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Good Will Hunting (1997)
Raw, feel good, and everything done with perfection.
This movie could easily drown in the grave yard of "broken orphan boy finds his pathway"trope. But this felt so raw throughout the course, each scenes and dialogues are so well thought out. Robin Williams as a therapist was the exact bowl of endearing optimism that we need more in these feel good movies. It was encouraging enough and not over the top preachy. The hero's journey felt organic and the plots seem well paced and not stretched or rushed to engage with the viewers attention.
This is a fantastic masterpiece of how to make a simple movie within the classically loved tropes without it feeling monotonous. I'll rewatch if from time to time.
Renfield (2023)
Reflective, absurd, with great dialogues and performance.
This is movie was so over the top silly that I couldn't stop looking away from the screen. It was incredibly entertaining and even though the gore is vivid it doesn't seem as overwhelming because it is Shadowed under the absurdness the plot. Cage stole the show with this cartoonish villian archetype.
That being said as a person who has struggled with unhealthy condependency - the writing was validating. There was interview of the director in which he said the dialogues were written after many observations they found from reading literature on narcissism, condependency - all pop-psych buzz we are aware of.
Truly worth the watch especially if even enjoy dark humor.
Bones and All (2022)
Hightened human emotions wrapped in horror
This movie is obscure and relatable at the same time. It tries to capture that euphoric state when our emotions and desires don't make any sense but the engulf us. Example you love someone so much that no amount of intimacy is enough to get closer to them. It's about a coming of age couple and also them individually as well - questioning a moral compass every step they take.
This is fiction so of course their sinister duality manifests into body horror. So these characters - which in real world would be locked up in pyschiartic help for gross violence, are now humanized to us. Their struggles feel relatable just like any another person but with this context of their dark nature adds various layers of symbols to how human emotions can't be tamed when it explodes in it's raw intensity.
There is not much plot to it, it's pretty straightforward. But thanks to the cinematography it captures this entranced moment that feels extended as if time has stopped.
Verdens verste menneske (2021)
A melancholic beautiful movie which is also feels tone-deaf.
The beauty of the movie is in the precious intimate moments. We see a woman going through the ups and downs of navigating through the modern world. She isn't the most likeable of characters and is full of flaws. It feels real and tangible.
The first half is about her rushing yards. We see her flakiness, her infidelity, her selfishness, her relationship with her parents. It's all shown to us in the most cathartic ways. But then the 2nd half is not even about her, it feels like the story is about the men in her life and why their actions are justifiable. I'm so confused with the tone of this movie, are we supposed to sympathize with an artist who makes questionable art because it's therapy for him at the expense of basic human decency? And the protagonist is a hero because she dates him and isn't judgemental about it? We have a whole monologue about why the other guy cheated on his partner, but 0 clues why the protagonist did the same. The artist dude is talking about her daddy issues and then the movie pans out as everything he says about the protagonist is true because "he knows her more than she understands herself". They have "impeccable communication" where he reads her mind and viewers aren't shown what is going on in her mind. There is a lot of "tell no show" in the movie, which I don't appreciate.
There is nothing wrong with portraying men as flawed too. They are shown as such, but there is also an inkling on why we should sympathize with them and get 0 ideas about her mind even though her primary goal in life is to understand human emotions and everything cerebral. Funnily the title is the worst person in the world, then who is that person? Is it her? But even after 2 hours of a movie about her, I know barely anything about her.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
A good attempt to portray an anti-hero but some things are off.
What I liked
1. Some great dialogues
2. Strong message
What I didn't like
1. The 60s setting looks too fake
2. Alia doesn't seem natural sometimes
The movie has a strong message and doesn't shy away from the horrors that people go through. I'm impressed by the strong dialogues and how strongly it was delivered. It's a one-woman show.
Alia has tried her best to fit into the character. But what feels off is when it comes to emotional scenes she performs great, but she is asked to act fiercely she looks like caricature and unnatural. Plus sometimes the set seems so fake that it is distracting. The unnaturalness just made the movie feel like a mess sometimes and too long-winded, when in fact the writing is strong the narration is on point.
