Displaying items by tag: Renee Zellwegger

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?

HERE AND NOW

US, 2018, 91 minutes, Colour.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Simon Baker, Gus Birney, Jacqueline Bissett, Common, Taylor Kinney, Renée Zellweger.

Directed by Fabian Constant.

First called The Best Day of my Life, ironic title, being called Blue Light, the film is now Here and Now, focusing on 24 hours in the life of singer, Vivenne. She is played by veteran actress, Sarah Jessica Parker well-known for films as well as for the television series, Sex and the City.

At the opening of the film, Vivenne visits a doctor, gets a diagnosis of cancer in her brain. The next 24 hours, until her next appointment, the audience accompanies Vivenne wandering through the city of New York, late for a rehearsal at the club where she has worked for 25 years, contact with her manager (Common), an affair with a musician (Taylor Kinney), her buying a dress and giving it to her daughter, a visit to her former husband (Simon Baker) and a further return to be with her daughter, Gus Birney.

She is pestered by phone calls from her French and dominating mother, Jacqueline Bissett, who turns up at her apartment, possessive and interfering. Upset at her taxi driver, she leaves the dress in his taxi but later has to retrieve it, finally meeting him again and paying him to be available for her for the rest of the evening when she returns to be with her daughter.

There are also interludes where she goes to sing in a club and is welcomed. And she encounters an old friend celebrating her birthday, Renee Zellweger, and their conversation.

The invitation to the audience is to empathise with Vivenne on this significant day of her diagnosis. However, blogging comment is very negative on the film, lack of sympathy for Vivenne, and many accusations that it is very boring. One might have thought that the situation and the character might have elicited more empathy and understanding.

1. The title? Rigidly, The Best Day of my Life, then Blue Night? A day in the life of Vivienne? And her contemplating her illness and death?
2. Sarah Jessica Parker, reputation, star, producer? Audience sympathy for her character, her health situation? Family, career?
3. The New York setting, the life of the city, the look of the city, the sound? Streets and taxis, apartments, clubs, music rehearsals, medical interviews? The musical score, the songs, Vivenne singing?
4. Vivenne, her age, career, the French background, her relationship with her mother, the phone calls, irritating? Her mother turning up, possessive and dominating? The breakup of her marriage, her relationship with Ben, able to turn up, her relationship with her daughter, tensions, the daughter’s age, music interests? Relationship with the group, the club, 25 years, her relationship with Ben, her manager? The affair with the musician? past life, tours, prospects for the future?
5. The health situation? The diagnosis and explanations? Vivenne’s mood? Her not revealing the truth, the possibilities for support? The day, late for the rehearsal, apologies, singing, relationship with the group? Her wandering, at home, the shops, buying the dress, leaving it in the taxi, the later contact, her abruptness with the driver and the music, the phone call, leaving the dress, finding it again, and later meeting him, paying him for the hours of the night? Her continued wanderings, going into the club, the singer welcoming her, her song? The arrangements with the manager and discussions, and his supporting her at the end and going to the hospital? The chance meeting with her friend Tessa, the years, the birthday party, going out into the street talk?
6. Vivenne going to meet Nick, his patience and understanding, her daughter, later returning, gift of the dress, the night with her daughter, the emotional effect?
7. The preparation for going to the hospital, the driver, meeting Ben, going in – and the prospects?
8. The hostility of bloggers against the film, considering it boring? No empathy for the health situation?