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I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
Missed Opportunity for Netflix
It's disappointing to read that Netflix didn't continue this show. It ended on a huge cliffhanger, so it's criminal on Netflix's part to not even continue it. It had an interesting story and each episode had me wondering about what was gonna happen next, not just because of the character's super powers but also with her personal life. Yes it can be cheesy here and there, it's not at the level of other superhero shows, but it was good for what it was. Definitely above the low tier Netflix original movies that are based off some unhinged fan fictions. This actually could've been something had it been allowed to do so. Instead of making sequels to really bad films that no one asked for, Netflix should've invested in this story. It even says "most liked" on the app, like hello ?
Who knows maybe another company will pick it up and we'll see these characters again.
Sing 2 (2021)
Improvement From The First Film
I enjoyed this one more than the first one. There were different plots going on at the same time again, but it wasn't so many and they all managed to keep me interested. It was funny, heartwarming, and overall entertaining. The annoying and rude Seth Macfarlane rat didn't come back for this sequel and it made a positive difference. There's a clear antagonist in this one and he's somehow less evil than the mean spirited rat who wasn't even considered a villain in the last film. This movie's villain is just your typical greedy, corporate overlord who gets his kicks from crushing people's dreams and stealing their ideas. Once again, like the first film, I wasn't as interested in Rosita's plot (the housewife pig). Her timidness is getting the best of her again and she has to break out of it. The only thing that made me pay attention to what was going to happen to her was the introduction of Halsey's character and her outrageousness. Johnny the gorilla and Meena the elephant are still my favorite characters and I was happy to see both of them get happy endings in their respective plots. I also became a fan of the main character, Buster Moon the koala, in this film. This film does this character more justice in my opinion than the first one. The situation he's put through is very real and anyone whose been told they're "not good enough" can relate to it. It's a good real life lesson to present to kids and Illumination did a good job explaining it in a fun, entertaining way that they'll enjoy. Another favorite character is the yak played by Eric Andre, had me laughing each time he was on the screen.
A silly thing that bothered me while watching and afterwards was the fact that they left their hometown of what's obviously Los Angeles to pursue fame in Las Vegas ? I know in the film both are named something else and are just inspired by these two cities, but still... they're in the entertainment capital of the world and want to have their big break in the city where celebrities go to retire and try to revive their dimming careers ? Alrighty...then. Again, not a big thing considering it's an animated fantasy film with talking animals...but still. Found that puzzling.
It's a great family film and I recommend it for your next family movie night. Illumination redeemed themselves with this one.
Pistol (2022)
Used For 'Artistic' Purposes
I went into this not expecting much, but was actually pleasantly surprised. As I watched, I Googled the events to make sure they happened and weren't just dramatizations, and a lot of what this show depicts did, indeed, happen. What I admired most about this series was the humanization of Nancy Spungen. Yes they still present her as "nauseating Nancy" but they also show how she was very sensitive, smart, and overall a lost little girl who was just looking for love - the female counterpart of Sid. Sadly their addictions to smack got the best of them. I was of the crowd that's been calling The Pistols the boy band of the punk music and this show explains that while that's fairly accurate, it wasn't exactly like the way Backstreet Boys or One Direction were selected and formed, the young men of The Pistols were literally picked out because of their grittiness and personal issues, with the exception of Glen Matlock, and these negative aspects of them were exploited to satisfy Malcolm Mclaren's "artistic" boner.
If anyone looks bad at the end of this, it's Malcolm Mclaren and Vivienne Westwood. 2 pompous individuals who used working class young men to forefront their "revolution." They used them like toys. In terms of performances, I think most of the cast did a great job. While the actor who plays Johnny Rotten could be a bit cartoony, I felt he was better than the actor who depicted him in the Sid and Nancy film in the 80's. Plus if you ever see the real John Lydon in action, he can be pretty cartoony and over the top. The actor who played Sid Vicious was really good and got his voice and mannerisms down well. Was just as good as Gary Oldman's performance. The performances I wasn't a fan of, Malcom Mclaren and Nancy's. The former had the most annoying voice (I don't know if Mclaren sounded like that in real life) and was just overall ridiculous. This was a "cartoony" performance but in a bad way. As for Nancy Spungen's actress, she clearly took notes from Chloe Webb's performance in the Sid and Nancy film and didn't bother to watch the real Nancy in action. Nancy didn't sound like that, despite the moniker "nauseating Nancy" she had a deep voice and could express herself eloquently. Also I feel the wardrobe department could've done a better job in transforming her to Nancy. Had the episode not been named "Nancy and Sid" and the camera not suddenly focused on her, I wouldn't have thought she was Nancy.
The way it's edited is fun. They'll mix real life footage of the time it takes place in with the present day acting. It's a nice little collage effect that matches the overall aesthetic of the show.
The story is based on Steve Jones' memoir and it's his perspective on what happened. Despite this, he doesn't clean it up for himself, he shows where he messed up in the Pistols storyline and because of that I consider him a reliable narrator. I've seen John Lydon state his case and read about his complaints with the project but he's not even badly depicted in this show. If anything he's shown as the voice of reason in a lot of the situations they were put through. Especially when it comes to the shadiness of Malcolm Mclaren. If anything Lydon is proving that one of the biggest flaws Jones observed about him is on point, he's not happy if it's not all about him.
I enjoyed this show and learned a lot about The Pistols and their experience. I've been a longtime fan of the Nevermind The Bollocks album but never really explored the band behind it and dismissed them as an industry plant of their times. They truly were punks and were definitely walking, breathing examples of that movement. They were just used and exploited by a disconnected, wannabe "revolutionary" and his girlfriend. I recommend it for fans and Pistols newcomers alike.
Skins (2007)
Starts Strong but Gradually Worsens
I watched this to see if the Euphoria haters were correct in that it was a copy of this show. They're similar in several ways but they're both very different. I really enjoyed the storylines for the first generation of kids in Season 1 & 2. The second generation of kids had me for the first half of the 3rd season but then the 4th season got ridiculous, their storylines ended ridiculously and I couldn't stay entertained with the next generation of kids in the 5th season. I wished we had followed the original cast of kids to see where their lives went, but I get that they wanted to focus on the high school experience. Could not stand the character of Effie, her character is at the center of a lot of the idiocy that takes place in Seasons 3 and 4. I recommend this show either way. I could see why it's considered one of the greatest teen shows of this century, well... I believe that's only true for season 1 & 2. It shows the unpleasant realities of the teenage experience and touches on several deep topics. If the show had continued in the same steps as the first 2 seasons, the "masterpiece" and "iconic" labels this show gets would be more warranted.
Watch season 1 & 2.. feel free to skip the rest !
Girl from Nowhere (2018)
Enjoyed Season 1; Season 2 Not So Much
The first season and some episodes in the second season helped me fill the void created from a lack of Black Mirror. So if you're a fan of Black Mirror, I recommend this one. It deals solely with the high school experience of this day and age, however it's not all teenage focused stories; it shows the messiness of some of the adults involved as well. The main character is like a supernatural entity that exposes the darkness and horrors that lie within clean-cut seeming high schools. I like the way she's acted out, she's like your typical evil anime school girl from her haircut to her devilish grin when she's causing trouble.
One thing that annoyed me throughout the series was the "maniacal laugh." It was like "ok..." in the first few episodes they had her do it in but then it appears constantly throughout the series and I found it really annoying and cheesy. Maybe it's a cultural thing, I don't know, but I can do without the "maniacal laugh." The subjects most of the episodes covered were very relevant to the real world and they were executed pretty well. However, some episodes aren't done that well. I found myself thinking this a lot in the second season. One episode that they were obviously trying to go the artsy, Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List", route with was the one about the authoritarian school. It's done in black & white and the only color we see is Yuri's red ribbon and Nanno's lipstick when she puts some on to defy the school's rules. They were so focused on the artistic presentation that I felt the story slipped through the cracks. I was bored for almost that entire episode and couldn't wait for it to be over.
