20TH CENTURY WOMEN REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

20th Century Women is the latest offering from director Mike Mills whose previous feature, Beginners, centered round a son and his father, who had recently come out as gay. It received critical acclaim and veteran actor, Christopher Plummer, his first Academy Award for his supporting performance. The story was based on Mills' personal life as his father revealed his homosexuality despite being married to his mother for 44 years. 20th Century Women is similar to Beginners as they're both a combination of drama and comedy and are both based on Mills' personal life.

During the summer of 1979, a Santa Barbara single mom and boardinghouse landlord, Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening) decides the best way she can parent her teenage son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann), is to enlist her young tenants - a quirky punk photographer, Abbie Porter (Greta Gerwig), a mellow handyman, William (Billy Crudup) and her son's shrewd best friend, Julie Hamlin (Elle Fanning) - to serve as role models in a changing world.

Mills has admitted to taking inspiration from his mother and sister for the characters of Dorothea and Abbie stating: 'It felt like I was raised by my mom and sisters, so I was always appealing to women in the punk scene or women in my world. I always leaned to them to figure out my life as a straight white guy. So I wanted to make a movie about that'. It's a method that works as we know how much he cares about this film and how much it means to him. 

Annette Bening further proves why she's one of the most versatile actresses working today by giving another Oscar-worthy performance. Despite being nominated four times, she is yet to win. Unfortunately this year, she missed out on earning a nomination. It's arguably her best performance since 2010's The Kids Are All Right where she portrayed a gay mother of two. In 20th Century Women, we see how desperately she wants to be able to understand her son and wants to raise him properly but she doesn't know how. A lot of parents will be able to be empathetic towards her and her situation. This film gives her a too-rare opportunity to shine in a leading role and she succeeds.

In his breakthrough performance, Zumann gives a relatable portrayal of a boy who is coming-of-age. In this film, we see him smoke, drink and is taught how to seduce women at a bar. It's a performance he can be proud of and is sure to gain him recognition.

Being related to someone already well-known in Hollywood can be daunting and can lead to high expectations. For Elle Fanning, however, she has made a name for herself and I doubt many people will compare her to her older sister, Dakota. She gives a refreshing portrayal of Julie whose friendship with Jamie is purely platonic. With him being a virgin and her sleeping around, Julie gives Jamie advice on how to pleasure a woman. Fanning is one of the most talented actresses working today and, judging from her performance here, I can only predict success for her.

Greta Gerwig was previously seen in the Oscar-nominated film, Jackie, as Nancy Tukerman who was Jackie Kennedy's social secretary and confidante. That performance combined with her supporting role here as Abbie should definitely gain her more recognition. When the film begins, she is in the middle of treatment for cervical cancer. However, despite this illness, she makes the most of her life and takes various photos on her camera whilst listening to pop-punk music. She has a quirky personality and during a dining scene announces that she's menstruating and tries to get everyone sitting around the table to say it, much to Dorothea's disgust. 

Like Gerwig, Billy Crudup also made an appearance in Jackie as the journalist interviewing the famous First Lady. Because Mills' film focuses on the women in Jamie's life, we don't see much of his character, William, however, he gives another solid performance. 

There is no plot to speak of as 20th Century Women is a character study and, over the course of the 118 minute runtime, we see Jamie learn new things and have his first experiences, including his first smoke where Julie teaches him how to walk like a cool guy with a cigarette in his hand. Abbie takes him out and shows him how to seduce women in a bar. Near the beginning of the film, Julie asks Dorothea 'Don't you need a man to raise a man?' and the film answers that and states that no, a man doesn't need to be raised by another man. Women can raise a boy to become a man. At time of writing this, Mills is nominated for an Academy Award for 'Best Writing, Original Screenplay' and one can only hope that he will win. He has written a script that is heartbreaking and, at times, funny.

This film will definitely appeal to those who grew up in the 1970's and they'll, no doubt, have that feeling of nostalgia. For me being born in the late 1990's. I love watching films set in the past as it gives me an idea of what that era was like. The fashion, music and setting all feel like the 1970s. In one scene, the characters all watch former President Jimmy Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech.

20th Century Women is one of those rare dramas that is enjoyable to watch. The combination of drama and comedy works really well and it marks another assured step forward for Mills. This film is worth watching for the performances alone, especially Bening's. 

7/10

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS REVIEW

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I can't believe that this is fashion-designer Tom Ford's second feature film. Nocturnal Animals is a very intense and dark thriller. At first, you'd think that a professional and highly-accomplished director like David Fincher would've directed this film. Based on Austin Wright's 1993 novel, 'Tony And Susan' and features a star-studded cast including Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Isla Fisher. 

A "story inside a story," in which the first part follows a woman named Susan (Adams) who receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward (Gyllenhaal), a man whom she left 20 years earlier, asking for her opinion. The second element follows the actual manuscript, called "Nocturnal Animals," which revolves around a man, Tony (also Gyllenhaal), whose family vacation turns violent and deadly. It also continues to follow the story of Susan, who finds herself recalling her first marriage and confronting some dark truths about herself.

Nocturnal Animals' opening credits are sure to grab the viewer's attention as it consists of various naked obese women dancing. During the three minutes of the opening credits, we are wondering what the point of this is. However, we soon discover that this is all a part of Susan's art gallery. Ford's method impressively works as our attention is now on the film and will keep it until the end credits. We soon learn that Susan's marriage to Hutton Morrow (Armie Hammer) is on the rocks. She believes that he's having an affair and the two lack chemistry. Despite having a well-paid job, a good-looking husband and a huge house, Susan isn't happy. After receiving a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward, titled 'Nocturnal Animals' Susan becomes consumed by the novel, which is both dedicated to her and named Nocturnal Animals after Edward's nickname for her.

The film cuts between scenes from the book to Susan's reaction and her marriage to Edward. Throughout the film, we are left wondering what happened between Susan and Edward that lead to the end of their relationship? The first scene from the book is extremely tense as it consists of Tony, his wife (Fisher) and their daughter (Ellie Bamber) who, on a road trip through West Texas, run afoul of three troublemakers lead by Ray (Taylor-Johnson). It's a truly horrifying sequence that makes us wonder if this event really happened and was the reason their marriage ended. This scene proves that Nocturnal Animals is not for the faint hearted and it's during the scenes from the books that it's where it is at its most gripping. 

