Grosse Pointe Blank

 

There is something about Grosse Pointe Blank that I have always loved. Then again, I've always been a fan of John Cusack and there was this sweet time in the late 90's where he was taking a more active role in the films he made, resulting in delightfully off-beat movies such as this one. This one is a mix of romantic comedy, action and black comedy that shouldn't work but yet it does. 

Martin Blank (played by John Cusack) is an assassin for hire who is starting to lose the taste for his chosen profession. He regularly sees a psychiatrist, Dr. Oatman (played by Alan Arkin), despite the doctor's protests (he naturally doesn't agree with what Martin does for a living). He is being pressured into joining a Hitman's Union by a rival assassin, Grocer (played by Dan Aykroyd). To make things worse, his assistant Marcella (played by Joan Cusack) has just let him know he has been invited to his 10 year high school reunion. Initially, he refuses to go but when a contract for a hit comes up in the same town at the same time he begrudgingly agrees to go. While there, he hopes to reconnect with the girl that got away, Debbie Newberry (played by Minnie Driver). However, Debbie has no intention of making things easy for Martin on account of him standing her up on Prom night and leaving town. To make matters worse, Martin has two government agents (played by Hank Azaria and K. Todd Freeman) looking to catch Martin in the act of his latest hit and Grocer looking to take out Martin as well due to not wanting to join his union ensuring this trip home will be anything but quiet.

The film was directed by George Armitage from a script by Tom Jankiewicz, John Cusack, Steve Pink and D.V DeVincentis from a story by Tom Jankiewicz. At it's core, the film has a really great concept to it. A neurotic hitman taking stock of his life goes home for his High School reunion and face his past. The writers and director George Armitage take full advantage of it as they craft their tale with a sharp wit. They also manage the juggle all the different storylines Martin is involved in with relative ease, of which there are several and the do get all the story threads to tie together quite well, even if the outcome is a bit predictable. The film strikes an enticing balance between action and comedy, with the two frequently converging quite well with a level of absurdity to the action sequences. 

The cast of the film is quite good, led by John Cusack as Martin Blank. He does a great job conveying Martin's angst and dissatisfaction with his current life quite well. He also handles the more action centric part of the role quite well, with a hard hitting hand to hand fight with another assassin being a notable standout. Minnie Driver has some great chemistry with John Cusack and adds some fun spunkiness to her character of Debbie, who is similarly at a crossroads, working at the local radio station and living at home. She makes Debbie a bit more unique of a love interest and adds a feistiness to the character that makes it clear she's going to make Martin work for it to make up for what he did back in high school (as she should). Joan Cusack steals every scene she's in as Marcella, giving her character some amusing eccentricities while also being a very efficient and effective assistant for Martin. For example, there is an amusing scene where one one line she is playing hardball negotiating with an arms dealer and then at the same time switching over to a friend who she is giving a recipe for soup. Dan Aykroyd makes for a very unique and eccentric baddie in this who when he fails to recruit Martin he decides to take him out as he would be competition. Aykroyd does  a great job playing Grocer with clearly a screw loose and someone who takes a little too much delight in his work. Alan Arkin is at his snarky best as Martin's shrink Dr. Oatman, and sells how uncomfortable his character is with having a hitman for a patient. 

Overall, Grosse Pointe Blank remains a favorite of mine since it first came out and I can't quite grasp that it's been 25 years now. It has this unique blend of romantic comedy and black comedy that works surprisingly well for me. It's a uniquely offbeat film and nothing quite like it that I can think of off hand. All of this is backed by a truly fantastic assortment of 80's music that spawned two best selling soundtrack albums (because they couldn't fit them all on one) that I have listened to so many times. This is just one of those movies that never gets old and feels just as fresh as it did when it came out in 1997.      

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

The minute I saw the trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent I knew it was a movie I needed to see. The sort of exaggerated comedic tone really showed this is something I would love every minute of and I am happy to let you know my first instincts were spot on. 

