MY LEAST FAVORITE FILMS OF 2024

Here are a few of the films I saw last year that I have no intention of ever watching again:

"BORDERLANDS"

I should start off by saying that I have never been a fan of movies based on video games. The few that I have seen I really haven't enjoyed at all. The problem I find is that there really isn't enough of a story to base an entire film around and the filmmakers tend not to expand the narrative elements nearly enough to make these video game stories truly cinematic. And the studios end up coasting largely on name recognition to get folks to turn out to theaters. I got lured into seeing the sci-fi action-comedy, "Borderlands" based on the trailer that featured an impressively eclectic cast that included Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Edgar Ramirez, Jack Black and Jamie Lee Curtis. Yet once again, I was tricked. "Borderlands" is a very expensive, poorly conceived, convoluted mess with several of the creative team jumping ship during or after production and even having their names removed from this project. It begins on the planet Pandora with a mercenary soldier named Roland (Hart) kidnaps a teen called Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt) who happens to be the daughter of Atlas (Ramirez), a powerful corporate bigwig. He hires the bounty hunter, Lilith (Blanchett) to rescue his child. Tracking down Roland, Lilith discovers that Atlas actually wants Tina back against her will and she teams up with him to fight against Atlas' army, the Crimson Lance. Then the story goes further into some nonsense involving the secrets of advanced technology by a lost civilization of Pandora which Atlas believes is located in a mysterious vault that only Tina can open. Eli Roth is the credited director (with Tim Miller taking on reshoots) and wrote the screenplay with Joe Crombie (writer, Craig Mazin had his name removed from the script). The end results makes the film feel completely disjointed, impaired by underdeveloped characters, a meandering plot and without a whiff of originality. "Borderlands" was a complete waste of the prestigious talent involved and the one hundred and one minutes of time I will never get back.

"I SAW THE TV GLOW"

"I Saw The TV Glow", Jane Schoenbrun's follow-up to their acclaimed 2021 debut, "We're All Going to the World's Fair", received a glowing reception by many critics with several placing this psychological-horror drama high on their Best of the Year lists. However, the appeal of this film was completely lost on me as my viewing experience was torturous with a feeling like it was never going to end. This '90's-set story follows Owen (Justice Smith), a lonely and isolated teen who bonds with another loner at school, Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) over their love of a television show, "The Pink Opaque". The program involves two teenage girls who use their shared psychic abilities to fight a villain called Mr. Melancholy, who has the power to shift time and existence. Owen and Maddy deeply connect to this show, which in turn, helps them grow closer to each other. Family problems makes Maddy want to run away from home and asks Owen to go with her. After sincerely considering this offer, he decides to stay and Maddy disappears. "The Pink Opaque" is also cancelled around this time. Several years later, Maddy reappears with news that she's been living in their favorite show during her time away. Schoenbrun has tapped into the surrealist, experimental style of the great David Lynch yet "I Saw the TV Glow" feels more muddled and less engaging than a wonderfully puzzling Lynchian experience.

"LISA FRANKENSTEIN"

The romantic-horror comedy, "Lisa Frankenstein" might have been intended be an ode to the classic comedies of the '80's but only ends up being a tired and predictable modern comedy. Lisa (Kathryn Newton) is an odd, goth teenager still trying to cope with the loss of her mother to an axe murderer. And to make matters worse, her father (Joe Chrest) has remarried to Janet (Carla Gugino), a self-involved woman who doesn't care about Lisa, and they live together with her daughter, Taffy (Liza Soberano). Lisa spends her time at the local cemetery and speaks to the grave of a young Victorian man who was killed by lightning. Lightning winds up striking twice and this man (Cole Sprouse) is brought back from the dead as a mute zombie to become Lisa's perfect boyfriend. Zelda Williams (who happens to be the daughter of the late Robin Williams) makes her feature directorial debut with "Lisa Frankenstein" and displays no real gift behind the camera, sadly proving the argument about nepo babies. The shockingly bad screenplay was written by Oscar-winner, Diablo Cody who seemed to have scripted this in a time warp, trapped reliving worn out, comedic ideas about love and relationships. Painfully dull and uninspired, "Lisa Frankenstein" is an apparent comedy that never came to life, effectively dead on arrival.

