Here  we are, the final passion blog. I started this blog in August in my past RCL class, and really feel that I have grown with each one. In many ways, it is a reflection of my freshman film life, which is really cool. For my final passion blog, I have decided to finally give my top ten movies. This list is not necessarily best cinematically or simply nostalgia; it is more a combination of both. Before I go down the list, here are some honorable mentions:

Spiderman: No Way Home, Lady Bird, Jo Jo Rabbit, and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Now, for my top ten.

10. Elf

I don’t necessarily know when I first watched this holiday classic, but I have watched it consistently for years, usually on Christmas Eve with my family. Will Ferrell is simply iconic in this movie and gives a great performance along with the rest of the cast. It gives a contemporary spin on the classic holiday tales and lore, which I appreciate. If I had to pick one holiday film, this is it.

9. The Banshees of Inisherin

This film is currently on HBO Max and one that I have mentioned before. Recently in award contention, Banshees tells a simple story with a heartfelt message. Irish people are fun to listen to and they have good stories, that’s about all I need to say.

8. The Help

I watched The Help for the first time a few years ago, and I was simply blown away. The racial undertones are so beautifully highlighted to drive the story. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer especially have phenomenal performances in this film, even winning Spencer an Oscar. Plus, the late comedian Leslie Jordan adds to the complexity of the plot. It is a fantastic watch.

7. Chef

I love Chef, it is wonderful. Starring John Favreau, Sofia Vergara, and John Leguizamo, Chef tells a heartwarming story of a dad and son who leave everything to open a food truck together. It highlights the importance of family and the wonderfulness of doing things in the spur of the moment. I remember shedding a few tears after this one!

6. Lilo and Stitch

I had to include an animated film on this list, especially after the last vlog, so I chose my favorite, Lilo and Stitch. Stitch has always been my favorite cartoon character, and this film has so much heart in it. Plus, the theme, “Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride,” is so catchy and fun. It is a nostalgic, classic, animated film that needs more attention.

5.  Knives Out

I have always been attracted to murder mysteries and I think this modern film does the genre perfectly. Its great cast of Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many more add to the tension of the film. It is smart, witty, and insightful, which I greatly enjoy. Plus, its sequel, Glass Onion, is also great, but not as iconic as the original.

4. Avengers: Endgame

I had to include this one. In the top 3 highest grossest films of all time, the final Avengers film is just simply epic. I saw this film initially on its opening night back in April of 2019, and perhaps I was consumed by the hype, but I have always thought highly of this film. My brother and I were sort of obsessed with Marvel, and this final-chapter masterpiece came along  which we just could not stop talking about. Yes, it may be odd to be this high, but I just really like the movie.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I am including both part 1 and 2 in this which may be cheating, but I almost always watch them together. The final installment(s) of the Harry Potter franchise is a cinematic feat that I would love to see for the first time again. I watched them so much as a kid, and now will watch them every once in a while as a comfort movie(s). The buildup, pace, and storyline are simply fantastic, with great acting all around. While it is not on everyones’ list, it had to place at least top 3 on mine.

2. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Readers (the like 4 of you) have known how much I love this movie. I predicted its sweep at the Oscars which eventually it fulfilled because it is a revolutionary film. EEAAO is a masterpiece, with so many intertwined themes and insightful notes which come together in a way that has potentially changed the landscape of cinema. I am sure you have heard enough about the good of this film, so I’ll stop here.

1. Parasite

My number one is also a film that saw some praise, winning best picture and many more Oscars in 2020. I was working at the College 9 when this film came out in wide release, and I simply fell in love. This Korean film is the first international film to ever win best picture and it deserves every single vote. Parasite tells the story of a servant family taking over their rich patrons’ house, emphasizing greed and class discrimination. Even watching this film in Korean with English subtitles, I was enthralled in the acting, pacing, and cinematography. It is currently streaming on Hulu, so please watch this one-it is the best film, in my opinion.

Well, that’s it. This has been such a fun experience writing about the Entertainment Industry. Thanks for following along!

References:

https://www.imdb.com/

As I briefly mentioned in blog #3 about the Oscars, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio was nominated for and ended up winning best Animated Feature Film at this year’s Academy Awards. What struck me about his speech was his argument that animation is cinema, not a children-only category in Hollywood, specifically saying, “Animation is not a Genre.” If you have not seen this film on Netflix, I highly recommend because of its precision and absolutely beautiful animation.

