#KingsleyBen-Adir

[mumbojumbo84317]

#Noelle

Released November 12, 2019

Directed by #MarcLawrence

Starring. #AnnaKendrick #BillHader #KingsleyBen-Adir #Billy Eichner #JulieHagerty #ShirleyMacLaine

[adamwatchesmovies]

Noelle (2019)

Thanks to the ever-charming Anna Kendrick and some neat gags, Noelle is a pleasant watch. Will anyone remember it down the line? Even if Hollywood didn’t crank out innumerable Christmas specials every year, I don't think so. Still, you could do far worse.

Five months after their father has passed away, Noelle (Anna Kendrick) and Nick Kringle (Bill Hader) are having difficulty getting ready for Christmas. While detecting whether children are naughty or nice, flying the sleigh, and sliding down the chimney comes easily to Noelle, it’s Nick’s job to be the next Santa. When he elopes to Phoenix, Arizona and everyone at the North Pole blames her, Noelle and her childhood nanny Polly (Shirley MacLaine) go track him down. Meanwhile, Nick’s absence has forced the council of elf elders to appoint his cousin, tech-geek Gabriel (Billy Eichner), as the new-new replacement Santa.

You can foresee exactly where this story is going. It’s pretty obvious but that’s fine. Most Christmas-themed movies choreograph their final destination early on. In fact, seeing Kendrick as the new mascot of December 25th would be kind of nice. Who says Santa has to be a man? You might say history - since Saint Nicholas is based on a real person - but not in this movie! Not only is there no talk of Jesus' birthday or any of that, but this movie takes it a step further by claiming the Clauses have been flying around the world and handing out gifts to good children for over 2,000 years. I guess B.C. must stand for “Before Claus” in this universe. Not that I’m suggesting there’s any kind of agenda at hand; this movie's only objective is to be the new hotness to be watched during the 2019 holiday season and then get replaced by something else in 12 months.

But let’s not linger on the negatives. Overall, it’s a cheery (though not a musical, disappointingly) film. The film’s main conflict concerns Noelle and a private detective named Jake Hapman (Kingsley Ben-Adir), as they search for her brother. He doesn’t believe Nick’s the real Santa (in any movie no adults ever do; it’s an unofficial rule) but she’s so ignorant of the way the world works he begins suspecting her stories may be true. A little magic would certainly help him give his son, Alex (Maceo Smedley), get the holiday he desires. The scenes in which Noelle reaches out to ordinary people and does her best to fulfill their wishes are the film’s best. They’re sweet and combined with the actress's natural charisma, it’s hard not to crack a smile.

Noelle makes good use of its stars’ talent, has a fair number of laughs, and brings something sorta new to the equation by putting a lady in Santa's boots. It’s fine for little kids but the older you get, the more you’ll find yourself comparing it to truly well-thought-out, creative holiday endeavors. I guess it’s ok if you’re just looking for something to pass the time during the festive season. (December 13, 2020)

[wherever-i-look-blog]

One Night In Miami - Review/Summary (with Spoilers) Like Kemp Powers' "Soul," "One Night In Miami" leaves you searching for meaning in past actions and contemplating your path in life going forward. https://wherever-i-look.com/movies/one-night-in-miami-review-summary-with-spoilers?feed_id=2185&_unique_id=600248f28a015

[film-book]

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (2020) Movie Trailer: What Happens when Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, & Sam Cooke are Alone in a Room? https://tinyurl.com/yykn67kn

[freemovieonline-blog1]

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Movie Information: When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern, Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy... whether he likes it or not. Read the full article

[adamwatchesmovies]

One Night in Miami... (2020)

One Night in Miami… is an impressive directorial debut by Regina King. Kemp Powers has written historical fiction so good you forget about the facts. The performances are outstanding, allowing you to become fully immersed in the ideas and dialogue. It’s full of contradicting ideals that raise tough questions and proves there's no single solution to Black America’s struggles. And yes, I know you’re sick of seeing movies in which Black people are treated like second-class citizens (the fact that we get more of these stories every year highlights how important Black Panther is) but when the results are this good, you won’t mind.

On February 25, 1964, Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) beats the odds and defeats Sonny Liston. To celebrate, he and his friends Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) gather at the Hampton House motel. Sam and Jim think it’s to party. X has other plans.

This film allows us to see giants as regular people. While it’s a selling point of every biopic, this is something different. We don’t see anyone’s entire life story, we see them away from the cameras and the dramatic upheavals, just hanging out with friends as equals. This Malcolm X is still the fire and brimstone spewing advocate but he’s among men who knew him before he changed his name, who agree with his principles… but aren’t afraid to criticize him. We see Sam Cooke rule the stage and bomb, Jim Brown uncertain about his future, Cassius Clay before he changed his name to Mohammad Ali. Outside of the room, they're legends but inside, they're just like us.

Their arguments are overwhelmingly opposed - that’s the point. Once you’ve got power and success, what responsibilities do you have? How should you use your influence? X has no shortage of criticisms for Cooke and you understand his frustration… but when Cooke counters, he brings things to a halt the way only a friend can. No one offers a complete answer despite speaking truths and you hang onto every word.

Part of the excitement of a directorial debut is anticipating what's next. Which stylistic choices, actors, topics, or technical tricks will become hallmarks? You don’t spot many here, but it’s actually a promising sign. The actors are so good, the dialogue so sharp and the ideas so engrossing, no sparkles were needed. Mirrors to ensure everyone remains in-frame, a few medium shots to show essential body language, key establishing shots are more than enough. A good director knows when to hold back and when to indulge. Based on her decisions here, Regina King’s career will be one to watch.

Though set in the past, the questions One Night in Miami... poses are eerily applicable to today. It contains dozens of lines you'll want to memorize or will never forget. For the dialogue alone, it’s a must-see. Paired with everything else, you've got one of the year’s best. (April 25, 2021)

[wherever-i-look-blog]

One Night In Miami - Review/Summary (with Spoilers) Like Kemp Powers' "Soul," "One Night In Miami" leaves you searching for meaning in past actions and contemplating your path in life going forward. https://wherever-i-look.com/movies/one-night-in-miami-review-summary-with-spoilers?feed_id=1970&_unique_id=5ff54f6a425b2