Tag: Kenneth Branagh

A HAUNTING IN VENICE (2023)

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Directed By: Kenneth Branagh 

Written By: Michael Green 

Based on the Novel “Hallowe’en Story: By Agatha Christie 

Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos 

Editor: Lucy Donaldson 

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Kelly Reilly, Jamie Dornan, Camille Cottin, Ali Khan, Jude Hill, Emma Laird, Kyle Allen, Riccardo Scarmarcio

In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.

Kenneth Branagh finally has gotten the formula right. Maybe it was getting all the studio movie cliches out of his system to go back to more artistic filmmaking choices. This film finally shows the proper depth of the story & character.

There are Not so Many celebrities or stars in the film so the suspicions aren’t so high not your attention centered on them. 

This was the attraction for MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS  and the next film partially DEATH ON THE NILE which was a little more dialed down but still enough for a little spectacle. 

While primarily those films were aided by CGI when it came to locations especially. This film has less basis on CGI and truly explores the exoticness of the classical space and uses the cavernous location to its strength. As everything looks lush & plush.

While the film has its central mysteries every character seems to be hiding their own secrets. While it still Magyars to have the melodrama throughout. This film feels a bit more dry and dramatic. It has a darker outlook. It even Manages some surprises 

In the middle, it might be a little confusing. Once the third act comes into play surprisingly and with no lead-up the mystery is solved. There is more to go after that. 

What works is that it can be seen as a stand-alone but works in the trilogy. As if you have seen the previous films. You can understand the mindset of the main character at the beginning. As you have seen he has come to it. After suffering losses in the previous films. 

At first, it seems like the film is trying to rely on or try to jump onto the horror trend, but it ends up working for the story and distinguishing itself. Not seem like a Cash and is actually being adapted from an existing Agatha Christie story 

Even as we realize how lonely the main character is as he has fans and admirers but never truly anyone close to him they all want something from him and the friends and acquaintances from the past have either moved on or that is the basis of their relationship work-related. Knowing and seeing the evils of the world has made him scared to engage or trust in the end. He realizes he can’t let the nature of the world scare him Off and that he needs to try to help as much as he can to try to make it brighter 

He believes by separating himself from the world he’s not contributing to evil, and he’ll just keep to himself, and be safe by the end I think he realizes that the world at large needs him and he wants to be there to try and make it a better place combat that evil he’s found his faith so to speak. Kenneth Branagh plays it brilliantly reminding you of not the fine actor he can be and seeming to bypass the more comedic detours and also tightening up his directing skills. To come across as more artistic and personal and less sensationalistic. Still managed to have style in fact even more of it 

This film offers a bit more depth for the character and is a lot drier than the previous films it feels more intimate. Thought offers fewer distractions. 

This one seems less a seat filler or weekend attraction and more a film made with ideas and interest than a paint-by-numbers affair 

Grade: B

DEATH ON THE NILE (2022)

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Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
Written By: Michael Green 
Based upon the novel by: Agatha Christie 
Cinematography: Haris Zamberloukos
Editor: Una Ni Dhonghalie 

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright, Emma Mackey, Tom Bateman, Sophie Okonedo, Rose Leslie, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Adam Garcia, Michael Rouse, Alaa Safi 

While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress.

This film was postponed for release due to the pandemic and having a troubled cast member. That was meant to be released theatrically because of the big-name cast. Though quietly released onto streaming. While it has the beauty to be a more theatrical release, by the end it feels more compact and like a television movie with grand ambitions.

This feels like the British version of the movie. As most of the cast is more British stars and recognizable actors. Maybe it helps the film be more acceptable for a foreign audience. 

As it lacks the star power of Kenneth Branagh’s previous Agatha Christie novel brought to film MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. While he directs and stars a detective Hercule Poirot is seemingly on vacation and brought into another murder mystery.

This film is much darker in spirit than the previous film. Which although had a murder plot came off a little more lightweight and his performance was more comedic and fun. In this film, it is much more dramatic. As it feels more personal for the main character. This leaves Branagh’s Performance much more melodramatic. Even if the rest of the motivations feel a little looser.

As this film cuts closer to his character’s heart as we learn more about his past and he is much closer to the characters and one of the victims.

The film feels too long and it takes almost 45 minutes before the initial death comes to pass. Where there is a lot of build-ups and setting up animosity and motives for various characters. Even though it seems obvious from the early part of the film who the killer is.

So that it feels like we are not really waiting for who did it, but more how and why. 

The relationships throughout don’t seem very romantic or warm. Yet we are told how much they care about one another. Some of the castings seem more like a stunt. Like having comedic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders in the film and giving them nothing comedic to work with or having Russell Brand play a more dramatic role. Which he does well and without his long hair you barely recognize him. 

