By Susan Granger
Special to WestportNow
“Kubo and the Two Strings” begins with the ominous warning – “If you must blink, do it now” – because “if you look away, even for an instant, our hero will surely perish.”
Set in ancient Japan, this animated fantasy-adventure revolves around an 11 year-old boy named Kubo (Art Parkinson), a story-telling musician whose skill at origami (the art of paper-folding) resonates with Hosato (George Takei), Akhiro (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kameyo (Brenda Vaccaro).
While taking care of his ailing mother, who warns him to be home before nightfall, the tranquility of Kubo’s life is suddenly shattered when he accidentally breaks a supernatural curse.
Accompanied by a snarky, sassy Monkey (Charlize Theron), Kubo flees, determined to acquire three specific pieces of armor that belonged to his late samurai-warrior father in order to fulfill his destiny.
Joined by a genial, wisecracking, weapons-savvy Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) – with the help of his magical shamisen (lute) which brings his origami figures to life – Kubo battles malevolent spirits, like his mother’s twin Sisters (Rooney Mara), and his grandfather, the vengeful Moon King (Ralph Fiennes).
Created over a period of five years by the Portland, Oregon-based, stop-motion animation company, Laika Films (“Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” “The Boxtrolls”), it’s written by Marc Haimes & Chris Butler and directed by Laika’s president/CEO, Travis Knight, son of Nike chairman Phil Knight.
While the folkloric story seems needlessly complicated, the hand-crafted, painstakingly detailed imagery – inspired by dolls from Japan’s late Edo period (early 1600s-mid-1800s) – is dazzling, seamlessly blending art with computer technology.
Stop-motion animation utilizes tiny puppets with steel armatures, covered with cloth costumes, silicon skin and manufactured hair. Filming takes place on tabletops in large warehouses, as rippled shower glass and torn bits of paper on a moveable metal grid create the illusion of undulating ocean waves.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Kubo and the Two Strings” is a visually stunning 8, delivering delightful, family-friendly entertainment.
Aimed at an audience that relishes fictionalized romances—Jacqueline Bouvier/John F. Kennedy and Prince Charles/Diana Spencer—“Southside With You” focuses on Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date.
It’s summertime, 1989, in Chicago when smart, serious, self-confident Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter), a second-year corporate lawyer accepts an invitation from Barack (Parker Sawyers), a junior colleague whom she’s mentoring, to attend a church meeting regarding a community center.
Insisting to her parents that this is not a date, Michelle, nevertheless, is excited about this expedition. First to the Art Institute, where Harvard-educated Barack impresses her with his knowledge of African/American art, particularly Ernie Barnes, whose vibrant paintings depict black life in the 1970s.
Driving his rattletrap yellow Datsun with a hole in the floor, chain-smoking Barack seems much more laid back, particularly when he delivers an inspiring speech, emphasizing consideration and empathy.
Impressed, Michelle agrees to dinner and Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing.” An encounter with a law firm partner impels Michelle to inform Barack that their relationship should be professional and platonic.
That’s followed by a kiss, as her reserve melts outside a Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor.
After snagging a plum part on TV’s “One Life to Live,” Tika Sumpter’s films include “Get On Up” and “Ride Along 2.” Having read a “Southside” synopsis, she encouraged writer/director Richard Tanne, eventually becoming lead producer, helping cast British actor Parker Sawyers.
The result seems remarkably authentic, reminiscent of Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset” trilogy in which Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke walk around, talking about their lives. Here, Michelle and Barack discuss family, race and career ambitions.
Of course, only the Obamas would know how true-to-life it is – and they’re not talking.
On the Granger Gauge, “Southside With You” is a subtly sweet 6, a heartfelt date movie, culminating with John Legend’s song “Start.”
Set on Wall Street, “Equity,” Meera Menon’s financial thriller proves that female executives can be just as cold-hearted, cut-throat and corrupt as the male majority who surround them.
“I like money – like knowing I have it,” declares hot-shot investment banker Naomi Bishop (Anna Gunn).
Unfortunately, Naomi has once again been passed over for a global position by her boss (Lee Tergesen) on the basis of one underperforming IPO in her otherwise impressive Silicon Valley start-ups portfolio.
Determined to prove her worth, workaholic Naomi goes after another IPO called Cachet, a San Francisco-based, billion-dollar social network/security business, run by a British tech entrepreneur (Samuel Roukin).
Problem is: Naomi’s equally ruthless, hedge-funder boyfriend, Michael Connor (James Purefoy), steals her info about the upcoming IPO, so he can do insider trading.
Meanwhile, Naomi’s ambitious protégé, Erin (Sarah Megan Thomas), is trying to conceal the fact that she’s newly pregnant. And Naomi’s manipulative college chum, Samantha (Alysia Reiner), is now working for the Justice Department, investigating white-collar crimes, like securities fraud.
The most memorable scene reveals Naomi going ballistic when a male underling gives her a cookie with fewer chocolate chips than the one he just ate!
When Broad Street Pictures founders/producers Alysia Reiner and Megan Thomas launched this female-driven Wall Street drama, they hired a female screenwriter (Amy Fox) and female director (Meera Menon) with a strong female cast.
Much of their relatively modest budget came from 25 female investors, including former and current Wall Streeters, who shared their astute observations and experiences in the male-dominated workforce, making the backstory more interesting than the movie itself.
On the Granger Gauge, “Equity” is a perceptively scrappy 6, but the corporate intrigue lacks a satisfying payoff.
( Editor’s Note: Westport resident Susan Granger grew up in Hollywood, studied journalism with Pierre Salinger at Mills College, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism. In addition to writing for newspapers and magazines, she has been on radio/television as an anchorwoman and movie/drama critic for many years. See her reviews at www.susangranger.com.)