"MADAME WEB"

Based on a little known, minor character in the Spider-Man comic book universe, the super-hero film, "Madame Web" has managed to do nothing to make us intrigued, let alone inspired, to want to see anymore of her. Dakota Johnson has once again been given a leading role as Cassandra Webb, a New York City paramedic who develops abilities of a clairvoyant following a near-death experience. This leads her to connecting to three young girls (Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced and Celeste O'Connor) and protect them from shady businessman, Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim). Also having limited psychic abilities and enhanced strength he obtained from a Peruvian spider, Sims has visions that these girls will be the cause of his demise. And that means he wants to end their lives before that can happen, forcing Cassandra to develop the use of her powers in order to save them. The director, S.J. Clarkson, who has had an extensive career working in British television, makes her feature film directorial debut with "Madame Web" and is in way over her head trying to get a handle on the comic-book genre. The hazy and shapeless screenplay assembled by Clarkson along with the team of Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless and Claire Parker does the film no favors. I do not pretend to understand the allure of Johnson yet the offspring of the charismatic actors, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith continues to book jobs despite adding very little charm and appeal to her performances. With an incoherent story, underwhelming visual style and listless thrills, "Madame Web" finds success as another very expensive addition to the garbage heap of super-hero movies that failed to launch a hopeful franchise.

COMING SOON

Since his breakthrough with the indie drama, "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" way back in 1989, Steven Soderbergh has always had some of the best and intriguing actors appearing in his films. For his thirty-sixth feature film, Soderbergh has impressively teamed-up Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in "Black Bag", a thrilling spy drama. They play married British intelligence agents, George and Kathryn Woodhouse. When Kathryn is under investigation for betraying their country, George must struggle between loyalty to his marriage or to the commonwealth. There are elements here that bring to mind the dark action-comedy, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" that also featured two physically stunning actors, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie but "Black Bag" appears to be far less humorous and intensely violent. Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris and Pierce Brosnan also star.

"Black Bag" is due in US theaters on March 14, 2025

2024 TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

I live in Los Angeles where there is certainly no shortage of film events that occur here all year long. But I decided last year that I would really like to travel more to experience film festivals in other locations. So for my first outing, I will be attending the 2024 Toronto Film Festival. I have been to the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario before but it has been a number of years since the last time I have visited. I really love the city and the people and I get to see movies there so I would say it's truly a win-win-win situation for me.

As for the 49th annual TIFF, there will be sixty-three movies in the Galas and Special Presentations section alone, hailing from twenty-five countries. This will include "Nutcrackers", a comedy-drama from David Gordon Green which will open the fest and make it's world premiere: "Hard Truths", the first movie in six years from British filmmaker, Mike Leigh which he reteams with his "Secrets & Lies" star, Marianne Jean-Baptiste; the latest feature directed by Angelina Joie, "Without Blood" that features Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir; Edward Berger's papal movie, "Conclave" which stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow; Fiennes will also appear in "The Return", a historical drama from Uberto Pasolini which reteams the actor with his "The English Patient" co-star, Juliette Binoche; Oscar-winning editor, William Goldenberg makes his directorial debut with "Unstoppable", a sports drama starring Jharrel Jerome and Jennifer Lopez; Cinematographer, Rachel Morrison makes her debut as a director with "The Fire Inside" a sports drama featuring a screenplay by Barry Jenkins: "Nightbitch" from Marielle Heller with Amy Adams as a harried mother thinking she's transforming into a dog; the animated, sci-fi wilderness adventure, "The Wild Robot"; the Cannes Palme d’Or winner, "Anora" from Sean Baker and Australian actor, Rebel Wilson's directorial debut, "The Deb", a musical-comedy will close TIFF.







There will also be programming sections of Documentaries, Centerpiece, Discovery, Primetime (which will focus on television programing), Short Cuts, Film Market (for film buyers and industry professionals), "In Conversation with..." events which will include Cate Blanchett (who will also be the recipient of the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award), Zoe Saldaña and Steven Soderbergh and free outdoor screenings of classic films. There will be a lot going on and I'm ready for it. The 2024 TIFF will begin on September 5th and run through September 15th. I will be attending the first seven days and writing a viewing diary of the films I will see there.

