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Look, mistakes have been made in the short timespan of The Direct Cut’s life. If you thought, “wow this dude is asking for money for his work after not proving himself yet…” then congrats because you are correct. So there is no paywall or PDF needed to be downloaded to see these award announcements or the eventual celebration post.
Before the winners are announced in the first week of January (see the exact date below) these are the nominees for the 15 categories of the 2nd Annual Odyssey Awards.
Best Film: Comedy
8-Bit Christmas
Don’t Look Up
Free Guy
The French Dispatch
Shiva Baby
(L-R) Leonardo DiCaprio as Dr. Randall Mindy, Jennifer Lawerence as Kate Dibiasky. Courtesy of Hyperobject Industries/Netflix.
Best Film: Drama
CODA
The Harder They Fall
Judas and the Black Messiah
Tick, Tick… Boom!
A Quiet Place Part II
Best Film: Animated
Luca
The Mitchell’s vs The Machines
Raya and the Last Dragon
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Tom & Jerry
Best Film: Action / Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Dune
Gunpowder Milkshake
The Matrix: Ressurections
The Suicide Squad
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Best Documentary
Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry
JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass
Seaspiracy
Summer of Soul
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
Best TV Show: Comedy
Dickinson
Ted Lasso
The Sex Lives of College Girls
Succession
The White Lotus
(L-R) Ella Hunt as Sue Gilbert, Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson. Courtesy of Tuning Fork Productions/Sugar 23/wiip/Anonymous Content/Apple
Best TV Show: Drama
The Crown
Dopesick
The Handmaid’s Tale
Mare of Easttown
Pose
Best TV Show: Animated
Big Mouth
Inside Job
Invincible
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
What If…?
Best TV Show: Action / Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Foundation
Loki
Shadow and Bone
Superman & Lois
The Wheel of Time
(L-R) Owen Wilson as Mobius M. Mobius, Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
Best Docuseries
Allen v. Farrow
History of the Sitcom
The Lady and the Dale
PRIDE
Q: Into the Storm
Best TV Duo
Chucky & a Reboot (Chucky)
Gossip Girl & Bad yet Addictive writing (Gossip Girl)
Kate Bishop & Clint Barton (Hawkeye)
Ted Lasso & Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (Ted Lasso)
Selena Gomez & Comedy Legends (Only Murders in the Building)
Best TV Ensemble
Big Mouth
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Succession
Sex Education
This Is Us
Best Film Duo
AAPI & Marvel Studios (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
Dominic Toretto & Family (F9)
Eddie Brock & Venom (Venom: Let There Be Carnage)
Neo & Trinity (The Matrix: Resurrections)
Taylor Swift & a director’s chair (All Too Well: The Short Film)
Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures/Marvel/Sony Pictures Releasing,
Best Film Ensemble
Dune
The French Dispatch
The Harder They Fall
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The Suicide Squad
Mount Rushmore of Performers
Male
Andrew Garfield
Brian Tyree Henry
Dwayne Johnson
John Cena
Jonathan Majors
Female
Hailee Steinfeld
Olivia Colman
Renée Elise Goldsberry
Stephanie Beatriz
Zendaya
Who do you think will be walking away with these esteemed awards after the turn of the calendar? Let me know on social media @TheDirectCut on Twitter and Facebook!!
Catch the blog go live on JANUARY 5TH, 2022!!
The Direct Cut does not own any of the images used throughout this blog
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While I do LOVE writing about mental health, some of my blogs take some more time and care to write. Because of this, I will have these Retro Review blogs in between my main ones to lighten the load and to also give my own opinions on the latest TV shows and movies that have recently premiered.
Just like my first Retro Review, these reviews will not be “retro” in the sense that I am reviewing Citizen Kane (1941) or Psycho (1960). I will, however, be reviewing TV shows and movies that were released over the last couple of months and I will give my grade of F to A+ (I just really like alliteration, ok…). I do not know how frequently these Retro Reviews will occur, but I do know that they will be a must-read to ensure that you all lovely readers know my personal opinions on the programs that have recently graced our screens.
TV Shows
Mythic Quest (Season 2)
Courtesy of Apple TV+
This show might be one of the most underrated shows from the Apple TV+ streaming platform. Sure there is Ted Lasso and TheMorningShow earning the big accolades and praise, but this show that documents the workplace of a video game development company is right up there in my eyes. This second season made the necessary evolutionary steps when it comes to the stories and characters involved. The writing that is done for this show is truly exceptional and succeeds in writing stories about a workplace, video game development, gender dynamics, sexuality, mental health, and a myriad of other things. Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz have another hit show on their hands following their show about bar patrons. This show is so carefully curated for all kinds of TV fans while succeeding through the age of COVID-19 by shortly addressing the pandemic before swiftly moving on.
GRADE: B
The White Lotus (Season 1)
Courtesy of HBO
White people, especially those with financial privilege, are oftentimes the worst. Considering how this show was made by a rich cis white man, I am honestly shocked to see it be so well received by the public. No matter what side plot was going on during this series, the first season always traveled back to colonialism and how the white guests at the titular hotel did not know how much damage they were creating with their patronage. Music, editing, and camera angles all helped hit the theme home throughout these episodes and did so beautifully. The characters that Alexandra Daddario and Murray Bartlett played perfectly encapsulate what the writers were going for and should be looked into when learning about how to write flawed characters. Although the future seasons might not address the same themes and topics, I trust Mike White to be conveying and poignant with the future episodes of this anthology series.
GRADE: A-
Superman & Lois (Season 1)
Courtesy of The CW
Another superhero show is something that a lot of folks might want, but those people are wrong. For whatever reason, The CW and Warner Bros. threw loads of money at this show and I am not mad about it. Tyler Hoechlin might be one of my favorite depictions of the Man of Steel for numerous reasons but the main one is how much he conveys the innocence and awkwardness of Clark Kent while looking like a sexy Greek god and being one of the most powerful characters in all of fiction. This series also had a successful ensemble cast that I was not expecting. The way that Elizabeth Tulloch, Jordan Elsass, Alex Garfin, and Inde Navarrette have shined through this first season makes me very hopeful the following seasons will develop these characters even more and the incredible actors will succeed in portraying them. Making Superman feel fresh in 2021 is not an easy task, but the fact that this show chose to go down the route of an established Clark Kent and Superman has aided them in creating fun and interesting television.
GRADE: B+
Schmigadoon!
Courtesy of Apple TV+
If you know nothing about me know this, I have grown up loving Saturday Night Live. Because of that, I will tend to watch the shows and movies the cast members perform in. With this in mind, it is no surprise that I watched this Apple TV+ musical comedy and I am thankful I did. Cecily Strong has firmly established herself as my favorite current cast member for so many reasons and so I was more than happy to watch this series for her. The concept was nothing new considering it is common that the meta and fourth-wall-breaking story can be found in shows desiring to do a musical episode, but that did not take away from this series too much. This show looked to be more focused on the overall theme and destination than the actual journey to get there. The journey was fun with exciting and creative ways to portray typical musical characters like religious zealots, shady bad boys, and adulterous men, but the jokes did always land. The development and writing between the jokes and songs are what lacked in this show, but it almost did not matter since it was a fun ride.
GRADE: B-
Ted Lasso (Season 2)
Courtesy of Apple TV+
At this point, a person is either in love with Ted Lasso or refusing to watch it and tired of people talking about it. Well, guess what, I am in love with this show for numerous reasons and I will always be its champion. The first season talked a little about mental health while making jokes about an American in England, but this second season turned into the skid and accelerated. The addition of Dr. Sharon Fieldstone opened the floodgates of so much more great writing that I honestly did not expect when finishing the first season. However, considering how you all know how I care about mental health awareness (see the sidebar for proof) it should be no surprise how much I loved this newfound focus. This show also excelled in the development of all of its minor and supporting characters, which is no surprise if you have watched Bill Lawerence’s Scrubs. If you are somehow on the fence about watching this series, let this be a sign to go out of your way and absorb this excellent television series.
GRADE: A
Movies
F9: The Fast Saga
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
As we all know by now, the “Fast and Furious” franchise is never going to try to be anything more than a high-octane-filled adventure filled with insane stunts and even crazier stories. I have deemed this series of movies the perfect Popcorn Movie franchise because they are all just that, popcorn movies. This ninth installment is no different and takes a surface-level dive into the ever-changing definition of “family.” With his estranged brother, Jakob (John Cena), reentering his life, audiences learn a bit more about everyone’s favorite Dodge Charger driver and occasional government black-ops agent in Dominic Toretto. This film was never going to be anything more than a two-and-a-half-hour stunt show where the word of the day is “Family”, but that’s ok. I definitely enjoyed the movie for what it was and I always love seeing John Cena in things so that boosts my review.
GRADE: C+
In The Heights
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
A lot of people might want to compare this to Hamilton’s movie adaption due to Lin Manuel Miranda’s involvement in both, but these two are completely different styles of movies. I went into this movie with high expectations because of the musical’s high accolades it earned, so that could be why I felt let down when the credits rolled. Let me be clear, this is not a bad movie. And this movie is coming at a time where black and brown folks are receiving more positive representation in media and fiction so that is obviously a plus. The music being performed is fun and exciting, but it’s not that memorable like other musicals exceed at. The story is easily the best talking point and most successful part of the film, but I still felt like it left some potential behind and that is a shame.
GRADE: B
Black Widow
Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Everything about this movie’s preproduction life annoys me because of how prominent Natasha Romanoff has been since the third MCU movie. The story of the film, however, is slowly becoming one of the most prominent in this wave of feminism, powerful man uses an expendable resource (women) to his advantage before the women turn on him. I think this MCU movie could have been something special if it focused on Black Widow’s spy roots rather than her former Nuclear Family, however, if this means more Rachel Weisz and David Harbour in future MCU projects, I will not be mad about that at all. Plus, Florence Pugh is a welcome addition to any project and she shined the brightest in this film so I am looking forward to her presence in the upcoming Hawkeye series along with future movies.
