Judi Dench – Way Too Indie http://waytooindie.com Independent film and music reviews Fri, 02 Dec 2016 17:34:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Way Too Indiecast is the official podcast of WayTooIndie.com. Our film critics grip and gush about the latest indie movies and sometimes even mainstream ones. Find all of our reviews, podcasts, news, at www.waytooindie.com Judi Dench – Way Too Indie yes Judi Dench – Way Too Indie dustin@waytooindie.com dustin@waytooindie.com (Judi Dench – Way Too Indie) The Official Podcast of Way Too Indie Judi Dench – Way Too Indie http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/waytooindie/podcast-album-art.jpg http://waytooindie.com MVFF38 Diary Day 5: McKellen Mania http://waytooindie.com/news/mvff38-diary-day-5-mckellen-mania/ http://waytooindie.com/news/mvff38-diary-day-5-mckellen-mania/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2015 23:39:06 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=41187 Day five of the festival was the culmination of a three-day Sir Ian McKellen celebration, both on the larger, festival scale and on a mind-blowing, personal scale for yours truly.]]>

(Photo courtesy of Mill Valley Film Festival)

Day five of the festival was the culmination of a three-day Sir Ian McKellen celebration, both on the larger, festival scale and on a mind-blowing, personal scale for yours truly.

The legendary actor flew into the Bay Area to receive a lifetime achievement award at MVFF, but being the generous soul that he is, he gave much more of himself to festivalgoers and the film critic community than any of us could have expected.

Magneto-level Photobomb

Sir Ian arrived on Saturday to meet up with his good friend, author Armistead Maupin. As luck would have it, Mr. Maupin also invited the San Francisco Film Critics Circle (of which I am an unlikely member) to join in on the fun and celebrate Sir Ian’s career at the beautiful Parallel 37 restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Needless to say, I was beside myself. Like most of us, I’ve grown up watching Ian McKellen on screen and have marveled at more of his performances than I can count on my fingers and toes. I couldn’t believe I was going to meet him, but my nervousness dissolved just as he walked into the room. Unlike some celebrities, especially ones of his stature and accomplishment, he actually looked thrilled to hang around and chat with our merry little group. There were about 25 of us in a room uncomfortably small for our number, but no one cared a bit—Sir Ian was happy, so we were happy, as you can see below.

Sir Ian McKellen
He didn’t have to, but Sir Ian took the time to talk to each and every one of us, and he was as lovely as anyone you could hope to meet. I got so excited at one point that I started photobombing for no reason, one example of which you can see below. (He’s talking to excellent film critic Zaki Hasan of ZakisCorner.)

Sir Ian McKellen

As you can tell, I was having a grand old time. It was an unforgettable experience and just the start of Sir Ian’s Bay Area takeover.

All Class

On Sunday, the celebration moved to the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael (one of the main MVFF sites, just up the road from Mill Valley), where McKellen was to receive a lifetime achievement award. I wasn’t able to watch the ceremony (I was upstairs watching the wild and weird Angelica), but I saw him step out of the car in front of the theater to the excitement of a raucous (but respectful) crowd of superfans. He signed autographs for two little girls (giddy as can be) and made his way through the flashing lights with his good friend Mr. Maupin (see photo below).

This next part I heard second-hand, but apparently when Sir Ian walked into the theater, he didn’t head straight for the green room as scheduled. Instead, he walked up to the young people working the concession counter and shook all of their hands.

Sir Ian McKellen

I wish I was able to watch the award ceremony, but regret nothing (Angelica was awesome). I would, however, be in attendance for McKellen’s final appearance the next day, which was a big, big treat.

Longtime Ally

To cap off his visit to the Bay, McKellen gave a presentation called “Women I’ve Filmed With,” in which he celebrated some of the greatest women he’s, you know, filmed with. Sitting in front of an adoring, exceptionally knowledgeable crowd (they knew all his deep cuts), he guided us through his expansive career chronologically (via powerpoint, adorably), stopping along the way to talk about wonderful women like Ava Gardner, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Stockard Channing and Rachel Weiss, and spoke in-depth about lesser-known but equally monumental women like Lilian Baylis (who managed the Old Vic and many other famous theaters).

One of my favorite anecdotes was one McKellen shared about filming a movie called Scandal, which he did just as he’d completed his “coming-out journey,” as he put it.

