Tag: Netflix

Moxie!

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Vivian (Hadley Robinson) is fed up with the sexist and toxic status quo at her high school. The jocks are always getting away with everything. Then, there is The List which annually compiles untrue titles of each student. Not to mention the fact that Principal Shelly (Marcia Gay Harden) does nothing to stop any of it. It has all gone too far. In order to step up and – hopefully – smash the patriarchy, Vivian follows in her mother Lisa’s (Amy Poehler) footsteps by anonymously publishing a zine. In the zine, she is able to speak out against these issues, but does that really count for anything when she’s not taking complete ownership?

I’ll be the first to admit that I was on the fence about watching Moxie! It seemed like it was going to be another teen movie that tried too hard to get it’s message across. While some parts were cliched and a bit cringe, it did work out well in the end.

They deal with serious issues that women face every day. Real issues that women face every day are depicted and it is important that they are addressed. Unfortunately Moxie! does not go into as much depth as it could have. It did sometimes seem as if the writers wanted the story to remain a comedy. There’s nothing wrong with humor; I just wish the approach wasn’t as superficial.

All in all, I think Moxie! mostly achieved what it set out to do. This is not only a film that teenage girls will look to, but it is one that everyone can learn something from.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

To All The Boys: Always and Forever

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The highly anticipated end to the popular To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise is finally here. Like every other fan, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing this last installment. I was so hoping that the story would be wrapped up in a perfect bow so that it would be easier for me to say goodbye to these characters that we have come to know and love. Luckily I got my wish!

Returning from a family trip to Korea, Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) is about to start her senior year! Together with her boyfriend Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), best friend Chris (Madeleine Arthur), nemesis Gen (Emilija Baranac) and friend Lucas (Trezzo Mahoro), they are ready to conquer everything from their trip to New York, Prom and graduation.

As she tries to immerse herself in her final days at Alder High, Lara Jean can’t help but be conflicted as to where she wants to go to college. The plan was to attend Stanford with Peter so they can stay together however when she gets into NYU, LJ isn’t so sure she wants to stay on the West Coast after all. Maybe following her dreams instead of her heart isn’t such a bad thing after all?

It has been some time since I read the trilogy so I can’t compare the movie to the books. Overall I was happy with how it all came together in the end. The characters got their happy ending and I liked how there were a lot of odes to the first two films. I’m sure that was much appreciated by the fans.

The only thing that bothered me throughout was how unsure Lara Jean was throughout the movie. She spent most of the time going back and forth between her decision and almost always based her choices on what she thought Peter would want her to do. Not going to lie – it got tiring after a while. It seemed like this whole topic of college swallowed up time she could have spent enjoying her last days at Alder High and with her family. I’m sure if she had been honest from the beginning, it would have saved a lot of heartache.

To All The Boys: Always and Forever was what I hoped it would be. If you are a long time fan of the series, I am sure you will be just as satisfied with this ending as I was.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Malcolm & Marie

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Quite possibly one of the most anticipated films of the year, Malcolm & Marie made headlines just under a year ago when news broke that it had been made during quarantine. People’s curiosities grew and so did the hype. Everyone wanted to know what the big secret was. I remember being incredibly excited to add this title to my list.

The story takes place over the span of one night. Malcolm (John David Washington) and Marie (Zendaya) have just returned home from a film premiere. Marie is disappointed in Malcolm because he forgot to thank her in his speech. What follows is a tumultuous evening complete with heightened tensions, many arguments and revelations between the two characters.

This movie left me feeling a mixed bag of emotions.

The acting was brilliant. Both John David Washington and Zendaya gave raw and chilling performances. At times I really did feel like I was right there in the room with them. I think it helped that it was just the two of them on screen as well. This made for a much more intimate experience that I won’t soon forget.

Something else that I loved was the cinematography. The black and white ambiance was a cool touch. I appreciated that it added a flair of timelessness. It was also filmed in 35mm which is unusual but added a uniqueness to the film.

However, the constant fighting really started to get to me after awhile. Just when you think it’s over, it starts all over again. The movie really is not for the faint hearted but it was eye opening at the same time. The message of giving gratitude to those you love was brought across perfectly and I felt a sense of solitary for Marie throughout.

Overall, Malcolm & Marie is a film that left an impression on me. I really don’t think I have seen anything like it before. Unfortunately the hype was too strong and it didn’t end up being like I expected.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

The White Tiger

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A rags to riches story is one of my favorite tropes. The White Tiger, a film by based on the 2008 book by Aravind Adiga, sparked my interest because it was executively produced by Ava DuVernay. I am convinced that everything she touches turns to gold. Together with director Ramin Bahrani, I knew that checking out this film was a no brainer. I just didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did!

Balram (Adarsh Gourav) knows that he is destined for greatness. When he gets a job as a driver for a wealthy Indian family, his life begins to change. But then Balram starts to see flaws in the system. He thought that working for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra) would be good for him, that they actually care about him and his wellbeing. Realizing that that couldn’t be further from the truth, Balram must use his wits to break free even if it means losing himself in the process.

This is not a light-hearted tale. It may start off on a hopeful note, complete with colorful visuals and lively music, however it slowly turns more dark as the film goes on. I thought this was also perfectly conveyed through the acting of the leads. The performances were all off the charts and I am excited to see what Adarsh Gourav does in the future. He put so many different emotions into his role and I was rooting for him the entire time.

I loved how the movie gave me major Parasite vibes in that the main character knows they are better than what society says they are. The caste system in India is just as thriving today than it was in the past and in some ways, it seems almost backwards for the 21st century. I appreciated how we as the audience had the opportunity to see this depicted because it helped make the movie more realistic.

The White Tiger was a joy to watch and I know it will stick with me for years to come. I’m sure it will have the same effect on you too.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Pieces of a Woman

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My first review of the new year and I feel like I chose the right movie to kick things off! Pieces of a Woman has been getting a lot of praise since its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival back in September. Despite the heavier nature, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I am pleased to say that it really did live up to the hype.

Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are expecting their first child. They couldn’t be more excited and have been waiting for this day for ages. Unfortunately, during the home birth, complications arise and it all ends in an unthinkable tragedy.

What follows is a year of Martha attempting to deal with the aftermath of her loss. Not only will her relationships change, but she must learn how to live with what happened to her so that she can move on.

Though the story was hard to watch at times, I do think it was eye opening. The first half hour alone was heartbreaking and I was holding my breath throughout. I hadn’t seen anything like it before! The performance by Vanessa Kirby was outstanding. I understand why so many are saying that she’ll be nominated for all the awards.

Similarly, Shia LaBeouf as Sean was a pleasant surprise. It had been awhile since I had seen him act in anything, but I do think that he is talented. The side characters including Martha’s mother Elizabeth (Ellen Burstyn), her sister Anita (Iliza Shlesinger), brother in law Chris (Benny Safdie) and cousin Suzanne (Sarah Snook) only helped enrich the story. And who could forget the midwife Eva (Molly Parker) who tried her best to save the baby’s life?

Pieces of a Woman is a raw story of loss, but it is also about finding yourself in the wake of it. I highly recommend the movie!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