GRADE: B-
Gunpowder Milkshake
Courtesy of Netflix
This movie was barrels of fun and visually stunning. The editing, photography, and color palette of this movie mixed with their affection for neons and other brightness is a beautiful dichotomy for the dark and haunting subject matter. Starring Karen Gillan as Sam, this hitwoman is a personified weapon utilized by a mysterious underground cabal called The Firm. When she kills the wrong goon, The Firm cuts ties with Sam and leaves her to fend for herself against a citywide crime organization and eventually her fellow assassins from The Firm. Gillan excels in this movie like anyone would expect and the cast is filled out with other heavy hitters like Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, and Paul Giamatti. This story has become reminiscent of most modern anti-hero characters, but that does not take away just how simply fun this movie is.
GRADE: B+
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
This movie showed a whole lot of action but didn’t have a lot of story development to go along with it, especially for an origin film. I definitely hold the “G.I. Joe” movies close to my heart because they are just so bad and nothing like the original cartoons which makes for some car crash movies. This movie stood out from those because it felt as though this movie was trying to take itself too seriously. The first two starring Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson just felt like a fun and exciting adventure that has no real purpose, this movie was trying too hard while having shotty camera work and honestly below the work that Henry Goulding has put in in his career. Also, and mainly, I was not a fan of how audiences never found out why Snake Eyes was silent in the other two “G.I. Joe” movies.
GRADE: D+
The Direct Cut does not own any of the images used throughout this blog
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Before we get started, I will give you all a content warning. I am not going to write about the actual events and potentially triggering topics discussed in the book and film, but if you decide to read and watch “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” then I recommend you check out the website Does The Dog Die for this movie and any movie you are concerned about any triggering images or content.
Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
As Stephen Chbosky’s latest film Dead Evan Hansen (2021) hits theaters, I think it is a great time to look back at his most popular film based on his own book. To the surprise of very few, this novel and film adaption played a very large role in my life growing up. This was the first major example of a person, never mind a young boy like myself, not being ok and talking about it. Before I was really mature enough to fully understand the importance of Good Will Hunting (1997), I had Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012).
I do admit, like so many things in everybody’s life, Stephen Chbosky’s book and film was recommended to me. This suggestion came at a time of my adolescence where I was going through a lot mentally and did not know how to handle things in a healthy way. I never was really a big book person until I was gifted this coming-of-age novel. The letters Charlie wrote are so important and helped me become the person I am today, for better or worse. But this is not a blog about books, because I am far from qualified to do that, this is a blog about movies and television, something I am slightly more qualified to discuss.
This recap obviously will skip over a lot of details about the story for the sake of time and for the sake of not wanting to be too spoiler filled. However, I will talk a lot about Charlie and his mental health because of how much this story resonated with me as I read the book and watched the film and also how it still resonates with me to this day.
Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
For anyone that does not know, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is about Charlie Kelmeckis, played by Logan Lerman, who is a shy and anxious incoming freshman who has been suffering from clinical depression since childhood who is recently discharged from a mental health care institution. This 14 year old eventually makes a bond with two seniors in Sam and Patrick, played by Emma Watson and Ezra Miller respectively. Noticing that Charlie is alone, the good person of Sam brings him in to her group of friends. Charlie eventually begins a strange romantic relationship with Mary Elizabeth, played by Mae Whitman, but it is always destined to end. After Charlie isolates himself from his new friends, he sinks back into his depression.
Even though he is alone again, Charlie eventually helps and defends Patrick against the school’s homophobes but blacks out while doing this. This puts him back in favor with Sam and the friend group which leads to prom. Sam finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her and goes to Charlie for some comfort. The two get intimate back in Sam’s bedroom but this causes Charlie to remember some repressed memories that caused his depression when he was younger. All of this pain and bringing up old trauma causes Charlie to go back into his mental health care institution. When he is ready to be discharged, Sam and Patrick pick him up and they drive off in the moonlight into infinite bliss.
Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
I feel like coming-of-age films tend to lean towards focusing on the age group being depicted in the story, and there is honestly nothing wrong with that. Teenage years are filled with some of the biggest changes in one’s life physiologically, emotionally, mentally, and physically. So a middle-aged adults who are in their forever career job will likely not relate to a bunch of seventeen year olds struggling to figure out who they want to be or what they want to do with the rest of their lives. This is doubles over when you think of the fact that the human brain is not fully developed until the age of twenty-six. There are just some things within coming-of-age stories that a full fledged adult will not appreciate in the same way that a person who is actually coming of their age. However, there are some exceptions to this generalization…
I will admit that the point I am making could be very wrong since I do have an established personal and emotional connection to the story. But, the amount of emotional baggage and empathy that this movie conveys can be felt by anyone who views the movie, regardless of age. This is mainly because Charlie has been through some traumatic experiences that has matured his brain more than any other high school aged kid he interacts with. Because of this, it makes sense that Charlie does not relate to anyone except one of his teachers (not to mention that the teacher was played by the delicious Paul Rudd).
Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
There are for sure more examples of stand-alone films and stories that can be felt and resonated with by all ages, but none stand out to me like The Perks of Being a Wallflower does. The amount of strain that Charlie’s mental health has on his personal and romantic relationships is something I still relate with to this day. The themes analyzed and examined in Stephen Chbosky’s story is something I will always keep close to my heart.
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Miramax Films
For anyone that does not know, I love Robin Williams and also raising awareness of mental health. With that in mind, I hope there is no surprise that Good Will Hunting (1997) is my favorite movie of all time. I have already outlined this film in some detail during the 1.0 version of The Direct Cut in the short lived series titled Rewind The Tape. While that movie just basically outlined the movie, this blog is going to go in-depth with the mental health aspects of this Academy Award winning movie.
The first aspect I want to examine is the trial-and-error montage that Will Hunting (Matt Damon) endured when he was trying to find a therapist. Now these scenes are played for laughs since the rebellious Will is trying to avoid talking about his feelings and follow through with his court-mandated therapy. Damon’s titular character tries exposing the counselors and therapists weaknesses, but these scenes are so much more than that.
I really enjoyed the various styles of therapy and counseling displayed in the film. Some were the stereotypical and farcical “shrink and couch” combo, while others were more realistic with two people sitting in chairs and talking. The realism mixed with fantastical scenes pair perfectly with the theme and vibe of the movie, all the while developing Will Hunting’s character and moving the story along.
Miramax Films
Now onto the more writing and story elements. To fully understand Will Hunting and his behavior, one must first take a look at his developmental years long before the movie starts. Will journeyed through multiple foster homes where the parents were likely doing it for the money stipend rather than helping out orphaned children. This leads to Will being assaulted and abused by his foster parents. Although we never witness the violence, audiences are given a glance at pictures from a teenage Will with bruises, cuts, welts, and cigarette burn marks all over his body. To the surprise of nobody this created the criminal Will Hunting who was in and out of juvie and jail throughout his life.
The most beautiful scene takes place at the end of the film where it is Will and Sean Maguire’s (Robin Williams) final scene together. Sean has Will’s file that outlines his troubling upbringing and what other psychiatrists have diagnosed Will with. The line when Will explains how one of his father’s would beat him is the most poignant for me in the entire movie. Will describes, “He used to just put a belt, a stick and a wrench on the kitchen table and say ‘choose.'” As seen in this beautiful scene below, when Sean (like most audiences) chooses the belt, Will shockingly states that is not the choice he made and his reasoning is what sticks out to me. Will says, “I used to go with the wrench . . . Cause fuck him, that’s why.”
YT : Miramax
I cannot express the weight this one line has over me. Will Hunting was told by society, by the people raising him, and basically everyone that he was worthless and would never achieve success. Even after he realizes and develops his genius level intellect and photographic memory, Will doesn’t think he deserves to achieve a successful professional life. As the film goes on, Will begins to find true joy in life with Skylar (Minnie Driver), and with Sean Maguire’s expert and determined assistance, Will Hunting becomes a much more healthier and happier person.
Speaking of Skylar, the subplot of Will and this stunningly beautiful English woman is vastly underrated (mainly because of the scene above). The two of them are vastly different people. Will is a person who will work as janitor or brick layer while Skylar is pre-med and is going to one of the best medical schools after she goes to Harvard. All of those superficial aspects do not matter though since when the two are with one another, their personalities mesh so well and the chemistry they have is adorable. Since Will has his own internal issues however, friction occurs.
Miramax Films
The two share the second most heart breaking scene in the entire movie when they are having a fight in Skylar’s dorm room. Skylar asks Will to come to California with her when she goes to Stanford. Will, who has never left Boston never mind been on a plane, becomes scared and anxious about his life being happy and successful. This leads to him having an outburst against Skylar and Will projecting his pain and trauma onto this innocent woman. For those who are unaware, they would be confused on why Will is acting like this. Since I have some experience being in Will’s position, I can’t help but cry when I watch this scene in full. The writing, the acting, the cinematography, and everything is so well beautiful done to create harrowing moment.
People who watch this movie, and particularly this scene, hopefully will understand how important it is to take care of your mental health so you do not torment a romantic partner because of your unchecked trauma. Movies like these are tricky to make because the mission of it is to show how poor mental health needs to be improved for true happiness in your life. In order to do this, however, the filmmakers have to show the bad stuff and negative consequences. I truly believe the folks behind Good Will Hunting (except for the person at the head of the distribution company) did a great job in not over-glorifying mental illness but having it be raw and honest throughout the film.
The Direct Cut does not own any of the images used throughout this blog
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Universal Pictures
Just to be clear with anyone, this blog will just be about the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) and not the equally popular Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series. I know there are a lot similarities and some major differences between the two, so I have to make the distinction now.
Also, since I have yet to read the novels (it’s on my list, don’t worry) and because this is a blog about Movies and TV, I will just be referring to Edgar Wright’s 2010 action romance film.
Side Note: If you would like to read about why I love this movie so much and why I think it is a pop-culture reset, check out my Rewind The Tape about the movie!
On the surface, and during early viewings, this movie has clear heroes and even clearer villains. Obviously the Seven Evil Exes are antagonists to Scott Pilgrim who is believed to be a hero, but that is just not the case. Sure the despicable Gideon and the six other people who try to kill the titular character are evil, but Pilgrim is far from a saint. The 22-year-old bassist has had a lot of pain and trauma from his past that he ignores and avoids which leads him to becoming an asshole in his present life.
Universal Pictures
Let’s start at the point from before the film starts. Scott Pilgrim was in a beautiful romantic relationship with Natalie V. Adams. Both were artsy musicians and had so much in common, but Nat eventually gained more traction and popularity. This led to Natalie dumping Scott, becoming Envy Adams, and becoming an international rockstar as the front-woman for the band The Clash of Demonhead. Following all of this, Scott Pilgrim would go on to lose massive amounts of self-esteem and be emotionally scarred. This is where his mental health takes a steep dip while he also ignored all of the signs, and this is when he becomes an asshole.