Nicolas Cage (played by Nicolas Cage) is struggling to break back into serious acting. After his meeting with director David Gordon Green (played by David Gordon Green) doesn't go well and they decide to go in a different direction, Cage is ready to retire from acting. However, his agent, Richard Fink (played by Neil Patrick Harris), phones him with an enticing, if unconventional, offer: $1 million dollars to attend the birthday party of a billionaire super fan, Javi Gutierrez (played by Pedro Pascal). At first, Javi seems like a harmless, if a bit odd sort of fellow. However, things take a turn when Cage is approached by two CIA agents, Vivian and Martin, (played by Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz), who inform him that Javi is a suspected arms dealer who is believed to have kidnapped the daughter of a Political candidate in an attempt to manipulate the upcoming election. They need Cage's help to try and find the daughter, who they believe is being held in the compound where Cage is staying. However, Nicolas finds himself in a predicament as he starts to bond with Javi and struggles to believe that the sweet, affable Javi could be the ruthless arms dealer he's being told he is. This leads to a wild adventure where Nicolas Cage is unsure who to trust, all the while getting some questionable advise from an imaginary younger, wilder version of himself (played by Nicolas Cage). 

The film was directed by Tom Gormican from a script he wrote with Kevin Etten. The premise of the film is a fun one and is clearly one created by a couple of real Nicolas Cage fans. Honestly, there are not that many actors today that this film would work this well with except someone like Cage, who has developed this sort of eccentric myth about him that the film exploits well. Everything we have heard about Nicolas Cage over the years, from his bizarre spending habits to career struggles figure into the plot as Nicolas finds himself in a very odd adventure. The film sets up an interesting dynamic between Cage and Javi, whose birthday party he is being paid to attend. The two bond over the course of the film and on the surface he seems like a genuinely nice guy who is a big Nicolas Cage fan and even has a screenplay he wants Cage to star in. Yet we are also told that he is a ruthless arms dealer and it adds a nice level of intrigue to the film wondering if the CIA agents have the right guy and indeed if Javi is going to show his true colors. As the film goes on, it becomes more action centric and the filmmakers do a great job blending the action with the more comedic elements of the film. 

Nicolas Cage is clearly having a lot of fun playing an exaggerated and perhaps more neurotic version of himself that leans into the public view of himself, with his unique behaviors and eccentric spending habits as well as the apparent downturn his career has taken lately all playing into the version of himself he is playing. He also gets to let loose with a crazier imaginary version of himself that appears on occasion throughout to Cage and offering some questionable guidance. Pedro Pascal is great at as Javi, showing a genuine warmth to the character while also hinting just a little that there may be something darker to the character (whether or not there is, I will leave to the audience to discover). He and Cage play off each other wonderfully making the friendship that develops between the two easy to believe. Tiffany Haddish is a lot of fun as the CIA agent Vivian who recruits Nicolas Cage to help spy for them. She brought a lot of energy to the role and played it in a real unique and interesting way that I appreciated. Neil Patrick Harris does a lot with his supporting role as Nicolas' agent, Richard Fink as the sort of loudmouth, wheeling-dealing Hollywood agent we would expect and having a lot of fun with that archetype.   

Overall, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a very funny meta comedy that explores the pop-culture mythos of Nicolas Cage in a entertaining way. It is a film that was clearly made by Nicolas Cage Super fans, as not only do his more well known movies such as Con Air or Face/Off get a mention but so do his smaller films, such as Guarding Tess, figure into the story. In the end, it's a very silly movie but it is a clever one that I certainly had a lot of fun with and look forward to seeing again once it hits Blu-Ray.  

Everything Everywhere All at Once

 

Every so often, there comes along a movie that is so boldly and uniquely original. A film that has such a unique style and perspective to it that feels like a breath of fresh air. From the makers of the equally unique and original Swiss Army Man comes the Multi-Verse Sci-Fi comedy-drama Everything Everywhere All at Once and it is a potent mix of gonzo comedy and heartfelt drama that works incredibly well. 

