Author: Natalie Teasdale

I want to share with other movie fans those amazing films that get under your skin and stay with you for days: the scary ones, the funny ones; the ones that get you thinking. With a background in creative writing, photography, psychology and neuroscience, I’ll be focusing on dialogue, what makes a great story, if the film has beautiful creative cinematography, the soundtrack and any movie that successfully scratches the surface of our existence. My aim is to always be searching for that ultimate movie, to share what I’ve found to be interesting (whether it be a great soundtrack, a great director or links to other information of interest) and to give an honest review without too much fluff. BAppSci in Psychology/Psychophysiology; Grad Dip Creative Arts and Post Grad Dip in Creative Writing. Founder of GoMovieReviews.

Minari

Rated: PGMinari

Directed and Written by: Isaac Lee Chung

Produced by: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh

Director of Photography: Lachlan Milne

Editor: Harry Yoon

Starring: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Scott Haze, Yuh-Jung Youn, Will Patton.

Korean with English Subtitles

A ‘Carther Truck’ rental tumbles down a dirt road ahead.

There’re hay rolls in the paddocks.

Black cows.

And the look of concern in the rear-view mirror.

It’s been Jacob’s (Steven Yeun) dream to plant a crop of vegetables traditionally grown in his home country Korea, but here in America.  And finally he’s brought his family to where he sees his dream coming true: pan to a portable house but really a trailer still on it’s wheels in the middle of a paddock.  And the threat of a tornado.

Welcome to Arkansas.

“This just keeps getting better and better,” laments Monica (Yeri Han), Jacob’s wife.

A city girl.

She doesn’t understand why they need to live in the middle of no-where.

But when your job is sexing chicks – the male chicks placed in the blue container, the female in the white, knowing the blue container is for the furnace because the male chicks don’t taste as good or lay eggs – it’s hard for Jacob not to want to make himself useful.  Otherwise he might just end up as smoke in the sky.

Manari is the story of the family trying to make it work.  Making that tree change and making the dream a reality.

The first priority is his family.  But to look after his family, Jacob feels like he needs to achieve something that’s his.

It comes around.

A theme shown in the subtleties – Anne (Noel Kate Cho), the young daughter echoing her mother, “it keeps getting better and better”.

And how fire can mean the end, but also the beginning.

There’re all these bitter-sweet moments, like when Grandma Soonja (Yuh-Jung Youn) comes to stay – but she’s not a real grandmother, says David (Alan Kim).  She swears and doesn’t bake cookies.

But she loves David so much she can laugh, and she can make fun, she smells like home: she finds the perfect place to plant, minari.

It’s in these quiet circles the family drama of Minari is shown with sunlight shining through the long grass, the warmth of Paul (Will Patton), the crazy God loving American who is just so weird but such a gift.

There’s little David with his cowboy boots and stripy socks.

And there’s hardship.  But that just makes those good moments all the more sweet.

Most of the time I was smiling through-out this film, with a rise of emotion here and there, just a little melancholy.  Kinda like taking a walk in the afternoon, with the sun shining behind some cloud cover that gets you feeling the breeze and the moment a bit.  The sun comes out again.  Then you walk home.

The Little Things

Rated: MThe Little Things

Directed / Written and Produced by: John Lee Hancock

Produced by: Mark Johnson

Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Natalie Morales.

“It’s the little things that get you caught.”

I know there’s some heavy hitters here – director John Lee Hancock (“The Founder,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “The Blind Side”); and three Academy Award winning actors, but, The Little Things felt like a film that didn’t know if it wanted to be a drama or a crime thriller.

Deke (Denzel Washington) is a man recovering.  He’s been suspended, divorced and has had a triple bypass – all in six months.  He’s not a detective that let’s go of a case.

Fast forward five years and Deke is in uniform, called back to LA on an errand.  Back to his old precinct where the chief is not happy about his return.

But some of his old buddies are happy to see him, remembering the old him.  The one who got the job done.

His replacement, Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), a god-fearing golden child, knows there’s rumours about him.

“You’re a popular guy,” he jokes.

But Baxter will take any help he can get, the pressure on with a current case of four dead.  And no suspects.

The foundation of the story is the two cops getting to know each other as they chase leads while unraveling the mystery of Deke’s past.

