The Marvellous Miss Danvers.
124 Mins. Starring: Brie Larson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, McKenna Grace, Annette Benning, Clark Gregg & Samuel L. Jackson. Directors: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.
Marvel need saving. In a snap, random decision Thanos cancelled over half of 'The Avengers' in 'Infinity War'. And then with a click of their fingers, Netflix made all those 'Defenders' disappear to dust like the skull and blood of 'The Punisher'. Also a sinking DC until 'Aquaman' have already beaten them and the 'Black Panther' to the all inclusive box office with 'Wonder Woman'. But never fear, I can think of the perfect Captain with the super makings of a hero ready to save the day. But I ain't talking about Steve Rogers Buck. He's too busy shaving off that beard. For this power you're going to need a pager straight from the 90's like crashing into a Blockbuster for your latest one. Remember when you rented instead of streamed? Those were the romanticised days that are now Nine Inch Nails like this hero's nostalgia band tees. So you know for an 80's baby like me, trapped in the 90's he sees as the golden era thanks to people like Michael Jordan and Tom Hanks, or things like 'Jurassic Park' and Semisonic (or is that Third Eye Blind?) this is the perfect movie. Rad...or whatever the hell we said back then. But this film means more than just the good old days to a geeky white guy staring down middle age, longing for the good ole days were he had more hair and less paunch. It's more than the true 'First Avenger' story that bridges the intergalactic gap between the earth's mightiest heroes assemble and those freaking 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' (shout out to some dead-er than Marvel standards characters doing the time warp again) a-holes Cap. It's even more than a film with the best train top set-piece action since Hugh Jackman's 'The Wolverine' caught a bullet after becoming big in Japan. Not to mention a 'Bullitt' time, classic car chase driven by the man that gave you the brutually best one in the Russo Brothers dynamic directorial debut. Now dynamic indie directors Ryan Boden and Anna Fleck (the amazing 'Half Nelson' and equally as cool 'Mississippi Grind' with an actor here and even 'Deadpool' himself Ryan Reynolds) give us a super superhero film that stands on its own atop the Marvel franchise as a whole. Changing the game and the previously ignorant Hollywood industry that is no longer playing that (Oscars so what? Okay, Oscars so 'Green Book'. I love that movie, but maybe they'll never learn). Just like 'Black Panther' did last year and DC's 'Wonder Woman' did way before all of this. As 'Marvel' becomes the first female-led movie after last Summer 'The Wasp' finally got co-top billing in the 'Ant-Man' sequel (which this shares strands of DNA fun with, just like this 'Iron Man' meets 'Captain America' without fists first film does elements of all the other diverse Marvel movies like it was holding all the stones). Look how far we've come. This is the same franchise that until 'Ragnarok' passed on a woman as a villain in 'Iron Man 3' as they didn't think it would sell movies (ahem, cough, every Disney film ever). Speaking of which this is for a franchise for an even bigger Mickey Mouse franchise who wouldn't package Rey (...REY?!) in their collection of action figures because they didn't think she would sell toys. Well look whose making you billions now, whilst those same decision makers are coming up with lint. And overdue apologies to Scarlett Johansson's ('Lucy', 'Ghost In The Shell'...you want to talk about leading heroes) 'Black Widow' but your time and movie is coming. Oh Captain my new Captain what more could you expect from the one woman whose going to save the 'Infinity War' day, ashes to ashes, 'Endgame' to dust? Sorry Aunt May!