The songs in SLB style are catchy and fun. As someone from Gujarat, I can already hear some of them during Navratri. I think it is worth a watch, probably it would be very uncomfortable to watch with kids, but movies like this are thought-provoking, so I would recommend watching it once and not expecting too much.
Blue Period (2021)
Every novice artist's dream.
What I liked-
1. Heartwarming tale about the struggles and success of a novice.
2. great character depth
3. Animation is simple yet beautiful.
What I didn't enjoy-
1. Meddling with too many themes at one time makes it incomplete.
This is an endearing and encouraging story for all the artists who are trying to find their voice but struggling with their inner critic. There are also some tips and tricks on how one can practice. The blue period is one of the famous titles of Picasso's paintings - it's supposed to be reflective and emotional. The show delivered that beautifully. It was very easy to empathize with the character who is trying his hardest to become good at his craft. It's also funny how art school stereotypes are portrayed in the show. We get a glimpse into other characters who are struggling in different ways. I think everyone will find a type which will fit their nature.
There is a strong focus on a character's gender identity. But since they aren't the mc, I felt their character was added for the drama and the plot was handled haphazardly.
So, all in all, it's a good show which will touch the hearts of artists the most. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will remember the validation I got from it for a long time.
Dune (2021)
eat the elephant by cutting it into pieces, but sharpen the knife 1st
What I liked-
1. Epic visual effects
2. Great sound track
3. Good acting
What I didn't like-
1. 1st half is slow and forgettable
2. Only telling not showing
3. Little to no crucial elements of world building
The visual and sound sets the mood for a perfect roller coaster of adrenaline rush. The characters are A list actors giving good performance. This, quite obviously is the beginning of a saga, but the crew shouldn't have mushed this in our face by keeping the stakes so low. As an avid reader and sucker for world building I'm disappointed with how there is little to no cultural references from this classic sci-fi book series which has so much material to offer.
I'm confused as to why they didn't take the risk of jumping straight into the tale instead of testing waters with giving us no plot but only pretty scenes and people? Maybe doing to suck money out of it! Still rooting and waiting for more.
Little Things (2016)
just as the title its about exploring little moments that often go unnoticed
What I liked-
1. Simplistic no melodramatic plots
2. Honest chemistry between the characters
3. Mainly focuses on existential pondering of modern Indian couples
What I disliked-
1. It can seem a little out of touch if you have lived in the majority part of the nation where society is still very conservative.
2. They toss around jobs a lot, but can afford a luxurious lifestyle in Mumbai, seems quite unrealistic.
3, The story skews more towards Dhruv and equally with Kavya
I started watching the show back when it was a web series on YouTube. But as the story progressed the show explored so many themes a lot of couples face. There isn't anything extraordinary about it, but it's a slice of life story of these two characters where they try to present the struggles and joys of being a couple.
I especially enjoy how self-aware the characters are. It's refreshing to see a couple holding coherent respectful conversations, unlike the hyperbolic Bollywood drama that we usually get. It also talks of seemingly little but significant existential questions that feel dreadfully too close to heart. Because of this level of vulnerability, the characters seem authentic.
If I had to nitpick on something then I would say, this show, in usual Mumbaiesk fashion -- quite liberal. If you have been in the majority parts of the country where the society is still quite conservative, this show will definitely feel a bit out of touch. This show is for modern couples who grew up in modern families. Also, how are they not in debt by so much jumping around without much job and living so comfortably in Mumbai? Also, the most narration is from Dhruv's perspective, and Kavya sometimes looks like a sidekick.
Other than that the show is definitely worth the watch. I'm still in my early 20s but they showed me how healthy relationships can look like, thank you :)
Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
made me feel somethings after months. please watch it
If you have struggled for even a slightest bit because of what's happening in the world. Then watch it. Specially folks with social anxiety and depression, hi! The special had a dedicated song for us
also if one wants to see it as satirical humor then its your choice, however I don't see it as such. Its a lyrical bo burnham take on what we are struggling with specially around mental health. Politics, collective trauma and apathy.