The scenes that show Susan's reaction to the book are effective. Her emotions and body language all show she's affected by what's happening in the book. In the beginning of the film, Susan's make-up and costume all make her character look sophisticated, however, we all see her true self underneath the many layers of make-up and without her fancy clothes.

Susan's flashbacks that show her relationship with Edward show how much the two loved each other and the two married despite her mother's (Laura Linney) disapproval. Both Adams and Gyllenhaal share a lot of chemistry in these scenes.

Nocturnal Animals is the kind of film that you'd expect to be nominated for several Academy Awards. Unfortunately, it's only been nominated for one and that's for Shannon's supporting role as the sheriff who helps Tony. It's a shame because Nocturnal Animals was overlooked this year as it could've been nominated for more. It's hard to believe that Adams wasn't nominated for either of her performances here or in Arrival. She's one of the most versatile actresses working today and always commits fully in her every one of her roles. The same goes for Gyllenhaal too who plays two different characters in this film, the fictional Tony, who struggles after his encounter with the three thugs, and Edward, who we only see in flashbacks when he was married to Susan. Taylor-Johnson is almost unrecognisable as the evil Ray. I'm surprised Ford wasn't nominated for his directing as he really knew how to get the best out of his actors and how to create a thriller that succeeds in creating a tense and dark atmosphere and provoking questions in viewers. Because it was one of my favourite films of 2016, I was disappointed when Nocturnal Animals missed out on a nomination for Best Motion Picture. It has almost everything to make it worthy of a nomination including outstanding performances, passionate directing and a narrative that keeps viewers engaged until the end credits. 

Overall, featuring a star-studded cast who each give some of their best performances, Nocturnal Animals further shows writer/director Tom Ford's unique visual and narrative skill.

8/10

ZOOTROPOLIS REVIEW

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Zootropolis was the first animated feature film to be released by Disney in early 2016. Because it was set in a anthropomorphic universe, I didn't think it would be any good and would only entertain younger children. I've seen many animated films where animals are the main characters and they weren't that great. Fortunately, Zootropolis exceeded my expectations. It's one of those rare animated features that is suitable for the whole family.

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootropolis is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it's a melting pot where animals from every environment live together - a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn't so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. 

The two main characters are Hopps and Wilde and they soon form an unlikely friendship. Hopps is admirable because, when she is assigned to meter maid duty on her first day at the police force, she makes the most of it and writes out more than the required 100 parking tickets. She has an optimistic outlook on life and is a protagonist all viewers can easily like. Wilde is a con-artist and brings most of the humour. Despite his attempts to outwit Hopps, she proves to be smarter than him and he has no choice but to help her in a mystery regarding the disappearance of an otter. The two bring out the best in each other and is an unlikely friendship that works. 

Apart from Goodwin and Bateman, who both do solid voice-work, another notable name includes Idris Elba who voices tough African buffalo, Chief Bogo, and, arguably, has one of the best lines in the film ("Life isn't some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and your insipid dreams magically come true so let it go"). Elba's deep voice is perfect for this role. This was the first of three other Disney films he featured in, the others being The Jungle Book where he voiced the evil tiger, Shere Khan, and Finding Dory where his voice made an appearance as a sea-lion. Jenny Slate voices Dawn Bellwether, a diminutive sheep who is the assistant mayor of Zootropolis. Like Elba, Slate has made other appearances in other animated films including The Secret Life Of Pets as a white Pomeranian and, most recently, as Harley Quinn in The Lego Batman Movie. Overall, the voice performances in Zootropolis are strong. Colombian singer Shakira makes an appearance as Gazelle who is a famous pop singer and, throughout the film, her song, 'Try Everything' is heard. It's a catchy tune with an optimistic message about not giving up.

Many animated films have a predictable plot but Zootropolis has enough twists and turns to make its story original. At the center of the narrative is a mystery, however, this story wasn't created with crime/detective fans in mind. It's more of a mismatched buddy film with both Hopps and Wilde learning about each other's stengths and weaknesses over the course of the film. This leads to the two of them making an ubreakable friendship. This is proven in the film's climax where we discover who really is behind the disappearance of the otter. It's a twist I honestly didn't see coming and it's what I loved most about this film's story. 

Zootropolis succeeds in sending out a message about diversity and how important it is not to judge others. This is carefully camouflaged by showing various animals of different species getting along. This film couldn't come at a more better time. Unfortunately, racism is still a major issue in today's society with many people still making negative comments towards others because of their background. Zootropolis shows us how important it is for us to end the discrimination and judgement towards others and this is why it's a film that everyone should watch.

What I also loved about Zootropolis is that it's modern enough so it's suitable for the younger generation to enjoy. Phones are used and there's even a running gag that includes a Gazelle app where characters can appear in her music video. 

Of course, with almost every Disney animated feature, the comedy is what makes it highly entertaining. The humour mainly comes from Wilde and his many one liners but one of the funniest scenes occurs at the DMV which is run by sloths who are incredibly slow, much to Hopps' dismay.  There's even a hilarious spoof of the classic film, The Godfather, where we meet a mobster known as Mr. Big (Maurice LaMarche). 

The animation is of high quality. The titled city itself is visually stunning and it's very impressive. It's no surprise that, at the time of writing this, it's been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 89th Academy Awards. Because of the message it sends out, the highly-entertaining comedy and the solid voice work, I wouldn't be surprise to see it win. 

8/10

MOONLIGHT REVIEW

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We're only two months into 2017 but I can definitely say that Moonlight is, without question, one of the most powerful dramas we've had this year and I doubt any other film will come close to matching the emotions that it leaves you with. It's a breathtaking coming-of-age story with a unique vision that transcends the clichés normally seen in dramas. 

