One cardinal sin of storytelling is choosing the wrong protagonist and man, should this movie be branded with a big scarlet letter for that. We're constantly being dragged into Ruby's played out, generic high school angst when the interactions between the family are far and away the strongest part of the film. The signing is beautiful and expressive and takes advantage of the fact film is really the only medium where you can show proper signing and have non-signing audiences…
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12 Years a Slave 2013
I've seen some criticisms of this film as being heavy-handed, or overly simplistic, or even exploitative. And I do think there's some weight to those. The violence, rape, torture and so forth slaves were subjected to were obviously inescapable, and common, evils of the practice. However, they are not *alone* why the practice is evil. Slavery would be evil even without any of these things. And the film isn't without allusions to this idea, particularly when Solomon is working for…
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Megalopolis 2024
I quote the great Roger Ebert when I say “I hated this movie. Hated. hated. hated. hated. hated. Hated this movie. Hated it.”
The only thing more special than a movie which inundates you with radiant love is one which instills you with a near ineffable hatred. If you like this movie then you can take it as a compliment.
I knew going in there was a significant chance I would not like this, but I was prepared to be…
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Nickel Boys 2024
I don't mean to be corny, but films like this give me hope. For both the human spirit and the art of cinema. It pushes the medium forward in service of its narrative. I am very happy it's receiving acclaim.
At the risk of further corniness, it's made with hope. The most devastating and harrowing and evil displays are not watered down; on the contrary, these moments are darker because, on the whole, the film is always looking towards the…
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