Remember to SPEAK NO EVIL

 

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres today from writer/director James Watkins and Universal Pictures is a tale of strangers and terror in SPEAK NO EVIL.

Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben (Scoot McNairy) along with daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) are on holiday in Italy. While there, they meet Paddy (James McAvoy), wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and son Ant (Dan Hough) and they all hit it off immediately. When the family returns to London, they receive a postcard from Paddy inviting them to come spend a holiday with them at their farmhouse.

Thinking they need a change of scenery and helping Agnes with her issues, they gather up and take the long drive out. Almost immediately, Louise feels as if something is off with Paddy and Ciara’s behavior toward their invited guests. Told that Ant was born with a condition that doesn’t allow him to speak properly, Agnes does enjoy his company. Paddy invites Ben and Louise to a special dinner near the shore cooked especially for them. The evening goes smoothly until Louise feels that Paddy is being passive-aggressive towards her.

Ben does nothing which Louise later addresses but it is more unnerving later in the evening causing her to let Ben know that they are leaving right away. Quietly making their way out, their drive down the road is halted because of Agnes anxiety forcing them to return to Paddy’s home. After a bunch of apologies, Louise, Ben and Agnes stay for a while longer. That extended time allows Ant to explain why his father and mother behave the way they do.

Now it is all about survival.

McAvoy as Paddy is absolutely, positively and stunningly terrifying from beginning to end. The way he speaks is charming until it’s not and gawd help you when it’s not. There is something about McAvoy playing a total psychopath that is just fantastic to watch. Most of us know he has that capability if you think of his 2016 performance in the film SPLIT. In this film he gets the stunning opportunity to remind us that Paddy is not to be played with and absolutely fears no one or nothing. He is powerful in every sphere and there is one line in the film that sums up the character of Paddy, but unfortunately, I can’t tell you because it has to be seen to be believed.

McNairy as Ben just drove me insane. The character of Ben is weak, has no mind of his own, is easily persuaded and, to be honest, has no spine what so ever. Of course, someone like Paddy is going to spot all that a mile away and have fun with it. If the role called for all of this, then McNairy nails it. Davis as Louise has an outspoken character but is also weak. I thought, ‘oh good, she’s going to be at least on the side of her family” and then she failed and failed miserably. I give Davis points for recognizing danger but she loses points for being a sucker.

Franciosi as Ciara seems a kind person, but that wall of kindness starts to show cracks until there is nothing that can stop it. She has a story to tell but it does not change who she has become and is loyal to Paddy. Franciosi is charming till the end. Lefler as Agnes has her own issues which is probably why she is so warm with Ant. The character obviously inherited the inability to realize danger until its too late but hey, like daughter like parents. Hough as Ant is the winner here and you will definetly understand why by the films end.

Other cast include Kris Hichen as Mike and Motaz Mulhees as Muhjid.

Universal Pictures has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience in theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

Blumhouse Productions is known for producing horror films such as PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, INSIDIOUS, SINISTER, THE PURGE, THE GIFT, GET OUT, HAPPY DEATH DAY and SPLIT. The films from Blumhouse have become instant classics and they continue to give us something to scream about! See more at www.blumhouse.com.

Okay, this is going to get messy so here it goes. This film had me at the highest level of pissivity and frustration. I don’t know if that was director Watkins intention but both my daughter and myself were basically shouting at the screen (it was easy since we were two out of the four people there and they were hollering as well). I believe the ‘wtf’s were flying out our mouths every five minutes. In between that was the ‘oh my gawd’s and ‘you have got to be **** kidding me right now!’.

My problem is I have a hard time with characters that seem to be moving about without a brain and kids who are just being ridiculous. I had to bury that emotion and get past them but, as my daughter kept reminding me, “the characters aren’t real Mom”. Good thing or the film would have only lasted ten minutes!