For the complete list of films, events and to purchase tickets, please click below:

2024 TIFF

2022 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

One of the biggest and oldest film festivals in the world is almost set to begin: the 79th annual Venice Film Festival will begin on August 31st and running through September 10th. The 2022 edition will open with the latest from Noah Baumbach with "White Noise". The director's last feature, "Marriage Story" in 2019 made it's world premiere in Venice, going on to receive critical accolades and award recognition including six Academy Award nominations. Adam Driver (who received an Oscar nod for "Marriage Story") and Greta Gerwig (returning to acting after making a big impression as a director) star in this dark horror-comedy based on the 1985 novel by Don DeLillo about a college professor who has made his name with a course on Hitler studies and has to deal with a toxic chemical accident that creates havoc in his small town.



"White Noise" is one title that will be in competition for prizes this year with Julianne Moore presiding as president of the jury. Other films that have been selected to compete will be new works from important figures of international cinema that includes Darren Aronofsky ("The Whale"), Luca Guadagnino ("Bones and All"), Alice Diop ("Saint Omer"), Martin McDonagh ("The Banshees Of Inisherin"), Joanna Hogg ("The Eternal Daughter"), Alejandro G. Inarritu ("Bardo, False Chronicle Of A Handful Of Truths"), Laura Poitras ("All The Beauty And The Bloodshed"), Andrew Dominik ("Blonde"), Florian Zeller ("The Son") and Todd Field who returns with his first film in sixteen years (following "In The Bedroom" and "Little Children") with "Tár" starring Cate Blanchett set in world of classical music.









Some highlights of world premieres that will be screened out of competition will be actress, Olivia Wilde's directorial follow-up to "Booksmart" with "Don't Worry Darling"; "Pearl", Ti West's prequel to his slasher hit, "X" from earlier this year will make it's world premiere before hitting US theaters on September 16th; two veteran American directors will be on hand with "Nuclear", a documentary by Oliver Stone and Walter Hill's feature film, "Dead For a Dollar". And two Danish filmmakers will be presenting their television series at Venice; the notorious Lars von Trier with "The Kingdom Exodus" (which is it's third and final season) and Nicolas Winding Refn with "Copenhagen Cowboys".





Special Lifetime Achievement Golden Lions will be presented to French actress, Catherine Deneuve and American writer/director, Paul Schrader. The seventy-eight year old acting icon, who suffered a mild stroke in 2019, has made well over one hundred feature films over her lengthy career which includes "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg", "Repulsion", "Belle de Jour", "The Hunger" and "Indochine". After writing the screenplays of "Taxi Driver" for Martin Scorsese and "Obsession" for Brian DePalma, Schrader made his directorial debut with "Blue Collar" in 1978, going on to write ("Raging Bull", "The Mosquito Coast", "The Last Temptation of Christ") and direct ("American Gigolo", "Cat People", "First Reformed") over thirty films. The latest from the seventy-six year old filmmaker, "Master Gardener" will make it's world premiere at the fest.

COMING SOON

Desperate to change his image from beyond the romantic and swashbuckler roles that made him famous, Tyrone Power convinced Twentieth Century Fox's studio chief, Darryl F. Zanuck to buy the rights to the novel, "Nightmare Alley" by William Lindsay Gresham. The film was released in 1947 with Power playing against type as Stan Carlisle, a deceptive carnival worker. And as Zanuck had feared, "Nightmare Alley" was a disappointment at the box-office due to audiences having difficulty accepting Power as a 'bad guy'. Yet this film, directed by Edmund Goulding, has later gone on to be appreciated as a true classic of film noir.

One fan of the film was Guillermo del Toro and the Oscar-winning director has made his version of this pitch-black drama with a dazzling all-star cast. An intriguing teaser trailer has just been released with Bradley Cooper taking on the role of Carlisle, leading us in to a dark world set in the 1940's involving a sleazy carnival filled with lowdown hustlers and scheming grifters. Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, David Strathairn, Ron Perlman and Toni Collette also star.