What makes Moonlight unique is that its main character is a black man who is also a homosexual. It's strange to think that it's rare, in most Hollywood films seen today, for a main character to be both a person of colour and gay. Moonlight is quietly devastating in its depiction of masculinity, race, poverty and identity. The main character is Chiron who is portrayed by three different actors, Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes, at the most important stages of his life. Moonlight begins with Chiron as a child (Hibbert) where he meets and bonds with Juan (Mahershala Ali), a drug-dealer who teaches him how to swim whilst also giving him life lessons. The second part focuses on Chiron as a teenager (Sanders) who struggles with bullying and becomes closer to his friend, Kevin (Jharrel Jerome) and has his first sexual experience. The film then ends with Chiron as an adult (Rhodes) where he learns to forgive and reunites with a loved one.

The entire cast, even the extras, are people of colour and it's really refreshing to see. Each of the three leading actors give their own unique portrayal of Chiron. Director Barry Jenkins made sure that the actors never met during filming as he wanted them to build their own persona of the character during their respective segments without any influence from the other portrayals. It's a method that works and each actor gives their best performance. For me, the stand out is Hibbert who portrays Chiron as a young child. His closed body language and lack of eye contact with others shows us that he feels deeply uncomfortable and we feel for him. He doesn't have much dialogue but when he does speak, it's heartbreaking, especially when he asks Juan what a faggot is. Speaking of Juan, Ali gives a strong performance as Chiron's mentor. Despite only having a limited screentime, Ali makes the most of it and makes us admire his character by caring for Chiron. Because of his strong supporting performance, he is currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Chiron's mother is brilliantly portrayed by Naomi Harris. We see how much the drugs are affecting, not only her life, but her son's as well. She's the only character to appear in all three parts of the film. We see her relationship with her son fall apart and, in the final story, we see her wanting her son's forgiveness. In this role, Harris further proves her capability as an actress and successfully earned herself an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Another important character is Kevin who, like Chiron, is portrayed by three different actors, Jaden Piner, Jharrel Jerome and André Holland, to showcase his life development. His relationship with Chiron is Moonlight's main focus and we see the two become closer. Overall, the entire cast shine and each give their most impressive performances yet.

Moonlight is a deeply, personal motion picture that succeeds mainly because of Jenkins. He knows exactly how to make us connect with the central character and uses close-ups so we can see Chiron's true emotions. In some of the films' darkest moments, he uses Nicholas Britell's poweful score to make the scene even more intense. His work hasn't gone unnoticed and is currently nominated for Best Achievement in Directing at this year's Academy Awards. It's a film that Jenkins can be proud of.

Moonlight has received vast amounts of praise since its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2016, including critical acclaim and numerous awards and nominations. At this year's Golden Globes, it won the award for Best Motion Picture - Drama. I'm not surprised that Moonlight has an overwhelmingly positive reception. It's one of those rare films that'll change your outlook on life after watching. It showcases one man's life in a non-judgemental way and tells a mature story that is rich in character development. It's hard to imagine Moonlight walking away empty handed at this year's Oscars. 

A lot of people, who are homosexual, struggle to accept their feelings, however, Moonlight proves that there's no reason to go against your honest emotions and shows that accepting your true self leads to contentment. It's revolutionary and Moonlight will surely go down as one of the best films made about being a homosexual.

Members of the audience don't have to be a person of colour, male or a homosexual to feel empathetic towards the main character's situation. I'm sure that Chrion's experiences in life will resonate with anyone watching and will, most likely, have an emotional impact, especially in Moonlight's climax. 

Overall, Barry Jenkins has crafted a moving motion picture that features a timeless story of human connection and self-discovery, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. 

9/10

LION REVIEW

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For a child, their worst fear is being separated from their family. The feeling of being lost in a strange world can be scary for anyone but even more so when you're a child and don't know what to do. Garth Davis' latest feature is a powerful and moving drama that effectively captures that feeling of isolation. 

Five-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of Kilometers across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Now, as an adult (Dev Patel), armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

In order to make a moving drama, we have to develop a connection to the central character. In Lion, we immediately are drawn in to Saroo's life. In his first feature film, Pawar is captivating as the young Saroo. He faces one of our worst fears and struggles immensely as we see him sleeping on the streets of India and running away to avoid being kidnapped by terrifying adults. The first half is exceptionally well-done and Davis succeeds in making us feel sorry for Saroo. Fortunately, he is soon adopted by an Australian couple, Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John (David Wenham) Brierley. Because of the combined performance of Kidman and Wenham, it's not hard to believe that Saroo now has a safe home with loving parents. Of the two, Kidman stands out and proves why she's one of the most versatile actresses working today. 

The majority of Lion takes place twenty years later and we see that Saroo has settled into his new life and has started a course in hotel management. However, he soon starts having flashbacks to his old life which leads to him becoming determined to find his home and be reunited with his true mother. The reason why the second half of Lion works just as well as its first half is because of Patel's performance and proves that he's come a long way since making his breakthrough performance in the 2008 multi-Oscar winning film, Slumdog Millionaire. In order to portray Saroo, Patel had to develop a new physique and spent several hours in the gym and also developed an Australian accent (with Tasmanian dialect). He even visited Saroo's orphanage in India and wrote a diary whilst on the train ride that Saroo accidentally took as a child. He spent a total of eight months preparing for this role and, fortunately, all that hard work has paid off and he has been nominated by the Academy for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. 

It's hard for a story like this not to succumb to the typical cliches seen in film but, nevertheless, Davis manages to overcome that obstacle and make Lion a powerful drama. Because I hadn't first heard of this story before the films release, I had no idea how Lion was going to end. When Saroo returns to his home, it's intense as I had no idea if his mother was still alive. Even if you do know how its going to end, the climax is deeply profound. I doubt there'll be any dry eyes during this end scene. During the credits, Davis includes photos of the real-life Saroo as a child and includes footage of him returning to India with his adoptive mother whilst Sia's song 'Never Give Up' plays. Her song is perfect for this ending as it rings true of the central character who never gave up searching for his true home.

