LATE NIGHT: Thomson and Kaling are amazingly funny !

Late Night (2019) is an American comedy-drama film directed by Nisha Ganatra from a screenplay by Mindy Kaling. Starring  Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Max Casella, Hugh Dancy and John Lithgow, the Late Night follows Katherine Newbury's path after presenting for more than 20 years an American talk show. But the show lacks of fresh air, since the screenplay has been mostly the same for 2 decades, with no one daring to advise the show-woman in making a single changement in the format. Everybody in the editorial board is to scared of Newbury's bad temperament but everything changes when a woman, the first, actually, joins the writer's team. Molly Patel is herself the light, the breath of fresh her and thanks to her contribute, the new version of the "she devil wears Prada" has found her smile back (almost).

Things that I've enjoyed: 1) Emma Thomson, Emma Thomson, Emma Thomson. Stylish, Cruel, Talented, Enchanting, Proud, Annoying... in one world, Amazing. She totally killed her role as Newbury, and, in my opinion, thanks to this interpretation, Thomson can be a strong contended in the Oscar running. Chapeau.

2) Mindy Kaling. After Ocean's 8 alongside stars like Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, in this movie, she shines. Because of the beautiful screenplay she wrote and because of her acting. Natural, effortless. Chapeau part 2.

3) I liked so much the development of the story and both Newbury and Molly's evolution. The movie is entertaining without being boring in a single moment. And funny. Oh, finally a funny movie which is not lacking a plot structure and content.

4) The relationships: the special one between Kathy and her husband, and Molly's with the boys of the writing staff.

Thing that I have not linked: 1) The boys can pooop in the boys toilet too ! HAHA, joking.

Ciak Movies's rating: 5/5 stars- TOP RATED !!

A look into... IT 2

IT 2  (2019) directed by Andi Muschietti, starring James McCoy, Jessica Chastain and Bill Hader, produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Bros.

After 27 years in the calm township of Darry, the evil clown Pennywise comes back to persecute the members of the losers club, who in the meantime have not seen each other for a long time. The club will reunite to defeat IT, but will they succeed? 

Costumes/makeup: as precise and scary as we've seen in IT

Plot: intriguing and entertaining; although the running time is 169 minutes, the rhythm is quite dynamic

Camera's effects and suspense: a lot of unpredictables close ups in the moments of high tension. 

Ciak Movie rating: 3/5- enjoyable as IT the first 

Micol Sartori 

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Once upon a time... in Hollywood -> EXCLUSIVE REVIEW

Once upon a time... in Hollywood (2019) directed by Quentin Tarantino, starring Leonardo di Caprio, Bred Pitt, Margot Robbie and Sidney Sweeney. 

Once upon a time... in Hollywood is set at the end of Hollywood golden age, in 1969. Rick, the protagonist, is an actor who has always played the part of the nemesis in historical movies or westerns-Bounty Law-is  the one who killed and, at the end, is defeated by the good one. Rick is getting old, and is career is going through the “sunset bulevard” because of the repetition of his role: for this reason, he is frustrated and believes he and his stuntman Cliff, need a turning point, in order to survive. But Rick's whole life seems drafted out of a western... isn't it? 

Tarantino is exploring deeply the friendship between Rick and Cliff, which is not so usual in the studios system: Cliff loves Rick sincerely and is not enveying Rick relative success nor behind his shadow for the whole life. In fact, Cliff takes care of Rick, drives him around because he hasn’t a driving license anymore and so on. So an interesting question may come to mind: who is enjoying more life at Cielo blvd? Tarantino goes through the fast of a mediocre career, where the idea of success is more in light than the success itself. 

And so is the case of the beautiful Sharon Tate, Roman Polski’s wife and an Hollywood starlet who is willing to become the next Diva. Tarantino’s camera lingers on her, focuses on her legs while she’s walking around LA and her lovely smiles. Sharon is so glad she’s in that world she goes to the local theatre and watch herself on the silver screen, even if nobody recognizes her. But she’s young and fearless, the image of a world of talent and possibilities, disrupted in a terrible way, in a terrible night. 

Roman Polanski is only an appearance who, in my opinion needed more exploration. Interesting is the link between Cliff, George, Charlie Manson and his gang of hippies - which is briefly mentioned but has a particular result in the development of the storyline. 

There are so many things I liked about this movie. 