*tw* self harm ideation.
Vincenzo (2021)
Evil is prevalent and vehement
Loved
1. One of the best anti-heroes (I've seen many)
2. Lots of social commentaries weaved into drama
3. Active interaction with the audience
4. Brilliant acting and direction with no unnecessary bloodshed
5. Lots of pop literature references
Qualms
1. Technical plot holes
2. Predictable
Vincenzo is our anti-hero who is devoted to family, reads books like how to befriend birds, and also takes revenge using the spear of atonement. He doesn't believe in serving justice, so he formulated a set of strict principles to avenge crime as a vigilante with calm precision.
The show organically shifts between crime, comedy and romance so it feels quite realistic. The plot is- the fall of a psychopath, and how pain stacking difficult it is, thanks to the corrupt judicial system and government. I loved many pop culture references like the miserable ones, modern art and other classic super-rich mafia thrill. In terms of direction, the show is super engaging especially when it interacts with the audience by breaking the 4th wall and also empowering the average civilians within the show. There is no unnecessary bloodshed and nudity like the usual US made shows in this genre, and I appreciate that! The criminals, too get panic attacks like genuine humans :0
The show is crime drama heavy so it fills you with adrenaline, but there are technical errors and plot holes. Still the overall script outshines those issues. And of course, to follow up for next seasons they made this one, highly predictable.
Overall I loved this show. The social commentary, the drama, everything, kept me on the edge. It's an escapist fever dream from the real-life failures of our society. Can't wait for more.
Shadow and Bone (2021)
Those aren't monsters, they are boys: a diverse, well thought YA fantasy
What I liked-
1. VFX and acting is decent
2. Has a thrilling pace without unnecessary sex and gore
3. Has POC, specially-abled and LGBTQ+ representation
qualms
1. Predictable ending
2. Dialogues are boring, I wish they quoted more from books
Full disclosure I'm a fan of the books: the Grisha verse series by Leigh bardugo. So my expectations were high because the series is not only a thrilling action pack fantasy but also a well-thought representation of real life.
Cinematically the show perfectly sets the mood of a chosen one vs the sympathetic villain trope. That means a dark colour pallet, an easily understandable magic system, weird creatures and good looking characters. It has multiple plots like high stakes heist, POW escape and the becoming of a hero, connectively aligned so every viewer will find something that fits their thrill. My favourite part is how true to morals the show is to its source. Hence the show has diverse main characters who talk about racism, consent, minimum bloodshed, remorse, etc.
The show could have added better dialogues for more emotional connection (the book does a great job on that matter). Also, the ending is predictable to keep you hooked for season 2. All in all, it's a fun one-time binge-watch party.
Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry (2021)
Making of an authentic teen super-star + we fans feel seen.
What I liked
1. Respectful and transparent capture of teen BIllie
2. Individual participation of important people
3. Captured the essence of her creative process
what I didn't like
1. Less to no conversations about their struggles when they weren't this big
2. No conversations around her improving mental health.
3. No mention of her social justice projects.
The Billie Eilish is not just Billie but also her entire family. Billie is an active volcano with authentic vision, Finneas streamlines her vision with his artistic perfection, and parents are the backbone of the world of Billie Eilish. We fans all know this, but many people see us as a bunch of fake depressed kids who want attention. I'm not sentimental enough to stan celebrities, but Billie's translation of our collective feelings and struggles kept me close to her art.
The documentary has transparently recorded her, her family and us-fans. Truly speaking I wasn't expecting this vulnerability. Sometimes while watching it I felt intrusive, we fans know Billie is very protective about her journal and her bedroom wall. But the doc has captured these crucial stocks of her art. RJ Cutler has done a tremendous job in extracting this essence. There is no other nonsense involved. Its 2 hours and 20 minutes of observing the making of Billie Eilish.