Mental health, just like physical health, needs to be cared for and tended to. For example, when you scrape your knee, you have to put ointment on it and cover it with a bandage so bacteria and germs do not get in and infect it. The same thing goes for one’s mental health regarding emotional injuries and trauma. Scott Pilgrim’s mental health was hit HARD with Natalie breaking up with him and rather than taking the necessary steps, Pilgrim ignored everything and tried living his life with this pain still having a hold on his emotions and life.
Universal Pictures
Taking a term I first learned from my favorite TV show of How I Met Your Mother, Scott Pilgrim ignored the trauma from his previous relationship and performed an overcorrection. Because Envy Adams took some mature life choices and left Scott, the titular character overcorrected to a romantic relationship where that would not occur. The 22-year-old Scott Pilgrim began dating the adorable 17-year-old Knives Chau so he could be in control of his relationship. The judgments from his friends, family, and fellow Sex Bob-Omb members was rightfully justified, but not so healthily expressed. To be fair to Julie, Stacey, Stephen, Kim, and Young Neil, it is not necessarily their full responsibility to fix Scott (especially if Scott isn’t ready to be fixed).
Because Scott Pilgrim ignored his emotional pain and tried repressing it, the choices he made in his romantic life made him (deservedly so) a dick.
Let me be clear, I do not blame Scott Pilgrim for being in pain or for Natalie breaking up with him, for that I sympathize with him. However, he projects his insecurities and toxicities to his future relationships and that is where he crosses the line. To remind those who haven’t seen the movie in a bit, or for those who have not seen it at all, let me give your a brief rundown. Pilgrim dumped Knives AFTER spending some intimate time with the more mature Romona Flowers, then he hypocritically blamed Romona for her own past relationships, all the while being selfish at every opportunity.
Universal Pictures
Scott Pilgrim was not, and is not, a bad person. He for sure made some poor life choices when he was not in the right mindset, but that all helped him redeem himself in the end. Audiences saw him grow from a lovesick and selfish asshole who did not know what he wanted, to a compassionate man who was ready to move on with his romantic life. This did come at the expense of the innocent and naive Knives Chau, but she endured her own growth through this film as well. Ramona is easily the most likable character of these three, and her being mature enough to forgive Scott just adds to her brilliant image.
Look, I know Scott being an asshole is a part of his character and is a crucial part of Edgar Wright’s film progression. However I know there are some people (like me) who can watch this movie and not see the full scope of Scott’s personal and mental health struggles. A redemption story arc is not what one might expect to see from a movie that presents its lead character as taking on the world. But this just adds to the beauty of this movie and another reason why I love it so much.
Universal Pictures
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TW:// PTSD, Suicide, Substance Abuse
Let me preface this by saying that I am well aware there are plenty of female and non-binary characters who have beautifully exemplified a myriad of mental health disorders. However, since men have historically avoided asking for help (including myself for far too long) I find it important to point out some male characters that have not let their respective mental illnesses hold up their lives.
According to the CDC, in 2017 the second leading cause of death for men under 45 was suicide (second only to unintentional injuries). For too long, mental health disorders have been seen as a weakness or was ignored altogether. These following male characters from the world of TV and movies shows that males can live with a mental illness and still live.
Charlie Kelmeckis
Summit Entertainment
Movie: Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Disorder: PTSD and Anxiety (leading to panic attacks)
The novel it was based on, the movie, and the character of Charlie were all my first major examples of mental health being depicted within Movies or TV. I had this story recommended to me by someone who knew I was going through a lot and needed something to relate to. While I will not give too much away about Charlie’s experiences, the way that this movie and story helped me is immeasurable. I was a wallflower when I was younger, and I still kind of am now, but I know that I am not alone thanks to Charlie and the story created by Stephen Chbosky.
Quentin Coldwater
NBCUniversal Syndication Studios
TV Show: The Magicians (2015-2020) Disorder: Depression (leading to suicidal thoughts)
The character of Quentin Coldwater and the show The Magicians is a new one to me, but one that I have immediately fallen in love with. Quentin’s whole character begins with him being discharged from a psychiatric hospital due to him seeing his life as a pointless one. Even with these thoughts, he knows he will never act on them, and this part of his character is relatable to me. While I no longer feel this way, and with my own history with suicide, having thoughts of suicide but never having a desire to go through with it is something that must resonate with folks as it did with me. As the series progresses, audiences see Quentin find a purpose, and that dark chapter of his life becomes farther and farther away.
If you do not know by now, Mark Ruffalo is one of the best actors around and someone who can dip his acting toes into a myriad of genres and roles and always be the stand-out actor. This role in particular within Infinitely Polar Bear (2015), has not been given a fair share since its release. As I will get on later, bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that has to be handled with care and I think that was done in this 2015 film. A major factor in why I believe that is because of the talents from Ruffalo and the clear and present passion and care he gives to his roles.
Toby Damon & Randall Pearson
Disney–ABC Domestic Television
TV Show: This is Us (2015-2022) Disorder: Toby – Depression || Randall – Anxiety (leading to panic attacks)
I am unashamedly a huge fan of This is Us because I love being able to cry and love being able to laugh within the same show. The character development between original staple Randall and late-addition Toby has been some of my favorite. Obviously, I am unable to relate to Randall’s stories of being a black man or being adopted, but his battles with unchecked anxiety are something that resonates with me. Then Toby’s issues with depression was also a story that I was not expecting but loved all the same. Since Toby is often the comic relief of the show, grounding him and having him taken down a few notches made him all the more relatable and real.
Likely the most popular depiction of bipolar disorder, I am in love with everything about this movie. This movie as a whole helped me at a crucial time to find some silver linings in life and events to not always focus on the negatives of experiences. This film from David O. Russell also brought many mental health disorders to the mainstream, and I can appreciate that. The audience knows that Pat Jr.’s manic episodes and his actions are bad, but they can’t help but feel bad for him all the same. We want to see him get better while also moving on from his ex-wife, and the process he does to achieve this is often beautifully heartbreaking.
Elliot Alderson
NBCUniversal Syndication Studios
TV Show: Mr. Robot (2015-2019) Disorder: Social Anxiety, Clinical Depression, Delusions, and Paranoia
This show loves to break the rules of cinematography and was all about underground anarchist hackers, but it always felt raw, real, and relatable. Rami Malek’s Elliot uses his hacking skills to both copes and treats all of his mental health disorders. The issues with his mental health also make the understandable step to substance abuse to subdue his inner demons. While this show does not have Elliot’s mental health at the forefront, it is always under the surface and will push the story in one way or another. I really enjoyed this fact and how the show presented Elliot’s mental illnesses with nuance and care so they were not stigmatizing or harmful.
George Bailey
RKO Radio Pictures
Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Disorder: Depression (leading to suicidal thoughts)
Look, I know this movie is not for everyone for a myriad of reasons. It is black and white, it’s from the 1940s, and it’s super sad while being attached to Christmas. However, Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey lived his life with depression that progressively got worse through every speed bump that he endured. The religious elements are not so subtle in saving George from doing something so permanent, but the actual act of seeing how different the world would be without being born was a unique storytelling device for 1946. This is easily my all-time favorite Christmas movie, and when I sat down to research this list, I knew George Bailey had to be on it.
Connell Waldron
BBC Studios / Hulu
TV Show: Normal People (2020-2020) Disorder: Anxiety (leading to panic attacks)
Anyone who has talked to me about non-US countries knows that I love the environment, scenery, and the accents from the British Isles and Ireland (not necessarily the tory government). I say this because I could listen to Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) talk about anything. Based on the novel by Sally Rooney, this BBC series lives up to its name and tells some beautiful stories while adapting the book. Connell is at an impasse in his life, like so many folks find themselves, and has to make some life choices. Since I am a recent college graduate and at a metaphorical fork in my road, this show stands out to me so much. I might have tuned in to watch and listen to people from Ireland and Britain, I stayed because of the beautiful character work and relatable story.
Craig Gilner
Focus Features
Movie: It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Disorder: Anxiety
So this movie is a unique one since it is based on an author’s semi-autobiographical book and blends comedy with some serious elements of a coming-of-age story. Craig Gilner (Keir Gilchrist) checked himself into a mental health facility after imagining suicide because of the stress and his fast-paced life. When he gets there, he realizes that it was a mistake, but has to stay there for five days because of the facilities’ policy. This leads to Craig seeing and experiencing some wake-up calls about the world and his own life. This is not a cinematic classic by any means, but it does do well in breaking some mental health stigma.
Owen Milgrim
Netflix, Inc.
TV Show: Maniac (2018-2018) Disorder: Depression and Schizophrenia
This whole show is so outlandish and feels like a fever dream at times, but the writing is always incredible. Owen’s issues with mental health are clearly shown to stem from his rough relationships with his family members and society giving no care to people like him. This character is the antithesis of the characters that made Jonah Hill famous. Owen’s dryness compared to the wacky and zany environment always stood out in the best way. Folks with depression can easily see themselves as Owen is struggling to fit in, and for that fact alone, his character earned a spot on this list.
Milo Dean
Roadside Attractions
Movie: The Skeleton Twins (2014) Disorder: Depression (leading to suicidal thoughts)
Even though this movie is about Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig), we will be focusing only on Milo. After leaving a note and attempting suicide on the same day as his estranged twin sister, they reunite, and their relationship begins to be reborn. Choosing actors known for comedy to be put in this type of movie was brilliant. This decision not only shows off Hader and Wiig’s abilities as performers, but also reinforces the severity of their mental illness. Milo, in particular, played by one of the best modern SNL cast members, plays someone who escaped his own self-inflicted death with beautiful acting and writing. Bill Hader has shown off more dramatic roles in the years since, and this role of a suicidal human being was everyone’s first glimpse of what he could do outside of comedy.
Bojack Horseman
Netflix, Inc.
