Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | Film Review

J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World is one that is so special and creative, we are immediately transported there with a simple swish and flick. There’s no one way to surmise just how fantastic this world is, but I am here to explain to you why so many love it, why it persists, and what makes Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald so enchanting.

The Crimes of Grindelwald is a direct sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and a prequel to the beloved Harry Potter franchise. The worlds are vastly interconnected and we begin to see their ties more and more as the Beasts world progresses. In follow up to the last, after being recruited by Albus Dumbledore, we are to follow Newt Scamander, Tina, Jacob, and Company as they fight the battle against Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) – one of the most powerful wizards who seeks to dis-empower muggles (non-magic folk) by using Credence (Ezra Miller)… Once we can understand who he is, that is. Credence is one that has survived as an obscurial and contains much power, as we began to see in the first Fantastic Beasts. 

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is the epitome of the ‘good guy’. His generosity and kindness is visible in every scene, with every piece of dialogue, and every visual exchange. There’s never a moment his love isn’t noticeable, and Newt has a natural ability to have his creatures cling to his love. At times, his relationships with beasts and humans is overwhelmingly beautiful, and Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal is entirely perfect. Redmayne has a way with his eyes and expressions, a way with his mannerisms, and his presence demands nothing more than kindness. His eyes glisten with warmth and comfort, and this is exactly who Newt is. It’s something to be cherished. In Dumbledore’s words, “[he does] not seek power, nor popularity, [he] simply [asks]: is the thing right” – and what an incredibly powerful sentiment coming from the greatest of them all. This character type is perfect of a “hero’s journey”, because he makes decisions based on the greatest outcome for all and with equal love for all living beings. A message we should all take to.

I was surprised at the somewhat forgettable role Tina (Katherine Waterston) had to play in this sequel, considering she is an auror now. Tina and Newt’s dynamic, however, with much credit due to the actors but also the writing of the characters, always proves to be entertaining. Jacob (Dan Fogler) and Queenie (Alison Sudol) are also back on the screen, providing the much needed break of humor in an overall fairly murky, atmospheric film. The two remind us how far someone is willing to go for love and equality. They have a beautiful chemistry and mostly serve as the appetizer for the main course. Nonetheless, their presence is felt and impacts the viewer in a deep, emotional way. The same can be said for Zoë Kravitz’s Leta Lestrange, who executes her role wonderfully as the one who just wanted to be loved and became so angry that she was never enough. We’ve all been there, and Kravitz makes it utterly believable with her performance. 

Jude Law steps in as our young Dumbledore, attempting to fill the largest of metaphorical shoes. Try, he must, and succeed, he does. He’s incredibly convincing and does a beautiful job at positioning himself without explaining his motives. Dumbledore has always been incredibly vague and the way Law delivers this vagueness is enchanting, to say the least. We finally get to see what has motivated him all of his life to become the Headmaster we all love and adore as if he were our grandfather, and we get to splice in the relationship he and Grindelwald have. Or, rather, had, as we now see the two at a feat of battles.

Grindelwald has no quarrels about showing his evil, and we see how deep-rooted this truly is at his remarkable lack of concern for others and intense manipulation. The kind of evil that slowly seeps its way into our lives like a toxic disease, with little cure for the ailment. Depp’s performance is the only aspect of the film that felt underwhelming, which is alarming considering how much talent he generally holds on screen. A wizard THIS powerful shouldn’t be so brutally “meh” at times. I don’t see issue with the way his character was written, there were just moments his presence should have demanded more power and attention than it actually did.

David Yates, reprising his role as director, masterfully crafted his scenes, and gave an opening sequence to be remembered. It promptly immerses you in the story, with elevating depth and swift motions that take us into the moment with our characters and just as quickly, build the tension within our body. There were times when I felt my heartbeat elevate and I worried if I should have brought a nurse with me just in case. Yates ultimately knows how best to emit the tone Rowling seeks to have on display for their audience and he fits all of the pieces together like a puzzle master. Admiring the attention to detail in this film will probably make your head feel fuzzy, because they do such an impeccable job with the set and there is much to see. The design, the effects, and the layout all help you to feel completely entranced with the story.

The script is incredibly strong, and is somewhat difficult to explain while I’m ice skating around the full plot, so just know that you Wizarding World fans are in for some well-written surprises. There is enough content to keep unfamiliar muggles entertained, but even more for the ones who value the stories and lessons to be learned from Rowling herself. The pacing of the story proves to be a better match than from the first Fantastic Beasts, partly due to the overall story produced. The story was much darker, intense, and engaging than I had even hoped for. All of our characters have motivations that make sense and aren’t out of the realm of plausibility. Everything has an explanation or reason for it, even if it happens to be subtle. Yates and Rowling make for a wonderful film making-writing duo that makes me far too anxious for the next three to be released. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is one of the best in the Wizarding World Universe and you are not going to want to miss it. You will be craving the premiere of the third installment.

My final note is a love letter to J.K Rowling and the Wizarding World she has created. Not only have you crafted an immersive fantasy world, you have inspired many generations to be the best version of themselves. You have inspired young girls and women to be a Hermione; a strong, independent, loving, loyal, and smart female. You have inspired young boys and men to be a Ron; to push through any fears one may have for the end result, on just a glimmer of hope that it works out, and to take chances when they appear. You have inspired everyone to be a Harry Potter; the abused, taken advantage of, hurt, abandoned, and bullied – to be the hero. Not just for everyone else, but also for themselves. Harry, Ron, and Hermione taught us love, youth, and friendship – something that is almost impossible to capture. But this world, it did.

And now – well, now we have Newt Scamander. Newt is here to teach us about adulthood, kindness, and patience. Newt inspires us to be a little bit more considerate, a lot more kind, and admire differences. He’s a lover, not a fighter, but he will do what he thinks is right. These moral lessons are not shoved down our throat, nor are they abrasive. They happen to illustrate the kind of people we should all be and reading them in a book or seeing them on screen is what brings them to life – for all of us to aspire to. This raw display of vulnerability, acceptance, and a desire to do what is right, rather than what is most beneficial for one’s self, is one of the many reasons I have fallen in love with this universe.

Rowling, you have provided so many with a safe place to express emotions and passions. You have given millions the strength to be courageous, the desire to be welcoming, the hope for better days, and I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart – you have saved so many of us from our own entrapments because of this beautiful escape.

We will forever be grateful for what you’ve so creatively produced and generously shared. Forever waiting for my Hogwarts letter – thank you for the magic. Always.