Displaying items by tag: Catherine O'Hara

THE WILD ROBOT

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara.

Directed by Chris Sanders.

Fans of Peter Brown’s 2016 illustrated novel, The Wild Robot, will be delighted to see this film version. In fact, delight has been the response of audiences – and also of many critics.

We are definitely in the 21^st-century with an animated family film focusing on a robot – although, Peter Brown in his detailed blog on the Internet about his writing his book over a period of eight years, has many interesting observations about origins of writing about robots as far back as the 1920s. But, to have a children’s film focusing on a robot, very much of our times. (And these years there are many films for adults with dramatic stories about androids and humans being served and protected by them as well as stories of betrayals.)

In trying to describe the perspectives of The Wild Robot, it could be said on the one hand that the picture of nature, animals in the forests, their personalities, is in the Disney tradition, especially of Bambi. And, on the other hand, the picture of robots, technology, artificial intelligence, is very much a contemporary perspective.

And, a robot in the wild, a robot whose name comes from her code initials, abbreviated to Roz, and the machine a female voice by Lupita Nyong’o. A shipwreck, Roz stranded, re-booted, the strong sense of mission (and her repeating her promotion instructions aloud). Needless to say, the wide range of animals, all enjoyably portrayed, do not respond well, fearful.

But, that is just the beginning. Two engaging characters emerge, a little Gosling bereft of family who gets the nickname Brightbird (Kit Connor) and an engaging fox, Fink (Pedro Pascal enjoying himself) whom nobody likes but who becomes a great favourite with the audience.

In fact, there is plenty of plot, Roz teaching the Gosling how to lie while looked down on by the rest of the geese; the bird migration led by the wise Longneck (Bill Nigh); some misunderstandings, some reconciliations, and Roz finally affirmed by the animals as she is able to help them in a very cold hibernation.

And, there is more with the robots, contact with the company, some ruthless executives, wanting to control Roz. While robots have no emotions, Roz learns more and more from her animal friends, standing up for herself and for them.

The film has been written and directed by Chris Sanders, best known for The Crudes series and, especially, charming action story, How to Train Your Dragon. Here he has been able to appeal to younger audiences with a great deal to interest and entertain an adult audience.

1. Family-friendly animation, style, story, characters? Musical score?
2. 21^st-century, robots, artificial intelligence, techno developments? And memories of past animation, animals, the forests? The combination?
3. The situation, the future, robots, the storm, the destruction, Roz stranded, programmed, promoting her services? The female voice? The encounter with the bear, the crushing of the geese, the survival of the Gosling, befriending it, training it, calling it Brightbill? The Fox, Fink, on the outer, yet bonding, helping with Brightbill? The possum, guides of how to mother they Gosling? But fear from the other geese?
4. The range of animals in the forest, memories of Disney animals and Bambi? The fear of Roz? The importance of Brockville learning to fly, to swim, the training, eventual success?
5. Brightbill, personality, growing, succeeding, information about Roz and the loss of his family? Hostility? The preparation for the migration, the role of Longneck? Brightbill and his agitation? The geese flying, the storm, taking refuge in the robot headquarters, the clashes and persecution, Brightbill not afraid, leading them to safety? Longneck sacrificing himself?
6. The hibernation, the animals going into hibernation, Roz helping, their bonding with Roz? The squabbling, fights, traditions, Fink and his mediating? The episode with the bear?
7. Roz, trying to reactivate, the links with the headquarters, the response at headquarters, the head, sending robots, locating Roz, the attack on the animals, the fight back, the fire?
8. The geese returning, Brightbill, reconciliation with Roz?
9. Roz, agreeing to leave, going back to the headquarters, working in the greenhouse, Brightbill and his visit, but her still having her emotional responses?
10. The family friendly story about technology, operation by exploiters, but possibilities for harmony and peace?

BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE

US, 2024, 105 minutes, Colour.

Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Nick Kellington, Santiago Cabrera, Burn Gorman, Danny DeVito.

Directed by Tim Burton.

In Beetlejuice folklore, you have to call out Beetlejuice’s name three times and he will appear. But, this time it needed only just one repetition. And here he is, 36 years after his first appearance, ready to entertain old fans and new fans.

Perhaps it is something about the world situation in 2024 that the highest moneymaking films so far have been quite a contrast, the violent fantasy of Deadpool and Wolverine and the wonderful exploration of human motor emotions in Inside Out 2. Now Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice has made over $100 million at the American box office on its first weekend. So, we can ask, is our world with all the wars, deaths in war, cost of living crises, in need of a fantasy distraction, an indulgence in absurd comedy.

Because, that is what we have here, absurd characters in over the top absurd situations, lots of jokes, special ghostly effects, Beetlejuice’s wisecracks, all kinds of unexpected dramatic turns. There is a surface world with strange human characters, Winona Ryder again as Lydia now a TV host on ghost appearances, her mother, Catherine O’Hara again as Delia, an eccentrically loud artist – but Astrid, Lydia’s daughter, Jenna Ortega, has grown up sceptical of the whole Beetlejuice ghostly world. Her scepticism is about to come crashing down. And director, Tim Burton, going back to his old fantasy styles.

