Tag: Timothée Chalamet

Film Review: Dune Part Two: Which is hotter? The cast or desert setting in this sci-fi sequel

Hi Readers,

One of the most anticipated sequels of the year has finally hit the cinema screens: Dune Part Two. It carries on the story of Paul Atreides and his various comrades and enemies as they move towards the fight for Arrakis. With the writers and actors strikes delaying the release, fans have had to wait longer than planned. Those who have read the original books will have known what is coming but nothing compares to seeing it on the big screen.

I chose to wait to see this film in IMAX and it was definitely worth it. The sound and quality of the film were amazing and the vast scenes of the desert really emphasised that the action is set on another planet despite being filmed in real life deserts.

As the film has been out a while, I will be talking about spoilers so if you haven’t yet seen the film and do not want to hear any plot details, turn away now.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

The film begins with Paul and his mother Jessica learning the ways of the Fremen. Paul fairly defeated their champion in the last film so they have now been accepted into the clan. Zendaya who plays Chani is there as his friend and mentor with romance sizzling between herself and Paul played by Timothée Chalamet.

Paul is anxious for his mother and her unborn child as they wait for the Harkonnen to hunt them down. Paul must come to terms that he could be the Fremen’s messiah – Lisan al-Ghaib, the prophet that they have been waiting for who is said to help them reclaim the planet from the Empire.

After his mother drinks the Water of Life and becomes the new Reverend Mother of the Fremen, she has the ability to speak to her unborn daughter voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy in a surprise cameo. Paul learns the ways of the Fremen including their fighting techniques, how to ride a sandworm and their rituals. Together with the Fremen he destroys the spice harvesters that the Harkonnen send to their territory. He is reunited with his old friend Gurney (Josh Brolin) who was believed to have been killed in the first film.

Elsewhere, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) suspects that Paul Atreides is still alive despite the House of Atreides falling to the House of Harkonnen. She has a visit from another Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling) who tells her of the prophecy.

On Arrakis, the Baron’s nephews compete to win more territory from the Fremen and to be elected as the next Baron and leader of House Harkonnen. Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) is a fierce fighter and when his brother does not succeed is awarded an army to bring down the Fremen. Lady Margot Fenring is sent by the Emperor (Christopher Walken) to secure an heir with Feyd-Rautha so they can stake a claim to House Harkonnen and gain control of Arrakis.

The final act comes when Jessica is revealed as a daughter of the Baron meaning Paul is both an Atreides and Harkonnen. The battle to take back the palace proceeds and when finding the Harkonnens along with the Princess and Emperor, Paul challenges them to a duel for the throne; Feyd-Rautha is chosen as the champion. After a tough fight, Paul is the champion but to Chani’s dismay asks Princess Irulan for her hand in marriage. Chani goes back to Fremen territory in the north on a sandworm.

The main questions that we are left with are:

  • Now that Feyd-Rautha is dead, will the Emperor use his unborn child with Lady Margot to challenge Paul for the throne?
  • Will Paul reveal his Harkonnen blood to make a claim for the House of Harkonnen as well?
  • Does he still love Chani and this was all a political move? Will she forgive him?
  • Will Paul still be on the Fremen’s side as the Lisan al-Ghaib and work as an inside man to give the planet back to them?

I really enjoyed Dune Part Two, I liked the first film and this definitely lived up to expectations. With so many characters and the different names and lore of the Dune universe, it could be a film that is hard to understand, but the emotions and story felt very human.

The visuals were stunning with the vast open desert scenes and clean lines of the Harkonnen compound. The colours were very basic with the Harkonnens wearing black with a pale white skin tone and the Fremen with many skin colours and dark grey outfits. The contrast with the sand really made these stand out. The planet felt very futuristic yet there was no modern technology such as phones or cars. It was as if they had evolved beyond that.

The cast were very well chosen being some of the most talented and attractive young actors in Hollywood at the moment. I thought Timothée Chalamet did a great job as Paul as always. In this sci-fi world, he is the most relatable character having a very human experience and being a fish out of water in the Fremen culture. I thought that Austin Butler was a very convincing villain with his bald cap and intimidating demeanour. You didn’t often see cracks but his most vulnerable moment was when Lady Margot was seducing him and you could see he felt empowered to be sought after in that way.

The twist at the end about Paul being part of the House of Harkonnen and then asking Princess Irulan for her hand in marriage was not something I saw coming but I am sure all will be explained in a third installment. There have been many Dune books, with the story being continued after the original author’s death.

Due to the film’s delay it missed out on being eligible for Awards Season but I hope we get it see it win something next year. The sound and visual effects definitely deserve something but the acting was up there as well.

Overall, I give this film 5/5

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Film Review: Wonka – a phizz-whizzing, wondercump watch

Hello readers,

You may be wondering about the words in the title and that is because they are from the plethora of words that author Roald Dahl invented and used in his books, one of which was the original tale for Wonka. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory we see the grown-up Willy Wonka with his factory and army of Oompa-Loompas entertain an unsuspecting group of children.