The most beautiful part is that the doc is respectful to her and includes the good and the ugly. The camera is not on her face, but more like a story recorded on family video cameras. The little details like the end scenes have a blue vignette-style frame while her singing ocean eyes, made me cry the 100th time. Her songs are seamlessly adapted according to the mood of the scenes. However, there are very few conversations of the entire family talking about her childhood which is understandable, but I wanted to know how they were when they weren't this famous. Billie has throughout these years improved her mental health, and since she is very passionate about it I wished they talked about it too. It also doesn't talk about the social justice issues they are active about.
I feel those who don't like her art will too enjoy this as a coming of age story of a 5 grammy-winning young artist.
I Care a Lot (2020)
"I'm a lioness" failed attempt of making an anti-hero.
What I liked
1. Interesting plot
2. Rosamund Pike's acting
what I didn't like
1. humour
2. storyline
3. absurd choices leading to poor execution
The movie right from the start states its intention clear: the creation of a criminal who sees the world through binary "predator-prey" lenses. Rosamund Pike is carrying the entire movie on her shoulders. It tried to be smart by mentioning Milgram experiments, exploitation of the vulnerable, the rich and their sadistic selfishness. But in-progress, it lost its sensibility and made absurd choices which compounded into poor execution.
From gone girl to promising young woman to now I care a lot, we have this wave of creating female anti-heroes. I'm specially mentioning this because all these movies made sure to multiple times talk about how much they hate mansplain and emotionally immature parents. This idea acts as a redeeming arc for their anti-social behaviour. I enjoy them for the sheer thrill of it, but I don't feel comfortable categorising them as an allegory, because their behaviour is extremely toxic. (I'm a girl who hates the stated issues too)
So I was in the least expecting a thrilling experience. But it was completely tarnished because of illogical theories. (The backbone of every thriller is its smartness and eccentric boldness.) It also tried to add some humour: silly overdramatic reactions by Peter Dinklage. But that was such a wasted opportunity, it almost felt like a caricature of cartoon villains. It does give a farewell by completing the circle of "bad people should die". Creators could have done a lot better, it was cartoonishly paced and incoherent.
To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021)
A simple YA story which chooses love over fear.
This is the final movie in to all the boys trilogy. Lara Jean and Peter are in their senior year, planning for college while navigating their relationship.
What I liked-
1. Talks about real teenage relationship issues.
2. Effects of absent parental relationships.
3. Consent.
4. Candy-Pastel Colour pallet.
What I didn't like
1. It's a bit slow
The best part about TATB apart from great acting and song selections is its dedication to talk about teenage issues in relationships. It's a character study of 2 teenagers LJ and Peter who fear that they'll never find true love because their parents either unintentionally, in case of LJ or intentionally, in case of Peter, left them when they were young. That lack of love disrupts their belief and expression of love.
In this movie we see lots of relationships- LJ's dad finding love after years of loneliness, The sister bond among the song girls is at its tender peak, Kitty has a Korean boyfriend, Peter reconciles with his father, and last but not the least LJ and Peter took the courage to love each other despite the odds that they face- 3000 miles apart.
In 1st and the 2nd movie (the drowned one in my opinion) we saw LJ dealing with her fears- stable love, insecurity because of comparison, people from the past, etc and Peter with his lack of open communication. In the 3rd-
1. LJ comes out of her hesitancy and fully takes agency over her life- accepts stable love, visits Korea, explores NYC, speaks her mind etc, which were big character developments.
2. In a vulnerable moment LJ says "I choose you"- admirable. It shows they are in for the long haul.
3. They are emotionally mature to talk about sex. (such a relief from other dumb rom-com)
4. Peter finally overcomes his fear that "no one chooses him", accepts LJ's dreams and also communicates his feelings. We see his sensitivity, a character development.
They are finally ready to take care of themselves and their relationship. To all the boys is that one series which took me out of the rom-com rut. Thank you guys for creating this simple beautiful story. A well-deserved farewell.
Malcolm & Marie (2021)
In a sick relationship, couples block every red flag.
The movie is a character study of a guy who made a movie about drug abuse and a girl who is a drug abuse survivor. The movie is in greyscale which is aesthetically pleasing and can be symbolised as figuring out a grey-thin-line of comfort in this love-hate relationship. They were failing and trying to have sex throughout which can be symbolised as them trying to know the other better or just getting under each other's skin to inflict more harm. Malcolm is scared of being called a "mediocre director". He also has limited self-awareness to the point he crucifies anyone who talks against his work or himself. Marie is extremely self-sabotaging and unable to share her feelings without passive aggression.
