At the Movies: Mulan, Tenet, I’m Thinking of Ending Things
BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN
Mulan
The latest in Disney’s mission to turn their animated classics into live-action box office behemoths has had to adapt to the times. Originally slated as a theatrical release, “Mulan” will now debut as a premium title on Disney+. In order to view the film, which is earning rave reviews from critics, is to be a subscriber to the service and pay for access to the premium title.
Plans for the film began in 2010, but development stalled due to creative differences behind-the-scenes at Disney. The idea to adapt the 1998 animated film into a live-action drama was reignited in 2015. In 2017, Niki Caro (“Whale Rider”) was hired as director and Liu Yifei was cast as the titular hero. The casting call for the lead role saw over 1,000 actresses.
Filming began in 2018 in New Zealand and China. The budget of $200 million makes “Mulan” the most expensive film ever made by a female director.
The film’s world premiere took place at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in March just days before restrictions due to COVID-19 shut cinemas down. Though Disney will require users to pay $29.99 for the title during its initial release, “Mulan” will be available to all Disney+ subscribers without the premium fee beginning November 2, 2020.
Streaming this Weekend on Disney+.
Tenet
Like “Mulan,” Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” is an eagerly-anticipated title that’s shifted around due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, it’s finally here. After a surprising overseas box office run last weekend, the spy film will open across the United States in almost every market. Notably, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco theaters are still closed.
John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki star in the film that first entered development in 2015. Though, writer/director Nolan has shared that the idea behind the film was first conceived over twenty years ago.
To keep the film and its script under wraps, the lead actors were only permitted to read the script while in a locked room.
Principal photography began in May 2019, with filming taking place in seven countries. “Tenet” was filmed on a combination of 70mm film and IMAX cameras.
With a budget between $200-225 million, “Tenet” is Nolan’s most expensive film. Many box office prognosticators are expecting the film to eventually turn a profit, but not in its initial cinema debut, due to pandemic restrictions.
Critics have been mostly positive of the film, highlighting Nolan’s knack for state-of-the-art visuals and action sequences. Others have likened it to “Interstellar,” a commercial hit that earned just mediocre reviews.
Opening this Weekend in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Mayville, and Minot.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Written, directed, and produced by Charlie Kaufman, Netflix’s “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is a psychological horror drama based on the book of the same name by Iain Reid.
Netflix announced, in 2018, that Kaufman would be adapting a novel as a potential feature film project. By December, Jesse Plemons had signed on to star. The rest of the cast followed, including Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, and David Thewlis.
Production took place from March to April of 2019 in Fishkill, New York.
Critics have been favorable to the film, calling out Plemons’ and Buckley’s performances as two of the year’s bests.
Streaming this Weekend on Netflix.
