Whatever it takes.
I love independent films and I love serious studio titles that court awards and I love the obscure arthouse stuff that never makes it to my local Odeon. Hey, my favourite films from the past three years were Nocturnal Animals, Moonlight and First Man respectively, so I'm totally a proper film critic. But sometimes what I really need is a big, bold, attention-grabbing, eye-popping, popcorn-munching entertainment-fest. And no one except no one in 2019 does those better than Marvel. Avengers: Endgame opens on April 25th here in the UK and I'm counting the days. Literally. As I write this there are 35 left to go. So as my own contribution to the Endgame hype-machine, here are ten reasons why my anticipation is greater than for any blockbuster movie since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. (For the record, it was really easy to find the ten.)
1. 11 Years Coming
The Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted with Iron Man in 2008, a post-credits sequence linking its hero Tony Stark to something called 'The Avengers Initiative'. Since then the MCU has expanded, deepened and interconnected, its characters popping up in each other's films, groups of them occasionally banding together as full-time or honorary 'Avengers' to face off against the really big foes. How clearly head honcho Kevin Feige envisaged this year's Endgame back in 2008 I'm not altogether clear, but there's a sense looking back to the early days that it was all headed somewhere flipping huge. I described Avengers: Infinity War last year as a 'culmination'. Well in truth it was only the first half of that culmination. Endgame is where a decade's worth of storylines and character arcs finally achieve their closure. We fans have been patient, and this is the payoff.
2. Mother of All Cliffhangers
Let's not understate the hugeness of what happened at the end of Infinity War. Half the population of a very busy cinematic universe was rendered literal dust-in-the-wind by a snap of Thanos' gloved fingers. Among the crumbled were key players - Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Falcon... Audiences shared their heroes' desolation. Thor, having failed to deal Thanos a fatal blow, was lost and bewildered. Steve Rogers could only paw the ground, muttering 'Oh God'. And Tony Stark silently hugged himself, as though trying to embrace a no-longer-existent Peter Parker. Our guys had lost, while their brutal but strangely philosophical nemesis parked his ass on a mystery planet to enjoy the sunset and contemplate his misguided act of mercy. Man, it was tough to watch. So... what's next?
3. An Interweaving of Threads
The MCU is now famous for doing such interweaving (see 1, or better still read my full article on the topic here.). Infinity War combined the Avengers characters with those from Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and Black Panther in the ultimate super-hero mash-up. And while there's been a certain amount of scaling down in personnel courtesy of Thanos and the infinity gauntlet, Endgame is still going to mix things up some more. Scott Lang will find some way to join the team (his Ant-Man and the Wasp outing left him ultra-miniaturised and inconveniently stranded in the Quantum Realm), while Carol Danvers is returning to Earth for the first time since her 1995 tangle with Nick Fury and the Skrulls in Captain Marvel. These movies have been dealing with character-clashes consummately well, so we can expect some wonderful drama and a few deft comic touches to leaven the gloom, as the old-guard incorporate the newbs.
4. That Enigmatic Marketing Campaign
I've given vent on Filmic Forays to my frustration at spoiler-filled movie trailers (specifically here). My pet movie gripe to this day is having multiple plot points/key moments given away by the studio publicity machine, so that the viewing experience is robbed of its impact. What's refreshing about the Endgame trailer is that it reveals the absolute minimum of what we can expect in the film, while still managing to convey a sense of utmost urgency and drama. Our heroes are devastated, but they're going to fight back, that much we know. How exactly? Unclear. In what circumstances? Not a clue. To what effect? Nope, got nothing. The marketing team has striven to prevent the story's secrets from leaking, a task as strenuous as wrestling the infinity gauntlet back from Thanos (and we all know how that ended). Well if any major spoilers do make it out there (and I pray they don't), it won't be due to crass telegraphing on the part of the Marvel team. They're doing all they can to keep the big revelations under wraps, and dropping just enough hints to make us salivate like Pavlovian dogs.
5. Streamlining Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Infinity War did a commendable job of spinning multiple stories on multiple planets at the same time. Inevitably, however, there were characters who lost out. (Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff spring immediately to mind). In the aftermath of Thanos' radical cast-culling that should not be a problem. While there's still a scattering of characters who were introduced to the MCU following the first Avengers movie, Endgame seems much more focused on the original team - you know, the gang who had each other's backs when New York came under attack from the Chitauri seven years ago. Hawkeye is making a welcome (if grief-stricken) return to complete the Class-of-2012 reunion, which intensifies the prospect of an epic and potentially tragic last stand. If Infinity War was sprawling, Endgame should have a tight team-based focus.