The introduction of the Yuri character in the second season was something I eventually got annoyed with as well. We get glimpses of her for the first half of the second season and then she gets an episode of her own. She was interesting at first and her episode was good. When she appears in the next episode and we learn that Nanno revived her so she could become an evil entity too, I kind of started to lose interest and wished they didn't create that storyline. Yuri ruined most of the following episodes because she kept tampering with Nanno's plans. Her tampering didn't add anything good to the episodes either, with the exception of the final episode with the mother and daughter - thanks to Yuri we learn the daughter's side of the story. She ruined the "Jennix" episode, that's a storyline that had promise but then got tangled when Yuri got involved.
At this point, I kind of wouldn't want a third season. I liked when Nanno was the only one causing trouble and exposing things. Her final words in the last episode where she says something about no longer needing to be around since humans can be pretty evil all on their own, I feel that's a great note to end the series on. I wouldn't want to see this show without her and have Yuri take over - I'm not a fan of Yuri, she's not as smart as Nanno and is more focused on creating blood baths than exposing the darkness in humans like Nanno was.
To summarize, I enjoyed season 1 more than season 2. There were some great episodes in season 2, but I liked the direction the series went in season 1 more than season 2. Had the show stayed the way it was in season 1, I would've given it one more star. It's not at 10 stars because it can be cheesy in a lot of ways and they insist on having Nanno do that annoying "maniacal laugh", but if you're a fan of dark shows that explore the unpleasant parts of the human experience, then this is a good show for you. I also recommend it to horror fanatics since there's plenty of gore and supernatural elements.
Great idea, just wish it stayed as good as it was in Season 1. Just Nanno visiting different schools and exposing whatever effed up crap is going on there.
The Rachel Divide (2018)
What Happens When Trauma Isn't Properly Addressed
Throughout the first half of the documentary, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it because it felt like they were only going to share her side of the story and push the audience to feel sorry for her. The only time I felt any sympathy for her was when she reveals her upbringing and how awful her actual parents were to her. However, this terrible childhood experience was no valid reason for her to decide that she wants to be Black. She states her case throughout the documentary about why she insists on identifying as Black - she believes race is a social construct and there is only one race, the human race. Well the second part is technically true, but ethnicity is not something you can change just cos you feel like it. The experience that comes with being a certain ethnicity - whether that be Asian, Latino, Black is unique to these communities. It's wonderful to share customs with one another and it's nice to see people of other ethnicities immerse themselves into a culture (respectfully) but to go as far as to say you will now identify as that ethnicity ? That's not how it works. The fact that she doubles down on it rather than accept that she messed up makes it easy to lose patience with her.
I was happy that we got to hear her sons explain their case and how the mess she caused affected them. I feel so bad for these young men. People really should not be attacking them for their mother's mistakes. The tweets that were sent to Isaiah when she posted that they had toured Howard University... c'mon people, your problem is with her, not him. The tweets that were directed to her newborn baby ! I hate the internet sometimes, too many terrible people that should not have access to a computer or keyboard. It's very selfish of her to have dragged these young men down with her. When they're trying to tell her how they want out and how her actions have impacted their lives, she doesn't listen and starts crying as if she's a victim. She may have been a victim to unloving, batshit insane parents, and possibly to that disgusting predator brother - but she's not the victim in the public humiliation she faced. That was a situation she created all on her own.
As my title to this review states, this documentary is actually a good view into what happens when trauma isn't properly processed or taken care of. I can see why she got so immersed into the Black/African American culture, she really wanted to distance herself as much as possible from her awful family. She got to see firsthand how her family mistreated the Black children they had adopted, so I'm sure that made her detest her "whiteness" even more. She was mistreated by her parents too, which is why she felt she related more to the Black children and eventually... the whole Black community. I believe if she looked for professional help before it got out of hand, she could've understood that she could advocate for and support the Black community as a White woman and she still would've been welcomed. Now she has to deal with the consequences of a mess that she, herself, made. I really hope that she has a wake up call someday and accepts the proper assistance to help her process her trauma. I hope her sons' lives have improved and have been able to distance themselves from the mess. I also hope that her adopted sister gets justice and that predatory brother gets what's coming to him.
Soupçons (2004)
Is this a joke ?
I gave it 6 stars because in terms of introducing the audience to the story and what happened, it was great. It's edited nicely, the score matches the somber situation perfectly, we hear the point of views of different important people involved - But even with the latter this is such a biased documentary favoring Mr. Petersen. I continued watching the second trial that takes place 10 years later because I'm sick and it's something to do but even with that, you can't convince me for a second that this man didn't kill his wife. Absolutely no way did she fall down those stairs and receive that much fatal damage, absolutely not. I understand that the prosecution messed up in the first trial by having a shady guy testify and check out the evidence - I think it's good that they show these loopholes and hiccups in the justice systems. However, the man ending up in jail is what needed to happen, what needs to happen again. He mentions how he wasn't even listening in the first trial when the man described the possible scene of him bashing his wife in the head and that's suspicious to me alone. Like someone who was innocent would listen and have an appalled look on their face to hear that they would do such a thing, the fact that he zoned out and then acts mortified in the second trial to the same account - please. He just knew this time he has a better shot so played it all up.
The family is in denial and I won't come for them. No one wants to believe someone they loved and trusted would do such an atrocious thing. I felt bad seeing the daughters cry but sorry ladies, your dad is guilty. At some point you need to accept the reality that your loved one is a murderer. All the evidence and the crazy coincidence that a woman he was close to (possibly having an affair with) died the same way, 2 decades prior. There's so much that adds up to him being the murderer. I get that the defense lawyer is doing this to exploit the flaws in the justice system but I believe that even he doesn't believe the guy is innocent by a comment he makes about "not guilty" vs the "not proven" statement they use in the Scottish judicial system. His comment told me loud and clear he doesn't think the guy is innocent but he wants a fair trial. Messed up.
The man's demeanor too. He's a raging narcissist. Watch him talk and express himself, he's so into himself. Ted Bundy vibes but slightly less psychotic and a little more subtle. The scene where they're reading something he wrote in a book, even if he was writing a fiction, given what's gone on in his real life (before Kathleen "fell" down those stairs) how could you take that type of writing and think this man is innocent ? The guys a murderer. Maybe if he had been allowed to be Bisexual in peace he wouldn't have to have succumb to this. Durham, North Carolina isn't exactly an LGBTQ+ friendly town, much less at the time of this murder. While his closet sexuality plays a part in why he more than likely killed Kathleen, it doesn't make him a bad person. It's his murderous and narcissistic tendencies that make him a bad person. This man will find himself in jail again, here's hoping and if it's not for Kathleen and the other woman's deaths, it will prolly be for something stupid but at least he will be behind bars where he belongs.
Also couldn't tolerate that woman they visited with glasses who spoke in an exaggerated voice, she was friends with Mr. Petersen and Kathleen since Germany and then was there to wish one of the daughters a happy 30th birthday in the second part - of course her birthday wish was exaggerated and annoying. What an annoying woman, I'm suppose to see her talk on this guy's behalf and believe her ? She looks just as nuts and self absorbed. What a mess this whole situation is.
It's an interesting watch, slow and dragging in some parts and a Mr. Petersen fan film. Watch this with a good head on your shoulders, don't let them convince you the guy is a harmless angel. Use your common sense and watch him, nothing innocent about him.
