Directed by:
Craig GillespieCinematography:
Nicolas KarakatsanisComposer:
Nicholas BritellCast:
Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser, Joel Fry, Mark Strong, Emily Beecham, Jamie Demetriou, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Ed Birch, John McCrea (more)VOD (3)
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Emma Stone stars as one of cinema’s most notorious and stylish villains, Cruella de Vil. Determined to become a successful fashion designer, a creative young grifter named Estella (Stone) teams with a pair of mischievous thieves to survive on the London streets. But when her flair for fashion catches the eye of the legendary designer Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), Estella rises to become the raucous, revenge-bent “Cruella.” (Disney / Buena Vista)
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Reviews (9)
Unlike 101 Dalmatians, Cruella has a significantly darker atmosphere. It might have been even better if it hadn’t been made by Disney, a company I’m not particularly fond of (just like the KGB, CIA, and the censors who oversee political correctness). Anyway, I was mightily surprised by how much I enjoyed the film throughout. Emma Stone was excellent, Emma Thompson was a perfect villainess, and the others did their best to support them, as the two Emmas stole the movie for themselves. I really enjoyed this one.
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This is exactly what I imagine when I think of a fun, modern movie that gets everything right. It's surprising that it took Cruella — a Disney film about a character you’d never expect to carry a standalone story — to deliver this, rather than something like the Kingsman series, where I’d naturally expect that kind of inventive fun. Maybe it’s because Cruella comes from the world of Dalmatians, giving the creators the freedom to craft whatever story they wanted. The result is a solid 134 minutes of pure entertainment, without a dull moment in sight. Emma Stone is incredible in the lead role, and Emma Thompson is equally fantastic as her rival. The supporting cast is also top-notch, with Paul Walter Hauser’s gritty British underworld accent being a standout surprise. The soundtrack is killer, with a great mix of tracks that perfectly set the tone, and the action is sharp, clever, and hilarious. There’s even a car chase that nails the 70s vibe so well you won’t want it to end. If they decided to make a sequel, I’d be all in. This is the kind of 21st-century movie magic I’ve been waiting for.
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Cruella is a Disney villain origin film that is surprisingly stylish. Genre-wise, it's completely different than what I normally watch and seek out, but it has to be said that considering it’s 140 minutes long and has no action or violence, I had an above-average time. Cruella has her own flair, a nice London setting, an impressive Emma Stone, who steals the whole show for herself, her entrances to the stage are always both epic and engaging, and the cool retro music playing all the time is a delight. Emma Thompson is also brilliant, playing the Baroness to a great standard, she commands respect and plays the bitch decently. The clashes between the two main characters are the strongest of the whole film. I also liked the dogs, the occasional humorous interludes. There are fine twists (though some are predictable), and it works as a heist genre film with a revenge theme all in one. The fashion element is also a big plus, with some of the dresses taking your breath away. Fashion oriented women will probably marvel here. A nice nice and entertaining film. 7.5/10.
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As Disney's version of Joker, Cruella forges its own path (unlike Disney's previous live-action remakes) telling the origin story of the de-mon-ic lover of black-and-white polka dots in a slyly, almost mischievously funny way. I liked how they managed to incorporate various motifs that would later appear in the Dalmatian sequel (I loved Roger and Anita). From an audiovisual point of view, it is a spectacular piece with a decent soundtrack and a plethora of gorgeous costumes, though at times the overly artificial visual effects (the dogs) spoiled the impression a bit. Emma Stone is likeable, Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser are funny second fiddles, and the whole thing was superbly capped by the coolly elegant Emma Thompson. The plot twists are all predictable, but what the hell, I had fun in the cinema and thoroughly enjoyed the black and white quest for revenge.
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Along with the evil queens from Snow White and Alice in Wonderland, Cruella is one of the top villainous female characters from the Disney Kingdom, along with Maleficent and Ursula. Moreover, she is one of the cherished ones whose films were made during Disney's lifetime. As far as feature remakes go, only Maleficent has had her own films so far, and there have been two updated Alice in Wonderland films, with a new Snow White and The Little Mermaid in the pipeline. Few would have guessed, therefore, that a standalone Cruella would be much more reminiscent of I, Tonya in terms of style (including Paul Walter Hauser) than anything else. Craig Gillespie was a great choice and signed off on a prequel to 101 Dalmatians that would even get Dodie Smith out of his chair. The result is an experience I will definitely not deny myself for future reruns. It’s also the first movie where I don't mind Emma Stone after all the flat and uninteresting futile girl characters.
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