But, did you ever wonder how Wonka became the splendiferous inventor that Charlie and his Grandpa Joe encounter? This new film from the producers of Paddington and Harry Potter featuring an amazing cast can show you.

Wonka (2023)

The thing about doing another reboot/sequel or something based on known characters is that it has to be original and interesting. The small childhood flashback we see of Willy Wonka in the 2005 film which depicts him as a sad child stuck in a head brace with a chocolate-hating dentist for a father is not much of a back story.

This film has flipped that narrative on its head and provided Willy with a loving mother who taught him the chocolate basics and let him lick the spoon. At the beginning of the story he sets foot back in an unspecified European town after 7 years aboard finding weird and wonderful new ingredients for his chocolate.

His dream of opening a shop at the Galeries Gourmet is quickly met with uproar from the other three chocolatiers who hatch a plan to bring him down with the help of the Chief of Police and Mrs Scrubitt, the laundrette owner.

Things start off well with Willy showing the public his chocolates that can make you float but when he gets stuck paying his debts at the laundrette along with Noodle and other unfortunate souls, he hatches a plan to free them and take down the chocolate mafia.

At the heart of this film is a story about Willy Wonka missing his mother and seeing that same longing in Noodle who does not know her parents. He wants to make her proud and believes that she will return to him when he has achieved success.

Timothée Chalamet made a great Wonka, basing his performance on that of Gene Wilder in the 1971 adaptation, dressing in his iconic purple coat and hat. He demonstrated Wonka’s classic wacky humour but a little more subdued than it is when he meets Charlie Bucket. I was pleasantly surprised by the singing and dancing in the film but I thought that Timothée brought a great musicality to the role. He commanded the screen and had great chemistry with his on-screen pals.

The supporting cast features a range of British and American heavyweights with newcomer Calah Lane as Noodle alongside names such as Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson, Paterson Joseph, Jim Carter, Keegan-Michael Key and Matt Lucas.

Fans of Ghosts and Horrible Histories will be able to spot some favourites in there as well as Paddington alumni Tom Davis and Sally Hawkins. There was a large ensemble cast with a few cameos but I felt that everyone had their moment and no one was overlooked in their storyline. Even a character with a few lines got a happy ending on screen.

Of course, no film based around Willy Wonka would be complete without his marvellous inventions. We see his Mary Poppinsesque hat and never-ending suitcase with a delightful range of ingredients including giraffe milk and Oompa-Loompa cocoa beans for which Wonka is pursued. He creates a number of fun treats in the film including a chocolate that allows you to see a silver lining, edible shopping bags and candyfloss clouds.

I think this was a lovely, creative prequel to Willy Wonka with a cosy British feeling similar to Paddington and Matilda (another recent Roald Dahl musical) and I will happily be watching again when it comes to streaming.

I give this film 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Christmas with the Coopers – 23rd December

A modern day classic of a big family trying to get through Christmas Day. Each group has their own little story going on and they all converge for the family Christmas. Some great actors in this film make it a real favourite of mine. I think of it as sort of a Love Actually story but all the characters are related and have group scenes towards the end.

Each generation has their own story, there’s Charlotte (Diane Keaton) and Sam (John Goodman), the head of the family who are in a rut and thinking of separating. They also pick up Aunt Fishy from her retirement home for the Christmas Eve meal. She suffers with memory loss and is played by the delightful June Squibb (The Proposal).

Sam and Charlotte’s children are Hank and Eleanor. Hank (Ed Helms) and his wife (Alex Borstein) have separated and he has the children for Christmas. They are played by Timothée Chalamet, Maxwell Simkins and Blake Baumgartner. The kids all have their own adventures too. Charlie (Chalamet) is keen on a girl but has difficulties talking to her. His brother wants to find the perfect gift. Their sister, Madison spends the day with her grandparents and has trouble controlling her bladder.

Eleanor (Olivia Wilde) meanwhile doesn’t enjoy spending time with her family and is headed back via the airport when she connects with Joe (Jake Lacy), an army officer. They spend the day bonding at the airport and she brings him home as her boyfriend to impress her family.

There’s also Aunt Emma (Marisa Tomei) is looking for presents for her family and is arrested for shoplifting and taken downtown by Officer Williams (Anthony Mackie). She gets him to open up during their ride.

The last pairing is Bucky (Alan Arkin), Charlotte’s father goes to the same diner every day and bonds with Ruby (Amanda Seyfried), a waitress. When she decides to leave to pursue her dreams, he invites her to family Christmas.

I enjoy this film very much and will be watching it for years to come. I think the chemistry between all the characters really makes you believe they are a real family. The film has plenty of hilarious moments and some real family love. The story is completed by Rags, the dog voiced by Steve Martin who narrates the story and gives the viewer insight into the lives and thoughts of the characters. Overall I give this film 5/5.