There are some good pointers discussed (don't quote)
1. Just because I'm a black man doesn't mean everything I make is political or about race.
2. How indifferent/similar an artist can be to their art? (Marie says she toils with both his directional edits and him as a boyfriend for the same reasons)
3. How does a perspective define one's reality? (Malcolm says you want control because you can't understand why I'm with you. The reason is I love you.)
4. Is an apology enough to regain trust? (Marie always feels Malcolm takes her for granted. He, in fact, didn't give her the credits she truly deserves, but he apologised for it a million times)
5. You need to appreciate yourself.
(Marie has a monologue in which she reminiscents the acts she has done for Malcolm. It can look as selfishly counting one's worth, but it was curing for Marie because she struggles with self-esteem)
The whole movie was about them projecting their insecurities and verbally abusing each other. Malcolm was worse than Marie in this case. This talking in circles is what I believe was the red flag. They are incapable of having a conversation without being hurtful. But since they are truly in love (debatable), they are not addressing their incompatibility. It doesn't give you a second to breathe before bringing another session of screaming, swearing and tearing the other down. And this is not how normal relationships should be, there can be disagreement but not this level of abuse. Don't watch this movie if you're in a toxic relationship or trying to wind down. I was exhausted because it was incredibly overwhelming.
Gone Girl (2014)
amy-"amazing amy was always one step ahead of me".
What I liked
1 A female anti-hero who has her own brain
2. Intelligent story with super engaging pace
3. Connotations of cultural issues.
What I didn't like
1. Major red flag for the audience (imitation problem)
This is jarring to stay but we have very few female anti-heroes who uses her brain in the crime/thriller genre so gone girl is refreshing. The movie is brilliant in all aspects (specially props to the actor for her thrilling acting) but the cultural connotations like this line "amazing Amy was always one step ahead of me" has stuck with me. Amy is a dangerous predator but whatever she became is a reflection of how her parents wanted her to be. They forced her to never "fail", the men in her life always wanted her to be the "cool girl". She was never accepted as her true self, so she believed that everyone has to act a certain way to be acceptable. She believed "I forged this man" so that he becomes an acceptable person in society instead of a mediocre penniless guy. This controlling self-destructive mentality is so deeply rooted in her soul that it corrupted her into a gone girl (someone who truly lost her sanity). Please remember you're loved the way you're. This reflection is what makes this story 2x more strong and compelling.
Talking about the imitation problem. Yes, these anti-heroes give us an adrenaline rush, but I want to reiterate that movies are fictional and made for entertainment. Amy is a crazy controlling person with serious anti-social tendencies. There is no way to justify her horrible acts. Keep that in mind and be cautious around anyone who believes imitating Amy is cool.
peace
Minari (2020)
minari is wonderful
What I liked
1. Real-life immigrant story
2. Emphasis on little details and struggles
3. Complex topics captured in wholesome manner.
5. Brilliant acting
6. Southern country setting.
As Grandma said: Minari is wonderful, grows like weeds on curbs, eaten by both rich and poor, and supremely healthy. The movie felt just like that. This screenplay is a deeply intimate portrayal of an immigrant story. It has a slow country flow- which keeps the viewers soothingly involved as if we are part of the family.
It touches important topics: Emotional struggles of immigrant couples, complicated relationship between 1st generation (children) and their grandparents, a family falling apart because of financial concerns, spending time with friends to solve problems at home, ignorance of white folks, Asian mindset of always-"be practical and useful", and many more subtle details. It weaves all these details and presents us with a wholesome, sad yet hopeful story about the life of immigrants.