The film becomes more crime drama than crime thriller.  The violence watered down.  For me, taking away any suspense.

The murders they’re investigating are never seen, the terror of the crimes never a focus, just a car following behind, the splatter of blood across a crime scene or the ghosts of the dead still haunting.

The characters are the story so the mystery of the crime takes a back seat.

I admit, I prefer crime movies with more grit.

The soundtrack didn’t help.  There’s no build, just a background giving that feeling of thinking while the cops try to figure out the crime, and each other.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a strong performance here from Denzel, the chemistry between Deke and Baxter a good hook with some further interest thrown in with Jared Leto as the bad guy, his slow reptilian stare unsettling.

But the lack of any visceral violence or any real suspense left his bad character more comical (on purpose) at times, than scary.  He’s right on that edge and with more grit he would have been outright terrifying.  But again, it felt like the film was filtered.  Making this a more cerebral viewing.  And yes there are some clever moments.

But the pacing didn’t build those aha moments so although there’s some satisfaction, the story gets lost leaving the feeling of a missed opportunity.

Wrong Turn

Rating: TBCWrong Turn

Directed by: Mike P. Nelson

Screenplay by: Alan B. McElroy

Based on: ‘Wrong Turn’ by Alan B. McElroy

Starring: Matthew Modine, Bill Sage, Charlotte Vega, Emma Dumont, Damian Maffei, Valerie Jane Parker, Chaney Morrow, David Hutchinson.

Seeing the preview to Wrong Turn, it’s easy to think you’re in for another movie about a group of teens getting lost in the woods and murdered by some crazed hillbillies.

But ‘wrong turn’ doesn’t just mean, opps, went off the trail in the woods and got murdered.  There’s the idea of the moral, taking a wrong turn, of right and wrong – the question of what is the right way to live, what code, what society; to even think about, what is sick and what is living.

It’s a difficult movie to review.

So I’ll try to outline a synopsis without giving too much away.

Three couples go hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Immediately, the tone of the film is ominous with flames and scary locals, shadowy figures and the landlady of the B&B where the group is staying, warning: ‘The landscape can be… Unforgiving’ (kinda harking back to that, right and wrong, idea).

There’re rumours of people living on the mountain.  Families going to live up there in 1859, to keep living the American Ideal.  They call themselves, The Foundation.

Any strangers that leave the trail and get lost up there never come back.  Either alive or dead.

But when Scott’s (Matthew Modine) daughter, Jen (Charlotte Vega) goes missing, he’s determined to find her.

And that’s where the film opens, to a father nervously tapping his clenched fist against his thigh as he drives into a small town in middle America.

The film starts as this visceral horror.  Not too gory but shocking at times and clever in the suspense and pacing – cue soundtrack building to those unexpected jumps.

At one point Jen laments, ‘This isn’t happening.’

And it is surreal how the movie (getting a little metaphysical here) unfolds, still a suspense thriller but pushing some unexpected questions from the characters and ideas for the audience to think about.  And it keeps going, with a horror-weird-society-cult-story layered with thought-provoking ideas like people’s preconceptions of what it is to live completely free from modern society being used to twist the story into another direction, so you follow the film into unforeseen places.

I really enjoy a film that starts as one type of movie to then open up and take the audience somewhere else.

What I thought was going to be a teen slasher move turned into so much more – but still with good jumps and hands-in-front-of-the-face action; not so confronting I couldn’t watch.  But enough to get the heart pumping, to keep watching to see where the film took me next.

Interesting stuff.  And entertaining.

Hope I haven’t given too much away because it’s such a pleasure to be surprised by a film and, Wrong Turn went places unexpected – worth a watch.

High Ground

Rated: MA15+High Ground

Directed by: Stephen Maxwell Johnson

Written by: Chris Anastassiades

Produced by: David Jowsey, Maggie Miles, Witiyana Marika, Greer Simpkin, Stephen Maxwell Johnson

Starring: Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey, Jack Thompson, Witiyana Marika, Aaron Pedersen, Caren Pistorious, Esmerelda Marimowa, Ryan Corr, Sean Mununggurr.

When you’ve got the high ground, you control everything

“Be quiet!” someone cussed at the other critics, chatting in the audience.