6. Scintillating New Character Combos
There's still room post-Thanoid apocalypse for some intriguing MCU connections to take place. Along with the integration of Ant-Man and Captain Marvel with the core group, we have a couple of enticing prospects. What kind of marooned space-buddies will wise-cracking Tony Stark and vengeful humour-vacuum Nebula make? And how bad-ass a pairing will we have in Rocket Raccoon and War Machine? (Very, the above picture would suggest.) With Danai Gurira's Wakandan warrior Okoye still knocking around, plus who knows what other survivors waiting in the shadows, there's no knowing what additional encounters might be in store. That's the wonder of the MCU - the sense that all your 'What if character A met character Q?' questions will eventually be answered.
7. An Epic Runtime
Directing team the Russo Brothers recently spoke in terms of a three-hour final edit of Avengers: Endgame and there's little sign that they're trimming it significantly shorter. Movies of equivalent length were in vogue fifteen years ago, largely due to Peter Jackson's Middle Earth trilogy, but studio executives and cinema multiplex owners tend not to like them; the longer the runtime, the fewer screenings can be crammed in during the movie-going day. It's a sign of the production team's confidence (and that of the execs) in what they've created that they're keeping it close to the three-hour mark. In addition we can expect a finale that's got much more than spectacle. It's going to devote all the time required to those crucial character moments - resolving all those tantalising sub-plots and giving this classic crew the send-off they deserve.
8. Emotional Punch
Have you seen that final trailer? The one that gives virtually nothing away, save the height of the stakes involved? Everyone is grieving, everyone is lost, everyone is struggling to process the outcome of their war with Thanos. Steve and Tony can't believe they failed to stop the big purple guy. Thor holds himself personally responsible (because he failed to aim for the head). Hawkeye (above) has been bereft of all he truly loved. Natasha, it seems, is acting as everyone's grief counsellor. They should try to find a way to move on, but they can't. Not if there's some glimmer of a chance they could reverse the situation and claim victory where they failed first time around. And however tough their mission, this time they'll see it through - whatever it takes. Gives you chills, right? No? Seriously? Don't you have a soul???
9. Trust the Russo Boys (and their writing team)
Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely knew their MCU already, having written screenplays for Captain America: The First Avenger (good) and Thor: The Dark World (passable). They found their perfect compliment, however, in directing partnership Anthony and Joe Russo. These talented siblings came from a background in TV comedy to helm some of the best entries in the Marvel cinematic canon to date - Cap America episodes The Winter Soldier and Civil War and last year's awe-inspiring first half to the Thanos story. While not necessarily fully-fledged auteurs, the Brothers Russo have nonetheless a terrific grasp of storytelling structure, pacing and tone. Their Cap stories are arguably the most bruising MCU titles (physically and emotionally), while their Avengers movie navigated a clean and hugely satisfying path through a narrative that was dauntingly ambitious. Since Infinity War and Endgame were made Lord of the Rings-style in a single shoot, we can be pretty damn sure that this closing episode will match the quality of the opener, if not surpass it.
10. That Climactic Feeling
Speaking of The Lord of the Rings (and why wouldn't anyone?), think back to Christmas 2003. Remember when Frodo and Sam were picking their way through the sulfurous ruins of Mordor, while Aragorn and his battle-weary troops squared up to the massed hoards of Sauron? Never in my cinematic adventures had I felt such a sense of desperate heroism in the face of insurmountable odds - and I'd read the book! That's until now, I think. The Avengers' final stand against Thanos has that nothing-left-to-lose Return of the King vibe - like its heroes are choosing to stand tall as the world ends around them. Yes we know there are other MCU movies on the way, that Peter Parker can't really be expected to stay dead and that Black Panther was too big a cultural phenomenon not to be granted a sequel. But time (to say nothing of contracts) is running out for the classic A-team, and this feels for all the world like their last hurrah. They've got the tiniest sliver of a chance (one in fourteen million six hundred and five, if Doctor Strange got his mystical sums right) to defeat Thanos and reverse the snap. But they're determined to beat those odds. Whatever it takes.
So - do our guys, girls and raccoon really have a prayer? Will Hawkeye get his family back, Wakanda its King, Queens its friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man? Will Tony have his happy ending with Pepper, or a chance to kiss and make up with Cap? Will Bruce Banner get his Hulk on, and will Black Widow finally get it on with him? Will Nebula sort out her Daddy issues? Will Rocket remain the Galaxy's sole Guardian? Is there a way back from despair, and if so, will it come at a terrible price for some of our heroes? Am I geeking out just a little bit too much?
