An Ending Worth Waiting For
July 15, 2011
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011).
D: David Yates. DP: Eduardo Serra. W: Steve Kloves. Starring: Daniel Radcliffe/Emma Watson/Rupert Grint/Alan Rickman/Ralph Fiennes/Helena Bonham Carter/Tom Felton/Maggie Smith/Jason Isaacs/Michael Gambon/Ciaran Hinds/Kelly Macdonald/John Hurt/Matthew Lewis/Bonnie Wright. (NOTE: References made to J.K Rowling books and previous Harry Potter films.)
After so many years, so many books, so many films, so much love and that little bit of magic that has kept us all enchanted, it is time to say goodbye. Goodbye and thank you to a group of films that has captured the evolution of kids into actors, collected many famous British actors in the same room, and celebrated J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. And to every muggle who has not yet read/seen or scoffs at this series (or franchise really), for you I am deeply sorry.
But for the rest of us, it all ends here. And thankfully it’s brilliant. The film opens with a quiet, somber tone. Radcliffe’s Harry still sits on the earth where he buried his valiant elf savior, Dobby, and soon becomes resolute that now is the time for final decisions and actions. This might be my favorite opening yet, there’s no sweeping score, roaring train, or Dursleys, but it’s true, dramatic, and real. Radcliffe is his best here I think, he centers the film and grounds it in Harry’s personal struggle to live and break free from predestined choices. Kloves’ final script gives all this to him, while also letting the drama and suspense build, accentuating the surprises and fatal plot turns.
Watson’s Hermione and Grint’s Ron are great scene partners for Radcliffe, although ultimately the movie is his. His though, only to be shared and oftentimes stolen by Ralph Fiennes’ seething and slippery Lord Voldemort. Once again, Fiennes’ costume, make-up, and performance beat out any other Potter world character. From his snake slit nose to his writhing hands clutching the elder wand and down to his billowing cape, Fiennes is pure glorious evil down to the very end. And it is this ultimate battle and confrontation that pulls together the Potter world, the Death Eaters and the faithful Hogwarts students and staff. So that although the film is sometimes sad and frightening, it simply feels great to see all these characters together on screen.
Yates, who also directed Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows Part 1 continues his solid work here. Yates and cinematographer Eduardo Serra complete the look of the last couple of films admirably, bringing the richness and darkness of the world up, such that places act as their own characters. The only faults I can give this final installment are the tiny cracks in plot or lack of development in certain relationships and characters. Specifically, Radcliffe’s relationship with Wright’s Ginny never finds much weight or romance, I guess that was all saved for Watson and Grint? Yet, audiences will find it difficult to get angry about these details, because death and darkness are so well embraced here that you are certainly too engrossed to care.
Like other successful Potter films, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 dares you to return to the cinema and see it all again. Its abandonment of the pretense of happiness that the other films have been forced (and to some degree needed to have as part of the story) to uphold, truly yanks you in. The film even gets its own new faces and clever tidbits. Ciaran Hinds makes an almost unrecognizable turns as Dumbledore’s brother Albus and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire‘s Kelly Macdonald marks her ground as the Grey Lady, the ghostly daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw. Lastly, this film finally lets shine awkwardly adorable Matthew Lewis’ Neville Longbottom. For Potter book lovers they may remember the irony of Harry’s fate that, in fact, Neville and Harry’s birthdays were so close to each other that the prophecy could come true with either boy. This makes Lewis’ scenes all the more poignant as he comes into his own and proves that Radcliffe’s Potters influence was just as significant with his Hogwarts’ peers than the films have time to showcase.
Although in my previous reviews of the last two Potter films I have addressed the fact that there will probably never be a film that satiates the Potter appetite, I believe Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the closest we have come. Having said that, all it does is encourage me to go home, grab the books from my bookshelf and relive the magic all over again. As that is ultimately the lasting affect of this series. It makes you love to read, love to imagine, and smile because wouldn’t we all like to believe there are wizards around our doorstep. Accio Potter book!
The End is Near…Mr. Potter
December 9, 2010
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010).
D: David Yates. DP: Eduardo Serra. W: Steve Kloves. Starring: Daniel Radcliffe/Emma Watson/Rupert Grint/Ralph Fiennes/Jason Isaacs/Bonnie Wright/Helena Bonham Carter/Alan Rickman/Tom Felton/Bill Nighy/Toby Jones/Imenda Staunton/John Hurt/Rhys Ifans. (NOTE: References made to J.K Rowling books and previous Harry Potter films)
It has been a long wait for Potter fans as last July’s release of Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince has meant a long fifteen months before Potter could be seen on screens again. Of course, this only gives fans and cynics alike enough time to go back to the novels and make their own plan for the final films, as this last novel is being split into two films.
First of all, I can say it is wonderful that this last installment will be two films. Not only because it means audiences get more Potter and Warner Brothers makes more money, but because it allows for more to be shown. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows is fraught with action, turmoil, and decisions that affect the life and death of a lot of characters. And thankfully, splitting this novel in two (although subjecting the first to feeling a bit too transitional) benefits the story and Harry’s journey.
Harry (Radcliffe) is again directed by David Yates, who directed the last two films, and slides right back into his role as the chosen one. With a clear handle on where the story is going and what he wishes to emphasize, Yates is able to pull the audience back into Radcliffe’s world without shying away from the darker place it has become. Dumbledore’s Army a distant memory, Radcliffe’s abandonment of Hogwarts marks the first visual distinction of this film from its predecessors. And although some audiences may miss Hogwarts’ familiarity, it is clear that Radcliffe is running for his life and gathering his own intel (with the help of Watson’s Hermione of course) for his obviously ultimate confrontation with Voldemort. Also, thankfully, Radcliffe remains likable, although I wish his decision to end his relationship with Ginny (Bonnie Wright) in deference for her safety was an actual plot point as it is an illustration of his maturity.
A much larger presence in this film, Fiennes’ Voldemort continues to bask in his cloak and Oscar worthy make-up. His Voldemort is in such command that Fiennes’ is able to ground the film in a realistic sense of doom and violence. His performance is complimented by Yates’ balancing between Voldemort’s death eaters and Radcliffe’s search to destroy the remaining horcruxes. Radcliffe’s search thankfully also includes Watson who continues to hold her ground as Hermione, whose friendship with Harry and (very private?) relationship with Grint’s Ron, as always, causes her stress. The group chemistry, however, helps keep the pace of the film going. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is thankfully also riddled with famous British actor bit parts that round out the Potter world. Rhys Ifans makes a delightful daddy Lovegood and even Bill Nighy steals some scenes as Rufus Scrimgouer.
For this installment Yates’ enlisted cinematographer Eduardo Serra, who like Bruno Denmonnel in the last film, is able to close the frame around his actors. There is a danger on screen that is the necessary evolution of the franchise. More successful than Denmonnel, Serra will be involved in part two and the final Potter film. Yet once all the films are done will be the true testament, as we will all be able to sit back and decide what is truly the most successful Potter film.
Yet, like I said fifteen months ago, there will never truly be one film to satiate the Rowling appetite. The books are far to engrossing, charming and need I say, magical, for any movie to really capture what a reader sees in his/her mind. But it is safe to say that with this newest film no one leaving the theaters will think Harry Potter all too innocent anymore (and thankfully not just for children).