I think there is no denying that in recent years, animation has been seen as inferior in the eyes of Hollywood, with many media companies deciding to send animated films directly to streaming rather than giving them a chance in theaters. This art form is so often overlooked, when in almost all cases, a 90 minute animated film takes 2-3 times longer to create than a typical 2 hour action movie.

Now, of course when it comes to animation usually the first thing thought of is Disney, with its nearly 100 film library of family classics. Of course there is Illumination who made the Despicable Me and Secret Life of Pets Franchise, but I think there is one solid animated film studio that is often overlooked: DreamWorks Animation.

It has many of the big names: Shrek, Trolls, Madagascar, and Boss Baby. Recently though, I randomly watched 2 of its hidden gems: Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. The former I have seen parts of & is currently on HBO Max and the latter I watched for the first time on Netflix. As someone who has mainly been exposed to Disney’s classics, I was pleasantly surprised by these films, considering they both were released 10-15 years ago.

Starting with Kung Fu Panda, I thoroughly enjoyed this “rewatch”, seeing the film in its entirety for the first time. With an outstanding voice cast including Jack Black as the lead Panda, Po, along with Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogan, Jackie Chan, and Dustin Hoffman; the mantra of finding talent when given the opportunity is such a powerful one. I also love the variety of animals being animated along with the Asian culture and music. Kung Fu Panda also includes many different animation styles, especially when going into backstories. I was pleasantly surprised by this watch and am thinking about watching the sequels soon.

A couple days after, I finally watched How to Train Your Dragon. With perhaps a lesser-known cast included Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, and Kristen Wiig; I greatly enjoyed this well-loved film. It shocked me that it was released in 2010, as I feel it has been a sort of side-phenomenon in more recent years. I found the story to be beautifully drawn out, funny, and insightful. The animation has great quality and the film in general really showed the care given. It was quick-ish and to the point, with a great background score. This one also has sequels that I plan to watch soon.

Honestly, until watching these films. I had no clue that DreamWorks has such a strong library of key movies from my childhood. While it is owned by NBCUniversal, it really has the creativity and vibe of a strong, independent film studio. If you ever have a chance, give these movies a try or really any animated movie you have been wanting to watch. This art form is so powerful and deserves to be loved just as much as any other.

References:

• https://www.themarysue.com/guillermo-del-toro-nails-it-during-pinocchio-oscars-speech-animation-is-not-a-genre/
• https://www.dreamworks.com/movies

I am writing this post a bit early on March 26, mere hours before the Season 4 premiere of Succession, the hit HBO drama. I am not going to lie a bit, I absolutely love this show. I love it so much that I actual wrote my rhetorical analysis essay about the show last semester in 137H. In preparation of this final season, I rewatched the last 3 over the past couple of weeks. If you don’t know, here is a little synopsis of this revolutionary show:

Imagine a family owns the largest media conglomerate in the world, known as Waystar Royco. Logan Roy, the patriarch of the family, is the CEO and founder. He has four children; Connor, a goofy political pendant; Kendall, a drug addict businessman; Shioban (Shiv), a democratic campaign organizer; and Roman, a disrespectful and disgusting man with some business knowledge. When Logan suddenly falls ill, there becomes a question as to who will be his successor (hence Succession). With many other characters in play, it must be decided who will take control of the company. As Logan gains back his strength and others lose their own, this situation becomes much more complicated.

I think the thing that I love most about the show is that none of the characters are really likable. Through the past few seasons, characters have switched “teams” depending on the state of personal relationships, but this new season really moves the chess pieces. For the first time, the 3 main children: Kendall, Roman, and Shiv are united against their father.

Figuratively and literally, this series is rich and vulgar with wealthy people fighting to death for their own personal position. The writing has genuine depth, with each line connecting to events in the future. This series is written and ran by Jesse Armstrong, who actually decided last-minute to make Season 4 the last for this wonderful series. He has spoken in many interviews with the argument that shows should not overstay their welcome, which I greatly respect. This decision was so last minute that many actors, including Sarah Snook (Shiv) did not realize it would be the end until the season finale script read-through. I personally am very distraught over this news, but that will be dealt with when it finally ends in May.

Nonetheless, I am still very stoked for this final season. I am trying not to spoil anything, but season 3 ended with a large sense of betrayal and perhaps opens up the need for revenge. Many relationships were completely broken in the final episodes of the last season that it will be so interesting to see how everything shakes out as this new one begins. One thing I am particularly interested in is the episode titles, which are unique and intentional. All of the season finale titles come from the poem “Dream Song 29” by John Berryman. I.e.: “Nobody is Ever Missing” in season one, “This is not for Tears” in season 2, and “All the Bells Say” in season 3. I won’t spoil, but these titles very much correspond with the events of each episode. There are many guesses that the series will end with the title “If He Had a Hundred Years”, a pivotal line in the poem which alludes to the legacy of Logan.