And then the film began, in complete silence.

Only the sound of birds twittering.  And screeching.

High Ground is a revenge film set in the early 1900s.  The days of the early settlers in Australia, when the indigenous population killing a cow could lead to massacre in retribution.

When a young boy, Gutjuk (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) witnesses his family killed by white settlers, Travis (Simon Baker), the army officer leading the team, takes Gutjuk in his arms, disowning the behaviour of his countrymen.

He leaves his army days behind.

Fast forward twelve years and we see the Wild Mob burning up settlements and causing mayhem.

Mayhem led by Baywara.

Gutjuk’s uncle taking revenge.

There’s more here than a little boy seeing his family killed.

There’s the complicated nature of finding the balance between the people already living on the land and those wanting to own the land; those who take and those who want to listen.

The complex nature of settlement is embodied in the character Travis.  A white man scarred by the slaughter of innocents by his countrymen.  He disowns the status quo but is unable to get away from his past.

There’s taking revenge to be someone, where standing in anger is better than feeling the pain of being treated like nothing.

Then there’s Gutjuk, re-named Tommy.  The little boy taken to live in a white settlement.  Loved.  But never forgetting his roots.

The conflict is intense but the film is quiet, inviting the audience to listen.  Really listen.  Making High Ground a tense film built on the sound of the land.

I can’t recall a soundtrack at all.  Just the sound of birds and language, the somehow warm slither of a snake across rock like fingertips over velvet.  Like the animals provided another voice all set in the vast landscape of the Northern Territory: Arnhem Land.

The dialogue is simple.  Sparse.  Too sparse.  But that’s what allows the sound of the birds to speak.  So there’s an immersive brilliance to the film broken by confronting moments of violence.

I kept jumping.

But because of this quiet focus, some of the story felt glossed over.  So I was in this magical moment, then frowning when the narrative didn’t add to the relationships of the characters, the storyline somehow underdone.

What absolutely hit the mark was the performance from Jacob Junior Nayinggul – I believed every single word, his character Gutjuk, a highlight.

But more than anything it’s bringing the land into the story that makes this film unique.

I am Gutjuk, meaning hawk.

The totem of the hawk a constant presence, a forever watchful eye.  High above, everything.

Recommend watching this one on the big screen.

All Traditional Owners of the land on which HIGH GROUND was filmed gave their blessing for the film and provided unprecedented access to country. On request of the Jawoyn the Kakadu National Park management closed tourist access to one if its key attractions the stunning Gunlom Falls for the filming of key scenes. Many local Aboriginal people worked on the film in front of and behind the camera.

Full Statement by Galarrwuy Yunupingu ” HIGH GROUND is a both-ways film, First Nations and Balanda. It depicts a time of trouble in Australia; it honours our old heroes, reminds us of the past and the truth of our joint history in the country. I hope that this film can play an important role in Australia’s national conversation towards a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution so that all our children will walk in both-worlds, never forgetting the past.” Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM Gumatj Leader

White Lie

Directed and Written by: Yoah Lewis, Calvin ThomasWhite Lie

Produced by: Yonah Lewis, Calvin Thomas, Katie Nolan, Karen Harnisch, Lindsay Tapscott

Starring: Kacey Rohl, Amber Anderson, Martin Donovan and Connor Jessup.

TIFF-nominated

White lie is the story of a girl who fakes having cancer.  A story that sounds familiar, the unfortunate truth the basis of the film – see article: directors (Yoah Lewis, Calvin Thomas) on the real scams behind their film here.

I was bracing myself, wondering if I could be in the mood to watch, White Lies, but from the opening scene of Katherine (Kacey Rohl) with a ‘K’, shaving her head, I was absorbed.

Immediately we know something’s not right.

She’s on posters, she’s on the cover of a magazine, she’s the lead of a dance group.

People give her money.

People watch her and smile.

She’s the centre of attention.

Everything is going fine for Katherine, until she needs to produce her medical records.

I could not look away from the amazing performance of Kacey Rohl as the character Katherine lies to cover lies, to cover herself and see just how far this girl will go to keep her secret.

Does her girlfriend (Amber Anderson) know?  I wonder as pillow talk turns to articles and donations.

