So begins Robert Jordan’s classic tale of epic fantasy The Wheel of Time and now this grand fantasy adventure is coming to Amazon Prime and audiences looking for a colossal tale of majestic heroes and foul villains will be in for a very fun ride with this all-new series.

The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the Aes Sedai, a powerful organization of women who can use magic. She takes a group of five young people on a journey around the world, believing one of them might be the reincarnation of the Dragon, a powerful individual prophesied to either save the world or destroy it.

Developed by Rafe Judkins, The Wheel of Time is a grand adaptation of Robert Jordan’s epic high fantasy adventure series and long time fans of the books, along with those new to this epic fantasy story will be pumped with what’s on offer. Director Uta Briesewitz shapes The Wheel of Time with a broad vision that makes for an incredibly splendid fantasy world to look upon and which is both aligned to the familiar trappings of the fantasy genre but also feels entirely fresh at the same time. Amazon has truly spared no expense in bringing the world of The Wheel of Time to life and it is marvellous to look upon.

Episode One “Leavetaking” sets the stage for the story that is to come in The Wheel of Time and Briesewitz works quickly to establish the key characters of the series. We are quickly introduced to the series lead Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) an Aes Sedai and sorceress of incredible power and her Warder and bodyguard al’Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney) who have come seeking ‘The Dragon Reborn’; a mythical hero who will either bring balance to the world or break it. We are also introduced to the five who may just be The Dragon Reborn: Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski), Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford), Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden), Mat Cauthon (Barney Harris ) as Mat Cauthon and Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins).

Tensions mount, prophecies are uttered and soon the very real presence of the battle between light and dark is brought to the screen and The Wheel of Time kicks into high gear! Those fantasy fans seeking a good dose of action, swordplay and magic will be well in for a good amount of fun as this first episode gets moving. Briesewitz and her team lay the groundwork for where The Wheel of Time will move forward and it certainly gets moving quickly towards the end of the episode.

If I had to pick my favourite part of “Leavetaking” it’s certainly the showdown between Moiraine and al’Lan with a pack of monstrous Trollocs. And it’s an utterly epic scene! The way in which The Wheel of Time showcases magic and swordplay is just epic to watch and Pike and Henney move in unison together as these twin warrior guardians with swiftness and grace. Pike brings a great dramatic sense to her manipulation of magic as an Aes Sedai and Henney is a skilled and tactile swordsman, who cuts deep and brings to al’Lan a samurai’s sense of discipline and skill. Both of them share terrific chemistry together and you feel the history that exists between these two characters who are now seeking to preserve the world no matter what the cost.

We are now at the dawn of an incredible new fantasy series with The Wheel of Time and both existing fans of the genre and those new to these stories should get ready for a very promising new series.

The Wheel of Time streams on Amazon Prime on Fridays.

Image: Amazon Prime

The post ‘The Wheel of Time’ – “Leavetaking” – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Poised with sharklike self-assurance, Marla Grayson (Academy Award® nominee Rosamund Pike) is a professional, court-appointed guardian for dozens of elderly wards whose assets she seizes and cunningly bilks through dubious but legal means. It’s a well-oiled racket that Marla and her business partner and lover Fran (Eiza González) use with brutal efficiency on their latest “cherry,” Jennifer Peterson (two-time Academy Award® winner Dianne Wiest) — a wealthy retiree with no living heirs or family. But when their mark turns out to have an equally shady secret of her own and connections to a volatile gangster (Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage), Marla is forced to level up in a game only predators can play — one that’s neither fair, nor square.

Director J Blakeson (The Disappearance of Alice Creed) takes audiences on a dark and deranged journey in this razor-sharp thriller. Part character study, party black comedy, part edge-of-your-seat thriller, I Care A Lot is a thoroughly original concept and takes you on a very twisting journey which is sure to shock and surprise at every step. In my own opinion, the less that is said about this film’s narrative leads to a better viewing experience for audiences, and in my own personal view, I Care A Lot is the most original film I’ve seen since Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy. And this all comes down to Blakeson’s vision and talent as a filmmaker.