The film feels like it had a much lower budget to work with. As it seems to be a much smaller story and more limited in locations. It also seems a little less glamorous than the first film.  So it goes the opposite direction of most sequels. 

Though still beautifully filmed. Including a shot that showcases most of the cast In one shot that is obviously more for the trailer to show off. 

The film is a good time waster. As it is mostly entertaining as it goes along. Even though it is predictable.

Grade: C

CELEBRITY (1998)

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Written & Directed by: Woody Allen 
Cinematography: Sven Nykvist
Editor: Susan E. Morse 

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Winona Ryder, Famke Janssen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gretchen Mol, Greg Mottola, Charlize Theron, Judy Davis, Douglas McGrath, Joe Mantegna, Andre Gregory, Sam Rockwell, Adrian Grenier, Michael Lerner, Melanie Griffith, J.K. Simmons, Famke Janssen, Becky Ann Baker, Issac Mizrahi, Anthony Mason, Kate Burton, Debra Messing, David Marguiles, Tony Sirico, Bebe Neuwirth, Patti D’Arbanville, Ingrid Rogers, Jeffrey Wright, Hank Azaria, Karen Duffy, Aida Turturro, Allison Janney, Donna Hanover, Celia Weston, Wood Harris, Donald Trump 

Lee Simon, unsuccessful journalist and wanna-be novelist, tries to get his foot in the door with celebrities. After divorcing his wife Robin, Lee gets to meet a lot folks of the rich and/or beautiful, partly through journalism, and partly because he has a script to offer. But life amongst those from out-of-this-world is hard, and his putative success always results in defeat. Meanwhile, Robin meets a very desirable television producer and takes the first steps in the world of celebrities.

This seems to be more of a moralistic take more than a character piece. filming in black and white the film does come off looking beautiful and Classic but just like the characters, it’s empty.

This isn’t a typical woody Allen film. This feels more aggressive and verbose than usual a bit more hardcore. Where you can’t tell if he is angry or trying to fit in with the cinematic trends and language of the time. As this film and DECONSTRUCTING HARRY have that in common. 

While we have the typical Woody Allen type surrogate lead character played here by Kenneth Branagh. Here he feels disposable and never quite makes a mark. As he is just one of the many unlikeable characters throughout the film.

The characters are all physically beautiful but seem to be grotesque internally. As it seems only the lead character seems to know better. As he constantly cheats on his wife as his profile seems to rise, but as he slowly gets his comeuppance his suffering wife seems to become famous herself and finds love and good fortunes. 

The film seems more like a commentary on modern life at that time. The nature of celebrity web tabloids. A kind of acid commentary on it all. While feeling like a tabloid itself how it jumps around from character to character and tale to tale. Though it also feels like with this film though not surreal Allen seems to try to emulate Fredrico Fellini’s LA DOLCE VITA to a degree. While it tries to feel like that movie it never quite rises to that level. 

Using the nature of having a lot of big names in his cast. They are here for a reason. While this little is a commentary the film seems scattershot and ultimately lost because it never seems to come to a point. Just cruelty  As the Lead and the movie goes on many misadventures on his way to trying to achieve being a great writer and screenwriter. He finds the romantic entanglements prove to be as artificial as the proper and the world he is trying to enter. Even if all are around him are supposed to be artists and of such depth and passion. Showing all to be more in the moment and inauthentic with a love of self More than anything. 

Falling in love with the image in which others see them and list after them. Loving their own image More than anything else. 

The most noteworthy thing about this movie is that it has Leonardo DiCaprio in it. Mirroring his TITANIC fame of popularity but this was filmed before that film’s release. So it seems like life imitating art. Though some of the films revolve around him, he isn’t actually in it much. 

While not a classic the film is admirable in it’s own ways. It is beautifully shot and tries to say something overall it just has a funny way of showing it. 

Grade: C

THOR (2011)

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thor-2011-movie-01

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
Written By: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, & Don Payne
Story By: J. Michael Strazynski & Mark Protosevich
Based on the Comic Book By: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber & Jack Kirby
Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos
Editor: Paul Pubell 

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgard, Clark Gregg, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Jaime Alexander, Adriana Barraza 

The reckless Thor, son of Odin, challenges his brother Loki’s claim to the throne of Asgard. To teach him humility, Odin casts the young warrior down to Earth to live amongst humans. Robbed of his powers, Thor falls in love with scientist Jane Foster. While Loki usurps the throne of Asgard for evil gain and plans revenge, Thor’s love for Jane and his lessons of humility turn him into the true hero and legendary and immortal warrior-defender of the people of the Earth, saving them from destruction.

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