Evelyn Wang (played by Michelle Yeoh) runs a struggling laundromat with her husband Waymond (played by Ke Huy Quan). Tensions are high in the family due to the laundromat being audited by the IRS, Evelyn's daughter Joy (played by Stephanie Hsu) trying to get her mom to accept her girlfriend Becky (played by Tallie Medel), and Evelyn's father, Gong-Gong (played by James Hong) arriving from China. While on their way to meet with their auditor, Dierdre (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), Waymond is taken over by a Waymond from a parallel universe known as the Alpha Universe. Alpha Waymond explains that the Evelyn from his universe developed technology that allows people to traverse that vast multiverse and tap into their selves from other universes, utilizing their skills, memories and body of their other selves. He also tells her that the Alpha Universe Joy had her mind fractured by being pushed further and further by Alpha Evelyn to go further with her universe jumping, ultimately becoming Jobu Topaki, who is able to access all the universes at once and manipulate matter at will. Alpha Waymond believes that Jobu Topaki will target Evelyn as she has the most unrealized potential and therefore her untapped potential could help her defeat Jobu Topaki before she destroys the entire multiverse.      

The film was written and directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (credited as Daniels). The two have crafted a magnificent film that manages to blend sci-fi, wild and crazy images, impressive action and genuine, heartfelt character moments in a rich and very satisfying movie where all of these elements frequently converge together at once. They have a great deal of fun crafting their universe, or in this case multi-verse, with countless possible realities that at times get really out there. For example, there is a universe where everyone has hot dog like fingers with no bones in them that are effectively useless or one where the conditions on Earth never developed to support life so in that universe Evelyn is actually a rock. Yet, all the crazy visuals and gags do serve a narrative purpose throughout the film as they explore familial and relatable human connections. Relationships, love and understanding are explored throughout the film, even in a universe where people have hot dogs for fingers. It's quite something when a film can make me laugh and get choked up almost simultaneously. There is so much creativity throughout this moment and yet it all works beautifully. I am only describing the tip of all that is going on in this movie as I want to preserve as many of the delightful surprises as possible. 

The film has a magnificent cast led by Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn. Throughout the film, she is able to play multiple versions of her character and excels at all of them. She does a great job especially with the Evelyn we meet at the beginning of the film, beyond stressed and just trying to get through the day, facing a tax audit, countless customers and both her husband and daughter who try their best to help but never quite able to. The last thing she needs is to be drawn into a battle for the fate of the multiverse, but in a strange way it is exactly what she needs. As she goes along through her adventure through the multi-verse, Yeoh does a magnificent job conveying Evelyn's growth and her growing understanding of those around her. Ke Huy Quan is equally fantastic in this film as Waymond. It is just thrilling to see him in movies again after such a long absence after memorably starring in movies such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies as a kid. He gives the character so much heart and a unique sense of whimsy. Early in the movie, Evelyn is trying to find a laundry order and Waymond remarks that he moved some of the orders upstairs because he thought they would be "happier there." Much like Michelle Yeoh, he also has to play versions of his character from other universes, including the far more serious and driven Alpha Waymond as well as a Waymond in a universe where he and Evelyn never married and reconnect late in life. Quan nails each of these roles beautifully filling his character with so much heart and humanity. Jamie Lee Curtis clearly had fun with her role as Dierdre, who starts out the film as simply Evelyn's IRS auditor but at various points is taken over by Alpha Diedre, a minion of Jobu Topaki and is trying to stop Evelyn. There are other variations of Diedre seen throughout the film as well, including one in the Hot Dog Fingers universe with it's own surprises and giving Curtis plenty to play with in terms of character. Stephanie Hsu has a tricky role, playing not only Joy, but also the Alpha universe version of Joy, the far more nihilistic Jobu Topaki. The two characters are quite far from one another and yet Hsu moves effortlessly from one to the other. James Hong is one of the great character actors who I always enjoy seeing turn up in movies and he gets his fair share of memorable moments throughout the film.