Turning Red (2022)
Complexities Presented in a Simple Manner
I've watched this movie twice. I really enjoyed it. It's cute, it's funny, it's heartwarming. It tackles grown up realizations in a child friendly way. Lately Disney and Pixar have been making films that focus on the subject of mental health, breaking generational curses/trauma, you know ~deep~ subjects. This one tackles these subjects in a lighthearted way. The main character, Mei and her friends, are your regular pre-teen or early teenage girls. They're awkward, they're dramatic (in a cutesy way), and they're childish. This is one of the few times I've seen teenagers depicted as they really are. Even the way they've been designed, they're not super models like a lot of the teenage Disney princesses have previously looked - they look like what they are, children.
I know a big stink that was made over this film was the subject of menstruation being openly discussed. I don't see an issue with that at all, it's not done in a disrespectful way. It's shown as a normal exchange between the mom and daughter. Mind you, Mei is in her "red panda" state when the conversation happens but the way the mom assumes Mei has gotten her period and brings out all the necessary supplies for this important moment in every young girls' lives is refreshing to see on screen - especially in an animated film for kids. All young girls should know that this will one day happen to them from a very young age so that when it happens they're not panicked or feel ashamed. The people who are clutching their pearls over this, shame on you.
Ultimately, it's a coming of age film that shows Mei departing from the ideal version her mom wants her to be and becoming her own person. Obviously the mom doesn't take this lightly, neither do the other women in her family and this is how they tackle the breaking of generational curses/trauma. Her deciding to keep her red panda transformation as opposed to ridding herself of it like the other women in her family did is how she breaks the curse at the end. The ancestor who gave them this is as a gift is thrilled when Mei makes this decision. Throughout the film we get hints about how the mom struggled with the pressures put on her by her own mother, the same pressure she puts on Mei. It's finally explored when the dad has a heart to heart with Mei and when Mei is in the trance state where they see their ancestor to either keep or rid themselves of the red panda gift. I like the way this movie explores this subject that many kids experience in their upbringing.
Even though this film is from an Asian Canadian perspective, I as a Latina American recognized myself in this film and my similar experience growing up in a family that has a long past of trauma and insane pressures. I too was a cringe, awkward teenager too just trying to be myself despite it being against my family's wishes. My grandma was also as mad strict as Mei's mom. Those embarrassing moments she experiences with her mom reminded me too much of my grandma. I know I've seen people give the critique that they don't believe a parent could ever behave like that and embarrass their child in that way, I think most of us who grew up in ethnic families can all agree and say that YES! There are parents who behave this way. Coco depicted this too with Mexican grandmas, but I guess this one left people more shocked cos the mom mentions pads loudly at Mei's school in front of her peers. Domee Shi (the director of the film) did such a good job of showing what it's like to have strict, embarrassing parents - the scene at the liquor store with the boy Mei finds attractive gave me secondhand embarrassment and flashbacks from embarrassing moments of my teenage days. It's all done in such an authentic way and that's one of the big reasons I enjoyed this film as much as I did. It's simplicity and authenticity.
I loved this film. It was clearly done with so much love. It's obvious director drew from her personal experience and I'm glad she did because that's what helps give this film the authentic feel it has. Not a lot of shows or films can accomplish this when exploring the subjects this film explore. I also appreciated the influences from late 90's and early 2000's animes like Sailor Moon and Inuyasha. Both were favorites from my upbringing as well.
Domee Shi and Pixar thank you for creating a film for us ex cringe teenage girls that broke generational curses all on our own. Safe to say, we all definitely feel seen and appreciated thanks to this film.
The Girl from Plainville (2022)
Long and Dull
I had to restart episodes for this so many times because each time I would fall asleep mid episode. There was no need for this to be 8 or 9 episodes long. This could've been done after 3 episodes, perhaps could've even just been a documentary. This was a real tragedy that took place. The titular girl, she has some serious psychological issues and unlike others who watched the show, I don't think they try to make her likable in the show - if anything she became worst and worst as the show went on. I'm not sure what went wrong there and why this girl (now woman) is the way she is. One can only hope she's on a healing path and not on the way to wreak more havoc in peoples' lives. The way they depict the deceased, he comes off unlikeable too, sorry to say. Maybe it's the way he was acted out. I know they're showing how a severely depressed teenager with different diagnosed mental illnesses acts, but it just felt unnatural. Like he's trying really hard to come off as that edgy, messed up "no one can help me" teenager, and to me that's what made him unlikeable. Chloë Sevigny as the deceased's mom did a great job. She seems natural in her role, prolly one of the only good things in this series, sorry to say.
Somewhere in the middle of the series they take an artistic approach of showing the "couple" together while texting. I can appreciate that in an artistic sense but it seemed as a filler device in many ways cos the conversations they were having before they reach the critical one didn't contribute anything new to what we already established from the first two episodes. Honestly, the show could've been done after the first two episodes. We just get a repeat of everything from there as the show goes on. It's unbearably slow. There's no real exploration as to why both teenagers are/were mentally messed up. If mental health awareness was the real point of this being made then this is something that should have been explored and shown.
In summary, just Google the case or look up YouTube videos on it and spare yourself the time of watching this.
The House (2022)
Creepily Captivating
This was an interesting and captivating watch on Netflix. It's 3 different tenants, in 3 different eras who are all linked by the same cursed house. The house seems to manifest all the worst nightmares of the owners, but tries teaching them the error of their ways in the process. I, personally, enjoyed all 3 of the stories - although I did find the last story to be the weakest one. I know it had something to do with letting go and finding happiness in the small, everyday things; but the way it was executed, could've been better. The fact that these are stop motion felt dolls made the film even creepier, especially in the first story about the human family. If you watch and listen closely, hints of the different stories are present in all 3. For example in the second chapter with Jarvis Cocker rat, when he throws the Open House party, a guest arrives with a baby named Isabel - hinting at the first story where there was also a baby named Isabel. The overall writing and creativity for this project are great. Each story is unique and really differentiates itself from the other - the only common thing being the spooky house. This is a wonderful modern day gothic tale and I recommend it to anyone who has a taste for spooky, mind-bending stories.
tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)
The Life of a True Artist
This film is quite an experience. RENT is my favorite musical but I had never looked into who created it. Watching this film has helped me make connections between Larson's life and the masterpiece he left behind. Listening to "One Song Glory" will never be the same. This project was done with so much love and respect to it's subject and it shows. Lin-Manuel Miranda transports us into Larson's world and creative process. The way the scenes from Larson's real life and his stage performance are intertwined - it's done so perfectly and flows so wonderfully. It perfectly matches the natural artistic energy Jonathan Larson had. One scene in particular that perfectly captures the creative process was when Larson goes to the local swimming pool to help clear his mind. As he swims laps back and forth in the pool, thoughts cross his mind that eventually give him that creative breakthrough he was looking for. I think any creative individual will relate to that scene and how everyone needs that thing that helps them unwind in order to give them that spark of creativity that's sometimes hard to find. The way Andrew Garfield acts it out, the way it's filmed and the visual effects that were added - it's a wonderful scene; one of many in this film.
Andrew Garfield's performance is phenomenal. Hands down one of the best performances I've seen in 2021, perhaps the best of all the ones I've seen. He really transformed himself into Jonathan Larson, not just physically but in spirit. Every emotion that Larson is meant to have Andrew Garfield expresses them beautifully - both in acting and in song. I hope he's awarded for this performance, he deserves it. Truly did Jonathan Larson justice. In fact, I hope this film gets recognized as a whole. It's telling a wonderful true story of someone who deserves to have more recognition than he already has and it's done in a very touching and creative way - the way I'm sure Larson would have liked it.
Even if you're not a fan of musicals or they make you feel awkward, I highly recommend this film. The songs are not cringe at all, they're biographical and help tell this wonderful artists' story. Definitely one of the best films from 2021 and I hope it's awarded accordingly.
