Cruella

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 Cruella [2021]

Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Mark Strong

Direction by Craig Gillespie

Language: English


I love myself a nice little villain origin story. I'm a fanatic for any sort of revenge being seen in a film. Right from the get go, I knew that I was going to enjoy it.

Everybody familiar with Disney movies will have heard of the infamous Cruella De Vil. In the 101 Dalmatians movies, Cruella is seen as an evil, slightly deranged character: an old woman hell-bent on committing crimes. However, when I found out that an origin story was released, I knew that I had to watch it. After seeing Maleficent and loving it, I had a feeling that I would come to really enjoy this movie. And I wasn't wrong. 

The opulence of the 1970s in London: the understated elegance and glamour contrasted with the punk of a new revolution in fashion really shone in this movie. It was through the costume and makeup design that this movie excelled - it kind of had to, it was a fashion based movie! I would be very disappointed if a movie surrounding Cruella, the epitome of chic, did not deliver. Safe to say that the movie did not let me down in that aspect. I'm a person that knows virtually nothing about fashion: just look into my wardrobe! But the fact that even I could notice the grandeur of mainly the dresses designed speaks volumes. The intricacy of the outfits designed coupled with the sheer volume showcased just cemented the assertion that the movie excelled in terms of costume design. 

I feel like I don't see Emma Stone as much as I would like to see her in Hollywood movies: I actually think that after La La Land, people have almost forgotten about her! But that, of course, is just an opinion. To play an insane character driven by revenge is tough, and requires the most precise combination of wit, cunningness, and grit. So as far as characterisation goes, the character of Cruella was written in the perfect way, with all of these elements working together in perfect tandem. To write the background of a character that is already so hated is difficult to say the least, and the fact that I was able to empathise with her character suggests something distinguished as far as writing goes. The execution of this dynamic role was done so effortlessly by Emma Stone! I loved her in this.

9.5/10

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