Overall, I'm not going to say that Everything Everywhere All at Once is the best movie of the year since it's it's still only April, but it's going to be the one to beat for sure. The one which by all subsequent films this year will be measured. There have been other films that have explored the idea of the multiverse, but not one that has done it this well, with a real sense of creativity, skill, intelligence and heart. I could tell from the trailer alone that this one was going to be something special and I was so happy to see after seeing the complete film that it certainly is. 

Uncharted

 

I've always had a lot of love for a good treasure hunting adventure movie, whether it was the Indiana Jones films, The Goonies, The Adventures of Tintin, the National Treasure films, or yes, even the Lara Croft movies I just love watching these movies. Intrepid adventurers following the clues, solving the puzzles, and avoiding booby traps while traveling across the world to find their prize. Uncharted fits very comfortably within this very specific genre.  

Nathan Drake (played by Tom Holland) is trying to make a living in New York City, working as a bartender while also engaging in a little light theft from the occasional customer. He is approached one night by Victor "Sully" Sullivan (played by Mark Wahlberg) who needs his help. He was working with Nathan's older brother Sam (played by Rudy Pankow) to find treasure hidden by Magellan's crew. He was lost track of Sam after he helped Sully steal the diary of Juan Sebastian Elcano's diary. He needs Nathan's help to try and find Sam and recover the treasure. Also seeking the treasure is Santiago Moncado (played by Antonio Banderas) and his associate, Jo Braddock (played by Tati Gabrielle). Santiago is a descendant of the family who originally funded Magellan's expedition. First task is to retrieve a golden cross linked to Magellan's crew from an Auction House while dodging Moncado and his men. From there, it's off to Barcelona to meet up with another of Sully's associates, Chloe (played by Sophia Ali), who has another cross that pairs with the one Nathan and Sully got, which turn out to be literal keys to begin the journey to finding the treasure, all the while trying to keep one step ahead of Moncado as well and determining if they can even trust one another. 

The film was directed by Rueben Fleischer from a script written by Rafe Lee Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Rosenberg and is based on the popular series of Playstation games. The filmmakers do a good job translating the game to the big screen, with the film remaining accessible to filmgoers who are unfamiliar with the games while also working in little nods to the game. The film does have it's share of memorable set pieces, including one involving Tom Holland clinging on for dear life dangling out the back of a large cargo plane while fighting off assorted goons that is easily one of the highlights of the movie. Another sequence I really enjoyed had Nathan, Chloe and Sully working their way around Barcelona trying to find a spot they need to unlock with their respective crosses (which are also secretly keys) only for each to encounter a unique obstacle: the keyholes are in a very busy underground nightclub and a busy Papa Johns, respectively. It made for an entertaining problem for them to solve in a way that acknowledges how cities like Barcelona that have a deep history have grown and evolved over the years in a really amusing way. Still, the film does hit the familiar beats of previous movies in this genre. Personally, I enjoyed this but it may feel a little too familiar for some filmgoers. 

Tom Holland does well as Nathan Drake, applying the same sort of charm that he has found great success with in the Spider-Man movies, but Nathan Drake is also a little bit more morally flexible than Peter Parker. He also proves to be up to the more physical side of the role as Drake finds himself going through some pretty serious scrapes throughout the film. Mark Wahlberg proves to be a good treasure hunting partner as Sully, playing off Holland well as the two swap quick witted one-liners. He also strikes the right balance with his character where you're not quite sure you can trust him or not. Sophia Ali completes their trio and likewise is another person we're not quite sure if they can trust or not. She had a decent chemistry with Tom Holland as well as a potential love interest. Antonio Banderas does the best he can as Moncado, but he never quite proves to be the intimidating threat the film needs him to be. Still, he does ground the role a bit and make him less of a one dimensional, mustache twirling villain. Curiously, those aspects more come through the character played by Tati Gabrielle, whose Jo Braddock proves to be far more ruthless in her desire to find the treasure and is willing to do anything to get it. It is refreshing to see this sort of role filled by a female character, which we still don't see enough. 

