Film Reviews by Jordan Adcock
HOUSE OF
GUCCI
FILM OF THE MONTH - Star Rating: 4/5
In House of Gucci, the scandalous based-on-real-life drama of a wannabe heiress to a wannabe family dynasty, is the embodiment of fashion as incredibly serious business and also more than faintly ridiculous; maybe it’s appropriate that the film wildly swings between tones, it’s certainly never boring during its two and a half hours. Lady Gaga builds on the promise she showed in her leading turn in A Star Is Born with this even more confident performance as Patrizia Reggiani works for her father before encountering Adam Driver playing the socially awkward Maurizio Gucci, actual heir to the eponymous fashion brand. Their subsequent relationship survives the suspicions of Gucci’s father (Jeremy Irons, with an even more suspicious Italian accent) but is tested much harder as they
ascend to run Gucci itself. It’s safe to say the ending made global headlines but I won’t spoil it for anyone too young or hermit-like to know it already. Director Ridley Scott, whose last film The Last Duel unfortunately disappeared without trace in cinemas barely a couple of months ago (see the December issue for that one), is on reliably assured form showcasing the Gucci’s glamorous surroundings, striking outfits and seedy infighting as their global ambitions tear the family apart. There’s a whole line of strong actors on enjoy for more than a catwalk appearance, including Jared Leto in an extensive makeup job and a performance just the right side of camp as Paolo Gucci, the family’s poor relation with far more ambition than actual inspiration. ✪
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS
LICORICE PIZZA
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Star Rating: 3.5/5
Star Rating: 2.5/5
Star Rating: 1/5
Licorice Pizza is yet more well-acted, ambitious drama from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, known for his sprawling masterpieces like Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood, yet his newest film is also one of his more esoteric. A story of an unlikely couple in 1970s California: Gary, a 15-year-old schoolboy trying to be above his years and the impulsive Alana, a 25-year-old photographer’s assistant not acting her age, their spontaneous friendship, business partnership… and maybe even a relationship? It convincingly portrays and evokes its setting with a great contemporary soundtrack and compelling performances from the two lead actors. Cooper Hoffman, (son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Alana Haim make you empathise in spite of scattered plotting and (hardly unwelcome) interjections from more famous actors like Sean Penn and Bradley Cooper. ✪
No Way Home is the best of Spider-Man’s films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a redemption story in several ways and easily the MCU’s best in a while. Whatever the (manifold) flaws of the MCU recently, its sheer success and clout allows it here to pull together Spider-Man’s cinematic history in ways unthinkable even a few years ago. Peter Parker’s attempt to erase the consequences from the previous film’s ending leads to inter-dimensional damage and familiar villains from earlier Spider-Man film series showing up. What could easily be a gimmick instead takes care with the characters, in many cases better than their original films did, while also giving Tom Holland the most compelling drama to work with as his Spider-Man so far. ✪
The 60th animated feature from what is now Walt Disney Animation Studios is as visually dazzling as can be expected from their computer animation while lacking enchantment in other aspects. In what’s a very slight story with lots of characters but few surprises, the Madrigal family live in a magical house in Colombia and are themselves gifted with delightful magic powers. Well, apart from main character Mirabel, whose struggles to fit in threaten to tear the whole house down. There’s lots of very hectic songs filled with character exposition. None of them are bad, they’re pretty diverting along with the equally busy, colourful visuals, but they don’t feel integral as all the setup fails to come together in a meaningful way besides a vague notion of family understanding and unity. ✪
The brief recognition of seeing Keanu Reeves in his most iconic role again is the best thing about this terrible return to The Matrix, nearly two decades after the original films. Like Disney’s trilogy of Star Wars sequels before it, Resurrections rehashes a lot of the classic Matrix’s plot, worldbuilding and action, only much worse, while all of its newer ideas only denigrate the original by association. Morpheus and Agent Smith are back, just without their iconic actors (Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving), leaving a hollowness far more profound than anything in this sequel. It’s both lazy and convinced of how smart it is, including all its grating “meta” references to disappointing reboots and sequels that make the whole thing feel like it’s expensively trolling its audience. ✪
Star Rating: 4/5
ENCANTO
You can follow Jordan on Twitter (@JordanReview) and read his blog at www.reviewsreflections.wordpress.com For the latest local news visit www.mkpulse.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | February 2022
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