“To show the world that I intended to carry on acting as I always have,” he remembered, “I thought it would be a rather good idea to play this part. He’s called John Profumo, an English politician and a raging heterosexual.” He recalled having to do a sex scene with Joanne Whalley and graciously confessed that he “didn’t know what to do.” He consulted with his friend actor Edward Petherbridge, who drew stick figures in curious positions on a scrap of paper. “I’ve still got (the paper),” McKellen admitted, to waves of laughter from the crowd. “I’m now an expert on the missionary position.”

One of the warmest bits of praise McKellen gave was in the direction of the great Dame Judi Dench. “Everybody Loves Judi Dench,” he said matter-of-factly, the audience nodding their heads in universal agreeance. “She’s loveable. She makes women smile and they want to be as gentle and forthright as she is, and all the men want to give her a hug. It’s alarming when you’re on stage with her because she has a direct link to the audience. If you’re not careful, you can’t get in there—there’s a lovefest going on.”

It was clear that McKellen’s career was shaped in no small part by his female colleagues and counterparts on the stage and screen. This year’s festival is in tribute to women in film, and the fact that McKellen so selflessly dedicated an hour-and-a-half or so to praising female artists was a staggeringly beautiful thing.

]]> http://waytooindie.com/news/mvff38-diary-day-5-mckellen-mania/feed/ 1 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel http://waytooindie.com/review/movie/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel/ http://waytooindie.com/review/movie/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel/#respond Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=30836
An effervescent, airy sequel that shares a comfortable co-existence with its predecessor.]]>

The success of John Madden’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the 2011 phenomenon that brought together a veritable dream team of England’s finest actors, can be easily measured by taking a look at the long, twisty lines that will undoubtedly form for the film’s sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, at multiplexes across the country this weekend. Unfortunately, I anticipate that many will view the sequel as inferior because it’s a decidedly more easy-going, low-stakes affair than its predecessor. I don’t think it trumps the first film as the best of the two, but I also don’t find it fair to glibly criticize it as “second best”, either. Rather, the two films complement each other well and share a comfortable co-existence.

While Best Exotic is a more dramatically textured film, but Second Best Exotic is just as textured, only comedically. Now that the residents of the Jaipur, India hotel have settled into their once-unfamiliar surroundings (the culture-clash elements from the first movie are all but gone), their problems are less urgent, though no less compelling. Cockney sh*t-talker Muriel (Maggie Smith), a one-time racist curmudgeon, has now matured and calmed down a smidge, though her barbs are as sharp as ever. She’s outwardly resigned herself to the fact that she may not have much time left in this world, though subconsciously she just might be hoping the future holds something glorious for her. Douglas (Bill Nighy) and Evelyn (Judi Dench) want to be more than just friends, but struggle to express their affection for one another, the return of Douglas’ estranged, bitter wife Jean (Penelope Wilton) complicating things further.

Sitting proudly at the center of the film is Sonny (a top-form Dev Patel), the hotel’s neurotic, entrepreneurial co-manager (alongside Muriel), whose impending marriage to the effervescent Sunaina (Tina Desai) serves as the film’s main thrust. Sonny’s ambitious plans to open a second hotel have taken his mind off of the wedding, unsurprisingly driving away his beautiful bride-to-be. What’s worse, he fears Sunaina’s handsome family friend Kushal (Shazad Latif) may be in prime position to steal away his beloved. None of the film’s myriad storylines think outside the box, but the cast’s brilliant performances elevate the material. Patel is especially impressive, his comedic timing as sharp as anyone else’s, if not sharper.

The needle in the film’s side is the sheer number of storylines going on all at once. Returning to the fold is horny Norman (Ronald Pickup), who’s traded in his perv card for a loyalty badge, fully committed to his lover Carol (Diana Hardcastle), who he suspects may not be as devoted to the relationship. Celia Imrie’s love-hungry Madge is back, too, this time caught in the crossed gazes of two wealthy suitors. On top of all that, Richard Gere and Tamsin Greig join the ensemble as new residents, the former’s novelist character setting his sights on Sonny’s mom, reprised by Lillete Dubey. There’s a lot to keep track of, and some of the storylines get lost in such crowded company.

