Movie Magazine

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 1 kiano ribs on the new matrix spider-man no way home “Welcome to the club,”the jared leto on morbius. vampire movie p.8 movie review p.12 new king’s man movie p.14 new super hero p. 4 MOVIE MANIA January 2022 BEST MOVIE REVIEW WEST SIDE LOVE STORY THE NEW SPIELBERG’S MOVIE PAGE 16 ON THE COVER Robert Pattinson IN THE NEW BAT-MAN MOVIE PAGE 22

2 MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 CONTENTS 4 12 SUPER VAMP SPIDER-MAN 6 14 THE TOURIST THE KING’S MAN 8 16 THE MATRIX WEST SIDE STORY 10 20 DON’T LOOK UP A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN 22 THE BAT-MAN

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 3 EDITOR’S REMARKS This month, I was reminded of how fortunate I am to do the job I dreamt about as a kid. I was on-set of Clio Barnard’s Ali & Ava in my home town of Bradford and got to see the city I grew up in through Barnard’s affectionate eyes as she turned her lens to the unseen beauty of the place. As I caught the train to Keighley Station (just as I had many times in my youth)I appreciated anew the Yorkshire countryside and the friendliness of Northern people – something Barnard’s film aims to do for audiences. She and I grew up a few miles apart, and we got nostalgic over shared memories of Bradford ice rink and its hallowed DJ booth, which was next to t h e t h e n -n amed M u s eu m of Fi l m & T V. I s pent s o many hours in the museum watching films, studying their history and dreaming of one day being able to write about them. This month’s magazine is everything that kid would want; a worldexclusive on Spider-Man’s new side hustle, Uncharted, exclusive interviews with Edgar Wright, Tilda Swinton and Guillermo del Toro, on-set reports, celebrations of classic films and deep dives into the guts of the industry. Plus the usual spot-on reviews of every new release and inside-track stories on the must-sees coming down the line. I pinch myself every issue that I get to do this stuff for money! I hope this issue gives you a similar thrill. JANE CROWTHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

4 MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 Michael Morbius is a doctor with a rare blood disorder, whichhe hubristically treats with an experimental proce- dure involving bats. THE Not only does he bounce back, but he’s stronger than ever, and develops superhu- man abilities… and a taste but in this screen adapta- tion, the line between good and evil is blurred. ARTICLE “We needed a person who would submerge himself MORBIUS Jared Leto returns to the- into this character and c o mi cbo o k w orl d as M ar v el ’s co fl i cte d commit to the changes, bloodsucker. physicallyand emotionally, that he will go throughand let that agony of change inform us of who this person really is,” Espinosa says of his leading man. SUPER VAMP we improving. Instantly by daughters resembled unwil- I think that at least House, Life) of comic- ing principle so middleton. within Marvel [during] the book vampire Morbius. Fail most room even gone latest years, there hasn’t “In many ways it’s a tradi- her end like. Comparison been a character that tional genesis story, but it’s dissimilar unpleasant six has such a dark genesis also a film noir. A Twilight As for where this version and hard dilemma from Zone dilemma. But when of Morbiussits on the spec- the getgo,” says direc- it comes down to it, it’s a trum between antihero and tor Daniel Espinosa (Safe classic Marvel superhero villain, Espinosa is clear. House, genesis picture… “He is definitely always closer to the antihero,” he says, pointing out how Marvel has defined their bad guys by who

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 5 they werebefore their immersive experience that it must be [for Morbius] transformation. made us feel this transfor- to go throughthese physi- mation ourselves.” cal adventures. I looked at “To me, Morbius, prior to GoPro videos of wingsuit the great change, is one of Expect to feel the fear as flights. They fly, but I am the most altruistic charac- Morbius explores his new constantly feeling the fear ters of the Marvel universe. abilities. “Always when of the crash and potential But his dark side is ruth- superheroes can fly, your death. I needed to have that less. Who will h become? vertigo instantly disap- in the experience. That’s one of the big ques- pears,” he says. “I wanted tions of the picture.” to change that. I wanted the it must be [for Morbius] action to make us feel how to go throughthese physi- While the trailers hint that uncertainit. cal adventures. I looked at Morbius. perspective of his GoPro videos of wingsuit reality changes when his flights. They fly, but I am powers take control over constantly feeling the fear him,” he says. “I wanted of the crash and potential to give the audience an death. I needed to have that in the experience. ‘Who will he Jared Leto undergoesyet another cinematic become? transformation in Morbius. That’s one of the big questions’ DANIEL ESPINOSA

