tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54905115269348441422024-03-12T18:41:44.630-07:00CT Commie Tiger MommyAmerica's most Irish author to come out of Eastern Europemarinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-26640812456271111832024-02-21T09:06:00.000-08:002024-02-21T09:06:33.337-08:009 Miles Down: bad casting kills a horror movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81S24FJucCL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81S24FJucCL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Winter is a great time for self-reflection and self-flagellation, a great opportunity to remember all those times you wronged others and reflect on how you are going to pay for them ... in the afterlife. Just kidding! I am no moralist. However, if you come across "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/9-Miles-Down-Adrian-Paul/dp/B08NB3PTTZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3O6A6YDV73CUX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.a0NC84NFCaafYp_l9KZhCDF0346-aJyvdHkbYnFzjEtq6sXmuIjCWqSGoU3jBCbt378w4N2CpZPApEmwjR8KBcq2uAc72UMIQzaoOaWwNFkh7wHwPI9WV-Riwcjp-qP7bff9Rn2gTiyP4KXtvEHtYkvS9_MLUO_dtpootVeNEsgdS_Vv9EOZ4Zhqg1-8nL-0plDafea8mrbtQrX6HOA2esFwLKzJoN1MxfjPrHKn0s0.rck7pBGrnX7U70n0Mhj2YJsCjcVvcIjZtNJtb9tFWXI&dib_tag=se&keywords=9+miles+down&qid=1708534401&sprefix=9+miles+do%2Caps%2C756&sr=8-1">Nine Miles Down</a>" while flipping through your Amazon Prime options, consider giving it a go. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nine Miles Down is a 2009 horror film[2] based on the Well to Hell, a widespread urban legend (spread mostly in the 1990s) that Russian scientists had drilled so deep that they had broken through into hell and recorded the screams of the damned emanating from the borehole.[3] It was the last feature film credit for writer Everett de Roche.[4] It is an international co-production between the UK, Hungary, and the US.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Released five years before a more known and acclaimed "As Above So Below" (2014), "9 Miles Down" takes the idea of personal hell to new depths, blurring traumatic memories, fears and imagination into an unsettling concoction. The problem is that the actors portraying the two lead characters are too ... generically "hot". Jack, played by Adrian Paul, does not come across as a bereaved father and husband, tormented by guilt. And Kate Nauta looks like a cast member of "Baywatch". She's just not a good actress. Her abilities are suitable for C-rated direct to stream flicks. Her seductive antics are affected and borderline histrionic. Meredith Ostrom is another traditionally hot and awkwardly stiff as Jack's betrayed wife Susan in the flashbacks. She looks like a model who walked off of a bikini photo shoot into a horror movie set. The casting director could have made different choices to make the characters more convincing and sympathetic. The casting choices do nothing for the plot and detract from the overall message. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-4551411739448119452024-01-18T19:00:00.000-08:002024-01-18T19:00:42.387-08:0047 Meters Down: a low budget version of "Gravity"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTnFNrysPCMUfr9h285qpDxFS-dG6OujBuBp4w9V-GvUmJJuFyn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTnFNrysPCMUfr9h285qpDxFS-dG6OujBuBp4w9V-GvUmJJuFyn" width="213" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It's that time of year, and many of you in the northern hemisphere are tempted to escape to tropical locations. Before you dish out a few hundred dollars cash for an "unforgettable experience" that will make you look "totally badass" like teasing sharks from the safety of a metal cage, watch "47 Meters Under". </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis</span></b></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Two sisters vacationing in Mexico are trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean. With less than an hour of oxygen left and great white sharks circling nearby, they must fight to survive.</span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts</span></b></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The plot formula closely mimics that of 2013 "Gravity". </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You have all the plot milestones: </span><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">accident, entrapment, race for survival, some difficult choices and a bit of soul-searching. Except that instead of two seasoned astronauts lost in space we have two ditsy American women trapped in a cage underwater. You don't need to be a survival movie buff to foresee some of the plot twists from ten miles away. I won't spoil the experience for you and let you see how quicky and accurately you can guess some of those twists. </span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the entire movie the most sympathetic characters are sharks.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Women - white American women, to be precise - are portrayed as impulsive, naive, overreaching.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The men are portrayed as opportunistic, cynical and cowardly. Like the women, they are completely dispensable - finger food for the sharks. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If you have a strong misanthropic streak, like I do, you will enjoy watching silly humans making fools of themselves. Take it as a cautionary tale for middle-class 20-something Americans inclined to seek thrills in resorts. </span></div>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-70613452899088595222023-12-19T10:39:00.000-08:002023-12-19T10:39:22.332-08:00When Evil Lurks: Children Love Evil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzNkMTA5ZTYtOGEzOC00MmJiLTgxMWYtM2JlZjhlZDVkYWE0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTczMjkzNDY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzNkMTA5ZTYtOGEzOC00MmJiLTgxMWYtM2JlZjhlZDVkYWE0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTczMjkzNDY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Post-apocalyptic rural Argentina. In a remote village, two brothers find a demon-infected man just about to give birth to evil itself. They decide to get rid of the man but merely succeed in helping him to deliver the inferno.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I have written several reviews of Latin American horror films - a previously underrated genre that is steadily gaining momentum. I had the pleasure of seeing "When Evil Lurks" on big screen in Dolby. The benefits of seeing a movie like that in Dolby is that you pick up on subtle sounds from the soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience. "When Evil Lurks" offers the classical staples of Latin American religious horror: the expected elements of Catholicism mixed in with some local native lore. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ordinarily, demonic possession is presented as a deeply personal experience, a personal spiritual tragedy. In this film the possession is presented almost like a pandemic - and you never know who is immune to it. Obsession with cleanliness, distancing and the fear of contagion are common themes woven into the narrative. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One phrase uttered towards the end of the film will strike you: "Children love evil." I found it impressive that children are portrayed as primary hosts of evil - a clear deviation from the widely accepted notion that children are "pure". Their curiosity is what makes them ideal targets for temptation. </span></div>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-3695393254638041472023-11-20T07:03:00.000-08:002023-11-20T07:03:58.767-08:00Parable: an eclectic South African horror gem<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71epdg4MzxL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71epdg4MzxL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></span></p><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween doesn't have to be over. It can last throughout the holiday season. In fact, sometimes you need horror movies to keep you sane through all the nauseating cheer. South Africa is not necessarily a destination you associate with horror films. It's not even on the map of mainstream horror. Naturally, I was curious when Prime suggested "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Parable-Jane-Wet/dp/B0B8TCKMVN/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3GLC237IK6K2N&keywords=parable+2020&qid=1700492096&sprefix=parable+2020%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-6">Parable</a>" (2020). When you see a movie set in South Africa, you can expect racial tension to be the central focus. Well, in this case the focus is on religion. In addition to being ethnically diverse and conflicted, South Africa is home to a variety of religious beliefs and practices. Catholic mysticism, demonology, evangelism and paganism come together in this bizarre horror piece. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">While trying an extreme form of conversion therapy, a preacher summons an evil demon - one that's intent on triggering a mass suicide. The pastor must keep the demon contained - but there's a posse coming to set it free.</span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts: </span></b></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the image of a homophobic preacher running a conversion camp surfaces, it's very tempting to roll your eyes and give up on the movie. Please, do not be so hasty to give up. When a stereotype is that much in your face, there is a twist. There's a catch. There is more to the flat carboard villain that meets the eye. There's more to the perceived victim. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Traditionally, the concept of demonic possession has been portrayed as a deeply individual disaster. A human being being 1:1 with a demonic force. "Parable" takes a slightly different approach and shows that sometimes it takes a village to hunt a demon - or succumb to one. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The film also touches upon the concept of subdued male sexuality. One of the characters, an African youth, presumably privileged (based on the size of the house he lives in) struggles with veiled accusations of sexual assault. He may or may not remember assaulting his girlfriend at a party, while both were intoxicated. With the possibility of rape charges hanging over his head, he becomes a prime target for the demon, who lures him in with promise of validation and gratification. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></div>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-884470638836280612023-10-17T12:34:00.005-07:002023-10-17T12:34:29.550-07:00White Lie: faking cancer for cash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5e/White_Lie_Poster.jpg/220px-White_Lie_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="326" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5e/White_Lie_Poster.jpg/220px-White_Lie_Poster.