Lion is a must-see drama featuring a moving debut performance from young Sunny Pawar. The entire film is worth watching just for him. After watching eight-year-old Jacob Tremblay in last year's Oscar-winning film, Room, I had no idea if his performance could be topped. However, it's safe to say that Pawar gives a performance that is just as powerful as Tremblay's acting. Davis has succeeded in creating a motion picture that is, at times, emotional but no less uplifting. Both Kidman and Patel give some of their best performances yet. Overall, Lion's undeniably moving story and talented cast make it a journey that transcends the typical cliches of its genre.

8/10

HIDDEN FIGURES REVIEW

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​John Glenn's (Glen Powell) journey into space turned into a historical event for America as he became the first man to orbit the Earth. It's a famous event we all know and have heard about in history books and in the news but what about the people behind the scenes who worked out his launch and landing? Hidden Figures tells the true inspirational story of the three African-American women who successfully calculated Glenn's flight trajectories. 

As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Based on the unbelievably true life stories of three of these women, known as "human computers", we follow these women as they quickly rose the ranks of NASA alongside many of history's greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) and Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes.

Hidden Figures is one of those rare dramas that has a feel-good atmosphere surrounding it. Throughout the film, we see all three women overcoming major issues including racism and sexism which is what makes them admirable. Spencer, Monáe and Henson all give outstanding performances. Spencer portrays Vaughan as a strong-minded individual and went on to become the first black female supervisor of the Programming Department. It's a successful performance that earned her a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance. In her second feature film (the first being Moonlight), Monáe gives a solid performance as Jackson. Despite judgement, Jackson attended night classes in order to become the first black female engineer. Of all the three performances, it's Henson's portrayal of Johnson that stands out the most. It's because of her and her quick-thinking that Glenn had a safe landing back on Earth. It's unfortunate that Henson was overlooked for an Academy Award nomination as she gave the best performance of the three. Hidden Figures also features a strong supporting cast including: Kevin Costner as Al Harrison, the director of the Space Task Group; Jim Parsons as Paul Stafford, the head engineer in STG, Kirsten Dunst as Vivian Mitchell, the supervisor and Mahershala Ali as Jim Johnson, a military officer and Katherine's future husband. The strong performances combined is the main reason why Hidden Figures succeeds.

Director Theodore Melfi wanted to create an inspirational and powerful drama and he has achieved that. He has also succeeded in creating an entertaining motion picture that is suitable for the whole family and is the kind of film that should be shown in history classes. Young viewers will learn a lot from this story as it tells its audiences that anyone can be successful no matter their gender or the colour of their skin. Throughout the film, we see Vaughan, Jackson and Johnson overcoming many obstacles including the segregrated bathroom which is located in another building. This leads to Johnson making various exhausting trips and making a powerful speech that motivates Harrison to abolishing the coloured bathroom. This scene proves that Johnson isn't afraid to stand up for what's right which makes her all the more admirable.

A lot of dramas that are set during the civil rights tend to be dark and intense. However, Melfi's upbeat tone works for Hidden Figures. There are no emotionally moving moments that'll bring a tear to one's eye but there are plenty of heartwarming scenes which make it enjoyable to watch. It's suitable for anyone to watch, regardless of their gender and skin colour. The whole film works as a metaphor for anyone wanting to achieve their goals but feel like they can't due to their background. Hidden Figures proves that anyone can be successful as long as they remain strong and work hard.

Hidden Figures is one of the best films we've had this year and it's only February. It's worthy of its Academy Award nomination for Best Motion Picture as it features strong leading performances from all three of the actresses involved and is a joy to watch. It celebrates the lives of three women who overcame major obstacles to successfully achieve their goals and is a must-see for anyone and everyone.

8/10

JACKIE REVIEW

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Starring Natalie Portman as one of the United States of America's most iconic First Ladies, Jackie is a deeply moving biopic that surrounds her life after the assassination of her husband, the 36th President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Her story is told through an interview with a journalist (Billy Crudup), however, she's strict about certain things being published. If anyone has ever pondered about Jacqueline Kennedy's life and how she got through the days after her husband's death, Jackie is a must-watch.
A searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband's assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband's legacy and the world of 'Camelot' that they created and loved so well.
This is the first English-speaking feature film for Chilean director Pablo Larraín and choosing to create a film based on the life of Mrs John F. Kennedy must be a daunting task. Nevertheless, Larraín
has succeeded in creating an engaging motion picture that captures the audience's attention the whole way through. He captures Jackie's vulnerability by showing scenes of her crying alone in the shower which makes us feel sympathy for her. However, whenever she's surrounded by others, she manages to put on a brave face as she knows she's being watched. This is what makes her admirable.
Portman gives her best performance since winning her first Academy Award for Best Actress in Black Swan in 2011. At time of writing this, she was nominated for a Golden Globe and I wouldn't be surprised to see her nominated for her third Oscar. She successfully manages to recreate the Jackie we all know and have seen in pictures: the smiling Jackie in her stylish and memorable pieces of clothing and the grieving widow. If it wasn't for Portman's shining performance, Jackie wouldn't work. Fortunately, she gives a strong performance throughout which is the main reason this film is a success. Another performance worth mentioning is Peter Sarsgaad as Robert 'Bobby' Kennedy, who, after his brother's death, developed a close relationship with Jackie. Sarsgaad performs as Bobby with honest emotion. We also see Jackie's relationship with Nancy Tukerman (Greta Gerwig), who was the Social Secretary. Despite the support network around her, Jackie still felt alone, especially without her husband.
Many biopics feel like a Wikipedia article brought to the big screen but Jackie is more similar to that of a documentary. We, as an audience, don't feel like we're being told something. We learn of certain events through dialogue and recreation. We see the actual assassination through flashbacks and, for many, may be a difficult scene to watch. However, it's no less powerful. November 22 1963 was a dark day for, not only the people of America but for millions of citizens across the globe. It was a life changing event that should never be forgotten. Fortunately, with films like this, it won't be and President John F. Kennedy and his wife will always be remembered.
Undoubtedly, the scenes that show Jackie post-assassination are the most engaging as it show us how difficult her life was. We also watch as she's interviewed by the journalist who is never given a name but is said to be based on Theodore H. White who wrote for LIFE magazine and conducted a real-life interview with Jackie. Understandably, Jackie is a private person and will only let him publish certain things in his article. She gives a powerful speech about the assassination itself but immediately refuses to let the journalist publish what she just said. It makes us wonder what Jackie was really like. Many will remember her for being the husband of the 36th President, however, this films shows us she was more than that. She was a woman who was thrust into the spotlight and had her life change.
Jackie offers an alluring peek into a beloved American public figure's private world. Natalie Portman shines in the leading role and makes this biopic a worthy watch. Pablo Larraín succeeds in creating a visually stunning and emotionally raw motion picture.
8/10

LA LA LAND REVIEW

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If I could sum up director Damien Chazelle's latest film, La La Land, in one word, it would be 'wow'. 