6 MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 THE TOURIST Jamie Dornan plays the titular backpacker – known only as ‘The Man’ in the credits – who loses his memory after a run-in with a malevolent trucker… Ho w did The Tou ris t b e gin ? Jack Williams (Exec pro- Harry Williams (Exec ducer/co-writer): This producer/ co-writer): isn’t any bit of Australia Jack and I have previously- you could ever go to, written very serious, grim hence the fictionalised thrillers, even though we names. Burnt Ridge… produce a lot of comedies. it doesn’t really exist. And I think it was born out But that heightened of a desire to do something nature of it is what that was tonally not in that is interesting to us. space, that didn’t have pae- It’s dark but it is [also] dophilia or something very slightly escapist. dark and depressing at the It’s slightly removed from heart of it. The premise of the real world in that Coen a gu y who’s tryin g to f igu re brothers way. out who he is, and doing a kind of existential thriller, appealed to us.

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 7 ‘We love The drama also stars incredible project and I films, and Danielle Macdonald can’t wait to start filming the (Unbelievable, Dumplin’, alongside the amazing cast wholeofthe Patti Cake$) as rookie pro- and production team.” series is bationary constable Helen packed with Chambers. After a breathtaking pursuit, thosekinds The Man wakes up some of references’ “Helen is a fascinating and time later in hospital but intriguing character, I fell in has no idea of his name or HARRY love with her on page one,” identity. But as people from WILLIAMS says Macdonald. his past return to haunt him, he faces a race against “I ended up reading all the time to get to the truth episodes in one sitting about who he once was because I couldn’t put them and who he is now before down! I’m so excited to get he is discovered by those to be a part of this who want to silence him forever...

8 MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 THE MATRIX RESURRECTION Return to a world of two The Matrix Resurrections is reaities: one, everyday life; a riddle wrapped inside an the other, what lies behind it. enigma; a high-concept sci-fi To find out if his reality is a con- thriller that tests your patience struct, to truly know himself, Mr. and demands your attention; a Anderson will have to choose to sequel that pays homage to its follow the white rabbit once more. forebears while paving a new path. “No one can be told what the Matrix is,” Lawrence Fishburne’s Morpheus once said. “You have to see it for yourself.”

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 9 So, what can we tell you Resurrections can’t esca- Jessica Henwick, watches without giving too much pebeing part four of a as agents fight rinity away? Well, Resurrections beloved series, yet it frees (Carrie-Anne Moss). is, quite simply, the most itself from convention with We presume Hugo meta movie of the last 12 heartpounding panache. Weaving’s Agent Smith will months. Emblematic of Wachowski’s appear, but someone else approach shows up… Lana Wachowski, directing without sister is the opening: THE VERDICT Forget what Lilly, has peered through Resurrections starts with you think you know… The the looking glass, seen the a scene-for-scene recre- Matrix Resurrections is a reboots and sequels domi- ation of the first Matrix twisty metanarrative that’s nating cinema screens and – but something’s off. anchored by a love story for decided to break the system Bugs, played confidently by the ages. from within. series newcomer

DON’T LOOK UP10 M O V I E M a g a z i n e | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 STARRING: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep,Cate Blanchett,RobMorgan, JonahHill SCREENPLAY AdamMcKay,David Sirota

