SEARCH RESULTS

Mr. and Mrs. Smith fuses relatability with escapism < Back Mr. and Mrs. Smith fuses relatability with escapism Amazon Studios, 2024- 45 minutes Creator: Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane Reading Time: 6 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Alexander Kaufmann https://www.instagram.com/djanoidgfx Mr. and Mrs. Smith Hope Springs Internal (RLQDVWKEF6DHSGLT) 00:00 / 06:01 https://twitter.com/DjANOIDgfx https://jakaufmann.myportfolio.com/ Rosemary Movies and TV shows with intense action Oolong Movies and TV shows that make you laugh or involve physical activities like dance and exercise Chris Chaisson 2024-02-18 Numerous articles are written about the decreasing number of young people getting married (the median age of a first marriage has been increasing, per Forbes ). At the end of the day, there is a financial component to the institution of marriage that has muddied the waters for millennials and older Gen-Z members. Even with these shifts in trends and generational perspectives on marriage, marital issues will always be relatable to most of the country, as many have at least witnessed the ups and downs of marriage in their own households. For this reason, the most recognizable people in our culture typically have a spouse and possibly children. Their day-to-day celebrations and squabbles have mass appeal and can win hearts, as evidenced by top-selling gossip magazines and long-running shows about married couples and their families. This is the case even if their careers are not the least bit relatable. Such is the premise for the TV series adaptation, Mr. and Mrs. Smith . Adapted from the 2005 Brangelina blockbuster , as well as a lesser known 1996 TV series starring Maria Bello and Scott Bakula, Donald Glover’s newest project revolves around John (Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine), two strangers thrust together by a secret organization to carry out spy missions with the cover of an arranged marriage. While they initially swear off anything physical and struggle to create chemistry, John and Jane eventually bond and forge a romance in the midst of their dangerous operations. Throughout the eight episodes, the audience sees the many phases of relationships play out: honeymoon, jealousy, exposed secrets, and differing long-term desires. Despite their work not being relatable, everything about their arguments and personality clashes feel like something most viewers have experienced firsthand. The overall theme of the series is that relationships involve a lot of hard work and communication, at times seeming even more difficult than the life-and-death situations of being a spy. In many scenes, John and Jane argue about their relationship while they are in imminent danger. Resolving their differences seems to be harder than fighting off bad guys, acquiring assets or tailing a moving target who is on to them. Just as in its aforementioned predecessors, the violence and suspense often seem trivial when superseded by the bickering of a married couple. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is an interesting study in how our perception of the elements in a movie or series can be relative to whatever else is happening on screen. Without John and Jane’s arguments, the action scenes could have the suspense of a sequence from The Bourne trilogy, a Bond movie, or a Mission: Impossible film. Imagine Matt Damon or Tom Cruise arguing with their significant other about who was supposed to take the garbage out in the middle of combat. Imagine the Benny Hill theme music playing while Daniel Craig pummels some henchman; it kind of overtakes the violence at hand. In an interview many years ago, comedian Chris Rock discussed how most household names of stand-up comedy are (or were) married. As funny as a single performer can be, his or her problems do not have the same relatability as someone with a family and a spouse to keep happy. While they can be very successful in the industry, they may not have the same universal fan base. Often, shows and movies present complete escapism or complete relatability. There may be a small thematic element of one in a movie that is about the other, but rarely do they contain a balance of both. Mr. and Mrs. Smith creates its humor by juxtaposing an up-and-down marriage (relatable) with the adventures of an international spy (escapism). It is hard not to giggle at the notion that when you have a life partner, nothing could make you put your petty squabbles aside, even the most dangerous possible situations. If you’ll argue with your spouse while fighting off a villain trying to stab you to death, when will you not argue with your spouse? When this series was first advertised, many people thought of the feature film and balked at the casting choices. After all, the film consisted of two A-list actors, both known largely for their sex appeal and action roles. Glover and Erskine are both known for comedy, with much of Erskine’s work coming in the voice-over world ( Bob’s Burgers , Big Mouth ). In fact, Paul Dano ( The Fabelmans ), who plays their next-door neighbor, is a larger movie star than either lead. I would argue this casting makes perfect sense, as both Glover and Erskine have the comedic timing to do a series that is ultimately based in humor. Their place on the totem pole of in-demand actors should probably take a backseat to their on-screen chemistry, which is pretty copacetic. A bird’s-eye view of the show could lead you to conclude that it is indicative of the disappearance of “movie stars,” precipitated by the takeover of superhero franchises. I would rather view it as bolstering the comedic vibes of the series, while simultaneously representing an interracial couple (black man and Japanese woman) that seldom appears onscreen. Having co-stars from underrepresented groups, each with comedic backgrounds, further illustrates how anyone’s relationship issues can be funny and relatable. As far as romantic spy thrillers go, most play it pretty straight, with Mr. and Mrs. Smith giving a rare comedic twist that foregrounds the relationship. Outside of the movie and series it is based on, the closest comparison to draw is likely the mid-90s thriller True Lies , starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Like Mr. and Mrs. Smith , it consists of a spy trying to save his marriage and includes its fair share of humorous scenes. Donald Glover’s newest project drops the mundane, sympathetic problems of a rocky relationship into a world of gunfights and hand-to-hand combat, providing us a chance to relate and escape all at once. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Tardes De Sol. Noches de Agua. (Afternoons of Sun. Nights of Water.) provides a glimpse into the many systems perpetuating violence against vulnerable people. < Back Tardes De Sol. Noches de Agua. (Afternoons of Sun. Nights of Water.) provides a glimpse into the many systems perpetuating violence against vulnerable people. CAY Productora, 2019 20 minutes Director/Writer: VD Menzella Reading Time: 3 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, CAY Productora Tardes De Sol. Noches de Agua A Dark Past (JLBBO78WK8JWZXUT) 00:00 / 03:19 Dandelion Movies/shows with heavy subjects Ginger Thought-provoking movies/shows Chris Chaisson 2022-09-25 Tardes De Sol. Noches de Agua. centers around Lamia, a young woman who is developmentally disabled. She resides in a small Argentinian village under the close supervision of her devoutly Christian mother. Forced to dress conservatively and refrain from any hint of promiscuity, Lamia draws and writes in her diary as an outlet for her fantasies. She creates a character, Sister Rosa, to contrast with the deity that her mother worships and wants her to fear. In her ventures through the village to deliver groceries and her mother’s knitting to neighbors, she develops an infatuation with Rabbit, a local man in the neighborhood who seduces her. After he violently assaults Lamia, she goes into a comatose state, prompting her mother and the village priest to nurse her back to health. This stellar short film highlights several significant social issues, not the least of which are the attempts of men, religious institutions and older generations to suppress women’s sexuality. Despite the close parental supervision, Lamia lives a very lonely and vulnerable existence. Her mother forces her to recite mantras about the evil nature of men, instructs her to conceal her figure at all times, and physically punishes her upon finding out about her crush on Rabbit. Director VD Menzella highlights this suppressive environment through shots of Lamia hiding her diary or avoiding eye contact with the other characters. Rabbit’s disturbing assault illuminates the reality that many people with developmental disabilities become victims of violence, despite the frequent narrative that they are more often perpetrators of it. The motive behind many such assaults stems from the culprit’s belief that they will get away with it, largely because the victim’s credibility is questioned. Lamia’s mother, for instance, believes that she has harmed herself, a theory that the local priest adheres to without much pushback. The skepticism and attempts to control women’s behavior have historically led to torture in the name of religion, be it through execution, exile, or other means. Such institutions do offer support and comfort to community members, giving them direction and hope during tough times. However, they also chastise conduct and thought processes that are different from theirs. As opposed to showing compassion, Lamia’s mother and priest instead ostracize her. T ardes De Sol. Noches de Agua. is reminiscent of feature films such as Boys Don’t Cry and Precious . Lamia, Brandon Teena and Precious are all vulnerable protagonists existing in environments where they are subject to abuse because of their sexuality, gender and skin complexion, either in the household or the larger community. While the films all have different conclusions, they each center around a young character attempting to survive and break free from authoritarian surroundings. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

< Back Perfect Days reminds us to count our blessings Master Mind, 2023 123 minutes Director/Writer: Wim Wenders / Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki Reading Time: 5 minutes Perfect Days Warmth And Wonder (E97ZYSRMYWTFIXZS) 00:00 / 05:33 📷 : Used with permission, Christian Niemann https://www.instagram.com/justbychris/ https://twitter.com/justbychris https://www.behance.net/justbychris Jasmine: Movies and TV shows with heart, positive vibes, and warm messages Sage: Movies and TV shows with low-key characters Chris Chaisson 2024-02-28 A frequent topic amongst news outlets and culture critics is the seemingly endless rise in depression, particularly amongst adolescents. There are several theories on why (e.g.. social media pressures, financial struggles, loneliness, etc.), and they’re probably all at least a little bit correct. The sheer number of hypotheses might pinpoint the cause: life has gotten too complicated, and those who can simplify it often remain the happiest. I harken back to an episode of the ‘90s sitcom Frasier , where Frasier creates a long and detailed bucket list after seeing a false obituary of himself in the local paper. His dad cautions him against trying to accomplish all these random, herculean tasks, saying, “You know, I think what you discovered this week is that something's missing from your life. And before you start to fill it up with everything but the kitchen sink, I think you ought to just ask yourself, "what do I really want? What is really going to make me happy... now?" Wim Wenders ponders this notion in his latest film, Perfect Days . Set in Tokyo, Perfect Days covers the daily routine of Hirayama (Koji Yakusho, Babel ), a very kind but somewhat aloof man who cleans public toilets for a living. Hirayama sleeps on the floor of his home and wakes up every day to the sound of a neighbor sweeping the sidewalk. When doing his work, he patiently waits for bathroom attendees and even lets them in when the bathroom is technically closed. Nothing seems to bother him about his job or the behaviors of others, who often shuffle past him as if he is not there. On his breaks, he takes time to stare at the greenery around the parks and public areas he is in, direct people who get lost, or comfort children looking for their parents. His assistant Takashi (Tokio Emoto, Outrage ), much younger than him, is less committed to and enthused about the job, but maintains a good rapport with his cleaning partner nonetheless. While Hirayama’s existence seems lonely and mundane, he takes constant joy in the simplicity of his daily agenda. As the film follows its protagonist through every single scene, it is easy for the audience to at first feel like something is missing. Often, the conflict in our favorite yarns is produced from frenzied, anxiety-inducing run-ins with villains, bullies, or nature. Perfect Days carries a calmness and quirkiness throughout, where the antagonist becomes less an actual person and more a desire for complexity. Hirayama’s routine slowly exorcises this need from the viewer, and we see the positives of enjoying what we have without looking for something more. The characters around Hirayama serve as the audience’s subconscious, providing a contrast to his content nature. He has several interactions with people who are busy, anxious, or too complex for their own good. For instance, Takashi opines about his social life early on in the movie and later ditches work with no heads up. A mother in the park scowls at Hirayama for comforting her son after they get separated. Some of the bathroom attendees avoid eye contact and treat him as though he is a bother, or worse, invisible. The biggest contrast is provided by Hirayama’s pre-teen niece, Niko, who runs away from home and visits him. Few things illustrate a lack of happiness like running away from home as an adolescent. Her desire to visit him not only shows her affection for him but also her recognition of how he differs from her mother. Niko’s frequent tendency to pull out her smartphone to take pictures and perform Google searches sharply contrasts with Hirayama’s use of his phone for nothing but phone calls. At one point, Niko mentions Spotify, which he has never heard of, and he confuses it for a brick-and-mortar store, much to her delight. Ultimately, when Niko’s mother tracks her down, she reunites with Hirayama and carries on a conversation with him that very much highlights their differences. Though the love is clearly there, she cannot fathom the thought of him being pleased with his modest lifestyle. While these interactions call attention to the anomaly of living such a simple life, they also reveal people’s willingness to connect with Hirayama where he’s at. For instance, one bathroom attendee, whom he never actually meets, leaves a game of tic tac toe behind for someone to join in. Hirayama finds the game and makes a new move every day, enthused by the interaction. Just the same, he attends a restaurant every day where the staff knows him by name and greets him with a glass of water “for his hard work.” Though not directly called out, these moments are clearly bright spots in his day, an experience many regulars at restaurants can relate to. All in all, Perfect Days and its protagonist urge us to be content with and appreciative of what we have and what’s positive in our lives, whether that be friends, family, or an enjoyable view. Whether or not cleaning toilets brings Hirayama joy, the interactions his job allows him to have with others, and the calming environment it places him in, ultimately lead to the happiness that many others cannot achieve in much more lucrative professions. His enduring spirit can be a lesson to us all: figure out what really makes you happy, shut out everything else, and enjoy both the clarity and simplicity of your life. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Learn about Cup of Tea Critiques, an online hub for Proof of Concept & Insightful Movie Reviews designed for film and TV enthusiasts. Click here if this sounds like your cup of tea! Welcome to Cup of Tea Critiques® Cup of Tea Critiques examines movies and television series through a critical lens. Our main focus is independent cinema—films rarely talked about, found in mainstream theaters, nor advertised on billboards. However, they are broadly available on streaming platforms and can be watched from the comfort of your own home. The shows consist of stories from across the globe—often important, funny, and entertaining stories—that captivate and inform, expose you to underrepresented perspectives, stimulate your thoughts, and facilitate discussion. Reviewing elements like story, depth of character, aesthetics, and themes, we develop a synopsis and denote it with a tea brew that evokes a feel for the work. So, instead of likes, ratings, emojis, or thumbs up or down, our reviews are tagged with a type of tea that, based on its benefits, gives you a sense of the show's feel and substance. In the mood for a lot of dialog? Maybe a movie tagged with a barley tea is just for you. Prefer something light? Perhaps a show tagged with ginkgo biloba is what you're looking for. Don't worry, we provide a legend that describes every tea we use. So, what movie or show are you in the mood for? Reading the review and noting the show's brew will help you decide if it's your "cup of tea." ® chris@cupofteacritiques.com Hi! I’m Chris reba@cupofteacritiques.com Hi! I’m Brandon brandon@cupofteacritiques.com Hi! I’m Reba Subscribe to receive email alerts for new movie and television critiques. Follow us on our Facebook, Instagram , and Letterboxd pages.

The three-season series covers the transformation of New York City’s Deuce district into what we now know as Times Square. < Back The three-season series covers the transformation of New York City’s Deuce district into what we now know as Times Square. Blown Deadline Productions, 2017-19 60 minutes Creator: George Pelecanos and David Simon Reading Time: 3 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, HBO The Deuce Tell Dem (I96IRB1HB2AEJATW) 00:00 / 04:13 Ginger Thought-provoking movies and TV shows Honeybush Nonfamily dramas with strong adult and/or socioeconomic themes Reba Chaisson 2021-07-25 While short-lived, The Deuce provides an immersive experience. Nothing less would be expected from David Simon ( The Wire , Treme ), who co-wrote and co-produced it with George Pelecanos and others. The three-season series covers the transformation of New York City’s Deuce district into what we now know as Times Square. A long way from the glitz and popular tourist attraction it is today, The Deuce, as it was known in the 1970s, burst with a bustling and open sex trade with well‑dressed pimps and tenacious sex workers who openly flaunted their stuff for sale. The gritty series captures the feel of the era with the authenticity of a warm embrace from a long-passed favorite aunt. Like a time-machine, it places us in the familiar urban settings of the period when afros were in style, communities were called neighborhoods, and everyone knew the folks who lived there—and what they did to get by. James Franco headlines the cast, playing a dual role as a resourceful but reluctant bar and dance club owner and his carefree twin who jumps at any chance to get ahead. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Candy, a fiercely independent worker in the sex trade who later realizes success producing pornographic films because “It’s just sex, right?” The characters take refuge at Leon’s Diner owned by Anwan Glover ( The Wire ), who graciously serves hot meals and pie to his customers without judgment of their dress or avocation. This sanctuary is where we get a glimpse inside many of the characters’ lives and gain an appreciation for their aspirations, shortcomings, and the life events that led them there. Beneath it all are unseen political forces working to reshape, reinvent, and reconstruct the area they view as home. During a contentious meeting about coming changes to the area, Abbie, played by Margarita Levieva ( The Blacklist , The Lincoln Lawyer ), proudly proclaims her bar as a place where people in the neighborhood are treated with respect and can get “an honest pour” no matter their walk of life. While she doesn’t hide her disdain for the pimps who patronize the Hi Hat, once referring to them as “slap-a-hoes,” she spoke truth about the bar’s customer service. Lines like this run throughout the series. This one provokes thoughts about the exclusivity of establishments of all types today, the degree to which respect and an honest pour is afforded to everyone who enters them, or if these courtesies are perhaps doled out only to those viewed as worthy. Indeed, this questioning of ourselves and what we have come to accept as normal treatment are part of what makes the writing so great and keeps the show’s subject matter relevant even 50 years later. Beyond the struggle for survival, most of the characters in The Deuce are running away rather than toward something, while a smaller contingent desperately fights to remain relevant and to keep the status quo intact. As we know though, change is inevitable. Indeed, this story is about the inevitability of change. So real, it is as palpable as the raw emotions of fear and love displayed by the characters, along with the seemingly necessary emotional detachment they exhibit at crucial times throughout the series. The depth of the characters and their transformation over the series resonate with the experiences and aspirations of many everyday people who strive to maintain their dignity and strength. This suggests that the show has something that appeals to everyone. It is raw, but a necessary raw that pushes forth conversations about power, race, class, and gender. If this is your thing, go for it—and be prepared to think a lot about its themes in the days that follow. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Black Doves, a quirky spy thriller that avoids tokenism < Back Black Doves, a quirky spy thriller that avoids tokenism Noisy Bear, 2024 55 minutes Creator: Joe Barton Reading Time: 7 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Netflix Black Doves Rebel (HLUU3PIJNIDKQNJ0) 00:00 / 08:47 Matcha Mysteries or whodunnits Ginseng Suspenseful and intense thrillers Reba Chaisson 2025-02-10 Black Doves is a quirky six-part series starring Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire. Knightley is Helen Webb, a British politician’s wife with young twins, who unbeknownst to her family, is a spy for an independent intelligence organization known as Black Doves. A clandestine “company,” Black Doves makes its services available to the highest international bidder. Lancashire is Reed, Helen’s no-nonsense boss at Black Doves, who rarely smiles, rarely changes her calm demeanor, and is always focused on results. When Reed pulls Helen away from her Christmas party, she informs Helen that her secret lover, Jason, has been murdered. Helen is momentarily perplexed how Reed knows about him at all since she thought she was being so careful. (Doesn’t everybody?). Emotionally overwhelmed by the news, Helen’s disbelief and hurt become evident, which along with flashbacks, make it clear how much Jason meant to her. Still quite upset, Helen presses Reed for the circumstances surrounding his death. Though Reed explains that Jason was shot, she continues to convey information to Helen about her next mission. To give her context, she states that Ambassador Chen, China’s ambassador to Britain, was found dead in his residence, and that his 19-year-old daughter Kai-Ming has disappeared. Flabbergasted by both the manner of Jason’s death and Reed’s insensitivity, Helen, still clearly upset, is adamant that she needs to find who killed Jason and to kill them. Reed, on the other hand, is less concerned about who murdered Jason than Helen’s next mission, which is to find Kai Ming. Later that night, while her husband is out and the kids are asleep, a man with a gun enters her home and accosts her in the kitchen. He asks for a recording, which she knows nothing about. When he threatens the life of her kids a second time, she states “I advise you not to do it a third.” When he does, she attacks him, completely catching the audience off guard. Her fast hands, swift body movements, and deftness at turning kitchen appliances into weapons make for a shocking and entertaining fight scene. This is the most engaging sequence of the series because we are drawn into a significant moment of departure from Helen, the mother and politician’s wife who just hosted a large obligatory Christmas party, to this fighting machine. The physical altercation made for enjoyable action early in the series, portending a fun and dynamic story ahead. Black Doves ’ action, characters, and numerous twists and turns are reminiscent of spy thrillers, particularly those depicted in episodic series like Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Night Agent . But rather than a dark quality like the latter, Black Doves has the quirkiness quality of Mr. and Mrs. Smith , that aspect of a show that conveys it is neither scary nor should it be taken too seriously. Indeed, Black Doves ’ quirkiness contains elements of comedic short films like Drone and Operation: Cavity , which are not satire but take humorous twists on serious topics not to make fun of them, but to have fun with them. When Helen tells Reed about the encounter in her kitchen and the man’s inquiry regarding a recording, Reed says she knows nothing about the latter nor what prompted the former. However, she decides to call in someone to protect Helen — despite Helen’s insistence that she always works alone. She gives in when Reed tells her that the person is Sam Young. The two are friends, even though they haven’t seen one another since they last worked together. Played by Ben Whishaw, Sam is an early 30-something independent contractor with killer/assassin qualifications. What is striking about Sam is he is small in frame and stature, so the idea that he can protect Helen is inconceivable. He appears quite unassuming as he frequently walks around with his hands in his jacket pockets and is always dressed too thin for the cool fall temperatures. When other people are donning thick sweaters and coats, he is still wearing the same short, spring jacket, appearing to be cold but never doing anything to address it. By far, Sam is the most intriguing character in Black Doves . When others around him are talkative, he is self-effacing and contemplative but a bit tense. He is, however, loyal, a man of action, and a person who loves sincerely and deeply. We learn a lot about Sam during a flashback where he is contracted to kill three brothers. Without hesitation, he creates a bloodbath killing two of them. But when he realizes the third is a child, he finds himself unable to finish the job, as if he himself has suddenly learned he has a red line. And now that Reed’s hiring has brought Sam to London years later, his former boss wants him to finish the job she hired him to do before he left – kill the third brother. Accomplishing this while protecting Helen will be a challenge for him. As Helen and Sam investigate Jason’s death and at a lower priority look for Kai-Ming, they begin to unravel a conspiracy at the highest levels of the British government as the cases converge. Complicating things, China’s Intelligence officers are in-country on a rogue mission, determined to find out who killed Ambassador Chen, and Helen and Sam are getting in the way. Their pursuit of the truth puts their lives and those of the people they care about at grave risk, despite being highly skilled assets themselves. Reed expresses her annoyance not because their lives are at risk, but because by deviating from their very narrow assignment of finding Kai-Ming, they have discovered a recording they shouldn’t have, thus jeopardizing Black Doves’ reliability and credibility with its mysterious client. Black Doves is a highly entertaining series and one of the most inclusive I have watched in recent decades. It contains a fusion of representation with characters from traditionally underrepresented race, gender, and LGBTQ+ groups. Michael, for example, is a mild-mannered and gay Black male who exhibits traditional feminine traits. During a shootout, he relies on his partner’s protection by hiding behind him and physically holding onto his waist with his eyes closed due to sheer fear. Sam is a quiet, self-effacing White male with a small frame who is a killer for hire and who is also gay. Helen, who in addition to being a mother and performing the traditional ceremonial obligations and emotional labor of being a political spouse, is also quite deft at hand-to-hand combat. In a scene exemplifying Helen's toughness, she casually slams her dislocated shoulder into a structure to force it back into place. This is reminiscent of an oft repeated technique used by Mel Gibson’s character in the Lethal Weapon franchise for fixing his bad shoulder. Such skills and traits tend to be much more associated with masculinity than femininity. So, by extension, the show displays the varying manifestations of gender in males and females, and particularly highlights the versatility and adaptability of the latter. All of this demonstrates that people of both sexes cannot simply be confined to the boxes they were assigned to at birth and the keys subsequently thrown away. They present themselves to the world in varied ways. Most interesting about Black Doves is that these characters in the series are not presented as tokens; each has an active role in the show, which lends itself to humanizing people of all types. Black Doves bears some similarities to Guy Ritchie's 2023 theatrical release, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare . Let by Henry Cavill from Man of Steel along with Alan Ritchson of Reacher fame, the show presents a racially and ethnically diverse cast, including a gay character who occasionally displays feminine traits. Both movies are spy thrillers with quirky characters and avoid taking on too much of a dark or ominous tone. Ginseng tea is much better suited for these productions than a tea that yields a heavier feel, like Rosemary or Dandelion. