An old-school World War II drama, a quietly powerful Irish drama, a Christmas story and a fantasy anime arrive in movie theaters this week.
Also in theaters this week is the brilliantly creepy horror effort ‘Heretic.’
Here’s our roundup.
“Blitz”: Award-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen goes old school, in a way, with his breathtakingly filmed World War II adventure story set around a 9-year-old boy, George (impressive newcomer Elliott Heffernan), who courts disaster one day during the blitz of London so he can reunite with his mom Rita (Saoirse Ronan) and grandfather (Paul Weller). True to McQueen’s standards, “Blitz” is polished and crafted to perfection. It also richly evokes the ‘40s in Britain — the clothes, the streets, the homes, the hairstyles, the racism and the fallout of war — which is strikingly captured in the shadowy cinematography of Yorick Le Saux.
“Blitz” isn’t revolutionary and tells an old-fashioned story of the sort that many of us have seen before. But it does so differently and features another tremendous acting turn from Ronan, who conveys the love and panic a mother feels once she discovers that her son is not where he is supposed to be — in this case a country home where he can be out of harm’s way.
Overly precocious George jumps from the train to the countryside and, in true Dickensian fashion, encounters some helpful people as well as some unsavory types on his treacherous trek back home.
While fans might crave a more edgy McQueen, a la “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame” or “Hunger,” there’s no mistaking that the auteur is helming this epic film and still thinking outside of the box.
His story addresses the era’s racism (George is mixed race) and the fate that his father suffered partially due to that. But the film distinguishes itself more around its impressively set action scenes, one in a subway that recalls elements of James Cameron’s “Titanic” and the other a haunting bit of brilliance that contrasts the gaiety of a big party and jazz performance with the destruction and death left in the rubble after an air attack.
Both scenes are memorable and stunning in a solid, not remarkable, film that warmly celebrates the unbending love shared between a mother and a son and the courage and bravery of Londoners during The Blitz. Expect anything more than that, and you’ll be disappointed. Details: 3 stars out of 4; in theaters Nov. 8 and available to stream Nov. 22 on Apple TV+. (Note: it would be a shame not to see this on a big screen).
“Small Things Like These”: Cillian Murphy delivers what deserves to be one of 2024’s most celebrated performances. He’s perfect in every scene. The awards likely won’t come, though, since the consummate actor snagged an Oscar last year for the much more visible “Oppenheimer.” In this small but major in every other way Irish indie based on another wistful and accomplished novella from Claire Keegan, Murphy tears your heart out as compassionate, low-wage-earning Irish coal merchant …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
