Crisp Criticism - "Alice Through the Looking Glass", "The Nice Guys", "The Invitation"

by

Julien Faddoul

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Alice returns to the whimsical world of Wonderland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.

A piece of work in which the term “a movie” as a description seems deceitful, as it resembles one in no discernible way. Repellent visuals, atrocious acting and a barren sense of tone and tempo all combine to create that would more believably be called “a violation.” Avoid at all costs.

d – James Bobin

w – Linda Woolverton   (Based on the Novel by Lewis Carroll)

ph – Stuart Dryburgh

pd – Dan Hennah

m – Danny Elfman

ed – Andrew Weisblum

cos – Colleen Atwood

p – Tim Burton, Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd, Jennifer Todd

Cast: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall

The Nice Guys *

A mismatched pair of private eyes investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles.

Funny 70s thriller parody in search of a purpose. It provides moderate entertainment but certainly runs out of steam.

d – Shane Black

w – Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi

ph – Philippe Rousselot

pd – Richard Bridgland

m – David Buckley, John Ottman

ed – Joel Negron

cos – Kym Barrett

p – Joel Silver

Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, Kim Basinger

The Invitation

While attending a dinner party at his former home, a man thinks his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister intentions for their guests.

Overrated, frustratingly unconvincing domestic thriller despite shrewd staging and an interesting premise. It is fake and predictable from the outset and concludes in what seems like the least inventive way it could.

d – Karyn Kusama

w – Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi

ph – Bobby Shore

pd – Almitra Corey

m – Theodore Shapiro

ed – Plummy Tucker

cos – Alysia Raycraft

p – Martha Griffin, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Nick Spicer

Cast: Michiel Huisman, Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Lindsay Burdge, Mike Doyle, John Carroll Lynch, Karl Yune, Toby Huss, Michelle Krusiec, Marieh Delfino