Does her father (Martin Donovan) know?

How far can she take it?

That’s what kept me watching.  Waiting to see the unravelling.  Wondering what would drive someone to lie about having cancer.  Wondering if that’s all it takes to fool people: a young, sad girl holding her nerve, allowing people to see what they want to see.

Not able to believe someone could lie but the suspicion once raised a trauma of seeing and not seeing.

Another story for the media.  Another Facebook Page.  Another sad story to believe and charity to donate to.

But rather than get bogged down in the sensationalism, the film directs a clinical eye to record the misdeeds of lie and cover-up, the seamless unfeeling fantasy underlined with the warped scratch of strings, the soundtrack the indication of a broken mind because watching Katherine, she seems fine.

But she’s not OK because she will never see the wrong in what she’s doing.

It’s like the audience is allowed a window to see the truth while those around her are thoroughly fooled.  So instead of an unsettling fear like I expected, the film became a fascination.

Instead of another warning about social media, White Lie is an absorbing psychological thriller.  A film simply told so the complication of an unsound mind becomes a watch that’s both subtle and revealing.

The Unlit (Witches of Blackwood)

Rated: MA15+The Unlit

Directed by: Kate Whitbread

Produced by: Kate Whitbread

Written by: Darren Markey

Starring: Cassandra Magrath, Kevin Hofbauer, Lee Mason, John Voce, Nicholas Denton, Susan Vasiljevic, Francesca Waters.

We’ve been waiting for you

The mood of, The Unit is like the reflection of a forest on a lake.  Impenetrable.

Ominous.

Until a girl answers her mobile while being driven through the forest with, ‘Hey, what’s up?’

The comment just didn’t fit the mood, awkwardly dispelling the build of tension.

But as the film continued I stopped taking notes because they’re times the story scratches at the door of scary.

Cassie (Cassandra Magrath) is a cop on the edge after witnessing the suicide of a local boy (Nicholas Denton).

The mystery of his death is revealed as the film follows Cassie back to her childhood home in Blackwood after a call from her uncle Clifford (John Voce).

There’s been a death.

Her father.

Cassie is not feeling right with the world.

Cassie tells her boyfriend (Kevin Hofbauer) she has to go home to find answers.

Where it doesn’t take long to realise, The Unlit is a witch heritage story.

Yet there’s mystery because Cassie is followed by the trauma of understanding why the young kid committed suicide in front of her.

And when she finds letters written by her uncle about her mother, Cassie discovers there’s more to her mother then she realises or remembers.  She discovers her mother’s obsession with the forest while in an asylum.  Her mother.  Presumed dead.

Yet still haunting the town of Blackwood.

The haunting is shown in the dark smudge across the eyes of the women who still live there, amongst the absence of men and children.  The absence, or what isn’t said, noted by writer Darren Markey (at the recent Q&A screening at Lido Cinema) as an essential part of the structure of the story.

So there’s mystery but more than anything, there’s atmosphere, created by director, Kate Whitbread in 13 days of shooting.

What made me sit up was the scene set amongst the twisted pines just behind Lorne’s (Victoria) main beach.  A fantastic setting to tap into the mood: a woman stood-too, questioned under the twisted branches of pine, otherworldly.

The trees and ocean are used well to speak like the voices of the dead as the mystery of Cassie and her heritage deepens.

There’s some clever here.  But also some gloss.  Or smudge, like the dark under the eyes of the haunted women of Blackwood is contrived, breaking that careful tone of mystery; like the use of a lamp to create atmosphere fails because, why wouldn’t you use the flashlight on your phone?  Which is in hand, and used for just that function later?

There were times I wondered if the ominous trees were going to be the best part of the film.

So yes, The Unlit is a low budget film.

But as the story progressed the writing shone with some great acting: lead, Cassandra Magrath holding her nerve searching those haunted dark rooms, Nicholas Denton as the dead young Luke a powerful spectre and Nikola Dubois as the haunted friend absorbing in her twisted monologue.

The highlight for me was when John Voce as the uncle speaks of people not being sick, just knowing things we don’t.  Goosebumps.

So, the film doesn’t always suspend reality and is a little obvious at times, but some of the scenes that play out the dark dialogue really tap at the door making, The Unlit, worth a watch.