The Tender Bar (2021)
Has an Actual Story to Tell
If you're looking for a 70's themed coming-of-age film that is telling a story that's worth your time, don't look to Licorice Pizza, watch this film instead. It's based on a the true story of writer, JR Maguire, and it's a story that really hit close to home for me. A lot of films on the subject of "parent issues" have been made in recent years, but none of them have brought to the table what this story did. The way he finishes the chapter with his father is not exactly a "happy ending" but it is how life goes for some of us and it was something that had to be done for his peace of mind. The father figures he finds in his grandfather, his uncle, and the men who frequent his uncle's bar help make him the man he grows up to be - though imperfect a good, intelligent man with a good heart.
The movie goes between his childhood self and his young adult self going to Yale and experiencing life for himself, but keeping the lessons his uncle and friends taught him handy to help him navigate life. Unlike Licorice Pizza, the vignettes shown in this film are relevant to the overall story. Each moment shown evokes different emotions from the viewer and helps you understand not only the protagonist but everyone around him as well. Needless to say, the writing in this film was very good. The story was never lost and was solid throughout the entire film. A lot of film in the "awards circuit" lack this because they're too focused on being weird and different enough since that seems to be the winning formula for Oscar baiting.
Unsurprising to no one, Christopher Lloyd is great as the grumpy but softhearted grandpa. But the performance that seems to have left everyone pleasantly surprised, including myself, is Ben Affleck. He does a great job as the street/book smart Uncle Charlie. I didn't see Ben Affleck (as himself) throughout the film, he really got into character and it was a lovable character too. I saw another review claiming this film was a self aggrandizing project and that couldn't be further from the truth. This film is about real people and depicts a very real life situation that will resonate with more families than Hollywood realizes. Of course not everyone gets into Yale, but it acknowledges that going to college just helps create more opportunities for oneself and if you're growing up with a single parent - it helps them feel good about themselves. Uncle Charlie had the knowledge of a college graduate without ever having to go to college. Its stories like this, that relate with the general audiences, that Hollywood should make more of. There was no need to have an all "big name" cast like Licorice Pizza and the God awful Don't Look Up did - amazing what can be accomplished when a story is actually present.
Great job George Clooney and thanks for not making a disconnected, Oscar baity film but rather bringing a relatable, everyday story to the screen and really presenting the beauty of it. Highly recommend this film, it's a breath of fresh air.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Relatively Enjoyable... But That Age Gap Though
It's ultimately a love story film. A love story between two characters and a love note to the San Fernando Valley (the wealthy part) in the 1970's. I liked the whole 1970's aesthetic, it's kooky, some of the shots were nice, it has its funny moments. The movie can be a good time, if you forget that you're watching the love story between a 25 year old woman and a 15 year old boy. Now I love both of the main actor's performances and maybe I could've let myself enjoy it a lot more if the male was 18 instead of 15 - a 10 year age gap would've been acceptable if she was 35 and he was the 25 year old - but why a literal child and a grown woman. I've seen so much different readings about this decision online, some people want to believe the director is making some "deep" point in going with this age gap, because the 15 year old seems to be more mature than his 25 year old counterpart. However that reading doesn't work because there are many instances throughout the film where she realizes how immature he is. There's the argument that if the roles were switched, people wouldn't be bringing the age gap up as a problem and that's a big fat lie. If it was a 25 year old man and a 15 year old girl, the movie would not be regarded as a "quirky. Indie. Masterpiece." It would've been cancelled before it started. There's the reading that the director is making a point about how normalized the relationship between an adult and a child was back in the 70's. That's possible, but it's disturbing nonetheless.
Mind you, nothing sexual happens, unless you count when she flashes him or he feels her breast, but they have a weird dynamic that they really shouldn't have. I get that she's an inexperienced, self conscious adult who enjoys getting this type of attention from a charismatic, super confident 15 year old boy - but their connection should not have happened, regardless. She messes with him a lot and gets upset when he starts looking at other girls (his age.) I was actually happy when he started flirting with girls his age and possibly moving on with the one girl in particular and was hoping this was the beginning of this little "romance" dissolving and the film addressing how it's not okay for them to be together, but nope. They stay together and will stay together for the rest of the film, while no one bats an eye about it. Alana's character is actually very interesting to follow, her relationship with her family and her relationship with herself. It shows her go from a teenage boy to a much older man in one scene. She's very lost and I would've loved to continue exploring her character on her own and not have her ended up with the 15 year old but rather explore why she'd even consider this relationship in the first place and why is she so aimless ?
I'm not going to lie and say I didn't like the film because I did, I just can't ignore that age gap. I'm not sure why critics and a lot of movie goers are ignoring it too and trying to justify it with all kinds of "creative" explanations. It wasn't okay and it's concerning how people are ignoring it for the sake of "good indie film" thinking. Think it would've been much better if they didn't end up together and addressed how wrong their connection is... wanna keep the sweet factor ? Have her tell him she'll wait for him when he turns 18. I mean there were ways to go about this, but the director chose this ??? It's not artsy or deep, it's wrong. C'mon now.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Oscar Acceptance Speech - The Movie
!- Not a "too political, they hurt my party's feelings !" complaint. This is simply a review, what this site is intended for. - !
I'm a fan of dark comedy. When done right, they're smart and very entertaining to watch. They leave you thinking about what you just watched and thinking about how it applies to the crappy parts of life. This film, however, didn't hit any of those points. I'll admit Jonah Hill got me laughing in some parts because he's great at what he does, that's the case with Leo DeCaprio too. These two were the only performances I could tolerate throughout the entire thing. Leo deserves a Oscar nom for this and he's the only thing about this that deserves any Oscar hype. The writing was God awful and so preachy. Let me tell you what this entire film is, a 2 hour long Oscar Acceptance Speech. We remember how fun those are right ? I get the message it's conveying about the very crazy reality we're living in and how there are some people who refuse to acknowledge reality all fueled by the greedy powers that be who are using people's tragedies as political strategies. Yes, this is real. But the writing on this film... it is one big smug, self absorbed project.
I can tell when the writer, director, maybe both were making this, they were so up their own arse that they really thought they were making THE movie of this generation that highlights the current situation. The jokes are cringe, you got Ariana Grande playing an exaggerated version of herself and she sings that stupid song in the middle of the film with "edgy" lyrics that made me cringe even more. You've got Jennifer Lawrence playing the same role she plays in every movie, but "lol isn't she like so relatable ??." Meryl Streep (Oscar Queen) is playing an exaggerated female (Democrat ?) Trump - was not a fan of her performance and I dislike Trump as much as the next sane person. Majority of these people just played themselves. The "cool rich people" Jonah Hill's character goes on about near the end of the film, how self aware, because that's everyone in this film and wouldn't surprise me that's how they view themselves while pretending to care and sympathize with average people's REAL LIFE experiences in the middle of this madness.
The people praising this film for "being so smart omg" are the same people who keep voting blindly - in other words vote for what they think is progressive but really isn't. They're as blind and dumb as the people this movie parodies. Whole Foods Democrats I like to call them. Nothing smart or new was said in this film, it's like pre-k Hollywood nihilism for boomers, they're seeing this for the first time and being like "omg how smart we're so insignificant in the grand scheme of things." Something the younger generations they've dumped on have been saying for years. This is just Hollywood showing how disconnected they are from the working class people, a.k.a, their audience. Read the room, Hollywood, please.