TV Show: Bojack Horseman (2014-2020) Disorder: Depression (leading to substnace abuse)
The most topical example of a character with a mental health disorder is Bojack Horseman. This adult animated show had the appeal of shows like “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy,” but it takes a HARD right turn when you think it’s going to take a left. A washed-up actor struggling to work as a middle-aged man, Bojack is living a life of complacency in Hollywoo. This show does so much experimental stuff, including one episode without any dialogue and one where it is just a 25-minute monologue. However, the most ambitious thing this Netflix show ever did was focus on a character falling apart because of their unchecked mental health. Being a former successful actor will not be relatable for everyone, but struggling with mental illness will always be a universal truth.
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TW:// conversion therapy, homophobia
First off, I would be remiss if I did not start this blog by saying conversion therapy, in any form, is fucking wrong and disgusting.
This horrible “process” is banned in only 20 states within the United States for minors, along with various cities and counties. Since 1975, the American Psychological Association has officially said that homosexuality is not a mental health disorder. Also, for over a decade now, the APA has had a stance that no licensed mental health professional should encourage the effectiveness of changing one’s sexual orientation through “therapy.” And finally, in 2020 the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims stated that conversion therapy is a form of torture. Despite all of that, conversion therapy has still been occurring throughout the country and the world for decades.
Jagadeesh NV / EPA
Because conversion therapy has been a staple opposition towards LGBTQIA+ people, plenty of queer folks have done their best to mock or show it’s true self it since it is a horrible procedure that a lot of conservative people believe is a solution to homosexuality. This blog will look at some of those depictions from five movies spanning from 1999 to 2018. Some of these stories are real, some are dramatized stories of a memoir, and others are fully fictionalized.
The first major depiction in modern times of conversion therapy is in the satirical romantic comedy But I’m a Cheerleader (1999). Within this 1999 film, Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan who is sent to “rehab camp” because her conservative parents suspect her of being a lesbian. While this film does portray conversion therapy as a comedic device, the way that writer/director Jamie Babbitt and her filmmaking staff used imagery was brilliant. Conversion therapy was sort of put on the back burner for a much larger discussion on gender norms and heteronormativity. This movie was far from perfect (earning only a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes) but it was telling stories that definitely ruffled some feathers of the homophobic culture, especially within the MPAA.
Lionsgate Films
Another movie about conversion therapy and another one that presents itself in a satirical comedy format. Saved! (2004) went down the more explicit route when it came to its religious themes. This movie is about a high school girl (Jenna Malone) who tries to cure her boyfriend, Dean, of his homosexuality by having sex with him. Naturally, this backfires on Malone’s character since she becomes pregnant and has a lot more ridicule to deal with than she did when she just had a gay boyfriend. Conversion therapy plays a minor role in this film, since Dean is a minor character, but the terminology of “a Christian treatment center” is all you need to know. The streamlined and less horrible sounding words has been a constant technique that religious entities have used in the real world to trick the uninformed, no matter if it is for conversion therapy or their own version of Planned Parenthood.
Brüno (2009) is a film that in no way is about conversion therapy but it does have some important moments within its runtime. Sacha Baron Cohen’s eccentric titular gay character decides that he wants to be an actor in Hollywood and to do this he has to be like all the biggest names, and that is he has to become straight. The clip below is one of the converters that the British actor went to help Brüno become a straight man. The two scenes in this 2009 movie are very tame in comparison to a full blown conversion therapy center, but they definitely give the real world a taste of what queer folks go through when they are forced to partake in this torturous act.
YT: Movieclips
Next up is the first of two modern examples of conversion therapy and it comes from the movie titled, The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018). Based on the novel of the same name, Chloë Grace Moretz stars as the titular character as she is sent to one of these torturous centers. Audiences see the events and tools converters use in an attempt to make the queer victims feel like they do not need to be gay. Throughout the film, it shines an important light on the young people who know in their mind and in their heart that they are not straight and the traumatic repercussions that this fake “therapy” has on them. One scene where a “disciple” harms himself after his home life along with his conversion center life become too much. These visuals are done relatively in good taste and are definitely effective to be the harsh truth.
While a fictional story can be good, when it comes to something like this, a story based on a person’s first-hand account is even more impactful. Boy Erased (2018) fulfills these qualities by being all about Garrard Conley’s experiences in being sent to a conversion therapy center by his conservative and Baptist parents. Lucas Hedges stars as the lead and does so beautifully by the audience seeing his pain and frustrations develop and grow throughout the film. While this blog does document other examples of films representing conversion therapy, this movie sparked activism and protests around the United States to try and outlaw this disgusting tactic from those in the ex-gay movement.
Focus Features
If you are someone reading this who believes conversion therapy is ok then I fully mean what I am about to say. Do not read another blog of mine because you are scum and horrible. Every single film mentioned above, no matter the genre, all show how harmful and moronic conversion therapy truly is. I hope every person reading this knows that they are loved, regardless of their sexual orientation. If you are someone who is struggling with this or are a victim of conversion therapy, then I want you to know that I am always here for all of you. Or if there is something more serious going on, then I recommend checking out Born Perfect, who specialize in victims of conversion therapy, or the Trevor Project, who specialize in crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ folks.
Always remember that you are loved by me and so many people!
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Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige are in a league of their own. They have not only been building a world since 2008 with 23 films, but they have been building an intergalactic universe. Although some other film companies have tried to replicate their success, until someone realizes Marvel’s patience, they won’t be able to come close.
When their video titled “Marvel Studios Celebrates The Movies” released a couple days ago, hype for their upcoming slate of films increased by leaps and bounds, myself and this blog being a prime example. So because of this hype, I decided to break down every movie coming up from Marvel and looked at who was starring, who was directing, and what we know about the movie so far. Let’s go take a look.
Black Widow (7/9/21)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, O. T. Fagbenle
Director: Cate Shortland
What We Know: This movie takes place after Captain America: Civil War and has Natasha being chased by her past. It appears that the character Romanoff will be fleshed out even more with this solo movie I’m a bit concerned.
I admit that one of the best characteristics of Natasha Romanoff was that she was always a supporting character with a mysterious past and I feared some of her uniqueness would be taken away with a lead film role. However, now that the character has little to no chance of a future, I’m a little more lenient and excited for the film.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (9/3/21)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Simu Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Awkwafina
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
What We Know: The biggest thing that we know about this movie is that it will present a more comic book accurate Ten Rings organization. For all of the fans of this group and the stories that surround it, this is big news.
Iron Man 3 was not the movie everyone thought it would be (I personally like the movie for its tries to be subversive) and this film looks to correct a lot of those complaints. I also love the story of Simu Li getting this job over Twitter so I know that his passion for being an asian superhero in the MCU will shine as the titular Shang-Chi.
Eternals (11/5/2021)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee, Barry Keoghan, Kit Harrington
Director: Chloé (fucking) Zhao
What We Know: Phase 1 had Thor (2011), Phase 2 had Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Phase 3 had Doctor Strange (2016), and now Phase 4 has Eternals. This movie will follow Avengers: Endgame (2019) as the millennia old titular beings reunite to stop the Deviants from harming Earth.
Personally, I do not know a lot about this group of heroes or their stories so I am going in practically blind for the first time in awhile for an MCU movie. This unknowing for me only makes me excited for this movie more, not to mention the brilliant director at the helm.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (12/17/21)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, Benedict Cumberbatch
Director: Jon Watts
What We Know: As of right now, not that much. Following the end of Far From Home, Peter Parker was unmasked as Spider-Man. Judging by the title, it appears that Parker, MJ and Ned will be on the run from authorities and other folks who will try to do him harm.
There have been extensive rumors that because Dr. Strange is involved, Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield will reprise their roles as multiverse versions of Peter Parker. Personally, I hope we never see any promo material for them if they are in this movie, to make their eventual reveal that much more impactful.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (3/25/22)
What We Know: Multiverse. Multiverse. Multiverse. So many doors are opened with this concept and Doctor Strange is the perfect character to open them within the MCU. This movie also looks to continue the story arc of Wanda Maximoff left off from WandaVision and her escapades with the Darkhold.
Until we see a trailer or promotional material, the possibilities for this movie are quite literally endless. Also, because Chiwetel Ejiofor is involved, the threat he presents will be looming over the former neurosurgeon if not the actual main villain.
Thor: Love and Thunder (5/6/22)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Jamie Alexander, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn
Director: Taika Waititi
What We Know: The biggest nuggets of info we know so far comes down to two things revealed to us by Taika Waititi. First, this movie will adapt elements from “The Mighty Thor” comics which means Jane Foster will likely take up the helm of Thor and will be able to wield Mjolnir (how the iconic hammer is still around following Ragnarok, I have no idea).
The other thing we know is that there will be a lot significant romance within this film. Knowing Taika, and his original plans for Valkyrie, I do not think the romance will be limited to heterosexuality.
What We Know: Here is what we know won’t happen. T’Challa will not be recast and CGI will not be used to digitally impose the late Chadwick Boseman’s face onto another actor. No official announcement has been made who will take up the mantle of the iconic Wakanda warrior, and I don’t even know who I want to be the new Black Panther.
However, knowing Ryan Coogler and Kevin Feige’s love for their art, there is not a doubt in my mind that the story will make sense and live up to the incredible legacy left by T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman.
The Marvels (11/11/22)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton
Director: Nia DaCosta
What We Know: Following the events of WandaVision, Monica Rambeau has a lot to figure out about her newfound powers and abilities. Carol Danvers also has a lot to figure out with her relationship with the passing of her longtime best friend (if not more *wink wink*) and the now grown woman who she knew as a child.
The title also alludes to the fact that the heroes in the group are not necessarily bound to the three heroes already confirmed in this movie. If this means a super team up of “marvelous” heroes who can fight on Earth and in space, then I am here for it.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2/17/22)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors
Director: Peyton Reed
What We Know: More quantum realm means more craziness and science that has little to no explanation. According to the screenplay writer Jeff Loveness, the COVID-19 delay allowed them to do some weird things with the story and I absolutely love this and makes me all the more intrigued with what they will make for audiences.
Also, Jonathan Majors involvement as Kang the Conquerer opens up a whole lotta more stories, mainly including time travel (which the MCU has already set up is done by using the quantum zone). Finally, Kang is the missing piece for the Young Avengers story including Kate Bishop, Cassie Lang, Eli Bradley, along with Billy and Tommy Maximoff (although I’m not sure about their involvement).
