Displaying items by tag: Paul Walter Hauser

THE INSTIGATORS

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau, Jack Harlow, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ron Perlman, Toby Jones, Ronnie Cho, Ving Rhames, Paul Walter Hauser.

Directed by Doug Liman.

This is a robbery story with a very strong cast, intended as an enjoyable pastime. Audiences might like to ponder who the actual instigators are in this story and what they were instigating in reality!

The setup is a buddy film, but two unlikely characters forced to work together, involved in a high-stakes robbery. We are introduced to the two, Matt Damon, always a solid presence, in therapy with his psychiatrist, Hong Chau, wanting an exact amount of money to be able to reunite with his son. By contrast, there is the alcoholic ex-conman played by Casey Affleck.

The situation is an election in Boston, Ron Perlman as the Mayor, corrupt, aiming for re-election against his ethnic rival, played by Ronnie Cho. The mayor is surrounded by his yes-men, especially his lawyer, played by Toby Jones.

In the meantime, there is a range of criminals played by Michael Stuhlbarg and Alfred Molina. They have the plan for the buddies, with the young nephew, to rob the vans carrying the money before it is delivered to the mayor.

They might be instigators but, of course, everything goes wrong. The money has already been transferred, they go into the Mayor’s office, still his keepsake with the number of his safe, a shootout, and escape in the van, chases through the city…

Ving Rhames appears as a corrupt police investigator.

When they are taken, there is a siege situation and the therapist is invited into mediate – enabling her to get out with some of the money to pay off Damon’s debt in view of a happy ending, and Casey Affleck escaping to Canada. The reason that they do escape and there is a happy ending is that the new Mayor, coming into possession of the money, anonymous money from the previous corrupt Mayor, is not declared and they can keep it as long as the two are not arrested and brought to court. So, off to Canada and happy ending.

The director is Doug Lyman (Bourne Identity, Jumper, Edge of Tomorrow), skilled at some action shows – but this is more relaxed for streaming audience.

1. Title? Robberies? Who were the instigators?
2. The Boston setting, the neighbourhoods, public spaces, the streets, car chases and pursuits, the mayor’s office, meeting places planning the robberies? The election – the rooms, corridors, social areas, the strong room with the safe? The musical score?
3. The situation, introduction to Rory, therapy with the doctor, her questions, his responses, his crisis? The situation with his son? The need for money?
4. The setting up of the robbery, the mind behind the robbery, his moods, dealing with his men, with Scalvo, young and inexperienced, the connections with Richie at the bakery? The plan, the testing of Rory and Cobby, details of the plan? The corrupt Mayor, as target, corruption and money?
5. Rory and Cobby, personalities, interactions, slow, the as matter-of-fact, the precise amount needed, the bargain with the boss?
6. The setup, the vans, the election night, the television news, the alternate candidate, Rory praising him, the presumption the corrupt Mayor would win? The scenes of the Mayor, his staff, tough tactics, reliance on his attorney, Alan Flynn?
7. The comedy of the robbery gone wrong, the timing, the amount of money, the earlier van taking the money, guns and shooting, confrontations, the little money in the safe, Rory and the bag, the shooting, the deaths, Scalvo dead? Cobby wounded?
8. Going to the doctor, the pressure on her, the discussion about her being a hostage, going with them, treating the wound, the consequences? Her later being chosen as the mediator for the hostages, her bargain with Rory and getting the money out under her uniform, helping Rory with his debt – but continually asking how he was feeling, especially during the negotiations? And copy finally returning to her?
9. The mayor, his cronies, the defeat, Cobby with the money, the various positions, having the code number to the mayor’s safe, his not being able to remember, the various combinations?
10. The boss, fleeing, contact with Richie, Richie and the interviews, sending the henchmen, tracking down Rory and Cobby, their escaping him? Frank, in the pay of the mayor, the dealings with Richie, his continued pursuit of Rory and Cobby? The finale and their doing the deal with him? And the final credits seen of the boss dead in the snow?
11. The vans, the pursuits, the desperation of the chase, guns, Cobby wounded again, his complaints?
12. The confrontation with the mayor, his desperation, the arrest, in jail?
13. The return to the scene of the crime, Alan Flynn present, to do a bargain deal, opening the safe, all the money? The dilemma, the doctor as mediator? The device for escape, throwing the safes out the window, the scattering of money everywhere, the crowd racing for the money?
14. Rory, finally, deciding to give himself up? The new mayor – and the information about the contracts, the new potential corruption? The two men let out, Rory going to see his son, reconciliation?

EAT WHEATIES!/ DEAR ELIZABETH

US, 2021, 88 minutes, Colour.

