3 Films, 3 Reviews
By Rosemarie O Byrne
Where the crawdads sing review
I went into this film without any preconceptions or expectations as I had not read the book or even watched the trailer for it. I sometimes like approaching a film this way because it means my only impression of the film is from what is directly presented in front of me. I must say, this film caught me off guard and I found it unexpectedly enjoyable. Although it categorically fits into the ‘thriller’ and ‘mystery’ genres, there was something about the pacing and the landscapes in the film that created a comforting, cosy sort of feeling for me. However, this is a film filled with the looming threat of something terrible about to happen.
Seeing Kaya as a young child grow up in an abusive household, abandoned by everyone she loves, is very distressing, but there is an undeniable power that emanates from her despite her tragic upbringing. Ostracised and alienated from her peers for being the ‘Marsh Girl’, Kaya rejects societal norms and has an extraordinary connection with nature. This is where her power comes from.
Early on in her tumultuous life, Kaya meets Tate Walker in the marsh. Their romance is tender and nurturing, and Tate seems to tend to Kaya’s wounded inner child. Though the love story in this film is beautiful, it does not take from the main plot or the centre focus, which is Kaya and how she is going to use her survival skills to make it to a happy ending in the film. As a viewer, I was less concerned about Tate being a part of her happy ending and more so about what would truly make Kaya happy, which I think is a credit to the film’s ability to not divert the attention away from our female protagonist with a cheap love story. Instead, the theme of romance is gentle and actually lends to the overall story, which I appreciated.
Daisy Edgar Jones does a remarkable job of portraying characters who walk to the beat of their own drum. She gracefully balances Kaya’s vulnerable inner child with her unwavering sense of self. While there was a danger of the plot becoming too upsetting, with dark themes and some graphic scenes of violence, I found Edgar Jone’s portrayal of Kaya’s inner strength moving and empowering. Taylor Swift features on the soundtrack with ‘Carolina', a song she wrote specifically for the film. Featuring Swift’s songwriting was a clever choice as she is known for her songs about female empowerment, revenge and justice. The theme of justice is an important one in the film as Kaya faces a murder trial for the mysterious death of Chase Andrews. There is a lot of complexity and nuance in this murder trial and I enjoyed the way Kaya’s narration continuously related events back to nature. ‘Way out yonder, where the crawdads sing, the marsh knows one thing above all else ; every creature does what it must to survive’.
I would recommend you watch this film if you’re looking for something to completely transport you to another world and take your mind off reality for a while. Perhaps you’ll decide for yourself whether or not there really is a dark side to nature.
Elvis review
How could I wrap up the biggest films of the summer without mentioning Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis? This film has been critically acclaimed, and there has been a lot of hype surrounding the production on social media with snippets of Austin Butler’s performance mashed up into edits with glorifying music overlaid. While I agree with the masses that there is a very high production value on this film, I wonder whether the glossiness of it all could be part of its downfall.
The story of Elvis’ life is told through a very tapered lens, which marks out Elvis as a victim of the entertainment industry, exploited by the villain of the film, Colonel Tom Parker, who is played by Tom Hanks. Hanks is unrecognisable as he depicts Elvis’ manager as an evil ringmaster, manipulating the naive Elvis into working himself to death. I enjoyed Hanks’ sinister, sleazy interpretation of the role as it lended to the overall disturbing undertone of the film. However, I feel as though Tom Parker could have been played with a bit more sincerity rather than the caricature-esque performance Hanks gives. That said, I did appreciate the over-the-top camp nature of Hanks’ acting; his accent, prosthetic makeup and large cigar fit in with the circus theme well. My concern is that the film is too black and white in pointing out who the good guys and bad guys are, instead of letting the audience do some figuring out for themselves.
This film is a rather glamorous retelling of Elvis’ life, glossing over a lot of his past in a way which makes it very clear that this is not a documentary on the singer’s life by any means, but more so a film which gives new life to Elvis’ discography and achievements. If we look at the film as a means to promote and celebrate Elvis’ success in creating a revolution with his singing and dancing, then the film does a fabulous job of conveying that. There is a real sense that the man was a one of a kind performer, and it is exciting to feel like you’re watching the real Elvis in the peak of his career on stage. Nevertheless, I think it’s important to recognise that this type of film is made from a cinematographic angle that doesn’t prioritise accurately or honestly portraying his life.
Austin Butler has been commended for his method acting and ‘hypnotic’ performance in this film. He transforms himself remarkably well into the ‘King of Rock’ and is very compelling to watch. With the spinning records and gambling table transitions, it’s hard not to feel in a trance while watching this film. Despite its faults by veering towards caricatures and glossiness, the film is a mesmerising watch and does Elvis’ top hits justice, giving them a new life. No doubt you’ll be humming Jailhouse Rock for days afterward.
Thor Review
If you come along to see a Thor film, you’re hoping for comedy, action and a bit of heart. My expectations were high and thankfully, Thor: Love and Thunder did not disappoint. Featuring the much beloved Guardians of the Galaxy team and love interest Jane Foster (played by Natalie Portman), Thor delivers in the wholesome department by emphasising the beauty of love and friendships. The soundtrack is upbeat and uplifting and the overall tone is positive and lighthearted, which is exactly what I wanted from this film.
However, I’ll be honest and say I spent the first ten minutes of the film convinced I had gone into the wrong room in the cinema. This is because the supervillain, Gorr the God Butcher (played by Christian Bale) is genuinely terrifying and had me questioning whether I was in a horror film. I powered through my fears and I am very glad I did because the rewards to reap were bountiful. Nonetheless, Gorr gives this film a dark edge, and I wouldn’t be too quick to bring children along (or anyone ‘faint-hearted’ for that matter) in case you’re expecting a harmless family friendly adventure.
While this film doesn’t rock the boat too much in terms of breaking new boundaries, it does offer some food for thought. The idea that there are problems within jurisdiction systems and putting those in power on pedestals is presented. The film raises the question about what a society considers most sacred, and it appears to be health and children. Though there are heavier themes of terminal illness and child endangerment discussed, there is a nice balance of playfulness and jokes as well. I wouldn’t consider the jokes laugh out loud material, but they’re enough to make you smile, and for me, this film hit the spot by giving me a new comfort watch.
With the loveable goofiness Chris Hemsworth injects into this character and charismatic energy of Tessa Thompson playing Valkyrie, I would categorise Thor: Love and Thunder as a feel-good film that would be great to watch as a pick-me-up on a gloomy night in as the winter months fast approach. Luckily for anyone with Disney+, you can just open a new tab and begin your watching now!