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (5/5/23)
YT: Marvel Entertainment
Cast: Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn
Director: James Gunn
What We Know: Literally nothing. It is nothing because James Gunn has either not started the script or recently started it. I have to assume that a main part of this film’s story will be the Guardians we know trying to convince 2014 Gamora of the morally positive path she can go down. It will be a weird role reversal seeing Nebula be the more virtuous sister and I feel like Gunn will give us some funny moments with them given this dynamic.
We will likely also find out more during Thor: Love and Thunder and the work that Taika Waititi and James Gunn are coming up with might just be some of my favorite films of the MCU to date.
While only one movie is ready to be released, and one other has just a trailer released, there is still so much to be excited about for these future films. Since these movies do have decades worth of source material with their comic books, anybody can find out some exposition for the movies even if they do not know anything when the title of the movie or a specific character is revealed.
I have no doubt in my mind that these MCU movies will be successful in the box office and with reviews, and that only gets me more excited for each and every movie from this studio.
Also, I’m super excited to see how the MCU handles their First Family.
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I am one person. Because of this, and the fact that I am doing this blog in my spare time, I am going to miss some things. I have started adding a rewind of stories and headlines in The Direct Cut magazine in case my readers miss some things. If you need some reminders from recent month’s stories, I recommend you head on over to those magazine issues to remember some big news from the world of movies and television.
While I do not outline a lot of breaking news stories like I did initially, I still do enjoy writing movie and TV reviews. Even though I am writing less blogs to maintain my own mental health, I have decided to do these quick reviews every couple of weeks or months so I can share my thoughts on the movies that came out recently.
Due to me not wanting to miss something, these reviews might be from a couple weeks ago or a couple months. This first edition will cover a lot of movies and shows from 2020 that I did not get to watch when they premiered or I did watch them but did not share my review for them. So here they are…
Television
Netflix, Inc.
Hollywood A modern Ryan Murphy show that felt like a modern Ryan Murphy show with a Netflix budget. I do not think his recent stuff has been that controversial, and this show was really enjoyable for me to watch. Everyone knows that the world and society of Hollywood was once horrible for people of color, aging women, and queer folk. Obviously, this show has a lot of fictional elements riddled throughout the episodes but I did enjoy the revisionist history of marginalized folks not backing down because they know their art is what audiences want.
The overall story were much more convoluted for what they were trying to tell. It looked like this show was trying to tell a story of every marginalized group of the 1950s, while having every one be interconnected, and they did too much.
Final Grade: C
Apple Inc.
Ted Lasso Easily the best show I watched from 2020, plain and simple. A character that was based on a commercial promo campaign, this show took it beyond a 30 second spot and added so much more depth to him. The care and precision that creator Bill Lawerence and his writing staff put into this series is truly astounding. Not only does it put in effort about football (soccer) and the overall sport, but it also gives audiences a respectable look at how folks from the United States see Great Britain and British culture.
Bill Lawerence has owned my heart since Scrubs (2001-2010). This series knows how he can always perfectly blend nonsensical and zany comedy but still having raw emotional moments that reminds audiences just how grounded these outlandish and eccentric characters are at their core.
Barbecue Sauce.
Final Grade: A
Netflix, Inc.
The Queen’s Gambit When this show released, and it said it was based on a novel, I decided to read the novel first to get a grip who Beth Harmon was intended to be by author Walter Tevis. This way, I was able to compare the words of the novel to the presentation from Anya Taylor-Joy and Scott Frank. For the most part, the book and series shared a lot of similarities. The visuals of Beth conducting chess games on her ceiling were much better than I thought they would be and the focus of Beth’s substance abuse was perfectly handled. Some aspects were naturally dropped from the novel, but nothing too consequential to the main themes and story.
My main issue with this series was the overall pacing and how the series came to a close. The final part of Harmon’s character arc was not wanting to be a celebrity anymore, but she ends up being noticed by everyone plays chess in front of a large crowd. In the book, this last chess game in the park was not a big deal and nobody recognized her. I personally prefer the novel’s ending.
Final Grade: B-
WarnerMedia Studios & Networks
The Undoing This was a very strange series, to say the least. Since it was based on a book, the ending was written for it already, but I think the show’s production staff should have taken some creative liberty. This series wanted to be something special with throwback elements of noir and suspense. The fact that EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. was aware that Hugh Grant’s Jonathan was the one who was the murderer except his own wife was a weird decision to make by David E. Kelley. If the novel is a lot like the show, then I do not understand why this show had to be made in the first place.
The star studded cast definitely helped make the show more digestible, but the story decisions and climax lacked imagination and creativity. The fact that this show presented us with a character that was almost clearly the killer, and it turned out to be true made me bored and not believe any of the misdirections they tried to give its audience.
Final Grade: C-
Netflix, Inc.
Bridgerton Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh boy this show was something else. Obviously everybody is talking about the steamy sex scenes and deservedly so. As long as these scenes were done ethically (which it looks like they are) then I have to imagine this show will be around for a long time. This show was not all sex scenes, however. The story of debutants and classism was truly a joy to watch since every story was fleshed out and the characters all performed beautifully. I also enjoyed that when it came to rich and poor families, the audience did not have to focus on the real world issue of systemic racism that is very much present in our society.
I am not too beat up about Regé-Jean Page not returning because his story was completed and the focus will be on Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find love about the ton. The fact that they revealed the person behind Lady Whistledown was strange to me, but I am interested to see where it goes.
Final Grade: B+
Movies
20th Century Studios
The New Mutants This poor poor movie went through so much. When it finally released, the film had a total number of six (6) release dates which means it was rescheduled five (5) times. This film also suffered from the Fox/Disney merger which meant some of the imagery and content had to be changed. These changes toned the film down from a potential bone chilling thriller to a deflated drama with some scary elements. That being said, the character work done by the cast always felt genuine and they all played their parts to the best of their ability. I’m assuming that because of the merger, there will be no future projects continuing this potentially unique story.
So many speed bumps occurred on this film’s production style and by the time last summer rolled around, the momentum was all gone and no amount of interviews or promos could save this movie. Not only that, but the story and film itself lacked honest depth and a sense of coherent direction.
Final Grade: C
Warner Bros. Pictures
Tenet I’m not going to lie to you beautiful readers, I really enjoyed this movie. I know that critics and moviegoers alike were not too fond of it for being a typical Nolan movie with a lot going on, and I get that. Look, I am not a Nolan fan-boy (there’s nothing wrong with that) but I do admire his mindset and concepts, although they often lack execution. I really enjoyed how this movie played with palindromes and the Sator Square since the movie itself was a palindrome with its scenes. Every member of the cast, whether they were top billed or an annoyed and snooty restaurant host, they all fulfilled their role perfectly.
This movie will be one that I will have to watch multiple times to catch everything. However, I do think this movie will be one that I enjoy more and more with every new viewing, kinda like like how I am with my personal favorite Christopher Nolan movie, Inception (2010).
Final Grade: B+
Paramount Pictures
Spontaneous This concept should not have worked. A movie about high school seniors exploding randomly, and a movie that shows these explosions with gallons of blood, should not be a comedy. Alas, here we are. Possibly the best comedy of 2020 (behind Palm Springs slightly for me) it is definitely the most unique concept from 2020. This movie is carried by Katherine Langford and she shines in every scene and every voice-over she does. Her long standing cynicism slowly shattering throughout the film before it finally breaks was sooo well done. This film also succeeds with little bits of comedy sprinkled within the traumatic experiences for the 18 year olds.
The feelings of the students were felt by the audience because we never knew when a kid was going to burst. I honestly recommend this movie for everyone because it checks off so many boxes. Also, if you are worried about it being too gory and bloody, all of the blood is EXTREMELY gratuitous, to a comedic level, so I would not be too worried about it if you are squeamish.
Final Grade: A
Focus Features
Promising Young Woman A female vigilante is missing throughout all kinds of media. Emerald Fennell saw this and decided to write and direct one of her own, and thank goodness she did. The way that this movie unfolded and progressed was truly unlike any other movie over the past twelve months. The reveal of Bo Burnham’s character was likely the most expected reveal of the film but I imagine that was done to ensure every other major plot twist and story progression was a surprise. This movie was so thorough in its character development for Carey Mulligan’s Cassie making the final scene of the movie so satisfying.
Everyone knows that women in cinema have not always had a fair go of it when it comes to capable and powerful protagonists. The effort and work put into making this movie enjoyable and funny, while still telling a harrowing story, all paid off into an Academy Award winning script.
Final Grade: A-
A24
Minari This movie is slow, but the eventual tension and drama payoffs are well worth it in my eyes. Following the Yi family as the matriarch builds a farm in Arkansas, this film embodies some of the best parts for the often glorified American dream. Everyone has been talking about Steve Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung and they definitely shined. However, the rest of the family did so well too along with the Yi’s zealous neighbor in Will Patton. Jacob and Monica’s quarrels build and build until an eventual blow off conversation/argument and the timing of it could not have been better or worse.
If you are looking for a fast paced movie from end to end, then go watch any other film I am reviewing here. However, if you want to watch a movie that is truly beautiful and tells a stunning tale lost in so many mainstream movies, then this is the film for you.
Final Grade: A-
The Direct Cut does not own any of the images used throughout this blog
If you like what you have read, make sure to hit the Follow button below so you will be notified every time a new post is published.
Also, follow the blog on Twitter and Facebook so that you can see all my updates and can share them with your friends!
Make sure you hit the FOLLOW button so you never miss a blog post and will be notified immediately whenever a new entry goes live
Did you know that The Direct Cut has a digital magazine? It is released on the first of every month and has lists, articles, puzzles, and more!Click the “Magazine” tab above to find out more.
I do not know why I am writing this blog because I will likely piss some folks off after publishing. Regardless of the reception, I feel like this blog will help me get all my honest thoughts down. This blog will also be helpful to be a point of reference that I can direct people to when there is another instance of toxicity regarding fandoms.
Considering the amount of instant gratification that social media has created, so many folks can share their thoughts on everything and anything for the whole world to see. This trend can lead to hours of arguments if, god forbid, someone sees your thoughts disagrees with them. When these arguments occur is where toxic fandoms and gatekeeping will likely come in. Now I am here to look at these two elements of fandoms and see what is justified and what is not.
