IR Film Review: INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY [Lucasfilm/Disney]
The context of an Indiana Jones film, actually backed up by a quote from Steven Spielberg, is for the entire movie to have the pace of a trailer. This is a true statement but it also needs to keep within some realm of viability. "Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull" took the mantle of this a little too far. While there were some interesting moments when Mutt (Shia LeBeouf) interacted with his father, there was also swinging through the trees in the jungle bathed in CG. As a result, with the exception also of Karen Allen, there was not a whole lot of memorable progression within the story. "Indiana Jones AndThe Dial Of Destiny" fares a bit better because it both understands its subject but also embraces the aspect of who he is now (as in 1969).
While a bit of it is a nostalgia grab as one would think, it does both pay homage and offer a particular perspective. The opening, as with many Indy films, sets the stage and is in a way (and not) directly connected to the main story. The first part takes places in 1944 and uses the de-aging process on Ford (with him obviously in body for bits of it). The movement at times gives it away but the face is pretty close as is the humor. The action is reminscent of certain parts of "Raiders". The difference is that one knows that film had no CG help. The one sequence that brings the practical more to mind is a chase sequence in Morocco (which this reviewer first saw at CinemaCon]. This by far is the best practical sequence (there is one during a parade in NYC but it is less dynamic -- though obviously cost quite a bit to do). However the build of the Moroccan chase makes it almost the least consequential storywise (though it does have some in common with Indy's chase after the Ark through the desert).
The reality is that these films (no matter what they do) can never stand up to the 1st one (which is even a battle that "Last Crusade" had to endure). However, certain moments (more personal to Indiana Jones than not) is what makes this particular movie. Ford's heart seems to be here (not that it wasn't before) but at 3 key points it shines brightly: on a boat talking to his goddaughter (Phoebe Waller Bridge) in a moment of reflection, in a field of battle during a crossroads moment and then in a final moment at the end per se. In these you see the encompassing path that Indiana has lived: his life, his losses, his loves. It is poignant. While many will say that the third act moves a little too far out of the box, it still falls within the requirement of what an Indiana Jones film is. It doesn't need to explain exactly how these certain things work or happen (and in fact Indiana speaks to that at one point -- again to his goddaughter).
Waller-Bridge plays Helena Shaw with the spark of Indy when he was that age. While she still has to play 2nd fiddle to his story, one can see the connection but not the love that say Short Round had for Indy and back. One was hoping that would have been the context (even though that can still be an ode in the future -- though Ford says he would not play the adventurer again -- even in a series). While there are some plot holes and Waller-Bridge's sidekick seems almost a play at Short Round but without the inherent connection, the movie does better than "Crystal Skull". Even Mads Mikkelsen's Jurgen Voller, though very much one note with some peppering in of gray, parallels many of Indy's past villains, Mikkelsen handles his role more than adequately. Some other cameos come up and even one flashbacks shows a slightly different facade of Indy. Ultimately "Dial Of Destiny" is a more fitting swan song than "Crystal Skull" if only for perspective in many ways. B+
By Tim Wassberg