Overall, Uncharted may feel a little too familiar at times but in this case that's not a bad thing. It fits very comfortably within the treasure hunting adventure genre with a good sense of humor and all those well worn tropes re-invigorated with a certain amount of charm from the cast to carry us through. It's nothing more than a fun popcorn movie and, refreshingly, it never pretends to be more than that either. Maybe I was just in the mood for this kind of movie, but I sure did have a good time watching it.

Death on the Nile (2022)

 

Kenneth Branagh returns to the role of Hercule Poirot in his handsomely mounted, star-studded follow-up to Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile. Much like the previous film, this one adapts one of Agatha Christie's most popular mysteries honoring the original text while also mixing things around just enough to keep Christie fans on their toes. 

Hercule Poirot (played by Kenneth Branagh) has recently returned to London and preparing to enjoy a night out at the local club to experience the music of famed Jazz singer Salome Otterbourne (played by Sophie Okonedo). There, he witnesses Jackie de Bellefort (played by Emma Mackey) introduce her fiancé Simon Doyle (played by Armie Hammer) to her childhood friend, Linnet Ridgeway (played by Gal Gadot). Jackie is hoping to get Simon a job with Linnet as her estate manager and encourages the two to take a spin on the dance floor to get to know one another. The plan works a little too well. Six Weeks Later, Poirot is vacationing in Cairo when he runs into his old friend Bouc (played by Tom Bateman) who is similarly on vacation with his mother, Euphemia (played by Annette Bening). Overjoyed to see his friend, Bouc invites Poirot to join the wedding party they are traveling with. No surprise, the happy couple are Linnet Ridgeway and Simon Doyle. Also traveling with the happy couple are Salome and her niece and manager, Rosalie (played by Letitia Wright), Linnet's godmother Marie van Schuyler (played by Jennifer Saunders) and her nurse and companion Mrs. Bowers (played by Dawn French), Linnet's cousin Andrew Katchadourian (played by Ali Fazal) her also handles her business affairs, Linnet's personal maid Louise Bourget (played by Rose Leslie), and Dr. Linus Windlesham (played by Russell Brand), who is also Linnet's former fiancé. Linnet takes Poirot aside asks for his help as Jackie has been stalking her and Simon across Egypt and needs his help. Deciding to try and avoid Jackie, Linnet and Simon book a cruise on the SS Karnak for themselves and their guests. However, they do not appear to be out of danger as during an excursion to Abu Simbel, Simon and Linnet narrowly miss a falling boulder that could have killed them. When they return to the Karnak, they discover that Jackie has boarded while they were away. Enraged, Linnet insists that she be thrown off the boat, but since she has a ticket she cannot. That night, Simon and Jackie get into a drunken argument ending with Jackie shooting Simon in the leg with a small pistol her keeps in her purse. Bouc grabs Dr. Windlesham and Mrs. Bowers. Dr. Windlesham tends to Simon's gunshot wound while Mrs. Bowers sedates the hysterical Jackie. The following morning, Louise discovers Linnet dead in her bed from a single small caliber bullet to the temple. Poirot suddenly finds himself with a new mystery at hand, all the more difficult because the two prime suspects both have air tight alibis for the time of death. 

The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh from a script by Michael Green based on the classic novel by Agatha Christie. Even more so that the previous film, this outing takes some liberties with the source material, including opening with a brand new scene that takes place during World War I that explains the origins of Poirot's distinctive and unique mustache (which has thankfully been reigned in a little bit this time around). They also bring back Bouc from the previous film and include his mother, neither of whom were in the original novel, with Bouc taking the place of Colonel Race from the novel and original film. Aside from those changes and a couple others I won't divulge because they would be spoilers, the film is largely a faithful adaptation of the novel. This one is a bit of a challenge to adapt as it has a lot more backstory to cover before we get into the main action. Still, Branagh and company manage to cover that quite well to keep the story compelling until we finally get to the actual mystery. The production design of the film is fantastic, especially the paddle steamer the bulk of the movie takes place on. It is suitably luxurious to befit someone as wealthy as Linnet yet close quarters and isolated enough to make for a compelling and at times tense mystery. While the vistas and sights of Egypt are a beautiful, some of the green screen work and CGI created sights of 1930s Egypt is unfortunately not as convincing as they would like at times and could be a bit distracting.  