Nat’s Top 5 Movies for 2020

Top 5 Movies 2020Goodbye 2020.  It’s been a strange year.  I wasn’t at the cinema much this year so I’ve put together my top 5 instead of the usual 10.  Here is what I did get to see, here is what kept me smiling, thinking, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

5. The Vigil

4. The Invisible Man

3. 1917

2. The Gentlemen 

1. Deerskin

 

The Dry

Rated: MA15+The Dry

Directed by: Robert Connolly

Produced by: Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky, Robert Connolly, Eric Bana

Screenplay Written by: Harry Cripps and Robert Connolly

Based on the Book Written by: Jane Harper

Starring: Eric Bana, Genevieve O’Reilly, Keir O’Donnell, John Polson, Julia Blake, Bruce Spence, Matt Nable, William Zappa, James Frecheville, Joe Klocek, Claude Scott-Mitchell, Sam Corlett, BeBe Bettencourt, Miranda Tapsell.

The tone of, The Dry is set in the opening moments: from above, the landscape looks barren, drawing the eye like water into drought-stricken dirt.

A baby cries.

The floorboards of a farmhouse are soaked in blood.

On the back of a note to attend the funeral of a childhood friend, Federal Agent Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) reads, You lied.

The Dry is a mystery of two crimes separated by twenty years that slowly unfolds in the town of Kiewarra.  A town where a spark could start a blaze, a town suffering 324 days without rain.

It’s a country town that holds secrets revealed in the subtleties as Aaron gets caught up investigating a suicide murder case while his own past catches up, locals banging on his door in the middle of the night.

What happened all those years ago?  Why do the locals hate Aaron returning to his childhood home?

What happened to Ellie Deacon (BeBe Bettencourt)?

It’s a slow and quiet mystery that was gripping because of the many moments that ground the story, the local school principle planting a tree in memory of the dead, a kind gesture but bitter sweet: ‘God knows what I’m supposed to tell the kids when it dies,’ he says, knowing the tree will die like so many others in the never ending drought.

And there are so many layers to this story, handled with care by director Robert Connolly – all those subtle moments hinting at character, questioning the action of something as simple as closing a glass sliding door.

There’s some light moments to offset the foreboding drive of drama, from classic characters like the memorable publican, McMurdo (Eddie Baroo) – the pub overrun with customers (said with tongue-in-cheek) or the order of the sea food basket a risky choice being oh so far from the ocean.

Alongside a solid storyline, it’s those moments that nod to the Australian countryside that ground the film in the authentic and is such a pleasure to watch on the big screen.

The landscape reminded me of childhood growing up in country Victoria, those century old gum trees, finding that special spot, that magic tree while watching the dust form whirlwinds across the paddock.

The backbone of the film is Aaron returning home, the flashbacks to those days of growing up and swimming in the river with friends.  Director Robert Connolly explains, “If I was […] to go right to the crux of THE DRY, it’s about the emotional impact of returning to the place you grew up.”

The landscape is captured beautifully here (filmed in the Wimmera Region), the past when the river was flowing.  The tragedy of a young death.  The return to childhood memories to now see the town dry, the once flowing river empty.

What sums up the film for me is the use of the soundtrack – there to amplify those dramatic moments, but noticed even more when absent, with only the sound of the wind.

Overall, I found, The Dry to be a quiet film, mysterious with a subtle slow burn, that’s gripping in the telling.

A Call To Spy

Rated: MA Call To Spy

Directed by: Lydia Dean Pitcher

Written by: Sarah Megan Thomas (original screenplay)

Produced by: Sarah Megan Thomas p.g.a.

Edited by: Paul Tothill (BAFTA nominee)

Starring: Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache and Rossif Sutherland.

It’s your light that lights the world

Inspired by true events, A Call To Spy follows two civilians recruited by Churchill’s new spy agency’s (Special Operations Executive (SOE)) Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), to become the first female spies in the recently fallen France during WWII.

Nazi domination in Europe 1941 asks for extreme measures to disrupt Occupation, to create rebellion, to set France on fire.

Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas, also producer and writer) is to lead on the ground.

Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Atpe), the fastest wireless in her unit, to radio the messages.