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Yae: Blind Samurai Woman shows the disdain for condescension < Back Yae: Blind Samurai Woman shows the disdain for condescension Samurai Girl, 2022 19 minutes Director/Writer: Akiko Izumitani / Akiko Izumitani and James “Doc” Mason Reading Time: 3 minutes 📷 : Used with permission, Akiko Izumitani Yae: The Blind Samurai Woman The Curse of the Hourglass (9LRKKSSNJAOBXODH) 00:00 / 03:26 Barley Movies and TV shows with a lot of dialog Masala Chai Movies and TV shows about toughness and athletic competition Reba Chaisson 2023-03-02 Being underestimated has its advantages. You can then blindside the person or people that are displaying their condescension towards you, by whipping out your knowledge of Durkheim’s structural-functionalist theory and Parsons’ take on it. Or suddenly plopping down at a piano and flawlessly playing Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” before seamlessly moving into Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” Think about the scene from the 1997 movie, Good Will Hunting , when Matt Damon’s character embarrasses a student from Harvard by showing him he understood some classical theories better than the student did. Was that a good scene or what? This is Yae: Blind Samurai Woman in a nutshell. The short film is about a young woman in 18 th century rural Japan who has the power to heal. It comes at a cost however, in that she loses some degree of her eyesight or “light” whenever she uses her power. Starring Yuwi Kim ( The Music Box , Desperation ), Yae has already lost most of her light at the beginning of the film, when she hears her father, a samurai, fighting in the forest but arrives too late to use her powers to save him. She encounters his killer, Masanobu, who offers to lead her out of the forest to a nearby village so she will not be alone given that she is blind. Too often, people with disabilities are treated as if they lack certain sensibilities because they are missing a limb, reliant on support devices, unable to hear, or vision-impaired. For this reason, some films centering disabilities are problematic because the disabilities take on a life of their own, making the individual who is disabled appear unable, such as in Children of a Lesser God , My Left Foot , and more recently, The Upside . But this is far from the truth. What is often lost in these depictions is the fact that human beings have five senses, and medical science suggests that the loss of one usually leads to enhancement of the other four. What is also lost is that despite having a disability – cognitive or physical, people with them still have hopes and dreams. They enjoy socializing, having fun, and challenging themselves as others do. As it turns out, Yae likes a challenge and Masanobu underestimates the wrong woman on this day. Played by Masa Kanome ( Bullet Train , Snake Eyes ), Masanobu is boastful and proud of what he calls his killing in honor of his father. Despite Yae’s insistence that he remains quiet, he continues to talk as they embark on their journey out of the forest. A funny thing happens though, when we engage in conversation with people. We get to know them. We humanize them. And things become not quite as simple as they once seemed. Intrigued? If you have 20 minutes, you might want to give this one a try. Available on Film Shortage Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

< Back Maestro discards the notion of simplicity Sikelia Productions, 2023 129 minutes Director/Writer: Bradley Cooper / Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer Reading Time: 5 minutes Maestro Path of Purpose (4KOGNGHXIHZBMTVK) 00:00 / 06:16 📷 : Used with permission, Netflix Ginger: Thought-provoking movies and TV shows Barley Movies and TV shows with a lot of dialog Reba Chaisson 2024-01-06 I have this thing about presumptuousness in writing. When statements are prefaced with terms like “simply,” “of course,” and “obviously,” I encourage authors to consider that the knowledge they are asserting is not necessarily known to their reader, so it is neither simple nor obvious. Thus, qualifiers should be removed. We should assume nothing. The film, Maestro , exemplifies this notion, which is why “Oscar contender” is likely written all over it. I am surprised to see this theater-worthy film from the comfort of my sofa, but lucky me. Director and lead actor, Bradley Cooper, outdoes himself with this biopic of Leonard Bernstein, whose 72-year life spans the identity politics divide. The film begins with a quote from the music virtuoso himself, which reads in part, “A work of art does not answer questions, it provokes them …” In an era where we seem to want and expect simple answers to some of life’s most complex questions, this statement gives us pause. It forces us to consider how far removed we are from a past when we thought for ourselves rather than relying on technology, Internet search engines, and now artificial intelligence for straightforward answers. Most researchers recognize that the questions they seek to answer with their qualitative and quantitative methods will offer some insight into the problems they are trying to solve. But in the course of their work, their results will also raise questions that require more research to be conducted by themselves and others in their discipline. In effect then, and to Bernstein’s point, a question is never fully answered. We just gain deeper insight into the scale and complexity of the problem. Leonard Bernstein was by any measure a musical genius, but what I learned from Maestro is that his depth of understanding for people and humanity were uncanny. According to the film, even “Lenny’s” wife of more than 25 years, who marries him knowing his sexual preference for men, cares for him deeply and he for her. Some of us might ask how this could be. How could she marry him knowing this? During a remote radio interview from their home soon after marrying, she talks proudly and incessantly about how busy “Lenny” is composing and directing. So, status maybe? What was she thinking? What hubris to think she could change him! Played by Carey Mulligan, Felicia, Bernstein’s wife, says to her sister-in-law Shirley Bernstein (Sarah Silverman) decades into their marriage and now with children (paraphrasing), “I’ve always known about Lenny. But I still love him.” So, if we learn anything from Leonard Bernstein’s story, and there is plenty to learn, it is that nothing is ever simple. Just as remarkable as Bernstein’s life is the film presentation itself. Director Bradley Cooper presents the first half of the movie in black and white, giving it the feel of a 1940s era film. Bernstein is constantly surrounded by large groups of musically talented friends who each keep a cigarette in their mouth or between their fingers and a bar glass with a drink nearby – and never far away from a piano. Most of the men are openly gay, as evidenced by the way they touch one another on the behind and casually rub each other’s backs and hair in the