Daily Archives: November 6, 2024

Did You Know Angelina Jolie & Scarlett Johansson Lost A Bankable Role In This $723M Movie?

Did You Know Angelina Jolie And Scarlett Johansson Lost Leading Role In Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )
Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson are two of Hollywood’s most renowned and bankable A-list actresses. Each star is known for boasting a career filled with blockbuster hits and critically acclaimed performances. Jolie is known for her iconic roles in films like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Maleficent while Johansson is popular for dominating the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Widow. Both actresses are considered to be powerhouses of the industry. However, every successful actor goes through tough times, especially after losing a role in a movie worth $723 million.

You heard it right! It’s a rare instance where two of the industry’s most-in-demand stars missed out on a project that became one of the most bankable hits. Jolie and Johansson lost the lead role to actress Sandra Bullock in the 2013 science fiction thriller Gravity. While Bullock wasn’t the first choice for the role, the studio considered Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, and even Natalie Portman for the role of Dr. Ryan Stone.

Nonetheless, Bullock’s relentless determination and availability for the project ultimately landed her the iconic role. Moreover, her ambition to take on emotionally and physically demanding roles often reserved for men found an ideal fit in Gravity.

After landing the role, Bullock was unsure if the movie would succeed. In a throwback interview with The Guardian, she revealed, “We had no idea if it would be successful. You’d explain that it was an avant-garde, existential film on loss and survival in space and everyone would be like: ‘Ok…’ It didn’t sound like a film people would be drawn to.”
Fortunately, her performance as Dr. Ryan Stone inspired discussions about the value of diversity and breaking conventions in film.
On the other hand, Scarlett Johansson also lamented losing the role in an old interview. According to Movieweb, Johansson shared, “I got turned down for two roles — the first was ‘Iron Man 2’ and then the other one was Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Gravity.’ I had wanted that role so much. It was sort of the straw that broke the camel’s back. I felt really frustrated and hopeless. Like, ‘Am I doing the right job?’ The work I was being offered felt deeply unfulfilling. I think I was offered every Marilyn Monroe script ever. I was like, ‘Is this the end of the road creatively?’”
Gravity is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
For more such updates, check out Hollywood News on Koimoi.
Must Read: When Dune Star Rebecca Ferguson Admitted To Being Molested On Set, ‘A Hand Slipped Into My Arse’
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‘Meet Me Next Christmas’ Netflix Review: A Positively Gleeful Movie That’ll Have You Singing

If you don’t believe in Christmas miracles, Netflix’s 2024 early Christmas film Meet Me Next Christmas might change your mind, just a little bit. Meet Me Next Christmas is exactly what it sounds like: a young woman meets a delightful man at the airport because all flights are delayed and they’re stuck in the lounge. They end up talking for hours, and before he has to leave, he tells her that he hopes to see her again on Christmas Eve at the Pentatonix concert the next year if, by some “miracle,” she’s single then. What do you know? Layla does end up single, but the concert’s sold out, so the film follows her journey to finding that one ticket that’ll bring her close to her destiny. I’m not giving away any more because that’ll be the whole movie. For the first 15 minutes of the film, I’d say take a shot every time someone says miracle and you’ll be wasted by the time you get into the actual story, which would be quite fun, I guess. Jokes aside, I think Meet Me Next Christmas is the perfect start to the holiday season, even if it feels a little bit early, because I know you’re ready. 

In a way, Meet Me Next Christmas feels less formulaic than it should, in the best way. The film isn’t doing anything new, but it somehow manages to bring a smile to your face and demands more attention than your typically nonsensical Christmas granola. The film is simple yet tasteful in the most Christmas spirit way. Don’t worry though; there’s no lack of Christmas romance here, and by the end of the film, you’ll be dying for the two leads to get together. Also, there are two potential love interests and we always love to see a girl having to choose who the true love of he life is. There isn’t much to ask for with such a movie, and still, it delivers far better than a lot of the films we’ve been getting lately. But I guess that’s what happens when Netflix produces quantity over quality just so that we keep coming back to it in the hope of something wonderful. 