Chazelle's previous film, Whiplash, was released in 2014 and was nominated for a total of five Academy Awards including 'Best Motion Picture' and 'Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay'. J.K. Simmons was the winner of the 'Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role'. Safe to say, after Whiplash's success, there were high expectations for his next film which is a original musical that he first wrote in 2010 during a period in his life when the movie industry seemed out of reach for him. Unfortunately, creating a musical into a feature film was easier said than done so Chazelle focused on Whiplash. After Whiplash's success, he became 100% committed to creating his first musical. With Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as the two leads, is La La Land just as successful as Whiplash?

La La Land tells the story of Mia (Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, struggling to make ends meet while pursuing their dreams in a city known for destroying hopes and breaking hearts. With modern day Los Angeles as the backdrop, this musical about everyday life explores what is more important: a once-in-a-lifetime love or the spotlight.

In answer to my earlier question, yes, La La Land is just as successful as Whiplash, maybe even more, in terms of storytelling, acting and creating an engaging motion picture. In its 128 runtime, La La Land never fails to be anything other than fresh, fun and a true cinematic masterpiece. 

In my 19 years, I've only seen a few musicals in cinemas including Hairspray in 2007, Mamma Mia! in 2008, Les Miserables in 2012 and Into The Woods in 2015. Three of those films are based on either West End or Broadway musicals and are strong adaptations. However, despite being very good films, I have to say that La La Land is the best musical I've ever watched on the big screen.

Of course, to create a successful musical, you need songs that'll audiences will be singing as they leave the theatre. The majority of songs are written by Pasek and Paul (real names Benj Pasek and Justin Paul) and, fortunately, the two have succeeded in writing songs that are perfect for Chazelle's musical. The opening song, Another Day Of Sun, is sung by a group of people who, after being stuck in a traffic jam, all leave their cars and dance. This is one of the best opening sequences I've seen in any movie as the camera doesn't cut and flourishes between the dancers. It's an optimistic song about unfulfilled dreams and a great way to open the film. The two other stand out songs are City Of Stars which is sung by Gosling and Audition (The Fools Who Dream) which is sung by Stone. Both are moving songs sung with honest emotion by the two leads. 

Speaking of which, the two leads are one of the best things about this film other than the songs. The film focused on Mia and Sebastian who, after meeting in the winter and then again in the spring, develop feelings for each other. Chazelle originally thought of Miles Teller (who was the lead in Whiplash) and Emma Watson for the roles, unfortunately, Watson couldn't commit due to scheduling issues she had with the live-action adaptation of Beauty And The Beast and Teller was dropped in favour of Gosling. Stone was later cast and Chazelle stated that the two were the closest thing 'that we have right now to an old Hollywood couple'. Coincidentally, this is the third film Gosling and Stone have worked together after appearing as love interests in the 2011 romantic comedy, Crazy, Stupid, Love and in the 2013 thriller, Gangster Squad. After watching Crazy, Stupid, Love, I knew that both Stone and Gosling were the perfect choice for Mia and Sebastian. Stone has come a long way since appearing in her 2010 breakthrough comedy, Easy A, which got Emma her first Golden Globe nomination. She was nominated for her first Academy Award for her role as Sam in Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) in 2015. This role further proves why she's one of the most talented actresses working today. Gosling has also come a long way since appearing in romantic drama, The Notebook, in 2004 and has been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in Half Nelson in 2007. Because Sebastian is a jazz pianist, Gosling practiced playing the piano and the end result is really impressive.

At time of writing this, La La Land has won seven awards at the Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical, two Best Performances awards for both Gosling and Stone and Best Director for Chazelle. Because of its seven wins, La La Land broke the record for most Golden Globes nominated for one film. It's an incredible achievement and another reason why this film is worth watching.

This is one of those films that, not only gives its viewer an optimistic outlook, but inspires them to follow their dream. John Legend makes an appearance in the film as Sebastian's friend, Keith, and his piece of dialogue where he speaks to Sebastian about being a revolutionary will provoke thoughts in many viewer's minds.

Overall, with Damien Chazelle's thrillingly assured direction and powerful performances from both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, La La Land is an unmissable cinematic masterpiece that'll leave you feeling uplifted and wanting to follow your dreams.

9/10

MOANA REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

So far, Disney have managed to produce over hundreds of entertaining features, both live-action and animated, that are suitable for the whole family. Moana, Disney's latest animated offering, is no different and provides over 100 minutes of solid storytelling, the best animation I've seen this year and two likable lead characters.

Moana Waialiki (voice of Auli'i Cravalho) is a sea voyaging enthusiast and the only daughter of a chief in a long line of navigators. When her island's fisherman can't catch any fish and the crops fail, she learns that the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) caused the blight by stealing the heart of the goddess Te Fiti. The only way to heal the island is to persuade Maui to return Te Fiti's heart, so Moana sets off on an epic journey across the Pacific. The film is based on stories from Polynesian mythology.

Moana takes place in Polynesia which is a part of Oceania, a region that consists of numerous islands dispersed throughout the Pacific Ocean. This isn't the first Disney animated film to feature a Polynesian theme. Lilo & Stitch also took place in modern day Hawaii, however, Moana is the production company's first Polynesian princess, growing up in the fictional island of Motunui. She is also a clear example of the lead animated characters becoming more diverse. For a long time, Disney were known for creating princesses whose only concern were marrying a prince. Fortunately, those times have changed and there is no love interest for the lead protagonist. Maui behaves like her older brother most of the time. This was one of my favourite things about this animated feature. 