American dream is so glorified, but this vulnerable story gives us a big reality check. As Asian myself, I could relate a lot. Thank you! :)
Before Sunset (2004)
some moments of life become our entire life
This movie is surreal. I can't even believe how the crew especially these actors pulled off this absurd storyline. There is no specific plot in it, they made a whole movie about 2 people just talking while walking in places which gives little glimpses of how the non-Parisian media sees Paris. Nothing out of the ordinary. That's what exactly the beauty of this movie is. They brought a conversation from a normal day and reminded us this is how people behave, this is how we miss people, this is how we have conversations, this is how memories are made, this is what life is. The conversations are interlaced so smoothly. It is deeply intellectual but done in such a casual manner- that sounds like people talking about their next meal.
This movie is a character study. I love how in the movie Jesse talks about why he wrote a book about that one moment of his life. This movie is the real-life reflection of that marvellous concept.
The only reason I'm not giving it full stars is because of the 1 problematic tangent of cheating. Well, I believe having strong romantic feelings (except nostalgic) for some else is cheating. Despite that, I love this movie, definitely on the top of my list of romantic movie recommendations.
Promising Young Woman (2020)
Nice guys are not always nice.
What I liked-
1. Thrilling unpredictable plotlines
2. Brilliant acting
3. Candy themed colour pallet
What I didn't like-
1. Problematic moral code
This is a tricky movie to review on a moral standpoint. Rape-revenge stories are not new, but here we have to give extra emphasis on cultural issues. It is what the entire movie is based on. The tragedy and repercussions are realistic and I, as a woman understand the amount of trauma survivors had to endure. But do I think their vision of tackling with the problem is correct? definitely not. The protagonist was terrifying, we the viewers exactly know how much emotional baggage she has on her shoulders, yet she stays so distant from any vulnerability to the point that the none of the characters know what's going on.
People will enjoy the movie as a creative project- the thrill, colour pallet, acting, everything is on point. The final scene especially was unpredictable (I felt sad yet relieved for the protagonist, it's very confusing). But morally-- uh, I don't know.
Saikojiman Gwaenchanha (2020)
Shadow witch didn't take the children's faces, she took their courage for finding happiness
What I liked
1. A merge between fairytale and real-life themed storyline
2. Major character arc
3. Cinematography
4. Realistic portrayal of struggle with emotions and mental health
5. Brilliant acting and dialogues
What I didn't like.
1. Acceptance of toxic behaviour
This show has encaptured all possible emotions in a box and sprinkled it across the storyline like fairy dust. I can't get enough of how beautifully the story evolves. This show is not just about romance, it's about-
1. Strong family bonds with people irrespective of bloodlines.
2. How our childhood experiences or the past, both haunts and keeps us alive.
3. People with mental illness are humans too, they need extra strength to come out of the box
4. We don't belong to others, we belong to ourselves
5. Human beings are weak so we should lean on each other to become invincible.
6. Butterfly means psyche, some may see it as madness, and some- cure.
There are numerous little reminders like this throughout the show.
I also loved how the creators gave us a complete picture of the story that will proceed after the show ends. That's some next-level passion for storytelling.
Along with this, I want to point out Ko-mun-Yeong's toxic behaviour towards Gung-tae. I understand her pain and her behaviour, but I sometimes felt her controlling behaviour was accepted and barely addressed. Even in the end, her controlling behaviour is just joked about. No matter how much love exists in a relationship, that level of need to control your partner is never okay.
This show will always be in my memories- the honesty of this show is one of a kind.
Kiss the Ground (2020)
Soil is the essence that made us and will eventually save us
What I liked
1. Peer Review from multiple people.
2. Simplistic sicientific explanation.
What I didn't like
1. No mention of the logistics and cost involved in regenerative farming.
This documentary was an immensely helpful introduction to the concept of regenerative farming. It has convinced me how benefical this method can be in sloving the problems of climate change, enough production for the mass and good use of carbon footprint. However, their promotion of this method seems very one-sided with no explanation of how farmers can implement it in real life. It gives no information about how much the initial and over-time cost of the method can be?, how long is the harvesting season?, what are the up and downsides? and many more critical basic questions even a child from elementary school will ask.
At the end, this documentary made me feel very optimistic about future, but because of lack of crucial information, it seems like a advertisment giving us false hope.