presence of others. Sometimes they even kiss. No one seems to notice or care. Interestingly, these public displays of affection are not depicted among the women in the group, which makes the playing out of gender seem out of balance. There’s a lot of noise and chatter with infectious happiness and celebration seemingly about nothing in particular. Their exchanges are more like quipping than deep engagements in conversation. It is as if they don’t take themselves too seriously. They are having too much fun and too much musical success to do so. The circumstances surrounding the circle of 20 or so friends change as time changes. When the presentation converts from monochromatic to color, the speech tempo slows as if to suggest they are all getting older now. One of the first colorized scenes is yet another gathering of the friends, now older and some married, even those who are gay. A few are new to the group, including a gay gentleman who guffaws when Bernstein says that he is married. Laws at that time did not allow for same-sex marriage, so the man rightly assumes Bernstein is married to a woman. The man’s cynicism signals the ushering in of politics around sexual identity during this time, roughly the 1960s. Prior to this period, no one seemed to care about one’s sexual orientation or more likely tolerated the differences in sexuality. Sensitivities seem heightened with television media, perhaps, due to its ability to beam into living rooms how a gay person, such as Bernstein, displays his sexual identity. Bernstein, though, dismisses the man’s laughter as if wondering what all the fuss is about, not yet realizing times were changing and he might have to figure out how to balance his lifestyle with his wide popularity. Watching this film is like being in a time capsule that spans 70 years. Bernstein’s music sets the mood, providing the audio that signals the ebb and flow of the composer’s life. The dynamic music is racy and powerful in his younger years and smooths out as he gets older. Indeed, the film itself feels like a musical performance on stage with multiple acts across the chronology of the genius’s life. It mimics the look and style of the Humphrey Bogart movies, Casablanca and To Have and Have Not with cigarettes, drinks, and all. This is fitting for a guy like Bernstein who lived his life on his own terms, accepting – no, embracing it with all its complexity. Damn our perplexity about it! Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

< Back Passages expertly uses flaws as a humanizing element SBS Productions, 2023 91 minutes Director/Writer: Ira Sachs Reading Time: 4 minutes Passages Bouar (EKBQ1CUPJWHZ3ZXE) 00:00 / 04:36 📷 : Pixabay Barley: Movies and TV shows with a lot of dialog Honeybush: Nonfamily dramas with strong adult and/or socioeconomic themes Chris Chaisson 2023-08-20 For cinephiles who crave original stories and original characters, positivity can be found in a negative representation. Often, members of marginalized groups get depicted in film as perfect victims; constantly the targets of bullying and paragons of virtue. We tend to think of humanizing portrayals as showing the most admirable characteristics, but sometimes the true equality lies in everyone’s ability to be a douchebag. Tomas, the protagonist in Ira Sachs’s risqué drama Passages , serves as just such a character. Set in modern-day France, Passages revolves around a complex, pansexual love triangle. Tomas (Franz Rogowski, Victoria ), a German filmmaker, is married to his supportive husband Martin (Ben Whishaw, The Lobster ). After a night out with friends, Tomas has an affair with Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue Is the Warmest Colour ), a young school teacher. While it may seem like an inebriated lapse in judgment or momentary passion, he confesses to Martin, only to continue sleeping with Agathe. Though the terms of their marriage are never explicitly stated, it is clear that Tomas’s infidelity hurts Martin. The larger issue is that even in Tomas’s confession, he is more concerned with his own feelings and experiences than how he has made Martin feel, a recurring dynamic throughout the film. At first glance, Tomas could come off as simply too impulsive to make a good partner. However, with every passing interaction, it becomes clearer that he will do whatever suits his own best interest in the moment. Devoid of any remorse for his actions, Tomas lacks the sensitivity to comfort either of his lovers when they are in a moment of emotional need, instead manipulating them whenever he can. When Martin begins seeing Amad (Erwan Kepoa Falé, Winter Boy ), a novelist who genuinely cares for him, Tomas not only seethes but runs interference in their romance whenever the opportunity presents itself. When Agathe is busy or needs time to herself, he consistently hounds her for attention. Upon meeting her parents, he quickly starts an argument with Agathe’s mother to avoid any questions about his long-term plans (because he doesn’t have them). Tomas is not only unfocused but also shows complete disregard for the people he claims to care for. All of these negative qualities Tomas possesses could turn you completely off of this erotic French indie. Maybe you would rather see a wholesome protagonist fighting to make a relationship work despite his or her own shortcomings. However, there is a refreshing quality to watching an irredeemable character of a marginalized background. It feels true to anyone else’s experience, as we can often be our own worst enemies. Passages shows the complexities that a same-sex couple could have from within their relationship, rather than inserting a homophobic antagonist from the outside world. Depicting the gaping flaws of one partner in a relationship and how the other struggles to hold it together is a particularly humanizing representation. Many have occupied one role or the other at least as much as they have experienced the “us against the world” narrative many romantic dramas put forth. Passages does not merely portray the arguments and power struggles of relationships; it also portrays the physical element. The film has its fair share of nudity and intercourse, not pulling a single punch. While some moviegoers find such scenes superfluous to the plot, the vanity and raunchiness actually makes perfect sense for a movie all about relationships and what keeps them going through tough times. The focus on Tomas’s sexuality adds another layer to the love triangle, making him slightly more appealing in spite of his complete inability to provide emotional support. The sex scenes serve as a collective symbol of each character’s vulnerability, an aspect that the protagonist consistently preys on. Watching Passages brings to mind the late 2000s romantic drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona , in which two friends visit Spain for the summer and become involved with a painter whose ex-wife comes back into the fold. Both films have numerous displays of intimacy, complicated relationship dynamics, and beautiful cities known for encouraging romance as backdrops. Not to mention some selfish and impulsive characters that may make you roll your eyes. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Pose highlights the gay and trans community comprising the ballroom culture in 1980s New York. < Back Pose highlights the gay and trans community comprising the ballroom culture in 1980s New York. Color Force, 2018-21 59 minutes Creator: Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy Reading Time: 3 minutes 📷 : Pixabay Pose Fearless (MKJOZQUC9NFWSH3I) 00:00 / 04:09 Dandelion Movies and TV shows with heavy subjects Honeybush Nonfamily dramas with strong adult and/or socioeconomic themes Chris Chaisson 2021-10-15 Pose , created by Ryan Murphy ( Glee , American Horror Story ), highlights the gay and trans community comprising the ballroom culture in 1980s New York. The series centers particularly around Blanca, a Trans woman who sets out to start her own house after being diagnosed with HIV. Blanca takes in several youngsters to mentor, including Damon, Lil Papi, Ricky, and Angel. Their performing arts skills are varied, but Blanca strives to instill them all with confidence, discipline and most importantly, self‑esteem. The most striking aspect of Pose is how it highlights the multitude of angles from which the Black Trans community receives vitriol. In one particular episode, Blanca tries to get served at a predominantly White gay bar. She is not only asked to leave but on one occasion is physically removed and arrested. This and other storylines expose the glaring truth that many communities are simultaneously oppressed and oppressive. In addition to shining a spotlight on institutional injustice, Pose provides a glimpse into the strife surrounding the characters’ personal relationships. Pray Tell, the regular emcee for the nightly ball competitions, struggles through hospital visits one after another in support of his boyfriend, who has contracted AIDS. Angel meets a married Wall Street exec (Evan Peters) and mulls over how she feels being his secret mistress. Candy debates getting genital reconstructive surgery and how her longtime partner will view her new anatomy. Though the particulars of their issues seem specific to the Trans community, their interpersonal relationships and the emotions involved remain universal. As one might expect, a series about ballroom culture includes plenty of ballroom scenes. Normally the more joyous scenes in the show, the members of the various houses walk the floor in their outfits as music blares over the sound system. Pray Tell comments on their getup before turning it over to the five judges, who each put up a number from one to ten. At the end of the night, grand prize and runner-up trophies are awarded. While the vibes are celebratory, the commentary between competitors can be blunt and deep-cutting, with Pray Tell roasting ensembles that are not on point. The culture amongst the ball participants is one of no-holds-barred criticism, making the dialogue harsh and the insults frequent. The subtext of these biting exchanges is that the members must have thick skin due to the flagrant disrespect and threats they face when they leave the community. While the conflict is legitimate, there is an element of tough love to how the ball members speak to one another. The lynchpin of the show is without a doubt Blanca, who exhibits leadership and strong decision-making. From the Bronx, she embodies toughness and displays the ability to be confrontational. The way she handles everything thrown her way is reminiscent of a high school principal, such as Principal Harper (Chi McBride) in Boston Public . Having been shunned by her family, who insists on calling her by her masculine birth name, Blanca strives to teach all her house members how to stand on their own two feet as she has learned to do. Her major character flaw of stubbornness drives much of the show’s conflict but makes her as relatable to the audience as her strengths. Overall, Pose grants viewers the opportunity to see Trans characters as more than victims or fleeting storylines, but rather three-dimensional characters who have goals, strengths, weaknesses and most of all, gumption. Their struggles provide insight to those not frequently exposed to members of the trans community, and the ways they handle those struggles allows the audience to feel an emotion necessary for all to possess -- empathy. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

Swarm offers interesting social commentary on excessive fandom < Back Swarm offers interesting social commentary on excessive fandom Amazon Studios, 2023 30 minutes Creator: Janine Nabers and Donald Glover Reading Time: 5 minutes 📷 : Used with Permission, Izzy Aghahowa https://izzyaghahowa.co.uk/ Swarm My Sweet Lady (F9HC1NRUFKQHFVWE) 00:00 / 05:29 Rosemary Movies and TV shows with intense action Yarrow Movies and TV shows about illness or set in hospitals or similar medical institutions Chris Chaisson 2023-03-29 “Who’s your favorite artist?” For those that follow pop stars in the era of social media, we know the danger that comes with criticizing any of them. The biggest Top 40 artists all have their own armies (or in one case Navy ) who go to great lengths to bully critics into silence and obscurity. While it would be easy to tell those super-fans to get a life, their dedication speaks to an unbreakable bond we often feel with celebrities that have brought us so much joy. The stars’ personas and extravagant lifestyles provide fans with the same escapism that the art itself does. The cyberbullying and intimidation tactics reflect our desperation to hold onto that dopamine rush. The lengths to which anyone chooses to take their fandom is an individual choice, heavily influenced by the need to hide from real life circumstances. Such can be said for Dre in the new Amazon series Swarm . Played by the talented Dominique Fishback ( The Hate U Give ), Dre is a lonely teenager who idolizes world-famous pop singer Ni'Jah. Her fandom becomes so intense that she responds to any criticism, ill sentiments or even indifference of Ni'Jah with brutal violence. After losing a close friend, Dre goes on a killing spree across several different cities, with all of her victims having in common their disdain for Ni'Jah’s talent and fame. Outside of escaping culpability, Dre’s ultimate goal is to see Ni'Jah up close and personal. The series is very cleverly cast, as it consists of many actors who are adjacent to staggering pop star fame or are indeed pop stars themselves. The supporting characters include singers Billie Eilish and Chloe Bailey, Paris Jackson, and Rory Culkin. The latter two are the daughter of the late Michael Jackson and brother of Macaulay Culkin, respectively. This infusion of personalities and recognizable faces adds to the thematic elements of the show. Donald Glover’s name may be the draw of the series, specifically for fans of the Emmy-winning Atlanta , but the co-creator Janine Nabers deserves a shout-out as well. In addition to writing for Atlanta , she produced episodes for Watchmen , the hit HBO mini-series from 2019. Nabers is also an award-winning playwright and librettist (one who writes the words for an extended musical composition). We’ve seen successful crossovers from the stage to the screen before with writers like Aaron Sorkin, and Nabers’ contributions to Swarm certainly demonstrate her versatility. Beyoncé fans, affectionately known as the Beyhive, may watch Swarm and feel slighted. After all, there are numerous references to real-life events, anecdotes, and details that make it obvious who Ni'Jah is “supposed” to be modeled after. Taken at face value, the series is nothing more than the satirizing of how Beyoncé’s most loyal followers behave, online and occasionally in person. However, if you look closer, much of Dre’s language and behavior (outside of maybe the assaults and murders) applies to fans of several other