The film boasts an impressive cast starting off with Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot. He gives a very nuanced performance as Poirot reveals a bit more of his past as well as his personal anguish and regrets in a touching scene between him and Bouc. We see some new sides to Poirot in this one, especially as the stakes in solving the mystery rise, and Branagh plays it wonderfully. Gal Gadot does well as Linnet Ridgeway, managing to walk the tightrope with her character and making her character likable even though she stole her best friend's fiancé. A lot has been made online about her line about the ship having "enough Champagne to fill the Nile" as being a bit of bad acting but overall, I think she actually did well in the role. Sophie Okonedo is fantastic as Salome Otterbourne and impressed me from her first scene in the Jazz club, rocking a guitar no less (I checked, they actually did exist and were invented in 1932!). She is clearly having a lot of fun with her character and is one of the highlights of the movie. Letitia Wright has a few moments to shine as well as Rosalie, who is sharp as a tack when it comes to business and turns out to be an important resource not just for her aunt, but Linnet as well. Ali Fazal does well with his role as Andrew Katchadourian making the most of a tricky role. It's a joy to see Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French reunited and do quite well playing the far more serious roles of Marie Van Schuyler and Mrs. Bowers as opposed to their usual comedic shenanigans. The same can be said for Russell Brand, playing it straight as Dr. Windlesham and a far cry from his wilder, more goofball roles he's known for but he pulls it off quite well. Rose Leslie does her best with the rather underwritten role of Louise, Linnet's personal maid.

Overall, Death on the Nile is a solid follow-up to Murder on the Orient Express. Branagh expands on the character of Poirot in some very interesting ways without getting in the way of the narrative as a whole and even integrating it into the overall story to pay off quite well by the time we get to the end. It is a lavish production with a stellar cast that shines and manages to pack in a few surprises for such a famous and well known mystery. It may not quite have "enough champagne to fill the Nile," but I had a good time with it and I imagine anyone who enjoyed the previous film will as well. 

Death on the Nile (1978)

 

Coming four years after the star-studded 1974 film, Murder on the Orient Express, comes the equally star-studded Death on the Nile. It arrives with a change in actor for main character Hercule Poirot after Albert Finney, who already found the prosthetic makeup he wore in the previous film unbearable, imagined undergoing a similar process this time in the Egyptian desert would be even worse and politely declined the opportunity to return. Aside from that, this follow up follows a similar set-up with a group of colorful characters in an isolated location, swapping a train for a boat, and a murder to solve where everyone is a suspect. 

When Jackie de Bellefort (played by Mia Farrow) introduced her fiance Simon (played by Simon MacCorkindale) to her best friend Linnet (played by Lois Chiles), the last thing she expected was for the two of them to fall in love and get married soon after. They decide to honeymoon in Egypt after the wedding and are shocked to discover that jilted Jackie is following them and determined to disrupt their holiday. In an attempt to ditch her, Linnet and Simon board the paddle steamer SS Karnak that will be traveling along the Nile river. On board is an assortment of characters who also happen to have a connection to Linnet and Simon. There is Linnet's trustee, Andrew Pennington (played by George Kennedy), who needs Linnet to sign several documents he put together to try and cover up money he embezzled from her. There is renowned author Salome Otterbourne (played by Angela Lansbury), who is being sued by Linnet and traveling with her daughter Rosalie (played by Olivia Hussey), Elderly American socialite Mrs. van Schuyler (played by Bette Davis) and her companion Miss Bowers (played by Maggie Smith), who blames Linnet's father for financially ruining her own father. James Ferguson (played by Jim Finch) is an outspoken Communist who resents Linnet's wealth. Dr. Ludwig Bessner (played by Jack Warden) faces exposure from Linnet for his unorthodox practices with some of Linnet's friends who were patients. Also among them is acclaimed detective Hercule Poirot (played by Peter Ustinov), who is traveling with his friend Colonel Race (played by David Niven). When Linnet turns up dead with a single gunshot to the head, it falls to Poirot and Race to figure out who killed her, which proves to be a challenge when everyone else on board has a good motive.   