Euphoria: Trouble Don't Last Always (2020)
Believe in something which is more powerful than you
What I liked
1. Free- therapy session
2. Brilliant acting and dialogues
3. Cinematography
4. Perfect pacing
This is a one-of-kind episode. We hardly see adults and teenagers having honest back and forth conversation about the struggles of life and how to navigate through them. There are 100 different tangents we can further talk about from this one episode, which makes it realistic yet surreal at the same time. 1 hour well spent- many reminders, some new explanations to old concepts, and of course the great setting and acting by the entire crew and cast of Euphoria. Love you guys!
Soul (2020)
We got soul and its all right- a life lesson.
What I liked
1. Explanation of the foundation of spirituality in a non-cheesy way
2. Good pacing
3. Great animation
What I didn't like
1. A little bit overstretching of the plot
2. Some unnecessary reference to astrology
This movie is an hour and 30 min long visualization of "all we have is now". If you are spiritual but not religious and ask questions: why we exist? What is our purpose? Is living on this planet worth it? Then definitely watch Soul. The movie tries to answer them with a simplistic relatable story.
In the end, it concludes: the meaning of life is our ordinary day-to-day activities and how we choose to live it. Keeping our senses alive to absorb what's happening around us and just breathing.
A great reminder to end this one hell of the year 2020. My sceptical mind doesn't understand after-life, but I definitely agree with the moral. People, especially guardians/parents should watch it with children. One of the most mature and conversation-starter movie.
The Undoing (2020)
Conclusion: Never miss red flags in relationships.
What I liked-
1. Reasoning different plausible scenarios
2. Satisfying ending
3. Great acting, cinematography, and important POC characters.
4. Consistency in keeping the relationship tension alive.
What I didn't like-
1. Weak Dialogues.
2. Not using psychotherapy skills of the character at its full potential.
3. Lack of technical accuracy.
This series has brilliant cinematograph, consistency, and acting. I appreciate how the creators have dug into all plausible suspects and reached fairly deep into each theory. It's enjoyable how characters got to speak their minds instead of dumping 100s of mindless clues. The relationship tension between children, parents, couples, childhood trauma and its effects have been explored---which was super interesting to watch. Lastly and importantly, the show has important POC characters.
From a technical standpoint, the show lacks accuracy. And the dialogues are quite old-school which can sound cringy. I was intrigued to see a psychotherapist's perspective. But the creators only partly focused on it, making her career irrelevant to the case. The show is more about psychology and I wanted to know about the characters' personal choices to find an absolute conviction. The show did redeem itself by giving us a sequence of clues to fixate why and who is guilty, at the very end.
We Are Who We Are (2020)
Every art appreciator's dream, but every realistic matures nightmare
The parts I liked-
1. Atmospheric cinematography
2. Portrayal of teenage emotions
3. Lgbtq+ representation
The parts I didn't like-
1. Lack of a strong conclusion for the story
2. Lack of accountability for actions
This show felt like watching different memories of a group of people living in the same environment - a military base. I've never been on military-based colonies but I do know about corporate employment-based colonies. And the way these teenagers are never held accountable for their actions is bonkers. The main character is hurtful to his mother, the group 2x go to a luxury house and break it apart. I listened to Luca's vision for the house. That house was supposed to be Eden's garden where those teenagers are fully themselves without any filters. I adored the representation of emotions. The confusion regarding one's sexuality and preferences, inner dialogues of a teenager during social interactions with family and friends.
But when these kinds of heavy topics are discussed, the creators have to understand that being realistic is very important. Those teenagers in the name of exploring their sadness and emotions were putting their lives and the lives of their parents into grave danger and they faced no repercussions for it.
I had this theory that the main character was suffering with may be undiagnosed autism or something similar, but no explanation was given. Series touched on many topics like The other black family was showcased as Republican supporters (which was a very interesting choice, especially around US-elections), the story of a religious mother with homosexuality, the story of estrangement of a father-step son, exploring Islam, all of this has so much potential. But none of the concepts were not explained further. I've very conflicted thoughts.