No matter the outcome of this final season, I am absolutely ecstatic for these next 10 weeks as new episodes come out. If you have not watched this show, I highly recommend to start watching. It’s like watching your least favorite people fight, what could be better?

References:

• https://poets.org/poem/dream-song-29

Last semester, I wrote about the state of streaming as we knew it. I spoke about emerging out of Covid and people’s attention changing to other things in life. As time has progressed since then, the rocky state of streaming seems more evident, with companies now simply strategizing in the name of impressing shareholders and actually making money from these services.

Recently, Netflix, the main “independent” streaming service, dipped its toes into a controversial move: banning password sharing. This article has more specific information, but basically, the streaming giant is looking to make more money by limiting the amount of people on each account. This was met with public outrage, causing the company to step-back on its original intentions, saying it would only be testing in international markets.

Unlike Netflix, most of the other streaming services are owned by a larger entertainment/media corporation. For example: Disney owns Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus; Comcast owns Peacock; Paramount owns Paramount Plus and PlutoTV; and WarnerBros Discovery owns HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Streaming of course became a focus for these companies during the pandemic due to the circumstances, but as stay-at-home life has come to an end, these business units are struggling to stay afloat. Many are raising prices and adding advertisements, but these common go-to’s are not providing the needed benefit.

To combat this struggle in demand/market, many of these media corporations are looking at merging, with WarnerBros Discovery finding themselves moments away from announcing a merger between its streaming services, with one likely consuming the other. However, Deadline has recently reported that the company has abandoned its plans to do so, shifting strategy given each services’ respective upcoming slate. WarnerBros Discovery is of course not new to a merger, given its own just last fall, which led to a rocky few months as all the puzzle pieces painfully went together.

Disney is also reportedly looking at changing up its own streaming services, as Bob Iger returned as CEO recently due to his predecessor/successor’s failure with Disney Plus. The company recently reorganized its devisions, singling out ESPN as its own entity with many speculating that this could lead to its eventual sale. This area has notoriously been a trouble for Disney, given the cost of sports streaming and unfavorable level of ESPN Plus subscribers. The company also has a 66% controlling ownership in Hulu, with its rival Comcast owning the other 33%. Disney needs to either buyout Comcast’s share or sell its portion out by the end of this year. With the company already struggling with debt from their Fox purchase in 2019, Bob Iger is looking to sell the whole streaming service to Comcast. Deadline reports that he is open to this possibility as the deadline looms.

I think the main issue that many media companies are currently dealing with is being too large for what they can handle. Generally, their industry strived during the last few years, but their continued heavy growth may have been too optimistic. As economic uncertainty shakes consumers, many are cutting the cost of streaming or theme parks as their money can be better utilized, especially when they simply do not watch anymore. These companies are looking to become leaner and more streamlined as they strategize to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic. These next few months will be very interesting in the streaming world as parent companies try to finally make these services profitable-or at least break even.

References

• https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/netflixs-password-sharing-crackdown-has-begun-everything-to-know/
• https://deadline.com/2023/02/warner-bros-discovery-abandons-plan-to-merge-hbo-max-discovery-plus-streaming-1235253134/
• https://deadline.com/2023/02/disney-bob-iger-open-to-selling-hulu-1235254445/

Awards Season is here and The Academy Awards aka The Oscars will be aired on Sunday March 12 at 8:00pm on ABC. This jewel award show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will bring Hollywood’s biggest stars together to celebrate their achievements and skills through film. Following the infamous slap by Will Smith last year and limited capacity shows due to the pandemic, the 2023 show hopes to bring normalcy back to these prestigious awards. I will not be giving a total list of nominees, that can be found here, but I will give some thoughts and predictions.

Starting right off with the big category, let’s talk about the Best Lead Actor category, with a very stacked group of nominees. I do think that Austin Butler gave a fantastic performance in Elvis and may be able to get the trophy, but the buzz of Brendan Fraser in The Whale has me leaning toward him ending up on top in the end.

Now to Best Actress in a Leading Role, this is a rather competitive category mainly between Cate Blanchett for Tár, Michelle Williams for The Fabelmans, and Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere all at Once. I have heard fantastic things about Blanchett and Williams in their respective films, but I do genuinely believe and hope that Michelle Yeoh will take this award as her performance in “Everything” is simply phenomenal.

