A rescue mission is assembled in Thailand where a group of young boys and their soccer coach are trapped in a system of underground caves that are flooding.

The 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue was an event that captured the world’s attention as twelve school-aged soccer players and their coach were caught in a sudden monsoon and seemingly lost in the depths of a harrowing cave. With the water rising, and hope beginning to fade a collection of skilled oddballs and adrenaline junkies were brought in to help find a miracle, and their heroism under pressure would lead to one of the greatest events in human history. This is the setting that Ron Howard brings us into in Thirteen Lives, and with his meticulous attention to detail and almost documentarian-like focus, he puts audiences right at the core of this story.

As a filmmaker, Ron Howard has been responsible for some of the best films of the last two decades. From Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man and Rush, he’s a filmmaker who can put his audience right into the centre of the action. He also has a real craft of capturing true-to-life stories and characters, and this is exactly the approach he brings to Thirteen Lives. In his narrative, Howard finds a great split between his focus on the team of rescue divers who are brought in throughout the world to help coordinate the diving mission, along with the central Thai characters who saw it as their duty to rescue the boys. From start to end the clock is ticking with Thirteen Lives and Howard ramps up the severity of the narrative as minute by minute ticks by and you wonder how the hell these divers are going to reach the trapped boys.

As a cinematic experience, Thirteen Lives will have you on a razor’s edge. Howard’s approach to capturing the action of this unfolding rescue in a minute-by-minute stance creates a brewing sense of paranoia and intensity in the audience. Just how the hell are the divers and the Thai government going to get these kids out? Along with the bureaucratic back and forth, and measures of control and micro-management amidst an operation that is growing ever more dangerous by the moment are the film’s intense underwater scenes that capture the diver’s rescue action. Dark, claustrophobic and dread-inducing these moments make for an intense watch and Howard captures both a ‘fear of the water’ quality, along with the skill, calm and professionalism of the divers who took on this mission.

With his principal cast, Ron Howard completely lucks out with the presence of Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton as rescue divers Richard Stanton, John Volanthen and Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris. Each of the performers does a great job in realising their character with Mortensen capturing the standoffish yet peak professionalism of Stanton, Farrell bringing a parent’s concern and committed focus to courage as Volanthen and Egerton being the outsider who takes a gamble as Harris. The three men act well together and complement each other in their performances. Thirteen Lives benefits greatly from their addition to the cast and these actors’ commitment to the men they portray and the story they’re bringing to life.

Thirteen Lives is far and away one of the most heroic and awe-inspiring pieces of film that you’ll see all year. It’s a phenomenally intense watch and you’ll be spellbound by the narrative, performances, cinematography and intensity of this story and it’s honouring one of the greatest achievements in human history. So hold your breath tight and prepare to go under because Thirteen Lives is one incredible watch.

Thirteen Lives is now streaming on Prime Video.

Image: Thirteen Lives

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Dominika Egorov (Lawrence) is a Russian Spy trained as a ‘sparrow’ or an operative who has been taught to use her femininity as a weapon. But after she is initially charged to seduce CIA case officer Nathanial Nash (Joel Edgerton), Dominika begins to fall in love with him and considers becoming a double agent.

Director Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Constantine) takes audiences inside a dark and dangerous landscape of political intrigue and vicious spy action with Red Sparrow. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Justin Matthews, Red Sparrow is a gripping portrayal of current-day espionage. Lawrence doesn’t shy away from any of it, and captures the murky waters that these operatives and operations are carried out in. While some will find it uncomfortable to watch, it’s one of the more realistic portrayal of professional espionage ever captured on screen and he also brings his unique eye for design and a good dose of Russian cultural appropriation into the film as well.

Jennifer Lawrence has long been lauded as one of the best young actresses working today. She’s never been afraid of a challenge, but her role as Dominika Egorov is her most grown-up role to date. In Red Sparrow hers is the almost anti-coming-of-age story as very early on her world shatters and she is forced to accept a new one. It’s in these early moments that we also see Dominika’s true character. She’s a survivor, a calculating machine and a person who is prone to certain psychopathic tendencies. While there is a definite innocence to her character do not be fooled….she knows the game that she’s playing. Lawrence again gives herself completely to her character and engages in some pretty intense behaviour on-screen. She pushes herself both physically and mentally with this role and it really shows through.

Standing next to her is Joel Edgerton as Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Nash, an American CIA case officer who blows a big operation and is given one last chance to make contact with his source. His is a fascinating character as he is viewed as a degenerate with a passion for liquor and fast woman, but his actions instead show a man who is incredibly smart and calculating in his approach to his work. It’s in Nate’s character that we see one of the film’s most recurring themes: No one is who they appear to be. Everyone is playing everyone and this is exactly what we see with Nate. Edgerton also shares a great chemistry with Lawrence and it’s a romance that sizzles with a strong sexual undercurrent and almost a test of their skills between one another. They make a great match on screen together and I’d love to see them work together again.