Tony Hale, Alicia Cuthbert, Danielle Brooks, David Walton, Alan Tudyk, Sarah Clarke, Paul Walter Hauser, Robbie Amell, Kylie Bunbury. With thanks to Elizabeth Banks.

Directed by Scott Abramovich.

Tony Hale is very well known to television audiences, 65 episodes of Veep, 84 episodes of Arrested Development as well as many films and other television series.

This is his film.

He plays a genial middle-aged man, competent in his work, but rather simple in many of his approaches to life. It is one a sympathetic brother and an unsympathetic sister-in-law. He is awkward in relationships. And he has a sometimes peculiar sense of humour which irks some of his audience.

There is a reunion for his college group and he is asked to be on the coordinating committee. The key to the film and his response is that he was at college with actress and director, Elizabeth Banks, dating one of her sorority sisters. He makes a lot of this – writing to her agent for an autographed photo as a gift for his brother, sending it back when it is smudged, alienating her agent with his continued requests, her eventually getting a restraining order on him – which, of course, bewilders him.

He decides to overturn the restraining order, finding lawyers too expensive but finding one, played by Paul Walter Hauser, with an online qualification but less expensive. A lot of the enjoyment in the latter part of the film is the court case, the speeches, the antagonism of the agent, the attentive listening to the judge, and the lifting of the order.

Alan Tudyk plays a sympathetic friend who turns on him. There is the reunion, his being shunned.

But, there is a happy ending, the sister-in-law giving birth and becoming more sympathetic, his invitation to be godfather, and finally, a message from Elizabeth Banks who has been away and not privy to all the upsets, a sympathetic message.

And, the titles? Dear Elizabeth is obvious. But Eat Wheaties! is a quote from Elizabeth, encouragement, that she used in her early years.

1. The two titles, dear Elizabeth Banks, her saying, “Eat Wheaties!”?
2. Offices, homes, barbecues, hospitals, class reunions, the courts…? The musical score?
3. Tony Hale as Sid Straw? A good man, limited, work at the office, relationship with his brother, Tom, the jokes at the wedding and Jenny’s reaction? His long speeches and jokes? With people at the office, Bruce? Black joked with Sam? The meeting with Katelyn, the outing, the night together, her later reactions, the breakup? His acceptance?
4. The question of Elizabeth Banks, class reunion, his being the co-chair, the organisation, his memories, dating one of Elizabeth Banks’ sorority sisters? Asking the signed photograph for his brother’s birthday? The smudged copy? His continued appeals, agent, Frankie and her harsh reactions, the sympathetic assistant? Asking for the restraining order, its imposition, the effect on Sid, approaching the various lawyers, their costs, finding James Risk, with his family, qualifications, online degree, dodgy, less expensive? Sid going with him, the friendship, in the court, James and his speeches, awkward, his impassioned plea? And winning the case, going back to Bruce and the other managers, apologies and recompense, the previous insult at the bank, showing the tellers the cheques, going to a bank which is courteous?
5. The online posts, poetry, outpourings, his not realising they were going viral, his brother’s response, the agent’s response, the reaction in the office, Bruce giving notice, firing him? His attempts at other jobs?
6. Sid and his being friendly, his brother’s speech about him and their friendship, support, Jenny objecting, her later relenting, his speech before the guests arrived, Brandon and the jokes, Alison, the connection with Frankie? Alison in the court prosecuting for Frankie? And the birth of the baby, their asking him to be Godfather and laughing at jokes?
7. Wendy, at the diner, friendly, chatting, giving him the drinks, the final talk, at the hospital, the kiss?
8. The reunion, the various meetings with Dave Lambert, friendship, his son, the smells? Dave not wanting to mix with Sid? The guests awkward?
9. Sid, writing the children’s book, the recitation, the publication, success? Softball sequences, David and his son? Sid finally enjoying softball?
10. And the finale message from Elizabeth Banks, and the outreach to Sid?

INSIDE OUT 2

US, 2024, 96 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Amy Pohler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapirar, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lillimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adele Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan,  Paul Walter Hauser, June Squibb, Frank Oz, John Hertzenberg, Flea.

Directed by Kelsey Mann.

So, this is what puberty is like!

In 2015, Pixar studios won the Oscar for best animation film, Inside Out. It was very very popular, children enjoying it, parents given food for thought. The basic idea was quite creative, imagining the different feelings inside an 11-year-old girl, Riley, who had to move to San Francisco because of her father’s new job. And how to manage these feelings? The answer is in personifying them, engaging cartoon characters up there on the screen, working in the control studio which stood for Riley’s inner life. And, a very entertaining range of voices.

It has taken eight years and more for the sequel. And most audiences have found it well worth the wait.