Despite being only 16, Cravalho is the perfect voice for the title character. She is also the youngest actress to voice a lead female character in a Disney animated feature as most of them are voiced by adults which isn't a bad thing but, considering Moana is a teenager, it seemed right that she'd only be voiced by one. Johnson is also a great choice for Maui as, like the character, he is known for being strong and having large muscles. His character was also inspired by several legends. As shown in the trailer, Maui is capable of numerous and miraculous feats. The demigod used his magical fishhook to slow down the sun and create longer days. Not only that, but he pulled islands out of the sea whilst fishing. According to legend, this explains the origin of New Zealand. In addition to those myths, the filmmakers also drew inspiration from several other legends whilst creating their version of Maui. 

Like I mentioned earlier, this is the best animation I've seen this year. The islands themselves are breathtaking and look like the land of paradise with its gorgeous landscapes. This is where the animation is at its best. I wouldn't be surprised if Moana was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards early next year. 

If Moana could be nominated for an Academy Award other than Best Animated Feature, I think it could be for Best Original Song. The songs that feature in Disney's animated films are always an important element. I doubt anyone has forgotten Let It Go from Disney's 2013 feature, Frozen. Fortunately, the songs don't disappoint. With the majority of them co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is best known for writing the songs in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, they all prove to be enjoyable songs, especially Maui's song You're Welcome and Moana's motivating How Far I'll Go.

This also may come as a surprise to a lot of people but Moana is Disney's second original princess, the first being Merida from Disney/Pixar's animated feature, Brave. In addition to being the first Polynesian princess, Moana will stand out as the second princess not to be based on an existing fairy tale or fable. Like Merida, Moana will also be a young warrior who sets out on a journey of self-discovery. This makes her an important role model for young girls watching this film. I grew up watching the likes of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty which lead me to believe I need a prince or a boyfriend. I now know that couldn't be further from the truth and, hopefully, the new generation of young girls will grow up believing they can be whatever they want to be, prince or no prince.

Overall, with its title character being as three-dimensional as its beautiful animation, Moana is truly a family-friendly adventure for the ages.

8/10

PASSENGERS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

​Passengers was my highly anticipated film this year. It features my favourite actress, Jennifer Lawrence, as one of the lead characters and is a combination of some of my favourite genres all in one film including sci-fi, drama, thriller and romance. Safe to say, I had high hopes for this film.

Before watching Passengers, I discovered Jon Spaihts' original script. After reading it, I can understand why it was on the blacklist which is a list of the most liked scripts. Spaihts succeeds in creating two likeable characters and a compelling space adventure that is full of tension with a sprinkle of romance and humour. I pictured both Lawrence and Chris Pratt in the two lead roles and knew that director Morten Tyldum made the right choice in casting them as their characters. Speaking of Tyldum, he manages to bring Spaihts' script to life and turn it into a really entertaining film. Of course, there are a few flaws but what film doesn't have flaws?

Lawrence and Pratt star in an exciting sci fi-thriller about two passengers, Jim Preston (Pratt) and Aurora Lane (Lawrence) who are on a 120-year journey, aboard a spaceship called the Avalon, to another planet, Homestead II, when their hibernation pods wake them 90 years too early. Jim Preston and Aurora are forced to unravel the mystery behind the malfunction as the ship teeters on the brink of collapse, with the lives of thousands of passengers in jeopardy.

The first 15-20 minutes of Passengers focuses on Jim, as he is the first to wake up early, and we see him battling loneliness and depression for a year. His only company is an android bartender, Arthur (Michael Sheen). This leads to Jim making a life changing decision. Many critics have been giving Passengers negative reviews and, to be honest, I can understand why. This is because of the choice that Jim makes and it may change the audience's opinion of him. While I don't condone his actions, I didn't hate him for what he did as I've never been a position like his where I'm entirely alone. Many people do crazy things when trapped in a depressing mindset. This is what makes Passengers so thought-provoking as I did wonder what I would do if I was trapped alone on a spaceship.

This where Aurora comes in and, because she and Jim are the only two passengers awake, a friendship develops which soon turns into a romance. This is where Passengers is at its most entertaining as there's clearly chemistry between the pair. In a montage, we see them get closer as they dance, watch films and go on a date together. Passengers is worth watching for their performances. In my opinion, I didn't really like Pratt's previous roles, including Owen in Jurassic World and Peter Quill in Guardians Of The Galaxy, as, to me, he came across as a bit irritating. However, I thought his performance as Jim was solid as, apart from the one action he makes, he's a generally likeable character who is prepared to do anything to save Aurora and the other passengers when the Avalon goes down. Lawrence is mesmerising as Aurora and, like most of her previous roles, portrays her as a strong individual. She's not afraid to stand up for herself and, like Jim, risks her life to save others. Another performance worth mentioning is Sheen as Arthur who is an android bartender and serves Jim and Aurora. He brings humour to his role as he doesn't always say the right thing but is fun to watch. Laurence Fishburne makes an short but memorable appearance as Gus Mancuso, the captain of the Avalon, in the film's climax.

Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the climax. When the Avalon begins to shut down, it's up to Jim and Aurora to try and fix the ship. It's thrilling, full of tension and, although I knew what was going to happen, I was still on the edge of my seat.

The setting and design of the Avalon is really impressive. When Jim is walking around the ship near the beginning of the film, I was in awe of how stunning it looked. In a way, it made me wish I was there just so I could explore the ship.

The visual effects are amazing. With a sci-fi film, the effects have look realistic and, fortunately, the computer generated imagery is some of the best I've seen. The scene where Jim and Aurora fly outside the Avalon is one of my favourites as it felt like I was out in space with them.

If I'm being honest, I think judging a film entirely on one character's decision isn't right. There's so much to enjoy about Passengers and I highly recommend giving it a watch and making your own opinion of this film. Like I mentioned earlier, this was my highly anticipated film and it didn't disappoint.

