Summer viewing – new and not so new
Cinemas are open! And what a treat after 18 months of lockdown.
If you haven’t managed to venture back some of these films may just tempt you.
We have also included some which can be watched still from the comfort of your own home.
A Quiet Place I (2018) and Part II (2021)
If you had the chance to see the first A Quiet Place I in a cinema in 2018, you'll know just how tense an experience it was. If you haven’t it’s worth the watch before A Quiet Place II.
So here is a little taster to draw you into A Quiet Place I. It is an American horror movie directed by John Krasinski. It tells the story of the survival of the Abbott family – wife Evelyn, husband Lee, deaf teenage daughter Regan, and younger sons Marcus and Beau. Most of the population of the world has been killed by blind creatures with hypersensitive hearing that attack anything making noise. Evelyn and Lee know that even the slightest whisper or footstep can bring death. So they are determined to find a way to protect their children while desperately searching for a way to fight back.
The father is acted by John Karsinski and his wife Evelyn by his wife in real life – Emily Blunt. Millicent Simmonds plays Regan Abbott, Lee and Evelyn's teenage deaf daughter. Krasinski said he sought a deaf actress "...for many reasons; I didn't want a non-deaf actress pretending to be deaf ... a deaf actress would help my knowledge and my understanding of the situations tenfold. I wanted someone who lives it and who could teach me about it on set." This in itself is nicely impressive!
A Quiet Place II is every bit as good as the original. Spoiler alert on Quiet Place I - with Lee dead, Evelyn (Emily Blunt) leads the group as they are forced from their hiding place and out into the world. They quickly learn that the alien creatures are not the only threat they face. The cast is joined by Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. Already the film has received great reviews. So prepare to be scared and lose yourself behind a cushion!
Quiet Place II is without doubt a nerve wracking continuation of its predecessor. Already released in Irish cinemas.
The Farewell (2019)
If you are tired of certain types of movies and are looking for something charming, heart-warming and different (in the telling), The Farewell is such a film. It is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Lulu Wang. The film follows a Chinese-American family who, upon learning their grandmother has only a short while left to live, decide not to tell her. Instead they go all out and schedule a family gathering (a wedding no less!) before she dies. It stars Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, and Zhao Shuzhen. The film is a heart-warming portrayal of the cultural differences between America and China with a great insight into Chinese traditions and ways. It is funny, sad and charming all at the same time! And Granny Nai Nai is a dame – one of my favourite lines of Nai Nai is “Life isn't just about what you do, it's more about how you do it.”
The film is based in part on director Wang's life experiences. It is a bilingual film in English and Mandarin Chinese. It is available on Prime video - Amazon.
The Courier (2021)
The Courier tells the true story of the British businessman, Greville Wynne (Bendict Cumberbatch), who helped MI6 penetrate the Soviet nuclear programme during the Cold War. Wynne and his Soviet source, Oleg Penkovsky (codenamed Ironbark), provided crucial intelligence that ended the Cuban Missile Crisis. In essence it is the story of an ordinary man who unprepared but nonetheless willingly steps into the breach and does great deeds for his country and the world at large. As Greville admits himself “This is unexpected. I can’t believe I’m actually having lunch with spies. I’m just a salesman”. Cumberbatch gives a very convincing performance becoming quite emaciated for the final scenes of the film. It is available on Prime video - Amazon.
In the Heights (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame has now brought his musical In the Heights (that debuted in 2005) to the big screen. The plot is set around the Dominican community of New York's Washington Heights neighbourhood. The film chronicles the lives of hardworking, striving Latinos -- and other diverse characters -- who dream big and navigate the odds to persevere and build a strong, supportive community. It’s replete with Miranda's songs. Expect to be humming lines like Just you wait such as When You're Home all summer long. Already released in Irish cinemas.
Luca (Disney Plus 2021)
Good news! There is a new Pixar film. This one is called Luca. It is the story of a 13-year-old Italian boy living in a seaside town. However, Luca and his friend are not ordinary boys, they are sea monsters. They are keen to explore the human world and in the middle of it all get into all kinds of mischief. And of course learn a few life lessons in the doing of it all. Maya Rudolph and comedian Jim Gaffigan provide the voices of Luca'a mum and dad. It is charming and will please animation lovers and little people all around! Already released in Irish cinemas.
Cruella
Cruella is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution. It has echoes of the Devil wears Prada for obvious reasons. The film follows a young girl, Estella (Emma Stone), a clever and creative young girl who is determined to make a name for herself in the fashion industry. In the process she befriends a pair of young thieves and together they build a life for themselves on the streets of London. Finally, Estella gets noticed by the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), a fashion legend and wickedly funny! The rest is history.
