01
Jun
This article contains Cruella spoilers. Disney’s latest live-actioner, Cruella, is a prequel to 101 Dalmatians which sees Emma Stone’s budding fashion designer Estella begin to grow into her villainous alter-ego Cruella de Vil. By the end of the film ,she hasn’t yet reached the depths of Disney’s puppy-skinning diva – there’s time yet – but there’s a mid credits scene in Cruella which might hint at what we’ll see next. At the end of the main narrative, Estella has inherited her father the Baron’s fortune, faked her own death and bequeathed the estate to her dear friend Cruella. She, Jasper…
01
Jun
The following contains Cruella spoilers (but only what you already know from Twitter and Instagram). Cruella de Vil’s mother was killed by a vicious pack of Dalmatians. It sounds goofy to read that in print, but for many social media users who didn’t go to the theater opening weekend or shell out a steep $30 for Cruella on Disney+, this is likely all they’ve heard. And it’s true, early on in the Emma Stone-led film, a pack of Dalmatians really push mama off a cliff. However, there is a lot more to the movie than this questionable plot point, not…
31
May
It appears reports of movie theaters’ demise were greatly exaggerated. Thank the boffo gods. After more than a year of bad headlines and even worse forecasts for cinema exhibitors, Memorial Day weekend has been a defiant roar for movie theaters across the United States, led chiefly by the stunning success of A Quiet Place Part II and the more complicated (probable) success of Cruella. Both films were prized assets for their studios—Paramount Pictures and Disney, respectively—and both were delayed from their original 2020 start dates. Indeed, A Quiet Place Part II was the first major studio tentpole displaced in March…
30
May
One of the most infamous villains in Disney’s storied history is Cruella de Vil, the wickedly evil heiress and socialite who obsessively wanted to make a coat from the fur of puppies in 1961’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Based on a novel by Dodie Smith, the animated classic introduced Cruella as a fully formed monster, intent on skinning all 101 of the title Dalmatians for her own personal luxury. Cruella became such an instant symbol of vanity, greed, and malevolence that she has appeared in the decades since in a number of animated and live-action sequels and spin-offs, with…
29
May
This article contains Cruella spoilers. Read our spoiler-free review here. It’s rare to have a movie as focus-tested and committee-approved as Disney’s Cruella surprise you. But in my case, it did. Filled with vamping swagger and fabulous charm, this reimagining legitimately does something fresh with its premise, and broke down my curmudgeonly skepticism toward a Cruella de Vil origin story in the process. Dodging the boring impulse to just remake 101 Dalmatians (which Disney already did once in 1996), this is an eccentric blend of heist movie twists, 1970s decadence, and even shades of All About Eve. Genuinely, it’s a…
29
May
This article contains Cruella spoilers. Would Emma Stone’s Cruella de Vil skin a dog? That’s the million-dollar question that still hangs over Disney’s demented but otherwise free-spirited Cruella. The movie almost devilishly asks audiences to sit with the idea every time Cruella glances over at her kidnapped Dalmatians. Her voiceover narration may insist that she doesn’t blame the pooches for her mother’s death—back when they were summoned by Emma Thompson’s Baroness to push mama off a cliff—yet Cruella also mentions to herself in the movie that they’d make excellent coats. And at the end of the film, she sends two…
28
May
Just like his previous movie, I, Tonya, director Craig Gillespie’s new interpretation of Cruella and the 101 Dalmatians mythos treats its soundtrack almost like a character—a Greek chorus of sorts. The origin story of the designer villainess who first was introduced to the world in the classic One Hundred and One Dalmatians is peppered with a non-stop river of classic pop, rock, and punk anthems from the 1960s and ‘70s, quite fitting for the chaotic backdrop of London’s fast-changing fashion and music scene of that era. Gillespie says that the way the soundtrack was used in I, Tonya was an…
27
May
Disney’s new film Cruella is dominated by two exceptional performances from Emma Stone and Emma Thompson. The former plays the title character, an ambitious fashion designer who morphs into one of Disney’s most infamous villains, while the latter plays the designer who hires Cruella (in her Estella persona) and then tries to destroy her. While the two Emmas drive the story and take full command of the screen, lurking around the edges is John, played by Mark Strong, the valet to Thompson’s Baroness who doesn’t say all that much. But even his stoic presence eventually reveals a character with more…
26
May
Set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, Cruella follows a young grifter named Estella (Emma Stone), a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that…
26
May
The devil wouldn’t be seen dead in Prada in Disney’s latest live action reboot – a delve into the origin story of iconic 101 Dalmatians villainess Cruella de Vil. Born Estella (she will grow into “Cruella” later), you suspect Emma Stone’s budding fashion designer would find Prada way too basic, her punk rock tastes leaning more towards Vivianne Westwood in its attitude and aesthetic. She looks amazing. She’s a provocateur, an icon, a genius and a master show woman. What she isn’t is someone you could ever imagine killing a puppy, but more on that later. Directed by I, Tonya’s…
31
Mar
After doubts from skeptics, Emma Stone clarifies that the Cruella movie will be different than Joker. “When the Cruella trailer dropped in February, we were suddenly aware of the possibility that there could be a striking resemblance between a Disney villain origin story and a Batman villain origin story. But Emma Stone, who plays the stylish, dog-hating protagonist, says her movie and Joker aren’t all that alike.” Read more at Gizmodo. Few shows are as iconic as Law & Order. Check out some fun facts about the behind-the-scenes of this NBC hit series. “At more than 30 years old, the…
24
Mar
Earlier Tuesday morning, Regal Cinemas announced that it would be reopening its doors for the first time in half a year on April 2, and additionally they’ve signed an agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures to ensure there is a 45-day theatrical window for the studio’s 2022 film slate. With vaccinations numbers rising, it seemed movie theater owners could see a light at the end of the tunnel… Then Disney announced Black Widow and Cruella were premiering on Disney+ this summer, on May 28 and July 9, respectively. And like that, the ground gave way again beneath cinemas and supporters of…
18
Feb
Clearly this isn’t your parents’ Cruella De Vil. This isn’t even your Cruella De Vil. However, there is something fiendishly charming about seeing Emma Stone charge into a ballroom and light her black and white dress on fire, revealing a chic red number beneath that would do Scarlett O’Hara proud. If fashion is a statement, Cruella is here to say the villain has just arrived! Yet one can’t help but shake the certainty that by the time we actually learn the plot of Disney’s Cruella reimagining, Cruella will be in anything but black and white, or fiery red. Rather Cruella…
