"Eternals" Review: A Step In A New Direction!?
Eternals is far from the Marvel films we’ve come to expect. There is generally a formula to these films. You have a problem that occurs, heroes who respond, big action set pieces and spoon fulls of comedy sugar along the way. Co-writer/director Chloe Zhao takes this film in a dramatic direction with spoon fulls of action along the way. With a complex story and multiple characters to get to know, this is another step in the staircase of Marvel that feels like a set up to take us somewhere new.
A group of immortal beings have been on Earth since BC time. They came and have helped civilization advance forward, but have remained in the shadows trying not to interfere as much as possible. The Eternals are a rag tag group with special powers. Ajak (Salma Hayek) leads the group as the maternal figure who has the power to heal and give wise advice. Ikaris (Richard Madden), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), and Thena (Angelina Jolie) are the frontline warriors, each imbued with unique powers to fight. The thinkers of the group are the young illusionist, Sprite (Lia McHugh), speedster Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), master inventor Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and telepath Druig (Barry Keoghan). Sersi (Gemma Chan), whom much of the film revolves around, can transmute inanimate matter and finds herself somewhere in between the warriors and thinkers.
The non-linear story jumps through history while grounding itself in present day, not long after the events of Avengers: Endgame. With fifty percent of the planet back, a countdown to an apocalyptic event has started. The Eternals must decide if they will intervene to protect the species they’ve grown to respect and love or continue to stand by.
Zhao’s vision for the film is fully manifested. Much of the movie’s flashbacks are shot at golden hour, giving a soft, warm hue to the cinematography. Her camera frames subjects in an affectionate way. She bottles the feeling you have when you’re falling in love with someone and in a room full of people, it’s just you and that person, and pours it on screen. It’s that tenderness that infuses throughout the film to give MCU fans something that feels wholly different and unique.
As beautiful as the film is, it can drag along at times with its two and a half hour plus running time. The character building and backstory that has to occur in an origin story is hum drum at times with certain characters receiving more love than others. With ten Eternals to introduce to an audience, that can be a task. Overall, the task is achieved but not without the price of a bit of fatigue in getting there.
Then there’s the topic of sexuality. Sexuality in this film feels forced rather than the “firsts” it desires to display. Parents of younger children be warned, two of the Eternals get busy in a mid-shot that shows them naked (while bodies cover private areas) but leaves no question to the thrusting going on. So if you haven’t had the sex talk, you’re going to have to after this. There’s a same sex kiss as well. The reason this all seems forced is because, well (semi-spoiler alert if you haven’t read the comics ahead), the Eternals are humanoids and can’t breed amongst themselves. So logically, reproduction and sexuality doesn’t seem to make sense as the story unfolds in this world.
Special attention needs to be given to the performance of Harish Patel as Karun. In the film, he follows Kingo around as his manager/personal cameraman. Patel provides not only humor throughout the film, but touching moments that would be hard to perform in the hands of a lesser character actor! Even though he is a side character, we should give that man his props and flowers for his performance!
Zhao and company shoot for the stars and land somewhere in Earth’s orbit. This isn’t a bad film. You can get lost in its entertainment. However, it truly feels like a stepping stone to open other parts of the MCU. This film feels like a door to opening more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in two ways. One is that the Eternals unlocks a new characters layer in the MCU as we learn about Eternals, Celestials and deviants. The second is the arthouse influence from Zhao’s direction that will shift the blockbuster feel we’ve experienced in the past to possibly give us more of an independent vibe in these films. We’ve seen the shift in Disney+ shows, but this is certainly different. Overall, if you’re a fan of the MCU you’ll be entertained. If not, you can catch up to this when it streams!
Rating: C+
Middleburg Film Festival '18: "Widows" Review
In lesser hands Widows would be a run of the mill heist film. Give this script to any other director and you may not be challenged to keep up visually in the way Steve McQueen intelligently crafts this film. Give this script to any other cast and the words wouldn’t be elevated from the page to create characters that we see transform throughout the course of the film. Grab your popcorn folks; this is why we go to the movies!
Set in Chicago, Veronica (Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) and Amanda (Carrie Coon) are found grieving the loss of their criminal husbands. After the hubbies perish in their latest heist attempt, their death means nothing to the people they owed. Local crime boss turning politician, Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry), seeks the money that Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson) and his crew stole from him on principle, but also because he’s running against Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell), the man whose family has been alderman of their district for two generations prior. Manning’s motive for getting the two million dollars is solid and with his cold-blooded gangsta brother, Jatemme (Daniel Kaluuya), eager to help his brother win the elected spot, Veronica has no choice but to get to work. Equipped with a notebook her husband Harry left, Veronica decides that she can get out of debt and start a new life if she and her fellow widows can pull off the big caper Harry plotted out.
McQueen’s work has always been raw, dark, and visually biting. He’s able to use those elements, set against the climate of current day Chicago, to give us a memorable, blockbuster heist film. The opening itself is a Soviet Montage of sorts that doesn’t lovingly bring you into the story but crashes together in a rhythmically edited mashup that quickly brings the audience up to speed. McQueen leads the story with his camera, laying the ground work for his actors to step in and knock the ball out of the park, and they come through.
This review would be too long if each cast member got their time to shine here, but know that they do. Of note, Davis delivers a stellar performance as per usual by giving Veronica an internal conflict that is exhibited in a way that only Mrs. Davis can do over the course of the film! Elizabeth Debicki may certainly have the best character development throughout the film as you literally watch a shutdown and abused widow become a leader and empowered woman. All of the lead and supporting cast give us well rounded characters to watch on screen.
McQueen and co-screenwriter Gillian Flynn never telegraph an overt message in dialogue, but rather McQueen uses visuals to explain the issues in Chicago. The political race between Mulligan and Manning is a plot point, but there is a larger conversation to be had in our minds as audience members about the violence in the streets of the Chi. There’s a beautiful single take shot that shows the economic disparity that pushes the story forward while making you think afterwards.
The only small issue with the film may be in the eagerness to gain their dignity and respect, there is an ever pervasive message of the widows trying to prove themselves in their words. Their actions already show that they’re more than capable so we don’t need on the nose lines like “no one thinks we have the balls to pull this off!” While well delivered from Davis, it would be nice to be shown more than told. This in no way takes you out of the film or detracts from the empowerment that it delivers.
Widows proves that heist films can have layered meaning and story to them. It’s a good night out for the ladies, date night, and even time for the fellas! However you see it, make sure it’s in a theater. It will be well worth the money spent!
Rating: A