I'm all for the message that this film was trying to convey. The view on the society we're living in. Yes that's accurate. Which is why I give it 6 stars. That, Leo, Jonah, and Ron Perlman are the saving graces of this film. Leo, especially. Probably because Leo has cared about important social causes before it was trendy on social media. That's why he gives a realistic performance and really got into his role. He isn't perfect but he's the only one that actually gives an f and has been giving one for years since before Trump inspired celebrities to pretend they care about politics and actual change. He wasn't cringe at all, he played a character the way an actor should. The rest played themselves, as far as I'm concerned. "Omg how funny they're self aware, celebs they're just like us hahaha"
I guess it was only a matter of time until some director jumped on the opportunity to make a movie about the current state of things, I admit it is very cinematic worthy. But the way this director approached it, it wasn't even funny though it tried so hard to be (with the exception of Jonah Hill and Ron Perlman'a performances) it wasn't smart, it was a big pat on their own backs for participating in what they thought would be something SO relatable and real and edgy. Give us a break Hollywood. Left, Right, Center - whatever side of the political compass anyone falls on. We've done noticed this BS before the pandemic happened, you don't get it and you never will.
If you watch, just watch for Leo's performance. Watch videos of the "preachy" Oscar speeches from the past and you'll have seen this movie.
Being the Ricardos (2021)
A Great Look at The History of 'I Love Lucy'
I really liked this film and despite taking a lot of liberties with the actual timeline of the events this film recreates, it touches all the important bases in regards to what went on behind the scenes of 'I Love Lucy.' From Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's deteriorating marriage to Vivian Vance and William Frawley's mutual frustration with one another, the film manages to include all the significant factors that fuel both the infamy of the beloved 50's sitcom and the protagonist couple.
Nicole Kidman does a phenomenal job in her role as Lucille Ball/Lucy Ricardo. Yes there were moments where she looked more like a spooky doll than a person, particularly when she was supposed to be playing Lucy in a pensive state, but for the most part she ate this role up. She got the voice down, Lucy's mannerism's, you can tell she did her research on the woman. I have no idea why there's people bashing her performance in this review section, I can only assume they've never seen the real Lucille Ball in action or ever watched 'I Love Lucy' for that matter. Nicole Kidman deserves some recognition this upcoming award season, she's given one of the best biopic performances in recent years. Javier Bardem on the other hand, he's great but it was hard for me to see him as Desi Arnaz/Ricky Ricardo. Apart from not looking the part at all, he doesn't sound like it either and didn't really make a Cuban accent either (both in English and Spanish). He does give a great performance but I wasn't convinced he was playing Desi Arnaz. I liked his interpretations of the famous musical numbers Arnaz would do with his band, but it's like I was watching a different character rather than the real person he was supposed to be playing. This was an odd casting choice in my opinion, he looks older than Nicole Kidman's Lucille Ball and in real life you could tell the age difference between the pair. There were some shots where from a distance he does look like Desi Arnaz for a moment but as the camera gets closer and he begins speaking, the illusion is gone.
J. K. Simmons does fantastic as William Frawley/ Fred. He sounds like him, he looked like him, he was funny, another home-run with the casting. I've seen the complaints of the casting choice for Vivian Vance/Ethel. The biggest one being that the actress was too young to be playing this character. While watching the film I felt the same way until you look up how much older Vivian Vance was than Lucille Ball, there was only a 2 year difference. The director was making a point with this casting choice, evident in the scene where Vivian confronts Lucy about her wanting Vance to stop her diet and the real reasons behind Ball wanting that. The actress playing Vivian Vance/Ethel does a great job as well, she really got the facial expressions Vance would make down and when it came to bringing Ethel back to life, she shined. The rest of the cast is great too, especially the ones playing the writers of the show.
As mentioned before, all the important points from the Arnaz's and "I Love Lucy's" history are shown in the film. I think it was interesting to show all these important events taking place in the span of a week. The decision to make one of the least iconic episodes the one being filmed while this fictional chaotic week takes place was artistically smart because it perfectly mirrors the reality of Lucille Ball's and Desi Arnaz's marriage. Showing Lucille Ball's difficult perfectionist streak in regards to the dinner scene of this episode not only introduces the audience to the real Lucille Ball's personality but also alludes to how hard she was trying to keep her matrimony alive. The way it shows Desi Arnaz's business savvy side and how he was the one that got CBS to allow Ball's pregnancy to be included in the show was great too. This is a side to Arnaz that doesn't get talked about much, as he's always remembered as Lucy's charming, womanizing husband. While Lucille Ball is always remembered as the cultural/comedic pioneer. I'm glad the film touched on how the show's success and groundbreaking achievements really was out of teamwork.
All in all, I feel the film does it's real life subjects' justice, even with the odd casting choice for Desi Arnaz. The artistic liberties that were taken do not hinder the real events it's showing. It deserves to be recognized this award season. I highly recommend it, especially if you're a fan of 'I Love Lucy' and Old Hollywood history.
Passing (2021)
Looks and Feels Like a Film From the 30's
Both leading ladies in this film were excellent in their respective roles. Their performances helped create that old Hollywood film vibe throughout the movie. Many different films and shows try recreating this but don't quite succeed at it like this film did, not even 2011's The Artist. I could easily believe this is a film from the 30's had I not recognized Tessa Thompson. Ruth Negga is wonderful as Clare, she really gave that role her all. As mentioned at the beginning, both ladies are great and have wonderful chemistry. The movie is visually stunning, it's cinematographically beautiful. It really transports you back to the 20's - however I say that it feels more like a film from the 30's because they're talking.
Now as pretty as the film is and as great as the leading ladies are, the film falls flat in some ways. What I think went wrong is that there was an assumption that everyone in the audience has read the book and therefore understands all the minor but major elements included in the film. This did an injustice to the film cos by the time we reach the end, there's a confusion as to why things happened the way they did. They made it obvious that there was possibly a romantic link between the two main characters, but it wasn't ever clear. We jump from issue to issue with these characters' connection and it's confusing as to what else is Irene's issue with Clare. It's understood that Irene suspects her husband is attracted to Clare and possibly messing around with her ? But it all comes randomly. I mean Irene practically pushes Clare onto her husband. Perhaps if I read the book I'd understand what's going on better, but I was new to this story as I watched and Irene's changing attitude towards Clare threw me off. Like other reviewers, I also had to rewind Clare's death scene to catch what happened. I'm not sure if the book is written in a way where you're left wondering how Clare fell off that balcony but this film shows that Irene pushed her off. I was confused as to why people at the party acted like they didn't know what happened, when Irene's hand is clearly shown pushing her back...but anyway.
I still enjoyed the film. It's a very good subject matter that is still relevant today, not only within the Black community but within other minorities as well. The exploration of both women's approach to being "passing" Black women in a very racist time was very nicely done. I still would recommend giving it a watch because it is like a modern old school film.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The Most Fun I've had in Theaters
This is going to be remembered as one of the greatest films from this decade. It won't be sweeping the Oscars but it will be beloved by the public for generations to come. It was definitely worth the wait. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I'm one of the people with Marvel fatigue. I'm fed up with Marvel's pop culture takeover and their churning out films every single year. But even I enjoyed this film.
They really use the element of nostalgia to keep the audience's attention, but it's done so in a fun and entertaining way. I was of the generation that grew up with Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man so my inner child was really happy to see him, Alfred Molina, and Willem Defoe back on the screen. Andrew Garfield had his redeeming moment in this film, after being labeled the "worst Spider-Man" by many movie goers and fans. The movie even pokes fun at this in one of the scenes and has the first cinematic Peter Parker, Tobey Maguire, tell him that he was indeed "amazing." I really enjoyed that scene. The action scenes are great, the final battle at the end is epic and the emotional scenes tug at your heartstrings.