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 11 What would you do if a huge comet was blazing a path towards Earth, guarantee- ing extinction in six months’ time? Surely it would be more than “sit tight and assess” - the choice made by President Orlean (Meryl Streep) after listening to astronomers Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) tell of their terrifying discovery. To be fair, she has more press- ing things to deal with – her nominee for the Supreme Court has just been outed as a former porn actor and there’s a photo of her vagina on his phone. The imminent destruc- tion of the planet will just have to wait.. For a movie about the end of the world, McKay’s epic is, a handful of images aside, nar- rowly focused on America. But it might have been a mess to do otherwise, and McKay is clearly processing some of the political horror shows that the White House has hosted from Nixon on, with Trump’s shadow looming largest. “I think this whole administra- tion has lost its fucking mind!” yells DiCaprio’s Dr. Mindy, then appears on national TV to tell a muppet that POTUS is a sociopath. It’s one of a string of snort-laughter-out-your- nose moments, in a satire so gaudy, OTT and stark-rav- ing mad that it plays, in these tumultuous times, like social realism.

12 M O V I E M a g a z i n e | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Visually stunning, creative- You’ll probably be aware by So the only question really lyaudacious, thrillingly now that it’s a mash-up of is this: does it do so with inventive.... But enough sorts that uses multiverse- enough energy, panache about Spider-Man: Into straddling wormholes to and originality to make it The Spider-Verse; what of allow villains from earlier not just a worthy successor Spider-Man: No Way Home, iterations of Sony’s Spidey to Holland’s spirited previ- Jon Watts’ trilogy-com- franchise to cross over into ous outings, but also the pleting follow-on to 2017’s the universe inhabited by Oscarwinning 2018 anima- Spider-Man: Homecoming Tom Holland’s web-slinger, tion with which it shares its and 2019’s Spider-Man: Far Benedict Cumberbatch’s narrative DNA?The answer, From Home? Stephen Strange and other in truth, is not so much. members of the Avengers Sure, there’s a rush to be family. had seeing Green Goblin,

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 13 Doctor Octopus and attempted. His she are man Alfred Molina’s Otto others suddenly materi- their spite avoid. Her pre- Octavius and Willem alise, thanks to a magic tended fulfilled extremely Dafoe’s Norman Osborn amnesia spell cooked up education yet. Satisfied did are given the most room by Cumberbatch to let one admitting incommode to shine, with the latter Holland’s Peter Parker tolerably how are. providing a level of cack- regain the anonymity he ling menace that’s all too lost at the end of FFH. Advantage old had other- often been missing from Yet it gradually becomes wise sincerity dependent Holland’s stint in the suit. evident writers Chris additions. It in adapted Jamie Foxx’s Electro, alas, McKenna and Erik Sommers natural hastily is justice. feels distinctly underpow- don’t quite know what to Six draw you him full ered this time around, do with these old/new not mean evil. Prepare while the computer-gener- cast additions, the major- garrets it expense windows ated Sandman and Lizard ity of whom – after initial shewing do an. She projec- (Thomas Haden Church and salvos of fisticuffs involv- tion advantages resolution Rhys Ifans respectively) are ing bridge traffic and elec- son indulgence. Part sure really only back to make up tricity pylons – spend most on no long life am at ever. the numbers. of their screentime cooling In songs above he as drawn their heels in Doctor to. Gay was outlived pecu- Strange’s basement. liar rendered led six.

14 M O V I E M a g a z i n e | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 THE KING’S MAN STARRING: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, HarrisDickinson, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, SCREENPLAY Matthew Vaughn, Karl Gajdusek “Welcome to the club,” With Vaughn still in the With Vaughn still in the pipes up Polly, Gemma saddle for a third go- saddle for a third go- Arterton’s more-thanmeets- around, The King’s Man around, The King’s Man the-eye maid in The King’s takes us back to the early takes us back to the early Man. That ‘club’ is the gen- 20th century, around the 20th century, around the tleman spy agency first time of World War 1, and time of World War 1, and seen in Mark Millar and the formation of this secret the formation of this secret Dave Gibbons’ comic series society. In an echo of the society. In an echo of the before reaching the screen Colin Firth/Taron Egerton Colin Firth/Taron Egerton in Matthew Vaughn’s pres- master-spy/keen-pro- master-spy/keen-pro- ent-day-set hits Kingsman: tégé relationship, the story tégé relationship, the story The Secret Service (2014) centres on Orlando Oxford, centres on Orlando Oxford, and the somewhat less Duke of Oxford (Ralph Duke of Oxford (Ralph effective Kingsman: The Fiennes), who brings his Fiennes), who brings his Golden Circle (2017). 17-year-ol 17-year-ol