For Best Actor in a Supporting Role, there is some competition from actors Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan from The Banshees of Inisherin, but again I definitely see a winner from “Everything” with Ke Huy Quan’s performance. I loved “Banshees” very much as a film, but I found Quan’s performance so strong and eloquent. He is such a kind man with a heartbreaking backstory, so seeing him accept that award would be so fulfilling.

When it comes to Best Supporting Actress, I find this to perhaps be the most “mixed bag” of the acting categories. The nominees include Angela Bassett from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu from “Everything”, Kerry Condon from “Banshees”, and Hong Chau from The Whale. While I did enjoy Curtis and Hsu’s performances, I am really betting on Angela Bassett walking away with this trophy. Her nomination is monumental as she is the first actor for a Marvel film ever to be nominated. She gave such an exquisite performance in the second Black Panther film, especially considering her on and off-screen grieving process of Chadwick Boseman.

In terms of some of the other categories, I believe Guillermo De Toro’s Pinocchio will be the winner in the Best Animated Feature category. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s Ruth Carter will take home Best Costume Design. Best directing could go to  either  The Fabelmans, “Banshees” or “Everything”. “Everything” will likely take best editing, as that is the film’s strong suit. Original Screen Play will likely go to “Banshees” as that story is so strong. Visual Effects is a tough category, but I am predicting that the winner will be Top Gun: Maverick simply due to the nature of the film. Finally, I am predicting that Best Production Design goes to Avatar: the Way of Water. 

Now for the big category: Best Picture. This category has the following nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fabelmans, Tár, Top Gun: Maverick, Triangle of Sadness, and Women Talking. 

There are some really heavy hitters this year, especially when thinking about the reemergence of movie theaters since the beginning of the pandemic. I struggle with who will take home the gold statue at this year’s show, but I do think that the winner will be Everything Everywhere All at Once, simply due to its powerful story and great acting. In addition, I think the fact that this film took real risks gives it the lead in this category and ultimate win.

For the first time in many years, I am genuinely looking forward to watching The 2023 Oscars. There are so many fantastic films up for contention, but I’m just mainly hoping the show can avoid an infamous slap.

References

• https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023
• https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/how-watch-oscar-2023-best-picture-movies-96662948

Last week, I unfortunately found myself riddled with a virus at home with boredom being the only thing on my mind. Since I would be home for a bit, I decided to do something I’ve always wanted to do: watch all of the Star Wars films. After consulting with Google, I decided it was best to watch the mains films in the order that they were released and then watch the extras. 11 films later, I am here to give my thoughts. I will try not to spoil anything but apologize in advance if I do; here we go-

Film 1: Episode IV-A New Hope (1977)

I find it so interesting that George Lucas decided to go start with the 4th story because he had confidence that it would be the most popular. I am ashamed to say I had not watched A New Hope before this binge. This first film is pretty good and has many nostalgic, classic elements that I think many fans greatly enjoy. I will say I feel like the core set of characters still hadn’t found their perfect chemistry yet, but the fact that this level of film was made in 1977 is quite amazing and should be considered a technological feat. It’s iconic, what more is there to say. 4/5 stars.

Film 2: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

For the second installment of the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Mark Hamill as Luke being taught the ways by Yoda is just so clever, insightful, and fun. Unlike the first, I think that this film has really good chemistry now built around the main characters which adds to the feeling of the film. I like how it starts bringing some lure into the franchise and open up the worlds of Star Wars. 4/5 stars.

Film 3: Episode VI-The Return of the Jedi (1983)

The final film of the first released trilogy is very well done and perfectly builds upon everything that has happened so far in the first 2 films. Relationships deepen and the passion for the Resistance becomes much clearer. This movie feels like it has a fun purpose and an understanding that it could very well have been the last Star Wars movie ever, so it makes a strong mark. Jabba the hut is such a unique add. In addition, I love the Ewoks. If the Ewoks have no fans, I am dead. 4/5 stars.

Film 4: Episode I-The Phantom Menace (1999)

Well renowned as the worst Star Wars film, I have to give my thoughts: it is not a very good film. The Phantom Menace takes the audience to the early childhood of Anakin Skywalker. While it does build some necessary foundations, it is so hard to watch. I typically gage my engagement of a movie in how often I pull out my phone. I was REALLY struggling here with that. Unlike many others, I do like Jar Jar Binks, but besides that this movie is not it. 2.5/5 stars.