"Nightmare Alley" is due in US theaters on December 17, 2021

OCEAN'S EIGHT (2018)

Written by Gary Ross and Olivia Milch


Directed by Gary Ross


Where & When: AMC Sunset 5, West Hollywood, CA. June 8, 2018  5:15 PM



"Ocean's 8" is a glossy, all-star adventure that showcases female empowerment and inventive teamwork through high-tech crime. Gary Ross replaces Steven Soderbergh, the director of the "Ocean's" trilogy, and delivers a stylishly entertaining romp that sticks to the tradition of savvy criminals being the heroes yet it's now a crew made up entirely of women. While the gender-flip concept is modern and enlightened, the execution is safe and predictable.

After convincing a parole board that she’s a completely changed woman since spending the last five years in prison, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) is released from guarded confinement.  However, with grifting running deeply through her bloodline, she wastes no time scamming several high-end department stores and the Plaza Hotel in New York as soon as her heels hit the pavement. Although skeptical of his actual passing, Debbie still pays her respects to her estranged brother, Danny (played in the trilogy by George Clooney) by visiting his grave before setting her sights on tracking down her old partner-in-crime.

When Debbie finds Lou (Cate Blanchett), a no-nonsense, butch femme, she lays out the elaborate heist she‘s been plotting during her time behind bars. The idea centers around stealing a diamond necklace worth over one hundred million dollars and doing this during the annual gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While she initially balks at getting involved in this crazy scheme, Lou is eventually persuaded to participate. And in order to pull this heist off, they will require some professional help and begin to assemble a crew.

The first on board is Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), an unhip, financially-strapped Irish fashion designer whose job will be to trick their unwitting accomplice, Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway), one of the hottest celebrities of the day, in allowing her to design her dress for the gala. Then Rose has to get the vain and frivolous actress to persuade the Met to allow her wear this vintage Cartier necklace to the event.

Next is Debbie's old friend, Amita (Mindy Kaling), an unmarried jewelry designer who gets involved to order to escape from her overbearing mother. Tammy (Sarah Paulson), a former racketeer turned suburban wife and mother, takes little convincing to get her out of the house to join them. And a street con-artist, Constance (Awkwafina) along with a brilliant computer hacker named "Nine-Ball" (played by pop superstar, Rihanna) rounds out the crew.

With all the players now in place, it is time to put the plan in motion. But Lou discovers that Debbie is planning another job within this already complicated job. A definite "no-no" in her book. It involves Debbie's art dealer, former boyfriend (Richard Armitage) who is responsible for her landing in jail. Debbie assures her that the plan will easily settle the score from her past while allowing them all to set-up for a very comfortable future.

 "Ocean’s 8" is one of those densely plotted capers (with a serviceable script by Ross and Olivia Milch) that requires every single step of this intricate con to go off without a hitch otherwise the whole plan will crumble apart. And of course it all does go relatively smoothly, no matter how far-fetched or improbable the situation. That leaves the film with no real suspense or surprises and the audience simply waiting for the routine, inevitable conclusion.

But the story is hardly the reason to watch "Ocean's 8". It's all about the delicious treat of seeing all these amazing actresses together in one film and the thrilling camaraderie of these female characters which is rarely shown these days on the big screen. Bullock, Blanchett and the gang seem to be having a grand time and enjoy each other's company while looking absolutely flawless.

The ultimate message of "Ocean's 8" is that men and women are truly created equal. This breezy comedy displays that the ladies are just as capable of lying, cheating and stealing with delightful skill and charm just like the fellas.

COMING SOON

I have to say that the poster alone for "Proud Mary", with it giving off a blaxploitation vibe, was enough to get me in to a theater to see this movie. After making a splash in television with her sassy role as "Cookie" Lyon in "Empire' and co-starring in one of the biggest, critically acclaimed movie hits of 2016 with "Hidden Figures", Taraji P. Henson is about to start 2018 off with a major bang with a starring role in this action-thriller. Although this teaser-clip doesn't reveal too much of the plot, as it focuses on Taraj looking sexy and tough in black leather while firing off some serious weaponry, "Proud Mary" has Hanson playing a deadly assassin working for a Boston mob organization. When a job goes wrong, leaving a young boy an orphan, Mary's maternal instincts kick in and causing her some work-related problems. Billy Brown (from TV's "How To Get Away With Murder"), Margaret Avery and Danny Glover (who were last together on screen with "The Color Purple") co-star.