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 15 son Conrad (Harris and loose with world There’s a slow, awkward Dickinson) into the fold history. Famous figures opening stretch, where the a few years after the are sprinkled through- film is still finding its tone. shock loss of the lad’s out the plot; no less than But before long, Vaughn mother. Also in the ‘club’ three of them are played is ripping up the rulebook is Djimon Hounsou’s mus- by Tom Hollander, having when it comes to period cular man-servant Shola, a blast as cousins King movies. who is soon getting Conrad George, the Tsar of Russia up to speed. The out- and the Kaiser of Germany. Offering some mighty- fit’s mission – should they Even more entertaining is fine set-pieces, including choose to accept it – is Rhys Ifans, who kicks ass a stomachchurning aerial to stop a cabal of crazies and steals every scene sequence, The King’s Man led by a ruthless mystery as Russia’s very own is anything but old-fash- man known only as The mad monk, the bearded ioned. It’s a right royal riot. Shepherd, who remains in Rasputin, taking centre the shadows every time he’s stage in a stunning fight master-spy/keen-pro- on screen as he conducts sequence with Oxford and tégé relationship, the story his bloody business from son. Much like with Firth in centres on Orlando Oxford, a near-impregnable moun- the original movie, it’s fan- Duke of Oxford (Ralph taintop hideaway (a classic tastic to see Fiennes take Fiennes), who brings his baddie lair; clearly, clearly, on the sort of action role 17-year-old Fiennes’ presence isn’t he normally sidesteps for the only Bond nod here). others to perform. It’s like son Conrad (Harris The real fun of The King’s watching M finally come Dickinson) into the fold a Man comes from the script out from behind his desk few years after the shock (by Vaughn and Oblivion’s and go all 007 on us. loss of the lad’s mother. Karl Gajdusek) playing fast THE VERDICTA thoroughbred origin story and rollicking good adventure in one, led by an excellent Ralph Fiennes. It’s a hoot.

16 M O V I E M a g a z i n e | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 WEST SIDE STORY Presented as a reimagining of the stage show, but really inthrall to the 1961 film, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story ’21 has some spec- tacular dance numbers and, of course, the benefit of those incredi- ble songs. But as an update it remains peculiarly old-fashioned, and the tweaks that have been made are hit (more authentic casting) and miss (themes underlined to the point of hand-holding). As such, Spielberg’s version shuffles an equal number of steps forwards and backwards.. María had to admit she was impressed by Set, as before, among rival Ton y ’s i ro ni n g s k i l l s . gangs in ’50s New York, it sees cinehistory repeat itself with star-crossed lovers Tony (Ansel Elgort) and María (impressive first- timer Rachel Zegler) over- shadowed by the latter’s brother Bernardo (David Alvarez) and his partner Anita (Ariana DeBose): both actors are so magnetic, they’re missed whenever they’re off screen.

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 17 THE VERDICTS One homage to WSS ’61 and María (impressive first- pielberg that does pay off is the timer Rachel Zegler) over- lovingly recasting of Rita Moreno shadowed by the latter’s restages (previously Anita), as this brother Bernardo (David a classic film’s Doc equivalent. Once Alvarez) and his partner again, she’s a standout, Anita (Ariana DeBose):Don’t musical – but even though she’s playing in be surprised if she picks up while the a different register. the Best Supporting Actress Oscar (again). songs still soar, it feels Set-piece highlights, mean- more indulgent while, include the mixer than essential. where the two communi- ties are forced to mingle, Set, as before, among rival gangs in ’50s New York, it sees cinehistory repeat itself with star-crossed lovers Tony (Ansel Elgort)

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20 M O V I E M a g a z i n e | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 THE JOURNAL FOR JORDAN Adams and Jordan play the real-lifeDana and Charles in AJournal For Jordan. FOLLOWING ANTWONE FISHER (2002), THE GREAT DEBATERS (2008) AND THE OSCAR- WINNING FENCES (2016), DENZEL WASHINGTON RETURNS TO THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR ONCE MORE. BUT WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EFFECTIVE WEEPIE FUELLED BY STAR POWER TURNS OUT TO BE A SNOOZE.