I honestly don't care. I'm way too stoked. See you on April 25th, everyone. It's going to be awesome.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. Gandalf - The Lord of the Rings
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019 and a whole new shining vista of Filmic promise. As ever on January 1st I'm looking forward to specific cinematic offerings that'll be on view over the next twelve months. (Yes, Gandalf - I've already decided what I'll be doing with much of my time between now and December 31st.) Of course there'll be delicious surprises along the way - indy and world cinema gems that haven't received a lot of media attention so far, and some titles that have yet to secure a release date. But as of right now, here are the fifteen films landing in UK theatres this year that have got my interest the most peaked...
1. Stan and Ollie (11th January)
This is a long time coming. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy deserved a movie tribute long since, but maybe it's good we were made to wait till Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly were there to take the roles. It looks like perfect casting, and the choice to focus on the pair's post-Hollywood theatrical tour of the UK should make this as poignant as it is funny.
High Hopes: A warm-hearted nostalgia piece that gets what made this screen double-act so sublime?
2. Mary Queen of Scots (18th January)
Saoirse Ronan is the doomed Mary (it's history, that's no spoiler) and Margot Robbie is her royal sister Elizabeth. Their story has been told before, but this time around the screenplay is based on John Guy's revisionist history, which paints a different and more nuanced relationship between the two queens - or so I've been led to believe. A tragic tale of thwarted sixteenth century girl-power, it seems. At any rate I can't wait to find out.
High Hopes: One seriously riveting double-act in Ronan and Robbie, and some complex and powerful historical drama?
3. If Beale Street Could Talk (18th January)
Barry Jenkins wrote and directed my favourite film of 2016 in Moonlight, so I'm fascinated to see if he can repeat the trick with this new one. Based on James Baldwin's novel of love in fraught circumstances, it's already attracting lots of award season buzz, and that beautiful black and white poster suggests an intense and moving experience.
High Hopes: So - an intense and moving experience then?
4. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (1st February)
Melissa McCarthy is in need of some forgiveness following the disappointments of Life of the Party and The Happytime Murders last year (her natural funniness showed through in the former of those, but as a film it didn't work at all). This project is giving her an opportunity to prove her dramatic chops Steve Carrell-style, and with none other than Brit treasure Richard E. Grant. Her best comedy work has a real dramatic edge to it, so this will be nothing if not fascinating.
High Hopes: Serious chemistry from this unexpected and intriguing Grant/MelMac combination?
5. Fighting With My Family (14th February)
Stephen Merchant is writer/director of this 'based-on-a-true-story' - ehhh - story, having been talked into the project by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. The fighting is literal and takes place in a wrestling ring - it's a family tradition you see. Nick Frost and Lena Headey play the parents, while their rising wrestling-star daughter is played by ever-rising acting-star Florence Pugh (see my review of 2016's Lady Macbeth). The Rock is in it as well, as himself. Got to be seen then.
High Hopes: A star-making turn from indie darling Pugh, and some well-turned comedy moments, in and out of the ring?
6. Happy Death Day 2U (14th February)
One of the unexpected delights of 2017 was Happy Death Day, effectively Groundhog Day reworked as a slasher movie. The delight came from how funny it was, chiefly due to Jessica Rothe's performance as the persecuted, repeatedly dying Tree Gelbman; her transformation from nightmare sorority girl to bad-ass heroine was both comic and cheer-worthy. Director Christopher Landon claims to have a great idea for the sequel and the original cast is back, so...
High Hopes: More macabre but strangely good-natured high-jinx in a follow-up that serves to enhance the original rather than crap all over it?
7. Captain Marvel (8th March)
Marvel Studios are finally doing it - basing a super-hero film entirely around a female lead. (Their rivals at DC managed it almost two years back with Wonder Woman.) Gender politics aside, Captain Marvel will tie into the Avengers: Infinity War cliffhanger in some intriguing way and is all set to revolutionise the MCU. Plus the trailer is terrific. As far as long-term planning goes, no one does it better than Marvel.
High Hopes: An entertaining and inventive origins story in its own right, plus a barnstorming performance from Bree Larson as the new Cap?