I think what makes Meet Me Next Christmas truly worth your time though is how seriously it’s performed. I’m guessing it must’ve been fun to film, especially the one dance sequence somewhere in the third act. But having said that, the actors are delightfully charming and keep you hooked from start to finish, and to me, that’s all you really need to make a Christmas movie special. Christina Milian is adorably sincere as Layla, and it really makes a difference to your viewing experience. I mean, I’m definitely not as positive as Layla, but if Christina is then that’s her job half done. But, even so, she’s like a toasted marshmallow surprise in your hot chocolate. On the other hand, there’s Devale Ellis as the concierge Teddy, who is a delight. There’s nothing to complain about here, really. Oh, but to the question that’s looming over your head, yes, there’s chemistry; it would be an incomplete Christmas romance without chemistry. My favorite supporting character has to be Jordy, who keeps the Christmas spirit alive. 

Also, is it just me, and did y’all know that Pentatonix was still relevant? I mean, no shade; it’s only been years since I heard about them because they were all the rage back when I was a teenager (yeah, quite a bit ago). But, leaving that aside, it’s a shame not all the music in the film is theirs, because it’s honestly so fun to watch Acapella, even if in a movie. They all show off their acting chops and have some interesting things to say in the film, almost looking like they’re an extension of us as an audience. It’s not unusual, but it’s still fun. 

The film is perfectly well placed and visually living in the Christmas spirit. There’s one scene involving creme brulees that comes out of nowhere but still somehow feels relevant because it’s straight out of a Christmas fantasy. Overall, the film creates an atmosphere that sets the stage for everything that’s going to come at us during the holiday season. It’s like the perfect starting point, because it’s just a bit early, and it’ll set you up until the big hitters come your way. 

I don’t think Meet Me Next Christmas is necessarily tropey, but it’s definitely got a lot of your typical Christmas movie vibes. It’s definitely not boring, and if for nothing else, just watch it for that dance sequence; it’s actually pretty fun. Also, I quite appreciate that it’s a Black-led film that just plays out like a Christmas movie. What I mean by this is it doesn’t feel the need to pigeonhole itself, it can embrace the festive spirit while still being unique. Maybe if it was a white cast, it would’ve fallen flat with its story, but there’s a flair to this film without it attempting to be cultural. 

At the end of the day, it’s the perfect time to get your holiday cheer on, so what better than a Netflix film to begin the festivities? You don’t really have to pay attention to anything, so you could be hanging up your Christmas lights and playing this in the background, and you’d get to enjoy some good music and fun dialogue, and that’d be that. But if you and your besties are struggling to figure out what new Christmas movie to watch right now, then this one can definitely do the trick for you too. What can I say? I’m just a romantic looking to believe in holiday season miracles. I’d give Meet Me Next Christmas 3 out of 5 stars, and I can’t wait to see what’s next on the Netflix Christmas holiday roster. 

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‘A Mistake’ Movie Ending Explained: Did Elizabeth Kill Lisa? Is Richard Dead?

One of the main issues with Christine Jeffs’ A Mistake is that it bites off more than it can chew. Through its protagonist, Elizabeth Taylor, the film talks about a lot of things yet doesn’t necessarily discuss the stuff that really matters. Most of the time, it felt like Christine had picked up some unnecessary chapters from the book, on which the film is based, because of which the narrative ends up dragging for no apparent reason. And the main conflict took a back seat while a proud and self-centered surgeon went through a transformative journey of her own. In A Mistake’s ending, Elizabeth did get her closure, but I don’t think viewers share the same feelings. So, let’s look at all the important events of the film that finally changed Elizabeth’s perspective towards life and her profession.

Spoiler Alert

Elizabeth’s Lack of Empathy Overshadows Her Skills

I have often been told that being a talented person doesn’t necessarily make you a good human being. And I guess the same applies to Elizabeth Taylor. She was one of the best surgeons working in a top medical hospital in Auckland. Elizabeth had a close to perfect life and performed every surgery with due diligence, but there was something she wasn’t good at, that is, making conversation. Elizabeth didn’t actually know how to talk to the patient’s parents or relatives. It wasn’t like she was shy or anything; she just didn’t know how to use the right words so it didn’t hurt the person standing in front of her. In short, she was quite blunt and straightforward, which anyone could have confused for arrogance. Obviously, when you are a doctor standing in front of grieving parents, you need to show some empathy towards the patients or their relatives, which wasn’t Elizabeth’s forte.

