Tag: RachelMcAdams

Send Help

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) has worked the same job for many years and is severely undervalued. When her new boss Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien) suddenly takes over the firm for his father, Linda’s hopes of a promotion disappear. Giving her one last chance to prove herself, Bradley invites Linda to go with him and some colleagues on a work trip to Thailand. But then their plan crashes onto a deserted island and they are the only survivors. Now they have to do the unthinkable – rely on each other.

Director Sam Raimi is back in the horror game. While I am not familiar with his past projects in this genre, I do know his ventures in Spider Man and Doctor Strange. From the trailer alone I was curious to see this film because of how they really didn’t give much away at all. It’s obvious that some crazy shit is going to go down throughout the two hour run time, but I had no idea what that would be. As far as I’m concerned, it’s better going into this as blindly as possible

It is not the first time that we’ve seen this formula however the way in which it is depicted is certainly different. Perfectly blending dark humor, suspense and psychological tension, the audience is brought along for a journey where they never really know where they will end up. It builds slowly; the crash itself doesn’t even happen straight away. The impending chaos that will inevitably ensue thereafter is purposefully drawn out to grip you and keep you guessing. There were so many times where I thought I knew how it was all going to play out and then something else happened instead.

This is, hands down, McAdams’ film. Her transformation into Linda is one for the books. Starting off as a socially awkward woman who eats her lunch at her desk and doesn’t care about how she looks, Linda would much rather stay home with her pet bird Sweetie and watching Survivor than deal with the social hierarchies of her office. The way in which McAdams manages to shift between vulnerability, humor and charm to complete madness, and sometimes in the same scene, is something to behold. I am so glad she is back on our screen after three years away. O’Brien also delivered a solid performance. Usually known for playing the hero or somebody more reserved, this was surely a departure from the norm. Here he was full of flaws, arrogance and, quite frankly, a downright douchebag. He sold it though. With their electrifying chemistry, the two were able to perfectly steer the film into the way it needed to go.

What I enjoyed the most was the shift in power dynamics. Linda goes from being meek and unable to stand up for herself to someone who is fearless and thriving in the wilderness. Bradley, on the other hand, becomes whiny and scared. This comes into play as the story develops. The audience is never sure who, if anybody, they should be rooting for.

Send Help delivers thrills, chills and so much more. It may look like a regular survival thriller on the surface, but it really is so much more than that. Thanks to its strong direction, fabulous performances and a gripping screenplay, this is the type of film that deserves to be seen on the big screen.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

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Eleven year old Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Forston) feels like her whole life is turned upside down when her parents (Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie) move the family to New Jersey. Growing up in a household of mixed religion, Margaret never had the pressure to make a choice on her faith, though her paternal grandmother Sylvia (Kathy Bates) can’t agree. When Margaret chooses this topic for a school project, she turns to God to help her in endeavours.

Based on the beloved novel by Judy Blume, the adaption of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret has been anticipated for many, many years. While I cannot recall as to whether or not I read the book, it has become a staple for many women because of it’s sheer relatability.

All of the predicaments that Margaret found herself in were reminiscent of my preteen years that it was scary. Dreaming that my bust would grow at a faster rate, that the cute boy in class would notice me and that I’d get my period so that I could be just like my friends were times that I had deep buried long ago. Wanting to grow up and be treated as an adult seemed so important then whereas now I wish I didn’t have all these responsibilities.

The cast was so on point. Ryder Forston killed it as our protagonist, perfectly capturing those moments of awkwardness. She’s got a bright future ahead of her and I look forward to seeing where she goes next. Bates has always been one of those household names and I thought she was great as the hip grandmother. It was McAdams as Margaret’s mother Barbara whose performance was absolutely charming, however – she gave up a lot for her family and we see how she overcomes it. It made me realize as well that I missed having her on screen.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is the type of film I never knew I needed. Not only for my childhood self, but for the self I am now. It really was quite the experience and I am so glad that films like this exist.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

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Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is back in the sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange. Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Strange is dealing with the repercussions of opening the multiverse. Leaning on Wong (Benedict Wong), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and newcomer America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), he soon realizes these alternate universes are stronger than anybody could have imagined.

My expectations going into the Multiverse of Madness were low. I wasn’t a fan of Strange’s origin movie and therefore wasn’t too sure how I’d feel this time around. But when I found out that Wanda had a large role, I had a feeling it would be well worth it for me.

This instalment of the MCU is different than the others. It felt darker, gorier and like the stakes were a million times higher. I really appreciated the direction in which Sam Raimi took the movie in. At times, I forgot I was watching Marvel as I was so engrossed with what was unfolding on the screen.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange was more charming than I remembered him to be. He further grew on me as the titular character this time around. Although her introduction was rushed, I liked the addition of America. Her chemistry with Strange and Wong was enjoyable to watch and I hope we see more of her in the future. It was also a pleasure to have more of Rachel McAdams as Christine. She’s always a joy to watch and I feel like we don’t see her enough. However, Wanda aka Scarlet Witch was the standout. Already captivated by her story in WandaVision, we saw her in a completely new light that was both terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time. Just give Elizabeth Olsen all the awards already.

I have to say that I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It allowed me to embark on a journey full of crazy twists and turns that, quite frankly, I never wanted it to end. I can only imagine where this phase will go next!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