Film 5: Episode II-Attack of the Clones (2002)

There are some that actually find this movie to be just as bad or worse than its predecessor, but I definitely enjoyed Attack of the Clones. This is the first film to have CGI Yoda and Samuel L Jackson, both who I enjoyed. In addition, showcases Ewan McGregor more than the first and showcases Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman in the main roles. I just simply think that this film has good chemistry between Anakin and Pádme in addition to a more interesting plot. Perhaps not a huge improvement, but an improvement for sure. 3/5 stars.

Film 6: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Of all of the prequel trilogy movies, I found the final to be the best. This film finds Anakin in a conflicting state, trying to decide to go down a good or bad path. The complexity of the film adds depth and really strengthens the plot in an intriguing way. I think its events fit very well to go into the original trilogy with the next 3 chronological stories. This one has many redeeming qualities to make the prequel movies not seem like such a renowned waste  after all. 3.5/5 stars.

Film 7: Episode VII-The Force Awakens (2015)

From the opening credits, this film had a lot of pressure but I thoroughly enjoyed its execution. This film starts with Rey, a young scavenger woman on a dessert planet. through circumstances, she eventually finds herself fighting for the Resistance with many old faces making an appearance along the way. I really enjoy the originality that the new characters brought into the franchise and the heavy expansion of the Star Wars universe. Technology had greatly progressed when this film was made which added to the world building. I don’t know why exactly, but this film had a sort of optimism about the future of “the galaxy” which I really enjoy. It’s a good “everyone will enjoy” film. 4/5 stars.

Film 8: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi (2017)

I am in love with this film, it is just so well done. The Last Jedi has so many things going on yet not at the same time which for some reason gives this film a very comforting, inviting feeling. The pacing is excellent, the plot unfolds beautifully, and there are so many crucial past moments that connect within this film in such a smart way; it makes me so happy. Leia and Luke work so wonderfully with the newer characters to create a beautiful chemistry. Plus, one of my favorite actresses, Laura Dern, is in this film and plays such an interesting character which I adore. I honestly do not have one bad thing to say about this film, it is practically perfect. Plus. it being Carrie Fischer’s last film is just heartbreaking, I honestly wish the series would have just ended here. 4.5/5 stars.

Film 9: Episode IX-The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

I can’t really even describe the disgusting juxtaposition between these two films. Yes, this film has some admirable parts and very action scenes, among other things, but it almost killed everything built in the 8th film and just went in a new direction. I know that the 8th film had a different director and this film has the same as the 7th, but ugh it just annoys me how much potential it had to then just drop the ball. Yes, Rey has a more wholesome ending and some loose ends are taken care of but at the same time so many more are created. Even the name is sort of silly and really encompasses the unnecessary additions that this film brought to the Star Wars universe. So many extra characters added just to move along the story-just bad. 3/5 stars.

Film 10: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

I didn’t love this additional Star Wars story but that could rely on my feeling towards Han Solo in general. I didn’t love the guy who played Han Solo, but I did really enjoy Lando played by Donald Glover and Qi’ra played by Emilia Clarke. This film also has Woody Harrelson who I simply do not like as an actor. The plot was sort of fun, but besides that I didn’t love this one. 3/5 stars (1 star solely for Emilia Clarke).

Film 11: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

This film really sets up the Resistance and I believe is set between the Prequel and the Original Trilogies. I enjoyed this film quite a lot as it sets up a whole new set of characters and connects many dots from the main Star Wars movies. Felicity Jones and Diego Luna each give great performances along with the ensemble cast. 3.5/5

Everything said, this was quite a fun movie-watching experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you find yourself with hours upon end in your room, maybe give these films a try!

References

• Star Wars Episode IV-A New Hope, George Lucas, LucasFilm, 1977
• Star Wars Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back, George Lucas, LucasFilm, 1980
• Star Wars Episode VI-Return of the Jedi, George Lucas, LucasFilm, 1983
• Star Wars Episode I-The Phantom Menace, George Lucas, LucasFilm, 1999
• Star Wars Episode II-Attack of the Clones, George Lucas, LucasFilm, 2002
• Star Wars Episode III- Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas, LucasFilm, 2005
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens,  JJ Abrams, LucasFilm/Disney, 2015
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Gereth Edwards, LucasFilm/Disney, 2016
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson, LucasFilm/Disney, 2017
• Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ron Howard, LucasFilm/Disney, 2018
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, JJ Abrams, LucasFilm/Disney, 2019

Ever since November of last year, I had been itching to see the well-raved horror comedy film, The Menu. With the busy finals season and holiday extravaganza, I was bummed that I had missed my chance to see this film in theaters, but my mood was lifted when I learned that The Menu was coming to HBO Max. Very soon after its streaming premiere I finally got a chance to watch this extravagant film staring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nicholas Hoult.  I had no expectations, but straight from opening, this film provided more than I bargained for.

