When it was initially reported that J.K. Rowling was unveiling a fresh story—solely for the screen—that will still be anchored in the Harry Potter landscape, fans of her work were beside themselves. Based on a textbook that was seen on Harry’s desk and routinely referred to throughout the eight Potter movies. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them debuted in 2016 and introduced us to the most adorable and endearing of characters, Newt Scamander (Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne).
He was an expert in all things magical when it comes to, well… beasts. He and his pals that were introduced in that first film have returned in the sequel—out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald gets a wee bit darker than the first installment. After all, the stakes are steadily rising in this world that takes place decades before Harry was even born. The title character, played wickedly well by Johnny Depp, is a classic Rowling villain. In the hands of the esteemed thespian, by the time all five Fantastic Beasts movies have come and gone, I believe he will be seen right up there with Ralph Fiennes’ Voldemort.
Another joy that is the Crimes experience is getting to meet a Dumbledore of a younger age. Jude Law could not have been more impeccably cast as the beloved character whose sage advice and wisdom permeated every frame of the first Harry Potter films. He is central to the drama of this film, but also the remaining three that are still in the cue. Dumbledore and Grindelwald are on a collision course that leaves the fate of the Wizarding World hanging in the balance. Few authors and/or screenwriters craft backstory as rich as the author/screenwriter. The history of these two titans in the Fantastic Beasts landscape is laid out in such a manner that it never feels as if it is too much exposition (which so many films are guilty of doing). But it is delivered in a way that adds suspense, intrigue and pure drama to the entire endeavor.
Dumbledore summons Scamander to Hogwarts from his assignment in America, where we left him at the end of the first film. It seems they have it on good authority that the titular villain is in Paris. The professor wants to send Scamander to the French capital to … well, take him out. The Beasts expert brings along a few friends, the Muggle Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and of course Katherine Waterson’s witch, Tina Goldstein. Now, if you saw Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this is a truly rich situation. After all, Scamander comes off as someone who couldn’t hurt a fly. But then again, if the peace that is being enjoyed between Muggles and the Wizarding World is to keep going past the 100 years it currently sits at—well then, desperate times call for desperate measure… don’t they?
Bringing the action back to England and Hogwarts is a thrill to witness, especially with the righteous casting of Law as Dumbledore. Knowing the rich history that lies ahead for the master wizard/pure perfection professor, it is such a joy getting a window into the legendary character’s past. Law is outstanding and one can see seeds of the portrayal achieved in the Harry Potter films by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. But there is no doubt that Law makes the character uniquely his and the entire thing works and is sensationally seamless. Just one example of how effective this crazy charismatic characterization is occurs once Redmayne and Law share scenes. The chemistry is ripe, for one, and that professorial personal touch that the older Dumbledore possessed towards all his charges in Harry Potter one through seven is there in Law’s scenes with Redmayne.
Speaking of Redmayne, there is something brilliantly unique about his take on the newest Rowling-imagined unlikely hero. He is soft spoken, sure, but get in the way between him and any living thing that is threatened and his wizardry sense of justice rears its head. The actor adds layers to the role that he originated in the first film and it’s easy to see that this five-film character arc is merely getting started in these first two chapters. Where he goes next, well, the expectations could not be more palpable—especially given the luminous landscape that is all of his previous performances.
Waterson is her usual always awesome self. In many ways, she is the voice of reason in this world that is rapidly appearing to be void of it. If Grindelwald gets his way, let’s be real—Muggles don’t stand a chance and (rightfully) from where Dumbledore stands, that will benefit no one except those who embody the worst of what it means to possess the power that is wizarding.
Now Depp, he is divine. Some have said that the wickedly talented actor is on a downward slope, career-wise. I don’t see it, but his films have not done as well as they should—given the box office draw that he has been for so many years. Could not have been more excited when it was revealed that the notorious Rowling villain would be inhabited by Depp. From the moment he appeared on screen, “taking over” the role from Colin Farrell in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Him, I may have let out a little cheer. His innate gifts for finding the soul of a character and bringing depth and loquacious life to role that run the gamut on the good versus evil scale are ever present in everything he does. He appears to be reveling in joining Rowling’s Wizarding World, as he should.
This battle between Dumbledore, Scamander and Grindelwald merely starts to simmer in this second film in the Wizarding quintet of fresh films from Rowling. This second chapter, for many, may seem as if it is solely a means to an end. What I mean is this is a journey over roughly 10 hours of tale. We’re early in the process. The key to enjoying this epic arc of a myriad of characters is patience and throwing expectation to the wind and letting oneself hop on that Rowling railroad ride. This series is no storytelling sprint—it is a marathon.
Director David Yates keenly knows that fact and as such helms with an even hand that is ever-steady. The man who directed the last four Harry Potter films has a clear shorthand with the supreme leader of this universe, aka Rowling. What is so fantastic is that he is committed to film the entire series. Yates knows the Wizarding World inside and out and by the time he wraps that fifth Fantastic Beasts film, he will have crafted nine films from the imagination of Rowling. From an audience perspective, that is a gift.
In case you cannot tell from this review, I am a huge fan of Rowling and am incredibly inspired by her personal story. When it came to diving into Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’s bonus features, the first in the cue was J.K. Rowling: A World Revealed. The 10-minute featurette (which could have been longer, and I would not have minded!) finds the author and screenwriter waxing poetic about this new world she has created and although we are back at Hogwarts, how this series is a priceless opportunity to move beyond the Wizarding school. Come for the lesson in storytelling from Rowling and stay for the rich tapestry of all of her previous work that enhances and enlivens her incredible insight.
When it was revealed that Law was going to be playing the “young” Dumbledore, excitement shot through the Wizarding world exponentially. If you are like me and were thrilled with the news and was even more overjoyed once witnessing the entirety that was his performance in the latest Fantastic Beasts, you will not want to miss the featurette Distinctly Dumbledore. Law, along with Yates, longtime Potter producer David Heyman and one of the most Oscar decorated artists in the world—costume designer Colleen Atwood—discuss this younger version of the iconic character.
Wizards on Screen, Fans in Real Life shines the spotlight on two stars of the film, who are also madly in love with all-things Wizarding World. Ezra Miller (who portrays Credence Barebone) and Evanna Lynch (who tackles Luna Lovegood—yes, she’s related to you-know-who) as the camera catches them witnessing scenes from the finished film for the first time. It’s a wild concept. Wish other home video releases would include this in some manner. It would always be exciting to get that glimpse into an actor or actress seeing their work once all the effects and the like are completed. What makes this extra special is that these two thespians are so over the moon that they are even a part of this world that they have treasured since Rowling first introduced us to Harry Potter in 1997.
For those who want to pull back the curtain on the movie magic of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Unlocking Scene Secrets is a sensational featurette in six parts. It gets down to the nitty gritty on the some of the more important scenes from the entire flick. Providing the insight is practically anybody who has been mentioned in this piece, along with movie magicians, aka the VFX supervisors, Christian Manz and Tim Burke. Also chiming in are supervising art director Martin Foley and production designer Stuart Craig. Our favorite moment from the sextet of featurettes is listening to Depp, who dazzles with his elevated film IQ. One of these days, he could make a great director—should he ever want to walk off that plank!
Film grade: B
Bonus features: A+