Displaying items by tag: Chiwitel Ejiofer

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY

UK, 2025, 124 minutes, Colour.

Renée Zellweger, Chiwital Ejiofer, Leo Woodall, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Mila Jankowicz, Casper Knopf, Sally Phillips, Nico Parker, Sarah Solemani, Shirley Henderson, James Callis, Claire Skinner, Isla Fisher, Gemma Jones, Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, Neil Pearson, Celia Imre.

Directed by Michael Morris.

Bridget Jones came on the cinema scene almost a quarter of a century ago two very successful films. She was immediately popular, embodied in a British style by American actress Renée Zellweger. In 2016, she had a baby and another film. In 2024-2025, she is a widow, with two children at school, trying to manage, sad memories of her husband, played by Colin Firth and reappearing here in some pleasing ghostly presences. (Not too happy memories of previous films with real appearances of her parents, Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones, and a number of old friends turning up, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson…).

Bridget Jones has been welcomed back by audiences – though, for many of us, her distinctive mannerisms, quirks of accent, tics of behaviour, can be often offputting or, at least, disconcerting.

So, what is the widow to do? Get some advice from her old friend-nemesis, Daniel, a welcome return by Hugh Grant, still the playboy attitude but soon to be threatened by age, illness, more than a touch of conscience, and a reconciliation with his absent Italian son.

She goes to Memorial dinners for her husband, gets loads of advice from her contemporaries, to be out and around, date, be on the market. She also gets her advice from her gynaecologist, Emma Thompson again, which is more grounded but not heeded until later.

What happens is that on Hampstead Heath, her children climb a tree, she tries to rescue them, and a handsome worker (Foxster, Leo Woodall) intervenes, she more than a touch smitten, he getting in contact, a whirlwind affair. Is this the answer to her longings? But is going back to work as a television producer, on a show for women and women’s issues, another answer?

By this stage, her fans will be hoping that she resolves life’s issues. But, in those who find her a bit offputting, not eliciting audience sympathy, would be tempted to give up on her.

But,   lifechanges, her toyboy puts his foot in it about age; she is still thinking of her husband; her children react, especially her son who misses his father. And she listens more attentively to her doctor’s advice.

And, there in the background is the teacher at the children’s school, Mr Willaker (a charming Chiwitel Ejiofor, despite his propensity for discipline and continually blowing his whistle, loudly).

So, gradually, some sensible moralising, some more considered choices, some sensible interactions, and Bridget Jones will have a future.

1. Popularity Bridget Jones, Renée Zellweger’s presence and performance? Mannered style? Over almost 25 years and four films?
2. The London settings, home, school, television studios? House parties, large parties, the range of songs?
3. Bridget’s situation, widow, the death of her husband, charity work and his death, Colin Firth, his presence in memories throughout the film? The two children, their ages, her bond with the children, at school? Her going out to the Memorial dinner for her husband, her awkwardness? With the of the mothers, the Society mother, getting her to join in the activities and her later doing this?
4. Memories of her dying father, his urging her to go out? Memories of her mother? The visit to the doctor, practical, urging her out?
5. At school, encountering Mr Waliker, his whistle, his manner, with the children, stern? Later talks with him, his teaching science, rational, his criticisms of Billy’s work?
6. The outings, with the children, climbing the tree, Roxster and his presence, climbing and rescuing them, Mr Waliker observing?
7. The relationship with Roxster, his age, his work, his manner, the effect on Bridget? Tentative, going out, her infatuation, the beginning of the relationship, a fling? The effect on her? On the children? Especially Billy? Memories of his father? The party, the dog, in the water, Roxster diving in, the wet shirt, the reaction of Bridget’s friends?
8. The range of friends, from the past, new friends, meetings, chatting, urging her to enjoy herself and break out?
9. Daniel, from the previous films, the Hugh Grant’s style, his babysitting and bond with the children, his own life, his illness, in the hospital, the talk with Bridget, the talk about his son? And the son arriving at the party, charming, Daniel more at peace?
10. Roxster, time of the relationship, his backing out, not communicating, later return, his mention of time travel, indicating she be younger, her retort that he should come into the future with her? The break?
11. The work of the television station, the program, the focus on women, the guests, the personalities, the producer, Bridget enjoying her work, talking about her relationship and finding herself on stage with the applause?
12. Chloe as the nanny, her being recommended by friends, her role in the house, her ideas, efficient in every way, bonding with the children, the perfect nanny? Bridget finally accepting her?
13. Bridget and her memories of her husband, going through the documents, the diary, writing the message to him, and with children and setting the balloons?
14. Mr Waliker and his class with parents, her setting up a television program, the girl with the chart, Billy and his apprehension, the discussion about fruit fly, turning the discussion to the presence of the soul, and another life after death?
15. The shift in emphasis from the atmosphere of the fling to more serious? With the children? The discussions with Mr Waliker, going on the walk with him, the rain, the discussions, issues of reason, imagination, magic? The effect on him, the change, still blowing the whistle, but in class? The importance of his talk with Billy? The cut, the return to the concert, Billy singing, I’ll do Anything, in memory of his father, to have a memory of his father, the enthusiastic response?
16. The visit to the doctor, her practical advice, common sensed, Bridget listening to it, memories of her father, discussions with her mother?
17. The change of atmosphere, the light and more permissive episodes with her friends and with Roxster? The change, the serious interactions with Mr Waliker?
18. A year later, happiness, a new beginning, Mr Waliker the piano, the friends, her mother, her future in her 50s and beyond?