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies! </span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A cautionary tale to those inclined to kneejerk acts of generosity. Every day we get bombarded with GoFundMe requests. How do you know the money goes to a worthy cause? As you are about to get assaulted with more holiday nudges for donations, check out this flick <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/White-Lie-Kacey-Rohl/dp/B08QM9Q4NZ/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8">White Lie</a></i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">It's really scary how easy it is to fake a deadly disease, while harvesting sympathy and money from the gullible public. Katie does not come across as a crook. She is a coy, articulate tomboy who projects an image of vulnerability and courage at the same time, which endears her to her fellow students, school administration and donors. People around her, including her naive girlfriend, are eating up that narrative with a spoon. I guess, none of them had family members who had been through cancer treatments. I am not a medical professional by any means, but even I could pick up inconsistencies in the main character's appearance. Not sure if it was a flippant oversight on behalf of the writers, or the telltale signs were left there on purpose. People going through chemo do NOT grow a 5 o'clock shadow on their heads. Nor do they keep their eyebrows and eyelashes. That should have raised some questions.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">The ending if the movie is a little sloppy. I got the impression that the writers ran out of ideas on how to wrap the plot up, so they left it open-ended. Will Katie's lies be uncovered? Will she pay for them? Who will be by her side when she is cornered?</span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-61702699145041593392023-09-18T18:24:00.002-07:002023-09-18T18:24:18.065-07:00Afraid of the Dark - 1991 - a French-British slow burn <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41W7E0H8M1L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="568" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41W7E0H8M1L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know Halloween is a month away, but it's not too early to start getting into the mood. If you are tired of jump scares and generic CGI, give this understated French-British slow burn a chance. This film could have been directed by David Lynch. You will notice the same parallel narratives as in "Lost Highway" and "Mulholland Drive", where underdogs envision themselves as heroes. Wishful thinking versus reality. "Afraid of the Dark" is a tale of a young boy on the cusp of puberty - and also on the verge of impending blindness. As his ocular nerve degenerates, imagination starts to fill the gaps, and eventually fantasy pushes out reality. 11 year-old Lucas must make friends with his demons - the ones that lurk in the corners of his fading eyes. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have always been fascinated and mystified by the eye as a structure. To me it's a whole separate universe, a portal into another dimension. It's not surprising that writers and directors would base their narratives around the eye. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most viewers will feel a great deal of empathy for the young protagonist, who is introverted, observant, sensitive and older than his years. As many Lynchian characters, he envisions a world where is in a position of power, where he has the ability to protect and influence others. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you have been desensitized with the loud, fast-paced, sexually charged horror films of the last two decades, it may take you a while to adjust to the slow pace of this movie. </span></div>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-31923373814550216252023-08-14T18:19:00.006-07:002023-08-14T18:19:59.566-07:00Alena Kirsan: featured Ukrainian artist<p><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Having celebrated my 45th birthday a few days ago, I feel compelled to spotlight the beautiful works of a fellow Leo, a wonderful Ukrainian artist and mother of three boys, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alena.kirsan.9">Alena Kirsan</a>. Her two older sons are currently in the service. Over the past year I have acquired many of her crafts, made by hand out of finest materials, with all the love a mother's heart can hold. They are proudly displayed in my home office. My mom has given them away as gifts to her piano students. Please consider supporting this wonderful woman. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAIH4qVzMBA-q-h8wMQ04HL6wNyDPpz6X9HP7vEU9u2EG0voVuI5Sv4ZZKz4oOJDjNJqC46vbOtcFsc4ZOXFcZ3qF8l4ay-Y4vtPySgyC7sPaCg6mrgB1CpAnjOU4hpnSG4fKJ5Nxs_uIJjtHm4AvIsahInGkokCNI8utGAsob8_51v4AH21LpDpTQ4bw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAIH4qVzMBA-q-h8wMQ04HL6wNyDPpz6X9HP7vEU9u2EG0voVuI5Sv4ZZKz4oOJDjNJqC46vbOtcFsc4ZOXFcZ3qF8l4ay-Y4vtPySgyC7sPaCg6mrgB1CpAnjOU4hpnSG4fKJ5Nxs_uIJjtHm4AvIsahInGkokCNI8utGAsob8_51v4AH21LpDpTQ4bw" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCZL8SkBKvZVU6e3Qf1GW8Cf05lV7EnjeLwiQe6HOPf8W1533dNw1OnnK-oLoNO3QwLDU9Fn2l8x5hjNwKzX8zldf4MfTfd57H75l0k_Ba85g7rkQHxB956XZfeLjY4W_6p33B1X1_NYoBrV9UWLIE1QnMMdw02uXFJer1jx_Kr_Uv7V0A1kX195uKTDk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1935" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCZL8SkBKvZVU6e3Qf1GW8Cf05lV7EnjeLwiQe6HOPf8W1533dNw1OnnK-oLoNO3QwLDU9Fn2l8x5hjNwKzX8zldf4MfTfd57H75l0k_Ba85g7rkQHxB956XZfeLjY4W_6p33B1X1_NYoBrV9UWLIE1QnMMdw02uXFJer1jx_Kr_Uv7V0A1kX195uKTDk" width="227" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw_gcNywkYJnNoTBcQWAHlSVkuHqb9BIsKV7Tvl6K2rsy_dpqa4_BZlL-Dgruwur_m-BUi5lXovfhW-9Jh41QdQf7rjDhPaos84iRHmXkNhNs9DL4PleqL0YoeIaE11J40qmZjQiwNFaf8WT6NRCvWDpIl9Dhp9oDy2-yplam_bFP4d2qpLL6zVyjW-eA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1935" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw_gcNywkYJnNoTBcQWAHlSVkuHqb9BIsKV7Tvl6K2rsy_dpqa4_BZlL-Dgruwur_m-BUi5lXovfhW-9Jh41QdQf7rjDhPaos84iRHmXkNhNs9DL4PleqL0YoeIaE11J40qmZjQiwNFaf8WT6NRCvWDpIl9Dhp9oDy2-yplam_bFP4d2qpLL6zVyjW-eA" width="227" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-11296400586090755832023-07-04T17:44:00.001-07:002023-07-04T17:44:00.143-07:00Ashley - an Emo LGBT teen fantasy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91Y6sBsYa3L._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="158" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91Y6sBsYa3L._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Pride month is over, so I felt compelled to post at least one thematic review. Today's selection is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Nicole-Fox/dp/B00EEYEWIE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WBED68HBPCNZ&keywords=ashley+2013&qid=1687653794&sprefix=ashley+2013%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1">Ashley</a>. The blurbs are usually misleading. Here is the summary of the plot: A teenage girl, disconnected from her estranged mother, resorts to cutting herself. An online relationship with an older woman may be the only way she accepts the solitude of suburbia.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My thoughts:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As you can imagine, most LGBT youth themed films follow the same trajectory, with an occasional red herring thrown in. The angelically beautiful, tormented protagonist, who just soaks in the abuse that falls from her from every angle. An oblivious school counselor, an abusive mom, a sexual predator dad, bigoted, sadistic classmates and even a sticky autistic male admirer. She never pushes back. Instead, her rage is internalized, as she burns and cuts herself. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One thing I noticed is that in these movies, the lesbians are portrayed as these traditionally beautiful, feminine, compassionate, understanding, creative, enlightened creatures. I am well aware that human beings, gay or straight, come in all shapes and sizes. But the lesbians in this particular film are like a Penthouse fantasy. Which makes me wonder if Ashley's encounter with Candice was a figment of her imagination. Perhaps, that is how she envisions a perfect lover/companion/advocate. This is how straight men envision lesbians. The dichotomy of straight people being oblivious, clueless, insensitive, ruthless and gay people being sensitive, intuitive, enlightened doesn't behoove the genre or the LGBT movement. I would love to see more nuanced characters. Ashley would have been more interesting and sympathetic if she was not depicted as this meek martyr. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-21022006578263034992023-06-02T07:54:00.006-07:002023-06-02T07:54:42.461-07:00Devil's Pond: how to spot a sociopath 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_HMbVhNlO4GTiOZMriS0di8gpY1W930SWZpv3jp2sSVUmGQX1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1175" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_HMbVhNlO4GTiOZMriS0di8gpY1W930SWZpv3jp2sSVUmGQX1" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Summer is here. Time for spur of the moment hookups, impromptu weddings and wilderness honeymoons! Before you get away with your new "soulmate", check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/review/R2L7M01WFMV3KE/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv">Devil's Pond</a>, a cautionary tale. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">How to spot a sociopath partner 101. I know Tara Reed gets a bad rep as an actress, but in this movie she actually does a decent job portraying a range of emotions. At some point you forget that the actress is well ... the infamous Tara Reed. She is not half bad when given a decent script. The movie is a fairly convincing allegory of the abuse cycle. If your partner tries to isolate you from your past, from your biological family, friends and social circle, it should come up as a red flag. Most women in such toxic relationships are not physically trapped on an island in the middle of nowhere, though it may feel that way.</span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-12137288380087539772023-05-05T13:18:00.001-07:002023-05-05T13:18:00.135-07:00The Gallows: a decent collage of horror cliches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71zACN2vfjL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71zACN2vfjL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>My thoughts:</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After you've seen your share of found footage films, they all start bleeding into one. The Gallow stands out because it blends the found footage format with the timeless crowd-pleaser subject of annoying high schoolers getting what they deserve. The movie explores many timeless themes: generational curse, life imitating art, the plight of the sensitive artistic outcasts. Yes, it's really hard to come up with anything truly original in a horror movie. The same cliche jump scares. But somehow they work (most of the time). I was surprised that the movie got such low ratings. Maybe the reviewers were afraid to admit how much they enjoyed it, how much of a guilty pleasure it was. I say, a movie made on a budget of 100K that grosses 43M worldwide is a winner. </span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-68481537099512706732023-04-27T13:18:00.003-07:002023-04-27T13:18:13.455-07:00Everything Everywhere All at Once: much ado about nothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Everything_Everywhere_All_at_Once.