Fandoms
One of the beautiful things about me starting this blog last May is that I have recognized and noticed more types of fans within the world of television and movies. This revelation is a double-edged sword since with these new fans coming into my line of sight, I also see the scary underbelly that comes from this. Like literally any other topic in the world, there is a spectrum of folks who like something. This spectrum ranges from the most toxic to the healthy. I am not saying someone will always be locked in a single position on this spectrum, but rather a person’s persona varies and is constantly moving along it.
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
One of the most recent and polarizing TV shows has been Game of Thrones and how the latter seasons are received. A healthy fan would understand that the climactic finale is near impossible to live up to after years of great world and character building. Because of this mindset, they move on shortly after the finale ends, feeling sad and let down. However, a toxic fan would sign a petition to redo the last season and dedicate hours of their lives spewing hate at the cast and crew on social media.
Both of these responses found that the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones was not good. However, only one type of fan makes the whole fandom look sour and negative. And this brings me to my first negative point about fandoms…
Entitlement
“Because I consume your product, I deserve to get what I want.” Even though this phrase is not always explicitly said, it is a vibe that is given off. There is a fine line between not liking a movie or TV show because it was poorly produced compared to not what you want.
Paramount Pictures
In May of 2019, fans were famously upset with the design of Sonic the Hedgehog in his titular movie. Since this movie was live-action, there were going to be some changes to the looks of the iconic blue blur. But what the filmmakers did was just too different and barely looked like Sonic. This instance was warranted and justified, so I do not see this as toxic or entitled.
An instance of entitled fans comes from the recent journey to a galaxy far, far away. As I have said countless times, the main culprit of the Star Wars sequel trilogy having inconsistent production is Kathleen Kennedy because of her apparent lack of planning. Each of these three movies had different writers and directors who did not communicate with one another, and it showed. As I always say and always will say, I am not saying fans should like everything and never say a bad thing. However, not liking The Last Jedi because Luke became jaded, and thinking “that’s not my Luke” is entitled. Unable to accept something like the development of a fictional character that is forty years old is just flat-out sad.
Fan Theory Let Downs
Information for a movie or TV show is the most extensive it has ever been, thanks to the internet and social media. Folks can break down teasers and trailers frame by frame thanks to modern technology. Because of this, clues and hints that would have gone unnoticed in a previous technological generation have a higher chance of being noticed. That is all well and good as long as the clues are supposed to be there. By this, I mean sometimes folks might see something in a trailer or an episode of TV and draw a conclusion that will not occur.
My most recent example within this blog is the discourse around the first MCU and Disney+ television show, WandaVision. Fans created fan theories around nearly every little detail that might have been a nod or reference to another character or story within the Marvel mythos.
Disney Platform Distribution / Marvel Entertainment / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Some of these fan theories were Wanda saying “No.” to the beekeeper and setting up House of M, the fictional commercials had some special meaning, “Pietro” confirmed the multiverse, Reed Richards was Monica’s friend, and Doctor Strange would lend his assistance. The most popular one was Mephisto was the big-bad pulling all of the strings. I will not lie to you and say that I wasn’t hoping for one/all of these to come true, but I also understand that the fan theories created after the episode’s air might not come true.
While WandaVision is the recent example, and the MCU always has plenty of them, fan theories not coming true should not ruin a work of fiction. There is also a difference between fan theories and explicit clues by the creators of a TV series or movie. If those clues and breadcrumbs were not followed through with, the fan’s negative emotions are warranted (*cough cough* Game of Thrones, Azor Ahai, and spiral formations, *cough cough*).
Gatekeeping
While I will be focusing on movies and TV, gatekeeping is found in all aspects of life. Some examples are “theater” kids being upset a bunch of high school seniors doing the annual musical, women proving their fondness for a band only by naming albums or songs, bisexual folks being treated as too gay or too straight, people saying their trauma or pain is worse than another person’s, and so many more. The TL;DR version of this point is Don’t Participate in Gatekeeping. However, who am I just to leave it at that without any examples.
Competitive Fanbases
Competition always creates success, especially in this (often horrific) capitalist society. So many folks think they have to align with one of the brands or franchises that appear to be competing. While this is popular within the comic book movie genre, it is in nearly every genre of movies or TV shows. Everyone knows that the two big giants are Marvel and DC, but too many fans think they can only root for Marvel movies to succeed or DC movies, and that is not the case.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
When I was in my early teens, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy ended while Zack Snyder built his DC universe (more on both of them later). At this point, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was already in full swing and its second phase. Because these two brands were putting out films with similar structures and characters, fans were gatekeeping their favorites and not allowing folks to like both. In my eyes, this type of behavior is flat-out harmful for both fanbases and doesn’t help anyone. A larger fanbase for something is never a negative because more folks will be able to experience it. I would rather have more folks talking about something I like other than just talking about it with only myself.
Being Too Fanatic
So when I said Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder above, I know that some people might be feeling a certain way towards them. The running joke in folks who do not take movies and cinema too seriously is that Nolan fanboys are annoying. While the terminology used is immature, the sentiment can be warranted. Specific folks practically treat filmmakers and showrunners as the leaders of a religion based around the cinema. Some of these folks are Nolan, Snyder, Ryan Murphy, Quentin Tarantino, Greg Daniels, and Shonda Rhimes.
Vero – Zack Snyder
I am not saying there should not be fans of a specific filmmaker or showrunner, but do not pretend they do no wrong. This wrongdoing is evident in projects like The Hateful Eight from Tarantino that flopped, Ryan Murphy’s Nip/Tuck being problematic for trans folk, and Zack Snyder’s incoherent stories. This specific form of gatekeeping, a sort of blind loyalty, will turn folks away who are only just learning.
The basic rule of being a fan and a participant in a fandom comes down to one simple rule: BE RESPECTFUL
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Did you know that The Direct Cut has a digital magazine? It is released on the first of every month and has lists, articles, puzzles, and more!Click the “Magazine” tab above to find out more.
Welcome to Fixing The Exposure! This series will take a look at a movie, a franchise, or a TV show that has not had the best reception, and show that it is not actually that bad. The title of this series comes from the amount of light allowed in a camera lens, making a shot brighter or darker.
The movies and shows I will be looking at have historically been under exposed in the eyes of so many, and I am here to fix that. This is a spinoff of when I looked at the last season of Game of Thrones, and explained why it was not all bad. I will do my best to critique the project I am looking at as best I can, but spoiler alert, it is going to be mostly positive.
For my first edition of Fixing The Exposure, I will be looking at a staple of my childhood and adolescence, and that is the three movies based around a remake of the 1932 classic film.
Universal Pictures
The three movies included in this trilogy are The Mummy (1999), The Mummy Returns (2001), and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). All three movies scored relatively poorly with critics, with the three films earning 60%, 47%, and 13% respectively. Each would gross well over $300 million at the box office, and the first and third films were the highest earning movies after their premieres (I’m not saying this top position lasted long but it did happen).
Today these films have earned a cult following but even then (and likely because I am a follower) I still see these three films as vastly underrated and a set of movies that actually pushed the needle for action adventure films and added to the deep lore of the historic character of The Mummy. Before we get into fixing the exposure of this film, let’s look into the cast of the films. Since this is a continuous trilogy, I will only take note of the new actors and characters from movie to movie as to not repeat myself.
The Mummy (1999) Brendan Fraser : Rick O’Connell Rachel Weisz : Evelyn “Evy” Carnahan John Hannah : Jonathan Carnahan Oded Fehr : Ardeth Bay Patricia Velásquez : Anck-su-namun Arnold Vosloo : The Mummy / Imhotep
The Mummy Returns (2001) Freddie Boath : Alex O’Connell Dwayne Johnson : The Scorpion King Alun Armstrong : Baltus Hafez Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje : Lock-Nah
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) Maria Bello : Evelyn “Evy” Carnahan-O’Connell* Luke Ford : Alex O’Connell* Jet Li : Emperor Han Isabella Leong : Lin Michelle Yeoh : Zi Yuan
*actors that were recast
Now that all of the formalities are out of the way, let’s look at the three movies and break down why these films have been given an unfair bad reception. Also, since this movies do have a cult following, I know there will be folks reading this who do not see these movies as bad, and I am with you. Even still, let’s take a stroll down Nostalgia Lane and reminisce about a fantastic film trilogy.
Brendan Fraser’s Rick O’Connell
The term of “himbo” gets thrown around a lot, the male equivalent of the female bimbo. I believe Rick O’Connell is the best personification of this term because he becomes truly kind to everyone. A “himbo” is defined as a man who is hot, not that bright, and his kind to everyone/everything, regardless of his own beliefs or views. Yes, he is kinda of swarmy in the beginning but I toss that up to him being imprisoned and close to death. Also he is not too kind to Imhotep but that is because the Mummy is trying to conquer the world.
Universal Pictures
One scene that I believe perfectly exemplifies why Brendan Fraser’s Rick O’Connell is so near and dear to my heart is him standing with his back against a literal wall, with a gun in one hand, his love interest on the other, and he is yelling at an undead mystical being with rotted flesh falling of it. Comparing O’Connell yelling at Imhotep is paralleled to his introductory scene from the third film. Rick is now retired and trying to learn fly fishing but loses his patience and starts yelling and shooting at the fish. Both scenes show that O’Connell won’t let anything get in his way from achieving his goal, which usually includes a pistol or two.
The character of Rick O’Connell is someone who is special to me because he is someone that I envy having so much braun and bravery, yet still having a soft spot for his lived ones. I have never had an issue with being in tuned with my emotions, to a fault occasionally, but it is the bravery and confident aspects I struggle with and have been working on for some time now.
The Absolute Beautiful Cast
I mean, one can’t really ask for a more sexy and stunning cast of actors to star in a trilogy of movies. Just look at the faces below and tell me they are not some beautiful and sexy folks. These movies are some of the most fun and action packed films of the turn of the century, and the faces that tell the story make the viewing all the more enjoyable. I touched on it above, but himbo Rick O’Connell was beautifully written and performed by Fraser. Rachel Weisz’s Evelyn had so much brains behind her beauty, a character type very much before it’s time during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Don’t even get me started on the ruggedly handsome Oded Fehr with all those markings on his lovely face.
Universal Pictures
Then the rest of the supporting cast in the three films all stand out in being lovely and stunning. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in The Mummy Returns (2001) could take his knife and try and stab my hand any day. If Patricia Velasquez wanted to raise an ancient mummified high priest, especially one that looks like Arnold Vosloo, it would be hard for me to object. Basically, this movies cast was made for those bisexual movie lovers and who I am to object.