The Menu is set in a restaurant called Hawthorne on a remote island. This very exclusive, highly acclaimed dining experience sets an odd mood as soon as the guests arrive, with Ralph Fiennes’ character almost immediately alluding  that this meal will end with death. As the dinner goes through its courses, the activities get more extravagant and gruesome.

As the plot progresses, the relational conflict between Joy and Hoult’s characters becomes more apparent, with the wonderful Anya Taylor Joy making some very crucial moves to have a better outcome in the end. When the ending credits came on the screen, I could not think of a s’more satisfying conclusion to this beautiful film.

The head chef, Ralph Fiennes, is a British actor along with Hoult. Famously known for his role as Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise (which I had finished for the 5th time the day before), this actor’s accent was so peculiar. The character was from Iowa, but Fiennes visibly kept slipping between an American and British accent, combined with a posh, French attitude. Weirdly, I was annoyed with this accent at first but it kind of grew on me and added some mystery to his dark character.

Hoult’s acting was honestly forgettable, but I must say I loved Anya Taylor Joy in this film. Her attitude and choices through the jarring events build up to such a great ending for her character, which is what the audience is looking for out of this film.

The ensemble cast of The Menu gave the story so much needed depth as well and added drama to the various events. The dessert course of this film is simply epic, I love it so.

I find that in recent years, this sort of satirical, comedic mystery is becoming much more popular in Hollywood. Projects like Knives Out, The Glass Onion, Only Murders in the Building, and The White Lotus have tuned so many people into this niche genre that has not been so thoroughly touched in decades.

The Menu met all of my expectations and is a film that I think will lead to even more comedic and satirical mysteries. While there are many contenders for the Academy Awards this season, I think this Searchlight Pictures movie directed by Mike Mylod has a fair shot to see its name on the nominations list. If you have some free time, an HBO Max or Disney Plus subscription, and some popcorn turn this delightful film on. But, be warned–it might make you hungry.

References:

• https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/menu/6qKeWn5NKzDY
• https://www.eater.com/23458693/review-the-menu-2022-movie-ralph-fiennes-anya-taylor-joy-release-date
• https://news.artnet.com/art-world/the-menu-film-set-production-design-food-art-2244262

I have been anticipating Black Panther‘s sequel ever since it was announced in 2019. I loved the first film as it provided something totally new and different to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The titular star, Chadwick Boseman, unexpectedly passed away from colon cancer in 2020. Literal days before his passing, director Ryan Coogler finished the sequel’s script. Boseman’s gut-wrenching loss left the Marvel team asking “Where Do We Go From Here?” How do you honor a man so vital to a story while still respecting his role and moving the supporting characters forward? After months of script editing, covid delays, heavy filming, and reshoots, this long awaited sequel has been released.

Walking into the College 9 movie theater, I could not help but emotionally prepare myself for what I was about take in. Led by Letitia Wright as Shuri, Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Tenovh Huerta as Namor, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever does not hold back. Right off the bat, this film does not shy away honoring its King, T’Challa. Thankfully never reincarnated digitally, Boseman’s movie funeral feels very much in reality. This opening motif of memorial scenes are played with such heart, particularly by Bassett. One particular rhetorical choice that I have held onto is Marvel’s logo sequence, which is silent with the only sound being the wind as the audience watches clips of Boseman make up the iconic lettering. This tribute and acknowledgment is so thoughtful and poignant, giving the characters strength to march on.

Jumping the timeline a whole year, it is obvious that the grieving process is still ongoing–as so many know. Faced with uncertainty, instability, and questioning, Queen Ramonda must take stance to defend her nation with only a daughter, no husband or son. Her nation’s “bread and butter”, vibranium, wants to be used by other nations. When the U.S. finds vibranium in the Atlantic Ocean, a new secret vibranium-owning nation comes into the story. From here, the supporting characters of Wakanda along with some new faces must come together to defend their nation.

The action sequences in this film are beautifully shot and I do really feel that the Black Panther sequel does do justice to its late lead character. But, there are definitely some questionable parts of this beautiful story. When Coogler and Marvel had to rework the entire story, I think ideas clashed a bit. The main mantra of the film, vengeance, comes through but in an artificial way. As this story works toward its end, it totally set up another possible film to come yet I don’t think this sector of Marvel necessarily needs one. Again, I think that Marvel is setting itself up for the question, “Where do we go from here?” Boseman’s role was crucial to the future of the MCU, and setting up a new leader of Wakanda greatly changes the dynamic of the film franchise’s future.

