ALICE, DARLING

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Mary Nighy and Lionsgate is the story of losing one’s self in love with ALICE, DARLING.

Alice (Anna Kendrick) is a very busy working woman who is in love with boyfriend Simon (Charlie Carrick). Planning a girl-getaway birthday are friends Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn) and Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku). Struggling to find a way to please both Simon and the girls, Alice makes an excuse to be away for a week.

Staying at a beautiful lake side cabin, Alice cannot seem to find peace. Instead, she is struggling with her friendships and cannot stay away from her phone for more than a few minutes. Tess and Sophie notice immediately that something is not right with their friend. Trying to talk with her about it only causes even more strain in their relationships.

Alice tries to lose herself by helping the townsfolk with a missing person. Spending her day wandering through the forest keeps her from dealing with the reality. Tess isn’t about to let it ride and Alice finally lets out what is trapping her true self – a possessive boyfriend and the fear that it has brought to her life.

Then Simon shows up.

Kendrick as Alice gives the right performance here. She has the unique ability to be sarcastic and all the same time be so vulnerable. The comfortability with her friends is angst palpable which hides her fears and anxiety of her life. When Alice does have a chance to let loose, Kendrick embraces that freedom but it is only brief. This is an interesting character for Kendrick, I do wish it had been explored more as it felt mere surface.

Mosaku as Sophie is trying to keep the girls from going off on each other while also having a wonderful mini- vacation. She also knows something is wrong with Alice but is not sure how to handle it. Once she realizes the depth of Alice’s pain, she also knows what needs to happen and is there for her friend. Mosaku is straight forward as much as Horn and that’s everything.

Horn as Tess seems to be the thorn in Alice’s side and she knows it. Trying to reach her friend is proving difficult but Tess is not a push over. Horn is strong and does not take any nonsense and equally shocked to hear the struggles Alice has been going through. Now her guard is up and her eyes are giving off Mama Bear vibes when Simon shows up. Horn is the friend we all want but are a little bit afraid of – always a good thing.

Carrick as Simon is portrayed in a way that would make every person watching know that he has one goal – total possession of Alice in every way, shape and form. Carrick gives us the charming, smiling, attentive and ‘loving’ boyfriend but each move Simon makes deliberate and with purpose. Well done.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

ALICE, DARLING has been nominated by the CMPA IndieScreen Awards and nominated with the Jordan Ressler First Feature Award for director Mary Nighy.

This film addresses the issue of one person doing a job controlling every aspect of another person’s life. That being said, I truly wish they would have delved deeper into that issue without the side story of a missing girl which really doesn’t play itself out and seems more a distraction. Watching Kendrick portray this struggling young woman is painful to watch at moments.

When Kendricks’ Alice finally talks about what she is going through, Mosaku and Horn are all in with their friend. Knowing something is wrong and finally discovering what it is, neither woman could have guessed it but know how to stop it even if Alice can’t.

In the end – sometimes the hardest thing to see is the truth!

Disney+ and Marvel Studios Has Finally Arrived with LOKI

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently streaming on Disney+, Marvel Studios and creator Michael Waldron is the series with one of my personal favorite characters because, well, he is LOKI.

After the Endgame and with the tesseract in the hands of Loki (Tom Hiddleston), he is picked up quickly by a mysterious military. Of course, Loki being the god of mischief is not thrilled at all by their pushiness, calling him a variant and learning about time variants. Quickly he discovers that he is to stand trial for some of his antics.

Standing in front of a judge, Loki tries to charm judge Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) with “madam, a god doesn’t plead” which does not help his cause. Morbius (Owen Wilson) watches with a keen eye at Loki’s reaction to blaming the Avengers for his troubles. Getting Renslayer to agree to begrudgingly allow Loki to help the TVA (Time Variance Authority).

Morbius spends time with Loki explaining the TVA and showing him things that he would rather not see. Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) is not at all happy with the decision, but it gives the god of mischief time to do what he has always done – get into more trouble. What he discovers is that he is now part of the TVA world.

Now, Loki is sent into the world to hunt one of the most ruthless variants of all! 

Hiddleston picks up the mantle of Loki with such ease or maybe it is just that I am thrilled to see both he and the character again. Personally, I think it is a lot of both and I am just a bag of giggles watching every moment. I truly believe that Hiddleston must be enjoying his time as Loki as it shows in every step he takes in the role and in every frame. From the moments where his emotions betray his usual narcissism to Loki expanding his own universe of narcissism, Hiddleston just makes us all love a character that we probably should not.

Sitting in the front row when he attended San Diego Comic Con International in July 2013, his speech had all 7,000 Hall H attendees on their feet screaming with joy and chanting the name of Loki. Hiddleston was in full regalia with a mischievous smile and a playfulness that gave us all a moment of ‘glorious purpose’. Now, the series LOKI is going to give us what we need – and that is more of the god of mischief.

Wilson as Morbius sees something in Loki that most just want to evaporate from existence. Calling Loki out on his mischief and the trouble he has caused through time, Wilson turns on the psychology charm. When that does not work, shock does and now Morbius has a way to reach Loki while still allowing Loki to be, well Loki. Wilson gives his character a patience that might give him a medal for sainthood and a calmness that is the opposite of Loki. The two play off each other and Wilson is very, very cool. 

Mbatha-Raw as Renslayer is not happy about Morbius’ request but for now she is willing to see where it goes. It is nice to see Mbatha-Raw in a strong role and I think we will see that story play out as well. I mean come on, it probably will not be the last time she sees Loki in her courtroom. Mosaku as Hunter B-15 has Loki’s number but would rather have his head on a platter. She is good at her job and Mosaku gives her character authority and a sense of duty. I am enjoying the give and take between she and Hiddleston and suspect I will see much more of it.

Disney+ is the subscription home streaming entertainment with Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more. There are exclusive originals with new feature films, shows, short form content, documentaries, and actions series such as THE MANDALORIAN. For more information, please visit www.disneyplus.com.

Marvel Studios has released sixteen films since 2008 in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is built on a library of over eight thousand characters featured in a variety of media content for over seventy years. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.marvel.com.

LOKI has started out the timeline-variant-gate catching my attention quickly. As much as I enjoyed WANDA VISION, I can not wait to see where Disney and Marvel take the usual unpredictably predictable Loki and what fun there is to be had.

So far, the beginning cast is setting the groundwork for adventure and a reason to turn in weekly. Of course, I wish I could binge watch the whole season but there is something to be said for looking forward to the next chapter in the Loki saga.

Disney+ and Marvel have partnered to do amazing things for the streaming service, and it is so much fun to watch television with the family again. Seeing everything they have to offer on the big screen in my home make for a reason to gather together. We gather for a bite to eat and then popcorn ready to cheer on all our heroes and even a mischievous bit of a villain like LOKI.  

In the end – the world Loki wanted to dominate has just changed up on him!