It had a couple of similar moments to The Spiderverse animated film that was released a couple years ago. I don't think they could really do it any other way though. One scene that was straight from the Spiderverse film was when the other two Spider-Man's are telling Tom Holland Spider-Man how they also lost someone special in their timelines. It's not identical but it is similar. Into The Spiderverse is my #1 favorite Spider-Man film but this one is now my second. Plus they hinted at the future inclusion of Miles Morales when electro said some dialogue that asked if there's a Black Spider-Man somewhere out there.
I highly recommend going to see this film while it's still in theaters. It's a really fun experience. Great job to everyone involved in this project. I can tell they had fun making it and the result is fantastic.
Midsommar (2019)
Gorgeous and Terrifying
I had never heard of "folk horror" until I watched this film. The film is very visually pleasing, given the lovely setting (which was actually in Hungary rather than Sweden) and the costumes that were used had a stunning simplicity to them. Also the way the bodies of the sacrifice victims were set up, though disturbing was artistic. That's part of the kookiness with this film, it's pretty but horrifying. You see one of the characters suspended in the air with his back torn open and all the guts out for chickens to feast on, but then see that his eyes have been poked out and replaced with sunflowers. This scene was a perfect example of the scary and pretty factor throughout the whole film. The gore is pretty intense in this film, it comes out of nowhere too. So if this is something that you can't handle, I wouldn't recommend this film.
The acting is good, Florence Pugh is very natural and perfect for the role. She does a great job playing this character with serious emotional baggage and that transition from weeping to the twisted smile at the end, will be cult iconic for decades to come. Jack Reynor does great as well as the confused but fed up boyfriend who can't handle her emotional drama anymore and who naively goes along with everything during this nightmare trip. He and Pugh have great onscreen chemistry, so the audience can feel the crashing of their relationship. The rest of the cast are great as well. None of the performances were hard or cringey to watch, which is rare for a horror film. But the fact that the acting is on point is prolly why the horror scenes are even more disturbing, along with the floral/earthy aesthetic. I liked how they accurately used Scandinavian runes, if you're familiar with them you'll see how the symbols chosen foreshadow events that are to come or hint to what's really going on with this creepy cult. Occult elements like this are popular to use in media lately but the team behind this film did their research and accurately integrated them into the story and film.
The "heavy" scenes can be a lot. The scene where Christian is drugged and forced to have sex with one of the girls from the commune, a girl who had her eye on him since he arrived. That has to be one of the weirdest and unsettling scenes I've seen in cinema. However it is both haunting and thought provoking because at the end where Christian meets his fire-y fate, you're left wondering whether he deserved that or not. I'm of the crowd that thinks it's tragic regardless what's going on between Dani and him. Christian didn't cheat out of his own volition, he was drugged and forced. Others have different points of view about the situation, but see how that's how you know a movie is really good. When it leaves you thinking about the events you've just watched and whether or not you agree with the end result.
For me the film is a 10/10. If you're looking for a weird film to watch and can stomach some pretty intense gorey scenes, give this one a watch. It's definitely a film everyone should see at some point.
Invincible (2021)
Very Cool and Suspenseful
Disclaimer: I've never read the comics so this story was completely new to me. My review is entirely based on the show and how it approaches this story.
If you like The Boys, you will like Invincible. This was a happy surprise for me. I had seen the hype it was getting on social media but wasn't sure if it was something I'd be into. I finished this show in a day. Way too good, could not stop watching. I just wanted to know what would happen next and get the answer to why the big event at the beginning happened. Now mind you, it turned out to be exactly what I thought it was (the story, who the villain is, etc.) but even so the journey to getting this mystery solved was very entertaining and wild. I still have Marvel fatigue and I don't see that healing anytime soon given Marvel's control of the movie world, so it's good to watch stories like this one that aren't in the typical superhero fashion and don't go overboard to be edgy like Deadpool, but rather tell stories that make sense and fit with the crazy world we're living in. All the characters had traits that made them unique and entertaining. This is one of very few shows where there is not a character I didn't like. Even the villain, obviously I don't want him to win, but the way he's written - he's funny. He's an actual villain, he is technically a twist villain; a trope that's being used to death lately in films and television. But the way this one is done, there's a lot more at stake with him being the villain. It's more complex than Star Lord's planet dad turning out to be a villain. The writing on this show is great, the voice acting is great. It's done in a mix of 2D animation with some 3D effects tossed in. Feels like a show I could've watched on regular TV as a kid.
I highly recommend this one. One of the best shows that's come out this year. Excited for season 2 !
Spencer (2021)
Ugh
Given all the glowing reviews this is getting, it's award winnings from the Summer film festivals, and the hype around Kristen Stewart's performance - I really thought I was going to like this one and that everyone else was right. Turns out they were all absolutely wrong and this film was clearly funded by the royal family in some way.
From the beginning of the film, they make it clear that it's a "fabled" version of a true tragedy and that's the only justice they will do to Diana as the film goes on. It's one, long, pretentious, self aggrandizing project that is very hard to watch for anyone who has any sense of what makes a good film... well... good. Don't get me wrong, it has some good shots in it, like around the beginning when Diana is driving into the holiday estate. Timothy Spall (as usual) delivers a fantastic performance. If anyone should get an Oscar nod from this, it should be the cinematographer and Timothy Spall.
Kristen Stewart on the other hand, awful. I'm not someone who bashes her constantly over the Twilight films, she can do good when needed and she has her flops too. She's a great Joan Jett, but she's no Diana. I have no idea who in the world coached her on becoming Diana. Who in the world told her Diana sounded like an English Batman ? The entire time she does this tilt with her head, keeps looking down and this is suppose to be Diana. Not to mention her English accent is really bad. If Kristen Stewart was supposed to be bringing another character to life, I'd commend her for the performance but she was supposed to be Princess Diana. She did not deliver on this performance. This is like a bad parody of Princess Diana, someone's bizarre idea of who Princess Diana was. There's videos out there of this woman, a good amount of the population that was around to witness her when she was alive are still around. Who is this performance suppose to fool ? The hype built around her performance, I'm convinced is a money campaign. Big money is behind the pushing and pushing of this film getting nominated for award seasons, especially when it comes to Stewart's performance.
Nothing new is learned in this film about what happened to Diana and what she was going through when she was married to Charles. I love Princess Diana but was this movie really necessary ? It focuses on her very unstable mental health due to the pressures of living with the royal family, being in a false marriage, trying to be a good mother to her kids - everything we've all heard about so many times since Diana passed away. The 1hr and 57 minutes you spend watching this, you could've saved while watching The Crown on Netflix instead. The actress in that show does a better portrayal of Diana and it's straightforward. This takes a whole "artsy fartsy" route in telling Diana's story, has Anne Boleyn appear to really hammer in how much of a victim Diana was and how these two very famous women were victims of the royal family. I understand that Diana is one of those historical figures that people adore so much that they overlook her flaws - but let's be real her flaws were nothing to look down on her about. She was human and if she had affairs during her marriage with Charles, good on her. If she had mental breakdowns while living in the public eye under the fist of the royal family - who wouldn't ?! This film kind of tries to paint her in a bad light, like if you should be upset at her over the latter. The way it's written and Kristen Stewart's performance, it really sort of villainizes her and that's how you knew the film is somehow in cahoots with the royals. Image clean up perhaps after the whole Meghan Markle incidents and The Crown revealing what we all knew but they still refuse to acknowledge ?
The score is dreary and doom like, there's a long scene where Diana is contemplating suicide but "make it aRtiStiC." I'm talking about where she's wearing a black coat over a white dress and she's on a staircase in a dark, gothic like room. Kristen Stewart does her "interpretive dancing acting" to show Diana is contemplating suicide and she does this interpretive dancing throughout the film to show Diana sink further and further into madness. As if the awful blonde hair do and her dreadful acting wasn't enough to indicate this. Anne Boleyn's ghost appears in this scene too cos we have to be reminded about how these two women are like totally the same. That scene shamelessly Oscar baits and it's one of the most pretentious scenes I've seen since Nomadland last year. If this year's Academy panel is as inept as last year's then this stupid film might get it's way further making the Oscar award meaningless.
