NEW MOVIES: Nov. 23-29, 2023, “Wish,” “Saltburn,” “May December,” “American Symphony”

WISH

WISH

Wish is a 2023 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (in her feature directorial debut), from a screenplay by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, based on a story by Lee, Buck, Veerasunthorn, and Moore, and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones. The art style combines computer animation with the look of Disney’s historical watercolor animation. The film stars the voices of Ariana DeBoseChris PineAlan TudykAngelique CabralVictor GarberNatasha Rothwell, Jennifer Kumiyama, Harvey GuillénEvan PetersRamy Youssef, and Jon Rudnitsky. The story focuses on a 17-year-old girl named Asha (DeBose), who makes a passionate plea to the stars in a moment of need after sensing a darkness in the Kingdom of Rosas that no one else does.

Voice cast

  • Ariana DeBose as Asha, a 17-year-old girl who wishes upon a star to help save Rosas after sensing a coming darkness.[6][7] Director Chris Buck says Asha is “energetic—an enthusiastic member of her community who proudly shows off this incredible place where she’s grown up”.[8]
  • Chris Pine as King Magnifico, the king of Rosas who is the sole keeper of peoples’ wishes. Writer Allison Moore says his motivations are not honorable, stating that “Magnifico seems to think wishes are just ideas. But they are a part of your heart—the very best part of your heart! Yet he’s holding them inside these wish bubbles—hundreds of them—and most will remain there forever because that’s how he controls the kingdom—by giving false hope.”[8][9]
  • Alan Tudyk as Valentino, a goat whose wish to communicate comes true after Star’s magic grants him the ability to talk.[6]
  • Angelique Cabral as Queen Amaya, King Magnifico’s wife and the queen of Rosas.[10]
  • Victor Garber as Sabino, Asha’s 100-year-old grandfather who is waiting to be granted his wish.[8][11][12]
  • Natasha Rothwell as Sakina, Asha’s mother.[11]
  • Jennifer Kumiyama as Dahlia, Asha’s disabled best friend who is the royal baker and the unofficial leader of the group. She was inspired by Doc from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[12][11][8]
  • Harvey Guillén as Gabo, a boy who is cynical but has a heart of gold. He was inspired by Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[8][11]
  • Niko Vargas as Hal, a joyful girl. She was inspired by Happy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[11]
  • Evan Peters as Simon, a strong boy with a big heart. He was inspired by Sleepy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[8][11][12]
  • Ramy Youssef as Safi, a boy who is plagued with allergies. He was inspired by Sneezy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[11][8]
  • Jon Rudnitsky as Dario, Asha’s rosy-cheeked and wiggly-eared friend. He was inspired by Dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[11][8]
  • Della Saba as Bazeema, a shy girl. She was inspired by Bashful from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[11]

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SALTBURN

SALTBURN

Saltburn is a 2023 black comedy psychological thriller written, directed and produced by Emerald Fennell. The film stars Barry KeoghanJacob ElordiRosamund PikeRichard E. GrantAlison Oliver, and Archie Madekwe. Set in England in the mid-2000s, it follows a young university student who becomes infatuated with his wealthy schoolmate, who invites him to spend the summer at his eccentric family’s estate.[5]

Plot

In 2006, Oliver Quick begins attending Oxford University but struggles to fit in, as other students judge him for being poor. Oliver quickly notices Felix Catton, a charming, popular, rich student, who is attending Oxford with his American cousin, Farleigh. One day in 2007, Oliver loans Felix his bicycle so Felix can attend a class; Felix’s own bicycle has sprung a leak. The two begin a friendship, though Oliver becomes increasingly obsessed with Felix. Oliver tells Felix he is an only child with alcoholic parents and that his father has suddenly died. Oliver’s story earns Felix’s sympathy. Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer with him and Farleigh at Saltburn, his wealthy family’s sprawling estate. Oliver accepts.

Cast

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MAY DECEMBER

MAY DECEMBER

May December is a 2023 American drama film directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik. Loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau,[4] the film follows an actress (Natalie Portman) who travels to Georgia to meet and study the life of the controversial woman (Julianne Moore) she is set to play in a film; the woman being infamous for her 20-year-old relationship with a man (Charles Melton) whom she met as a minor.

Premise

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple with a large age gap buckles under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.[5]

Cast

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AMERICAN SYMPHONY

AMERICAN SYMPHONY

Jon Batiste, 37, has been on quite a roll lately. In 2022, he won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards for his LP We Are. Two years prior, he won an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for his score on the Pixar movie Soul. Now, a year of the musician’s life has been chronicled in the new documentary American Symphony, which arrives to Netflix on November 29, and it’s already getting Oscars buzz.

As hinted by the title, American Symphony follows Batiste as he composes his first-ever original symphony, at a time when he felt on top of the world. However, everything comes crashing down when his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, 35, realizes that her cancer—which she was diagnosed with in 2011—has returned.

In this emotional documentary from director Matthew Heineman, we watch as Batiste and Jaouad lean on each other and rely on their love to get through this difficult period of their lives. And at the center of it all is their art.

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11/21/2023#”Wish,” “Saltburn,” “May December,” “American Symphony”