David R. Walker

Posts Tagged ‘Lucy Liu’

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Director: David Frankel

Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, B. J. Novak

Running time: 1 hour 59 minutes

Film Rating: 8 out of 10

It’s an amazing accomplishment to pull off a sequel twenty years after the original film.

Not only does director David Frankel do that with The Devil Wears Prada 2 but he assembles the same brilliant cast as the original. The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites triple Oscar winner Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, The Iron Lady) as the demanding Miranda Priestly along with co-stars Oscar winner Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) and Oscar nominees Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer) and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones) in this highly anticipated and lavish sequel.

The 2026 version is more like succession with scarves as Miranda Priestley editor in chief at the fashion magazine Runway is primed for a mega-promotion but when something unexpected happens to the owner of the global media company that owns the fashion magazine, Priestley’s position at Runway is in jeopardy.

In steps veteran journalist Andy Sachs expertly played by Hathaway who reunites with Nigel played by Tucci and the trio soon confront a shifting media landscape as the fashion world has evolved into the age of Instagram.

Priestley is unflappable in the midst of change, ably supported by her violinist husband Stuart played by Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, My Week with Marilyn) as she navigates a hostile takeover from tech billionaire Benji Barnes played by Justin Theroux (Mulholland Drive, On The Basis of Sex).

What makes this sassy sequel work is the onscreen chemistry of the four main actors and of course the fashion. As Andi and Miranda Priestley head to Milan fashion week, they encounter an unlikely foe. With stunning visuals of Milan and Lake Como in Italy, the second half of The Devil Wears Prada 2 is absolutely magnificent ably assisted by a witty script by Aline Brosh McKenna who naturally gives Meryl Streep the best lines in the film.

Despite a frenetic beginning in New York and the Hamptons, the narrative steadies and then we have the Italian section which is sublime complete with that Meryl Streep moment. Dressed beautifully, she strolls slowly past a collection of designer shops including Prada and Dolce & Gabbana as she contemplates her next corporate manoeuvre with grace and poise.

Some of the best scenes are between Streep and Hathaway. It is so refreshing to see Anne Hathaway back on the big screen in a major role.

The best part about this sequel is that all the characters seem richer and more sophisticated. That twenty years has made all the difference even though the digital world has eclipsed print media.

Fashionistas look out for cameos by Gianni’s sister Donatella Versace, Victoria Secret model Karolina Kurkova and the uber cool Naomi Campbell. The best secret is in Milan where a surprise performer appears at the Milan fashion show much to Miranda Priestley’s horror. It’s not only the devil that can wear Prada.

With gorgeous city shots of New York and Milan, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is as good as the original, updating itself to a more glamourous high powered film for a more complex decade, whereby female empowerment is encouraged and celebrated. The men are just extras.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 gets a film rating of 8 out of 10 and is highly recommended viewing if you love fashion and Meryl Streep.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Director: David F. Sandberg

Cast: Zachary Levi, Rachel Zegler, Helen Mirren, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, Ross Butler, D. J. Cotrona, Grace Caroline Currey, Gal Gadot , Meagan Good

Running Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes

Film Rating: 7 out of 10

Swedish director David F. Sandberg returns to the Shazam franchise to make the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 film, simply known as Shazam: Fury of the Gods.

The Gods in this case are the perilous daughters of Atlas, Anthea played by West Side Story star Rachel Zegler, Kalypso played by Lucy Liu (Kill Bill, Chicago, Charlie’s Angels) and the eldest sister Hespera oddly played by Oscar winner Helen Mirren (The Queen) who is quite surreal in a superhero film. However, Mirren does bring a certain gravitas to a film which is primarily aimed at school kids. The scenes between Mirren and Levi are hilarious.

At the centre of Shazam: Fury of the Gods, is Shazam himself wonderfully played again by Zachary Levi in which his younger 18 year old self Billy Batson is played by Asher Angel, who along with his fellow superheroes including Freddy, the older version played by Adam Brody and the younger version brilliantly played by Jack Dylan Grazer, team up together to fight the evil Daughters of Atlas, who unbeknownst to the human population of Philadelphia decide to wreak havoc on the city.

Instruments of havoc for the Gods include ancient Greek creatures and a fearsome dragon which Kalypso loves to ride, referencing the infamous scenes from HBO’s Game of Thrones and more recently The House of the Dragon. During the epic battle scenes unicorns roam the streets of Philadelphia which elevates the film completely into fantasy.

Shazam tries to negotiate with Hespera at a fast food outlet only to be chucked against the wall, as all three daughters possess enormous unearthly powers. While the two older sisters aren’t looking, the beautiful Anthea wonderfully played by Rachel Zegler falls in love with the younger, slightly awkward teenage Freddy superbly played by Jack Dylan Grazer, who at nearly twenty years old is a talent to watch. The onscreen chemistry between Zegler and Grazer grounds the visual effects heavy superhero film and gives the narrative a positive romantic shine, unexpected in most comic book capers. Then again there is always the crush that Shazam has on a more powerful superhero: Wonder Woman.

Unlike the menacing world of director Matt Reeves’s excellent film The Batman, Warner Brothers Discovery Studio decided to make a brighter superhero film and in that respect Shazam: Fury of the Gods delivers a fantastically entertaining film which is perfect for light entertainment. If viewers don’t take the film too seriously, then they will find it immensely enjoyable.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods gets a film rating of 7 out of 10 and there is a wonderful surprise at the end as the DC Superhero universe continues to expand exponentially. Recommended viewing as a family film.