This is a problem, a question that I think the whole movie and entertainment industry is asking themselves. The 21st century has brought so much to theaters and has really revolutionized the film, entertainment, and media industry.

In my opinion, there has not been a totally new, revolutionary film series in quite a few years. A majority of things that are being put out are building upon past stories or reimagining them. So, when asking “where do we go from here?”, I think that the entertainment and media industry (and everything surrounding it) needs to focus on the audience and creativity. Diverse voices help with this of course, but resources and ample opportunities will as well. Technology is ever evolving in this industry, with concepts like virtual reality and CGI becoming more advanced. As the past 3 years have showed, this industry needs to be ready and adaptable to anything as whole stories may need to be reworked or pushed due to external circumstances.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a great example of this: challenging to spark creativity and find a path through the darkness. Many other projects I have featured on this blog including Abbott Elementary, Weird, and Don’t Worry Darling have pushed the envelope, reshaping the media that audiences take in. But, as I mentioned in my Synergy blog, the entertainment and media companies backing these projects often look at profit over product. But, I think this thinking is on its way out.

On November 20, 2022, Disney announced that its money-focused CEO had been let go and the former CEO, Bob Iger, would be returning. One of Iger’s first moves back was to reorganize the whole company,  creating a “new structure that puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs.” Success comes with pushing the boundaries, not restraining it with tight budgets and a bottom-line focus.

So, where we go from here is such a complex concept but there are definite ways to set up this industry for success. When quality and creativity are the focus, there is no limit as to where this industry may go and we as the consumers have the pleasure to take in the result.

References:

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/21/kareem-daniel-disney-head-of-media-and-chapeks-right-hand-is-out-following-igers-return.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9114286/

https://www.wired.com/story/black-panther-wakanda-forever-review/

https://www.cbr.com/wakanda-forever-next-black-panther-speculation-mcu/

Many months ago, it was revealed that Daniel Radcliffe would be portraying Weird Al Yankovic in a biopic to be presented on Roku. Listen, I am a fan of the Harry Potter films so of course I was interested in this film, but not for that obvious connection. I have watched other things that Radcliffe has been in after the Potter franchise and could NEVER disassociate him from Harry. When looking at Previews, I felt that Weird could actually be the thing to break that glass ceiling, and luckily I was right: that afro won.

Radcliffe is supported by Rainn Wilson as Dr. Demento and Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna. This film also features many cameos such as Al Yankovich as Tony Scotti, Qunita Brunson as Oprah Winfrey, Conan O’Brien as Andy Warhol, Jack Black as Wolfman Jack, and Lin Manuel Miranda (jumpscare) as a doctor. Weird is very upfront as being mostly non-fictional with many story lines that simply go off the rails. Starting at Yankovic’s childhood, Weird showcases Weird Al’s odd and quick path to fame. Intertwined are dramatic improve-like scenes that add comedy and make sure you know that this is not a true depiction whatsoever. Yankovic was so deeply involved with the making of this film being its producer, so I know it has his blessing and I think I can give it mine.

I must say that I was intrigued to watch this film because 1. it was free (!)  and 2. its cast includes actors that I genuinely love like Radcliffe, Wilson, and Brunson. I honestly had never watched anything produced by Roku before this point and am greatly surprised by its creativity. Yes Weird Al was big at the time, but this is for sure a risky film for today’s audience. Its comedic, improvisational format I think greatly accompanies the subject as it really comes off as a film to enjoy not greatly analyze. Could it have been better quality? Of course, some of the sets are akin to a high school play. Would it have been better as a theatrical film with a bigger budget and more at stake? Maybe, but it is really hard to say. In my eyes Weird‘s back-end issues do not in anyway overshadow its content.

Starting with Radcliffe’s performance, I think the actor does a fantastic job personifying this iconic and niche culture icon. His voice is very similar (although does sound like Phineas from Phineas and Ferb) to Yankovic’s and his physicality matched perfectly (besides Radcliffe being a bit more fit). While he does not truly sing in the film, his energy and acting is spot on. Wilson’s portrayal of Dr. Demento is so well done and funny. The The Office star really gives it his all to add the necessary whimsical and cooky elements of the character. Wood plays a pretty solid Madonna, I love Brunson as Oprah, and oddly gave interest to O’Brien’s Warhol–it is just so oddly perfect.

