“Cruella” is Disney’s Fashionable Update of a Classic
By Elicia Swedish, Staff Writer
“Cruella” is a movie that recently came to air on Disney Plus for free on August 27th. I’m usually not a huge fan of live-action Disney Movies because I don’t think they could ever compare to the original illustrated films. However, I loved Cruella. I was left speechless multiple times. Many plot twists will leave your jaw hanging. Scriptwriters Aline Brosh Mckenna, Danna Fox, Tony McNamara, Steve Zissis and Kelly Marcel did a superb job of making the story come together smoothly. Everything made sense, and it all connected perfectly.
Emma Stone played the lead, Cruella de Vil, did a phenomenal job of really becoming Cruella. Her manner of seriousness, tone of voice and facial expressions just really added to her character, and I don’t think anyone could have done a better job. I also really enjoyed the performance of Emma Thompson who played Baroness and Mark Strong who played John.
The costumes that were worn in the movie were one of a kind and perfectly fit the aesthetic of the film. Jenny Beavan, the costume designer, had to design 47 outfits for Cruella and 33 outfits for Baroness. She killed it. I enjoy sewing and I consider myself a “fashion-holic,” but I do not think I could have ever thought of such creative costumes. Her costumes were so breathtaking and admirable, they added more depth to the movie. Cruella de Vil wants to become a famous designer, and the costumes that Jenny Beavan designed for the movie were perfect for the plot.
The movie also perfectly aligns with the other films. As soon as you finish the movie “Cruella” you can watch the movie “101 Dalmatians.” You’ll be able to understand Cruella’s motives and why she is the way she is.
Overall, I rate this movie a 9.5/10. I enjoyed it a lot, and if you have a love for fashion or fashion design you will enjoy this movie. It’s just, “ugh, so amazing.” I am not sure how else to describe it. I suppose the beginning was a little confusing for me but as the movie went on my questions and concerns were answered.