8. Us (15th March)
Get Out was the directorial debut of comedian/actor/writer Jordan Peele. It was also one of the most original and attention-grabbing movies of 2017, taking generic horror ideas and twisting them into something provocative and politically confrontational. Us is his follow-up - once again with a generic-sounding premise and a teaser campaign suggesting it'll be anything but. Plus it stars 12 Years a Slave/Black Panther actress Lupita Nyong'o in the lead. Sold.
High Hopes: A worthy Get Out follow-up that cements Peele's status as a modern mainstream auteur?
9. Avengers: Endgame (26th April)
Avengers: Infinity War ended in nothing short of apocalyptic devastation. It'll take one hell of a satisfying follow-up to salvage the mess into which the heroes (and all of the universe) was plunged. The Russo Brothers are in charge, however, along with their long-time writing team, and we wondered this time last year if they could pull off Infinity War. In case you missed it, they did. So fingers crossed and brace yourself for one hell of a ride.
High Hopes: Popcorn greatness???
10. Rocketman (24th May)
Bohemian Rhapsody copped criticism from certain quarters for being too sanitised and generic an example of the music biopic. (I enjoyed it for what it was - a glossy celebration of Freddie Mercury and Queen.) Here we have Taron Egerton as the young, talented, flamboyant, excess-embracing Elton John - an opportunity to truly embrace the madness along with the music. Well the soundtrack will be great if nothing else...
High Hopes: Something a bit more impressionistic, a bit less by-the-numbers than BoRap, plus a Remy Malick-level performance by Egerton?
11. Godzilla: King of Monsters (31st May)
2018 had its share of colossal and colossally stupid monster movies (Rampage to its credit made me laugh - a lot). King of the Monsters promises to be very different, following on as it does with 2014's beautifully made and uncharacteristically smart Godzilla. Anticipation is stoked not just by the creatures - which look properly spectacular - but by an eminently impressive human cast headed up by Sally Hawkins, Vera Farmiga and Stranger Things' breakout star Millie Bobby Brown. I am Kujira - hear me roar.
High Hopes: All the spectacle of Rampage and The Meg put together, with an actual grown-up screenplay?
12. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (26th July)
Here's a divisive phrase - 'the new movie from Quentin Tarantino'. Want to make it more divisive? Add - 'concerning the Manson Family murders' (among other stuff). Tarantino is the Godfather of contemporary cinematic cool; his style and subject-choices have influenced numerous other film-makers (to varying degrees of success). The deliberately exploitative nature of his movies raises hackles along with champagne glasses. But with a cast of surnames including Pitt, DiCaprio, Robbie and Pacino, how can you not take an interest?
High Hopes: Something that's challenging for sure, but that treats the subject-matter with a touch of gravitas?
13. IT: Chapter 2 (6th September)
Bring on this one! 2017's first IT chapter was an irresistible blend of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Stand By Me. You ended up rooting loudly for its juvenile heroes, as they faced down Pennywise the psychopathic clown along with every other fear-rooted guise in which he manifested himself. This time around the youngsters have grown up to become familiar faces like James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain - and they're all going to have to return to their childhood home of Derry, Maine. IT/Pennywise/the embodiment of their darkest fears is back. Be a fun kind of afraid.
High Hopes: A second chapter to match the first, thereby delivering the definitive adaptation of Stephen King's horror classic (no disrespect to Tim Currie)?
14. The Irishman (TBC)
Martin Scorsese returns to the crime genre with which he's most strongly associated (despite all else he's done), with this story of real-life mob hitman Frank Sheeran. De Niro, Pesci and Keitel are all back working with the director, and Al Pacino is there as well - the first time he and Scorsese have worked together. Steve Zaillian (Schindler's List) wrote the screenplay, so all the stars of movie greatness seem to be aligning on this one.
High Hopes: It'll live up to say 75%-plus of all that potential?
15. Star Wars Episode IX (?th December)
The Last Jedi succeeded in splitting the Star Wars fan base more effectively than a well-aimed light-sabre stroke. Some embraced it as one of the best episodes to date, while others raged against it an act of fandom betrayal. (I was on the 'love' side, but I'm not a long-time franchise aficionado, so what do I know?) J. J. Abrams, who kick-started the new Star Wars era back in 2015, is writer/director once more, and it falls to him to rebalance the force, bringing happiness to Skywalker devotees worldwide. Good luck, mate. Seriously.
High Hopes: A miracle of a final chapter that reunites fans of all stripes, while not sacrificing the integrity of the previous film? (Or failing that, a damn good end-of-year space-romp?)