Everything else about the film is perfectly approachable and appealing, though. It’s a charming, sweet film, but not a saccharine one. Best of all, the veteran actors get to flaunt some new colors. Nighy gets to stretch out further comedically this time around; Douglas has taken on a job as a tour guide, hiring a young boy to feed him historical information through an ear piece. When the boy abandons his post to play soccer with his friends, the clueless Douglas is left to nervously spout unintelligible rubbish in front of the skeptical tourists (Nighy’s squirming is hilarious). Smith’s signature brash insults are actually funnier in this film, like when she flatly informs someone that, just because she’s looking at her, that doesn’t mean she’s paying attention to what she’s saying.

What’s particularly refreshing about spending time with the aging eccentrics for a second time is that we don’t have to trifle with the tired fish-out-of-water theme that drove the first film. The juxtaposition of posh, proper Englishmen and women exploring a developing country is of little interest to me, and thankfully, this film isn’t interested in it either. Jaipur is a living, breathing backdrop that, instead of informing the story, permeates it in an elegant, subtle way. The characters definitely consider the hotel and Jaipur their home, and they don’t have to say it; you can see it in the way they move and occupy their environment. This unspoken message lends the film warmth.

Second Best is capped off by the obligatory Bollywood dance sequence, and I’m going to level with you: I dug the hell out of it. What’s not to like about watching dozens of people in awesome clothes bopping around and having a great time? The Bollywood dance is one of the rare instances in film when you’re almost positive no one on screen is acting; they look like they’re in a genuine state of bliss, and it’s totally irresistible. Madden couldn’t help himself, and I can’t either.

Sequels often shoot themselves in the foot when they retread ground already covered by their predecessors; heightened whimsy, airiness and positivity are what distinguish Second Best from The Best. In a poignant rumination near the end of the first film, Dench’s Evelyn says, “All that we know about the future is that it will be different. Perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same. So we celebrate the changes.” Cheers to that.

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Oscar Analysis 2014: Best Actress http://waytooindie.com/news/awards/oscar-analysis-2014-best-actress/ http://waytooindie.com/news/awards/oscar-analysis-2014-best-actress/#respond Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=18470 The one question on everyone’s mind about Best Actress is, “Can we give this to Cate Blanchett already so we can all go home?” It’s another easy category to predict, and rightfully so. Blanchett hasn’t had a proper lead role in at least 5 years, and with Blue Jasmine she makes a hell of a […]]]>

The one question on everyone’s mind about Best Actress is, “Can we give this to Cate Blanchett already so we can all go home?”

It’s another easy category to predict, and rightfully so. Blanchett hasn’t had a proper lead role in at least 5 years, and with Blue Jasmine she makes a hell of a comeback. As the wife of a Bernie Madoff type con man who loses everything, her performance is a roller coaster. She’s funny, pathetic, monstrous, evil, kind and completely unhinged, yet Blanchett keeps Jasmine grounded enough to never make viewers lose sympathy for her. It’s a very rare case this year where the Oscar winner is also the person who deserves it the most.

With that out of the way, let’s look at the other nominees. Judi Dench and Meryl Streep are given their usual “nominate every damn thing they’re in” recognition from voters. Dench is charming as Philomena Lee, but it feels like she can do this kind of thing in her sleep by now. Streep expectedly goes all-in as the drug-addicted matriarch Violet in August: Osage County. Streep doesn’t chew scenery in this movie, she devours it, and if she didn’t win recently for The Iron Lady I could see her being a competitor to Blanchett here. Amy Adams is the best lead in American Hustle by far, but she should be happy with her Golden Globe win. Sandra Bullock probably has the smallest chance of winning in this category, but it shouldn’t diminish the fact that she’s a major reason for Gravity’s success.

Dench and Bullock could have easily been plucked out of this category in my eyes and replaced with a better performance. First things first though, let me say that these actresses did some amazing work this year: Julie Delpy in Before Midnight, Greta Gerwig in Frances Ha, Shailene Woodley in The Spectacular Now, Andrea Riseborough in Shadow Dancer and Rooney Mara in Side Effects were all terrific. But if I had to pick one actress who deserved to be nominated, it would have to be Paulina Garcia in Gloria. I had my issues with the film, but Garcia (who won Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival) owns every moment of Gloria.