I don't recommend this film at all. Do not waste your time. Watch a documentary on Princess Diana, watch The Crown, read a book about her. If you watch it, just watch for Timothy Spall's performance and fast forward everything else.
Encanto (2021)
Visually Pleasing but Story is Weak
Do not come to this film expecting another Coco or Moana, it doesn't even come close. It's unfortunate that the story and music couldn't match the gorgeous animation in this film. It's beautiful to look at and they inserted many elements of Colombian culture into the film, but the story feels incomplete. I'm wondering if another Frozen 2 situation happened where they had to rush production to make it to a certain release date. They obviously took their time with the animation and Colombian culture research, but left the story behind. It sort of felt like they didn't know what story to tell with these characters and in this whimsical, gorgeous setting so they made it up as they went along. The opening songs are expository and these alone indicate to the viewer that the story is either going to be a.) rushed or b.) incomplete. I'm thinking a combination of both.
The recent Disney films clearly have a formula where we have to see our main characters as children and whatever their backstory is explained in said scene. In this case we see a mini Mirabel listening to her grandma tell the story of their magical house and how their family came to have magical powers. She is hearing this tale on the day she is supposed to discover what her magical power is - as all the trailers for this film revealed, she doesn't have one. This is another issue with this film, if you've seen all the trailers for this film, you know the story. I couldn't believe that only 2 minutes into the film they made it seem like you don't know that Mirabel doesn't have a power or 15 minutes in as if you don't know the little boy has a talking to animals power. The trailer is misleading in making you think that Mirabel is going to go on some huge Moana style adventure to save the magic but other than that it gives the whole movie away. I suppose the opening scene with her as a kid going to her "what's my power" ceremony is the best way to introduce her story and maybe if they would have fleshed this scene out more and subtly introduced the rest of her family and what their powers were, it would've been a better start. Unfortunately, we rush to the expository song that wasn't that good and felt like it went on and on and on. Like we get it. The song even knows how much of an "information dump" it is by repeating who's who in the family and what power they have a bunch of times. You will be left feeling "we get it.."
The soundtrack in this film was clearly inspired by Colombian music and that gives so much opportunity to creating great tunes but sadly there's only 2 good songs on this soundtrack. The best one being the one you hear in the trailer 'Colombia, Mi Encanto' sung by Carlos Vives. A lot of the songs were awkward to sit through, especially the one Luisa sang (the one with the super strength power). I like Lin Manuel but this soundtrack was not it. He writes for musicals, it makes sense that songs be expository in musicals cos... it's a musical. This is a film, it's like the writers counted on him to tell the whole story through song than make any effort into telling the story through film. It resulted in songs that dragged and were not memorable because you're just being told things rather than being given a glimpse into the character's emotions. It only happened with three songs. All of them not that great or memorable. Don't expect any "Reflection" or "How Far I'll Go" in this film.
The pacing in this film is so off. The problem is literally resolved in a very anti-climatic way. The house falls apart after Mirabel confronts the grandma for being too hard on her and everyone else, she runs off to a river where the grandma conveniently finds her cos it's where Mirabel's grandfather passed away and where their miracle was born. In a Brave sort of way, their bond is fixed and thus they can go fix the house and the magic is back. Mirabel's only journey was to go find Bruno who is hiding in the house the entire time, so it wasn't much of a journey. A lot of fuss is made about this character cos he had the vision of the house falling apart but also visions that were not favorable to other people so because they didn't like his visions they didn't like him and so shunned him. It was pretty messed up. He's made up to be a villain, even in the poster art for the film, and then (unsurprisingly with recent Disney films) he's not a villain just misunderstood. He really is misunderstood though and what they did to him was just mean. There is no clear villain in this film, I was waiting for the "mr. Handsome" guy Maluma played to be a twist villain of some sort but nope. Unless you want to count the grandma as an initial villain turned good.
Why did I give it a 7/10 despite all these flaws ? Because it did have a nice family story that it was trying to tell. Had the story been fleshed out and without counting on the songs to tell it, it could've been something special. The animation is beautiful, I did like the characters but sadly they're not going to be as memorable as the characters in other films like Beauty and The Beast or even the annoying Frozen films. I don't think I'll bother to watch this film again because one view was enough. It's a mess in terms of the story and music but it's a visual masterpiece. So much to do with the Colombian backdrop but clearly it overwhelmed them and they weren't sure what to do with it.
Biggest flaw of all, they HAD to make a reference to "Let it Go" in the film. Ughhhhh. Disney stop. Please.
My suggestion, wait until it's available on Disney +. The short film at the beginning though, that has better story telling than the actual film without any musical numbers or dialogue. If anything gets nominated from this, it should be that short.
Ojing-eo geim (2021)
Popular For The Right Reasons
This one isn't popular because it's groundbreaking or going where television hasn't been before, but because of the story it's telling. Korean television/cinema has had a big boom among Western audiences in the last few years and I'm glad to see it because they do create wonderful media and are excellent storytellers. Squid Game, however, isn't any different from what the Japanese offered us through Battle Royale some decades prior but given the current socio/political climate we're living in, this show was released at just the right time.
Ultimately, it's a critique on capitalism and how it dehumanizes people. We see how far a person will go just to have a fat wallet. I think the show does a good job at tackling this topic by showing the negative effects this greed has on people. We see how some working class people get lost in their pursuit of insane wealth to the point of financial ruin and how some of the wealthy elite have so much money than they know what to do with so they decide to bet on working class people like one would do on horses - a comparison that is made in the show.
The characters we follow who join the games are all in financial ruin and desperately need money to pay off their debts. The first episode gives us the backstory of the main protagonist, Gi-Hun and the second one gives us glimpses into the lives of the other main characters whom the show will focus on as the games progress. The initial antagonist character among them, the gangster guy, is your stereotypical bad guy. Bullying everyone in the facility, cheating, beating a guy to death - he meets all the "bad guy is bad" stereotypes. Our protagonist isn't perfect but he has a good heart and seems to be one of only a few who has a decent moral compass. The latter being debatable with the choice he makes at the end, but we'll get there in a moment.
The way each episode is written, you know that Gi-Hun is going to end up winning the game no matter what. Although this irritated me a bit because of how predictable it was, they do manage to hit with shocks and surprises despite the obvious outcome. Since there are various main characters we were following, you begin to root for several of them, most notably Sae-Byeok, Ali, and Player 001. So when these characters lose the game, it does have an emotional impact to those who get invested in the story which seems to be everyone, really. In that respect, the show succeeds at making people feel something and at times left in shock despite how predictable. An interesting balance to strike but Squid Game does it. I don't think anything sets the viewer up for the big plot twist at the end, sadly I was expecting it because it got spoiled for me - it's hard not to have this show spoiled with how popular it is on social media. However, it is quite a big twist that actually really brings the critique at the center of this story home.
Now my issues with this show have to do with it's B plot and the awful VIP's that were introduced near the end of the games. The B plot is that of a detective that sneaks his way onto the boat when the players decide to return and continue playing the game. He makes it pretty far in his mission to investigate and expose these sadistic games but the climax for this plot is very underwhelming. I guess the game master or head henchman turns out to be the detective's brother and this revelation is what makes the detective give up, so he lets himself be shot and killed. Maybe they were trying to accomplish something with this plot, this one did manage to keep me in suspense and the ending upset me - while the predictable main plot kept me in some suspense but really got me with its ending. I suppose I'll be further unpacking that one. It might not be that deep though and just be speedy storytelling when it comes to the B plot.
