Period Piece – Matthew Liedke on Film

REVIEW: Aside from Jackman, final tale of ‘Robin Hood’ is mostly mixed

This is far from the first big screen showing of Robin Hood, and it certainly won’t be the last. However, there’s no doubt this one stands apart in its subject matter.

Directed by Michael Sarnoski, Hugh Jackman stars in this film as the legendary outlaw, now in his later years. The film picks up with him living a directionless life, no longer interested in prior adventures, and under threat from old enemies. However, he takes up a new task to help protect the family of Little John (Bill Skarsgard), but is gravely injured in the process.

Badly hurt, Robin Hood finds himself waking up in a monastery where he’s nursed back to health by a nun, Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer). He begins to recover and even finds some peace, but the past still rears its head often.

REVIEW: While not genre defining, ‘Pressure’ nicely dramatizes D-Day

We’ve seen the major D-Day invasion and its aftermath portrayed in cinema plenty of times. I guess it only makes sense to get a look at how the planning went before the English Channel was crossed.

Rather than determining what type of force is needed to storm the beaches of Normandy, though, “Pressure” centers on the meteorological efforts needed to know when to launch. The picture is largely from the vantage point of James Stagg (Andrew Scott), a meteorologist who was summoned by General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) to help the process.

However, Eisenhower’s decision was based on a recommendation from Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and he already has a weather expert who he’s relied on before. That expert, Irving Krick (Chris Messina), forecasts calm weather, contrasting Stagg’s outlook of a storm. As D-Day gets closer, their disagreement puts the invasion at risk.

REVIEW: Strong acting in ‘Hedda’ overshadowed by lack of substance

Oh, it’s the aristocracy being completely off the walls on screen again.

“Hedda” is the latest film adaptation of the 1891 stage play “Hedda Gabler.”In this version, the picture is set in England during the 1950s and centers on the character Hedda Gabler Tesman. Portrayed by Tessa Thompson, Hedda is in a strained marriage to her husband, George, who’s hosting an event to secure a university position.

That party, though, is crashed by an author named Eileen (Nina Hoss), a woman who’s also vying for the university job and also had a relationship with Hedda in the past. What follows is a night of scheming, betrayals and even bloodshed.

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REVIEW: ‘Nouvelle Vague’ is an enjoyable look back at French New Wave

Well, this was a fun little trip down memory lane in film classes.

“Nouvelle Vague” is a movie all about the making of the 1960 classic film “Breathless.” That 60s picture is a staple of cinema history, notable for its revolutionary methods incorporated in its shooting. Guillaume Marbeck stars as the director of “Breathless,” Jean-Luc Godard, who pushes boundaries with his unorthodox approach.

Joining in the production as the two leads of his film are Jean Seberg (Zoey Deutch) and Jean-Paul Belmondo (Aubry Dullin). Both performers express frustrations with Godard’s take on directing, as do members of the crew, but they stay committed to make the picture become a reality.

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REVIEW: Seyfried shines in Ann Lee’s mixed ‘Testament’

Amanda Seyfried is continuing to show she’s one of the best actresses working today with this flick, though one wishes the film around her was stronger.

“The Testament of Ann Lee” centers on its titular character, who founded the religious movement that became known as the Shakers. Ann’s story began in England during the 18^th century, where, after several miscarriages and stillbirths, she leaned heavy into faith.

This led to her receiving a vision, which resulted in her taking over a religious group that prayed through continuous movements and shakes. Additionally, knowing what happened with her pregnancies, she makes a decree barring intimacy, seeing it as the ultimate sin.

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REVIEW: ‘Hamnet’ boasts great performances but pacing is off

The life of William Shakespeare is once again explored in this film, but in this movie, the focus is on the playwright’s wife.

Agnes Shakespeare, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, is introduced as a young woman in “Hamnet” when she first meets William (Paul Mescal). Following a short courtship, the two conceive a child and choose to get married.

The movie then picks up with the couple having a family, including two daughters and their son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe). As the film goes on, William and Agnes lose Hamnet to the plague and are left in a state of grief. The situation is made even more stressful as William is away from the family in London to write.

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REVIEW: Visually stunning ‘Train Dreams’ fails to fully connect

“Train Dreams” is a film that, in theory, should be one a viewer can fully embrace. In practice, though, it’s another story.

Speaking of story, the one at play here revolves around Robert (Joel Edgerton). A laborer in Idaho, Robert finds himself getting work in the timber and railroad industries starting in the 1910s. It’s around this time he also meets Gladys (Felicity Jones), who he begins a relationship with and later marries.

The film follows his time at home, as he builds a life with Gladys and the two have a child. The audience also gets to see his days at work, where he meets others from across the country who’ve come to the forested terrain to earn a living.

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REVIEW: Latest ‘Nuremberg’ dramatization intrigues, but lacks focus

The decisive court cases to close World War II’s final chapter have once again been dramatized, but the latest isn’t quite as strong as previous pieces of media.

The latest WW2 period piece takes place during most of the Nuremberg Military Tribunals after Germany’s defeat, with a focus on one of two main mental health professionals present during the process. That individual is Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), a psychiatrist who spoke with the remnants of Third Reich who were imprisoned during the trial.

His most notable conversations were with Herman Goring (Russell Crowe), second in command to Adolf Hitler. As the film goes on, the discussions and analysis become more important as U.S. Justice Robert Jackson (Michael Shannon), the American lead prosecutor, prepares his case. Continue reading “REVIEW: Latest ‘Nuremberg’ dramatization intrigues, but lacks focus”

REVIEW: Strong emotional core, vampiric thrills power ‘Sinners’

What if “From Dusk Till Dawn” took place in the Great Depression?

That’s sort of what we have here in this new vampire thriller from writer and director Ryan Coogler. A period piece, “Sinners” is set in 1932 and takes place in the Mississippi Delta region. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, playing twin brothers Elijah and Elias Moore.

After making money as part of Al Capone’s Chicago mafia, they’ve returned to their roots to open a Juke Joint. The duo bring in family and friends to help run the venue and it turns out to be a success. In fact it’s such a success that it attracts a group of vampires.

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REVIEW: Angelina Jolie is at her absolute best in ‘Maria’

For the third time in a decade, director Pablo Larraín has helmed a biographical film about a complex woman, and like the other two, it’s one of the year’s best.

Larraín previously directed 2016’s “Jackie” about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and 2021’s “Spencer” which centered on Princess Diana. His latest is about the opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie), though it takes place mainly after her illustrious career.

The movie focuses on the last week of the singer’s life, and explores how she was reflective of a career that she lost. Over time, her voice began to fail her, which caused her to leave her profession, and later her health began declining as well. The film is about the culmination of this, with her still at times trying to sing, while looking at the past and dealing with health issues.

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