her history of being a spy, but she must also find the family that she thought she left behind.

I’ll come right out and say that Black Widow was never my favorite Avenger. Perhaps a large reason for that is because I’m not a fan of Scarlett Johansson. Still, this movie was much needed to put together pieces of the puzzle. It was important to know where Natasha had come from, though I must say that there wasn’t much in regards to her backstory. I thought we would see more about her start as a spy and her life before she became an Avenger, but that was skipped over.

In true Marvel fashion, the sets and special effects were on point. I feel like they always go above and beyond and this was no exception. Maybe it was also because it had been so long since we last had a movie in this franchise that made it seem more spectacular. In a way, it almost felt wrong not watching it in a cinema.

My favorite part of the whole thing was meeting Nat’s family. Alexei (David Harbour) and Melina (Rachel Weisz) as her parents were so dead on. It was awesome to have both of them join this fandom. However, I do believe that Florence Pugh as Yelena stole the show. She shone in every single one of her scenes and brought some much needed comedic relief. I cannot wait to see more of her in this role as the saga progresses.

While I did enjoy the film, I wasn’t too keen on the villain. To me, he didn’t seem fleshed out enough and I know that Marvel has had more intense bad guys. Also, I tend to get confused during these films because of their small and intricate details. I’m more of a straight forward kinda gal and found myself getting lost during the course of the story. That being said, I am looking forward to seeing how this has set the tone for future instalments and I am happy that Marvel is back!

Rating: ♥♥♥.5