Displaying items by tag: Aaron Pierre

MUFASA: THE LION KING

US, 2024, 120 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Blue Ivy Carter, John Kani, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Thandiwe Newton, Lenny James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Donald Glover, Beyonce.

Directed by Barry Jenkins.

In the 1990s, the Disney studios produced a succession of striking animation films, 1989 in The Little Mermaid, then Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin. 1994 introduced The Lion King who has stayed popular and in our consciousness ever since, leading to a Broadway musical, some sequels, of live action re-making 2019. And, now, the prequel in the early life of more far so and his becoming the Lion King.

Technically, Mufasa is significant in its re-creation of the range of animals, the pride of Lions, the hostile White Lions, Rafiki the storyteller and the meerkat, Timon, and the warthog, Pumbaa and a whole range of African plains animals from elephants to giraffes. There is plenty to delight audiences who enjoy seeing these animals.

But, the significant aspect is that they speak, the manipulation of their mouths to make this sound authentic, and a range of voice cast led by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr as Mufasae and his friend Taki who, we know, will become his brother then his enemy, Scar. There are also other well-known voices, especially Mads Mikkelson as the hostile King of the White Lions, contrasting with John Kani as the the storyteller (reprising his role from the 2019 film) and, unexpectedly, lots of chatter and cheeky references, even to the musical, with Seth Rogen voicing Pumbaa and Billy Eichner, Timon.

In the present, so to speak, Simba’s daughter, Kiara (voiced Beyonce’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter), is anxious as her father leaves for a meeting. The wise Rafiki is prevailed upon to tell the story of Mufasa, his childhood, his relationship with Scar, his becoming the Lion King. And Rafiki has the chorus commentators. At key moments during the film, the narrative returns to the present and some episodes with Kiara and the storytellers.

At the beginning of Rafiki’s tale, Mufasa and his parents are isolated, drought, dangers, and the pursuing dangerous White Lions, hoping for a peaceful further valley and their making their way towards it. But, tragedies, Mufasa is lost, encountering other lions but considered an outsider, a stray. However, he makes a good impression – but, at the expense of his father’s love for his son, Taki, who has rescued Mufasa from crocodiles.

On the one hand, there are many playful sequences and family affectionate moments to delight. On the other hand, there are many fearsome moments with the pursuit of the White Lions, Taki and his betrayal of Mufasa, his sinister behaviour and an ultimate confrontation.

We are anticipating the happy ending when Mufasa will be recognised by all the animals as the leader, he being modest and self-deprecating, but responding to the acclaim and ascending to the sloping cliff to take his iconic stance.

1. The long popularity of The Lion King, animation film, Broadway musical, sequels, the 2019 live action, this prequel?
2. The range of voices, African-American voices?
3. The musical score, the range of songs, Lin Manuel Miranda, lyrics?
4. The style of the film, special effects work, the range of animals, action, voices and the credibility of their mouth movement and speaking? Layout and backgrounds?
5. The setting, Simba, audience knowledge of the future, Rafiki and his telling the story, the gathering of the animals, the Circle of Life, Timon and Pumbaa, the original film, comedy, the wisecracks, the references to the film and musical, the comic chorus? Kiara, apprehensive, wanting to hear the story of Mufasa? The flashbacks and the continued returning to the storytelling and the comments?
6. The situation, Mufasa and his parents, difficulties, the terrain, the dry, the outside alliance and her persecutions, the vision of the future beyond the sunrise, the tragedy, Mufasa and his being lost, in the river, the crocodiles, his being pulled out to safety by Taki?
7. Mufasa as lost, not astray, Taki’s father rejecting him, the mother compassionate, the bonding of the two young lions, their adventures together, hopes and joy? (And the audience knowing that Taki would become Scar?)
8. The pursuing lions, the fights between the young lions, the death of the white lion, the anger, his father, the blame on Mufasa, Taki and is avoiding responsibility? The consequences, the pursuit, Mufasa fighting the white lion, Taki, his fears, betrayal, leaving the marks for the white lions to pursue?
9. Taki and his father, the race, Mufasa winning, the challenge to Taki, his father’s disapproval, sending him away?
10. The themes of friendship, fear, betrayal, self-protection, the friend becoming a victim?
11. The range of adventures, the falling over the cliff, surviving, underwater, the rescue? The continued travels, the rain, the floods?
12. The other animals, the giraffes, the comments, the fears of the pursuing lions, the well being of Mufasa and Taki, their mother?
13. The arrival of the white lions, the confrontation, the revelation of the truth, Taki and his scar, the fights, Mufasa winning?
14. The acceptance of all the animals, his modesty, the qualities of a king, the acceptance, scar and his exile? And Mufasa are going to the cliff, the visual emblem always of The Lion King?