8/10

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

​In 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released. It was a dramatic and emotional conclusion to one of the biggest franchises. It was emotional because many fans thought this was the last we would ever see of the wizarding world. Fortunately, J.K. Rowling, who wrote the best selling books, has admitted to not being able to let go of her beloved world and the characters that exist within that world. Not only has she written a play set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows Part 2, she has also written her first screenplay, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. However, is it as good as the Harry Potter films?

The year is 1926 and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident...were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

This is one of the most anticipated films this year and, unlike other highly anticipated films, Fantastic Beasts not only met my expectations, it beat them. Making a motion picture that is as enjoyable as the Harry Potter films must have been incredibly stressful but both the cast and crew have succeeded. I can't imagine any Harry Potter fans being disappointed. David Yates, who directed the final four films in the Potter franchise, returns and I couldn't think of anyone else better than Yates at directing. He brings J.K. Rowling's imaginative world to life once again. The setting is completely different to anything we've seen before in the Potter films as it's in New York and is set in the late 1920s. Both the setting and costume design are perfect. It felt like I was transported to New York in 1926.

The performances all round are brilliant but the stand out is, of course, Redmayne as shy and awkward Newt. It's hard to believe that almost three years ago he gave an Oscar-winning portrayal as Professor Stephen Hawking in the 2014 drama, The Theory Of Everything. This role is further proof that Redmayne is one of the best actors of this generation. Other strong performances come from Katherine Waterston as the brave ex-Auror (dark wizard catcher), Tina Goldstein, who is willing to help Newt, Dan Fogler, who brings comic relief as Jacob, and Alison Sudol, who is perfectly flirtatious as Tina's sister, Queenie. Recognisable actors include Colin Farrell as Percival Graves who is a high ranking Auror but has a dark side to him. Ezra Miller gives a sympathetic performance as, Credence Barebone who is the mysterious son of the sinister leader of New Salem Philanthropic Society. Credence also plays an important part in the film's exciting climax. Overall, there's not a bad performance to be found.

The creature themselves really are fantastic and are probably the best parts of the film. One of the best scenes is where Newt and Jacob go inside his briefcase and we meet all his magical creatures. The special effects are stunning. The Niffler is probably the most popular creature as it spent the majority of its screen time running away from Newt and trying to steal shiny objects including various pieces of jewellery.

Rowling recently announced that Fantastic Beasts is going to have four more sequels in the future so fans of this film shouldn't worry about the end of the wizarding world any time soon.

While the film will undoubtedly please fans of Harry Potter, I think that people who haven't seen the films will enjoy this because it's entertaining throughout and may convince them to watch the aforementioned films.

Overall, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them draws on Harry Potter's rich mythology to deliver a spin-off that impresses with franchise-building magic all on its own.

8/10

ARRIVAL REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

A lot of alien invasion movies focus on two things and that's action and special effects. This then leads to the movie being predictable and boring. In June, the sequel to Roland Emmerich's 1996 action film, Independence Day, was released with the subtitle, Resurgence, and it is probably one of the worst sci-fi films I've watched. The first film was alright but nothing special and especially not worthy of a sequel. Fortunately, thanks to Arrival, the science fiction genre is safe. For anyone who watched Independence Day: Resurgence, Arrival will most definitely restore your faith in science fiction films. It has clever ideas, a well developed protagonist and features some of the best special effects I've ever seen in cinema. 

Arrival premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September, where the director, Denis Villeneuve won a Future Film Festival Digital Award. It was then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and the British Film Institute London Film Festival. Since then, it's gone on to receive widespread critical acclaim with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatos with 60 reviews with many saying it's a 'must-see in cinemas'. I couldn't agree more with what the critics are saying. I would say that this is the best science fiction film since last year's The Martian. Even if you're not a huge fan of science fiction, Arrival is, most likely, going to change your view. It succeeds in every aspect including the acting (especially Amy Adams' performance), the dialogue, the writing, the special effects, the cinematography and the score. 

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team, lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Adams), are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers--and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.
One of the things that I liked most about this film was its pacing. The film doesn't spend too long setting up the premise or introducing us to Louise. The opening scene shows her going through a personal tragedy which is important information especially in the films thrilling climax. The film then cuts to her current life as a linguist professor at a university and is in the middle of teaching when she hears the news of their 'arrival'. She then meets Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) who asks her if she is able to translate the sounds coming from the unidentified flying objects. Louise then explains she can only do that by going inside the spacecraft which then leads to a series of events that will change her life forever. 

Villeneuve previously directed Sicario, which was an action based thriller starring Emily Blunt. Like Arrival, it has gone on to receive critical acclaim and was nominated for three Academy Awards including: Best Achievement In Cinematography; Best Achievement In Music Written For Motion Picture, Original Score and Best Achievement In Sound Editing. I haven't seen Sicario but, after watching Arrival, I really want to now. I have watched Prisoners, which was also directed by Villeneuve and featured a lot of tense moments and had an emotional feel to it due to its subject. The film opens with Louise narrating and we clearly see she's been through a personal tragedy which leads to the audience connecting with her on an emotional level. I first discovered Adams in the Disney live-action/animation comedy, Enchanted, in 2007 and she has come a long way since then and has played a wide-range of characters including Amelia Earheart in the comedy sequel, Night At The Museum 2: Battle Of The Smithsonian and a seductive con artist in David O. Russell's American Hustle. I think it's about time that Adams is awarded with an Oscar as she is one of the best actors working today. Joining Adams is Jeremy Renner who portrays mathematician Ian Donnelly and has an optimistic outlook on the sitiuation, the opposite of Forest Whitaker's Colonel Weber who has doubts about Banks and her efforts in communicating with the aliens.

