Only two new releases worth noting this week:
SPLIT
Directed M Night Shyamalan
Screenplay by M Night Shyamalan
Starring James McAvoy; Anya Taylor-Joy; Haley Lu Richardson; Jessica Sula; and Betty Buckley
M Night knows how to tell a story that is for sure.
Here we have 3 young girls kidnapped by a man with multiple personalities. Yes you can tell by the trailer it is scary as all get out!! Yet it is paced nicely....your used to a thriller/horror film to be an hour of chasing, not here, here you see a lot of development. Which realize on acting, and all the performances here are fantastic:
Haley Lu Richardson, as Claire, with Split coming after Edge Of Seventeen, she gives back to back thankless performances. Again she makes a lot of her character that is kind of in the shadows of a lead. Do not sell her short. She is a star in waiting.
Anya Taylor-Joy Returns with a bang. Here, as Casey, you can actually see her thinking. Watch her eyes in this part!! Her eyes say sooo much. Sometimes while she is watching you see her eyes watering. It is such a difficult part because she has to play off a huge character, with multiple personality. She is often going toe to toe with him and she very much holds her own.
Then we come to the incredible performances by James McAvoy. Playing so many different personalities. You see part of it in the trailer. Creepy and sad. Over the top often. Can he get an Oscar nod a year from now? Will voters remember?
As for the script, it starts out real strong. Then when we do see that other personality and things get real wacky. No Spoilers Here As Usual. Then the ending is to wide open. My rule as you know...each film should have a real clean ending. It should not be too open. You pay money to see a beginning ...middle ...end. Plus here the end is kinds depressing. I thought ugh. I can understand that people are excited about the open ending (again no spoilers)...however what about Casey??!!
Well 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Split, a well acted film with a great start with no real close.
THE FOUNDER
Directed by John Lee Hancock
Screenplay by Robert Siegel
Starring Michael Keaton; Nick Offerman; John Carroll Lynch; B.J. Novak; and Laura Dern
The Founder follows Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc and how he built the McDonalds empire. Note not how he created it...that is a bigger story.
Michael Keaton is so good here. We want to like him here as Kroc, problem is he is so unlikable. He is a bulldozer. Plotting constantly. He even bulldozes his wife. The McDonalds brothers had no chance. It a tough part and Keaton pulls it off. Note he rarely hollers, he bulldozes with fast talk, and body motions.
Now, I love the way Lynch and Offerman as the McDonald brothers do not play them as buffoons. Because they are not. In fact they are smart businessmen who just got steamrolled.
As for the script it is very interesting. We see how the whole thing started. How it became Kroc's baby. Problem the film focuses on an unlikable man,,,often making it a difficult watch. We know the ending, we do not know how it got there, but we know how it ends. It is not a pleasant trip.
Well acted. Interesting story. 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for The Founder.
From the shadows as always thanks for your time.
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