50/49
A life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King’s three-chapter novella about the life of an ordinary man, Charles Krantz. Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, Chiwetel Ejiofor and David Dastmalchian have all appeared in the film. Marvel Cinematic Universe, even though none of them share a single scene together. Hiddleston is Loki and is most associated with the Thor (2011) films and Loki (2021) TV series, Gillan is Nebula and is most associated with Verndarar Vetrarbrautarinn (2014), Ejiofor is Baron Mordo from Doctor Strange (2016), while Dastmalchian is Kurt from the first two Ant-Man films and Veb in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).. Cited in Front Row Flynn: SLEEPING DOGS: Karen Gillan, Adam Cooper, Moderator Perri Nemiroff (2024). In conclusion, Mike Flanagan made a deep, multi-layered yet beautiful film about the value of life. It’s really hard to explain, but Flanagan doesn’t waste a single shot. The narrative is throughout the entire film, but directly from “act three”, everything seen and experienced unfolds perfectly in 'Ac One' Ejiofor & Gillan is fantastic in the third act, but if The Life of Chuck is to be nominated, it has to be the sound. Of the cosmic elements of the third act; to dance scenes in 'Act Two & One,' Flanagan did an exceptional job of incorporating sound into everything. Of course everyone focused on Hiddleston and his character, but Tom even mentioned it was really a team effort in the second act and Annalize Basso, Hiddleston’s dance partner in the second act, and Taylor Gordon (who goes by The Pocket Queen), the busker, all three paired with their choreographers Mandy Moore. & Stephanie Powell really makes the dance scene sing. Taylor Gordon is a talent in her own right in her brief but excellent role. What surprised me was how Act One was with young Chuck and no one talks about how great the kids were. Their performances were just as brilliant as the adults’, if not more so, when young Chuck gets a very harrowing monologue from his grandfather (the incredible Mark Hamill) about certain life choices. Act One really helps piece together the puzzle that was Act Three, where the cosmic elements can be distracting, but it all serves a purpose. Stephen King is right when he says that Chuck’s life is one of the good ones. You can feel the spirit and energy from beginning to end, and all the performances give their best, and Flanagan continues to establish himself as one of the greatest directors of our time. One thing I will say is that Chuck’s life is dedicated to Memory Scott Wampler. And there are a few cameos in The Life of Chuck, but the inclusion of Scott just tugged at my heartstrings. Great movie.