SallyHawkins – Credits Rolling

Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination in Paul King’s adaption of Wonka. We all know what happened after Willy Wonka opened his chocolate factory. He went on to give many people, young and old, joy and happiness with his unbelievable creations. But we don’t know that Willy (Timothée Chalamet) started off as a boy with a dream. All he ever wanted was to share his passion with the world and regardless of all that was thrown at hime, he never gave up.

If you aren’t into musicals, then this might not be for you. It’s not overloaded with songs, but they were there to help move the story along. I thought this incorporation was smart and really added to my enjoyment of the film. Some of the songs were stronger than others. One thing was for sure, the cast were able to carry a tune and I found myself bopping along.

I wouldn’t say I was hesitant about Chalamet’s portrayal, but considering the fact that I’m usually indifferent towards him, I was impressed. He oozed the right charm and charisma and I could see the similarities between him and Gene Wilder which was appreciated. The rest of the casting choices were A+: Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton as the opposing chocolatiers Slugworth, Prodnose and Ficklegruber, Keegan-Michael Key as the gullible Chief of Police, Sally Hawkins as Willy’s mother and Rowan Atkinson as Father Julius. It was Olivia Colman, however, who stole the show as Mrs. Scrubbit. She was both absolutely horrible and completely hilarious all at the same time and I loved how she leaned into the madness of it all.

As the film focuses heavily on delectable and otherworldly desserts, I was in absolute heaven watching them all come to life. The CGI effects were quite outstanding here and really managed to transport me to these places. From Wonka’s shop in the galleria, to the scene in the zoo, it was beyond anything I could have ever imagined it would be.

What I loved the most about Wonka was the amount of heart it had. Sure there were some predictable and corny moments, but it worked overall. It truly reached out to the dreamer in me and had me feeling like anything was possible. This is one the whole family can enjoy and as a result, I recommend giving it a watch this holiday season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

The year is 1991. Diana Spencer (Kristen Stewart) is on her way to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk to celebrate Christmas with the royal family. It is evident right away that she would rather be anywhere but there. From having to weigh yourself upon entry to the castle, being told what to wear and for which occasion and always having an eye on her, Diana is unhappy and seemingly caged in. It is over these three days that she decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles (Jack Farthing).

Directed by Pablo Larraín who was the man behind 2016’s Jackie, Spencer is described as being a fable based on a true story. The audience is sucked into Diana’s mind during these three days over the holiday and how she so desperately wanted to get away from it all. It is an interesting, and rather different, portrayal than what we have been used to seeing in the past.

Kristen Stewart received early praise for her performance as the beloved Princess and I was very excited to see it for myself. I had a feeling that she would be outstanding and she really was; I can see the award noms coming in now. The resemblance was uncanny, particularly in the way she held herself. She was surrounded by a great cast as well. In particular, Timothy Spall, who excels in everything he does, is Major Alistair Gregory, hired specifically to look after Diana during the weekend. And then there is Sally Hawkins, who stars as Diana’s dresser Maggie, and is perhaps the only person who she can trust.

As Spencer is a fable, it is important to keep in mind that the events depicted in the film are not necessarily true. If anything, I believe it is one interpretation amongst many. It’s all about the bigger picture: that this woman wanted nothing more than to break free from what society expected from her and what she had to do to make that happen. The story was haunting and beautiful although rather sad. To think she was able to walk away but then to have her life tragically taken from her years later.

Rating: ♥♥♥