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Luca (2021)

Pixar’s latest film, Luca, takes us all the way to the Italy and follows the life of the titular character, a sea monster, who longs to have adventures on the surface after being introduced to the land by his new friend, Alberto, who is also a sea monster. The two escape to the nearby town of Portorosso in a bid to purchase a Vespa so they can go on many adventures. There have been comparisons made with other films such as Call Me By Your Name and Disney’s own The Little Mermaid but Luca is a distinctly unique film of its own and blends wonderful animation style with an unexpected storyline. Directed by Enrico Casarosa and based on a script by Mike Jones and Jesse Andrews, Luca will leave you breathless thanks to the beautiful animation, engaging characters and heart warming message.

Casarosa’s direction is wonderful and Luca marks his feature directorial debut for Pixar following his beautiful Oscar nominated short, La Luna. What made La Luna such a standout short among the Pixar shorts is how vivid it is in its use of colours as well as how emotional the storytelling is. Casarosa certainly knows how to convey the emotion of storytelling through the differing landscapes. The script also does well in serving this desire for freedom as we are thrust into Luca’s world with very little set up so we become introduced to everything as Luca is. Taking inspiration from the films of Studio Ghibli in terms of the rich scenery, coming of age journeys as well as naming the town Portorosso after Ghibli’s beloved film Porco Rosso which also takes place in Italy. Jones and Andrew have written a film that dives deeper than what’s on the surface.

Leading the cast as the titular character is Jacob Tremblay, who has had a brilliant career for someone so young. Having his breakthrough aged 9 in the Oscar winning Room, Tremblay has quickly established himself as an actor capable of bringing a variety of strong performances that many adults could only hope to achieve. This makes him perfectly cast as the titular character, Luca, who wants to explore the world against his parents’ wishes. There are a lot of similarities between Luca’s character and Miguel from Coco in that they are both young boys who want to venture away from what is expected from them and express themselves. Where Miguel wishes to create music, Luca wants to travel and learn about the world. At the start of the film, we see how Luca’s life is micromanaged and despite living in the ocean, is confined to a particular amount of space and is not allowed to venture outside of it before his eyes are opened by Alberto who shows him that there is an entire world out there. Tremblay embodies Luca’s adventurous side and enthusiasm for learning really well and makes the film even more enjoyable to watch.

The rest of the cast is full of newer faces as well as established names which provides a freshness and balance which is needed. Sometimes, animated films can be filled to the brim with starry names but this can take away from the magic of the film. Jack Dylan Grazer does a fantastic job as Alberto, the confident know-it-all who introduces Luca to the surface. As he grows closer to Luca, we begin to see Alberto’s deeper layers and his vulnerability begins to show. Grazer portrays this perfectly and, like Tremblay, has demonstrated his ability to act in a wide range of roles. Newcomer Emma Berman brings a wonderfully energetic performance as outgoing Giulia, who is determined to win the local triathlon while acting staples Maya Rudolph and Sacha Baron Cohen are absolutely wonderful in their small roles as Luca’s mother and uncle respectfully.

With the film being set in Italy and showing this big adventure and friendship between Luca, Alberto and eventually Giulia, the music had to be spectacular to match the film’s brilliance. When it comes to superb film composers, there are few that have achieved the emotion and spectacle in their music as Dan Romer. Romer’s score for the phenomenal Beasts of the Southern Wild is one of the best scores this century thanks to his strong control using brass and strings specifically to convey the fine line between emotions. It is no different with Luca. Bringing in signature brass statements when the boys escape to Portorosso and mixing it with softer pieces, Romer adds another successful installment in a filmography that is bursting with so much talent.

Luca does have an abrupt start but once it finds it flow, the film begins to unfold and develop beautifully. Combining lovable characters, a great script and fantastic direction that has become a staple of Pixar creations, Luca brings an important message of accepting one another’s differences and pursuing your passions in a world that is full of sunshine and colour. A brilliant summer blockbuster, it definitely would have been great to see this on the big screen and hopefully Pixar will be coming back to cinemas with their next release.

What did you think of Luca? Let me know in the comments below!

Luca is available to watch on Disney+ now!

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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

One of the most anticipated films of this upcoming awards season, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is the new film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Following the trial of eight men with varying backgrounds who organise protests at the Democratic National Convention to end the Vietnam War. Featuring an all-star cast including Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance and Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a major event of a film showing that issues that occurred in the 1960s are just as relevant today during a tumultuous year. Considering Sorkin’s previous filmography, it is no surprise that he would be at the helm of a film that showcases the miscarriages of justice and he is the perfect person to do so. Netflix are going to be pushing this film hard for awards season and it’s easy to see why as the cast and crew on paper is enough to entice an audience alone.

As expected, Sorkin’s screenplay is intense and atmospheric, perfectly creating the societal chaos from the first few minutes. The set-up is also unexpected as we are introduced to the characters and then goes straight to the court case, skipping the actual demonstration initially. The first demonstration is interwoven bit by bit during the trial as the facts and fiction are spouted in court. The demonstration and riot itself is brilliantly directed providing a midpoint climax that makes use of the tension built up in the first half of the film. Sorkin’s use of real footage of the riot coinciding with the film’s scenes showcases the discomfort and conflict. There is also an unflinching fearlessness in Sorkin’s approach to the riot. The second half then explores the second riot which sees the main group, sans Bobby, trapped and beaten by members of the police who removed their name badges so they could not be identified.

