“Mafia Mamma,” a new action comedy starring Toni Collette now playing in theatres, is a coming-of-middle-age story about a suburban woman who travels to Italy for the reading of her grandfather’s will, and accidentally gets her groove back.
Collette is Kristin Balbano, a chatty American advertising executive whose life changes in an instant when her phone rings, long distance from Wurope. On the other end of the line is Bianca (Monica Bellucci), consigliere for the Balbano crime family. “Your grandfather is dead,” she says. “You need to settle his affairs. You’ll fly to Italy tomorrow night.”
Although she’s always wanted to go to Rome, Kristin can’t leave at such short notice. “Everything is crazy at work and my husband needs me.” Besides, she wasn’t close with her grandfather. In fact, they never met.
She has a change of heart, however, when, while still on the phone, she catches her husband cheating on her with their son’s guidance counselor.
Her marriage in tatters, she figures some time away would be a tonic and accepts Bianca’s offer. It isn’t until she arrives in Rome for the funeral that she learns she is one of her grandfather’s only blood relatives, and is next in line to run the family business. Even though the old crew isn’t impressed by her—”How are we supposed to appear strong when she is dressed like a librarian?”—she reluctantly steps into the lead role.
Unfortunately, the business is under siege, involved in a turf war with a rival family. As assassins circle around, Kristin discovers a new life as decides whether she can run a crime organization and still be the good person she always thought she was.
“It’s not about losing yourself,” says Bianca. “It’s about becoming yourself.”
“Mafia Mamma” is like “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “Eat, Pray, Love” only with 100% more gunplay and slapstick violence. Kristen’s story of personal awakening and empowerment is predictable, played at a sit com level, but Collette’s easy charm counts for something. Her broad comedic approach wrings laughs out of the material. Whether she is killing a baddie with a stiletto, or admitting to never having seen “The Godfather” because, “It’s really hard to find three-and-a-half hours,” she elevates this standard fish out of water tale.
The story of a woman fighting sexism and an old-school male-centric system doesn’t offer much in the way of surprises, but it does so with a fair amount of enthusiasm.
Richard speaks to “CTV News at Six” anchor Andria Case about the best movies and television to watch this weekend. This week we have a look at Guillermo Del Toro’s film noir “Nightmare Alley,” the animated documentary “Flee” and the Crave musical drama “Shoplifters of the World.”
Can Richard Crouse review three movies in just thirty seconds? Have a look as he races against the clock to tell you about the much anticipated “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the Guillermo Del Toro noir thriller “Nightmare Alley” and the rough and ready drama “Red Rocket” in less time than it takes to fry an egg.
Richard joins Jim Richards and Jay Michaels of the NewsTalk 1010 afternoon show The Rush for Booze and Reviews! Today they play a round of Did Richard Crouse Like These Movies? We have a look at George Washington’s lethal recipe for Eggnog and review the the latest from your friendly neighbourhood crimefighter in“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the dark carnival of “Nightmare Alley” and the ex-porn star drama “Red Rocket.”
Richard joins CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres including “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the dark carnival of “Nightmare Alley, the ex-porn star drama “Red Rocket” and the animated documentary “Flee.”
Richard joins CTV NewsChannel and anchor Angie Seth to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres including the latest from your friendly neighbourhood crimefighter in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the dark carnival of “Nightmare Alley” and the ex-porn star drama “Red Rocket.”
Richard sits in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres, VOD and streaming services including the latest from your friendly neighbourhood crimefighter in“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the dark carnival of “Nightmare Alley” and the ex-porn star drama “Red Rocket.”
Richard joins NewsTalk 1010 guest host David Cooper on the coast-to-coast-to-coast late night “Showgram” to play the game “Did Richard Crouse like these movies?” This week we talk about the web slinging action of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the noir pleasures of “Nightmare Alley” and the ex-porn star drama “Rede Rocket.”
Don’t go to “Nightmare Alley,” a remake of the 1947 Tyrone Power film noir, now playing in theatres, for the warm fuzzies. Guillermo Del Toro’s new movie is as cold and icy as the season in which it is being released. Any movie that begins with the burning of a corpse and ends, well, you’ll have to buy a ticket to find out, isn’t exactly geared to make your season bright, but film fans should find this to be a gift.
Set in the days leading up to World War II, the story begins as drifter-with-a-dangerous-past Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) takes a job at a travelling carnival. Paid a dollar a day plus a hot meal, he does grunt work, putting up the big top tent and doing physical labor.
His gift of the gab soon earns him a promotion, working as a barker for the theatrical mystic Zeena (Toni Collette) and her magician husband Pete (David Strathairn). Stan is a quick study, and becomes an expert on how to bilk folks out of their hard-earned cash.
Longing for something bigger, he takes his own mentalism act on the road with the help of assistant and love interest Molly (Rooney Mara). It’s all fake, the two communicate through a series of veiled verbal clues, but audiences eat it up. They are making money performing at upscale nightclubs, but the offer of doing private readings for prominent people comes with a price tag Stan can’t resist.
Del Toro is known is creating intricate worlds populated by amazing people and creatures but don’t expect a replay of “Pan’s Labyrinth” or his Best Picture Oscar winner “The Shape of Water.” There are no supernatural elements in “Nightmare Alley.” The monster here is Stan’s cold hard ambition.
Cooper is in slickster mode here, playing Stan as a smooth-talking manipulator whose bad deeds stack up like some sort of ethically challenged Jenga game. He is an enigma. Willing to do whatever it takes to survive. He is a flawed but coldly ambitious man whose eyes are always trained toward the future. It is his biggest asset and, ultimately, his downfall.
Cooper does a good job at exposing Stan’s layers. He’s a complicated character, an amoral seducer with a seemingly charming disposition and Cooper only allows brief peaks at his desperation and brutality.
As good as Cooper is, it’s Cate Blanchett as the femme fatale psychiatrist Lilith Ritter who steals the show. From her overpainted red lips and seductive nature to her quick intelligence and vulnerability, she is the film’s most interesting and dangerous presence. Nice office too. It’s an Art Deco lover’s paradise.
Above all though, “Nightmare Alley” is Del Toro’s film. He doesn’t need one of his trademarked creatures like the Pale Man or The Asset to shock. Here he takes a methodical, detailed approach to the story, gradually building to some shocking violence and psychological horror. His interest here is the sinister, not the supernatural, and while the first hour gets bogged down with set-up and a major plot point is telegraphed (NO SPOILERS HERE!), his ability to create atmosphere is singular. Nobody casts a shroud of menace like Del Toro.
“Nightmare Alley” takes its time to set up its dark pleasures, but emerges as a memorable tribute to film noir whose images will stick in your mind long after the theatre’s lights are switched on.
“Mafia Mamma,” a new action comedy starring Toni Collette now playing in theatres, is a coming-of-middle-age story about a suburban woman who travels to Italy for the reading of her grandfather’s will, and accidentally gets her groove back.
