This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Visually just a really stunning film jam-packed with beautiful city landscape shots that are a cross between art deco and retro futurism. If you look at any science fiction media after this, it's hard not to see Metropolis's visual influences.
The biggest disappointments for me were the thematic elements of the film. I guess I had incredibly high hopes for a film that, fairly early on, establishes the idea of extreme class inequalities and the dangers that this huge divide…
There's a triumph in having a film like this even exist and occupy space in theaters and Hollywood, with special screenings hosted by well known actors, and an almost all Cuban cast. Does the fact that it's written and directed by two white guys sit well with me? Not really. But now -- living far removed from my highly saturated cubanaso upbringing in Miami -- I've come to the realization that the majority of Americans' only exposure to Cuba or…
Really liked how they included interviews with contemporary artists (a Jonas brother, Justin Timberlake, Noel Gallagher, Chris Martin) who were influenced by the Bee Gees.
Also important to note that the director included voices from marginalized communities to tell the story of the rise and fall of disco. There aren't many music documentaries that can effectively shine a spotlight on social issues while still keeping the artist at the center of the conversation.
I generally ignore action films/ movies focused on gratuitous violence, but I watched this to support Dev Patel and I wasn't disappointed. It's sometimes outrageously goofy (see "turbo" motorized rickshaw chase scene) but it never loses sight of the overarching themes Patel sews into the narrative. If you can critique wealth inequality and classism while kicking ass you'll always have my attention. But tbh if you're Dev Patel you'll have my attention anyway.