larger-than-life pop culture figures: LeBron James, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, and the list goes on. Fans become so swept up in the emotions these figures conjure up that they no longer see a difference of opinion as a positive or even an option. As Dre hops from destination to destination, her experiences become more than just homicidal missions being carried out. Her adolescence and past trauma comes into view, expanding the scope of the series’ premise beyond a parody of excessive fandom and into an examination of mental health and the foster care system. Though these details humanize Dre, her transgressions still overshadow any sympathy the audience might feel. After all, her victims are human as well. Swarm ’s innovation is not in its satirical elements but in who its story focuses around. Many serial killer stories revolve around psychotic, cognitively dissonant White men. They are often well-educated, financially successful, and completely irredeemable. This series instead chooses a young, gender-fluid Black woman suffering the effects of childhood trauma. Despite her past, Dre’s actions remain reprehensible. While her string of homicides begins with people who have questionable moral compasses themselves, it becomes clear that Dre will harm anyone of any background, no matter how virtuous. We see these qualities in anti-heroes such as Dexter, Patrick Bateman or Joe Goldberg, all distinguished White men, in Dexter, American Psycho and You , respectively. However, we rarely see a Black female protagonist allowed to exhibit rage, immorality and violence that they get away with time and again. The connotation of the term satire may mislead you to think Swarm is light-hearted and playful in tone. On the contrary, there are several grim and sobering moments, in addition to the overall violence and raunchiness. Still, viewers can take and leave as much as they want from the show’s overall theme. The series exists as a deeper conversation piece, or something to chuckle about whenever Beyoncé fans get on your nerves. In any case, these 7 episodes convinced me to keep any critical opinions of pop music icons to myself [grits teeth]. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!

< Back Mickey Hardaway highlights the need to prioritize mental health Mylineal Films, 2023 104 min Director/Writer: Marcellus Cox Reading Time: 5 minutes Mickey Hardaway A Dark Past (VNQH2YEJUZ5IYSE2) 00:00 / 05:04 📷 : Used with permission, Marcellus Cox Dandelion: Movies and TV shows with heavy subjects Barley: Movies and TV shows with a lot of dialog Chris Chaisson 2023-04-18 The title character in this brooding melodrama has not had an easy life. Mickey, a 20-something talented aspiring artist, simply wants to pursue his dream of creative expression. He embraces the possible footfalls that come with it, but simply wants to be given a chance. The story begins with his visit to a psychiatrist. As he opens up to his therapist, we see flashbacks of Mickey’s upbringing and key moments that influenced the path of his life. The most impactful element of his trajectory is the relentless verbal and physical abuse he endures from his father. Mickey’s dad, Randall, clearly maintains the practical mindset with which he was raised, the belief that artistic endeavors are a waste of time and energy. In his view, both are better spent learning a trade that could earn money and help loved ones. Part of Randall’s mindset, we later learn, comes from sacrificing his football dreams for the good of the family. Rather than accepting what his life has become, he continually takes out his anger on his family, beating Mickey up and verbally disrespecting Mickey’s mother, Jackie. Once he finally stands up to Randall, Mickey decides he is better off living on his own. His father does not try to keep him from going but instead encourages him to get out. In addition to his financial struggles, Mickey battles a bad drinking habit he has learned from his father. When his girlfriend, Grace, brings it to his attention, he admits that he has always used it as a way to calm his anxiety. Between his father’s abuse, his drinking habit and his inability to achieve a career breakthrough, he becomes self-sabotaging and emotionally unavailable, creating problems in his relationships with Grace and a supportive former teacher. The culmination of these issues compel Grace to encourage Mickey to seek the help of a professional. But can Mickey’s new therapist be accessible enough to meet his needs? There has been an abundance of discourse about the need for young Black men and women to prioritize their mental health and seek counseling when feeling overwhelmed. However, a stigma has long stood in the way of taking this step, with therapy being viewed as something for the “weak,” “soft,” or “crazy.” Many Black men in particular are necessarily raised to be tough and independent, and admitting the need for counseling does not fit in with such old-school ideas of masculinity. Additionally, quality mental health services are not always available or affordable for marginalized groups, which lends itself to continuing the perception in communities of color that mental health support is not meant for people like them. Another challenge to overcoming the stigma of using mental health services is the matter of finding relatable professionals. In the film, Mickey is a young Black man seeking the help of a professional with a similar background, which is an important component of counseling. Negative or unhelpful experiences with therapy sometimes stem from the patient and professional having vastly different life experiences. This dissonance can leave the patient feeling misunderstood or as though their experience is being minimized. On the flipside, the professional may have their expertise dismissed by the patient. Many female therapists, for example, struggle getting through to their male patients who display misogynistic tendencies. In any case, this indie feature subtly conveys the need to find help from professionals with a shared viewpoint. Mickey clearly needs help, but has he waited too long to find it? Has he reached a point of no return where he will act out in an irreversibly destructive way? In entertainment, scenes of protagonists undergoing therapy have often been used as somewhat comedic devices, particularly when they do not fit the profile of psychotherapy patients (i.e. Tony Soprano or Paul Vitti). This is done in fun and meant only as a source of humor - for its entertainment value. However, there is a serious side to the issue that also deserves attention. Mickey Hardaway gets at this by illustrating the importance of doing away with the perception of therapy as something that is needed and should not be embarrassing when sought. As far as melodramas go, Mickey Hardaway is most reminiscent of the early 2000’s biopic Antwone Fisher . Both films consist of young Black protagonists dealing with residual anger from years of mistreatment and finally seek counseling in hopes of turning things around. Jonah Hill's Stutz , although more of a docu-drama, deals with this topic as well and with similar goals to Mickey Hardaway . The hope is to get young people to seek help when needed and in doing so, find a therapist they feel comfortable with and that is right for them. Previous Next Sign-up for new reviews, exclusives, deep dives, and more First name Last name Enter your email here I agree to the terms & conditions Sign-up Thanks for joining us!