REVIEW: WONDER WOMAN - 1984

 

4/5

It's A Wonderful Life. 

151 Mins. Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright & Connie Nielsen. Director: Party Jenkins. 

"I've known a few women like you", Ben Affleck's brilliant and brutally bracing Bruce Wayne tells Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman before her theme music plays for her epic intro to 'Batman v Superman' that was really her 'Dawn Of Justice'. All before her superior solo debut that sang for heroic equality even before the late, great Chadwick Boseman's 'Black Panther' (his Wakanda forever) and the M.C.U.'s 'Captain Marvel', truly changed the game. The great Gadot was even the one wonder of the much maligned 'Justice League' assemble, although HBO is about to take it to the Max this first quarter with Zack Snyder's cult sought-after cut. Even if directing titans like 'The Dark Knight's' Christopher Nolan and 'Dune's' Denis Villeneuve aren't happy with their big-screen, cinematic classics being broadcast on people's phones. Fair point, but what do they expect in these COVID-19, cinema collapsing times where every other seat is up in social distance, quarantined like streaming services at home? Even if 'Wonder Woman 1984' (wait...there's been 1,983 of these?) like Nolan's terrific 'Tenet', this Christmas is the only thing in cinemas this season, or calender with Pixar's 'Soul' with Jamie Foxx even belonging to Disney's streaming service +, as Bugs and Mickey go to war over the family turkey these holidays at home. After all these years of cancel culture (even to those who didn't deserve it) now EVERYTHING is cancelled. Happy now? Careful what you wish for! Gal Gadot has received her unfair share of flack this year. Even after the former 'Fast and Furious' actress raced to a future franchise and became one of the world's most famous faces and heroic role models in Vogue or Vanity Fair like the runaway train that is the 'Murder On The Express' Agatha Christie adaptation sequel 'Death On The Nile' that she is set to star in even if corona has derailed that too. But then during the planets pandemic of socially isolated, stay at home times she received social media backlash for trying to 'Imagine' a John Lennon cover with her celebrity friends like her '1984' co-stars and everyone from soul musician Leon Bridges to 'Anchorman' Will Ferrell. I know we were all angry during these times like we have been this year, but I feel she was harshly picked on when no one else in this multi-duet on an amateur 'Live Aid' scale was (did anyone stop to ask of this was for charity?). Sure she came up with the idea, but after all she was just trying to help. Now the Israeli actress is the latest Scarlett Johansson, 'Black Widow' actress to face a whitewashing backlash for 'Cleopatra' conveniently on the eve of her 'WW1984' release. It makes you wonder. Sure she may not be the best choice for this role, but there's a lot more people that out this in to power than her. Plus as she pays the due respect and honor to the original 'Wonder Woman' before what could have really been her most iconic role, they never said this sort of stuff about Elizabeth Taylor. A different time sure, but we live in one now we're Julia Roberts gets hate for a producer suggesting she should play Harriet Tubman. Horrendous yes, but it's the producers that suggested that, not Julia. Get at them, not those not involved with that ignorant thought process. Gal may end up backing out of this iconic, Egyptian role before the weeks out, but why should she have to face even more scorn whilst doing so. Taking it back to theatres and '1984' reminds you just how much of a wonder this woman really is. As she says back to Ben, "oh, I don't think you've ever known a woman like me." 

Orwellian in nature like anything this brave new world tries to come up with in these dystopia times, Patty Jenkins 'Wonder Woman 1984' set a year before this writer was born may not save the world, but it really takes us back to a better one like rolled up sleeves and 'Miami Vice', fast and furious cereal box cars that fly down the streets like a flock of seagulls. Or hair that reaches sprayed heights even Superman couldn't reach, in this phone booth changing decade that moves to a Gary Numan jukebox soundtrack here in your car. 'Monster' and forthcoming 'Cleopatra' and 'Star Wars: Rogue Squadron' director Patty Jenkins gave us the power of the woman in the first eternal movie. In this sophomore soaring and swimming through the ocean of clouds, 'Breakfast Club' (you see the photo-op homage?) sequel she gives us the world in all its power. For better or worse, richness and health, the have and the have nots. Big brother and little children playing like they think their men. Greed is never good no matter what 'Wall Street' tells you and in this year of coronavirus, this mirror to society like George Orwell, '1984' shows us this disease of more in all its all consuming consumerism. It's a master move from one of the mainstreams great directors that whips you into society defying shape like a lasso of truth. Gal Gadot's 'Wonder Woman' fashioning her own statement in her opening time in '1984'. Closing down a mall of America like a Starcourt one fresh out of the fellow July 4th, 1985 year later of 'Stranger Things 3' on Netflix as she rounds up some outlaws and squeezes their pistols to shards of chambers. "I don't like guns" she says a wink and nod of acknowledgement to this time of control and silencing it all. All before running down the road of Washington D.C. like the war to end all war trenches of the first movie. Making capital exclamations after sacrificing it all in truly felt emotion, as she Tom Cruise's her way to the White House like she could run through a wall. And just wait until she starts roping up the Oval Office better than the Nightcrawling operatic acrobatics of another stellar sequel in 'X2'. All before blink and you'll miss it spinning around some epic Wonder Woman legacy Easter Eggs and suiting up in a gold standard set of eagle armour that could even hold back '300' of the dark designs of executive producer Snyder's best men, as we mask up in cinemas. This takes wing and does everything in the DC extended universe justice, we're glad this 151 run-time that feels as quick as the way this Queen, Diana Prince moves isn't cut. Put your wrists together in salute as the theme plays along with Hans Zimmer's iconic piano score from the Dawn. This new day in '1984' is here to stay. Hear this woman roar as we can all do it too. Every woman. Every girl. 