But, how to replicate the ingenuity in the screenplay, and to engage the audience – and broaden it? The answer is that it is Riley is now 13, has reached the stage of puberty. And, of course, there are quite a number of new feelings.

Audiences will remember the leadership of Joy (again Amy Poehler), counterbalanced by Anger, reactions by Disgust, and, lurking there, Fear. And the very attractive emotion eliciting quite some pathos which sometimes takes over, Sadness. Joy is in control in the control room, and the emotions enjoy themselves in Riley’s reactions, devoted to her parents, good student, kindly in helping others in embarrassing moments, and, an interesting choice of sport for the film, talented in ice hockey. The feelings are able to relegate bad memories to a storeroom – where a huge character, called Dark Secrets, lurks. And, in the present, an old lady emotion, Nostalgia, keeps appearing but is told to go back and wait for 10 more years!

Everything is going smoothly and then the new brigade of emotions arrives, wanting to take over, different emotions for a 13-year-old and her changes in life. They are led by Anxiety, intervening all the time, various scenarios for Riley’s future, and mixing her up with instant changes of moods, answering her parents back, extremes of happiness, invited to a hockey camp by a top coach, learning that her two friends will be going to a different school, becoming very erratic in walking out on them, foot in mouth with the new friends often – not easy being a young teenager.

Along with Anxiety feelings of Ennui (Boredom personified, long-haired, languid, French accent), and, rather green, Envy. There is also the very large Embarrassment who blushes and hides as Reilly so frequently become self-conscious.

Mom and Dad are puzzled. The veteran feelings are also puzzled and decide to go on a rescue mission, rebelling against Anxiety’s takeover.

The Inside Out films show Pixar studios (remembering Toy Story) at their best, vivid, full of colour, the feelings in all shapes and sizes, and a great variety of voices – with going back to look at the voice cast to appreciate this.

As, with the previous film, there is a lot for parents to think about, to appreciate a lot of the emotional turmoil, erratic changes, moods, they might then remember from their own teenage years and understand their children better. And, there is a great deal to think about for the teenage audience who might find this wonderful personification of feelings holding up a mirror, delightful and humorous, to their own mood swings.

Looking forward to Inside Out 3, and how many more moods there will be in later adolescence!

1. Popularity and awards for Inside Out? The appeal to younger audiences, parent audiences, understanding of emotions via cartoon characters and personifications?
2. Memories of the first film, welcoming of the second film? Riley moving from 11 to 13, puberty?
3. The style of the animation, colourful, vibrant, motions, the settings, the mind control in the Sense of Self? The range of characters, colours? Shapes and sizes? Movements? Riley’s world, the realistic world, at home, at school, playing hockey? The musical score? The skills of the voice cast?
4. The premise of the headquarters for mind and emotions control, Sense of Self? Look and sound and personalities of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, Disgust? Their interactions? Each of the contributions, the vitality of Joy, the reserve of Sadness, the outbursts of Anger, the hiding of Fear, the reactions of Disgust?
5. Riley, the audience knowing her in the past, liking her, turning 13, relationship with her parents, their concern and love, her playing hockey, her helping Bree with the spilt coins, Grace helping, the bonding? The sharing, playing together?
6. Everything going smoothly and control, Riley and her emotions, removal of past memories, said memories? The arrival of the new emotions? Their look and sound? The shape and colour and voice of Anxiety? The green of envy? The languid look and French accent of Ennui, boredom? And the huge shape and behaviour of Embarrassment?
7. The effect of Anxiety taking over, the plan, relegating the Sense of Self? The continued moments of embarrassment? Ennui intervening only when necessary?
8. Riley, skill at hockey, the coach, the invitation to the summer camp, hopes, the three friends, the news that the other two were going to different school? Anxiety and the others taking over, the erratic and mixed emotions, her reaction to her parents? The behaviour at the camp, the mistake and everybody being penalised, embarrassment? Her admiring Val, the other team members, playing up to them, the discussions about popular groups and her being embarrassed? The temptation to give up her friends? The confusion?
9. Behind-the-scenes, the old emotions and their strategy, going back, the old memories, the Dark Secret, Sadness and her getting the commission to investigate? Riding on the Stream of Consciousness, the different vehicles, broccoli…?
10. Anxiety, looking at the results of Riley’s confusion? The move to coordinate, to work together? The humour of the old lady of Nostalgia appearing and being told to go back and reappear 10 years later?
11. Riley, the end of the camp, with her parents, with Val and the others, reunited with her friends?
12. All the emotions content, Riley moving from childhood into adolescence? The finale at a looking at her phone, the selection of the team, her smile?