Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon and Liam Neeson in the Richard Curtis movie ‘Love Actually’

In 2003, an ensemble cast combined for a loosely related set of love stories set against the backdrop of Christmas. Richard Curtis wrote and directed Love Actually (2003), set in London, England to the larger point that love is actually all around us.

(From left, Hugh Grant as David, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Martine McCutcheon as Natalie in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

Several intersecting love stories are shown against the backdrop of the narrated perspective that opens the movie. The arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport and the messages from victims of the September 11th, 2001 attacks show love rather than hate. The movie immediately moves into interconnected stories of love, including that of Natalie and United Kingdom Prime Minister David, as portrayed by Martine McCutcheon and Hugh Grant, respectively. Natalie and David seemingly meet on the prime minister‘s first day in office.

(From left, Heike Makatsch as Mia, Alan Rickman as Harry and Emma Thompson as Karen in the Richard Curtis move Love Actually).

Karen is David’s sister, and a mother to two kids with Harry. Mia, Harry’s secretary as the managing director of a design agency, offers suggestive behavior that leads to at least emotional temptation. The story reveals itself through the movie, with the payoff on the evening before Christmas. Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Heike Makatsch portrayed Karen, Harry and Mia, respectively. The music of Joni Mitchell is relevant to this story.

(From left, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Sam, Olivia Olson as Joanna, Claudia Schiffer as Carol and Liam Neeson as Daniel in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

An early conversation between Daniel and close friend Karen reveals Karen expressing sympathy for the death of Daniel’s wife. In the presence of that grief, Daniel’s stepson Sam expresses his love for Sam has crowded out grief at losing his mother. Sam attends the same school as his love interest, Joanna, plus Bernie and Daisy, the children of Karen and Harry. Drum playing and travel factor into the love story that unravels for Sam and Joanna, with feelings between Carol and Daniel seemingly developing. Liam Neeson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Olivia Olson, Claudia Schiffer, William Wadham and Lulu Popplewell portrayed Daniel, Sam, Joanna, Carol, Bernie and Daisy, respectively.

(From left, Gregor Fisher as Joe and Bill Nighy as Billy Mack in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

While the story of seeking a top hit for the Christmas season navigates its way through much of the Love Actually story, the subtext of an aging rockstar competing against more youthful competition leads in many different directions. The promotional efforts for putting Billy Mack over leaves Joe metaphorically on the outside looking in. Things take unexpected turns for the pair, with the results bearing relevance for them as well as for the love story of Joanna and Sam. Bill Nighy portrayed Billy Mack as Gregor Fisher portrayed Joe.

(From left, Michael Fitzgerald as Michael, Laura Linney as Sarah and Rodrigo Santoro as Karl in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

The sacrifice of familial love in the face of pursuing romantic love as Harry’s design agency brings about feelings of love. Sarah and Karl have been pining for each other for more than two years when Harry suggests to Sarah that perhaps the time has come to express her feelings to Karl. The agonizing process almost gets there in multiple ways, with the added complication of Sarah’s brother Michael struggling with mental health issues in a hospital. The question of intimacy and boundaries demonstrate interesting complexity for what love can become. Laura Linney, Rodrigo Santoro and Michael Fitzgerald portray Sarah, Karl and Michael, respectively.

(From left, Keira Knightley as Juliet, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Peter and Andrew Lincoln as Mark in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

A well-contained love triangle of sorts emerges when Peter’s best man at his wedding to Juliet, Mark, films the wedding. An interesting set of surprises give life to this story, from the wedding ceremony itself to the slowly unraveling truths that reveal the truth. That a different take for who knows what when emerges to the story of Karen, Harry and Mia offers a satisfying difference when considered together. Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Andrew Lincoln portrayed Juliet, Peter and Mark, respectively.

(From left, Colin Firth as Jamie and Lúcia Moniz as Aurélia in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

Jamie attended Peter and Juliet’s wedding ceremony on his own since his girlfriend, as portrayed by Sienna Guillory, had been ill. Coming home to check on her between the ceremony and the reception, Jamie finds his girlfriend sharing physical intimacy with his brother, as portrayed by Dan Fredenburgh. Distraught, Jamie meets a Portuguese housekeeper named Aurélia where he was staying. That the two didn’t speak the same language didn’t stop that these two might have feelings for one another. Lúcia Moniz portrayed Aurélia. As the movie’s theme played out, the payoff for what comes next arrived on Christmas Eve.

