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!

FARGO Brings an Epic Third Season to DVD!

Jeri Jacquin

Nominated for Six Emmy Awards including Outstanding Series on DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the amazing FX series FARGO: Year 3.

In St. Cloud, Minnesota, it is 2010 and Ray Stussy (Ewan McGregor) really wants to put a ring on the finger of Nikki Swango (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Short on cash he asks his brother Emmit (Ewan McGregor) for a loan. That’s were most family problems start because Emmitt says no.

These two brothers have even deeper problems when Ray, a parole officer, decides he will enlist the help of Maurice (Scoot McNairy), a parolee to get back at Emmitt by taking what was first Ray’s anyway. This is where things get even more twisted because Maurice doesn’t really remember the address of Emmit’s house and ends up in another Stussy house!

Emmit’s problems come from a shade business dealing with Varga (David Thewlis) and a two year old loan. Now Emmit worries about his business and has Varga investigated which only causes a journey off a parking garage.

Back at the address Maurice did go to, turns out it is the home of Ennis (Scott Hylands) Stussy of Eden Valley. To add insult to injury, temporary police chief Gloria Burgle (Carrie Coon) discovers the body of relative by marriage and their home all messed up. Of course when the new police chief shows up and dealing with a funeral, Gloria learns something about her stepfather that she never knew. But that is a side note as she begins to investigate the murder.

Ray and Nikki try to figure out how they are going to get the stamp which is a moot point when Nikki discovers it has been moved. Emmit tells Sy (Michael Stuhlbarg) the stamp is being reframed and Sy says Ray better stay away and to make his point there is a little fender bender.

Thaddeus Mobley (Thomas Mann) writes a novel called The Planet Wyn in 1975 which catches the attention of Los Angeles producer Howard Zimmerman (Fred Melamed). Mobley also meets Vivian Lord (Francesca Eastwood) who tries to seduce him into a deal. He doesn’t fall for it and lets it be known he isn’t a sucker for Hollywood.

Gloria wants to know more about the Mobley story and heads to L.A. to discover that both Zimmerman and Vivian are still around with their own story to tell. In a weird time travel moment, the name Dennis Stussy takes on new meaning for Gloria.

Gloria’s partner Marshman (Mark Forward) let’s her know that a man named Maurice has been found dead add more mystery to her life. Discovering Ray is his parole officer, it’s time for a visit from the local law. But before that Ray does a little brotherly costuming to get his hands on Emmitt’s money. Officer Winnie Lopez (Olivia Sandoval) is investigating a case against Sy and meets Gloria when the two piece together the weird coincidence about the slightly different addresses and names of Emmit and Ray.

Ray continues with his farce disguising himself as Emmit and it finally hits home. Ray moves his life along as a wedding is being prepared. Varga and Sy are not seeing eye to eye about the police nosing around but it gets more conflicted when someone wants to buy Stussy Lots in the form of Ruby Goldfarb (Mary McDonnell).

Gloria and Winnie get their hands on Ray to question him about Ennis’ murder but the new police chief thinks there is nothing there and lets him go. He gets home to find Nikki in a shocking state at the hands of thugs Yuri (Goran Bogdan) and Memo (Andy Yu). Wanting revenge is what will bring two brothers together one final time.

Gloria and Winnie are about to expand their investigation even further when it’s brought to a halt just as quickly. Winnie’s boss puts her back on traffic duty and tells Gloria to get out of town. Gloria isn’t taking it at all and in a fluke actually saves Nikki’s life from Golem (DJ Qualls) but breaking her parole she has to head off to prison.

Now Yuri, Meemo and Golem are on the hunt to get Nikki but fail once again as she finds herself attached to Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) running through the woods. All of this has Gloria demoted and everyone still on the run while Varga has expanded the business.

Emmit isn’t free from suspicion as the police are still close by but freaking him out even more is his office has been broken into and, well, tagged with a photo of a certain stamp. Varga sees how this is all affecting him trying to keep him calm. Unable to deal with it Emmitt decides there is only one thing he can do.

In St. Cloud two more Stussy’s are killed and Emmitt is talking to Gloria about the issues he had with his brother. Varga freaks out and wants Meemo to get him out of their immediately but Nikki and Mr. Wrench have other plans. Nikki makes Varga an offer he can’t refuse – or can he?

When IRS agent Dollard (Hamish Linklater) gets to his office there is a mysterious package waiting for him along with Gloria’s telephone number. Waiting for some good news, Dollard tells Gloria that there is a tax scam going on at Stussy Lots. Emmitt returns only to discover he is responsible for all the debts of the business and Nikki takes one to many chances.

But it all comes together when Gloria finds her place at the Department of Homeland Security but is still dealing with Varga and a chance that things will once again change!

McGregor as Emmitt and Ray Stussy does an insanely incredible job of playing brothers who may seem different but when it comes to being greedy and vengeful – are exactly the same. I just love the way he portrays them both to uniquely that I forget McGregor is doing both parts. Love when that happens. He is also the voice of the Captain which means this was a busy season that I’m sure McGregor isn’t likely to forget

Coon as Gloria is such a joy to watch as she is involved in a little family mystery of her own brought to her by the Stussy brothers. She takes everything in stride where as I probably wouldn’t have been so calm. That’s what makes Coon riveting to watch and I can’t wait to see her again!

Winstead as Nikki is just a gorgeous wild child who loves her man and when things go south, she is only going to visit before returning north. Oh yes, she isn’t about to let anyone or anything get in the way of her revenge.

Thewlis as Varga gets a chance to be as bad as he wants to be. Of course I knew he had it in him and if you have seen the 1996 film DRAGONHEART and his psycho role of King Einon, I’d say it was good training for the crazy of Varga.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The DVD of FARGO: Year 3 contains 4-discs with all ten episodes that include: The Law of Vacant Places, The Principles of Restricted Choice, The Law of Non-Contradiction, The Narrow Escape Problem, The House of Special Purpose, The Lord of No Mercy, The Law of Inevitability, Who Rules the Land of Denial?, Aporia and Somebody to Love.

There are also Special Features that include First Look, Ray and Nikki, Emmit Stussy and Sy Feltz, One Actor Two Characters, Gloria Burgle, Varga, Anatomy of a Scene, The Digital Age, Connectivity and References, Locations and Noah Hawley.

FARGO has become such a stellar hit for the out of the box cable channel FX. When FARGO aired it’s first season I knew there were more stories that needed to be told with an appreciation of where it could all go. The introduction of new characters each season and the return of secret favorites, it is equally amazing as I would think everyone is biting at the bit to be part of FARGO.

So that begs the question, will there be another season of FARGO? Well, FX Chief John Landgraf has said, “We haven’t heard the idea from Noah Hawley for what the fourth season would be. What we’ve encouraged Noah to do is think about it and make sure he has an idea he’s excited about.”

As vague as that may seem, I’m going to keep my hopes high and my love of FARGO open for another season no matter how long it takes. That’s how the fans I’ve spoken to feel about their FARGO fix.

In the meantime, add FARGO: Year 3 to your home entertainment library along with the first two seasons of the amazing series that has kept us all thrilled!

In the end – it’s another limb in the tree that leads to FARGO!