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="250" height="370" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Everything_Everywhere_All_at_Once.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My thoughts:</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The very title of the movie is an exhausting tongue-twister. The core message of the movie did not warrant over 2 hours of heavy-handed special effects, stunts and repetitive jokes. What is the core message? Be kind. Westernize. Adjust your expectations. Unless I missed some deeper meaning. Yes, the production is impressive. It feels like a big gaudy costume on a tiny frame. It's a case of the outfit overpowering and burying the wearer. Too much frosting on the cake. Too much sauce on the main course. After 40 minutes you will catch yourself checking the clock, wondering how many more times the same joke will be told. The choppy editing is intended for viewers who play video games and are desensitized to more natural color pallets and slow, continuous shots. Prepare for a sensory attack. If you are prone to migraines or seizures, don't watch it all at once. For a more nuanced portrayal of Asian angst, watch "Parasite" instead. </span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-373786932783517822023-03-07T13:13:00.006-08:002023-03-07T13:13:31.798-08:00Smile: an American take on J horror tradition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91JRWCjnkEL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91JRWCjnkEL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Who said you can't celebrate Halloween all year long? If you work in the field of mental health, you may find that every day is Halloween. If you haven't watched this mental gem yet, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smile-Sosie-Bacon/dp/B0B6C5LHKB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YT21E4MJ8VGP&keywords=smile+2022&qid=1678222364&s=instant-video&sprefix=smile+2022%2Cinstant-video%2C86&sr=1-1">Smile</a></i> is free on Prime.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am surprised this was not a remake of a J horror movie. The concept of generational trauma and curse being passed around is very common in Japanese genre staples like "The Ring" and "The Grudge". It's actually an expansion of a shorter film that the director produced two years earlier in 2020. The film has so many themes and layers, namely the exploration of the mental health workers and the burden they carry every day. Having worked in mental health, I can say that many people go into that field because of some tragedy or trauma in their own lives. In some theological traditions there is a concept of possession, when an otherwise healthy person is taken over by a malignant entity. In this particular film the evil entity arises from a traumatized brain and takes on a life of its own. The film was criticized for some of the similarities with "It Follows" and "The Ring", but it's really hard to come up with original concepts. The writer/director is not guilty of plagiarism by any means. He merely capitalizes on some of the universal fears. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-52003308957300845372023-02-14T09:50:00.003-08:002023-02-14T09:50:23.595-08:00Nanny: a mommy guilt fest (with an ethnic twist)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/919nrDEMTSL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/919nrDEMTSL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Greetings, commies!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Amazon continues to deliver mixed results in horror. Today's pseudo-masterpiece is <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/review/R2B4U2LDW80FZA/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv">Nanny</a></i>. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Aisha is an undocumented nanny working for a privileged couple in New York City. As she prepares for the arrival of the son she left behind in West Africa, a violent presence invades her reality, threatening the American dream she is painstakingly piecing together.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">What could have been a great psychological thriller with a mystical element devolved into a mommy guilt fest. Hold that thought and let the employer guilt sink in next time you hire a single mother to care for your child. And of course, the high income white employers are portrayed in a demonic, cartoonish light, which totally cheapened the talent of the actors involved. They could do only so much with a flat script.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Overall, too many loose ends and abandoned storylines, mythological allusions that did not lead anywhere, hints at some supernatural powers that never transpired. Blumhouse should have turned the concept into a miniseries, to develop on the topic of West African folklore.