A Mistake’s ending clearly explained that Elizabeth’s patient, Lisa Williams, didn’t die because of Richard’s mistake, who had accidentally damaged one of the arteries while inserting the last trocar in Lisa’s abdomen. Lisa had septicemia. Her bloodstream had been poisoned by the infection, which eventually led to a cardiac arrest, taking Lisa’s life. Elizabeth could have used some better words and a bit of empathy to explain the same things to Lisa’s parents, but in her pride, she met her parents without even consulting the hospital staff who were taking care of Lisa after the operation and were with her during the time of her death. If you revisit Elizabeth’s first conversation with Lisa’s parents, you might notice her choice of words. She doesn’t feel any kind of remorse for Lisa’s death, and her phrasing is extremely professional, something one would read in a medical report. But you see, the parents who had recently lost their daughter didn’t need to understand the nitty-gritties of medical science; they just needed some assurance from the person to whom they had given the responsibility to save their daughter’s life. And Elizabeth’s professionalism and the seed of doubt in her mind stopped her from connecting with the parents on an emotional level. The parents felt offended by her words and later filed a formal complaint against her, which sabotaged Elizabeth’s practice for the time being.

The Flies and Atticus’ Death

It is said that tragedy affects everyone, but we all deal with it differently. Elizabeth, even though she didn’t want to accept, was quite shaken by Lisa’s death. That was the reason why she called her girlfriend Robin in the middle of the night. But Robin didn’t call back. Later, Elizabeth woke up and found some dust on the side of the wall. Symbolically, it underlined Elizabeth’s troubled state of mind, from which she had been trying to run away. The guilt of Lisa’s death was slowly poisoning Elizabeth’s mind, just like her appendix had poisoned her blood. On the second night, Elizabeth lost her mind completely and dug a hole in the wall to be done with the dust. It was really similar to how Richard had punctured a hole in Lisa’s artery. Sometime later, when Elizabeth poked an iron bar into the hole, some flies flew out of it and swarmed her entire house, just like blood had filled up in Lisa’s abdomen. It was just a metaphor for how you cannot always have your way through brute force and sometimes have to really sit down and get in touch with our own feelings, but that’s the best way to deal with one’s internal conflict. However, Elizabeth learned this lesson the hard way. She burned some fly repellent in her house and spent a peaceful night at the hotel only to find out in the end that she’d left her friend’s dog, Atticus, in the house. Atticus died due to Elizabeth’s mistake. The irony here is, it wasn’t “her” dog, just like Lisa wasn’t “her” own daughter. My question is: would Elizabeth have been similarly careless if she had a young child at home? Would she have stormed out of the house in panic and frustration, leaving behind a child in a room filled with smoke? Even though Lisa didn’t die because Richard had botched the surgery, it was Elizabeth’s responsibility to be there for Lisa until she had recovered. But the woman didn’t even dare to check her pulse and left it all for the hospital staff to manage. No, I am not a doctor, and I really don’t know if Elizabeth could have saved Lisa’s life, but she could have been there for her, that was the least she could have done for her patient. But a self-centered Elizabeth left, just like she left Atticus in the house. Yes, Atticus’ death did affect Elizabeth emotionally, and what’s the point of crying over spilled milk?

Richard’s Death Changed Elizabeth

Richard Whitehead, a 26-year-old doctor who worked as Elizabeth’s registrar, blamed himself for Lisa’s death. Throughout the film, a guilt-ridden Richard was haunted by the mistake he had committed and was just looking for some assurance from his senior. A similar thing took place in Richard’s case as well. Elizabeth told Richard in very “plain” and “simple” words that it wasn’t his mistake. She trusted his skills during the operation, and he didn’t meet those expectations. And if anyone was to be blamed for such a decision, then it was her, not him. But you have to understand that, just like Lisa’s parents, Richard, too, wasn’t looking for a practical or logical answer. And the moment Richard got a bit emotional and tried to discuss his nightmares with Elizabeth, her defense mechanism kicked in, and she quickly ran away from the conversation, never to talk to Richard again, because Elizabeth didn’t feel quite comfortable having those emotional conversations. I guess Richard wasn’t even looking for an answer. He just wanted someone to listen, to share his grief. He knew his father wouldn’t understand his plight and thought Elizabeth might be able to understand her confusion. But as always, Elizabeth was cold and distant. And if I am not wrong, then Richard didn’t really commit suicide. It was Elizabeth’s silence that killed the young lad.