Now for the complaint that seems to be everyone else's, the awful VIP's. I wouldn't have an issue with the appearance of these characters if it wasn't for the horrid way they were acted out. The voices were too irritating to hear, every time they came out and spoke, I felt like the minutes dragged on. The dialogue for them was awful too. Now it's possible it was written by someone who's first language isn't English, but the actors (who I assume are native English speakers) couldn't pitch in and amend that ? Well what can you expect from them when the acting was atrocious. I read online that the actors were asked to perform this way but intentional as it may be, it was irritating and really dragged down the show in my opinion. They were a cheesy addition to the show. I get they're necessary to the plot, but had they been performed differently, in a less "1960's cartoon villain" way then they would've been on par with the rest of the show. I think speaking in normal voices and saying sentences that normal people say, would've made it much more sadistic. I mean that's the theme throughout the show.
All in all, I enjoyed the series. I wasn't fond with the ending showing the character deciding to go back and expose the game, instead of going to see his kid - and he's the hero we were supposed to root for ? Guess that's to set us up for season 2, but I think this show works better if there's new characters each season and if they must bring back the main character, he could come back after taking care of important things. Still, I will definitely be watching season 2 when it's available. Believe it or not I'm actually happy this is as popular as it is, it means people are becoming more aware of the reality we're living in.
Reservation Dogs (2021)
Representation Done Right
This is one of VERY few shows out there that represents a community that has long been overlooked or stereotyped by the entertainment industry and it's not in an artificial, forced way. Why ? Because the creators and majority of the writers on this show are of Native American / Indigenous backgrounds. As a result the storytelling feels natural, it comes across in an authentic way, and it's not preachy in the "please don't cancel us" way that a lot of recent "representation matters" shows are guilty of.
That being said, I very much enjoyed the first season of this show. It's a coming of age story about 4 teenagers living on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma. We not only watch them experience the typical angst and dilemmas that come with adolescence, but we also see them discover their roots and find their respective places within their community. The teens are not of the cookie cutter variation, they commit petty crimes and grand theft auto (if the stealing of the truck in the first episode can count as that) for the sake of making enough money to go and live out a California dream, that their late friend had thought of. A simple storyline, but it's told in a very engaging way that not only serves as representation for the Native American/ Indigenous communities but also reminds viewers of all backgrounds that regardless of skin tone, religion, or ethnic backgrounds - we're all humans experiencing the same issues. The only thing that differs is our settings.
Take for example the episode where we are introduced to Bear's estranged relationship with his father. This is a dynamic that can, unfortunately, be found in any household of people from any background. The story is told in a very thoughtful and natural way as well so that anyone watching who has gone through something similar can relate to it. The show also tackles issues that are exclusive to the Native/Indigenous experience as well and it does so in a comedic but still serious manner. An example of that being the episode where Bear's mother meets a man at a local bar and goes home with him only to find out his attraction to Native women is not as innocent as it initially seemed. This is something that does happen within the Native/Indigenous community, unfortunately, and it's why there is a high number of Native/Indigenous women missing.
But, again, the shows takes on these subjects in a way that is not forceful or patronizing, it's all integrated into the story so that the message comes across naturally and not preachy. This is also seen in how the adult characters like the local reservation sheriff Big, Uncle Smoke, and Leon teach the kids about their Native/Indigenous roots without having to be cheesy about it; in a "Full House" moral of the day kind of way. When the adults pass on advice or cultural lessons to the teenagers, it's done so in a natural way and that goes back to good writing. Most importantly that it's being written by people who have actually experienced what they're writing about.
The acting is great, the characters are all memorable, however some of the jokes can be hit or miss. This is why I rated it at a 8/10, there were times where the jokes fell flat but considering how good the rest of the show is, this is something that can be overlooked.
I look forward to season 2 and hope the excellent writing keeps up. This is a great example of representation done right ! Thank you Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi !
Sweet Girl (2021)
Could've Been Something but Flopped
In the beginning, this movie has promise. It catches the viewer's interest in wanting to know how Jason Mamoa's character got into that situation we see him in. It continues with introducing the protagonist's daughter and wife, we see how the wife is suffering from cancer and this is how the true villain of the story is introduced, big pharma. Now at first this really caught my interest, a thriller where our hero is going after a real life enemy of the people.
Unfortunately the movie couldn't keep up with the interesting plot it tried to undertake. Jason Mamoa is great, especially in his emotional scenes in the beginning, but his and the woman playing his wife are the only good performances you'll see in this film. The movie continues to fall flatter and flatter as it progresses. I even fell asleep in the middle of the film, so you have an idea of how bad it is.
As another reviewer mentioned, the film tries to be too many things at once and it turned out to be too much of a complicated mission for the director. It really could've been something, given the very relevant and interesting plot but failed to come in anyway close to expectations.
My advice ? Skip it.
Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed (2021)
Don't Buy That Bob Ross Shirt at Spencer's
I learned a lot about this beloved man who painted gorgeous nature scenes every week on public television. I'm very happy that his son and close friends have revealed this story to the whole world and I hope it continues to open the public's eyes. I always had a bad feeling when I saw Bob Ross merchandise being sold in stores, but the merchandise doesn't match Bob Ross in any way. It's designed with contemporary sayings or it's something gimmicky like Bob Ross mints, bobble head, etc. These things, to me, didn't correlate with the soft spoken man who was always uplifting people on TV and just seemed like a simple man. Before watching this documentary I thought maybe the family was milking him as much possible but never imagined that he was practically stolen from his son by some greedy folks and sold by a greedy half brother. So sad that this happened to Bob Ross.
I think the inclusion of Bob's possible affair with Annette Kowalski was great, not for the sensational aspect of it but because it humanizes Bob Ross. Just because someone is beloved doesn't mean they're free of imperfections - however this possible affair was not a happy accident, just a plain old mistake. His whole connection with the Kowalskis, although life changing, was a big mistake for him. The Kowalskis can deny everything and sue everyone to high heaven, but the fact that a bunch of people didn't speak for fear of retaliation says a whole lot more than anything they could make up to clean up their greedy image. Bob Ross wasn't perfect and it's unhealthy to promote him or any other public figure as such, but his laidback, warm nature is what makes him lovable - along with that wonderful painting talent. Case in point with the people they show at the end who are grateful to Bob Ross for saving them from the depths of depression.
I'm glad the Jenkins couple came out and told their story. I would not know about these people otherwise and it's awful that their disappearance from the public eye is because of the Kowalskis. You see that Bob Ross even promoted them on his show while alive, so it's cruel that their livelihood was stolen from them by a company under Bob Ross' name. That being said, I think this is overall a great documentary. Both sides of the story are presented, but it's not hard to see who's at fault here. I see some of the complaints from other users is that the documentary used stocked footage rather than rare, never before seen footage or whatever. For me, I don't think that matters. What mattered is that they presented the real story about this man. All the good and the bad. Most importantly they exposed the greedy people who continue to exploit him. The music selection matches Ross' energy perfectly, the color scheme, and the impressionist paintings used to show some of the behind the scenes key moments at The Kowalski home.
The team behind this documentary really did their research, not just on the story they're trying to present but on the type of art Bob Ross did and how seedy business contracts worked. It's a great documentary and I think the team should be properly congratulated and recognized for their hard work. They did Bob Ross justice and created a proper documentary.
I highly recommend this documentary. My admiration for Bob Ross has not changed. He was human and I'm not gonna fault him for being human. You should definitely before buying that "trendy" shirt with Bob Ross' face at Spencers or Hot Topic or Forever 21. You'll just be making The Kowalski's pockets fatter, they don't deserve it. Don't buy that gimmicky trash merchandise, do it for Bob !