"Proud Mary" is due out in U.S. theaters on January 12, 2018

While I very disappointed with the all-female reboot of "Ghostbusters", I'm a little more optimistic about "Ocean's Eight". This spin-off from Steven Soderbergh's version of "Ocean's Eleven" and the sequels (who produces this film along with George Clooney) stars Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, Danny Ocean's estranged sister and she wants to pull off a spectacular heist at the annual Met Ball gala. But she needs a team and assembles an impressive all-female one that includes Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mindy Kaling and musicians, Rihanna and Awkwafina. There are plenty of other glittering stars on-board and this looks like it could be a really fun ride.

"Ocean's Eight" is due out in U.S. theaters on June 8, 2018

EVERY CATE BLANCHETT PERFORMANCE RANKED

"Thor: Ragnarok", the critically-acclaimed third film involving Marvel's Norse God, not only held the number one spot in the U.S. for two weeks but has collected an astounding seven hundred and fifty million dollars at the world-wide box-office to date. Many are pointing to the contribution by director Taika Waititi with adding inspired casting and clever, funny wit to the typical super-hero action for all the success. But let's keep it real. It's all about Cate Blanchett and her vampy and campy supporting turn as Hela, the Goddess of death that truly made this movie unforgettable.

The Australian actress has been dazzling us with many celebrated performances for over twenty years. She first gained attention with her co-starring role opposite Ralph Fiennes in "Oscar and Lucinda" back in 1997 which lead to memorable turns in "Elizabeth", "Notes From a Scandal", "I'm Not There", "Carol" and all those "Lord of The Rings" and "The Hobbit" movies to name a few. Blanchett won her first Oscar for playing Katherine Hepburn in "The Aviator" in 2004 before winning the 2013 Best Actress award for her role in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine".

On stage or screen, Ms Blanchett consistently has left an impressive mark with every performance. I have greatly admired her outstanding talent and even if the film she's in isn't necessarily great, she manages to always make it better simply by her commanding presence. Vulture has examined her work in cinema and has ranked her numerous roles from movies that let her down to the perfect merging of film and performance.

Click below to read:

Every Cate Blanchett Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

CAROL (2015)

Written by Phyllis Nagy


Directed by Todd Haynes


Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA.  November 23, 2015  6:00 PM



With "Carol", the elegant and haunting love story by Todd Haynes, it proves without question that Cate Blanchett is a true screen goddess in the tradition of Greta Garbo, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Now, the two-time Oscar winner has always mesmerized with indelible performances starting with the role that first brought her notice as the future queen of England in "Elizabeth", then taking on the iconic actress, Katharine Hepburn in the Howard Hughes bio-pic, "The Aviator" to the first time she worked with Mr. Haynes in "I'm Not There" playing, of all people, Bob Dylan and her most recent award-wining turn as a wealthy socialite who falls on hard times in Woody Allen's comedy, "Blue Jasmine". But here Blanchett unleashes an astonishing intensity that has rarely been captured on film. It's all very subtle, using the magnetic power of her femininity, this upper middle-class '50's New Jersey housewife is able to soothe, entice and command with just the simple use of her liquid blue eyes, gentle yet authoritative voice and small, graceful gestures. We watch her attempting to remain the glamorous society wife and mother while struggling to find and hold on to her authentic self. This is one of Blanchett's most powerful performances and you are truly unable to take your eyes off of her for one moment.

The film is based on "The Price of Salt", a novel by Patricia Highsmith of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Strangers on a Train" fame. It was first published under a pseudonym in 1952 with the true author not revealing herself until almost twenty-five years later. Highsmith latered detailed that the book was inspired by a chic shopper she encountered while working in the toy department at Bloomingdale's during the holidays as a young woman. The delicate script by Phyllis Nagy effectively delivers the mood, tension and emotional depth of Highsmith's personal story.

Carol Aird (Blanchett) has separated from her loving and devoted husband, Harge (Kyle Chandler). He wants to save their marriage however, after a brief affair with Abby (Sarah Paulson), who remains a close friend and confidant, Carol's true desire has been awakened. Because of their young daughter, Rindy, she has to be discreet and handle Harge delicately in order not to risk losing custody during divorce proceedings.

