Latest news with #ThePenguinLessons'
New York Post
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Bill O'Reilly's new book takes on the worst of the worst
Beware those 'Evil' pols Coming — so unexpectedly — another Bill O'Reilly book. His 900th. It's 'Confronting Evil.' Cover is Hitler, Putin, and other nogoodniks. Subtitle: 'Assessing the Worst of the Worst.' A soap opera this isn't. He talks recession, procession, depression, dissension, contention, panic, stocks cratering, media howling, anger, worry, despair, lose the house, blow the bankroll — every American negatively affected. Advertisement Nice. Perfect thing to go to sleep with. Same as an old ra-ta-ta Judy Garland tap dance musical. Such stuff as O'Reilly happily likening our future to 'root canal without anesthesia.' Bill's unsolicited advice? 'Washington stands alone. Other countries don't want their money messed with. We have few foreign allies. To play nice with world markets the USA will need to compromise.' But, says this human crystal ball: 'Don't panic. That action's useless. History is unfolding. Can't stop it. Per Winston Churchill: 'Carry on!' ' Advertisement Another but is to 'ditch the dishonest news invasions. The market swings. The revisions and dishonest sources.' (From this columnist: He also means ditch everyone but B. O'Reilly.) Also: 'Trump knows this. He knows his destiny. He knows it can become shaky. He is not a man who accepts losing.' Polar-izing Recently opened 'The Penguin Lessons' took wing from the brain of English Brit wit Steve Coogan. It's about a puppet penguin — which is whateverthehell that is and something all of us own, right? He says, 'Covered in oil, the real one's carried in its bag. But we had a good relationship together. Had respect. Only pooped on me once.' Audiences might do more. Advertisement Grid lockdown After firing prison guards for their illegal strike her excellent Excellency Gov. Hochul now deals with severe staffing problems at state prisons. Also her congestion pricing's now congested, so maybe a solution's to release cons to help. Maybe even throwing LI's formercongressfink George Santos in charge. Advertisement Derm abrasion Thanks to last week New Yorker magazine's 'Talk of the Town' section. It reports an art teacher who saw both Judge Judy and me together at her dermatologist's office — and thought it sufficiently great to report it. We wildly appreciate the sighting — and should either of us spy this lady getting a colonoscopy we'll do the same for her. Park it here, folks USA Today's voting on best state parks. In the running and New York's best? Letchworth. Near Castile. I don't know what that is and I don't know where there is and I don't care so don't ask me. I'm just a full-scale poor reporter. The thing's called the Grand Canyon of the East. Never heard of it. I'm told it's got fills, rills, hills, dills, rivers, hikes. So, who cares. You can park your car or your carcass. Advertisement There once hung a sign somewhere in Donald's someplace Taj Mahal hotel in the onetime whothehellcaresanymore Atlantic City. It read: 'We'll give you eight-to-five odds you enjoy your stay.' Only in Jersey, kids, only in Jersey.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Penguin Lessons' offers accidental lessons of its own
The British do cozy cinematic whimsy like few others, and Peter Cattaneo has directed more than his share, starting with 'The Full Monty' in 1997 and sloping off gently from there. His latest, 'The Penguin Lessons,' shares with his 2019 drama 'Military Wives' the challenge of fashioning an uplifting, audience-friendly silk purse out of the sow's ear of the world's political complexities. When it works, it works, but in the new film it doesn't work as often as it needs to. It's Argentina in 1976, and the military is gearing up for a coup d'état — whimsical enough for you? Into this tinderbox comes Tom Michell (Steve Coogan), a diffident British schoolteacher who has been hired to force English lessons into the brains of ruling-class sons at a Buenos Aires private academy. The country is falling apart, but, as the school's fubsy headmaster (Jonathan Pryce, wasted) warns the new instructor, 'We try to keep out of it.' What about the penguin, you're wondering? During a week's beach holiday in Uruguay, Michell and a woman he meets at a bar (a charming, roguish Mica Breque) rescue a Magellanic penguin from an oil slick, and once the woman leaves, he's unhappily stuck with the bird despite all attempts to be rid of it. Coogan is a dab hand at dry British misanthropy (avianthropy?) with a soft center, and 'The Penguin Lessons' is very much in his wheelhouse as the hero grudgingly brings his new friend back through customs and into the cloistered confines of the school, where, dubbed Juan Salvador, it remains a secret for not very long. Think 'Dead Poets Society' with an assist from the Audubon Society. This is all adorable, but the film's political backdrop pushes increasingly and awkwardly into the foreground. In classic movie fashion, Michell sticks his neck out for nobody until he finds new friends at the school, among them a breezy fellow teacher (Björn Gustafsson) and the school's two cleaning ladies, the elderly Maria (Vivian El Jaber) and her vaguely leftist granddaughter Sofia (Alfonsina Carrocio). Then one of the characters is grabbed off a busy street in front of Michell by men with