Category Predictions

Who Should Win: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Deserves A Nomination: Paulina Garcia – Gloria

Best Actress Nominees

Amy Adams – American Hustle (review)

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine (review)

Sandra Bullock – Gravity (review)

Judi Dench – Philomena (review)

Meryl Streep – August: Osage County (review)

Previous Category Analysis

Best Shorts
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Foreign Film
Best Documentary

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Philomena http://waytooindie.com/review/movie/philomena/ http://waytooindie.com/review/movie/philomena/#comments Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=16585 Judi Dench, an actress capable of moving mountains with her onscreen power, is capable of  much more than what’s required of her in Philomena, a good film based on an astounding true story, directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen). Embodying the titular character doesn’t come close to exhausting Dench’s extensive capabilities, but instead of overpowering the […]]]>

Judi Dench, an actress capable of moving mountains with her onscreen power, is capable of  much more than what’s required of her in Philomena, a good film based on an astounding true story, directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen). Embodying the titular character doesn’t come close to exhausting Dench’s extensive capabilities, but instead of overpowering the film just to show off, or lazing her way through the material like she’s above it, Dench applies just the right amount of pressure, hitting that sweet, sweet spot because, well, she’s Judi Dench and brilliance is kind of her thing.

In 1950’s Ireland, a young Philomena Lee was sent to a Catholic convent to atone for the sin of getting pregnant out of wedlock. The atonement was unscrupulously extreme; her son, Anthony, then barely a toddler, was taken from her without her consent and sold to a wealthy family in America. Philomena, a devout Catholic and a (perplexingly) forgiving soul, obliged the covent’s wishes to not seek out the son they swiped. That is, until 2003 when she met journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan.)

Martin, reeling from public humiliation (he was just fired from his job with the government), stumbles upon an opportunity to redeem himself in Philomena, an ostensibly perfect subject human interest story as she’s approaching a breaking point in her now nearly 50-year-long lament of Anthony. She agrees to let Martin document her journey to America to uncover what’s become of her son.

Coogan (who also co-wrote the film), a tested comedic performer, carefully plants moments humor throughout the mostly somber film, though he approaches the weightier dramatic moments with a measure of sensitivity and finesse that proves his range more expansive than one might expect. His blackly cynical, know-it-all take on Sixsmith plays nicely off of Dench’s endearingly gullible and simple-souled Philomena. I hesitate to call them an odd couple (though they’re different on many levels), because of how well the pairing works. Philomena’s general naiveté and disconnect with the media world Martin is so wrapped up in always pushes his buttons in the most hilarious way. Martin just can’t let go of the improbability of every hotel worker Philomena meeting being “one in a million”, as she calls them. He’s a smart-ass, and her kindness baffles him (though it’ll eventually enlighten him.)

Philomena

 

The film’s tone is bittersweet, with Philomena’s deep-seated regret propelling the duo’s journey forward at a gentle glide. Several unexpected twists and turns keep the narrative from plateauing, and it’s riveting to watch Martin’s transformation as he observes Philomena’s kind-hearted nature and begins to recalibrate his exhaustingly pessimistic outlook on life. As he becomes personally and emotionally attached to Philomena’s search for Anthony, he finds it harder and harder to do his job and treat her as merely the subject of his story, and his feelings only become more conflicted. If it seems like I’m being evasive about the details of Martin and Philomena’s trip to America, it’s because they’re best discovered as you watch the film.

Frears exhibits little style in the way he presents the story and almost doesn’t do it justice. The imagery, camerawork, and editing feel very “bare-minimum” and don’t match Dench and Coogan’s passion. He merely presents their performances instead of elevating them. It’s an understated film, with a permeating sense of loss and regret, but it often feels too hushed and visually muted for its own good. Still, Frears’ technique is solid and causes the story no real harm, and the beautiful final message of the film rings loud and true.

