Wonka
It feels just a little hypocritical for a studio like Warner Bros. Pictures to make an anticapitalist feel-good holiday family confection, but <PERSON> direction shines through in Wonka's best moments. 252
There is a version of this film that goes all-out on the old Hollywood musical filmmaking style, with more memorable songs, better-done practical visual effects, and a more well-cast, magnetic central performer – but <PERSON> wisely relies on his screen charisma, and his sheer bravery to commit to such a role, to carry him through some forgettable tunes and numbers (a chocolate-making montage is definitely the film's most fun). <PERSON> is still able to wrap things up nicely towards the end in unexpectedly moving ways, with sincerity as his secret weapon. That scene at the fountain did make me cry, so while the filmmaking on display in Wonka may be flawed, its heart is definitely in the right place, and should provide a healthy dose of optimism to any family going out to the movies during the Christmas season. 529