The VFX Advancements Shown Off
Universal Pictures
The first of the trilogy came out in 1999. This is the same year that Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and The Matrix was released. When comparing the three, on a CGI and visual effects level, it is weird to see the directions all three went. Episode I relied too much on CGI, The Matrix, especially the first film, is infamous for its blending of fantastic visual effects within the titular matrix, but more practical when Neo and the others are out of it.
Something that I love about The Mummy trilogy is the fact that they are able to use CGI and visual effects that could look cheesy and hokey, but execute it in a practical manner. The climactic sequence of Rick O’Connell defeating Imhotep (for the first time) stands out to me. We see the evil CGI goons not looking too out of place, and the texture blending on Imhotep’s skin is better than some modern visual effects. Sure, it is not like all of the visual effects hold up entirely to today’s standards since whole worlds can be created in a computer nowadays. However, for the time they were brilliant and evolved throughout out the second and third installments.
via YT: Universal Pictures
Introduced Dwayne Johnson
If you are a fan of pro-wrestling, especially from the 1990s, then the name Dwayne Johnson has been a household name for a few decades now. Since the turn of century, however, his brand has since expanded to becoming the Hollywood’s most paid actor. His whole ascension began with the second installment of this trilogy in The Mummy Returns (2001). His role as the Scorpion King was a minor role in the grand scheme of things, but the character’s role was a perfect foil for Imhotep to put an end to that story.
Universal Pictures
Now look, I am well aware that an earlier point I made was reveling in the visual effects and CGI. And I am also very much aware that the Scorpion King is far from a great example of this point. My counterpoint is that putting a human face digitally on another and different person has hardly ever looked good, even in 2021 (this includes de-aging). And honestly, the cheesy and rough look the Scorpion King had added to his image and aura. The first two movies built up Imhotep as this unbeatable villain so when Johnson’s character appeared and looked completely different, the shock of it all helped the story. I am a huge fan of Dwayne Johnson (please, please don’t run for President…) and that is mostly due to his acting career and this film.
Respected the Source Culture
Since I am not an Egyptian or Chinese historian, I had to look into folks who are and their opinions. For the first two movies being based around the iconic mummies of Egypt, this story had been told over and over again for decades. Even then, the films stood out by respecting the Egyptian mythos while adding to it in a respectful way through the lens of a western audience. These films were a reboot of the iconic 1932 film, but the direction they went in, with more action, adventure, and comedy, made the concept feel fresh while not losing the roots of the mummy history, Egyptian culture, and all of the other source material.
Universal Pictures
When it comes to The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), this film did not have this same ground work since they left Egypt for China, but the respect for culture did not waiver. The weird thing about this movie is that it came at a time when Chinese culture was expanding to a larger audience with other films, shows, along with the 2008 Olympics taking place in Beijing. It has been deducted that the titular Dragon Emperor is based on the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang, who began the construction of the Great Wall and was buried with the Terracotta Army. Although their names differed, the inspirations were there and the creative changes they took were never egregious or disrespectful.
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Warner Bros. Pictures
Now that the world has access to the film Zack Snyder intended to make, I am sure he has a sigh of relief. His time during the initial production of the Justice League movie was something that nobody should deal with, especially with the reason he eventually stepped down. So now that he released his FOUR HOUR film, his vision has been fulfilled. Honestly, it was better than I expected it was going to be.
As I break it down, I will look the film in four aspects. These will be my original negatives with the film, my new negatives, old positives from the film, and my new positives.
Original Gripes
DC Entertainment, Inc.
Something that always bothered me was the fact that a film titled Justice League only introduced three heroes of their eventual six member group. This comes down to DC Comics’ and the DCEU’s pacing issue that I have been saying is their major problem since Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). I hate to compare to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it is hard not to when they are blueprint for modern film world building. It has felt like the DCEU has been trying to play catch-up rather than doing their own thing. They have since recorrected this fact with films like Joker (2019) and the upcoming The Batman film.
So when this film introduced Barry Allen/The Flash, Victor Stone/Cyborg, and Arthur Curry/Aquaman all in one movie, it all felt rushed. Even with the extended runtime, I still did not like that the first half of the film felt like it was dedicated to telling us who these three men were. It was hard to gauge how developed Aquaman was since he has since led a film of his own, but I definitely felt that way with The Flash and Cyborg. Granted, their characters were fleshed out even more by Zack Snyder and we all know why Ray Fisher was upset with his characters downgrade in the initial Joss Whedon version, but Snyder could only do so much.
WarnerMedia Direct
Staying with Barry Allen, I truly do not like the animation style and techniques that the filmmakers decided to do to illustrate his super speed. All of the blue lightning looks like it should be shocking and electrocuting the folks around him when Allen is running. The CW’s Flash gets a lot of hate for his special effects, even though it is a TV show with a TV budget, but the way they show off Barry’s speed is much more digestible for me. With Ezra Miller helming his own film in the near future, I am not looking forward to the static effect that will come with this speedster.
WarnerMedia Direct
Finally, I really did not like that Kal-El and Clark Kent is missing throughout most of this film. I may be conditioned to think a certain way, and I will own that, but a “Justice League” movie, in my mind, should not feel like it is 60% character introductions. Superman is the superhero and the flag bearer for DC Comics. The fact that he only has a handful of minutes when it comes to screen time is really jarring and doesn’t feel right. This just comes down to planning of DCEU films and the pacing of this movie. More time was given to developing new characters that should have been introduced before this movie.
New Gripes
The main thing that I did not like about this version of the film was the fact that it was in a 4:3 aspect ratio. I am no where near an expert in film studies, but I did minor in it. With regards to aspect ratio, some of the best filmmakers of cinematic history have talked about putting a film in widescreen allowed so much more to be seen on the screen. I was taught to be believe that a 4:3 aspect ratio has been a retired format due to the limits it creates. Now obviously a show like WandaVision used this ratio as an homage to 1960s and 1970s before widescreen became the norm, but Zack Snyder’s Justice League was not marketed as an homage (to my knowledge).
via Justice League (2017) | Warner Bros. Pictures
via Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) | WarnerMedia Direct
I guess Snyder filmed the movie with the open matte technique, and this allowed the characters to look bigger and taller than they would have if the aspect ratio was 16:9 (the same ratio that your computer or phone has which you are reading this on). I understand why Zack Snyder did it, so the likes of Steppenwolf and Darkseid fit their characterizations of being able to destroy Earth, but my personal opinion is that I do not think this unique decision was necessary. I commend his decision, but it was just not for me.
I almost feel like this Justice League movie should have come after we get to know Cyborg and Flash, based on their importance in the climax, and maybe at the film before we get to Justice League, that is when they tease the resurrection of Kal-El. That way our mourning for him would also be processed, and the big team-up film would not have to worry too much about character exposition.
Original Positives
WarnerMedia Direct
Now look, everyone knows the original Justice League film had a lot of flaws, but there were also some good things that came from it. The main constant between the films is the incredible acting from the members of the titular group. I have documented my personal disdain for Gal Gadot but it is hard to argue that she can act. I even found myself hoping for her to be stiff or boring but my own hopes were found false. Then there was the “new” Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher, all of which made their respective characters feel special.
Then, there is Ben Affleck as the caped crusader himself, Batman. Easily my favorite part of the DCEU, Batfleck steals the scene for me whenever he is on my screen. Even though we do not see him in his prime, Affleck is able to show the audience that he has been through some things over the last twenty years of his vigilantism. This updated film did allow for his character to have more scenes, like the Knightmare sequence with Leto’s Joker, and I will cherish those for a long time. I will miss Batfleck following his departure after The Flash movie.
WarnerMedia Direct
This last original positive is kind of a retroactive one. This movie was able to combine actors from two different projects about the “Watchmen” graphic novel. Billy Crudup, who plays Barry’s incarcerated father in Henry Allen, played Dr. Manhattan in Zack Snyder’s Watchmen (2009) movie. Then, Jeremy Irons, who plays the quick-witted Alfred, was the genius Adrian Veidt and Ozymandias in the HBO series Watchmen (2019). Obviously, at the time of initial release in 2017, we did not know Irons be in the HBO series, but looking back it is cool to realize.
New Positives
Fair warning: I am going to sound hypocritical very shortly.
Right from his first scene, Steppenwolf felt more intimidating in this new version. I’m not sure if this is how Snyder intended for the harbinger of Darkseid to actually look, or if he saw how Steppenwolf looked like in the 2017 film and decided to change it, regardless it was an upgrade. This might also be because of the aspect ratio change (see, hypocritical) but I feel like it was mostly because of the revamped armor and style that was added to him.
WarnerMedia Direct
While these two were in fact brand new and introduced with this film, the four hours were able to flesh out Cyborg and The Flash (another hypocritical moment, I know). Making these heroes the saviors in the end makes them feel special right from the start of their cinematic tenures. We now know Barry isn’t just some weird loner with a locked up dad, but we now know there is a hero within him both from the job interview scene, and the CCTV footage. Then when it comes to Victor Stone, we saw his tenuous relationship with his father developed, along with how his mother was caught in the middle of them before her passing.
No Diana Prince ass shots. Nuff said.
Martian. Effing. Manhunter. I think this character is one of my most underrated characters in the DC Comics mythos. His common origin story is up there with being just as devastating as Kal-El’s and Bruce Wayne’s, but doesn’t get talked about as much. I also love that he is played by Harry Lennix from Man of Steel (2013) after some subtle references from the movie that go unnoticed unless you are partaking in multiple viewings. His role was limited in this movie due to COVID-19 precautions, but I have some high expectations for this character in future movies.
WarnerMedia Direct
While it is an improvement from the disaster that was Joss Whedon’s Justice League, and it did exceed my low expectations due to my notions about the planning DCEU and Warner Bros. have done for their universe, I enjoyed this movie. A lot more of the plot and characters made sense when the credits finally rolled. In the grand scheme of the DCEU and in movies, this was nothing special. However, it does leave the door open for some exciting stories to be told down the line.
Final Grade: B
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In a world that has been struggling with COVID-19 for over a year, little things spiking the serotonin have been clung onto for obvious reasons. For me, these mood boosts have usually pertained to (unsurprisingly) movies and television.
