WONKA
WONKA
Wonka is a 2023 musical fantasy film directed by Paul King, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, based on a story by King. It tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, featuring his early days as a chocolatier.[6] The film stars Timothée Chalamet in the title role, along with newcomer Calah Lane and an ensemble cast including Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant.
Plot
Aspiring magician, inventor and chocolatier Willy Wonka arrives by boat in an unnamed European city to fulfil his dream of opening his chocolate shop at the Galeries Gourmet. He decides to stay at a laundromat owned by the devious Mrs. Scrubbit and her henchman Bleacher. Despite warnings to read the fine print from Noodle, an orphan who stays at Scrubbit’s, the illiterate Wonka willingly signs her contract, which forces him to pay excessive charges during his stay. A confident Wonka goes to the Galeries Gourmet to sell his “hoverchocs” which make those who eat them fly. The Galeries’ three main chocolatiers – Mr. Slugworth, Mr. Prodnose and Mr. Fickelgruber – mock Wonka’s chocolates and call the Chief of Police to confiscate his earnings for the day.
Unable to pay his room’s rent, Scrubbit forces Wonka down to the launderette to work 10,000 days to repay his debt. He works with others trapped by Scrubbit: Noodle, accountant Abacus, plumber Piper, comedian Larry, and telephone operator Lottie. Abacus informs him that Slugworth, Prodnose, and Fickelgruber are dubbed the “Chocolate Cartel” who are in cahoots to eliminate their competition.
Cast
- Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka, an aspiring inventor and chocolatier with a difficult dream to open his very own chocolate shop
- Colin O’Brien as Young Willy Wonka
- Calah Lane as Noodle, Willy’s assistant[7]
- Keegan-Michael Key as the Chief-of-Police[7]
- Paterson Joseph as Arthur Slugworth, a corrupt businessman and the leader of the Chocolate Cartel[7]
- Matt Lucas as Prodnose[7]
- Mathew Baynton as Fickelgruber[7]
- Sally Hawkins as Willy Wonka’s mother
- Rowan Atkinson as Father Julius, a priest[7]
- Jim Carter as Abacus Crunch[7]
- Tom Davis as Bleacher[7]
- Olivia Colman as Mrs. Scrubbit[7]
- Hugh Grant as Lofty, an Oompa-Loompa[8]
- Natasha Rothwell as Piper Benz[7]
- Rich Fulcher as Larry Chucklesworth[7]
- Rakhee Thakrar as Lottie Bell[7]
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Officer Affable
- Simon Farnaby as Basil
- Charlotte Ritchie as Barbara
- Ellie White as Gwennie
- Sophie Winkleman as The Countess
- Murray McArthur as Ship Captain[9]
- Tracy Ifeachor as Dorothy Smith[10]
- Isy Suttie as Fruit & Veg Vendor[11]
- Phil Wang as Colin[12]
- Tim Fitzhigham as Sinister Ship Captain[13]
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AMERICAN FICTION
AMERICAN FICTION
American Fiction is a 2023 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson (in his feature directorial debut). Based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, the film follows a frustrated novelist-professor who jokingly writes an outlandishly stereotypical “Black” book out of spite, only for the book to be published and receive widespread fame and acclaim. It stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown.
Cast
- Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison
- Tracee Ellis Ross as Lisa Ellison
- Issa Rae as Sintara Golden
- Sterling K. Brown as Clifford “Cliff” Ellison
- John Ortiz as Arthur
- Erika Alexander as Coraline
- Adam Brody as Wiley
- Leslie Uggams as Agnes Ellison
- Myra Lucretia Taylor as Lorraine
- Okieriete Onaodowan as Van Go Jenkins
- Keith David as Willy the Wonker
- Raymond Anthony Thomas as Maynard
- Miriam Shor as Paula Bateman
- J. C. MacKenzie as Carl Brunt
- Patrick Fischler as Mandel
- Michael Cyril Creighton as John Bosco
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CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT
CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT
A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered “unclean”. A never-before-seen performance from Andrea Bocelli highlights seven music performances and two beautiful new monologues.
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THE ZONE OF INTEREST
THE ZONE OF INTEREST
- Director: Jonathan Glazer
- Writer: Martin Amis, Jonathan Glazer
- Stars: Sandra Hüller, Christian Friedel, Freya Kreutzkam
- Genre: Drama, History, War
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12/12/2023#”Wonka,” “American Fiction,” “Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night,” “The Zone of Interest”