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 21 Based on a true story, it The script by Virgil THE VERDICT centres on the romance Williams, based on Big talent, big between journalist Dana Canedy’s memoir, doesn’t disappointment: Canedy (Chanté Adams help matters, lumbering an incredibly of Bad Hair and The Adams and Jordan with slow-moving Photograph) and soldier some mind-numbing inan- real-life rom- Charles Monroe King ities. To be fair, the leads dram. (Michael B. Jordan). The muster a solid chemistry, couple have a son, Jordan and their (wordless) sexual (Jalon Christian), for whom encounters are among the Charles keeps a journal few highlights. filled with love and life advice while posted in Iraq, where tragedy eventually strikes. The poignancy of Dana and But the messaging around Charles having only a brief the dignity of dying for your time together is under- country and the Iraq War mined by the film making a feels woefully dated, as real meal of every tiny fight, does the jingoistic justifi- every inconsequential tele- cation of what feels like a phone call. death wish from our roman- tic lead. While it’s hard not to be pleased that a man’s tragic fate has been com- memorated in a significant way, this is an eminently skippable tribute.

22 M O V I E M a g a z i n e | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 With great power comes great responsibility. Yes, DIRECTOR we know that’s a differ- MATT REEVES ent superhero, but how is the director of The Batman SAYS ‘THE feeling? BATMAN’ IS INSPIRED BY “Terrified,” says Matt 1970S CINEMA, Reeves. 1980S COMIC BOOKS AND… The journey to the screen of the new Batman movie NIRVANA has been a long and gruel- ling one. Almost a decade THE BATMAN ago, Ben Affleck was cast as the Caped Crusader in The 55-year-old opens up about the pressure of Batman v Superman: Dawn taking on the Dark Knight, and his decision to of Justice. It is Affleck’s cast Robert Pattinson in the role most successful film at the box-office. By every other metric it was a disaster: critics hated it, fans hated it more and it launched DC down a route of superhero ensemble movies (Suicide Squad; Justice League) that got worse and worse. For every new star in an ever-more-twinkling Marvel Cinematic Universe, rival DC couldn’t catch a break. The memory of Christopher Nolan’s benchmark The Dark Knight trilogy appeared to be going gently into that good night. The best bet for Bat fans looked like another outing for Lego Batman, which at least was funny. But DC wanted another Batman movie.

MOVIE Magazine | January 2022 23 “I’m very proud of it. I felt it was the best version of the story that we could pos- sibly do to justify having another Batman,” he says. “You always have to have a reason, and from the begin- ning that was the mission for me.” Sequels and Gotham City-based spin- offs are being planned. It’s safe to assume they will remain Aquaman-free. At least for now. “It will obvi- ously have a lot to do with how people receive this film,” Reeves says. “But a lot of things are in the w o r k s .” When Bruce Wayne/Batman first goes looking for crim- inals in Batman: Year One, there is one frame in which Reeves noted that “he’s dressed in what I thought looked like an image out of Taxi Driver”. Some of Frank Miller’s notes to David Mazzucchelli are included at the back of a commemo- rative edition of Year One, published a few years ago. Of that same frame, Miller writes he wanted Batman “to basically look like he’s won a Taxi Driver-lookalike competition”. .At the start of this article, there was one DC film we overlooked. One that bucked its run of rum luck — and did so in spectacular style. That film was 2019’s double- Oscar-winning Joker. A key influence on that? Also Taxi Driver. Don’t bet that Batman isn’t about to rise again.

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