The performances are all reliable as to be expected from a cast of this calibre. Although the cast are all being pushed for Supporting awards this awards season, I would argue that Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne could be considered the leads given their screen time and characterisation. Both do a superb job in roles that I haven’t seen from either before. I was particularly impressed by Sacha Baron Cohen who has been having a stellar year. Playing hippie activist, Abbie Hoffman, Baron Cohen is able to channel his usual humour and wit while equally showcasing a more dramatic range that is really impressive. Redmayne on the other hand pulls off a great American accent as up and coming activist, Tom Hayden, who is President of the Student for a Democratic Society. His final scene in which he reads the names of the fallen soldiers since the trial began is

In the more traditional supporting roles we see the other members of the eight as well as the lawyers of both the defense and prosecution. In this category, one major standout for me was Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Panther Chairman, Bobby Seale. Seale is constantly ignored and belittled by the court resulting in a scene where he is literally gagged and chained to his seat in an extremely upsetting scene. Abdul-Mateen’s performance is small but hugely significant and he commands every scene he is in. It would also be a catastrophe if I didn’t mention the fantastic turn by Mark Rylance as Defense Counsel, William Kunstler. Rylance can always be counted on to bring flawless performances but he truly excels in this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name on the nominee lists come awards season.

Naturally, I had high expectations for The Trial of the Chicago 7 and they were met with ease. Sorkin brings out his strongest writing since The Social Network and does a brilliant job with the direction as well. The fact that he is able to give a good amount of characterisation to the eight men that makes them distinct and identifiable is a true testament to his skill as a writer. I think Sorkin’s passion and intricate research into the case really comes to light and he manages to condense a lot of information into a 130 minute film in a way that is engaging and not overwhelming at the same time

What did you think of The Trial of the Chicago 7? Let me know in the comments below!

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Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

One film that’s been buzzing around the Internet over the past month is the return of Sacha Baron Cohen’s infamous character, Borat. Released 14 years after Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Baron Cohen has spent the last few months filming the sequel in America during the outbreak of COVID-19 and the upcoming 2020 election which has resulted in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime to Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Where the first film had a heavy focus on antisemitism in America, this sequel explores feminism in a way that I think the first film failed to do. Of course, as with most Baron Cohen projects, you will either love or hate this film but it you loved the first one then you shouldn’t have a problem with this one. If you’re not into shock humour or vulgarity then perhaps this isn’t the film for you but it does raise some good points on political issues which balances out the shock.

The plot for this film is simple and the title of the film changes depending on the changes in plans. After serving a life sentence breaking rocks thanks to the embarrassment his first film caused Kazakhstan, Borat is tasked with gifting Mike Pence the country’s prized monkey minister. The monkey is soon replaced by Borat’s daughter who snuck in the same cargo box as the monkey and ate it on the journey and Borat decides to give his daughter as a gift to Mike Pence and when this fails to Rudy Giuliani. In true Borat fashion, the changing titles are overly long and hilarious. The genius of this sequel comes from the fact that it is unafraid to show people who recognise Baron Cohen as Borat and utilise that to enhance the “embarrassment” that he brought to Kazakhstan.

Baron Cohen is as dedicated as ever in his performance. Apparently he stayed in character for five days straight which is a huge commitment. I was impressed with how he was able to don his disguises such as a country singer at a Republican rally but performed it as Borat doing a country singer so the accent was really jarring. There is more focus on the treatment of women in this film with the whole plot revolving around Borat getting his daughter, Tutar, prepped and prepared to gift as a bride to someone respected within Trump’s administration. As Tutar realises her worth as a woman, Borat begins to learn how women should be treated equally and this envelops slowly during the film up until the very controversial climax with Republican attorney, Rudy Giuliani.

Maria Bakalova does a brilliant job as Borat’s daughter, Tutar. Bakalova and Baron Cohen have a great rapport and even share some genuinely sweet moments together in the film. Tutar’s character arc is just as, if not more, significant than Borat’s in this film as she begins to learn and adjust to the difference in how women are treated in America than in the fictional depiction of Kazakhstan. Initially, she sleeps in a cage and watches a Disney-style animation showing how Melania and Donald met and she longs to be like the former but soon begins to realise that women are allowed to have independence, own businesses and drive cars. One such scene that is both humorous but also empowering is when she attends a Republican Women’s Club meeting and masturbates in the toilet then shares her experience with the club. Some of the women are outraged by her words, others applaud her while some tell her that it’s inappropriate to discuss such things in public.

Because everyone knows the Borat character, Baron Cohen had to don a lot of disguises so that his targets wouldn’t know that it was him. It does result in a film that is less shocking than its predecessor but one that seeks to encourage its audience to be more politically engaged by showing out the hypocrisy of society. One such scene is when a book of ridiculous traditions that fictional Kazakhstan follow shows baby sons being born as adults and molested by doctors is described as a conspiracy theory by two right wing men immediately followed by them googling Qanon so they can show Borat what the Democrats get up to in their spare time. The juxtaposing editing is hysterical because it highlights the many contradictions that have been trickled down by various politicians and the media and created a nation that is clearly fighting within itself. By highlighting this conflict and using shock as a catalyst to expose it, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm manages to feel more endearing than its predecessor.

Now I cannot stress enough that this is not a film for the easily offended. Baron Cohen has built a career on shock value and pushing boundaries and at times it can be extremely uncomfortable to watch. However, I do think that there is thought behind it in how it exposes topical issues through offensive and dark satire. It may not be the easiest film to watch but the relationship between Borat and Tutar is one of the most weirdly endearing I have seen this year. I think that in a sense, Baron Cohen as matured in his comedy and this comes through in the character.

What did you think of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm? Let me know in the comments below!