guns and sunglasses. Will he intervene? Would you? When all is said and done, 'The Penguin Lessons' is about finding the courage to stand up to injustice at one's own peril — only with penguin poop on the floor rather than blood. Jeff Pope's screenplay, adapted from the real Tom Michell's 2016 memoir, adds this fictionalized subplot to the story and includes a pro forma tragedy to the teacher's past to further goad him. The film acknowledges the 30,000 people who disappeared during Argentina's 'Dirty War' and places the grandmother with the real-life Mothers of the Plaza 25 de Mayo, but the solemnity is undercut by the glibness of the script and the cuteness of Juan Salvador as he wins over the hearts of everyone except those men with guns. It's the kind of movie where one of the main characters is taken into overnight custody and emerges with bruises from which the filmmakers discreetly look away. Torture's hell on the box office. Will you be moved? Possibly; I was at times, and sometimes against my better judgment. Coogan is the only actual human here, but, as in the far superior 'Philomena' (2013), he hoists the proceedings on the strength of his curmudgeonly decency. 'The Penguin Lessons' will please the kind of audiences who like to travel the world in comfort, as those PBS ads for Viking River Cruises say, but it accidentally offers those audiences uncomfortable food for thought. Cattaneo captures 1970s Argentina at a classic 'first they came for the socialists' juncture, one that might feel disconcertingly familiar once the credits roll and you check the news feed on your smartphone. Would you intervene? No amount of penguins make that question go down any easier. PG-13. At area theaters. strong language, some sexual references and thematic elements. 110 minutes. Ty Burr is the author of the movie recommendation newsletter Ty Burr's Watch List at
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
If 'The Penguin Lessons' could commit to earnestness or comedy, it'd be great
'The Penguin Lessons' is more than a silly film about flightless birds. Directed by Peter Cattaneo, the film is adapted from Tom Michell's 2016 memoir of the same name. Delving into Argentinian politics, grief and growth, while the film had room to explore these themes, it remains somewhat lighthearted — which is where it falls short. Perhaps the film would've been better off had it remained truer to the book, which is about a young Michell in his 20s, rather than focusing on Michell in his late 50s. By using older casting, an attempt is made to tackle some of the harsh realities that were happening at the time in 1976 Buenos Aires. Despite this shift in age — the film still didn't embrace tough topics as much as it could have, nor did it lean into the comedic aspects whole heartedly enough. Instead, the movie kind of meanders somewhere in the middle. As Tom Michell exits his taxi to begin his new job at St. George's College as an English teacher, he's greeted by some graffiti that states 'Montoneros en la lucha contra los fascistas bastardos,' Montoneros in the fight against the fascist bastards. This, along with an explosion in the background, introduces signs of political unrest that surrounded the Dirty War, when Argentina's military dictatorship went after suspected left-wing political opponents from 1976 to 1983. Michell is disinterested in all that when he begins teaching, keeping to himself, doing the crossword and taking naps while teaching and coaching Rugby. One day, he is convinced by a woman he's trying to impress to rescue a Magellanic penguin from an oil slick on a beach in Uruguay. This penguin won't leave him alone, so he brings him back to school with him. Eventually, everyone embraces the penguin — who is named Juan Salvador after 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' — he becomes the school mascot of sorts and inspires Michell to really try to make an impact with the students. At the same time, Sofía, a maid at the school, is kidnapped and Michell feels an obligation to help her and her grandmother. Steve Coogan's acting was the saving grace of the film. He portrays Michell with such ease, it felt as though one was watching a documentary instead of a fictionalized memoir. Coogan has a witty and dry sense of humor and expressiveness to him that contrasts with Björn Gustafsson delight silliness and lighthearted delivery. Since the film did not lean into the gory details of the political state of Argentina at the time — aside from a final title card stating that an estimated 30,000 'Disappeared' people remain unaccounted for — I wish it had gone the other way and really embraced the comedic dynamic between Michell and his hopeless romantic colleague (Gustafsson). The two could've made a great buddy comedy. Honestly, the penguin ended up feeling like a third wheel. Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★ Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★ Director: Peter Cattaneo. Cast: Steve Coogan, Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero. Rating: PG-13 for strong language, some sexual references and thematic elements. How to watch: In theaters Friday, March 28. Reach the reporter at Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter. Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'The Penguin Lessons' review: Not enough drama or comedy
Boston Globe
