Movies Extravaganza 13: CHEVALIER, POLITE SOCIETY, AIR: COURTING A LEGEND, RENFIELD, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, A THOUSAND AND ONE

Mini Movie Review Extravaganza 13 final post April 4, 2023

CHEVALIER |Searchlight Pictures | Director Stephen Williams |Screenplay Stefani Robinson | Costume Designer Oliver Garcia | Music Arranger Kris Bowers

Like Katherine Johnson of “Hidden Figures” we once again are introduced to a more than exceptional human on many levels, who was basically erased from the history books due to not just our country, but the world’s obsessive occupation with racism.  At the end of the world as we know it, and Jesus makes his return to an earthly kingdom, will it be revealed to all, why this inherit hatred and cruelty over skin color ruled for so long?

Kelvin Harrison Jr (Waves, Cyrano, Elvis) plays Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) a virtuoso violinist, composer, not just of classical orchestral pieces to rival Mozart’s, but full on Operas too. He was a world class fencer, among other talents.  The movie begins with a rousing, transcendent dueling violins scene between Bologne and Mozart (Joseph Prowen). Bologne smokes the smug Wolfgang Amadeus, bringing the audience to their feet in astonishment.  Joseph Bologne too carries himself with more than a little hubris. 

We then go back in time to Joseph’s childhood, his father, a plantation owner of noble birth is depositing his son, born from his slave, Nanon (Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo), at a prestigious boarding school. It’s obvious that this man does not actually love his son, but he can’t deny the boy’s talents and feels they’d be wasted as a slave on his plantation. The school master wants to refuse to take in a mulatto bastard child but can’t on the basis of Joseph’s skillful violin playing, particularly at such a young age.  The one piece of advice his father gives him before departing forever, is that no one can look down on a Frenchman of excellence. A sentiment Joseph then follows to the letter; eventually catching the notice of Queen Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton), who bestows on him the illustrious title of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges and he becomes a part of her court and a close confidant. 

If only that could be the end of the story, but of course that would not make a very compelling film or life. There’s a forbidden love story between Chevalier and his married, operatic muse, Marie-Josephine (Samara Weaving) who is doing her own singing.  Much of the plot revolves around Chevalier’s want to be Director of the Opera House, a very prestigious position, and who could be better suited, except for that one strike against him.

“It is no accident—and tells us a lot—that Mozart copied note-for-note from a Bologne violin concerto into one of his own [pieces],” says Nwanoku. “I believe Bologne’s violin concertos are technically more demanding than Mozart’s,” she continues. After all, some of Bologne’s pieces “extend to an octave higher.” READ MORE “The Black Mozart Was So Much More”

Kelvin Harrison said he practiced the violin for months and learned to fence for the part.  He worked tirelessly preparing for the role and yet, halfway through shooting he says he felt very insecure and turned to Austin Butler (Elvis) for advice. Not many actors are gonna nail a performance so spectacularly as Butler’s; yet Harrison is no slack. He’s pulls off equal parts charisma, sex appeal, and regality. 

Is it a perfect movie? No. But it does a good job at expressing the line this man was made to walk, never fully apart of the world he inhabited, yet neither being able to embrace his mother’s people and station in life.  It’s stunningly costumed, enlightening, fraught with tension, sadness and a bit triumphant.

T&T rating 4 outta 5

POLITE SOCIETY |Focus Features | Writer/Director Nida Manzoor | Costumes P.C. Williams

How far would you go to assure a shared dream did not get derailed? Well, for Ria Khan (Priya Kansara) it’s pretty crazy far!  Ever since she and her sister Lena (Ritu Arya) (The Umbrella Academy) were little girls, they respectively planned to be a stunt woman and an artist.  Lena being the older of the two, sets out on her dream first, going to art school, this was a big step outside traditional Pakistani culture. The girl’s parents were not happy about the idea, but allowed Lena to go. They however, are much happier with the fact that she has dropped out and is back at home and agreeing to marry. The parents never entertain the idea of their other daughter becoming a movie stunt woman.  Ria too is happy to have her sister home as the two are very close, but she absolutely will not allow Lena to give up on her dreams and marry. Particularly not to a playboy/mama’s boy like Salim (Akshay Khanna), whom most in their social circle consider the most eligible bachelor.