(From left, Abdul Salis as Tony and Kris Marshall as Colin in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

International travel offered success in unexpected ways for Colin and Tony, with Colin having multiple unsuccessful attempts to attract English women. Having failed to convince Mia, Juliet and Nancy, the wedding caterer at Peter and Juliet’s wedding, to date him, Colin decides that his English accent will attract women from the United States. Heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Colin makes his own luck with a bit of positive outcomes for himself and Tony. Abdul Salis, Kris Marshall and Julia Davis portrayed Tony, Colin and Nancy, respectively.

(From left, Joanna Page as Judy and Martin Freeman as John in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

The story of John and Judy, two socially shy body doubles that as characters in Love Actually portray risqué behavior in movies, the two find themselves able to connect emotionally away from the workplace. Portrayed by Martin Freeman and Joanna Page, respectively, John and Judy attend the Christmas pageant that meant so much to Sam and Joanna, Daniel and Carol, David and Natalie, and Daisy. A happy ending for the pair matches a recurring theme for the film, which managed to invoke jewelry salesman Rufus in a pair of key movie moments. Rowan Atkinson portrayed Rufus.

(Rowan Atkinson as Rufus in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually).

The movie Love Actually is appreciated to a large extent by Lynn of Matt Lynn Digital very much. There are multiple stories that stick with her, though the Harry, Karen and Mia storyline seems to standout more for her than the others. The romantic comedy aspect of the movie set against the season of Christmas also resonates. I personally give Love Actually as written and directed by Richard Curtis 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, December 17, 2022

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman in the Tim Burton movie ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’

Tim Burton directed the musical slasher movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). The 1979 Tony Award winning musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler was adapted into the movie starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman.

(From left, Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd (aka Benjamin Barker) and Helena Bonham Carter as Nellie Lovett in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

We are introduced to the stories central plot when Benjamin Barker arrives in mid-19th century London, England with sailor Anthony Hope. We learn that Hope coaxed Barker back home from an illegitimate exile to Australia by a corrupt judge who had falsely sustained a conviction of Barker 15-years previous. Barker adopts the alias Sweeney Todd, resuming his life as a barber bent on the revenge for the wrongs done him at the hands of the corrupt judge. Jamie Campbell Bower portrayed sailor Anthony Hope.

(From left, Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford and Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

Alan Rickman portrayed the corrupt Judge Turpin, who we learn had physically amorous feelings for Lucy Barker, the wife of Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd) and the mother of the couple’s biological daughter, Johanna Barker. We learn that Turpin raped Lucy and took custody of Johanna in advance of exiling Benjamin. Lucy, we learn, had poisoned herself with arsenic. Jayne Wisener portrayed Johanna Barker. Laura Michelle Kelly portrayed Lucy Barker, aka Beggar Woman.

(Clockwise from top left, Laura Michelle Kelly as Lucy Barker (aka Beggar Woman), Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony Hope and Jayne Wisener as Johanna Barker in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

As Anthony Hope becomes enamored of Johanna without an awareness for any of this backstory, he is driven away from Judge Turpin’s ward by Turpin’s henchman, Beadle Bamford. Bamford, as portrayed by Timothy Spall, also offers some sideways assistance to the revenge motive of Benjamin Barker when he adjudicates a disagreement between Barker (as Sweeney Todd) and Adolfo Pirelli (aka Davy Collins). Pirelli, aka Collins, was portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen.

(From left, Nick Haverson as Pirelli & Todd Customer, Sacha Baron Cohen as Adolfo Pirelli (aka Davy Collins) and Ed Sanders as Tobias ‘Toby’ Ragg in the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

It is through Pirelli that Barker meets Tobias ‘Toby’ Ragg. Ragg, Pirelli’s young assistant, helps to cement the relationship between Benjamin Barker and Nellie Lovett that makes the plot we see through the movie possible. Lovett runs the meat pie shop located below Benjamin Barker’s barbershop, where she sells the “worst pies in London.” Much of the background for Lucy Barker’s fate after Benjamin’s exile is learned through Lovett, as portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter. The details, connections, fates and flaws for all these characters truly are part of the charm that suggests watching the movie. Ed Sanders portrayed Tobias ‘Toby’ Ragg.