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Skyfall on Blu-ray & DVD February 12th http://waytooindie.com/news/skyfall-on-blu-ray-dvd-february-12th/ http://waytooindie.com/news/skyfall-on-blu-ray-dvd-february-12th/#respond Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=10095 One of the biggest films of 2012 also happens to be one of the best Bond films ever released. It’s easy to say that Skyfall was a massive success for everyone involved. Not only is it the highest grossing Bond film in history, it also features top work from director Sam Mendes, actor Daniel Craig, and cinematographer Roger Deakins. The film contains many wonderful sequences that will be ingrained into Bond fan’s heads for decades to come. In case you missed your chance to see the film in theaters, or you want to re-live every nail biting sequence over and over again, you’ll get your chance when Skyfall lands on DVD and Blu-ray on February 12th.]]>

One of the biggest films of 2012 also happens to be one of the best Bond films ever released. It’s easy to say that Skyfall was a massive success for everyone involved. Not only is it the highest grossing Bond film in history, it also features top work from director Sam Mendes, actor Daniel Craig, and cinematographer Roger Deakins. The film contains many wonderful sequences that will be ingrained into Bond fan’s heads for decades to come. In case you missed your chance to see the film in theaters, or you want to re-live every nail biting sequence over and over again, you’ll get your chance when Skyfall lands on DVD and Blu-ray on February 12th.

With the Blu-ray, go behind-the-scenes of Bond’s latest mission with more than three hours of in-depth special features. Shooting Bond brings adrenaline-hungry fans closer to the heart-stopping action and 007’s world of worthy villains, glamorous women, exotic locations and the coolest gadgets.

Blu-ray Special Features:

  • Shooting Bond
    • Intro
    • Opening Sequence
    • The Title Sequence
    • 007
    • Q
    • DB5
    • Women
    • Villains
    • Action
    • Locations
    • Music
    • End Sequence
    • M
    • The Future
  • Skyfall Premiere
  • Commentaries
    • Director Sam Mendes
    • Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli; Production Designer Dennis
  • Gassner
    • Theatrical Trailer

DVD Special Features:

  • Shooting Bond
    • The Title Sequence
    • DB5
    • Women
    • Locations
Skyfall Blu-ray Cover

Skyfall Official trailer:

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel http://waytooindie.com/review/movie/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel/ http://waytooindie.com/review/movie/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel/#comments Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://waytooindie.com/?p=5145 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a film about adapting to new circumstances and learning to trust from the most unexpected places. Converted into a screenplay by Ol Parker based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach, comes a film about elderly British citizens who are about to embark on journey that will expand their horizons.]]>

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a film about adapting to new circumstances and learning to trust from the most unexpected places. Converted into a screenplay by Ol Parker based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach, comes a film about elderly British citizens who are about to embark on journey that will expand their horizons.

Each with their own reason, a several British senior citizens decide to spend some of their retirement time in India. We are introduced to each of them separately because they do not yet know one other. However, together they sit next to one another in the airport as they await their flight to India. The one thing most of them share in common is that they all seem to have some level of racism.

Evelyn (Judi Dench) is going in hopes to start her life over. Graham (Tom Wilkinson) is going back to resolve an issue he had there from his youth. Couple Douglas (Bill Nighy) and Jean (Penelope Wilton) are looking to save money after losing much of their retirement savings. Muriel (Maggie Smith) is on an experimental medical program where surgery takes place in India. Norman (Ronald Pickup) is a on the prowl to pick up woman (preferably half his age) to feel young again and Madge (Celia Imrie) is seeking a rich man to take care of her.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie review

When they arrive at the hotel it is suddenly apparent that the advertisements for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel were a little misleading. It was promised to be a beautiful luxurious hotel when in reality it is a major work-in-progress that is infested with cockroaches and birds. The owner of the hotel is the kind and ambitious young entrepreneur Sonny (Dev Patel) who inherited the failing hotel from his father.

Most of the group is completely overwhelmed by the vast amount of people and how difficult the culture is in India. One describes it like a wave; only if you resist it will it knock you over. While other struggle in various amounts, the exception in the group is Graham. He is confident and understanding of the culture because he grew up there.

While the whole cast is noteworthy, Judi Dench and Tom Wilkinson steal the show. Both deliver performances that are charming. Though the purpose of Dev Patel’s character tries to play the jack of all trades but focuses on comic relief he comes off as over-the-top.

Director John Madden not only received a lot of help from the cast but also the location of the film. Lots of vibrant and contrasting colors pop off the screen to represent India. Overcrowded streets with tiny vehicles zooming by also helps surround the viewer in the exotic setting. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is simply gorgeous to look at.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel does not do much heavy-lifting but rather lets the veteran cast carry the film. It is an incredibly easy film to watch because it is mostly cheerful and uplifting. But it is also very safe so it plays out just exactly how you would expect it to. For these reasons it is easy to see why it is a hit for the targeted audience but it falls short of something spectacular.

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