Cyrano

It's been a hot minute since I've seen a movie like this.

I am more concerned less of my own opinion and instead how much exposure this movie will get. This might be the most difficult sell of the year, it's a romance movie wrapped in a period piece with synchronized dancing segments and people expressing their feelings through the power of their voice. It's a musical. Not only that but it does take a super flowery, nary a drop of cynicism or pessimism, classical take on love. So the story is a love triangle between a young lady named Roxanne, a soldier named Christian, and the captain of the guard the eponymous Cyrano. Cyrano has always admired Roxanne from afar but she professes her love to Christian in true love at first sight fashion, and she orders Cyrano to look after him and to make him write her letters. But our Christian has no merit with words so Cyrano writes for him. Basic romance stuff, but done I felt very very well. Maybe it's just the theater kid in me but I was rolling with this movie incredibly well. The setting in France with the buildings, fashion, and cinematography look expertly crafted and beautiful to boot. I thought our main cast of players did a cracking good job with the material juggling drama, romance, and even a good bit of comedy in it and I have to admit the singing was pretty good as well. I didn't really know Peter Dinklage could sing but I was happily surprised and thought he did quite well, but Haley Bennett was the shining star in terms of vocals. Again, my opinion means little because of the particular movie it is. Musicals are hard sellers, but the sheer fact that in 2022 a movie comes along with musical numbers, theatrical drama, and truly old fashioned stances on romance is something that I must admire. Not many people would direct and star in such motion pictures, but they did it adamantly and sincerely. For that it has my respect. And shocker I with great ease was pulling Phantom connections, the most prominent one was a chinese iteration of the Phantom called Song At Midnight, where a similar plot development occurs. A "disfigured" man adores a woman from afar and uses a handsome man to speak through to win her affection, it's almost beat for beat. But honestly, Cyrano is a movie with ample heart, great craftsmanship, and no doubt will have a strong fanbase with drama and theater going folk. I dare even say it could fish an Oscar next year. 4 stars, 8/10.

Darkest Hour

And so we come full circle.

Darkest Hour chronicles the first 19 days of Prime Minister Winston Churchill as he tries to deal with the Dunkirk rescue as we saw, constant appeals to surrender to Germany, and trying to maintain his reputation and the security of The United Kingdom. It is a very good movie to say the least and I've never seen Winston in much, so to learn more about his term and an almost impossible victory which he helped achieve was a treat. Gary Oldman really got him down, like I even need to say that! Gary Oldman can play any part and make it different from his last. I believe he was nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance and I can see why! He is not an invicible figure, he has a hard time trying to sort out the problems, there is a lot of discussion about their situation but it's never boring because if you're like me and don't know much about his service it is very engaging. And I do think that it brings a lot more weight to the movie Dunkirk, because you see the effort that got those men off the beach and back home. The film is visually striking and has one of the best openings to a war movie I've ever seen, so the film looks great. Supporting cast, especially with Lily James is great, she brings such emotion and tact to the role, plus I just love seeing Ben Mendelsohn again it's good to know he still holds a seat of high power in an empire after Tarkin took the Death Star away. If war films or drama pieces on historical figures are your cup of tea, I do suggest you see Darkest Hour. I didn't think much of it when I saw the trailer but I'm very happy I saw it. Next week though, I think we will fall down the familiar rabbit hole of more cult movies so until then KBO.