In the meantime, there in the Afterlife, Michael Keaton is Beetlejuice, always sly, raucously comic, with a host of office secretaries, all skeletal bureaucrats, especially the hapless Bob, suited, but in for some tormented times because a callous janitor in the Afterlife, played by Danny DeVito, vacuuming and polishing, the machine in water, electric shock and opening up the store of dead severed human parts – especially, of Beetlejuice’s former wife, played exotically by Monica Bellucci who will pursue him relentlessly.

Fans of the original will be happy to get back into the Afterlife, the madcap visuals, the special effects, the eerie creatures… And there is plenty of plot, Astrid tricked into helping a ghost to regain his life, Lydia to the rescue and agreeing to marry Beetlejuice, his wife in pursuit, Delia ending up in the Afterlife, and, to cap it all, Willem Dafoe, seeming to appear in every other film these days, as a skeletal actor who is in charge of investigations, preening himself in his performance, modelled on television shows, of how the police ought to act!

And, right at the end, there is a very long wedding sequence, all kinds of mayhem with a performance of McArthur Park, everybody singing along…

Beetlejuice may not appeal to every audience, especially those who don’t have a high tolerance for dark fantasy. But, he will probably appeal, in his own very distinctive Michael Keaton way, to most everyone else!

PAIN HUSTLERS

US, 2023, 123 minutes, Colour.

Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O'Hara, Andy Garcia, Jay Duplass, Bryan D'Arcy James, Amit Shah, Chloe Coleman.

Directed by David Yates.

Here is a drama that focuses on the opioid crisis in the United States (and beyond). This is a fictionalised drama about a young woman, Liza, working in the club, with an ill daughter, who is propositioned by a businessman in the club, makes contact with him, looking for a job. She is played by Emily Blunt. He is played by Chris Evans.

Liza is shrewd, fabricates an education background, auditions well, especially with the founder of the company, Jack Neel, played by Andy Garcia. The company is just starting, producing drugs, looking for outlets, promoting the drugs with doctors, offering them benefits.

The drama shows how easy it is to be caught up in the enthusiasm of big profit, underestimating the moral approaches of the company directors. Liza find she has a flair for influencing doctors, a talent for plausible explanations. The film has an interesting supporting cast led by Catherine O’Hara who plays Liza’s mother who becomes involved with Dr Neel as well as becoming a member of the sales staff.

Ultimately, there are moral issues, doctors and their downfalls, arrests, exposures, court cases, prison.

Since 2020, the opioid epidemic, the proliferation of oxycodone and fentanyl, have become key to some documentaries, a television miniseries, other fiction films. The focus is on the Sackler family who developed the opioids with great business success but with moral challenges. Award-winning documentarist, Alex Gibney, probed this in The Crime of the Century. Celebrated photographer, Nan Golden, also made a devastating exploratory and accusing documentary, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. Netflix also has a six part series, Painkiller, starring Matthew Broderick, a docudrama about the Sackler is. The theme was also present in the thriller, Crisis, with Gary Oldman.

Pain Hustlers is interesting and enjoyable as a drama – but, it raises the very important issues of opioids, medication, exploitation, financial interests.

(Direction by David Yates who made the last four Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts series)

1. Based on true story and court cases? Other films on this theme?
2. The US, drugs, prescriptions, deaths? Investigations?
3. Florida, the atmosphere, homes, companies, officers, promotions, court? The musical score?
4. Liza Drake, agent background, living in the garage, her daughter, Phoebe, epilepsy? An exotic dancer? Her life and prospects? The encounter with Pete? The offer? Her being ousted and her car taken, at the motel?
5. Peter Brenner, customer, relationship with Liza, opportunist, his work for the company, with Jack Neel?
6. The company, Zanna, the situation, start-up, investors, money, drugs and marketing, contact with doctors on promotion?
7. Liza, meeting with Neel, Pete falsifying her resume, her qualifications? Jack Neel, accepting her? Setting a target, five days, her not achieving it, Phoebe and her seizures? The exploitation?
8. Dr Lydell, Liza and the meetings, listening to his discussions with the cancer patients, persuading him, invite him to speak, not a success? Pete and his continued persuasion, the growing number of clients, prescriptions?
9. The team, the range of recruits, the training, their mission, Jackie’s presence?
10. Exposure, Neel and his favours, Pete and the CEO recording discussions, the range of clients?
11. The role of Jackie, her relationship with her daughter, granddaughter, their interactions, the attraction to Jack Neel, the affair, sleeping with him, her becoming part of the team, her being fired?
12. Phoebe, the seizures, need for an operation, the situation, financial?
13. Liza and the death of her friend’s husband, hostility, the need for a further exposure?
14. Liza, her actions and decisions, taking the documents from Pete, Neel isolating himself, yet the exposure through the past emails?
15. The issue into more, its history in the US, the principals going to court, prison sentences?
16. Liza, 15 months in prison, getting out, with her mother, a new beginning?