Mulan
One of the first blockbusters-to-be affected by COVID-19, <i>Mulan</i> is Disney’s latest live-action adaptation of one of their beloved animated classics, following 2019’s mega-hit The Lion King. After the release of the first trailer in July 2019, fans noted that there seemed to be none of the musical elements of the 1998 original and the absence of one of the previous film’s beloved characters—the wisecracking dragon Mushu. In early April of this year, producer Jason Reed told Empire magazine that Mushu is excluded from this updated adaptation in favour of a more honest and culturally-authentic presentation of the story. The animated classic is inspired by <i>The Ballad of Mulan</i>, an ancient Chinese poem—whose origins are still debated—that tells the tale of a woman who enlists as a male soldier in order to save her father, absent of any fantastical elements or fast-talking sidekicks. Helmed by director Niki Caro with a reported budget of $200 million, <i>Mulan</i> is the most expensive female-directed film ever. <i>Mulan</i> had its carpet premiere on March 9, just weeks before it was scheduled to be theatrically released. After its screening, many critics took to Twitter with primarily positive, but spoiler-free reactions, believing the embargo would be lifted in just a few short days. That day never came. After two release date shifts, it remains up in the air if Disney will move forward with a theatrical release or if it will debut on their streaming service, Disney Plus. While frustrating to fans eager to see the film ASAP, it’s understandable that Disney would want hold off on unleashing it digitally. With a highly-anticipated film such as <i>Mulan</i>, there stands to be millions in potential revenue from toys, merchandise, and other brand partnerships in addition to the box-office sales. Regardless, the combination of built-in fans of the original and new generations of people being introduced to this tale for the first time make this a film to look out for.
By Julius Bridgeforth – July 23rd
A Quiet place – Part 2
John Krasinski stunned us all back in 2018 with one of the most original horror films of the decade. A Quiet Place doesn’t look out of place next to Get Out, It Follows and Hereditary, as one of the leading films of the horror renaissance – no mean feat for the guy we all knew so fondly as Jim from The Office. So it came as no surprise when the sequel was announced and as the trailer dropped, it became clear this is not going to be a simple re-hash of part one. The dimly lit, claustrophobic quality of the first film is less present here as we see stark, open spaces and action-driven clips. A new character, played by the masterful Cillian Murphy, tells us, “The people who are left… are not the kind of people worth saving”, suggesting that the creatures-who-hunt-by-sound are not the only threat Emily Blunt’s Evelyn and her three children will face. With a bigger budget, broader cast and more expansive settings, A Quiet Place Part Two has all the ingredients necessary to overcome the ‘tricky-second-album’ problem that tends to hamstring sequels commissioned on the back of a surprise hit. If Krasinski and co. can also retain the creativity and originality of part one, it could prove to be the best horror film of recent years.
By Caleb Grinsdale – July 22nd
Soul
Soul is a new Disney/Pixar original from Pete Docter, the director of Up and Inside Out. Featuring the voice talents of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Bassett, Questlove, and Hamilton breakout Daveed Diggs, the story centers on a middle school band teacher (Foxx) who is transported to another dimension called The Great Before, where souls get their true purpose and meaning before going back to Earth. In addition to its stacked voice cast, Soul promises some amazing music, with Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composing an original score, and brand new jazz from Grammy-nominee Jon Batiste. Pixar has perfected the act of creating original content that not only appeals to kids, but includes lessons and smart humor that adults can relate to and appreciate. Just last month, Soul was selected as part of the lineup for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, so it already has some critical eyes on it. The last original film from Pixar Animation Studios was this year’s <i>Onward</i>, which underperformed at the box office before being pulled from theaters and released early on Disney Plus due to the COVID-19 outbreak. A lot is probably riding on the success of Soul to make up for the lack of commercial success from Onward.
By Julius Bridgeforth – July 23rd
Tenet
Writer/Director Christopher Nolan’s return to fiction promised to be quite the mind-bender when the trailer for Tenet first dropped, teasing his signature, non-linear style. With exciting newcomer John David Washington leading the charge as ‘The Protagonist’, after his role in BlacKkKlansman put him on the Hollywood map, the cast is typical of Nolan – unexpected but full of potential. Robert Pattinson, who, after Twilight, has developed a wonderfully diverse filmography, seems to be sharing centre stage with Washington, a partnership I’m absolutely here for. Elizabeth Debicki and Clemence Poesy also join the fray as the female leads, though hopefully Nolan’s managed to break his habit of killing off female characters to serve the man. Twenty years on from Memento, Nolan’s filmography speaks for itself and though I wasn’t the biggest fan of Dunkirk, there’s no denying his ingenuity in direction and originality of concepts when it comes to fiction. Tenet doesn’t just fit into his wheel-house, it IS his wheel-house, so naturally, expectations are sky-high for his latest time-warping thriller. As for its release though, the limited viewing capacity of cinemas in the UK would have seriously crippled its box office and audience reach had it launched on July 17, so, sadly but rightly, we’ll have to wait a little longer to have our minds melted.
By Caleb Grinsdale – July 22nd
Wonder Woman 1984
Warner Bros. greenlit a sequel to Wonder Woman just a month after the original film’s release in June 2017. At the time of its release, the film became the highest-grossing superhero origin film and ushered in a new wave of female-led superhero flicks, such as 2019’s Captain Marvel and this year’s Birds of Prey and Black Widow. Prior to Wonder Woman’s release, film studios had long been hesitant to anchor a superhero film solely centred on a female character, but fears were calmed to the tune of hundreds of millions in box office earnings. With the announcement of a sequel, fans hoped that director Patty Jenkins would return to work her magic once again, and she has. Along with star Gal Gadot, the film marks the return of Chris Pine, whose character Steve Trevor was believed to have perished at the end of the first film. Actress Kristen Wiig, known for her comedic roles in films such as Bridesmaids and the television series Saturday Night Live, surprised many when she signed on to play Barabra Ann Minerva, an archaeologist who eventually morphs into the villain Cheetah, providing a formidable adversary for Diana Prince and her Amazonian abilities. It will be interesting to see if Wiig brings some of the comedic campiness she’s known for to the character, of if she goes another route completely. Another newcomer to the series is actor Pedro Pascal, fresh off of his titular role in Disney Plus’ new Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian. Pascal plays Maxwell Lord, an eccentric businessman with a ruthless streak, stopping at nothing to achieve power and domination. Filmed with IMAX cameras for select action sequences, its no wonder that Warner Bros. wants to present Wonder Woman 1984 in its full glory, but the question remains as to when that will be.
By Julius Bridgeforth – July 23rd