The film was directed by John Guillermin from a script by Anthony Shaffer from the classic Agatha Christie novel. This film, unlike it's predecessor, takes it's time setting up not only the main conflict between Jackie, Linnet, and Simon but also the other passengers as the narrative gets them all to Egypt and onto the river cruise. To their credit, they do manage to make the events compelling enough to hold the viewers attention until we finally get to the central mystery. Once we get into the central mystery, the film does throw in several twists to keep the audience guessing as well. The location shoots in Egypt are captured quite well with some fantastic cinematography from Jack Cardiff as they characters at various points visit the pyramids or other, similar locations as the threat to Linnet rises. The costume design throughout the film is also worth noting as it actually won an Academy Award for designer Anthony Powell, with outfits worn at various points by both Bette Davis and Angela Lansbury being distinct standouts. 

The filmmakers managed to assemble a great cast to bring their assortment of colorful characters to life. Peter Ustinov does great as Poirot, giving his character more warmth as he interacts with the other characters. Bette Davis is a natural fit for her role as the feisty Mrs. Van Schuyler who frequently trades barbs with her companion, Maggie Smith, making the two of them a joy to watch throughout the movie as they bicker like an old married couple. Angela Lansbury is likewise having a very good time playing the eccentric Salome Otterbourne. Jack Warden similarly lays it on thick as the controversial Dr. Ludwig Bessner with a thick accent and similarly amusing colorful flourishes. David Niven does well as Colonel Race and plays off Ustinov well as the two try to solve the mystery. Lois Chiles manages to keep Linnet sympathetic despite the fact that it would be easy for her character to be incredibly unlikable considering she steals her best friend's fiancé. Mia Farrow likewise is a good fit for the enraged Jackie, who is determined to ruin Simon and Linnet's honeymoon. Simon MacCorkindale lays on the charm as the attractive Simon and it is easy to see why Linnet would fall for him too.

Overall, Death on the Nile is a solid follow-up to Murder on the Orient Express. The opening of the film may drag for some but it manages to remain entertaining as it goes about setting up it's intricate backstory that leads to the central mystery. It's populated with a great cast that are clearly having a fun time playing their characters. The locations in Egypt are photographed wonderfully and captured with great 1930's style, matching the time period of the film. The primary setting on the paddle steamer is captured well and the filmmakers allow it to feel appropriately claustrophobic and isolated. This one is definitely well worth checking out, especially if you are a Poirot fan.            

Licorice Pizza

There is something inherently charming about Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza, with it's intriguing characters, period setting and relaxed narrative. At it's heart, it's a unlikely romance but it's also about it's characters as they inhabit a very specific place and time, in this case 1973 in the San Fernando Valley. It's quirky and different in a way that only a Paul Thomas Anderson film can be and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. 

