Charles Dickens’ Christmas Song is a real classic of the Festivals in the history of literature, so it is not surprising that over the years directors and interpreters continue to want to measure themselves with such an iconic story and characters. The last one to do so is Ti West, who has come from the X Trilogy on Pearl and Maxime, who has brought his vision to the cinema since November 12 with Eagle Pictures in Scrooge – The Spirits of Christmas.
We understand that we want to keep the movie in the room as much as possible, maybe make it live by word so that people come back to see it until the holidays. Although it is a film that really sells itself, between the timeless tale and the return of Johnny Depp. But it seems to us a “express” that chases the frenzy of leaving always first with the Christmas mood, let him go out in mid-November and not in early December.
In case you did not know the plot: in a Victorian London it is the eve of Christmas and Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is an greedy, spilorcio and solitary wearer, who does not share at all the joy of the spirit of Christmas. He rejects his nephew Fred’s invitation to share the eve dinner together and threatens his faithful and subpaid employee, Bob Cratchit. That night, in his austere home, he first encounters the chained ghost of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley who warns him of the imminent arrival of other spirits. Scrooge will have to relive his past to change his future marked by evil and greed.
Scrooge – Gli spiriti del Natale recensione: Johnny Depp nel Canto di Natale horror di Ti West
Announced as a horror adaptation of a classic for young and old, from trailer and published clip seemed closer to a family comedy, complicit in the presence of the sorpion and always autoironic Johnny Depp. In the end, we are faced with a path that exploits the knowledge and ability of the means and the kind of Ti West to stage a film that is for families and therefore for everyone. Some children may be afraid of the visual surrender of ghosts and some passages, but nothing Disney has done worse with its childhood traumas for us Millennial.
It is a pedisseous and philological adaptation of the literary counterpart, which follows the story by dividing it into chapters with a lot of fonts and grains that honor the classics of the past. A love for the cinema that West had already demonstrated and that carries on with the attention to the most artisanal aspect both in the scenography and costumes, and in the mode of shooting. In fact, it is mainly the Victorian London recreated in the studio, so tangible, dirty, smoky, deeply charming and mirror of the rotten inside the protagonist.
Scrooge – The spirits of Christmas marks the perfect return of Johnny Depp behind and inside one of his masks, from which at some point he seemed almost hiding at the peak of his career. Before the trial against Amber Heard who pushed him away from Hollywood and majors, he had already become a caricature of himself and his characters.
This is an excellent relaunch, both human and professional. Surely smart, since it is an iconic role aimed at any age (such as his Jack Sparrow or Willy Wonka). But also meta-cinematograph, since it is a character who redeems himself in the eyes of public opinion as the actor is trying to do in reality (regardless of victory or not to trial). Trying to return to the first challenging transformations, like Ichabod Crane.
What to say finally about the rest of the cast moving around the “capocomic” Depp. A very well assorted ensemble, from the zealous Rupert Grint to the old brontolone Ian McKellen. From the spirits of Andrea Riseborough and Tramell Tillman to the “parents” of Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley and Ellie Bamber. Arthur Conti (excellent young Scrooge), Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Charlie Murphy.
A classic of the holidays that does not lose enamel, thanks to the history that encloses in full the Christmas spirit that is even more needed in these dark times. Now we can enjoy it in a new way at the cinema.
L’articolo Scrooge – The Spirits of Christmas Review: Johnny Depp in the horror Christmas song of Ti West comes from Dituttounpop.it.
