Displaying items by tag: Jean Reno

MY PENGUIN FRIEND

Brazil/US, 2024, 97 minutes, Colour.

Jean Reno, Adriana Barraza, Alexia Moyano, Pedro Urizzi, Duda Galvao, Thelma de Freitas.

Directed by David Schurmann.

My Penguin Friend is based on a true story, a story of a migrating penguin, from Patagonia to an island off the coast of Brazil. There are clips of the actual penguin and friend during the final credits.

This is a Brazilian film, it has an international cast, the French Jean Reno, the Mexican Adriana Barazza, and the dialogue is all in English – making it accessible worldwide in the English-speaking world.

The opening credits include a camera tracking over much of the world, narrowing down to Brazil and the island. We have glimpses of life on the island, youngsters at school, a working family, a very cheerful little boy celebrating his birthday and putting pressure on his father to take him out rowing to sea. However, a huge storm and tragedy.

The scenario moves forward several decades, the father, Jean Reno, still grieving, isolated from the other members of the village, managed by his rather stoic wife, Maria, Adriana Barraza.

It all changes when we go to Patagonia, see the colony of penguins, their taking off for migration, an oil slick, and the father finding the bereft penguin, washing, cleaning it, caring for it, his wife in the meantime rather impatient, but eventually the penguin finding a home on the island, making its own barrow, a little girl finding a name for it, Dimdin. Audiences will enjoy this sentiment, and the fact that Dimdin makes this annual journey eight times.

There is a subplot about scientists studying penguins, migration, hoping for grants for their work. In the meantime, the father has reluctantly allowed himself to be interviewed and the program with him and Dimdin goes viral. The scientific team identify the penguin when it comes to Patagonia and are interested in furthering research.

Audiences generally like penguins very much. And this penguin and the film are very likeable.

1. Audience liking for and response to penguins?
2. The opening credits, the maps, tracing over the maps, arriving on the island off Brazil, travel to Patagonia? Brazil, the town, the beaches? Patagonia, the isolation? The musical score?
3. The penguins, 80% real, 15% CGI, 5% and Medtronics?
4. The opening story, Miguel and Kalista, the happy boy, the bond, the birthday gift, scenes at home, his parents, love, the birthday, with his father, the impending storm, the boy’s insistence, their rowing out, the storm, the anchor, the boat overturned, the boy drowned, the father trying to rescue, grieving? The consequences for later and the rescuing of the penguin?
5. The present, Joao, at odds with the other people in the village, at home, Maria, the relationship, the grief? Kalista and her daughter?
6. The scenes of the penguins, the commentary, and migration? The penguin and the oil slick, on the Brazilian coast, rescued by Joao? Loving care, the details, washing, the clothing, the exasperation of Maria and her cleaning up after, the time passing, the bonding? The people of the town, Lucia and her naming the penguin, Dindim?
7. The response of people to Dimdin, becoming part of their life? At home in the house, the borrower, the time for leaving? The return to Patagonia?
8. Eight years, Dimdin coming back, part of the life of the town? Joao and the interview with Paolo, the discussions about the interview, changing his mind, the interview going viral, known around the world?
9. The subplot of the researchers, their work in Patagonia, identifying the penguins, studying the migration, Adriana, Carlos and his scepticism, Stephanie, the different attitudes? Contact with universities, the possibility of a grant? The visit, identifying Dimdin, keeping tabs? Plan to keep Dimdin, for the University, in the vein, letting Dimdin escape?
10. The town, everybody anxious, Dimdinn not returning? Joao and going out to search, the false alarm, finding Dimdin, the happiness and reconciliation in the town?
11. A pleasing film for family audiences? Based on a true story – and the final credits and the video clips of the real Joao and Dimdin?

LIFT

US, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Vincent D[Onofrio, Ursula Corbero, Billy Magnusson, Yun Jee Kim, Jean Reno, Jacob Batalon, Burn Gorman.

Directed by F. Gary Gray.

Lift is a lighthearted, serious escapade action adventure. It has been directed by F.Gary Gray, skilled in this kind of entertainment like the remake of The Italian Job.

The main surprise of the film is Kevin Hart in the leading role, the action hero. His delivery and speed is rather toned down from his usual action comedies. And he seems to be enjoying himself as a romantic hero with the criminal touch.

In fact, the film has quite an extensive international cast, British Gugu Mbatha-Raw as an Interpol officer, Australian Sam Worthington as her boss. And, in the supporting cast, Americans, Koreans, Latin Americans – and, a veteran French villain, Jean Reno.

And there are some attractive and exciting international locations, opening with an art heist in Venice.

That the core of the story is Interpol’s desperation to catch Kevin Hart and his gang, getting Gugu Mbatha-Raw to be part of the impossible heist of a cargo of gold, being transferred to Switzerland to the villain so that he can finance terrorists to his financial gain.

The gang is a motley crew, international, hackers, safe crackers, and a gentleman who can disguise himself and infiltrate situations, played by Vincent D’Oonfrioi. Part of the enjoyment is their working together, personalities, clashes, expertise, and/or combining to capture the gold.

And, of course, there is a romantic touch because the Interpol agent and the leader had been romantically involved in the past, leading to tensions, and the breakdown of tensions, especially with the success of the mission.

One of those lavishly produced action adventure pastimes.

1. Action entertainment? International, exotic, and impossible highest…?
2. The international cast, Kevin Hart more subdued, criminals, interval, villains?
3. The tone, the sequences in Venice, the introduction to Cyrus, his abilities, artworks, his team, the techniques of stealing?
4. The portrait of the team, international, personalities, talents, seeing them in action, execution of the robberies, the planning and their expertise, the final heist of the gold? Camilla as the pilot, Magnus as the safe cracker, Mi-Sun as the hacker, Denton, the aged gentlemen, his many disguises?
5. Interpol, the organisation, Gladwell and her role, her commitment, Huxley as the boss, Australian accent, demanding, seeing him in pursuit, the chases, failure, his determination, demands on Gladwell?
6. The situation, the arch criminal, wealth, Switzerland, Gold, supporting terrorists, his staff, the range of thugs?
7. The plan, Gladwell to go undercover, her previous relationship with Cyrus, their sparring, her meeting with the various members, reluctance, commitment, the various details of the planning?
8. The flight, arrangements with the plains, hacking, deceptions, alternate plans, hacking, the safe on the plane, getting the gold? The various steps, tensions, action sequences, in the air, on land?
9. The buildup to the confrontation, the criminal, assured, the authorities, the failure of his plot?
10. The group, bonding, the success, Cyrus and Gladwell – and the possibility for sequels?