Therefore, Ria with the help of her two off-beat chums Clara (Seraphina Beh) and Alba (Ella Bruccoleri) start planning and plotting how to stop this wedding from taking place. 

The absolute charm of this Sundance 2023 premiered film is the lead actress Priya Kansara, she is delightful in all ways. She should so have her own TV show – she’s a combination of Sally Field in “Gidget”; the comic timing of Fran Drescher in “The Nanny”, the radiance of Lindsay Wagner in “The Bionic Woman” and the physicality of Michelle Yeoh.  She’s really a treat! 

The writing is also infectious, very genre bending, it’s a small indie relationship film, wrapped inside a kick-ass martial arts flick, with a dollop of unexpected sci-fi plot twist.  The film just keeps building and building to a most entertaining wedding climax that is completely original and super fun!  “ I Am The FURY!”

Here’s a great interview with the 2 lead actresses and writer/director Nida Manzoor, during Sundance.

T&T Rating 5 outta 5

AIR |Amazon Studios | Director Ben Affleck |Writer Alex Convery 

Similar to  “Moneyball” (2011) “Air” is more concerned with the business of the sport than the actual game, which works for me.  It’s basically a crowd-pleasing underdog becomes top dog story – so hard to believe Nike was once fighting for a piece of the basketball sneaker action against Converse, which Nike later bought. And Adidas, which now just seems nostalgic.  The story plays out over a mix of early-to-mid 80’s hits abounding throughout the movie, they’re all beloved songs, but at times overbearing.

Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro an overweight, middle-aged guy who knows the game of basketball inside and out, and also has a penchant for a bit of gambling whenever possible.  His job is basically to get college basketball rookies to wear Nike’s on and off the court.  Other than that, his position is a little hard to define. He works with the marketing team, headed by Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) ; and the Field Representative, Howard White (Chris Tucker); gets his jollies riling up prick agent, David Falk (Chris Messina); and has a pretty good rapport with his boss, Nike Founder, Phil Knight (Ben Affleck), who plays him with just the right amount of humor, making light fun of this barefoot, meditating, enlightened corporate leader.

There’s a budget of 250K to be split between 4 promising Rookies willing to sign with Nike. Michael Jordan is not really anybody yet, but he’s a player of interest being courted by Adidas, which Jordan already wears, making that a done deal. Nike has no plans to try and go after him. But Sonny upon re-watching some game tapes starts to see Jordan in a new light, as more than just a promising young player, but someone with untold, untapped talent. He wants to bet the whole budget on him, something that’s standard practice now, and would be a joke of a sum, but back then it was unheard of to spend that kind of money on one player – one not even yet signed with the NBA. But as a gambler it’s a bet Sonny can’t resist playing. It’s all or nothing, cause if this doesn’t work, he’s out of a job.

Much of Convery’s dialogue seems intentionally written as a portent of what we all know is to come. You understand a lot of the inspirational words weren’t really said at the time, but they have significance knowing what we know. And of course, Viola Davis knows how to command a scene and make moments feel monumental. That’s the thing about this kind of movie, which I call a reenactment documentary, it still works, knowing Sonny’s gamble more than paid off in ways that are still reverberating throughout our culture, the game, the industry. We all witnessed the man, the myth, the legend that is and was Michael Jordan.  So how is it that the movie makes us care, as if we need to see the outcome?  I’m not sure, but there’s great tension, a lot of heart and yes, I shed tears of joy at the end, somehow truly happy to witness the genesis of Air Jordan sneakers, still making billions to this day, as if it somehow benefits me! 