I can’t also look past Matthias Schoenaerts as the incredibly creepy Ivan Egorov, Dominika’s uncle who places her in the Sparrow School and moulds her into a lethal operative. There’s a calm sense of sadism about Ivan. While he might have the behaviour and courtesy of a politician he is also a man who is willing to eliminate any problem that he deems unacceptable, and in the most brutal way possible. His interactions with Lawrence are a source of interest and I was very pleased with what he did with the role.

Red Sparrow also has considerable style. It’s cinematography, costuming and musical score imply great elegance and evoke the classic noir style of filmmaking that we have long aligned with the work of the spy genre. Cinematographer Jo Willems captures the considerable dark beauty of the former Eastern Bloc in considerable style and incorporates a pallette of slate greys, crisp blacks and bold crimson red into his design aesthetic. Then there’s costume designer Trish Summerville who really gets to do something special with the film, especially Dominka’s vast wardrobe changes as she walks through the world as a sparrow.

Let’s also make the distinction that Red Sparrow is not a PG film and that it is a very intense watch. A dangerous sexuality runs through it as Dominika is subject to a world of powerful men who can take anything from a woman they want. Dominika falls into this world, and while initially victimized by it, draws on her sexuality as a weapon and soon becomes a master seducer who can take what she wants from any man. While these moments are certainly shocking to watch, and can at times be extremely uncomfortable, they are in keeping with the spirit and energy of the film. Red Sparrow also gets extremely violent at times, especially it’s brutal interrogation scenes, but again this is in keeping with the film’s elevated and dangerous espionage world.

The twists are also worth praising and I could count at least five times when I jumped out of my seat in shock. While jump scares get me every time it has been a long time since a thriller made me jump. Lawrence knows how to calculate pressure and intensity in his film and you’re guaranteed to never see the ending coming. It took me completely by surprise and is a real fitting end to this intense cinematic experience.

Red Sparrow is one of the more shocking and intense spy films that I’ve seen in a while and it’s definitely Jennifer Lawrence’s most adult performance to date. For the right audience, who are not afraid of a bit of grit and are looking for something a little bit more shocking, it’s a thriller that definitely delivers.

Image: 20th Century Fox

The post ‘Red Sparrow’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Check it out below:

Here’s the synopsis:

Dominika Egorov (Lawrence) is a Russian Spy trained as a ‘sparrow’ or an operative who has been taught to use her femininity as a weapon. But after she is initially charged to seduce CIA case officer Nathanial Nash (Joel Edgerton), Dominika begins to fall in love with him and considers becoming a double agent. 

The new trailer throws audiences right into the thick of the action, as Lawrence’s Dominika is transformed from innocent ingenue to that of a master seductress and merciless assassin. Lawrence looks particularly intense in the film and her gradual lack of emotion as it is stripped away by her brutal training regime really shows up in the footage.

It’s also pretty damn clear that Red Sparrow is going to get damn messy! Director Francis Lawrence is not shying away from the film’s brutal aspects, including the merciless training ground known as the Sparrow School! Here violence is a way of life, and it’s clear that Dominika will have to utilise all of her considerable willpower to survive both it and the dark intentions of her Government handlers.

Joel Edgerton makes a great match alongside Lawrence as the intelligent and suave Nathanial Nash, an American CIA officer who is trying to turn defectors within Russia, and who quickly falls for Dominika and her charms and seeks to help her find a way out.

Then there’s the sinister and dark presence of Matthias Schoenaerts as Ivan Dimitrevich Egorov, Dominika’s uncle who inducts her into the Sparrow School, and who is willing to do unthinkable things to her in order to make her his perfect assassin.

Check out my thoughts below on the new trailer and what Red Sparrow has me excited to see:

Red Sparrow is an absolute must watch and will be released in cinemas on March 1.

The post Jennifer Lawrence is a dangerous creature in ‘Red Sparrow’ appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Check it out below:

Here’s the synopsis:

Dominika Egorov (Lawrence) is a Russian Spy trained as a ‘sparrow’ or an operative who has been taught to use her femininity as a weapon. But after she is initially charged to seduce CIA case officer Nathanial Nash (Joel Edgerton), Dominika begins to fall in love with him and considers becoming a double agent. 

Adapted from the bestseller by former CIA operative Jason Matthews, director Francis Lawrence appears to have crafted a dangerous and high stakes thriller. Both Lawrence and Egerton are two of the best stars working in Hollywood today and together on screen they make for a very intriguing couple.

Lawrence looks incredibly intense as the beautiful, but dangerous Dominika Egorov, who understands how to get inside a man’s head and use him to her own advantage. While the hot and steamy subject matter will surely see Lawrence show some skin, she’ll also carve her way through a bunch of bad guys with a very solid spy skill set.

Red Sparrow is one thriller to definitely keep an eye on and will be released in cinemas March 1, 2018 in New Zealand and Australia and on March 2, 2018 in the US and UK.

The post Jennifer Lawrence is seductively deadly in ‘Red Sparrow’ appeared first on SpicyPulp.