• First of all the '60s vintage setting with the costumes, particularly Cliff's Hawaiian shirt, the posters along Cielo blvd and the cars. 
• Then, a Tarantino's obsession for feet: in many shots, the camera is focusing on the women's feet as a sign of sensuality and of "nudity" of the character. Subtle. 
• The ridicule of martial arts with an hilarious scene. 
• Di Caprio and Pitt scenes together

The thing that mostly disappointed me is Margot Robbie role as Sharon. She has been reduced in a role similar to the one she holds in The Wolf of Wall Street. And I would have add some speed at some scenes. 

Once upon a time... in Hollywood is Tarantino's 9th movie. And we freaking love it !

Ciak movie rating: 5/5 - one of the best of the year ! 

Micol Sartori 

VFF Exclusive: the YP2 reviewed !

The 1st September 2019 was a special day at the Venezia Film Festival: the Laundromat (with Meryl Streep) was presented, and so the Young Pope 2 by Paolo Sorrentino. I had the opportunity to watch the unveiled episodes 02x02 and 02x07.

Comment: What I liked about the first season of the YP was pope Lenny (Jude Law) being out of every imaginable scheme- a cherry Coke for breakfast? After suffering an heart attack, the pope is still unconscious in bed and Voiello and the pope's staff is searching for a substitute. An English gentleman is identified as a moderate substitute and in episode 02 we get to know this man and his family history. As time passes (ep 07), Larry wakes up and discovers he has lost is predominant position in the Vatican City. But the Saint Pope is no longer so extrovert and dynamic as we may be expected after watching this sneak peek...

Director Sorrentino has chosen an unexpected return to normality and the YP now, seems to me more classifiable as a church-genre telefilm than an open critic to some outdates laws and rules of the Vatican state and clergy. A little time is left to irony and the entertainment suffers this returning to "the clear path". 

Ciak Movie review: 3/5

Ciak Movie's worst 3 outfits from the VFF red carpet

Well, well, well. Not always "red carpet" is synonymous to "classy good looking outfit". Here, we have chosen the worst 3 we have seen this days in Venice...

And we begin with...

JUDE LAW 

Is that really Dickie Greenlaf?  (Law's character in The Talented Mr Rypley) Definitely not ! The (usually) handsome American actor Jude Law has failed this red carpet call completely. The full Armani's outfit, which in my opinion was loosely sporty didn't save the actor's charm... plus, you do need an haircut, mr Law ! Vote: 5/10

The second fail goes to... 

BENJI AND BELLA THORNE

The Italian starlets Benji and Bella, were applauded by the fans besides their couple's epic fail in the Red Carpet. Benji boots are unbelievably sloppy , and Bella's dress... touches one of the highest points of ugliness. Vote: 4/10

And the scepter of desperation goes to... 

ELETTRA LAMBORGHINI

Do we really need to comment ? Vote: 2/10

Micol Sartori 

Ciak Movie's top 3 outfits from the VFF red carpet

The Venezia Film Festival is well-known also for the red carpet appearances. Ciak Movies has chosen the best 3 outfits (since Thursday 3rd September) and the worst 3.

And  THE WINNER IS...

KRISTEN STEWART 

                     

For the presentation of her movie Seberg, the british actress wore a beautiful red coral couture Chanel, with a long gown and full coverage on the bust. Her unexpected feminine chic look was welcome with hestatics applauses; the look is completed with a rock hairstyle (as she as accustomed us) and a decisive makeup, with dark eyeliner and pink ombretto. Vote: 10/10. 

The SILVER MEDAL goes to... 

CATE BLANCHETT 

When in a fashionable event, queen Cate is implacable. Once again, the 50 years old Australian actress, who was at the VFF as Giorgio Armani's world ambassador, has enchanted each one of the fans, while stepping on the red carpet of Joker's premiere, wearing a dark strapless dress by Armani, with silver stripes enriched by pink beads. The natural makeup (Armani Beauty) completed the look with a beautiful pair of limited edition maya earrings. The grace that Cate beholds, was a plus. We have given her the 2nd place because she hasn't risk anything this time. Vote: 9/10.