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE

US, 2024, 109 minutes, Colour.

Tom Hardy,  Chiwitel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Clark Backo, Alana Ubach.

Directed by Kelly Marcel.

It seems that diehard Venom fans are quite pleased with this third film, the story of journalist Eddie Brock, Tom Hardy,, his being associated, Simbiotically is the word, with a parasite that lives inside him, Venom, transforming into a fearsome creature, helmet head and face, strong gnashing teeth, beyond pterodactyl wings… But, quite a conversational style voiced also by Tom Hardy, as an immigrant to the US, eager to see the Statue of Liberty and enjoy the American lifestyle, a gambling spree  in Las Vegas!

However, this is an episode which may not use many converts. In many ways, the film is frequently quite grotesque, not only Venom and his dark visuals as it takes over Eddie, but a grim opening, way beyond the extremities of the universe, a sinister Xenolphage who exhorts even more fearsome and ugly creatures to destroy a codex (actually inside Eddie and Venom) and annihilate the world.

Tom Hardy, who  contributed to the story with the writer of all three Venom films, Kelly Marcel, who now directs, tends to be fairly weary of it all while Venom is excited! And the film is very episodic, a kind of Roswell site about to be demolished, Chiwiltel Ejiofor is the military commander, Juno Temple an ambitious scientist, the exploits in the underground laboratories exploring parasites and Symbiotes. Eddie and Venom are in Mexico, board a plane (on the outside) for New York are involved in a sky high confrontation with monsters, falling to earth, and continually pursued by the military.

Then, cheerfully, there is a rather hippie family, led by Rhys Ifans, believing in aliens and eager to see them, giving Eddie a lift who befriends the family. But, Venom is eager for a Las Vegas experience, Sally playing the machines and losing.

But, everyone comes together at the site to be abandoned, all kinds of special effects, explosions, pursuits, mayhem… But, of course, the ending (for most if not all). A distraction came while watching the film, and a felt need for distractions for the reviewer, wondering what would God’s response be as God sat down to watch Venom, thinking about the wonders of creation and realising that it might be beyond divine powers to imagine such a grimly contorted scenario as this one!)

1. Venom in the Marvel Universe? Preceding films? The continuity? This film is a climax?
2. The theory of Symbiotes? Origins, appearance, creatures and monsters, helmet heads, teeth, tongues, wings, transformations? Linking with humans? Two personalities in one? With Eddie, his history, previous crises, the death of Patrick?
3. The opening, the extremes of the universe, grim and dark, the Xenophage, bound, voice, the other creatures, the mission, the target, the Codex? The mission to Earth?
4. Eddie, his personality, his link with Venom, Tom Hardy using both voices? In the bar, drunk, the drinks, the bartenders, the manifestations? The future, to leave Mexico, to go to New York, the Statue of Liberty?
5. Introduction to Teddy Paine, the dream, with her twin brother, to be an astronaut, the storm, his death, her waking, call to work, her work with the Symbiotes, Sadie as her assistant? Her interactions with Strickland? The laboratory, below the Earth, elaborate? The work, the samples? Investigations? Reviving Patrick, the interrogations, his information?
6. The situation with the plant, extensive, to be decommissioned, three days, the remnants?
7. The targeting of Eddie, the mechanisms for surveillance, tracking him? The squads available to Strickland, the pursuit, the fight on the plane, the helicopter and the military, dropping into the water, confrontation with them, their deaths? The consequences for Strickland? His return to the plant?
8. The encounter with the family, Martin, his background, preoccupation with aliens, gathering the family, travelling in the van, his wife’s support, the delight of the little boy, the questionings of the daughter? The encounter with Eddie, his friendliness, Eddie trying to keep Venom under control? The singing of the David Bowie song? The bonding, dropping Eddie in Las Vegas, giving him the $20?
9. The Las Vegas episode, Venom wanting to gamble, the lack of money, hitting the poker machines, the people observing? Eddie looking drab, the encounter with the man in the suit, Eddie looking respectable? The encounter with the friend, up to the apartment, Venom enjoying the dance?
10. Eddie, to the plant, with Teddy Paine, with Strickland, the encounter with Patrick and the explanations?
11. Martin, the family, arriving at the site, under the fence, on the tower, able to observe everything, the collapsing tower? The final disillusionment with aliens!
12. The buildup to the confrontation, the special effects, the creatures arriving, the commands of Xenophage, the staff, the destruction of the underground laboratory, on the surface, the Symbiotes escaping, making contact with Teddy Paine, the pursuit of Sadie?
13. The buildup to the final drama, Strickland being wounded, on the platform, his code and eyes, setting the destruction in process? The explosion and destruction?
14. The aftermath, Eddie, the hospital, separation from Venom? And the views of the Statue of Liberty?
15. The final credits, possibility for future Venom stories?