RACS: Surgical Safety Conference

Full disclosure: this one was the most unnecessary part of the film. So basically they wanted to introduce a doctor’s report card so the patient could look at their doctor’s statistics before handing them the responsibility to save their lives. And just like Elizabeth mentioned, every patient and their condition is different, and if such transparency was introduced, then most surgeons wouldn’t take risky cases choosing to let these patients die instead of letting their deaths go into their record. But you see, it’s a never-ending discussion, and it doesn’t really have any effect on the film’s main conflict or its ending. It does highlight Elizabeth’s dedication and her moral responsibility towards her patient, but you see, her words don’t amount to anything when you know how she has treated Lisa, Richard, and Atticus. I am not calling her a villain of the story. I am not even blaming anyone, but one has understood that sometimes repeating the professional jargon isn’t enough. You don’t take responsibility for your mistakes by telling people (Lisa’s parents) that you take full responsibility for your actions, but by being there for them emotionally and mentally. Standing there when people (Richard) need you the most and not leaving people (Atticus) behind when things get difficult.

Elizabeth Finally Confronts Lisa’s Parents

I really hate the way some films make it so easy for their protagonists to come clean. Richard’s death was indeed a turning point in Elizabeth’s life, and I already saw it coming the moment the lad said that he was having nightmares about Lisa. But I didn’t really expect that Christine Jeffs would use Richard’s death as a device to make Elizabeth a hero among her colleagues. I mean, she was an ignorant woman who refused to talk to a young student when he was alive and later sobbed on his death. Andrew McGrath, the head of surgery, wanted to put the entire blame of Lisa’s death on Richard and turn him into a scapegoat, but Elizabeth didn’t agree to his devilish schemes of things. She took full responsibility for whatever happened with Lisa and Richard. It is probable that Andrew and the higher-ups would most likely get rid of Elizabeth for crossing the line.

In A Mistake’s ending, Elizabeth paid a last visit to Lisa’s parents to tell them the truth about her daughter’s death. They wanted to blame her or Richard for Lisa’s demise, but the fact was there was no one to blame. Lisa would have died even if Richard hadn’t botched the surgery. I guess it was the truth that Lisa’s parents wanted to hear from the very beginning, but Elizabeth turned it all into a long and tedious journey for both herself and the viewers. I hope she doesn’t make the same mistake again and becomes more compassionate in life and especially in her profession.

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‘The Outrun’ Movie Ending Explained & Summary: Is Rona Healed?

2024’s The Outrun is this year’s great performance of a recovering alcoholic that inevitably deserves an Oscar nomination. Saoirse Ronan’s The Outrun tells the story of Rona, a 29-year-old alcoholic on her road to recovery after some terrible events traumatizing her for life. The non-chronological film might occasionally be a bit hard to take in, but at the end of the day, it’s a beautiful tale of hope and growth. To understand Rona’s experiences, the best way to understand her mind would be to go about the film as chronologically as possible. It’s the hair color that you’ve got to pay attention to. Rona grew up on a small, isolated island in Orkney, Scotland. A farm girl by birth, Rona’s an intelligent woman who easily grasps information. Her life begins to sparkle after she becomes addicted to alcohol and has outbursts while studying biology in London, possibly ruining her life, but is it for good? Will she recover? Will she be able to heal, and how?

Spoiler Alert

How Does Rona’s Dad Affect Her State Of Mind? 

Rona’s life’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs right from birth because of her father’s bipolar disorder. So while her father truly loves her, he struggles to show her that affection occasionally, and then suspects she doesn’t care for him at all. Even at Rona’s birth, her father suffered an episode, which would mildly foreshadow what would come next. Rona grew up a healthy girl with a great interest in the farm. While not knowing what her father’s been through, she would try her best to impress him and bond with him because, when he wasn’t depressed, he was absolutely wonderful to her. This was the basis of their relationship. 

When Rona begins to get addicted to alcohol, she realizes she loves the way it makes her feel; she’s always happy when she’s drunk, and she can say what she likes and do the things she wants to without hesitation. This means hurting the people closest to her, just like her dad hurt her. When Rona first moved to London, she met a boy named Daynin, a wonderful partner, who she felt alive with. However, soon after her drinking began, Daynin started to grow weary of the suffering she put him through after having too many drinks. Daynin stayed with Rona for as long as he could, hoping she’d change, but as one knows, it doesn’t work so easily. After giving her many chances to stop, Daynin leaves her with a simple “I’m sorry” note on the bed. Rona makes quite the spectacle, calling him names on his street, asking him to open the door, and yelling at him for being a terrible person. One night, Rona’s so drunk, she gets thrown out of a bar and picked up by a random car. The man claims he’ll take her to Daynin’s house, and under the influence of alcohol, she doesn’t realize that he can’t do that without knowing where the guy lives. Rona is sexually abused that night, and in the cruelest way, it’s a wake-up call for her. 

