Emma Thompson is one of those eternally graceful actresses who always offer class and sophistication to any role she takes on. With the arrival of "Last Christmas" (which she also co-wrote), I made a list of my five favorite Emma Thompson films.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#5
Nanny McPhee
Taking her cue from another famous nanny, Emma Thompson's passion project comes to light with "Nanny McPhee," based off Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda stories. She plays a magical nanny who's tasked with taking care of a gang of unruly kids who live with their father (played by Colin Firth), who tries to teach them good manners but ends up having to help rescue them from their evil relative, played with delicious brilliance by Angela Lansbury. While not as fantastic as "Mary Poppins," Nanny McPhee will still find a way into your heart due to Thompson's transformative performance.
#4
Saving Mr. Banks
Speaking of Mary Poppins, "Saving Mr. Banks" is the true story of how Walt Disney managed to convince author P.L. Travers to give him rights to her iconic character, and the relationship the two developed throughout their negotiations. Thompson and Tom Hanks share an impeccable chemistry as the two Oscar winners give their all in their performances, and the result is a heartfelt, humorous look behind the scenes of how Disney managed to bring one of the most beloved characters to the big screen.
#3
In the Name of the Father
It's never easy to act alongside the great Daniel Day-Lewis, but Emma Thompson more than holds her own as the lawyer assigned to defend Daniel Day-Lewis's Gerry Conlon, who was falsely accused of a terrorist bombing and sentenced to life in prison. She earned herself an Academy Award nomination for her role, and managed to be as captivating as her esteemed co-star.
#2
Howards End
In the film that earned Thompson an Academy Award for Best Actress, "Howards End" is a stirring period piece about the class structure of Europe and the unending bonds of love. Co-starring Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter, "Howards End" serves as a strong, stirring film that's endearing and timeless, especially Thompson's performance.
#1
Sense and Sensibility
Adapting Jane Austen's first novel to the big screen, Thompson not only stars as sensible sister Elinor (to her more sensibility-adapted sister Marianne, played by Kate Winslet), but she also adapted the novel to the screen, earning herself an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - and becoming the first person to earn Academy Awards in both acting and writing. Directed by Ang Lee, the film is a star-studded period piece about love, life, and all the highs and lows that come from living in the lap of luxury before having to fend for themselves. The film stands tall due to the terrific performances as well as the true-to-form adaptation that Thompson spent five meticulous years perfecting.
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder." When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go. I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen. Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President. Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a
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