</span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-30094103293326671512023-01-25T16:08:00.004-08:002023-01-25T16:08:22.218-08:00A Wounded Fawn: a misanthropy fest<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTczMjIxY2QtYzA2ZC00NGMzLWFkMjItMDc3MDVhMmNiNzEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjY2OTk4MjE@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTczMjIxY2QtYzA2ZC00NGMzLWFkMjItMDc3MDVhMmNiNzEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjY2OTk4MjE@._V1_.jpg" width="267" /></a></div></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies and art lovers!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Today's masterpiece is <i><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTczMjIxY2QtYzA2ZC00NGMzLWFkMjItMDc3MDVhMmNiNzEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjY2OTk4MjE@._V1_.jpg">A Wounded Fawn</a></i>. If you have a special hell circle in your heart for pretentious art majors with nasal voices, this is the flick for you! </span></p><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ContentPasted0 elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: inline !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ContentPasted0 elementToProof ContentPasted1" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: inline !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A serial killer brings an unsuspecting new victim on a weekend getaway to add another body to his ever-growing count. She's buying into his faux charms, and he's eagerly lusting for blood. What could possibly go wrong?<br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ContentPasted0 elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: inline !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ContentPasted0 elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: inline !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: inline !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Whoever wrote and directed this film must have a deeply rooted distaste for the human race. Not just the "patriarchal white man", the butt of all artsy films, but the whole human race. I wonder if the acting was deliberately bad and the characters deliberately unsympathetic. I did not emotionally involved with any of them. With detached curiosity, I sat back and watched to see who will finish off whom. The women are bitchy, cold and self-centered, not to mention oblivious. An entitled art history major who lives in a bubble of neurosis. Let's start with Meredith Tanner. How desperate for attention should a middle-aged woman be to ignore the obvious red flags? How low her "cringe radar" should be set? The scene where she is talking to her therapist about her fragile self-esteem makes the whole mental health industry look like a joke. Clearly, not much was accomplished that day in terms of healing. Most victims of emotional abuse end up latching onto another toxic partner. And that's just what Meredith does. So when the creepy new love interest whisks her off into a spooky cabin, ignoring her pleas to let her use the restroom, nothing in her head sets off. This film left me with the message that the victim always finds its oppressor. One cannot exist without the other. </span></span></div>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-15013671281899627102022-12-23T20:46:00.002-08:002022-12-23T20:46:23.312-08:00Redspace Rising: challenging and rewarding sci-fi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/WEBP_402378-T2/images/I/51EbyIBEIHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="500" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/WEBP_402378-T2/images/I/51EbyIBEIHL.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Greetings, commiees & sci-fi fans!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A few years ago I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Brian Trent's novel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Thunders-Fiction-Without-Frontiers-ebook/dp/B07J2LMPQ6?ref_=ast_sto_dp">Ten Thousand Thunders</a></i>. Today I am reviewing another sci-fi hit <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redspace-Rising-Brian-Trent-ebook/dp/B09SGN4NQQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27Z7E331T7ZYC&keywords=brian+trent&qid=1671856185&sprefix=brian+trent%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-1">Redspace Rising</a></i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Harris Alexander Pope is the man who ended the Partisan War on Mars. All he seeks now is solitude and a return to the life that was stolen from him. Yet when he learns that the worst war criminals are hiding in other bodies, he is forced into an interplanetary pursuit.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic !important;"></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Teaming up with other survivors eager for their own brand of vengeance, Harris begins to suspect a darker truth:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic !important;"></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Maybe what he remembers about the war isn't what happened at all...