REBEL RIDGE

US, 2024, 131 minutes, Colour.

Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsane the, James Cromwell.

Directed by Jeremy Saulnier.

We are in Louisiana, definitely the atmosphere of the South, arrogant cops, political corruption, the treatment of an itinerant black man.

This is the kind of action film where the audience is invited to sympathise with the central character, in this case, Terry Richmond, played by British actor Aaron Pierre. He is riding his bicycle along Louisiana Road, bumped to the ground by pursuing police, treated as a suspect, all kinds of charges, no belief in his defence that he is carrying $30,000 to get to the court to place bail for one of his cousin. He is treated with contempt as well as disbelief, brutally treated, and his seeming to accept something of his fate.

Then we are introduced to the chief of police, played by Don Johnson, and audience hostility goes up several degrees. We see the corruption, get information that there have been many victims like Terry Richmond, and information that budgets are tight and the local police need this kind of forfeiting of money in such situations.

There is also a sympathetic young woman, Summer (AnnaSophia Robb) who is able to give Terry some documentation about the history of corruption.

By this stage, we are halfway through the film. Which means, of course, that Terry Richmond will come into his own, self-assertion, collaboration with Summer even as the police turn on her. The assistant at the police station does a bit of googling and, just a bit too late, finds out just who Terry Richmond is and what are his military qualifications.

While we might say that this action scenario is somewhat formulaic, that does not undermine the effect of audience identification with the central characters and the injustices, loathing of the corrupt police, the various stages of their comeuppance

As expected, the action becomes violent at times, and disgust at the lengths the police will go to justify themselves and eliminate opposition.

1. The title? Louisiana? Attitudes of the American South? Race issues? Policing? Corruption?
2. The Louisiana settings, the countryside, the towns, homes, police offices? The musical score?
3. Terry Richmond, riding his bike, the pursuit by the police, stopped, apprehension, suspicions? His explanation, bail for his cousin? African-American?
4. This kind of drama eliciting audience sympathy for the persecuted central character, the second half and the comeuppance of the persecutors?
5. Terry, character, working in the restaurant, the Chinese background, phoning, raising the money, the restaurant attacked by thugs, his cousin and drug deals, wanting to post the bail? Arriving in the town, the interrogation by the police, in the cell? The encounter with the chief? The two arresting officers and their attitudes and behaviour?
6. The financial situation of the police, the chief and his plan, the offices, the female officer in the office, her googling, finding out the truth about Terry? Taking of the money, the legal holding of the money, the use of the money, the cabinet full of weapons? Financial deals, the legal implications? The role of the judge – and the later interrogation, his killing himself?
7. Summer, her background, drugs, rehabilitation, the judge, getting the job, her child? Talking with Terry, giving information, the meetings, the leads, the indication of an inside informer, presumption that it was the woman, the later revelation of Marston?
8. Terry, the confrontation with the chief, verbal, physical? His military training, his skills? The exercise?
9. The move towards resolution, the transfer of the prisoners, his riding by pursuing the bus, reassuring his cousin? The later news of his death?
10. The complexities of the set-ups, his allowing himself to be taken, the drugging of Summer, the threats? Driving away, the ambushes, the shootouts, Rebel Ridge? Confrontation with the chief? Marston revealed?
11. A picture of small town corruption, violent consequences, exposing the corruption, resolution?