And the 3rd PLACE goes to... 

mr. BRAD PITT 

We know. There were a lot of beautiful women, that needed a mention. There were Timotèe Chalet and Joaquin Phoenix, as well. Instead, we have chosen the fascinating, evergreen handsome Brad Pitt. In this suit, Brad has lit the red carpet for his newest movie Ad Astra, where he plays the astronaut Roy McBride ( the movie will come in theaters from the 26th of October). This fall will be the season of the American actor: finally Tarantino's Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (with Leo Di Caprio and Margot Robbie), will be released in Italy too. 

Micol Sartori 

An inside look: the 76th Venezia Film Festival

As a junior journalist, this year I had the opportunity to accomplish one of the greatest dreams of a movie lover, that is to say going to the Venice Film Festival with my first press pass. When the VFF staff had approved my request, I was fulfilled with excitement. Since I am a freelance (yeah, unfortunately entering a registered magazine is quite difficult), I had to organize all the trip on my own. So, this is, truly, a labour of love. The one and only love of my life, the cinema screen.

But, let's start with the beginning. The Venezia Film Festival, one of the competition organized by the  Biennale artistic org. (among these, the architecture exhibition and the art expo are the most well known), the VFF is located at the beautiful exclusive island of the Lido, in the Venice gulf. 

The entrance of the VFF, strictly under the security control, was just in front of the Lido's beautiful beaches, which every year attract thousands of tourist form all over the world because of its charm. 

The Mostra Internazionale del Cinema, every year presents the premiere of some expected movies: the 76th VFF was definitely the year of Joker - plus Ad Astra and the Laundromat. And I was lucky enough to attend the newest Joaquin Phoenix's movie red carpet (on 31th august at 6.30 pm). 

The  marvelous Cate Blanchett opened the Joker's red carpet: here is she, the Queen, in an asymetrical bob-rock hairstyle, embodying an enchanting black Armani Privè. And if you look carefully behind her left elbow, there I am, in a red dress. 

And, right after, the cast. After the director Todd Phillips, the probably contended of the Oscar statuette, Joaquin Phoenix. In this pic, he was probably glancing at her fiancée and actress Rooney Mara, in a beautiful Givenchy dress, as we can imagine from the border of this pic (taken by me). 

The public premiere aired in Sala Grande (the historical theatre of the VFF), at 7.15 pm. This picture is taken from the distinguished visitor's gallery, where hosts like Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara and the Italian star Michelle Hunziker set. The movie received 8 minutes of applauses ! 

Micol Sartori 

  

Red Sea Diving Resort (2019) memo: don't forget about refugees !

It's coming usual, opening Netflix and finding interesting movies, produced by Indie companies that the famous streaming platform is willing to launch. The latest is called Red Sea Diving Resort (2019), production company the Bron Studios, directed by Gideon Raff and starring Chris Evans, Micheal K. Williams and Haley Bennett.

The film, which refers to the 1984-85 so called Operation Moses and Operation Joshua, when the Israelian government evaqueted towsands of Ethiopians Jews, who suffered about prosecutions in the North-est of Africa. 

The movie follows the actions of Kabede Bimro, an Ethiopian Jew and the Israelian Mossad (the secret services) agent Ari Levison (Evans), whilst they plan an huge evacuation plan to help the Ethiopians Jews entering Israel through the Sudanese coasts. To do so, the Mossad decided to redeem the Red Sea Diving hotel, which is situated on a beautiful coastal area and was abandoned by the Italian staff. Levison and his team of agents decide to use the hotel as the core of the logistical operations. The structure, which also welcomed some real tourists, in the night transformed into the "bus terminal" of the needy population, which secretly transferred the jews to the nearest refugees-camps and then, after the improvement of the "working method", directly to the Sudanese coast, where some ships wait for the refugees to jump in. 

The thing that I have liked about this movie is the balance between the action-full of risk scenes of the evacuations, and the normal life enjoyable times of the team in the hotel. 
But, of course, the state of war cannot be so without a powerful nemesis. In this case, the Mossad team had to face the outrages of the Sudanese army, followed by a line of violence and fear. Although a  fundamental role is played by the CIA officer Walter Bowen, who helped to complete the operation, the movie is intended to be a full recognition of the Israelis merit of saving human lives. 

The message of Red Sea Diving is invoked repeatedly by Kabede, saying "there are much more". And cannot be so current, considering the red light for emergencies in the Mediterranean area. 


Ciak movie review: 4/5 stars.


(pictures credits)



Micol Sartori