A lot of alien invasion movies focus on defeating the extra terrestrial beings without even trying to communicate with them. This is what I liked most about Arrival. Instead of destroying the unusual spacecraft, the military works on trying to communicate with them and trying to work out what their purpose is and, instead of referring to them as 'aliens', they are called 'heptapods' as they seem to have seven legs and pod like bodies. The scenes that feature Louise communicating with the heptapods are where the film is at its most compelling. It was refreshing watching someone actually try to talk with the aliens instead of trying to kill it or running away screaming.
A lot of climaxes that I've seen in films tend to feel too rushed and as the director is more concerned about wrapping things up quickly rather than explaining things so the audience gets what is going on. Arrival's climax is perfect as it has a clever twist that I didn't see coming. 

If Arrival is going win an Academy Award, my guess will probably be for Best Original Score which was composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson and is haunting which gives the film its tense and creepy atmosphere. I'm also hoping it will be nominated for Best Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Performance By an Actress in a Leading Role for Adams. 

Overall, Arrival is a must-see cinematic masterpiece for fans of thought-provoking science fiction. It anchors the heavy themes with affecting emotion and a outstanding performance from Amy Adams.

8/10

SUICIDE SQUAD REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Trailers can be very deceiving as they're used to make a film look good by showing the highlights and getting its audience hyped. However, this leads to people having high expectations and being disappointed when they watch the film. This might be the case with Suicide Squad.

In my opinion, Suicide Squad isn't a bad film. I think it's worth watching for the performances and the action/fight sequences. Yes, the plot is a little muddled but the main characters made this a compelling watch because of their unique and over-the-top personalities. 

A secret government agency, led by the ruthless, high-ranking official Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), recruits some of the most dangerous, incarcerated villains on the planet to execute dangerous black ops missions and save the world from a potentially apocalyptic threat from a mysterious, supernatural entity. If anything goes wrong on this mission, the government will not be liable but rather can place the blame on the villains, who are inherently evil people. A small bomb is implanted in each member of the squad's neck with the capability of detonating any time one of the members tries to rebel or escape. It will be up to this assembled team of villains to prevail over the seemingly impossible events that will unfold before them, in what many deem to be a "suicide mission".

This film links to the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. I think one of the reasons I found this a little confusing is because I didn't watch that film due to all of the negative reviews it got. I do regret this now as I think, by watching BvS, I would have probably understood the film better. This film, like BvS, received a lot of bad reviews which made me hesitant to watch it. Should I bother? But I saw the trailer several times at the cinema and I thought it looked really good. While Suicide Squad isn't as good as the trailer made it out to be, it's still worth a watch, especially if you enjoyed BvS and are a fan of the comic books.

If there's something to praise about this film, it's the performances. There's not a bad act to be found. Will Smith has portrayed a lot of likable characters in the past. He is great as Deadshot, who has two sides to him: the bad-ass assassin and the father. We see how much he cares about his daughter who is his motivation to get out of prison. Like most of Smith's past characters, he has a lot of witty one liners to make him a more likable protagonist.
Margot Robbie brings Harley Quinn to life, I don't think anyone can criticise her performance. Like Deadshot, Harley says most of the one liners and brings comic relief to this action-fuelled film. She has come a long way since her role as Leonardo DiCaprio's love interest in the Oscar-nominated film 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'. She has since then worked alongside Smith in the comedy/thriller 'Focus' and as Jane in the adventurous 'The Legend Of Tarzan'. 
Jared Leto doesn't just play the Joker, he becomes the Joker. He is only in a handful of scenes but hopefully we'll see more of him in an potential sequel. The Joker and Harley are in a relationship and it's not hard to see their chemistry. Harley is just as crazy as the Joker which is why they work so well together. 

Each character is given a background, which is important in a film like this as we understand them more. We learn about each character in the beginning of the film and we learn that Batman is the reason they're in prison. We also get a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance from the Flash who caught Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), another member of the squad.

Making an adaptation of one of comic book's most iconic group of characters was always going to be a difficult challenge but director David Ayer gives it a worthy shot. It may not be as great as everyone was hoping but that doesn't make it a terrible film. Hopefully, there'll be some improvements in a sequel, if there is one.

7/10

THE JUNGLE BOOK REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Ever since Walt Disney released the first ever animated motion picture, Snow White And The Seven Dwarves, in 1937, his films have become a classic. Now, with the advanced technology we have now, filmmakers have managed to successfully create live-action adaptations of these animated films. The Jungle Book, which was originally released in 1967, is the latest animated feature to get this treatment. It's one of Disney's most popular films due to its unique narrative, likeable characters and catchy songs such as The Bare Necessities and I Wanna Be Like You.
Director Jon Favreau uses computer generated images to make the characters look life like and a A-List cast to voice them including Bill Murray as Baloo the bear, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera the panther, Idris Elba as Shere Khan the tiger and many others. Neel Sethi is the only actor that physically appears in the film as the young 'man-cub' Mowgli who, as an infant, was discovered by Bagheera and raised by wolves. Unfortunately, Shere Khan becomes aware of him and, because he's a human, wants him dead. Bagheera tries to take Mowgli back to the man village where he belongs but fails and leaves him in the middle of the jungle. This is where he meets Baloo, a lovable bear who soon befriends Mowgli after saving him from Kaa the snake (Scarlett Johansson). However, as Shere Khan takes over the jungle, Mowgli learns about the danger he's in.
Neel Sethi is brilliant as Mowgli, he brings the character to life. Despite the fact that no real animals appear in this film, he pulls off a great performance. It's hard to believe that the animals aren't actually there as the CGI used in this film look incredibly realistic. Ben Kingsley is the perfect voice for Bagheera as he's the most serious character and wants nothing more than for Mowgli to go back to his real home. Bill Murray is hilarious as Baloo, I couldn't imagine any other comedic actor pulling off this performance as well as him. And Idris Luther is brilliantly scary as the evil Shere Khan.
I think one of the reasons why the original Jungle Book became a classic was because of its catchy songs, The Bare Necessities and I Wanna Be Like You. I think everyone will be pleased to know that both songs feature in this film, I don't think it would've been a proper live-action remake without those two songs.
Despite this being a family film, there are some dark elements added to create tension, therefore I wouldn't recommend taking young children to watch this due to jump scares and some of the fight scenes.
Overall, this is my favourite live action adaptation of a Disney film so far.
7/10