(From left, director Tim Burton, composer, songwriter and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and actress Helena Bonham Carter on site of the Tim Burton movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street).

The film version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street did undergo streamlining of sorts when compared to the overall story and the music included with the movie. The smaller movie emphasis on the relationship between Anthony Hope and Johanna Barker offered a notable example of this. The overall sense of the macabre combined with a distinctly Burton visual palette and storytelling gave the movie the quirky feeling of oddness that struck the strongest point of resonance for me. I give Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as directed by Tim Burton 4-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, April 30, 2022

Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia in the John McTiernan movie ‘Die Hard’

It’s not every day that an action and thriller movie is set against the backdrop of a holiday. It has become more common to see moves themed as romances or romantic comedies set against Christmas. The John McTiernan directed Die Hard (1988) managed to mix the action thriller against a Christmas gathering. Today, we look into the happenings at the fictional Nakatomi Plaza.

(Bruce Willis as John McClane, a New York City police detective in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

Die Hard is set in Los Angeles, where police officer John McClane hopes to reconcile with his wife during a holiday party hosted by the employer of his estranged wife, Holly Gennero-McClane. Bruce Willis portrayed John McClane opposite Bonnie Bedelia‘s portrayal of Holly Gennero-McClane. The employer is Nakatomi Corporation, which is due to be robbed during the very event where John hopes to reconcile with Holly.

(From left, Dennis Hayden as Eddie, Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, the leader of the terrorists and Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennero-McClane, a Nakatomi executive and John’s estranged wife in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

The movie quickly turns from a from a romantic comedy staged against a Christmas backdrop when the robbers with a violent streak, led by Hans Gruber, present the Nakatomi Plaza with a terrorist plot to rob the Nakatomi Corporation at their plaza, triggering the action thriller that we come to see. Alan Rickman portrayed Hans Gruber. Dennis Hayden portrayed one of Gruber’s henchmen, Eddie.

(From left, Alexander Godunov as Karl, Gruber’s second-in-command and Clarence Gilyard Jr. as Theo, Gruber’s tech specialist in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

Clarence Gilyard Jr. and Alexander Godunov serve as a pair of Gruber’s henchmen, portrayed from early in the story of Die Hard in setting the thievery and underlying action in motion. The Los Angeles Police Department joins the response to the plot in motion, supported first by sergeant Al Powell and later by deputy chief Dwayne T. Robinson. Paul Gleason portrayed Robinson as Reginald VelJohnson portrayed Powell.

(From left, Reginald VelJohnson as Al Powell, an LAPD sergeant and Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson, the LAPD Deputy Chief in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

John McClane had arrived at Nakatomi Plaza in a limousine driven by a man named Argyle. Argyle, portrayed by De’voreaux White, agreed to wait for John as he went to reconcile with his wife Holly. He waits on scene as the events of the movie progress, offering humor through miscommunication with McClane accompanied by other opportunities to support the story.

(De’voreaux White as Argyle, John’s limousine driver in John McTiernan‘s Die Hard).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) plays a part in seeking to respond to the terrorist robbery plot of the movie, offering a jurisdictional power play with the Los Angeles Police Department that was the first formally requested responding agency on scene. FBI actions geared at ending the plot actually advance the plot, with the actions of Argyle, Al Powell and John McClane each championing a decisive under current that is championed throughout Die Hard. Grand L. Bush portrayed FBI Special Agent Little Johnson as Robert Davi portrayed FBI Special Agent Big Johnson in the movie.

(From left, actor Grand L. Bush, Director John McTiernan and actor Robert Davi on the set of the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

The central appeal for the movie Die Hard is first and foremost the action, intrigue and thriller qualities of the story. The compelling undercurrent of humor juxtaposed against incompetence as roadblocks to the central robbery succeeding or failing, both externally to stopping the robbery and internally to the stealing, add substantially to what works well. I grant Die Hard as directed by John McTiernan 4-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, December 1, 2021