AWFJ Movie of the Week, March 9-15: CINDERELLA
Opening March 13, the AWFJ Movie of the Week is Cinderella, a live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale from actor/director Kenneth Brangh, who follows up previous films Jack Ryan:Shadow Recruit and Thor with something altogether more gentle. Read on…
British actress Lily James (subject of AWFJ’s March SPOTLIGHT) Jumps from her TV success in Downton Abbey) to the big screen, taking the eponymous role of the downtrodden young girl who – with the help of a magical fairy godmother – ends up winning the heart of the aptly named Prince Charming (Game of Thrones star Richard Madden). Also joining this impressive cast are the incomparable Cate Blanchett, who revels in her portrayal of Cinders’ villainous step-mother Lady Tremaine, Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, Stellan Skarsgaard as the Grand Duke and Derek Jacobi as The King.
This impressive rosta of performers brings to life a screenplay written by Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass), who stays true to the iconic story’s family-friendly themes – this is Disney, after all – while allowing the stellar cast the room to add depth and personality to these well-worn characters. Ultimately, however, this is a straight-up adaptation of a childhood classic and its timeless mix of traditional magic and romance should continue to enthrall.
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panelists Comments:
Anne Brodie: Cinderella is pure magic for me and many my age. We grew up on Disney’s animated film and those images come to life, with an added contemporary edge in one glorious package. The visuals, the story, the characters add up to magic.
MaryAnn Johanson: My pick is Cinderella, because I’m curious to see what Disney has found to say that’s new in this old story.
Jennifer Merin: Kenneth Branagh’s updates on Disney’s classic damsel-in-distress scenario are inspiring. Seeing a live-action “Cinderella” on horseback is a true treat.
Film Details:
Title: Cinderella
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Release Date: March 13, 2015
Running Time: 112 minutes
Language: English
Shooting Location(s): England
Principal Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Stellan Skarsgård, Derek Jacobi, Nonso Anozie, Holliday Grainger, Lily James, Richard Madden, Sophie McShera
Screenwriter: Chris Weitz
Production Company: Genre Films, Walt Disney Pictures
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Nikki Baughan, Anne Brodie, Pam Grady, Leba Hertz, MaryAnn Johanson, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Katherine McLaughlin, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Perri Nemiroff, Kristy Puchko, Sheila Roberts, Liz Whittemore, Jeanne Wolf.
Other Movies Opening the Week of March 9-13, 2015:
March 10
Bite Size
March 13
Cinderella
Run All Night
Home Sweet Hell
Anarchy
The Cobbler
It Follows
Walter
Muck
Seymour: An Introduction
The Wrecking Crew
The Lovers
3 Hearts
Treading Water
Champs
Faults
Edited by Sandra Kraisirideja, AWFJ.org Associate Editor
