The Force re-awakens
It’s been 41 years, but this epic sci-fi saga remains one of the most successful franchises in film history.
In this second spin-off adventure (following Rogue One… in 2016), a young new actor, Alden Ehrenreich, steps into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon in place of Harrison Ford, who had owned the role since 1977.
We follow him as he flees his home planet in pursuit of his lady love (Emilia Clarke). Embarking on a series of interplanetary missions as a smuggler, Solo meets his future Wookiee cohort Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and teams up with a band of career criminals led by a notorious mercenary (Woody Harrelson).
The film has had a troubled production history. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were divested of directorial duties after they had already shot substantial portions of the film. (Incidentally, the protracted opening scenes set in a dystopian cityscape are so dimly lit that it is often difficult to figure out what’s going on.)
Assigned as their replacement, Ron Howard (Rush, Frost/nixon, Apollo 13) brings his high-energy style to the proceedings. The script by father-son duo Lawrence and Jonathan Kasdan is a canny cross between a Western and a heist caper, replete with twists and turns.
Maintaining a fine balance of action and humour, Howard also manages to adroitly juggle a vast number of new characters, among them a delightful droid companion (voiced by Phoebe Waller-bridge) who when asked if he needs anything replies, “Equal rights”.
Overall Solo… leaves one yearning for further exploits, in that galaxy far, far away…
parks were expected to fly as four veteran actresses got together for the first time in their careers. Unfortunately, even Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen (the only one of the four leading ladies to have not snagged an Oscar as yet) can’t inject much life into this flaccid account of septuagenarians trying to spice up their sex lives.
The women are lifelong friends who meet once a month in an informal book club that’s more an excuse to guzzle wine and discuss raunchy bestsellers like
Fifty Shades of Grey.
The storyline is replete with clichés and contrivances. A free-spirited singleton (Fonda) is de facto leader of the group; she chances upon an old flame (Don Johnson, dapper as ever) 40 years after a no-strings-attached dalliance.
Her recently widowed pal (Keaton) meets cute with a wealthy airline pilot (Andy Garcia), much to the consternation of her two grown daughters. A frustrated housewife (Steenburgen) laces her husband’s beer with Viagra in the hopes of rekindling his beneath-the-sheets mojo.
A divorced federal judge (a pitch-perfect Bergen) finds an unlikely soulmate (an almost unrecognisable Richard Dreyfuss) via an online dating service.
Debutant director Bill Holderman keeps the narrative plodding along, but joylessly. The script pays lip service to issues of ageism and sexism but does little to change the narrative.
Despite the earnest efforts of its iconic ensemble cast, Book Club is unimpressive.