Overview"Cruella" is a 2021 American criminal activity comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie. It's a prequel and spinoff to the initial Disney animation '101 Dalmatians.' The film unwinds the backstory of Cruella De Vil - among the most iconic Disney bad guys, and the events and influences that led her to become the fur-obsessed villain.
PlotThe film starts with Estella, a fashion-obsessed orphan, who is wonderfully wicked with a dream to end up being a fashion designer. She has a particular skill for style, an indomitable spirit, and a flair for mischief. Her hair, half black and half white, represents her duality of character. She encounters 2 thieves, Jasper and Horace, and together they survive in the London streets.
Estella lands a chance to work for the chic and intimidating fashion legend Baroness von Hellman. The Baroness's disregard for others combined with her narcissism sets off the dark side in Estella. She restores herself as the avatar of Cruella, symbolizing rebellion and bold haute couture. Concurrently, Estella reveals tricks from her past that point towards the Baroness being responsible for her mother's death.
CharactersEmma Stone as Estella/Cruella provides a remarkable performance, depicting the change from a talented but tormented soul to a cruel and significant villain with flair. Emma Thompson plays the character of Baroness von Hellman, a hoity-toity and self-absorbed fashion mogul.
Style and ThemesSet against the vibrant hard rock fashion age of 1970s London backdrop, "Cruella" is a visual reward with its striking aesthetic and stylistic wardrobes. Each outfit worn by Stone's character represents the mix of disobedience, custom, and anarchy, discreetly reflecting her progressing character dynamics. The movie checks out styles consisting of revenge, reinvention, aspiration, and identity.
Reception"Cruella" got mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the efficiencies of Stone and Thompson, the innovative outfits and the movie's stylistic technique, others slammed its lengthy runtime and disconnected story. Regardless of the blended reviews, the movie achieved success in providing a bad guy's backstory with a fresh point of view.
Conclusion"Cruella" brings a fresh twist to a tale as old as time, modifying the notorious bad guy as an enthusiastic female navigating the fierce world of haute couture on her own terms. A reimagining of a traditional narrative, "Cruella" provides a mix of drama, criminal offense, funny and an exploration of origin of the wicked Cruella De Vil and her fixation with Dalmatian furs.
Top Cast