Operation Brigitte (Virginia’s byline as alias journalist: Brigitte LeContre) is born.

It’s inspiring to watch the courage of the unlikely spies being trained: Virginia the rich American with a wooden leg who dreamt of being a diplomat, and the Muslim pacifist, a descendant of Indian Royalty and believer of peace and truth who refuses to give up, who has resolved to resist the Nazi Occupation of the country she grew up in and loved, France.

The film sheds new light on the hideous grip Nazi Germany had over the French population, the lack of food, forced labour – the betrayal of friends bred out of desperation.

It’s not that the film becomes too bloody or gory, but I always find war movies a difficult watch.

The seeming lightness of, A Call To Spy at the beginning drew me into the exciting world of rescue and secret messages; the danger of getting caught, yet escaping.

But as the war progresses, the deeper the conflict and the more at stake.

As mistakes are made the Colonel Maurice Buckmaster (Linus Roache) admits the horror when doing your best just isn’t enough.  When making the wrong decision means lives are lost.

The task given to Britain’s amateur spies is described by the Colonel as a lonely courage.

So the reality of war, the murder, the betrayal and the secrets even amongst the spies is revealed as the sadness and horror of the brutality of war continues.  Which is why I find watching war movies difficult.  It gets me every time.  The anger.

Yet, I got swept up in this story, which provoked admiration of the courage to keep going, no matter the danger.

Bon courage.

Which shows the quality of the cast and the restraint by director, Lydia Dean Pilcher.

If you’re sensitive to those war provoked emotions.  This one sneaks up.

Virginia Hall is the subject of three 2019 biographies. Her prosthesis, Cuthbert, is named on the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to OSS (precursor to CIA). Noor Inayat Khan was recently commemorated with Britain’s prestigious Blue Plaque.

A Christmas Gift From Bob

Rated: PGA Christmas Gift From Bob

Directed by: Charles Martin Smith

Written and Executive Produced by: Garry Jenkins

Produced by: Adam Rolston, Tracy Jarvis, Steve Jarvis, Andrew Boswell and Sunny Vohra

Starring: Luke Treadaway, Bob the Cat, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Phaldut Sharma.

Based on the autobiographical books about James Bowen and a stray cat (Bob) that befriended him on the streets of London, A Christmas Gift From Bob is the sequel to the international Indie film, A Street Cat Named Bob”

While James was homeless and addicted to heroin, the cat’s relentless affection and companionship eventually inspired James to make a go of life.

And the third book of the series, A Gift From Bob documents one of the last Christmases James and his ginger cat spent together before they became famous.

Based on this moment in time, the film opens on a glamorous premiere, launching the first book, following James (Luke Treadaway returning in his role) and Bob (starring as himself) curled around his shoulder, James wondering why he’s there.

He’s meant to write a second book – it’s expected soon and he has no idea where or how to start.

How do you continue a story of redemption once you’re off the streets?  What comes next, except wondering how to keep paying the bills and have food in the fridge?

And what happens when Animal Welfare start investigating, asking questions about James’ ability to care for his friend and companion: the cat who saved his life?

It’s all a little bit inspirational because through hardship there’s growth.

And a hell of a lot of light cheese filled with those aw, moments.  But it’s good cheese, well, absolutely pushing the Bob-the-cat: it’s from Bob, this song is about Bob, this is a card… from Bob…

Cue sweet soundtrack on repeat.

But it’s a Christmas card from Bob as he sits there on his blanket, next to James as he hands out those cards to the other characters in the story, the busker and his cat creating a community of people through their support of the pair.

It’s a movie about what Christmas means to people and how hard it can be for people who have lost their loved ones or have nothing or no one to celebrate, so the film pulls those heart strings, giving those clichéd moments meaning like, what goes around comes around.  And stronger together.

Because like Bea (Kristina Tonteri-Young ) constant friend and supporter of James says: Christmas isn’t a season, it’s feeling.

Bob has now passed.  So it’s kinda sweet to see him there on the screen for everyone to share.

Here’s what James had to say: ”Bob saved my life. It’s as simple as that. He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that I’d been missing. The success we achieved together through our books and films was miraculous. He’s met thousands of people, touched millions of lives. There’s never been a cat like him. And never will again. I feel like the light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him.”