Unlike other biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, and Judy, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story does not feel exploitive or off-putting. There is no speculation on certain events or rumors because it is intentionally non-accurate! In this version of Al’s story, the man literally goes from nothing to fame in one hour and then hooks up with Madonna within a week. Radcliffe’s Yankovic kills people, does some questionable things, and somehow dies in an unfortunate circumstance in 1985. The actual Yankovic is in the movie so obviously none of it is true but that is why it is funny. There is always a running joke for the last 2/3 of the film which keeps the audience engaged and intrigued.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story does not take itself seriously in the best way, creating a new genre of biopic where not everything has to act as though it is accurate. Its mindless and creative energy is a nice outlier in today’s movie scope. If you find yourself bored literally just type the word Roku into Google and you will be watching the film within two clicks. It is time to get out of reality and into parody!

References:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17076046/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

https://www.wired.com/story/weird-al-yankovic-movie-cameos/

I want to preface this review by saying that my experience with projects in the DC comics universe has been a mixed bag. In recent years, I have enjoyed Shazam!, fallen asleep halfway through Aquaman, dozed off during The Batman, disliked Wonder Woman 1984, and absolutely adored Peacemaker. So, coming into Black Adam I sort of just went in blind. It is difficult enough for me to understand the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so trying to understand the choppy connections of the DC films is just too much for me. As soon as the movie began, I felt an instant realization that I should have done some research beforehand to get me up to speed, because the audience is automatically thrown into a story with “pre-established” characters and little context. With that being said, there should be little spoilers but again I have a bad background with this comic universe, so I apologize in advance. Let’s get into it.

Black Adam is led by Dwayne Johnson, with a supporting cast of Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Quintessa Swindell, and Bohdi Sabongui. The film is set in an other-world city known as Kahndaq in which numerous supporting characters accidentally let out a 5,000 year old god (Black Adam). Appearing to be a bad guy, Johnson’s character fights the supporting characters in an effort to keep his newly re-establish power. The audience watches as Adam goes through his family history backstory and other characters have flashbacks that all connect as well. As everything wraps up, Johnson makes the  audience question what “side” he is on, potentially leading to another story in the future. I apologize for not being more thorough, but again this film is choppy and hard to follow.

I have lightly been watching this film’s development process and am well aware of how much Johnson was involved along the entire way. If my memory serves correctly, I believe he was the one to pitch this movie to the executives at Warner Brothers. He basically set up himself being the star, and it is so abhorrently obvious. Much like Don’t Worry Darling, this film thinks it is smarter than it is.  It tasks the audience to grapple with the idea that not all those with superpowers have to be good or be on one side, they are complicated beings. This part of the concept is executed clearly I suppose, but with little substance. I honestly think this is because of The Rock. I generally find him to be a bad actor, but he is just so blank in this film. Obviously, Johnson is best known for his physicality and prior wrestling career, but he should not be starring in this movie just for his pretty face, money, and recognition–it greatly takes away from the story.

Hodge, Brosan, and Centineo’s characters specifically have obvious ties back to prior DC films, but I could not tell you what they are. This creates a barrier for those less-committed audience members because there is no context on their back story which leads to an even more confusing story. DC often just throws groups together, but this group of supporting characters seems even farther a stretch than usual.

The story and plot itself simply have issues in my eyes. It is hard to follow yet feels familiar, like something that someone has done before. Key plot points like saving the citizens of a certain place, hero revitalization, and family reconciliation in this film feel as though they came from a template. The writing is rough, generic, and lazy–likely due to the film’s process–which hurt my attention span while watching. I suppose the best way to describe it is that nothing is genuine, which isn’t a great feeling to have about a story.

I will say that the action in this film is heavy and I greatly enjoyed that aspect. Unlike some recent DC films, I didn’t get a quick nap in at any particular point which is a positive. The costumes look very cool and the CGI is not appalling, which many superhero movies can have issues with. This film also seemingly moves the overall storyline of many of the supporting characters in a subtle way, which I appreciate.  The non-leading actors actually throughly did their job to act, which is a plus. I would watch this movie again if I had to, which cannot be said about some of its predecessors.

Ultimately, Black Adam falls flat but no one should really be surprised by that. A movie self-promoted, heavily funded, and pitched by its own star can often lead with ego over quality. The supporting actors tried their best and I do still love The Rock, but I simply cannot recommend this movie. Stick with Marvel like the rest of us.

References:

• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6443346/
• https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/black-adam-projected-second-weekend-prey-for-the-devil-1235417560/
• https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/black-adam-box-office-day-2-dwayne-johnson-starrer-stays-decent-on-friday-its-the-top-performing-film-amidst-competition/