One fateful day, while shopping for a Christmas gift for Rindy, would irrevocably alter Carol's life. She locks eyes on to Therese (Rooney Mara), a slight but pretty salesgirl, wearing a Santa hat. There is a intense charge that courses between them as they chat, each trying hard to downplay this feeling. Carol had sought a traditional doll but instead is inspired by Therese to get her daughter a train set. After completing the purchase and giving her address to deliver the gift, Carol, perhaps intentionally, leaves behind her gloves.

Therese feels an attraction towards this woman yet unsure of what it means. She is causally dating Richard (Jake Lacy), an unremarkable nice guy. While he's ready to become more serious, she's still unsure. Therese, feeling compelled to see her again, returns the gloves to Carol which leads to an invitation to lunch. It doesn't take long for the women to develop a close friendship which Harge is not happy about. While able to overlook Carol's previous liaison but with Therese now tight by her side, he painfully realizes his wife will never return to him.

At the last minute, Harge demands that Rindy spend Christmas with him and his parents in Florida. He extends a hopeful invitation to his very upset wife but declines to join them. Not wanting to be alone in an empty house over the holidays, Carol invites her new best friend to join her on a road trip to Chicago. Therese eagerly accepts and the two begin their journey exploring the heartland before their relationship moves beyond friendship.

Ms Mara hasn't had a film role nearly as dynamic since her impressive Oscar-nominated turn as Lisbeth Salander in the English-language version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". But "Carol" finally gives her the opportunity to shine once again. While not nearly as vivid as Blanchett's, Mara's performance is quite a marvel. We see Therese blossom from a timid, uncertain young girl in to a self-assured, passionate woman. While looking more like mother and daughter and behaving, at times, like teacher and student, these actresses make us understand how these mismatched women would fall deeply for each other. Despite what society of the time insisted, they desperately want to prove that their love is not a crime nor mental illness.

It's been almost ten years since "I'm Not There" that Mr. Haynes released a feature. In between, there was a HBO mini-series of "Mildred Pierce", an ambitious but underwhelming remake of the Joan Crawford weepie. "Carol" finds the director back in comfortable territory. Haynes has focused on provocative themes and challenged convention throughout his career beginning with his first feature, "Poison", one of the early films that helped kick off the New Queer Cinema movement back in the early '90's. This film plays very much like a companion piece to his 2002 melodrama, "Far From Heaven" which starred Julianne Moore as a '50's housewife who begins a seriously taboo affair with her African-American gardener (Dennis Haysbert) after discovering her husband (Dennis Quaid) is secretly gay.

The director has put the emphasis here less on words and more on unspoken desire and longing to great effect. The sensational camerawork of Edward Lachman (who shot the film in Super 16mm), gorgeous costumes by three-time Oscar winner, Sandy Powell and exquisite production design of Judy Becker help give "Carol" a sensuous, dream-like quality with the use of rich, saturated colors and fine attention to period details.

Though we still have some more work to do, "Carol" reminds us how far we have come when prejudice, oppression and intolerance were the rules of the day. This beautiful film is a memorable exploration in to the difficulties and challenges of unconventional love in an illiberal era and finding the strength and courage to see it through. It is a rewarding experience that is moving, heartbreaking and utterly unforgettable.

CINDERELLA (2015)

Written by Chris Weitz


Directed by Kenneth Branagh


Where & When: Vista Theater, Hollywood, CA. March 15, 2015 1:15PM


Since the Walt Disney Studios has seemed to run out of fairy tales to animate, the idea is to produce live-action versions of their classic films. First to arrive was "Alice In Wonderland" and it proved to be a global sensation, amassing over a billion dollars during it's run back in 2010. With that kind of success, "The Jungle Book", "Dumbo" and "Beauty and The Beast" are on a fast track to reach theaters but for now, "Cinderella" is the latest to be brought to life. While I wasn't overly impressed by Tim Burton's bombastic take of Alice's trippy adventures, what Kenneth Branagh has done with "Cinderella" I find to be inspired and magical. The director has made a spirited, straight-forward film, remaining fairly faithful to this timeless fable based on the 1950 Disney movie and the first written adaption by French author, Charles Perrault (and avoiding the unpleasant cutting off toes to fit in the slipper stuff like in the Brothers Grimm version). The graceful script by writer/director Chris Weitz has wisely kept the modern touches to a minimum which allows us to be swept away by one of the very first love stories.

