Displaying items by tag: Maura Tierney

TWISTERS

US, 2024, 117 minutes, Colour.

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Harry Haddon-Paton, Sasha Lane, Darrell McCormack, David: Corenswet.

Directed by Isaac Lee Chung.

By a happy twist of fate, Twisters is an entertaining crowd-pleaser. Anyone who buys a ticket, keen to see tornadoes in action as well as the human efforts to chase and combat them, will find a multitude of twisters here. The special effects of the tornadoes themselves, the visuals of their destructive force, the ruins and aftermath, are quite spectacular. And the editing keeps the action running at a very brisk pace, often edge-of-the-seat adrenaline pumping.

1996, the original Twister was a holiday entertainment, much the expected theme, two experts, despite divorce proceedings, working together to chase the tornadoes. The director of that film, Jan de Bont, had not heard that there was to be this kind of sequel, making a comment that a sequel could only succeed if the tornadoes were bigger. The filmmakers this time have absolutely taken notice of that observation, not only are they bigger, there are many more of them.

But, the screenplay here places quite a lot of emphasis on the science – whether the audience understands the details of it or not. In fact, the film opens with a young enthusiast, Kate, Daisy Edgar-Jones, leading a team that hopes to release chemicals into the eye of the twister to dissipate its force. There are some scientific explanations. But, the experiment is a tragic failure, the deaths of several of the participants.

Then we go five years later. One of Kate’s former colleagues, Javi (Anthony Ramos) enlists her help with his experiments, placing tracking machines around the tornado in order to get a three-dimensional reading. Again, scientific explanations. By contrast, there is Tyler (a grinning Glen Powell more gung ho at first and he was in Top Gun Maverick), a so-called tornado wrangler, with his own team of scientists (who, In All clothes, do not look like it), and filming his exploits, taking tornado tourists out to witness the phenomena, and a British journalist joining. in

Obviously, there is going to be rivalry. And there is. However, there are some jaw-dropping sequences of the tornadoes and their force, extraordinary destruction and ruin with the challenge to Kate and Tyler and Javi as to whether they pursue their research or go to help people in distress. (And in the background there are themes of corporate exploitation of those whose homes of livelihoods have been destroyed.)

In fact, Kate retires from the chasing and goes home, her mother urging her to do more research, Tyler tracking her down and collaborating – after they go to rodeo, also a tornado victim. Already magazine articles are being headed “whirlwind romance”! At first it is a battle of the sexes, but very strong on equality between men and women, and then scientific collaboration. Actually, there are some sequences during the final credits when audiences are stampeding for the exits, which actually show further plot developments.

Twisters sets out to be an action-disaster holiday entertainment. It succeeds well.

1. The reality of tornadoes, twisters in the United States, the Southern States? The weather phenomena? The impact on towns and populations, on the countryside?
2. The 1996 film and its popularity? Continued films on twisters? This sequel, many more tornadoes, much more devastation, much more scientific speculation, tornado wrangling, tornado tourism, experiments to understand tornadoes, physics and chemistry?
3. The film in the disaster movie tradition? Action, adventure, characters, crises?
4. The opening, Kate and her team, the scientific background, their personalities and interactions, the dangers of the tornado, the attempt to release the chemicals, winds, vehicles overturned, characters blown away? Kate and her relationship with Jeb, the driver, saving her under the bridge, his being blown away?
5. Five years later, Kate New York, her work, observation of storms? Javi and his visit, his story, the Army, experiments, technology to observe twisters, three dimensions? His sympathy, his participation in the early experiment and surviving? Asking Kate to come for a week?
6. Kate, meeting Javi’s team, professional, academic backgrounds, Scott and his hostility to her, his criticisms of her? The connection with developers and the later consequences? The chasing of the tornadoes, Kate and her expertise, the encounter with Tyler, rivalries, her missing out and Javi’s response?
7. Tyler, tornado wrangler, big grin, cowboy, his team, vehicles, theyir not looking scientific, their passengers for tourism, the risks of the dares, the British journalist, observation, anxious (bounced around, later sick, his seatbelt)? The audience later realising that they were scientific and skilled despite appearances?
8. The tornado sequences, the dangers, the twisting, the air, the wind, blasting vehicles, the placing of the machines for the three-dimensional picture?
9. Kate, her background in the state, Tyler underestimating her, the later going to the rodeo? The awareness of the towns in danger, the decisions to go to help, the visuals of the twister attacking the towns, the people, the aftermath? The businessman and his exploiting the survivors, allegedly with financial help? Kate and a sense of disillusionment with Javi and his team?
10. The destruction of the rodeo, the audience enjoying it, Tyler and his saying he used to ride the bulls, the wind, trying to rescue people, the movie theatre, survival, Tyler holding onto his associate? Kate going out, the experiment with the chemicals? Their rescuing her?
11. Kate, distance from her mother, going home, settling in, her equipment, the model village, her looking at her notes? Tyler tracking her down, interest, explanations? Her mother inviting Tyler to stay? Their working together, working out the chemicals, rain precipitation, lessening the impact of the twister?
12. The final opportunity, the tornadoes, going out, the battering, explosions, the dangers?
13. The final success, the release of the chemicals, lessening the impact of the twister?
14. Kate to get back to New York, Tyler the airport and his truck and its ability to dig into the ground and stay, the credits sequences and the photos, the clips, the development of the plot, working together, success, romance…?