Audiences will really get a kick out of I Care A Lot, and Blakeson’s unique remix of genre and story is sure to keep you on edge. Violent, deranged, comically hysterical and utterly shocking, Blakeson introduces you to a range of characters who are each more twisted than the next, and his exploration of the themes of success and survival makes for a very interesting watch. Blakeson toys with his audience from beginning to end and the result is an extremely exciting piece of cinema that you can’t look away from.

Standing in as I Care A Lot’s central character is Rosamund Pike as ultra-sharp legal guardian Marla Grayson. A corporate lioness on the hunt in a modern-day savannah, Marla is determined to succeed in a hyper-capitalistic world and has forgone any kind of moral obligation or ethical boundaries in her pursuit of success and wealth. She’s a crafty, manipulative go-getter who has found a perfect niche in life as a legal guardian, which allows her to fleece her clients of their life long savings…..until she chooses one mark who turns out to be anything but a nice old lady.

Pike absolutely commits as Marla and she takes audiences on a dramatic, thrilling and sometimes terrifying journey as she simply won’t give up until she gets what’s hers. She gives Marla unwavering confidence and moral superiority, alongside a crooked smile and ‘sweet’ demeanour that underneath hides a dangerous and morally bankrupt person. And it’s enjoyable to see Pike shift and slide throughout the film’s narrative. In one scene you’ll hate Marla, then in the next, you’ll love her. There’s a strong complexity to Marla’s character and this is all down to the strength of Pike’s performance and her talent for playing very bad girls. Marla Grayson is a true cinema original and Pike’s performance is sure to stay with audiences.

Facing off against Pike’s Marla is Peter Dinklage as the nefarious Roman Lunyov. A dangerous, sadistic character who the less is said about the better, but who grows particularly tried of Marla’s ‘schemes’ and who desires to make an example of her. This is Dinklage like we’ve never seen him before, and he again brings his A-game talent to this very dark character. As an audience member its fun to see these two characters sparring together on screen, their battle of wills growing more dangerous by the minute. Like Pike, Dinklage keeps the audience on edge, and you never know what he’s going to do next as this unpredictable and extremely volatile character.

I Care A Lot’s wild card entry is noted performer Dianne Wiest as Jennifer Peterson, an elderly lady who is the target of Marla’s latest scam and who is anything but what she pretends to be. Wiest has made a career playing sweet, good-natured characters and Blakeson uses this to his advantage in presenting a character that we’ve never seen Wiest play before and she gives Pike a real run for her money here.

Alongside its standout narrative and performances, I Care A Lot is a meticulously designed piece of cinema from a visual standpoint with cinematography, production design, costuming and score all drawing you into the action that unfold on screen. Whether it’s the neon shaded hues and dark shadows of cinematographer Doug Emmett’s visuals, or the sickly, overly polished ‘prison-like’ space of a retirement village, or Marla’s sharply tailored pantsuit wardrobe in bright primary colours, all of it draws you in and makes for a solid feast for the eyes.

Part of the fun of I Care A Lot from a viewing standpoint is you never know where this narrative is going to take you and the resulting film is filled with twists, turns and sucker punches you just can’t see coming. With his film, Blakeson takes an interesting look at ideas of success and capitalism in action, and with a character who is so goal-focused as Marla it’s hard not to look away. Another fun thing about this film is just how unlikeable and repugnant all of these characters are, and as an audience member this aspect of the film toys with your emotions as these characters play their game and this leads up until the film’s shocking final scene.

I Care A Lot is one of the cleverest, most original pieces of cinema I’ve ever come across and in my mind could well end up being the best film of the year. It’s a piece of cinema that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through and really does something interesting with notions of character and genre. See this one immediately, because you don’t want to miss out on it.

Image: Amazon Prime Video

The post ‘I Care A Lot’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.

The film documents the life and work of Marie Curie: meeting her husband/research partner Pierre (Sam Riley), discovering polonium and radium, the tragic loss of Pierre to a trampling horse, and her affair with colleague Paul Langevin (Aneurin Barnard).

