Movie Review: Empire Of Light (2022)

Genre: Romantic Drama  

Director: Sam Mendes  

Starring: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones  

Running Time: 115 minutes  

Synopsis: It's the early 1980s in a small south coast town in England. Hilary (Olivia Colman) is the frumpy middle-aged manager at the Empire Cinema, a local landmark now a bit worse for wear. Norman (Toby Jones) runs the projection room, while the cinema is owned by the sleazy Donald Ellis (Colin Firth), who demands and receives sexual favours from Hilary. Aspiring architecture student Stephen (Micheal Ward) is the latest addition to the staff team, and the young black man establishes a friendship then a romance with Hilary despite the age difference between them.

What Works Well: Writer and director Sam Mendes embarks on a nostalgic journey back to the era of big movie theatres with lavish reception areas and grand staircases. Lovingly photographed by Roger Deakins, the Empire stands along the main boulevard as part of the community's fabric, although both the patrons and the building have experienced better days. Hilary is joined by Stephen at the heart of the tender drama, but the surrounding supporting characters are all treated with care and add welcome texture. Olivia Colman excels as a woman on the edge, culminating in a spectacular meltdown during a premier gala event.

What Does Not Work As Well: Too many themes are loaded upon two souls in pain finding each other. Mental illness, misogyny, racism, loneliness, infidelity, the hazards of a bi-racial romance with a big age difference, and social upheaval in Thatcher's England all compete for space. The "magic of the movies" thread that is supposed to stitch them all together is stretched well beyond its limits.

Conclusion: One simple romance, numerous weighty complications.



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Movie Review: Red Lights (2012)

Genre: Investigative Thriller  

Director: Rodrigo Cortés  

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Cillian Murphy, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones  

Running Time: 114 minutes  

Synopsis: Academic physicists Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and Dr. Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy) run a side-business debunking psychics and paranormal advocates. Margaret's student Sally (Elizabeth Olsen) joins their investigations and starts a romance with Tom. When celebrity blind psychic Simon Silver (Robert De Niro) surprisingly comes out of retirement, Tom is eager to expose him as a fraud, but Margaret is more careful.

What Works Well: The first act introduces interesting characters and adds depth to Dr. Matheson through a side story involving her son, while the debunking sessions and academic sparring with rival physicist Dr. Shackleton (Toby Jones) are sharp. The cast members battle valiantly to prop-up the disintegrating script.

What Does Not Work As Well: Writer and director Rodrigo Cortés clumsily steers into a bewildering narrative turn about halfway through, and the drama never recovers. The remainder of the film is a toothless exercise in silly special effects, the gritted-teeth obsession with a touring entertainer never close to supporting the weight of unfolding carnage. Another attempt at a late twist arrives with the never-good sudden introduction of narration and carries all the impact of a wet noodle.

Conclusion: Accelerates with promise, but then stops dead.



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Movie Review: The Mist (2007)

Genre: Horror

Director: Frank Darabont

Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Toby Jones

Running Time: 126 minutes

Synopsis: After a severe storm, a mysterious mist creeps into a New England town. Artist David Drayton (Thomas Jane) and his young son Billy are at the local supermarket when residents start to suspect the mist is hiding something deadly. Others at the supermarket include assistant manager Ollie (Toby Jones), three soldiers from a nearby army base, an assortment of locals, and religious fanatic Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden). Murderous creatures emerge from the mist, the trapped shoppers start to turn on each other, and David has to keep Billy safe and chart a potential path to survival.

What Works Well: Writer and director Frank Darabont adapts the Stephen King novella into a high quality horror fest. The menacing introduction efficiently sets the scene and introduces the key characters, and once the carnage starts, societal fragmentation competes with disgusting overgrown critters for most disturbing impact. The pace is unrelenting, unleashing searing commentary on the fragility of civilized behaviour and the warp speed retreat into tribalism. The ending is suitably soul crushing. 

What Does Not Work As Well: The creatures look better from a distance than up close, and Thomas Jane's limited range means he is unconvincing as an artist and exposed during the more emotional scenes. 

Conclusion: The worst monsters are hidden from view.



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