Displaying items by tag: Ving Rhames

THE WILD ROBOT

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara.

Directed by Chris Sanders.

Fans of Peter Brown’s 2016 illustrated novel, The Wild Robot, will be delighted to see this film version. In fact, delight has been the response of audiences – and also of many critics.

We are definitely in the 21^st-century with an animated family film focusing on a robot – although, Peter Brown in his detailed blog on the Internet about his writing his book over a period of eight years, has many interesting observations about origins of writing about robots as far back as the 1920s. But, to have a children’s film focusing on a robot, very much of our times. (And these years there are many films for adults with dramatic stories about androids and humans being served and protected by them as well as stories of betrayals.)

In trying to describe the perspectives of The Wild Robot, it could be said on the one hand that the picture of nature, animals in the forests, their personalities, is in the Disney tradition, especially of Bambi. And, on the other hand, the picture of robots, technology, artificial intelligence, is very much a contemporary perspective.

And, a robot in the wild, a robot whose name comes from her code initials, abbreviated to Roz, and the machine a female voice by Lupita Nyong’o. A shipwreck, Roz stranded, re-booted, the strong sense of mission (and her repeating her promotion instructions aloud). Needless to say, the wide range of animals, all enjoyably portrayed, do not respond well, fearful.

But, that is just the beginning. Two engaging characters emerge, a little Gosling bereft of family who gets the nickname Brightbird (Kit Connor) and an engaging fox, Fink (Pedro Pascal enjoying himself) whom nobody likes but who becomes a great favourite with the audience.

In fact, there is plenty of plot, Roz teaching the Gosling how to lie while looked down on by the rest of the geese; the bird migration led by the wise Longneck (Bill Nigh); some misunderstandings, some reconciliations, and Roz finally affirmed by the animals as she is able to help them in a very cold hibernation.

And, there is more with the robots, contact with the company, some ruthless executives, wanting to control Roz. While robots have no emotions, Roz learns more and more from her animal friends, standing up for herself and for them.

The film has been written and directed by Chris Sanders, best known for The Crudes series and, especially, charming action story, How to Train Your Dragon. Here he has been able to appeal to younger audiences with a great deal to interest and entertain an adult audience.

1. Family-friendly animation, style, story, characters? Musical score?
2. 21^st-century, robots, artificial intelligence, techno developments? And memories of past animation, animals, the forests? The combination?
3. The situation, the future, robots, the storm, the destruction, Roz stranded, programmed, promoting her services? The female voice? The encounter with the bear, the crushing of the geese, the survival of the Gosling, befriending it, training it, calling it Brightbill? The Fox, Fink, on the outer, yet bonding, helping with Brightbill? The possum, guides of how to mother they Gosling? But fear from the other geese?
4. The range of animals in the forest, memories of Disney animals and Bambi? The fear of Roz? The importance of Brockville learning to fly, to swim, the training, eventual success?
5. Brightbill, personality, growing, succeeding, information about Roz and the loss of his family? Hostility? The preparation for the migration, the role of Longneck? Brightbill and his agitation? The geese flying, the storm, taking refuge in the robot headquarters, the clashes and persecution, Brightbill not afraid, leading them to safety? Longneck sacrificing himself?
6. The hibernation, the animals going into hibernation, Roz helping, their bonding with Roz? The squabbling, fights, traditions, Fink and his mediating? The episode with the bear?
7. Roz, trying to reactivate, the links with the headquarters, the response at headquarters, the head, sending robots, locating Roz, the attack on the animals, the fight back, the fire?
8. The geese returning, Brightbill, reconciliation with Roz?
9. Roz, agreeing to leave, going back to the headquarters, working in the greenhouse, Brightbill and his visit, but her still having her emotional responses?
10. The family friendly story about technology, operation by exploiters, but possibilities for harmony and peace?

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?

THE GARFIELD MOVIE

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Chris Pratt, Samuel L.Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillen, Snoop Dogg.

Directed by Mark Dindal.

Garfield the cat.

Once upon a time, the 1970s, Jim Davis created the cartoon, soon on television, computer games, Garfield. Then upon a time, 20 years ago, two feature films with Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield. Now upon a time, 2024, a big budget animated feature with a strong voice cast led by Chris Pratt as Garfield.

Garfield has been described as “greedy, but with a heart of gold”. On the evidence of this film, “gluttonous” (and the fastest gluttony we have ever seen on screen) would be more appropriate. And, as regards the heart of gold, this is not immediately evident, Garfield being very smug and self-satisfied – though, a bit of a spoiler, he is finally redeemed, glimpses of his potential heart of gold.

The story does go back to Garfield when little, abandoned by his street-cat father, Vic (Samuel L.Jackson), and the hungry little creature plaintive at the Italian restaurant window where his about-to-be strong friend, Jon (Nicholas Hoult) is having a lonely meal, opens the window, in comes Garfield and the pizza immediately and instantly munched! The beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Jon and his engaging little dog, Odie, have long been popular in the cartoons. Jon, is the most tolerant of owners, and Odie the most generous of friends, setting up Garfield with heaps (understatement) of food, comfortable armchair, watching Catflix, not a care in the world.

Where could this story possibly go – actually, into quite a lot of action and plot, the story Vic and his entanglement with a British vanity ring cat, Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), a plot to steal a milk truck, a tough police chief called Marge Malone (Cecily Strong), a bull in love (Ving Rhames) and Jinx’s thugs. In fact, plenty of action, the truck getaway, police pursuit, and everyone on a train hurtling towards a bridge.

The emotional key to the story is Garfield’s resentment towards his father leaving, his discovering more of the truth about Vic, reconciliation and happiness – and plenty of food with Jon discovering that he had paid thousands of dollars for drones with food to repel the enemy on the train!

(Which means that this reviewer enjoyed a lot more of Garfield than anticipated!)