House Of Gucci Cert: 15, 2hrs 37mins
Rating: 
Encanto Cert: PG, 1hr 39mins
Rating: 
Christmas with a Boy Cert: PG, 1hr 46mins
Rating:
Sometimes, there are times when it is hard to know what you should do. House Of Gucci resembles more than anything else is an episode of the old 1980s soap opera Dynasty.
You certainly can’t take your eyes off the clothes, the hair and the deadly leading lady, but deep down you just know it’s not very good. Now say that in a cod-Italian accent – eetza not verry good-a – and you begin to see the generally disastrous idea.
Having dealt with the Gettys – and the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in Rome in 1973, in particular – in his 2017 film All The Money In The World, Ridley Scott returns to strikingly similar territory with House Of Gucci.
All principal characters except Patrizia (Lady Gaga), were born in Italy. But here, presumably in search of cheap laughs or extra Italian-ness, they all speak in English
It’s obviously about the Italian fashion house but it deals primarily with events leading up to the murder of Maurizio Gucci – grandson of the company’s founder – in 1995.
It is true that it does tell a story of passion, greed, intrigue and jealousy. But it deserves better than what it gets.
First, the accents. All the principal characters – Maurizio (Adam Driver), his wife Patrizia (Lady Gaga), his father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons) and his uncle Aldo (Al Pacino) – were Italian by birth.
The would have communicated in Italian. Scott decided that Scott would speak English to them all, but they’d have to use Italian accents.
The cast speak in accents with varying degrees of enthusiasm – from Jeremy Irons’s hardly at all to Jared Leto’s (above, playing Aldo’s son, Paolo) way, way too much
The cast throw themselves into this task with varying degrees of enthusiasm – from Irons’s hardly at all to Jared Leto’s (he’s playing Aldo’s son, Paolo) way, way too much, via Lady Gaga’s surprisingly Slavic-sounding take.
Yes, the great Ridley Scott has gone full ’Allo, ’Allo!
Add to that the marathon running time of over two-and-a half hours, the creative tone which lurches from serious drama and high comedy, and the outrageous performances by Leto and Pacino, and it becomes clear how big the problem is.
Lady Gaga still looks stunning and Salmahayek’s parallel mud-bath scene with her clairvoyant is an absolute hoot.
The film’s screenplay is a joke, and there are scenes in which Scott, Irons, Pacino seem to forget the end. This film is very strange and extremely disappointing.
Encanto It is Walt Disney’s 60th animated feature film and continues its Pixar-related work in reaching out for demographics previously overlooked.
This is Colombia where the Madrigal families have settled since fleeing oppression.
But the Madrigals didn’t settle just anywhere; they live in a magical house protected by a magical candle that also grants each Madrigal a special gift.
Luisa is strong and Isabela beautiful, on the other hand, can bloom flowers at will. Stephanie Beatriz voices Mirabel as their only sister.
Perhaps it is the moment when her house and magical abilities suddenly start to fade that this could be her turning point?
You can count on this album to bring you a pleasant afternoon, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The animation is colorful and the messages are about the importance extended families.
It does, however, lack a certain magic despite its many magical themes.
Small children are equally secure Christmas with a BoyThe story is a fun and unusual Finnish Christmas tale for younger children. It involves a boy who bravely overcomes a monster, a mouse that talks, and a grudging reindeer.
Their parents have the option to spend time with their children, or they can play spot the star. There’s Maggie Smith as a dreaded aunt, Jim Broadbent as a Finnish king, Toby Jones and Sally Hawkins as elves… and yes, apparently that really is Kristen Wiig in a minor aunt role.
It’s quite bizarre.