Movie reviews: Padre Pio, Little Mermaid, Spider-Verse

By OSV News - OSVNews

Padre Pio

By John Mulderig
OSV News

NEW YORK | Viewers may be misled by the title of director and co-writer Abel Ferrara’s historical drama "Padre Pio" (Gravitas). The film is less a profile of the titular saint, played passionately by Shia LaBeouf, than a portrait of San Giovanni Rotondo, the Apulian town of his Capuchin monastery, in the period immediately after World War I.

Moviegoers in search of an uplifting hagiography, accordingly, should look elsewhere. All the more so since Ferrara’s script, penned with Maurizio Braucci, includes graphic material that precludes endorsement for a wide range of age groups as well as themes suitable only for the fully catechized.

As Father Pio grapples with tormenting Satanic visions, the Italian social tensions that would eventually set the scene for the rise of Fascism mount. These are personified in wealthy, corrupt local landowner Renato (Brando Pacitto) on the one side and a group of virtuous socialists, including young would-be revolutionary Luigi (Vincenzo Crea), on the other.

The screenplay suggests points of coherence between Marxism and Christianity. But if that sounds like an uneasy mix, the attempted blending of the events unfolding inside the walls of the Franciscan refuge and those transpiring beyond it is equally unstable. Thus the picture manages to be at once respectful of Christian spirituality and anti-clerical.

The former stance leads to the moving scene in which Padre Pio receives the stigmata. The latter gives us the sight of the local parish priest, Don Anselmo (Piergiuseppe Francione), a dedicated ally of the oppressors, blessing their guns with holy water before a showdown with the good guys.

Such a caricature is, unfortunately, in keeping with the movie's ham-handed approach to history and ideology. It's a shame that LaBeouf's all-in performance – as is well-known, his participation in this project has resulted in his conversion to Catholicism – should come wrapped in such a burdensome husk.

Somewhere inside Ferrara’s flawed political and social retrospective is an intriguing biopic struggling to get out of confinement. A narrower focus would have yielded much stronger results.

The film contains brief but intense gory violence, demonic behavior, rear nudity, references to incest, several rough terms and a couple of crass expressions. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

CLASSIFICATION

"Padre Pio" (Gravitas) – OSV News classification, A-III -- adults. Motion Picture Association rating, R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

The Little Mermaid

NEW YORK | The idea of updating a classic film is always a dangerous one. But, provided there's a better motive at work than mere hubris, it can work.

Such, emphatically, is the case with "The Little Mermaid" (Disney), director Rob Marshall's live-action remake of the beloved 1989 animated musical derived from Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale. Using technology not available in the waning days of the Cold War, Marshall and his team serve up a charming fresh take on the timeless story.

As before, the action centers on Ariel (Halle Bailey), the sea creature of the title. When Ariel's insatiable curiosity about life on dry land leads her to fall for a human, Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), the romance causes a conflict with her overprotective father, King Triton (Javier Bardem).

Upset and isolated, Ariel falls prey to the machinations of her estranged Aunt Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), a scheming, embittered octopus. Ursula agrees to cast a spell that will temporarily turn her niece into a human being so she can woo and be wooed.

But Ursula's real goal, of course, is not to help Ariel but to use the lass as a pawn in her plot to seize power from her brother Triton. So it will take the aid of Ariel's two closest companions, harried crab Sebastian (voice of Daveed Diggs) and scatterbrained gannet Scuttle (voice of Awkwafina), to bring about a happy ending.

As scripted by David Magee, Ariel's adventure is too scary for tots, but will delight all others. As children tap their feet to "Under the Sea" and other tunes composed by Alan Menken – the late Howard Ashman's lyrics are supplemented by new ones from Lin-Manuel Miranda – adults will find the themes underlying the movie pleasingly balanced.

Thus dad and daughter learn complementary lessons from Ariel's experience and ultimately demonstrate their enduring love for each other. There's also a message about not drawing negative conclusions about a whole group based on the misbehavior of some. Eric, moreover, is as inquisitive as his sweetheart – and we learn that such openness to new things pays.

These moral points come wrapped in a bright, upbeat spectacle within which a crucial kiss represents the outer limit of passion. There's nothing shopworn about Marshall's skilled and sprightly repackaging – old-fashioned in the best sense, it's a high-quality, family friendly summer treat.

The film contains potentially frightening scenes of characters in peril and of thoroughly stylized violence. The OSV News classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

CLASSIFICATION

"The Little Mermaid" (Disney) – OSV News classification, A-I -- general patronage. Motion Picture Association rating, PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

After downbeat opening scenes involving a teen angst-ridden Spider-Woman (voice of Hailee Steinfeld), this animated sequel to 2018's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'' hits its stride with witty dialogue enlivening the further adventures of the Brooklyn-based hero (voice of Shameik Moore) as he tangles with a mutant mad scientist (voice of Jason Schwartzman) whose increasing powers threaten cosmic destruction.

Co-directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, the Marvel Comics-derived proceedings feature rapid-fire action, a constantly multiplying array of varied Spideys and plot developments pitting personal happiness against the greater good. The result is a crowd pleaser that may prove confusing to the uninitiated but will be catnip for hardcore fans.

Possibly acceptable for mature adolescents. Much stylized violence, a few mild oaths, about a half-dozen crass terms.

CLASSIFICATION

The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.