Remember me . . .
Starring (voices): Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt
Directors: Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina
The Plot: Mexican youngster Miguel (Gonzalez) dreams of being a musician, but music has been banned in his family for generations, ever since his great-great-grandfather abandoned them to pursue a musical career. As his town begins to celebrate the Day of the Dead, Miguel has a falling out with his family and runs away. Learning that his great-great-grandfather was none other than his deceased musical idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Bratt), Miguel finds himself magically transported into the Land of the Dead. He teams up with downtrodden skeleton Hector (Bernal) to try and find de la Cruz, while his ancestors residing there desperately pursue him - if Miguel doesn't return to the land of the living after 24 hours, he'll be stuck there forever . . .
Pixar rarely falter, and they've weaved their magic once again with Coco and produced a truly wonderful film that's visually stunning and utterly absorbing. The bright, colourful visuals are wrapped around a story that's both beautiful and utterly heartbreaking - this is a very emotional tale about the importance of family and remembering the loved ones that you've lost, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a few manly tears while watching. You may be wondering about the title of the film - Coco is Miguel's ancient great-grandmother, and to explain why the film is named after her and the part she plays in the story would be too much of a spoiler. Pixar have gone to great lengths to produce a fantastical story that's respectful to Mexican culture, and the result is one of their very best films.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
A beautiful, moving and emotional story that celebrates both music and the bonds of family. Another triumph from Pixar.
Next stop . . .
The Commuter (15)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
The Plot: Michael MacCauley (Neeson) is an ex-cop who now works as an insurance salesman, commuting into New York City everyday on the same train. MacCauley is struggling financially, and is intrigued when, on the journey home, a mysterious woman (Farmiga) sits down with him and makes an unusual offer: he will be paid $100,000 in cash if he locates a person on the train who should not be there, who's due to get off at a specific stop. Initially sceptical, MacCauley is shocked to discover that the offer is not only real but deadly - the person he has to find is a murder witness, who the mysterious woman intends to kill, and she threatens his family. It's a race against time for MacCauley to find the witness, prevent their murder and protect his family . . .
If you come into this film expecting another in what has become a genre in itself, the "Liam Neeson Action Movie", you'll be pleasantly surprised. While there are some moments of action, this is actually a clever, suspenseful thriller that plays out as a long game of cat-and-mouse. Neeson's character isn't a complete badass and he spends the vast majority of the film in a situation that he has little control over, and the film does very well to keep you guessing what's going to happen next. It certainly isn't Oscar material, and it's a shame that the fantastic Farmiga doesn't get a great deal of screen time, but this is a far better film than I expected it to be. Well worth your time.
Rating: 4 out 5 stars
This twisting and turning thriller is a pleasant surprise and not at all what you'd expect it to be. Neeson is as watchable as always in a role that's not your typical ageing action hero. Good stuff.
Honey, I shrunk myself . . .
Downsizing (15)
Starring: Matt Damon, Christophe Waltz, Kristen Wiig
Director: Alexander Payne
The Plot: Norwegian scientists have created an irreversible procedure called "Downsizing", that shrinks any organic material (humans, animals, plants) to a few inches in size, and the procedure is marketed as a solution to the world's growing problem of overpopulation. Occupational therapist Paul Safranek (Damon) and his wife Audrey (Wiig), struggling financially, decide to undergo the procedure after being won over with the promise of their money translating into a fortune in the "small" world of Leisureland, however when Paul undergoes the procedure Audrey balks and remains "big", leaving Paul alone in his new tiny world, where he struggles to adapt to his new environment and find a new purpose in life . . .
Downsizing is a very original story idea that offers some clever social satire. The visual effects are excellent, particularly in the scenes where Paul (at his normal size) interacts with "small" people and then later the other way around, and while the story is largely a drama there are some funny moments. While the first half of the film is interesting and engaging, it unfortunately falters in the second half when Paul leaves his new "small" world and travels to Norway, and the film shifts away from social satire and into the contemplation of humanity's fate. The story loses all steam here and the change in Paul's character doesn't come across well. Damon is fine in the first half, and Christophe Waltz is entertaining as his neighbour (and smuggler) Dusan who befriends him, but it was a disappointing finish.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
A very original story idea with great visual effects and touches of humour, that's unfortunately spoiled by a flat second half that moves away from the clever social satire of the first. Worth a watch, but don't make it a priority.
All good things . . .
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (12A)
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Director: Wes Ball
The Plot: Following the events of The Scorch Trials, Thomas (O'Brien), Newt (Brodie-Sangster) and the other remaining runners are in pursuit of their captured comrade Minho. They learn that the sinister group WCKD have moved him to the legendary Last City, a walled stronghold, and are experimenting on him in a last-ditch attempt to find a cure for the disease ravaging the world. Thomas devises a plan to break into the city and free Minho, but it will involve them capturing Teresa (Scodelario) - their former friend who betrayed them to work with WCKD, and who Thomas still has feelings for . . .
The Maze Runner series has been, for me, an underrated entry in the realm of teen-focused dystopian future films. The previous two films have been exciting, action-packed and with a likeable cast, and I'm happy to report that The Death Cure is a pleasing conclusion to the series that ramps up both the action and the runtime, clocking in at two hours and twenty minutes. Yes, it is very predictable, and you have to accept the fact this is aimed at a teenage audience and so isn't going to win any awards for acting or plot (which revolves around Thomas's blood being the key to creating a cure), but what you get is a solidly exciting film with lots of spectacle and features the return of Will "Motherfucker" Poulter. It's pretty much everything you could want from this type of film, and is well worth a watch.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
An exciting conclusion to the Maze Runner series that's high on action and spectacle and wraps up the story well. It's a tad predictable and the acting isn't the greatest, but it doesn't spoil a great final chapter of a very underrated series. I dig it.
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