Not everyone thinks he’s a great Batman (although I do) but with films like Gone Baby Gone, The Town, the Best Picture Oscar-winner Argo (2013) and now Air, it’s simply undeniable that the husband of Jennifer Lopez is a gifted director.

T&T rating: 4 outta 5

RENFIELD |Universal Pictures | Director Chris Mckay |Screenplay Ryan Ridley 

Obviously, the beauty of a vehicle like this is to see the two Nics play off each other.  I think Nicholas Hoult in 15 years will be a kind of amalgamation of Nick Cage, Christopher Walken and Christoph Waltz. Director Chris McKay (“The Lego Batman Movie”, “The Tomorrow War”) said he remembers early on when the two actors met, Cage said something to Hoult like ‘If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing, and Hoult really took that to heart.”

I don’t know where I land on Count Dracula as a whole – the myth, the legend, the movies.  My best friend in High School was obsessed with everything Dracula/Vampires, dutifully I’d watch some stuff with her and read her short Vampire inspired stories.  It’s a shame she always lacked the confidence to show her stuff to the public, cause she pre-dates “Twilight” she could have been the YA romantic horror queen.  Then I dated a guy who collected everything Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney., but he turned out to be scary in other ways.   Tom Cruise’s “Interview with a Vampire” is a stylistic masterpiece and sucks (no pun intended) you in if you happen upon it. There’s a movie with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston “Only Lovers Left Alive” that I remember being a pretty good modern Vampire flick.  But on the whole, I’ve probably seen more Zombie movies than Dracula inspired films. 

McKay calls the tone of “Renfield” splatstick horror/humor. Nicolas Cage is in fine form. Sporting raiser thin type teeth, which I read were the look of Lon Chaney Sr. in “London After Midnight”. Cage deliberately attempts to combine the many versions of Dracula we’ve seen throughout history, and comes up with a character that feels both traditional and weirdly original and of the moment.

The movie is set in modern day New Orleans, but we witness flashbacks of Renfield and Dracula’s past relationship through a well-executed black-and-white montage of classic film footage of the 1930s with Hoult and Cage inserted into the frames.  We find out that Robert Montague Renfield (Hoult) fell under the spell of the blood sucking immortal while trying to barter a real estate deal centuries ago.  Dracula so charmed the young man that by the time he realized he’d become his familiar it was too late to break the spell.  Since then he’s been tending to his Master’s every need, which mainly consists of getting him fresh, preferably “good” humans (lovers, cheerleaders, nuns) to feast upon.

But Renfield is having a crisis of faith at this moment and just wants out.  He happens upon a support group for those dealing with toxic, controlling relationships. For a long time he just listens, but soon he opens up about his abusive “boss” and they convince him he can break away and live his own life  – not knowing who his boss actually is – of course, Dracula’s not just a bad boyfriend or some domineering executive. Still, Renfield’s attempts at a sunny, colorful existence are humorous.

The B story involves Law Enforcement family vs Crime Family, Rebecca (Awkwafina) is a beat cop determined to take down the Lobo mob who killed her police detective father.  As an aside: Awkwafina has absolutely no romantic chemistry with Nicholas Hoult, but they are a great fight duo. Rebecca also has an estranged sister, Kate (Camille Chen) who works in the FBI.  The head of the Lobo clan is that wonderful Iranian actress with the smoker’s voice Shohreh Aghdashloo and her son Teddy is played by Ben Schwartz.  I won’t give away how the two plots converge, but it’s bloody, violent good fun!

T&T rating 3.5

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES | Paramount Pictures | Writer/Directors Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley | Co-Writer Michael Gilio

It’s at once cheesy and charming, synthetic and spectacular, cozily derivative and rambunctiously inventive, a processed piece of junk-culture joy that, by the end, may bring a tear to your eye. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety 

I’m not sure I’m that stoked about DnD Movie, but I do love this description and it’s pretty close to my opinion overall.  Going into the movie what I knew of Dungeons & Dragons is from the shows “Stranger Things” and “The Big Bang Theory”. And from sketchy news stories I heard during my childhood of kids being lured into evil D&D cults. Becoming so obsessed with the game it became their way of life.  I don’t know if any of that actually happened, but I remember as a kid thinking if anyone asks me to play, my response will be the same as taking drugs – Just Say No!

