Cruella (Disney)

 

Cruella (Disney)

Now that Disney has dropped its  price tag of $29.99 and streamed Cruella for free, I decided to watch it. It was quite entertaining. It is a mix of camp, comedy and  darkness. This move is very un-Disney. In an early scene one character meets a disturbing demise. Disney films have dark elements. Killing Bambi’s mother, Dumbo caught in a fire and a poisoned apple are not child friendly. Cruella has the distinction of the first Disney character to use a straight razor. She must have borrowed it from John Wick. A technical point: aside from an allusion to “1,001 Dalmatians” Cruella is far different.

Emma Stone must have had a fabulous time in the role of Cruella. With all the camping there were  dramatic scenes giving  balance to the movie. Stone’s voice and posturing  were over the top but appropriate for the character. The original Cruella was a nasty. Stone plays the role more with cunning and revenge rather than cruelty. However, the three dalmatians in this film do not come off well.

Emma Thompson is the villainess as the Baroness. She must have channeled Meryl Streep from the “Devil Wears Prada” for her over the top portrayal. With her ramrod posture and barely moving lips she takes snobbery to new heights. She is a cruel and narcissistic villain.

The supporting cast is wonderful. Cruella’s two childhood friends make up her gang. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauer play two street urchins who befriend her and become her henchmen. They provide comedy to the film. Mark Strong plays his usual granite faced persona. He plays the role with usual British reserve but strongly. There are many other characters who give wonderful performances.

Couture is a big part of the film. The dresses are excessive but not totally ridiculous. They have elements of legitimate fashion. The flaming gown was marvelous. This movie has an outstanding soundtrack of 70’s songs.

Was the price reduction worth waiting for, yes.

CODA

 

CODA (Children of Deaf Adults)-Apple TV

CODA is an oasis from the current stream of mega movies of men and women in thighs trying to kill each other and bold muscle bound men driving muscle cars. The movie is tender and heart felt. It is funny and touching. For you wimps out there prepare to shed a tear.

Ruby Rossi, portrayed by Emalia Jones, is the only hearing member of her deaf family. From a young age the family depended on her as their interpreter. She works the fishing boat with her father and brother while also attending school. The irony and genius of the movie is that Rudy is a talented singer and wants to attend the elite Berklee College of Music in Boston. So how do her deaf parents appreciate her singing? That’s the tearjerker part.

Training to be a singer conflicts with her role as their interpreter. Her choir master played by Eugenio Derbez, with humor and empathy, comes off as an inflexible task master but is actually her cheer leader and supporter. Their interaction is a counter point to her responsibly to her family. The script meshes her singing ambitions with the pull of the family to keep her as their bridge to the hearing world. This is the dynamic of the movie.

The acting is outstanding. The signing is so express you almost do not need captions. Cursing and lewdness are much more graceful when signing. The movie is also funny. The deaf father likes gangster rap because he can feel the vibration of the bass.

The actors who portray Rudy’s mother, father and brother are actually deaf. Their interactions are  expressive and a joy to watch. Nothing is lost from the story due to the lack of words. CODA belongs in the same level as “Children of a Lessor God” and “The Miracle Worker”. An Academy nomination is not out of the question.

If you cannot crash with someone who has Apple TV, which is streaming CODA for free, pay for the ticket. It will be money well spent.