Tenzing is an Apple production, so there is no mainstream cinema release. Fortunately, the Rex in Berkhamsted showed it on one day, and I have never seen it so busy. The expedition to reach the top of Mount Everest (or Chamolangma, as the Himalayan word) is shown from the point of view of the Sherpa, who reached the summit with Edmund Hillary. These two are played by Genden Phuntsok and Tom Hiddleston. The expedition leader John Hunt is played by Willem Dafoe. It was a great idea to focus this film on Tenzing; his childhood and background make a far more interesting story than just the climb. Both lead actors were fine, although the script by Luke Davies was not the best. Fortunately, director Jennifer Peedom has a history of mountain documentaries, and this is shown. The last part of the climb to the summit was awesome.
What I didn't know, and what is shown in this film, is that before Hillary and Tenzing, two other climbers were chosen to go for the top, as they were British. But Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans failed due to equipment failure. It was good that there was so much about the Sherpas, especially the fact that Tenzing was not exactly the same race as them. The cinematography, of course, was fantastic. You were alongside them on that amazing climb. They made it to the top on the 29th May 1953, and it was announced on the 2nd June, the same day as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. I was eight years old.
In a way, I thought that Godzilla Minus Zero was better than the previous film. Except that the main monster is King Ghidorah, who is wrecking Japan. There is so much that doesn't involve the monster, as our heroes start preparing for a fight back. There was lots of drama between the main characters. I especially liked Masami Nagasawa as the meteorologist. She has had a long film career in Japan, and it shows. Like the brilliant, hugely successful and 2024 Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One (for which this is a sequel), sometimes the acting is too shouty and over the top for Western tastes, But less so than the previous film.
The special effects are amazing. Director Tamakashi Yamazaki also wrote the script and supervised the special effects. These, combined with the sound and music, make for an amazing experience. There is also quite a lot of humour, just not sure how much of this was meant. Obviously Godzilla does make an appearance in the second half. Is he now the hero? He actually appears on the front cover of this month's Sight and Sound Magazine, and there are twelve pages inside. I have not yet reached these. See my post of 11th March 2024 for the first film.
Mark Kermode said it was "very gripping, very entertaining, thought-provoking and at times heartbreaking". He mentions all the subplots, such as the involvement of the Americans (I didn't expect that) and the family of the heroic pilot.
Another great movie, this time very different. As you would expect from Martin McDonagh. I have seen all his feature films, from his brilliant debut In Bruges, to Seven Phsychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin. I also went to the theatre to see his The Pillowman and then Hangmen (Live in cinemas). All very good. And now we have Wild Horse Nine, similar in some ways to that first film, in that it involves two hitmen as the stars. But instead of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, we have John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. Not hiding out from a hit gone wrong, but visiting Easter Island, where, apparently, the deteriorating Chris wanted to end his days. or not. This is Malkovich in an Oscar-worthy performance. I have to say I have never really liked him as an actor; his manners somehow grated on me. But here he is superb in a brilliantly understated role. Who would have thought.
So, here we are, in 1973, in Easter Island of all places, with all those stone heads and wild horses. The year is important. Chris's warning to two young female tourists from Chile not to go home falls on deaf ears. One of them is Monika, played by the wonderful Mariana di Girolamo. She is sort of friendly with Chris, whilst the other played by Alicia Ailin Salas is definitely not. We find out why later on. They put Chris right when the heads are called Moia; he is not impressed. When the cast also includes tiny roles for Parker Posey and Tom Waits, it's going to be good. Add in Steve Buscemi as their boss (remember Raph Fiennes in In Bruges, even though I cannot find anyone also making this connection), and we have the best cast. The dialogue is first-class McDonagh, and the music is Carter Burwell. With the exit music of Out Of Time by the Rolling Stones, I was not leaving in a hurry. Even Hadley Freeman in the Sunday Times loved it.
Coming down in the lift with three older ladies off to see The Mousetrap at the theatre below, they asked me what I was going to see. You are right; they had never heard of Martin McDomnagh or his latest movie. What they are missing. These last three films are why I go to the cinema.
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