THE IRON CLAW

US, 2023, 132 minutes, Colour.

Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney, Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Jeremy Allen White, Stanley Simons, Lily James, Michael J.Harney, Kevin Anton.

Directed by Sean Durkin.

A strong, tough title. And a reference to a wrestling technique, the strengthening of a hand, the shape of a claw, and descending, claw-like, on the head of an opponent. The signature of the wrestling family, the Von Erichs, but also a metaphor for the control of a father over his sons.

While this is a wrestling film with many wrestling sequences (someone remarking that they were not “fake” but “pre-arranged”, vividly bringing to life the moves, the tactics, the brutality, the theatricality, and the often wild enthusiasm of the cheering crowds.

This will appeal to wrestling fans. But, for non-wrestling fans, this is also a strong family drama. It is based on an actual family, the father a one-time champion but never receiving the final accolades, his surviving four sons and his domination of them, not only to follow his career path, but to be acknowledged, recognised as champions. (For audiences caught up in the family story, there is a lot of background information on the Internet.)

There is a black-and-white prologue, the success of Fritz Von Erich, a convincing performance by Holt McCallany, and his encouraging his little boys. Then a transition to 1979, memories of the death of a very young son, the four remaining brothers, strongly bonding, huge sense of family, devotion and loyalty to their tough mother, Maura Tierney, but relying on a sense of family support. Wrestling championship is expected of each of them.

The oldest of the four is Kevin, played by Zac Efron (a long way from High School Musical days). We see him train, devote himself to rigorous regimes, and success in the ring, and he is enjoying this way of life, almost a vocation. The next son, Kerry (Jeremy Allen White from The Bear) is away from home, training in football. After him comes David, Harris Dickinson, who is emerging with championship potential, is smarter than Kevin, more articulate, and favoured by his father to go on to greater things. The contrast is in Michael, Stanley Symons, who lacks the physical build of the others and is much more interested in music, playing in a band. But, he too will be caught up in the aura of wrestling.

This is not just a story of fame and fortune. The family is said to be “cursed” and, the drama focuses on the effect of the wrestling on each of the sons, pressures, health issues, suicidal episodes, injury and coma. And, always in the foreground, the relentless father, the demands on his sons, and in certain ways, he is the one who is cursed but does not recognise it.

At the end, as with films based on true stories, there is further information about the family and some photos. As a counterbalance to the wrestling, the training, the hard physicality, there is a rather ingenuous love story, Kevin encountering a fan, played by Lily James, who takes all the initiatives to break through his wrestling preoccupations that they might make a happy couple, happy family (and the end information tells us that they have been married for almost 40 years, happy children and grandchildren living with them).

So, for some audiences, the wrestling. For other audiences, the family story and the impact of a dominating and ambitious father.

1. The title, the hand, formation, iron, on the head of the opponent, blood? Symbol of the hold of the father over his sons?
2. True story, the popularity of wrestling in the US, professional wrestling, techniques, training, physical progress, moves, theatricality, not fake but prearranged, the commentaries, the media and television, the fans?
3. The 1970s, wrestling, the political background, scenes of Jimmy Carter, into the Reagan era?
4. The prologue, black-and-white, the father, his career, success, not winning the belt, encouraging his little boys?
5. The transition to 1979, the death of the young boy, his memories? The other sons, expectations? The father, his coaching, arranging bouts, contacts? Expectations of his sons, favouring one then the other? Fritz, his age, his relationship with Dottie, the long marriage, memories of their courtship, the bond between them, life at home, his personality? Dottie and her personality, restraint, keeping the house together? Meal sequences?
6. The focus of the film on Kevin, Zac Efron is physical presence, build, training, running, gymnasium, pushing himself? His ambitions? Loving wrestling, love for the family and the bonding? His performances? Success? His father’s ambition for him to win the award? His not winning it? Age? His bonding with David, David emerging as favoured by his father? Kevin’s reactions?
7. David, younger, taller, his physique, his determination, taking the microphone and speaking for Kevin? Training, success? The plans for Japan? His bringing up blood, the conversations with Kevin? The news of his death? The funeral? The response of the family?
8. Kerry, next in line, the football training, personality, his return, training, determination, the bouts, his successes, show bouts, exhilaration, the driving, the injury, the amputation, recuperation, trying the boots, practising with Kevin, failures and falls, depression, suicide?
9. Talk of the family curse, the deaths of the three boys, the curse effect on their father?
10. Michael, younger, his place in the family, different build, music, the band, their all escaping through the windows after their mothers forbidding them to go? Success with the band? His being brought in for wrestling, training, the bouts, the injury, coma, slow recovery, the meal table, mental limitations? Taking the pills, writing the note, wanting to go to a better place, his death?
11. The contrast with the romantic subplot, Pam as a fan, forward, talking to Kevin, bring him out of himself, his enjoying her company, her work as a vet, welcomed by the family, the wedding, her being pregnant?
12. The portrait of wrestlers, their personalities, names, press conferences, boasting, self-promotion?
13. The role of the media, promoters, Bill Mercer, working with Fritz, promotions, commentary, friendship?
14. The deaths in the family, the boasting of the champions on media, Kevin and his determination, to win, the years, the fight, his anger, the iron claw, being disqualified?
15. The final information, Kevin and Pam, almost 40 years married, the large family?
16. The contribution of the family to American professional wrestling?