Gary Valentine (played by Cooper Hoffman) is a somewhat successful child actor who has appeared in a few movies and T.V shows by his age of 15. On school picture day, he crosses paths with Alana Kane (played by Alana Haim), who is significantly older at the age of 25 and works for the company doing the school photos. Smitten, Gary strikes up a conversation and although she rebuffs his advances ultimately accepts to meet him for dinner and a friendship develops. When he needs a chaperone for a press appearance in New York, he recruits Alana to accompany him when his mom Anita (played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis) is unable to go. When roles begin to dry up, Gary begins a Waterbed company with his friends and Alana. When Alana decides she wants to try acting, Gary introduces her to his agent, leading to a very successful audition with actor Jack Holden (played by Sean Penn). She goes out to dinner with him that night, she gets roped into participating in a motorcycle stunt with Jack on a golf course cooked up by a very inebriated film director, Rex Blau (played by Tom Waits) and Jack. Meanwhile, their Waterbed company takes off, leading them on such assorted misadventures as a extended encounter with notorious hairdresser turned Hollywood producer Jon Peters (played by Bradley Cooper). 

The film was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and is in a way a return to form of his earlier films which centered on unique characters populating the San Fernando Valley in films such as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and perhaps most directly to this one, Punch Drunk Love. Much like the latter film, this one is a very unconventional romance. Much of it is one sided, with Gary very much infatuated with Alana, but Alana understandably rebuffing his advances. Still, there is something that keeps her coming back to him and soon a friendship and partnership develops between the two. It is not like anything I really have seen in a film before. The closest I can think of is the unrequited love William has for Penny in Almost Famous (which, curiously, also takes place in 1973). The film itself takes on an almost episodic nature as it traverses Gary and Alana's various adventures together, whether it is on a press appearance for a film Gary was in (leading to an amusing run in with the film's star, Lucille Ball expy Lucy Doolittle (played by Christine Ebersole) or setting up their waterbed company and everything beyond that. Anderson drew inspiration for the character of Gary from the early life of former child star and current Hollywood Producer Gary Goetzman, based on stories Gary had told him. He then peppered the story with assorted oddball characters that occupied Hollywood at the same time that Gary and Alana would have run into, some fictionalized, some not so much.  Anderson, who shot the film with Michael Bauman, did a fantastic job not just capturing the time period, but also the look and feel of 1970's films. It probably helps that they used older film lenses and shot on 35mm film.     

The film has a fantastic cast, starting with the two leads. Cooper Hoffman is great as Gary. He really captures Gary's drive and maturity well beyond his years. He's a fascinating character in that he's only a teenager, but can keep pivoting from one thing to another when something doesn't work out, always able to pounce on the next opportunity. It's these qualities that keep drawing Alana back to Gary. Alana Haim is equally fantastic in the role of Alana, a role Paul Thomas Anderson wrote specifically for her. She wonderfully captures how lost Alana feels as she tries to figure out what she wants her future to be. She tries several things throughout the movie and yet keeps getting drawn back to Gary who comparatively seems to have it all figured out. The film is also populated with a number of actors in smaller parts that nonetheless leave memorable impressions in the film. Sean Penn has an interesting turn as Jack Holden, clearly based on Hollywood actor William Holden. Alana meets him when she is auditioning for a film and he initially seems like a potential romantic prospect, despite being significantly older. Of course, he turns out to not quite be the person he appears during the audition later on when Alana joins him for drinks in an amusing turnabout that Penn handles quite well. Christine Ebersole has an amusing bit as Lucy Doolittle, clearly based on Lucille Ball, during a press promotion appearance with Gary and assorted other cast members for the film "Under One Roof" (clearly Yours, Mine and Ours). But easily the most memorable one for me was Bradley Cooper as the eccentric and wild Jon Peters. He shows up late in the movie but just steals every scene he is in and is hilarious in the role. What should be a simple waterbed delivery for Gary, Alana and his friends turn into a pretty crazy adventure they probably could not have predicted. 

Overall, Licorice Pizza is one of my favorite movies of 2021. It has a fun, unique plot led by two fantastic actors playing unique and interesting characters. It is a Paul Thomas Anderson film through and through, with it's episodic and sprawling storyline that I was never quite sure where it was going. I was absolutely enchanted with this film from beginning to end. Based on some of the reactions I've read to this film, it is certainly one where one's mileage may vary. But, if what you've read so far sounds appealing, chances are you will enjoy it too.