Our tale begins with a little girl named Ella who is deeply loved by her much-in-love parents (Ben Chaplin and Hayley Atwell). Their idyllic life is shattered when her mother suddenly becomes gravely ill. Her final wish is for her young daughter to always display courage and remain kind to others, which Ella promises.

Ella grows up to become a beautiful young woman (now played by Lily James of "Downton Abbey" fame). Her uncomplicated life with her father is disrupted when he remarries a recent widow. Lady Tramaine (Cate Blanchett) arrives with her dimwitted, gaudy daughters, Drisella (Sophie McShera, also from "Downton") and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and a cat named Lucifer in tow. The evil stepmother is the showiest role in this story and without a doubt, the two-time Oscar winner makes it all her own, carrying herself like a fanciful peacock with arched eyebrows, blood-red lips and an icy chilliness that Joan Crawford would envy.

After Ella loses her father due to an illness while out at sea, she's left alone with these horrible women. Short of funds, Lady Tramaine dismisses the staff and encourages her stepdaughter to help around the house. Moved up to the attic and no longer allowed to eat with the family, Ella soon realizes she has become nothing more than a live-in maid. After serving breakfast covered in soot, her step-sisters cruelly rename her "Cinderella".

Frustrated with trying to keep her promise to her mother, Ella rides off and stumbles across a hunting party. Among the hunters is Prince Charming (Richard Madden) who becomes so enchanted by this simple girl that he decides not to disclose his identity. Under pressure to marry someone royal, the Prince decides to select his bride at the upcoming ball but extends the invitation to all eligible ladies of the land with the hope of seeing Ella again. When the news reaches Lady Tramaine, she spares no expense at making sure her daughters will captivate the Prince. Ella announces she'd like to go too but her step-mother savagely removes that thought out of her head.

Once Helena Bonham Carter arrives as Ella's daffy fairy godmother to magically whisk her off to the ball, we know she will dazzle the Prince, dash off moments before midnight, leaving behind her glass slipper and then the future King will desperately search throughout the entire kingdom for the only woman that can fit in to this shoe.

Since we are very familiar with this story, the only way this would truly standout is in the way it's put together. There are no talking animals (although CGI has the critters believably engaging with Ella) and not a single note is sung but this "Cinderella" will keep your attention with vivid, candy-colored images. With a superb cast (that also features Sir Derek Jacobi as the King and Stellan Skarsgård as the conniving Grand Duke), the exquisite work of production designer, Dante Ferretti, the radiant costumes by Sandy Powell (both the winner of three Oscars) and expert camerawork from Haris Zambarloukos together makes this a breathtaking experience.

The charm of "Cinderella" is decidedly sweet and old-fashioned and that is certainly not a bad thing. During these cynical and jaded times, the simple pleasure that comes from the notion that good can triumph over evil (while still being able to forgive) or that happily ever after can actually happen is quite appealing.

GREAT PERFORMANCES: MAKING A SCENE

The New York Times has been singling out the great film performers of the year regularly for a while now but this is the first time that they have commissioned the writers of some of the most fascinating scripts of 2013 (which many of these actors made their appearance) to contribute to this project. These scribes, which include Sarah Polley ("Stories We Tell"), JC Chandler ("All Is Lost"), Danny Strong ("Lee Daniels' The Butler"), Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogan ("The End") and Jeff Nichols ("Mud"), were asked to write one compelling line for these acting honorees to recite. Academy-Award winning cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski directs each actor in a segment of this short film.

The eleven performers selected range from a beloved Hollywood veteran (Robert Redford, "All Is Lost"), a television institution (Oprah Winfrey, "Lee Daniels' The Butler"), a stunning ingenue (Adele Exarchopoulos, "Blue is The Warmest Color"), the next major film star (Michael B. Jordan, "Fruitvale Station", Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis") to cinema royalty (Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine").