There is no doubt in my mind that movies have been the saving grace for so many over these last twelve months. Thanks to the ever growing (and frightening) world of technology, movies have increased in their accessibility for folks around the world. Thankfully, this means even though movie theaters were hardly open during the year of 2020, audiences have still been able to watch the premiering films in time for the Oscars ceremony.
Now since the nominations were released today, let’s look break down the highlights of the films, performers, directors, and production staff that have the possibility to bring home the prestigious golden statuette.
The Good
A24
To the relief of some, and shock to others (like the HFPA), Minari was not nominated for Best International Feature film. During the Golden Globes, there was a lot of discussions about this film written and directed by Colorado native, Lee Isaac Chung. For anyone who doesn’t know, Minari is about a South Korean family who immigrates to the United States during the 1980s. For the Golden Globes this year, this film was only included in the Foreign Language category, even though the dialogue is split between English and Korean. So with it’s inclusion on the Best Picture nominee list, and nowhere near the International, it is nice to see the Academy make the conscious decision to leave it out.
After starring in the aforementioned film of Minari, Youn Yuh-jung becomes first South Korean actress nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Also from this film, The Walking Dead alum Steve Yeun earns the first Oscar nomination for Best Actor for an Asian-American. Finally, and likely the one who will come home with the Oscar, Chloé Zhao becomes the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for Best Director for her work on Nomadland. With the recent months’ issues of so many hatred, abuse, and assault being slung towards people of Asian descent in the United States, I have to imagine it is nice to see some landmark nominations and representation for Asian folks.
Amazon Studios
On top of the historic nomination for Steve Yeun this year in the Best Actor category, there is another historic nomination. Riz Ahmed has become the first Muslim to be nominated for Best Actor for his role in Sound of Metal. This follows Mahershala Ali’s nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the often controversial film of Green Book (2018). While two actors earning Oscar nominations does not fully redeem or exonerate the amount of xenophobia and Islamophobia thrown at Muslim folks in this country, but it is a small start to set an example.
One category that I know the least amount is hair and makeup. However something that I do know is that for the Netflix movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson have become the first black women nominated for the hair and makeup Oscar. I will touch on this more in a bit but I am hoping these “good” talking points will be less and less in the future.
The Bad
Netflix, Inc.
First off, let me state that I think it is awful that the movie Hillbilly Ellegy has to be talked about more with Glenn Close’s nomination. This is nothing against Glenn Close because she is definitely one of the most underrated actresses of the last thirty+ years. The movie that she did well acting in, however, is the issue. This film has been described as “perpetuating stereotypes about the poor” by The Independent and “bootstrapping poverty porn” by The A.V Club. The film is based on a book that itself was criticized so I am waiting for this film to fade off into nothingness following the Oscar’s ceremony.
Let me preface these last two entries by saying I hate the term and the aura around a “snubbed” film, actor, director, etc. That is mainly because the folks who use that term are using it as a fact and sound entitled.
Photo by Patti Perret
I hope you all understand that when I say it is a letdown that Regina King did not earn a Best Director nomination for directing in her debut film One Night in Miami, I mean it as my personal opinion. I found this film, based on a play of the same name (both written by Kemp Powers) to be very illuminating and a strong presentation that there is not necessarily autonomy within black folks. The movie was so well done and although King did earn a Golden Globe nomination for her work, I was hoping that she would earn some more recognition for this film.
Finally, my final “Bad” point has to deal with Spike Lee’s latest film in Da 5 Bloods. This movie did not earn any nominations pertaining to the acting done by the performers, the directing, or its screenplay. This Netflix film has been one of my most favorite films of the year because on the surface, it shows all of the ways that people deal with the same trauma, and not to mention how black men were exploited during the Vietnam Conflict. In my eyes, I thought this film should have earned a nomination for its screenplay and cinematography, on top of an acting nomination for Delroy Lindo. This film is amazing and one I think everyone should watch.
Netflix, Inc.
The Ugly
The category name of “Best Sound.” After combining the two categories of Sound Editing and Sound Mixing, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences decided to just name it “Best Sound” and I hate it. It is the most ugly category name I have ever seen and I feel like it belongs to the Golden Razzies.
Amazon Studios / Photo by Justin Bishop / Photo by Merie Weismiller Wallace / A24
To put it bluntly, while playing devil’s advocate, there were too many firsts during this years nominations. To name a few this is the first time that there are 2 women directors nominated, a record amount of folks with Asian descent to be nominated, on top of the aforementioned black folks being nominated for hair and makeup. This will be the 93rd Oscars ceremony. It is an absolute travesty that this is the first year that more than one woman has been nominated for best director or black women have been nominated for hair and makeup.
As I mentioned above, the amount of firsts are a good thing to be occurring, but I am hoping that these “firsts” will become no more in the near future and that it won’t take another century to achieve more progress in representation for black folks, Asian folks, or women filmmakers when it comes to Oscar nominations. There is nothing that should hold a person back from achieving their dreams, and the more positive portrayals that are seen will work out in the long run.
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Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Since I do not shy away from enjoying comic book movies, and never really did even before it was fully mainstream, I have been asked multiple times which comic book movie is my favorite. Even though there have been much better movies than this one, I have always favored Marvel Studios first blockbuster in Marvel’s The Avengers (2012). This first team up from the original six Avengers (not including the namesake and, let’s face it, superior Carol Danvers) saw them battle against Loki and his gifted Chitauri army throughout the streets and buildings of Manhattan.
This movie is near and dear to my heart for a myriad of reasons, the first of which is that this was the first MCU movie that I saw in theaters and it was the Friday the movie premiered. This was the first time I was able to go see a true blockbuster during its opening weekend and the theater experience is one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. All of the reactions were appropriate and filled with passion and everyone was happy to see this huge movie that was built up over four years and five movies (looking back it is humorous to see how naive we all were back then).
On top of the theater experience, I loved the film’s content just as much. The reintroduction of all our favorite characters were so well done for those who might be new (with Natasha Romanoff being my personal favorite), Mark Ruffalo did so well in portraying the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde side of Bruce Banner/Hulk, and Samuel L. Jackson’s work as Nick Fury was brilliantly done, especially with regards to the stupid-ass decisions that the World Council were making. I can literally talk about this movie for hours on hours, but that is not what this blog is about. If you want that, check out my Rewind The Tape for The Avengers.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
When masterpieces like Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018) came along, my favorite Marvel movie stayed the same. When revolutionary and inspirational films like Black Panther (2018) and Captain Marvel (2019) came along, my favorite Marvel movie stayed the same. When visually stunning films like Doctor Strange (2016) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) came along, my favorite Marvel movie stayed the same. Due to the events over this past year or so regarding some horrific allegations and accusations made towards Joss Whedon, The Avengers film’s director and co-screenwriter, my bias towards this movie looks to have run out.
Warner Bros. Pictures
I will go in the order of when the accusations were made, which means starting with Ray Fisher. As I documented with my blog following the press release announcing that the infamous “Snyder Cut” of DCEU’s Justice League (2017) was actually going to be released, Joss Whedon took over the creative process following Zack Snyder choosing to step down to deal with a personal matter. Rather than filling a substitute teacher role, Whedon decided to change the whole curriculum. So after two months of reshoots, Joss Whedon made his version of the film which meant some characters’ arcs and stories were altered from when they first were handed Zack Snyder’s original script.
The most tragic of these character changes came with Ray Fisher’s version of Victor Stone/Cyborg. To my knowledge for the longest time, I thought that Whedon just diminished his character’s importance in the overall film and my mind made the connection that it was because this film was just introducing the half man/half robot hero for a larger role down the road. Unfortunately, the true events during these reshoots were not so simple. Over the past year, throughout numerous trials and investigations, it has been revealed (through tweets and interviews) that there were was so many instances of unprofessionalism, disgusting and abusive behavior, and racist discussions, either from Joss Whedon or the Warner Bros. executives.
Photo by Gage Skidmore
All of this was a load of he-said, Hollywood-executives-said so it was truly hard to determine anything during the investigation process, but my allegiance was, of course, with Ray Fisher since he had no reason to lie about his own experiences. During this time, a lot of the horrible behavior was directed at the Warner Media big wigs, so Joss Whedon just looked immature and unprofessional. During this past year, I was conflicted in my passion for Marvel’s The Avengers because I did not know if Whedon was truly a bad person, or was just not in the right space during this time period. That has since changed.
In the middle of February, Charisma Carpenter spoke out against Joss Whedon with some truly horrific actions and behavior towards her. These actions were mainly regarding her being pregnant during the production of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, never mind the toxic and destructive environment she said Whedon created on set.
Photo by Getty/Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Everything Carpenter said made me instantly believe everything Ray Fisher said (something I was already leaning towards and likely had nostalgia goggles on preventing me from believing Fisher). Not only what she said, but also how Michelle Trachtenberg shared her own experiences with Whedon’s toxic environment. This was all made definite when numerous former cast members of Carpenter and Trachtenberg’s stood beside them and sided with the brave people speaking out against abuse and discrimination. Over this past year, it never felt like Joss Whedon was going to suffer from any permanent consequences since it was ultimately one person going up against a famous showrunner and film director on top of one of the largest media conglomerates in the United States and the world. But now, it feels different for the better.
Since the Time’s Up movement conquered the mainstream culture, and people with positions of power were finally getting their comeuppance after being protected by societal barriers, there has been a dilemma with fans of media and artist vs their art. Is it ok to still listen to R. Kelly or Ryan Adams songs and watch Woody Allen or Kevin Spacey movies? Every person answers this question differently, and now I am presented with this same dilemma. Is it possible to separate the horrible man in Joss Whedon from the films or TV shows he created or help create? I think it is possible, as long as you fully acknowledge the disgusting and vile actions they have done in their past.
It is very hard for me to cut out The Avengers from my all time films because of how it shaped my love for a film and multimedia franchise that feels like it will eventually outlive me in 70+ years. However I recognize that Joss Whedon is a horrendous human being and should never work again.
Do you have a different point of view? Let’s discuss. I am very much interested in everyone’s beliefs on this subject (not necessarily with regards to Joss Whedon since there have been so many examples of horrible people who have created popular works of media/fiction).
Do you cut out the work of people who have been accused/convicted of abuse, racism, misogyny, etc., even if the work has major sentimental value? Please let me know!
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