Director Marjane Satrapi gives brings a strong sense of creativity and a unique vision to realising the life of Marie Curie up on the big screen with a film that both pay attention to the power of historical fact, but which is painted in a brilliant creative light. As a filmmaker and artist, Satrapi is known for her strong visual talent and for being willing to push the envelope with a selected list of works that include Persepolis and The Voices. In Radioactive she crafts a film which is best described as a ‘character piece captured in a dream’, and through the use of a very distinct production aesthetic takes audiences inside the mind and dreams of Curie as she makes her discoveries and sees the possibilities that her discoveries will have on the world, both the good and the bad.

Taking on the lead role of Marie Curie is celebrated actress Rosamund Pike, and again we get another thoroughly committed performance from the actress in this very complex and true historical role. As Curie, Pike is best described as a grinder, a woman living in the 19th century who is trying to make her way not only in the world, but more importantly within the scientific community of the time which readily looked down upon women, and their genius. As Curie, Pike gives a performance that is bound with both shades of wonder and pragmatism and she finds her great discoveries her triumphs begin to weigh on her mind, and the thought of what comes next is never far from her thoughts.

Joining Pike in Radioactive is talented British thespian Sam Reilly as Curie’s husband and fellow scientist Pierre Curie. As an actor, Reilly is an eclectic sort who has built his career on a range of wide and diverse character roles and the historical role of Pierre Curie fits him like a glove. Not only does he share natural chemistry with Pike, but he’s able to use this to help convey just how important Pierre meant to her, along with feeling the immense shadow that would fall across him because of his wife’s success. The relationship between Pierre and Marie is a complicated one, and Reilly’s talent is an integral part of how this is brought to the screen and is a great example of the complexity that he can carry as a performer.

One of the most striking parts of Radioactive is the way in which director Marjane Satrapi and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle capture the film. Attention is paid here to a colour palette of luminous greens and muted colours, such as brown and grey, that fully emphasize the magical discovery of radium and the impact that it has upon the world. The film also makes use of turn of the century photographic techniques such as ellipses and a stationary camera that gives the film a historical, almost otherworldly setting. The filmmaking and lighting are very European and you can feel the deliberate way in which this was done in order to help better transport the audience into the story and setting of Curie’s grand discovery.

It’s difficult to do something different within the biopic genre, but Radioactive creates a viewing experience that is unlike anything an audience has ever witnessed before in relation to the genre. It’s a film that captures one woman’s phenomenal achievements, along with presenting a thoroughly unique and visually striking portrait of science in an age gone by, and makes for truly memorable viewing.

Image: Roadshow Films

The post ‘Radioactive’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Leading A United Kingdom’s cast is British thespian David Oyelowo, who stars as Sir Seretse Khama, the young prince of Bechuanaland who is destined to be king. Not only does Oyelowo have the charisma, poise, and decorum required to portray a monarch, but the film’s subject matter is of intense personal importance to him. In both his work and private life, Oyelowo has continued to take on projects that deal with the necessity for equality and the fight to end racism, and the narrative of A United Kingdom’s speaks to both of these issues.

The real life Seretse married his white wife Ruth out of love and devotion, but also to create an image of a united Africa that he wanted to create. Oyelowo expresses this exact sentiment in a tearfully charged scene of high drama, where he declares his love for his wife before his people, with the fate of his leadership on the line.

Paired with Oyelowo is fellow British actress Rosamund Pike, who is equally captivating on screen as Lady Ruth Williams Kharma. While cinema going audiences are by no means oblivious to the long line of queens who have graced the silver screen, Pike’s Ruth is a very different type of ruler. This working class lass has a very steep learning curve in what it means to be a leader, but she overcomes it with warmth and enthusiasm. Watching Pike bond with the tribeswomen of Bechuanaland also offers many special moments, particularly as they begin to accept her as their sister, and eventually as the mother of their nation.

A United Kingdom’s director, Amma Asante, takes great pride in telling this captivating tale of a mixed-race power couple who became trailblazers in many ways. With a focus on narrative and character, Asante utilises breathtaking production design, wardrobe, make-up and cinematography to bring this important story to life.

A United Kingdom is an extremely moving piece of cinema that chronicles one of the most incredible love stories of the 20th century. Informative, passionate and intensely moving, it’s sure to turn heads come awards season.

Image: EOne Films

The post ‘A United Kingdom’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.