Rona then turns herself in to a recovery clinic, where she heals with some wonderful people. She makes friends sober. She opens up about missing alcohol and how it made her feel, and eventually she manages 90 days of being sober and gets out. Rona decides to go back home to Orkney after getting out. She spends some time with both her parents, who are divorced now. At first, it’s absolutely wonderful, and she works on the farm with her dad, but then he spirals, and she looks to alcohol for support. Rona stops herself from actually drinking it, but when she gets to her mom’s, she realizes that she’s a spectacle to the whole town, and everyone knows what’s happened to her. Additionally, her mom’s now a devout Christian and thinks praying is going to help her, so all of this together sends her back to the elixir she’s been dreaming about. In her drunken state, Rona tells her mother that her dad left her because she changed and started believing in prayer, in a myth. She hurts her mom in the same way her dad will do to her a little bit later, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Finally, instead of returning to London, Rona decides to go to Papay (another very small island) for a bit and work for the RSPB, a bird protection charity. This is when things start to turn around for Rona for the better. 

Is nature truly healing? 

They say nature is healing, and being away from the bustle of the city might help you get better, but does this stand true? In The Outrun, Rona talks a lot about the myths of Orkney. She talks about how sometimes one can feel vibrations in Orkney, and there’s a mythological tale to help us understand why. According to the oldest theory, a monster called the “Mester Muckle Stoorworm” was defeated by a young man called Assipattle. He burned the monster with a fire so bright that its teeth fell out and formed the Orkney Islands. Its liver is still burning today, causing this low rumble. Interesting that it’s a burning liver and not heart when we’re looking at a movie about alcoholism. I’m going to get back to the monster in just a bit. Rona might be alone in Papay, but she has the tidal waves of the sea with her. It seems Rona isn’t really afraid of anything, and even when the rain gets too loud and the sea looks like a monster itself, she’s happy. In Papay, Rona joins an AA group. The old man who runs the group tells her that you have to take it one day at a time. Rona always thought that she couldn’t be happy without alcohol, but it seems the island itself helps her realize otherwise. 

Rona’s job is to look for corn crakes, an endangered species of bird that are found on the island. Every night she hopes to hear the sound of one of them, but she never does. When Rona’s scheduled to leave the island, the flights are canceled due to some technical difficulties, and she has to stay back a couple of days; it’s supposed to be the holiday season. At first, Rona’s somewhat sad, but she decides to go for a swim in the terribly cold sea. Here she sees selkies; Orkney speaks for seals. But these aren’t just any seals. According to one of Rona’s stories, the people of Orkney believe that when people drown, they turn into seals. During the high tide, they turn into humans and come to land, dancing naked in the moonlight. But legend has it that if they’re seen by humans, they can’t go back and get stuck being dissatisfied on land forever. I guess in a way, Rona heals herself by returning to the sea and taking selkie form. Not literally, of course. Rona’s a woman of nature, and seeing the seals even from a distance and the thrill of being so cold you’re numb to the bones makes her realize that she can in fact be happy without alcohol. She’s finally healed. Rona returns with a zest for life and work; she’s already got ideas for a new PhD thesis. 

Why Does Rona Dye Her Hair Orange? 

In The Outrun’s ending, Rona dyes her hair bright orange, and I think it’s a symbol of her accepting the monster within her. The color of the monster is orange, and before Rona was healed, her hair was blue, like the ocean. At the end of the film, Rona compares herself to the island itself. She says her body is a continent; every piece of it compares to something in nature. So, maybe Rona is the island itself, and all she needed was to return to the sea to see that. Earlier in the film, Rona talks about how she used to think her father could control the weather. In the end, Rona controls it herself, swinging her arms with the tides and moving the wind in the direction she likes. The film ends with the happiest moment when Rona finally sees a corn crake, making her the happiest she’s ever been. I guess in a way orange also represents the fire or passion within her to keep going, just like the monster’s burning liver. 

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