According to Wikipedia, the game was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR). And has been published by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro) since 1997. I watched an interview with the writer/directors Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley (Side note: it’s been all about the The Daniels, now it’s The Johns) who said they were given good guidance by WotC during the making of the movie. From what I’ve gleaned, the game consists of a Dungeon Master (DM) who is like a narrator or host. They are in charge of The Campaign, which is basically the storyline and a setting.  The players each play a role – man, beast, fairy, wizard, what have you. I don’t really understand how it’s decided what you get, but each role possesses special powers, skills and/or likeability and charisma. All the players on the campaign are called a Party and they go off to have an adventure or a quest.

This campaign consists of a party of thieves, hence the title.  Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) is the DM, narrating the backstory, but he’s also a bard and ex-Harper member, an order of noblemen almost like Knights of the Round Table. Pine is doing his thing to hold things down.  Edwin’s closest pal is Holga a Barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), who’s only attracted to men not even half her size (funny cameo for Bradley Cooper). There’s a very inept young wizard, Simon (Justice Smith) whose magic is about the level of Aunt Clara’s on “Bewitched”.  And a con artist, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant) who is basically playing the same guy as his role in Guy Ritichie’s latest, “Operation Fortune Ruse De Guerre”.  Later, Forge becomes an enemy and they add to the party a shapeshifter, Doric (Sophia Lillis). Rounding out the party for a short part of their adventure is Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page) damn good with a sword, but so noble and pure of heart he doesn’t understand sarcasm, or figures of speech.

The Quest – well, many years prior, Edgin went against his vows as a Harper and stole a bar of gold. Stealing would get him expelled, but stealing from a Red Wizard had devastating consequences – in retaliation, they killed his wife. She did manage to hide their infant daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman) before her death. Edgin & Holga have been raising Kira, but through a series of misfortunes, Edgin and Holga are imprisoned, leaving Forge to raise Kira. So a lot of the plot revolves around getting Kira back. And possessing the Tablet of Reawakening in order to bring Kira’s mother back from the dead.

The production quality is not quite up to “Lord of the Rings”, but it’s visually impressive, particularly a magical scene involving a portal under a carriage. Also escaping a corpulent dragon. Supposedly there’s loads of Easter Eggs and references for DnD fans, but regular movie-goers are simply enjoying a fantasy, heist, comedy. Despite the antagonist being dark sorcery, the whole affair is kept lighthearted. And I think if you’re going to shapeshift into a mystical animal, a bearowl is the way to go.

T&T Rating 3.75 outta 5

THESE CUTE COSPLAYERS ATTENDED OUR SCREENING

Goldstein & Daley previously directed GAME NIGHT 
Check out our #MiniMovieReview from 2018 …

A THOUSAND AND ONE | Focus Features | Writer/Director A.V. Rockwell | Sundance World Premiere

Still plan to write review of A THOUSAND AND ONE starring Teyana Taylor. Directorial debut for A.V. Rockwell. Which won #Sundance Grand Jury Prize. For now here great interview https://t.co/8eMAf8vYJx#ThousandandOne pic.twitter.com/2FFxQfr0L7

— Tinsel & Tine – Marvelous Movie Maven (@tinseltine) April 1, 2023

A Thousand and One follows unapologetic & free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps her 6-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, this mother & son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability, in a rapidly changing New York City. A Thousand and One is written and directed by American filmmaker A.V. Rockwell, making her feature directorial debut after a few other short films previously. It’s produced by Julia Lebedev, Rishi Rajani, Eddie Vaisman, Lena Waithe, and Brad Weston. The project was developed at the Sundance Labs. It premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the Grand Jury Prize at the end of the fest. Focus Features.