So after yesterdays first movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, my next film to check out was Here Today starring and directed by Billy Crystal, this is a film that I had heard people mention but to be honest, wasn’t sure about the story other than what I had read from the synopsis.
Here Today tells the story of Charlie Burnz (Crystal) who meets Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish) who is a New Your street singer after which they hit it off and become close friends, but soon Emma discovers that Charlie is keeping a secret from his family and everyone else and they form a close bond.
Much like The Father and Supernova, Here Today touches on a subject that many of us with older relatives will know about and have had or are having experience with and that the painful sight of them slowly losing their memory to one form of dementia.
The film starts out with a very comedic feel and although that does continue throughout the film there are those moments when you will be taking out the tissues to wipe away the tears as Charlie (Crystal) goes on his journey with newfound friend Emma (Haddish).
There are some wonderful moments in Here Today and the on-screen connection between Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish is lovely to watch as Emma becomes closer to Charlie as the film progresses, during the production of the film the pair became close friends and Crystal became a father figure to Haddish and much like a moment on the film, he helped her with her bat mitzvah.
There is a scene in the film that sticks in my mind as Charlie and Emma are at the Doctor’s to find out more about his condition, the tells Charlie that he will need someone to look after him and maybe it should be a family member, but Charlie knows that his son and daughter may not be the right ones after a family tragic many years before. Emma says she will look after him, in a very emotional breakdown from Charlie, Crystal puts on a powerful performance with Haddish that had me streaming in tears as it was very close to home for me, beautifully done on the screen from both actors.
It’s nice to see Crystal back on the big screen again and for me Here Today is a rather emotional movie to watch, that being said it does have many comedic moments that I laughed rather loudly to as Crystal still has that touch of great comedic timing and comebacks.
In this day of the big action movies, horror franchises and Sci-Fi, it’s so nice to see a down to earth film that touches on the emotions and doesn’t brush to one side the feelings we have about getting older or the worries that we have about fellow loved ones who may be going through the same predicaments as Crystal’s character.
Written by Billy Crystal and Alan Zweibel the story is a touching one, the film is also directed by Crystal and I have to say I really enjoy his directing work as well as his acting.
Maybe not a movie for the action junkies, but if like me you like the occasional movie that touches the heartstrings then Here Today is certainly that movie, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I really enjoyed it.
Here Today is available to Download & Keep and rent from the 22nd November 2021
Comic and Emotional
Movie title: Here Today
Movie description: When veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz meets New York street singer Emma Payge, they form an unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust.
Date published: September 7, 2021
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 33min
Director(s): Billy Crystal
Actor(s): Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Dierdre Friel
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
