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Nicholas Hoult

7.21 Into the Fire of THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD

June 13, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

When the heat of the flames tries to overtake you, what will you do? In THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD, Angelina Jolie plays Hannah, a burnt-out flame jumper who is struggling to deal with the traumatic events of her past. When she meets young Connor, she finds herself forced into the fire again as she attempts to help him get to safety. This week, Victor Stiff (That Shelf, Dope Black Movies) and filmmaker Ryan Kayet (Riverlife Productions) drop by to talk about Taylor Sheridan’s unique style and what it means to find beauty in the fire.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

7.21 Those Who Wish Me DeadDownload

Filed Under: Featured, Film, HBO Max, Podcast Tagged With: Angelina Jolie, Jon Bernthal, Nicholas Hoult, Taylor Sheridan, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Tyler Perry

Those Who Wish Me Dead: Sheridan’s Latest Brings the Heat

May 14, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And in his new actioner Those Who Wish Me Dead, director Taylor Sheridan definitely brings the heat.

Those Who Wish Me Dead follows Hannah (Angelina Jolie), a smoke jumper who is struggling with the events of a rescue gone wrong. Now choosing to work in isolation in the watchtower, Hannah stands atop the Montana wilderness, looking for signs of danger. However, this life of seclusion is upended when she meets Connor (Finn Little), a terrified and bloodied boy who needs to make his way back to civilization. As she attempts to bring him to safety, Hannah soon discovers that not only must she dodge an oncoming fiery blaze but also avoid the sights of two relentless killers who are consumed with killing young Connor as well.

Directed by Taylor Sheridan, Those Who Wish Me Dead is a tightly executed thriller that burns with blazing ferocity throughout. Known for such well-regarded films as Sicario and Wind River, Sheridan’s work rarely fails to disappoint, especially when it comes to building a world of intensity. At only 100 minutes, he makes great use of his runtime with very little extra padding. From the film’s opening sequence, Sheridan shows that he knows what he wants to accomplish and goes after it with force. Part Backdraft and part No Country for Old Men, the film has some truly harrowing set-pieces that are positively gripping. (Two scenes involving both a raid on the sheriff’s home and Jolie’s run through a storm-riddled field are particularly worth noting.) 

While the script is solid, what gives life to the film is its cast. While Dead features strong work from Jon Bernthal, Aiden Gillan and Nicholas Hoult, it’s the female cast members whose performances are straight fire. With the bulk of her work in the last decade relegated to family fare, Jolie’s dramatic work has been much more limited. However, in the role of Hannah, Jolie has the opportunity to dig into a unique blend of both compassionate caregiver and brooding badass. (Seriously, when was the last time we got to see her character jump from a moving vehicle… for fun?) With both courage and empathy, Jolie consistently reminds the viewer what makes her so special as an actress and she is a joy to watch onscreen. At the same time, the best surprise may come in the form of relative newcomer Medina Senghore who is on absolutely incredible. As mother-to-be Allison, Senghore showcases a protective strength and focus that fuels the film, making her one of its most notable talents. 

Interestingly, Sheridan opts to play much of the film’s exposition close to his vest. While this will likely irk some viewers, it is also one of the film’s most interesting traits. By keeping its secret under wraps, Sheridan also keeps the narrative firmly fixated on the journey of his characters. This is not a film dedicated to bringing down a vast conspiracy (although that certainly exists). Instead, Sheridan is more focused on the characters and their journeys at this one moment of their lives, especially that of Hannah.

With this in mind, it’s worth noting that Sheridan’s use of fire in this film feels particularly unique. Rather than simply treat it as an oncoming threat, Sheridan uses it to represent the pain that we fear most. Haunted by a particularly traumatic moment of her past, Hannah has chosen to work in solitude in the watchtower. For her, the fire represents her own perceived failures. (“Instead of fighting [the fire], we found ourselves running from it. And that’s not where you want to be,” she explains.) In other words, as the oncoming blaze ravages the forest, Hannah not only attempts to outrun the flames but also her inability to deal with her pain.

As a result, she has opted to take on the role of warning people of danger rather than enter into it herself. 

All that changes when she meets Connor. Though she fears the flames, she also recognizes that sometimes you need to face them head-on. Without giving away any spoilers, Sheridan uses Hannah’s decision to endure the fire as an opportunity for her to potentially begin to move forward. Regardless of what she’s been through, this becomes a time where she can stand and fight.

Whereas fire decimates, so too can it make something new.

Well-written and anchored by fierce performances, Those That Wish Me Dead is a thrilling ride from start to finish. With each film, Sheridan continues to develop his skills as a story-teller and he attacks this story with focus and heat. At the same time, he also shows that the fire we fear may also be the very thing that we must face in order to heal.

Those Who Wish Me Dead is available in theatres and on HBO Max on Friday, May 14th, 2021.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, HBO Max, Reviews, VOD Tagged With: Aiden Gillan, Angelina Jolie, Jon Bernthal, Medina Senghore, Nicholas Hoult, Taylor Sheridan, Those Who Wish Me Dead

TIFF Hits: EQUALS

September 16, 2015 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

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“Knowledge is the new Scripture.”

Equals takes place in the future where scientific and technological advancement have become the new gods of the age. Through advancements in genetic modification, humanity has been forbidden from experiencing emotions, physical touch and — gasp! — sex in order to increase productivity. People like Silas (Nicholas Hoult) and Nia (Kristen Stewart) live quiet, drone-like lives until, one day, rumours begin to surface that a disease has erupted, causing humanity to ‘feel’. If discovered by the powers that be, carriers are quickly taken away, never to be seen or heard of again. When Silas and Nia begin to experience an unspeakable attraction to one another, the two must decide whether to suppress their feelings or attempt to run so that they can be together.

Visually, the film is stunning. Director Drake Doremus (Still Crazy) creates a world that reveals the emotional tension through the balance of cool, clean lines and lush gardens and landscapes. (Interestingly, one of the key jobs in the future seems to be gardening, a clear reminder that nature needs to be contained and repressed.) Further, while colours remain muted at the early onset of the film, they slowly begin to dominate the frame as Silas and Nia gradually give in to their impulses.
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Unfortunately, however, the film takes far too much time to get off the ground. In an effort to reveal the emotional oppression of his characters, Doremus also makes it more difficult to connect with them. As a result, it’s not until the characters are allowed to express some forms of emotion that we can begin to appreciate the performances that are taking place. As they begin to express themselves to one another, the story moves along more quickly and becomes far more interesting. (Personally, I would also argue that I’ve seen far better work from both Hoult and Stewart in the past as well.)

Thematically, Doremus clearly believes that love is an essential part of the human experience. In a world where technology has created distance between one another, he argues that this film is a timely one. “Personally, I feel that it’s very current,” he begins. “It could have taken place in the past, present or the future. It’s really about a people who are set in a world rather than a world with people in it.” Consequently, the film carries an understanding of human nature and our role as created beings that breaks through the narrative. (Incidentally, it’s also interesting to see the number of Biblical names that appear, ranging from Silas and Barnabas to Nia changing her name to Eva, potentially revealing herself as the ‘first woman’ of a new world.) Despite humanity’s best efforts, they simply cannot stop their natural impulses from revealing themselves.

In the end, Equals is an interesting entry into the science fiction genre though it also doesn’t really blaze new territory either.

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Equals

Starring Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult

d. Drake Doremus

*** (out of 5)

Filed Under: Current Events, Film, News, Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: Drake Doremus, Equals, Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult, Toronto

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