Click below to see the clips:

Great Performances: Making a Scene

BLUE JASMINE (2013)

Written & Directed by Woody Allen



Where & When: AMC Livonia 20, Livonia, MI. August 25, 2013  11:30 AM



The films of Woody Allen have become well-known hit or miss affairs. His annual output tends to fall either as charming cinematic delights ("Hannah and Her Sisters", "Bullets Over Broadway", "The Purple Rose of Cairo") or routine underdeveloped clunkers ("Shadows and Fog", "The Curse of The Jade Scorpion", "Hollywood Ending"). Thankfully, even Mr. Allen's lesser works are at least somewhat watchable although last year's offering, "To Rome With Love" was just barely. With the disappointing memory of  "Rome" still relatively fresh in my mind, I didn't know what to expect of the latest production,  "Blue Jasmine". I am very happy to report that this dramatic comedy, with elements of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and the Bernie Madoff case, has the writer/director back on the right track. The magnificent Cate Blanchett plays the title character, an over privileged trophy wife whose cushy existence is pulled out from under her and becomes desperate to find a way back in to that world.

We first meet Jasmine rambling endlessly at her seatmate on a flight to San Francisco to live with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Broke and in disgrace, she has to put some distance from her former life in New York after her investor husband (Alec Baldwin) has been exposed as the ringleader of an elaborate Ponzi scheme. Jasmine's relationship with Ginger has been complicated over the years as she feels that her working-class sister is just too far beneath her social standing and Ginger's poor taste in men hardly helps matters. Another sticking point is that Ginger and her ex-husband (Andrew "Dice" Clay) lost their entire lottery winnings to the investment fraud due to Jasmine's encouragement.

Despite the less than five-star accommodations and facing the unpleasant task of having to seek employment, Jasmine continues to flaunt the trappings of her previous fortunes. First-class plane tickets, Chanel jackets and a Birkin handbag (that is held like a shield) are used as an attempt to save face and indicate that her unfortunate, tragic situation is only a temporary setback. Cracks in the armor soon reveal her fragile mental state as Jasmine drifts off, reliving her posh life before the scandal (seen through a series of flashbacks) that leaves her confused and loudly muttering to herself. She struggles to keep it together with alcohol and medication as her only true comfort from the stress.

After reluctantly working as a receptionist for a lusty dentist (Michael Stuhlbarg) until she can acquire a real job as an interior designer, Jasmine works on her sister to drop her brutish, auto-mechanic boyfriend, Chili (Bobby Cannavale) and find someone more worthy that will take proper care of her. Ginger meets a potential new man (Louis CK) at a party while Jasmine is introduced to a wealthy, aspiring politician (Peter Sarsgaard). She is swept off her feet and quickly engaged but Jasmine is haunted by her past which endangers her future happiness and return to a comfortable lifestyle.

"Blue Jasmine" is one of Mr. Allen's strongest scripts in years (including his recent Oscar-winner, "Midnight In Paris") and seems more engaged here than when attempting to do a wacky farce (like "To Rome") as the comedy feels dusted off and recycled. The director's wit works best now when it comes more organically from the plot filled with melodramatic situations. The film perfectly serves as a humorous reminder that greed and self-absorption has become shockingly more accepted in our society, to the point that when these white-collar criminals are caught, they behave like terribly, misunderstood victims while some of the actual casualties of their corruption feel empathy for them.

Far from modern or liberated, Jasmine is a relic of the past; the pampered wife that never bothered her husband with silly questions involving business or finances in exchange for the occasional sparkly gift to show how much she's appreciated. Ms Blanchett is front and center throughout most of the film and deftly conveys Jasmine's manic energy and outrageous pathos. Her character is not particularly likable or sympathetic yet the actress is able to make you feel actual compassion for this narcissistic society matron. The British Ms Hawkins is another bright spot and convincingly delivers Ginger's Noo Yawk honk. You may expect the comedians on board to bring their expert skills here (and they do) but surprisingly Louis CK and Mr Clay are also quite effective in their dramatic moments.

With "Blue Jasmine". Woody Allen hasn't broken any new ground as he's reliably delivered what he's been doing for well over fifty years. What's here is what he does at his very best; a compelling mix of dramatic histrionics and robust hilarity.