Tag: WillemDafoe

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

It’s been thirty six years, but everyone’s favorite poltergeist is back in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. When tragedy strikes the Deetz family, Lydia (Wynona Ryder), Delia (Catherine O’Hara) and Astrid (Jenna Ortega) are forced to return to Winter River. Lydia, who has been trying to move away from her past, is still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) all these years later.

I’m a fairly new fan of Beetlejuice, having only seen the original for the first time a year ago. It was one of those films that instantly captured my heart and made me fall for the campiness and charm. The hype surrounding this much anticipated sequel directed by Tim Burton was at an all time high and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.

Right from the opening credits, the audience are sucked back into this world. Catching up with the characters we got to know and love from the first film was a treat while getting to know some new faces. Lydia is exactly how I pictured she would be as a mom. Ryder does such an amazing job with this character and she always has. She was hands down the heart and soul of the film. O’Hara was certainly the scene stealer as Delia; her one liners had me in stitches all the way through and I could’t believe the antics she kept getting up to. Ortega was a welcome addition to the group though it felt like she’d been there all along. And who could forget Beetlejuice himself? Keaton once again smashes it as the titular character delivering an unforgettable performance.

While the sequel had the same look and feel as its predecessor, I could’t help but feel like there was too much going on. Some of the storylines I really enjoyed, like Lydia and Astrid reconnecting and Beetlejuice’s reunion with the Deetzes. However, there were others that I could have done without. Monica Belluci’s plot as Beetlejuice’s ex wife Delores seemed like an afterthought. We didn’t have enough time to really get to know her which was a pity because she had definite potential. Similarly it would have been nice to have more backstory on Astrid’s dad Richard (Santiago Cabrera) instead of Rory (Justin Theroux) who was rather annoying as Lydia’s producer and boyfriend. Willem Dafoe didn’t bother me so much because Wolf Jackson was amusing, but I did find myself missing a cameo from the Maitlands.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice may not have been really necessary, but I think die hard fans of the franchise will still have a lot of fun with it. It is the perfect foray into spooky season and was true delight to be reunited with these iconic characters. I know I’ll be adding it to my annual Halloween roaster.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Kinds of Kindness

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

In Kinds of Kindness, three different stories are played out on screen. The first features a man who tries to make his own choices after having his whole life mapped out for him, the second follows a cop who can’t help but wonder if that is really his wife who has returned after being lost at sea and the third is about a woman who is in search of someone with a special ability.

Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his strange and unusual movies. After watching and loving Poor Things earlier this year, I was looking forward to seeing what he was going to do next. Unfortunately his newest venture didn’t quite hit the same marks that his predecessor did. One day later I’m still scratching my head over what it was that I watched.

What I did like was seeing some familiar faces in the film. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemmons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Hunter Schafer, Mamoudou Athie and Joe Alwyn are the key players here. They each take on a different character throughout the three stories. I thought the performances were well done which is unsurprising with a cast of this calibre. That didn’t mean that any of them were particularly likeable, nor did I want to see any of them succeed.

That’s about where the enjoyment ended for me. As time ticked by (and it did so slowly), I became more confused. There was no correlation between the fables that I could detect and I couldn’t help but wonder what the point was. I think I would have appreciated it more otherwise. Also, it was as if each story just got more strange and convoluted. I like to think I’m open minded, but some of the scenes that unfolded before me have been etched into my mind and not in a good way! It’s like Lanthimos just did it for shock value and not because it added anything to the plot.

Overall, Kinds of Kindness is one of those films that will certainly divide audiences. I wanted to like it so much, but I think it just went way over my head. At least the cast were great and the cinematography worked so there were some silver linings.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Poor Things

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

In this Frankenstein like tale, we follow Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman who has been brought back to life by scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Yearning to learn more about the world and her purpose in it, Bella sets off on an adventure with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo).

I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like this before. Right from the very beginning, I knew I was about to be whisked away on the ride of my life. I just didn’t know how wild this ride was going to be. Let me tell you though, I loved every single second of it.

I am not familiar with Yargos Lanthimos’s previous works, but now I am curious to discover more. Everything was loud, bold and colorful. The sets were stunning to look at, from the psychedelic skies to the different title cards that separated each section of the film. The mixture of black and white with some fish lens scenes thrown in, I felt like I was watching a Dali or Picasso work of art.

The cast gave career best performances all around. The character of Bella was no easy feat to tackle, but Stone took it in stride. I’ve seen her in various roles in the past though nothing has come close to this. I really believe that she can snag her second Oscar as a result! This was one of Ruffalo’s best roles to date as well; I think I laughed the most whenever he was on screen. Dafoe helped hold it all together. I found his portrayal of the scientist to be somewhat poetic.

What I liked the most about Poor Things is the fact that while it was completely out there, there was a moral to the story. The evolution that Bella goes on is one that I really enjoyed watching unfold. She starts off, essentially, as a child who grows into a self assured and worldly woman. It was pretty empowering! It’s a peculiar film that may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to its extreme graphic scenes, but it is one that has certainly left an impression on me.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️