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Put a bird in it: ‘The Penguin Lessons' feels familiar
In 'My Penguin Friend,' a Brazilian man finds a penguin covered in oil due to a tanker spill, and rescues it. The bird starts following him around. The man warms to the penguin, and it helps him process the death of his son. Under the guise of a family-friendly feature, the filmmakers snuck in an environmental message. Footage of the real penguin and the man who loved it played over the end credits. 'The Penguin Lessons' follows a very similar plot, except the protagonist is British and he's mourning the loss of his daughter. There's a message tucked in here as well, but it's harder to swallow. Advertisement I had the same problems with tonal shifts in both films, though 'My Penguin Friend' does a much better job at handling them. After seeing this film, I realize I was too hard on its predecessor. Baba/Richard the penguins as Juan Salvador and Steve Coogan in "The Penguin Lessons." Lucia Faraig Ferrando/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics In 'The Penguin Lessons,' Tom Michell (Coogan) is a sarcastic Brit who teaches high school English in South American countries. (The real Michell wrote the 2016 novel that inspired this film.) Arriving in Argentina at a private school in 1976, his assignment is to whip a class full of failing misfits into shape. The jaded Michell could care less about the work, as he's still wounded by the death of his teenaged daughter. However, he springs to the defense of a bullied kid, Diego (David Herrero). Almost out of spite, Michell teaches his students poetry that Headmaster Buckle (Jonathan Pryce) thinks is incendiary and dangerous, which adds a bit of 'Dead Poets Society' to the proceedings. Advertisement When the 1976 military coup d'etat closes the school for a week, Michell travels to Punta del Este, Uruguay with fellow teacher, Tapio (Björn Gustafsson). He tags along even though a potentially debauched trip such as this one is not his speed. Upon arrival at a dance club, the duo meets Carina (Mica Breque), who takes an interest in the dour English teacher. Uruguay is also where we meet the penguin soon to be christened Juan Salvador (played by two penguins, Baba and Richard). Michell helps Carina rescue him, but his intentions are far from noble. He's hoping this good deed will lead to better deeds with Carina. Unfortunately, she's not only married, but she has a sudden attack of morality and leaves before breaking her vows. Steve Coogan, left, and Mica Breque in "The Penguin Lessons." Andrea Resmini/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics 'I didn't get any sex,' laments Michell. 'All I got was a penguin.' And that penguin has taken an intense liking to him. Despite numerous attempts to desert Juan Salvador, including flinging him back into the ocean and offering him to a Uruguay customs officer, Michell always ends up getting the bird. Back in Argentina, this budding friendship has its perks. The students start listening to their teacher once he bribes them with feeding duties. And there are several funny scenes where people tell their problems to Juan Salvador as if he were some kind of fine feathered Sigmund Freud. In response, he looks at his confessors with a judgmental eye. These moments are fine and cute, even if director Peter Cattaneo ('The Full Monty') hasn't cracked the code on how to make a penguin visually interesting. But 'The Penguin Lessons' severely falters when it deals with the dangers of military occupation. It's hard to watch a serious subplot involving people being 'disappeared' by the government juxtaposed with scenes of cutesy penguin mayhem and classroom hijinks. Advertisement Jonathan Pryce, left, and Steve Coogan in "The Penguin Lessons." Lucia Faraig Ferrando/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics Early in the film, Michell befriends his snarky maid, Maria (Vivian El Jaber), and her outspoken granddaughter, Sofia (Alfonsina Carrocio). Maria fears her granddaughter's protests against the regime will get her in trouble. Sure enough, Sofia is snatched off the street by sinister men in broad daylight, a crime observed by several people, including Michell. With her worst fears realized, Maria tries everything to discover Sofia's whereabouts. El Jaber is excellent in these scenes as well as in her comic moments. But the screenplay by Jeff Pope uses Maria's misfortune and Juan Salvador's loyalty as catalysts for restoring Michell's sense of empathy, which feels unbalanced. Also, a scene where Michell confronts the men who snatched Sofia leans perilously close to a white-savior narrative. Adding to my sense of ickiness is the film's last scene, which ties up Juan Salvador's and Maria's separate plot threads. More time is devoted to the penguin than to the people whose lives have been forever changed. Sofia's fate is treated almost as an afterthought, as if the filmmakers didn't want to harsh the mellow feeling 'The Penguin Lessons' uneasily tried to generate. ★★ THE PENGUIN LESSONS Directed by Peter Cattaneo. Written by Jeff Pope, based on the memoir by Tom Michell. Starring Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Alfonsina Carrocio, David Herrero, Mica Breque. At AMC Boston Common, Dedham Community Theatre, suburbs 110 min. PG-13 (a few F-words, a penguin throwing shade) Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