Without spoiling anything, let me just say that McAvoy and Hough had us at hello and the ride was intense, thrilling, and worthy of shouting at the screen. By the end of the film, we were just absolutely exhausted from the roller coaster ride. That didn’t stop us from talking about it for about another hour and a half. This is a thriller of a very visceral reactive kind for sure so go with it. This is a remake of the 2022 Danish film SPEAK NO EVIL and I’m going to give that a look-see as well!

In the end – beware of strangers!

TULLY is an Amazing and Relatable Story

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from writer Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman along with Focus Features is the stunning story with TULLY.

Marlo (Charlize Theron) is a pregnant mother of two making it one day at a time. Taking care of eight year old Sarah (Lia Frankland) and six year old Jonah (Asher Fallica) is taking it’s toll. Jonah also needs special attention and Marlo is immediately informed that perhaps her son needs a different school.

Husband Drew (Ron Livingston) does a lot of traveling on business and not noticing that Marlo is starting to feel the stress of – well – everything. Craig (Mark Duplass) is Marlo’s brother who is well off and sees that his sister is not herself. As a well-meaning gift, he has paid for a night-nanny so that she can get some rest.

Having the baby seems to make Marlo even more tired and out of sorts. She finally agrees to have a night-nanny and meets Tully (Mackenzie Davis). A little on edge at first, one night of sleep and waking up to a clean house gives life a brighter outlook thanks to Tully.

There is so much more to this young life saver as Marlo begins to find a friend who comes to her home every night and just listens. They talk, laugh and try to figure out this complexities of life. Tully becomes Marlo’s life cheerleader of sorts and she starts to find her way back to the family and Drew.

But there comes a time when Tully explains to Marlo that she must be moving on. Dismayed and confused, Marlo is caught up in what she will do next – and that’s when a realization hits her like a car into a tree.

Life is like that sometimes.

Theron as Marlo is absolutely incredible and shows us once again why she is an iconic actress who can bring a character such depth. Last year we saw her as a total badass in ATOMIC BLONDE and here she is, 50 lbs. heavier, playing a woman more than a few of us can relate to. Hair a mess, dropping off kids here and there, breastfeeding, going to school functions and meetings, making dinner, trying to keep house and forgetting what it’s like to be desirable to a husband, the character of Marlo is so much deeper. I love every second of this film.

Davis as Tully is energetic, wild, lovely and sees the world as many of us either can’t remember anymore or do but won’t admit it to ourselves. From the moment this character steps into Marlo’s life, Davis brings everything she has and does so with an ease that is remarkable. The final scene between Tully and Marlo proves my point on so many levels so be prepared for tissue time!

Livingston as Drew is a husband who just wants to keep things status quo. He loves being a husband and a dad but has disconnected in ways that he doesn’t know how to fix. Duplass as Craig is a brother who seems unaware that inviting his sister over to his very wealthy surroundings doesn’t help matters much. In the midst of that it is clear that he loves his sister very much.

Frankland as Sara is smarter than her young years and she knows that something isn’t quite right at home. Fallica as Jonah is a young boy who is trying to find his place and I personally think he is smarter than given credit for.

Other cast includes Elaine Tran as Elyse, Maddie Dixon-Poirier as Emmy, Colleen Wheeler as Dr. Smythe, Joshua Pak as Dallas, Gameela Wright as Laurie and Bella Star Choy as Greta.

TULLY is a film that is going to blow people away, absolutely drop jaws. This film runs the emotional course that, as a mother, I totally felt every bit of her predicament. The emotions portrayed here are done in a way that is funny, head smacking and heart breaking.

Diablo Cody has once again written a script that is real, solid and life capturing. Director Reitman takes that script and brings the only woman I can imagine being Marlo and letting her run with the story.

This is a tale of a life that is messy, unpredictable, regretful and not regretful, disconnected and yet it all makes sense squished together to bring a beauty that I will not soon forget. TULLY is the kind of film that I miss seeing and hope Ms. Cody won’t wait so long to write another script about life and what we do with it.

In the end – this is how the mother half lives!