HIGHER. FURTHER. FASTER. Fall down seven times. Get up eight. Try to catch up. And roll up those sleeves, because she can do it too. The brilliant Brie Larson is legacy making legendary as Carol Danvers' 'Captain Marvel' (I always knew superheroes had names like Carol mum). From Kree green, mohawk rocking Easter Egg tribute to the comics, to her own legacy making look. But even with leather and wood, porch to the stars comic homage, it's more than the Avenging aesthetic in this hero that stands up for women worldwide and young girls (shout-out to 'Gifted' child actress McKenna Grace. Who after starring alongside Captain Chris Evans as a 'Good Will' maths genius and as a young Margot Robbie, Harding in 'I, Tonya', is now the perfect young Danvers Marvel) to look up to in inspiration behind those eyes that glow like the power from her hands. It's what this iconic figure in comic culture and the now blockbuster, superhero movie mainstream means. Last year when watching 'Black Panther' this writer spotted a kid walking into the cinema dressed as T'Challa...and he was white. What does that tell you of the impact of movies like this? This year you will have people of so many diverse backgrounds and orientations coming as their new leader and Captain. And just like Chris Evans was born to play Steve Rogers. Robert Downey Jr was Tony Stark's Iron Man. Hugh Jackman was Logan's Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds was the Merc with the mouth Deadpool. And Scarlett Johansson was Black Widow. We could go on. Brie Larson was born to play Carol in this Marvel. Even if like all the others-especially the latter-her outstanding acting work in things like the independent hit 'Short Term 12' and her Best Actress Oscar winning turn in 'Room' demand so much more. So much so that she brings that Academy of drama, humanity and nuance to every note and emotion here. But boy is she M.C.U. funny too. Chemistry assembling with the patch-less, 'Do The Right Thing' desk-jockey of Samuel L. Jackson. On some Geena Davis, 'Long Kiss Goodnight' ride along buddy dynamic as the 'Kong: Skull Island' stars reunite without the real power of Tom Hiddleston's Loki. I guess he was reading a magazine. At this point with more movies than the millions he's made this mother###### doesn't even have to make another movie. Let alone this year, or a superhero one (see this year's twenty year smashing 'Glass' sequel that cracked the code). Or even a Marvel one (he may not beat Jackman or Sir Patrick Stewart for the Guinness of longest tenure, but he for sure beats them in most Marvel movies for a guy who films more pictures in a year than you take on your selfie smartphone. But this may be Jackson's best piece of Avenger action yet. Looking Michael Douglas and Kurt Russell Marvel younger with all his eyes on some Josh Brolin as Tommy Lee Jones 'Men In Black III', "what happened to you man". But he's not the only Marvel man to get the C.G.I Oil of Olay treatment. As after his 'Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D' T.V. turn, an always charming Clark Gregg reprises his role as a young Phil Caulson in a Marvel movie for the first time since the original assemble saw Loki turn him into a shish kebab. Just one of the multitude of marvellous reasons this Captain shows "it's all connected". And don't blink or miss, look out for the suited, shotgun 'Pulp Fiction' homage from a man whose "tombstone" Easter Egg reads, "the path of the righteous man" for extra cheese.
Chewie in the comics, we all know the real 'Top Gun' star of the show is Goose the feline friend my mavericks. This cats got the bag. Even in an Academy of A-listers joining the Marvel, six degrees of superhero separation family. Like the straight outta Baker Street, elementary dear of Watson Great Brit, Jude Law. Who originally rumoured to be the original Captain Marvel is so underrated and good he deserves his own Marvel movie tentpole like he does a stirred chance as shaking it as the finest English Gentleman, 007 himself, James Bond (although Law, Jude Law had a great tongue in cheek audition as a suited and charm booted one in Melissa McCarthy's 'Spy' comedy espionage). Hey Jude, Law is exactly that here. As the GQ J-Law even offers a 'Hunger Games' esque training session spar with our Katniss. Although we're still disappointed that after this Marvel announced role, Dumbledore isn't playing his real iconic hero, Mr. Napkin Head. Or how about his Submarine greed submerged, 'Black Sea' co-star Ben Mendelsohn? Disney's, new go-to cult villain. Cape fear ravishing in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' and now on double duty as one of those Skrull f#####s and his human counterpart. Leaving us just as green with bad guy envy, as Marvel finally introduce some of their comics most iconic villains, boldly going into the new life and civilisations of space. Where no man-except for Star-Lord has gone before-making way for the definition of Marvel in the comic-books Carol singing her way to stardom without an Awesome Mix volume or so much as a Zune. But how about an on par nostal-sick soundtrack that's not Garbage, No Doubt? Featuring a Smashing Pumpkins poster Easter Egg for my childhood. 'Mellon Collie' was the only thing I listened to on my Discman in college...yep that's how old I am (what's a Discman?). And speaking of 'Guardians' how about the villainous and not so return of Lee Pace and Djimon Hounsou respectively? Showing their love for their characters is just as returned as they are fan favourites in what serves as their own one-shot origins. Teamed up with 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'Humans' star Gemma Chan on the form of her like as an alien with Gamora in 'Avatar' blue and bottle verte, Kree Captain Marvel origin suit and the blood they bleed. But Marvel's real wingwoman is former 'Fast Girl' and harrier jet fighter pilot Lashana Lynch's Rambeau fighter taking Alpha Flight, who like a right hand Falcon is the heart of this whole test flight. Even with a '20th Century Woman' legend like Annette Benning serving as one of the most powerful woman in the galaxy as fitting as when Glenn Close made a 'G.O.T.G.' cameo worthy of the biggest names in Hollywood or comic-book lore. And of course speaking of cameos...sniff. One of the last, lasting ones from the creator himself. The one and only Stan Lee and this terrific tribute. Excelsior like Wakanda and the power of Women Forever. All this and we still haven't scratched the surface of how good the cat is. But there's a perfect pun there we don't even want to play with. But those who run the world (CATS!) aren't the only ones honoured here on this International Women's Day release. As the military are too with a flag raising tribute to those who serve. And you can tell from the Air Force flyover at the films world premiere in reply how much this honour means. A Captain for our times that is a real Marvel. The real HERo we all need. Salute! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Wonder Woman', 'Black Panther', 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'.
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