DC in D.C. To the wonder again. Exhilarating, euphoric, epic emotion like an electric lasso, this superhero escapism really has a pull. Like the big-screen beautiful moment of neon above the stars where sat in the crowds, scraping the skyline, Gal Gadot and Chris Pine are surrounded by nothing but Independence Day fireworks. Wait...what?! Chris Pine?! Well, spoiler alert this is no new news. I guess Pine's Steve Trevor's wish for more time came true like his Steve Rogers Chris alias years later in the defrosting of Marvel's modern day. The parallels between Pine and Evans' characters are like many a Marvel and DC alternate (check the 'I'm Chirs Pine' SNL song complete with chart and pointing wand). Reuniting with Jenkins again after their 'I Am The Night' magnificent miniseries, Pine's pilot is on Prince's six again armed with a fanny-pack...but we won't tell you how. Even if many a trailer spoiled what would have been the reveal of the year. What we can say is Pine is perfect as per. Whether the 'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit' and 'This Means War' actor is helping take out a military convoy on a sandy, Egyptian freeway, or simply showing the compelling chemistry his charisma has with Gadot's charm. Chris' classic character will leave you feeling warmth, coming home for the holidays. You may question why Trevor's soul is here, but you won't doubt his heart. Pine is all-time. Helping the great Gadot through the hurt of what is this movies meditative look at the poetry of love and longing lonelinesses grieving process in all its denial and acceptance, which we're sure Marvel's 'WandaVision' will be. Now don't adjust the static on your sets as your T.V. dinner cools. That is Mando. Michael Douglas, Gekko reptilian, slicked back with flop sweat and a NBA player in the early 2000's dump truck suit that is pinstripe, put on with a shovel too big for him as he's coming apart at the seams, Pedro Pascal is incredible as a villain as bad as his greed, but with even more layers of complexity than he has fake tan sprayed from a can like cheese on demand. And we are so here for his gold watch versus Casio, Star Wars vs Star Trek fight with Chris Pine, as The Mandalorian and Captain Kirk throw down in the White House. This is the way. Energize. Punch it. We know Mandalorian's aren't meant to take off their hoods, but what the 'Game Of Thrones' and 'Narcos' actor Pedro reveals here as Max Lord is nuanced in all its power corrupts absolutes. Whip smart against the lasso wielding Diana, this electric and eclectic 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' villain Pascal passes the bar. Still, when it comes to villains its 'Bridesmaids' and 'Ghostbusters' (another film and female cast talent to task unfairly on Twitter in this Trump hate age...try to see them get away with it now) star Kristen Wiig who like a leopard changes her comedy spots as she becomes the iconic Cheetah. Simply slaying in 80's rock rebellion like a Sex Pistol. With a geeked out origin story as hair perm static as Jamie Foxx's Electro from 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' whose soul is about to be recharged, she's a spark. She's as live as Saturday Night as like...um...Penelope...she has better powers than Diana now...she can throw a guy across the road...so...yeah. Just don't call her Blondie. All these women of wonder and we are even taken back to the wonderful island of Themyscira that could rival Wakanda for its vibranium and a vibrant, outstanding opening that sees a game for the throne that could even dunk over the magic of Harry Potter's Quidditch. As we even get treated to classic cameos from 'Gladiator' mother Connie Nielsen and even 'House Of Cards' (don't let Spacey spoil her incredible, presidential turn), 'Blade Runner 2049' and 'Forrest Gump' Legend Robin Wright for this young princess wanting to become more than a bride. In this extremely extended DC Universe, Joaquin Phoenix's Oscar winning 'Joker' truly has reshuffled the deck but also given this film franchise family a winning hand against the M.C.U. But it was Gadot's 'Wonder Woman' that truly saved them from the snake eyes with her roll of the dice. Affleck's acclaimed Batman has been replaced with the 'Twilight' of the terrific 'Tenet' Bruce Wayne audition actor Robert Pattinson, time may outrun 'The Flash' movie and we have no idea if Henry Cavill is still the 'Man Of Steel', but they will all be back for Snyder this March before the cut. Especially Gadot, as hater free her 'Wonder Woman' is here to stay. From '1984' to forever more. Freedom is no longer slavery. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Wonder Woman', 'Justice League: The Snyder Cut', 'Stranger Things 3'.