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>My thoughts:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Let me start by saying that Brian Trent's sci-fi is not for beginners. If you have never read a high end space opera novel before, I recommend getting a few under your belt before you tackle this masterpiece. Better yet, watch a few film adaptations of sci-fi classics to gain a visual point of reference. It's not an easy superficial read by any means. You have to prepare to engage you attention and any cumulative knowledge of the genre. This author has a high standard - for himself and his readers. He does not talk down to his audience by overexplaining and giving too much exposition via third person omniscient narrator. You are expected to figure out the rules of the universe he created as you go. Be prepared to backtrack and reread certain passages. Trust me, it's worth it. You will come out a better reader, thinker and, possibly, writer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As in his prior novel "Ten Thousand Thunders" he explores the timeless topics of deconstruction and resurrection. Human beings and worlds are broken apart to be reassembled, given chances for redemption - only to become corrupt and vulnerable again. The cycle repeats. No matter where humans go in the universe, no matter what memories they lose and what new skills they gain, they take their human nature with them. We bring the best and the worst to every corner of the galaxy we visit. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-80675189873202904362022-11-03T07:24:00.001-07:002022-11-03T07:24:05.962-07:00Level 16 - "A Handmaid's Tale" meet "Repo! The Genetic Opera"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/713l8k5JA8L._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/713l8k5JA8L._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just because October is over, it doesn't mean that Halloween cannot continue. If you have Prime, there is no harm in watching <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Level-16-Katie-Douglas/dp/B07MMYL14D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=C50LM6T14T83&keywords=level+16+movie&qid=1667485158&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjA4IiwicXNhIjoiMS4wNyIsInFzcCI6IjAuMzcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=level+16%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1" style="font-style: italic;">Level 16</a><i>, </i>a<i> </i>dystopian thriller about a group of teen girls who are trapped in a mysterious and cruel boarding school that hides a dark secret. I would not call the principle of this movie particularly original - it's really hard to come up with anything truly ground breaking in this genre - but it does a decent job weaving some of the classic dystopian tropes. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Level 16" is what you get when you expect a spin on "A Handmaid's Tale" and end up with "Never Let Me Go" (2010) or "Repo! The Genetic Opera" (2008) instead. The emphasis on "feminine virtue" and subjugation and dehumanization of girls/women leads you to believe that gender politics will be at the core of the movie. Yet the plot goes in a different direction, leaving all those references to "cleanliness" as the proverbial gun that is never fired. Their internal qualities end up irrelevant, because in the end, the only thing that matters is the quality of their skin. Their virtue is literally skin-deep. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Level 16" is like a beautiful slice of Swiss cheese in terms of holes. There are so many unanswered questions. Not sure if the writers deliberately wanted to leave a bunch of loose ends for the sake of creative ambivalence or pure negligence. We are not told much about these girls' back stories. How old were they when they ended up at the school? Do they have any memory of their biological families? How did their concepts of friendship and loyalty form? These girls look forward to being adopted, so the idea of a family is part of their value system, yet they are told that the school is their family. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And of course, no dystopian thriller would be complete without some Slavic henchmen. The cartoonish enforcers speak some broken pseudo-Russian gibberish. Not sure if it's a tribute to some Cold War trope or the location is supposed to have some significance. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All in all, I feel this plot would have worked better as a mini series that would allow the writers to explore the back stories and the motives of the characters. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-56368603386337115012022-10-11T11:07:00.001-07:002022-10-11T11:07:00.187-07:00The Surrogacy Trap: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61FRMy3mAbL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61FRMy3mAbL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">October is a pregnancy and newborn loss awareness month, so it only makes sense that I should review a movie that touches upon this sensitive. The affected audiences would benefit from a realistic depicture of the surrogacy process. Instead, Lifetime came up with an implausible wannabe thriller full of legal and logistical loopholes. The writers of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Surrogacy-Trap-Mia-Kirchner/dp/B099Z2R51H/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8">The Surrogacy Trap</a></i> did not do their homework. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After losing hope of conceiving a child on their own, Christy and Mitch turn to surrogacy in hopes of creating the perfect family. However, their confidence is quickly shaken when they discover that the young woman might not be as perfect as they first thought.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">I realize that Lifetime doesn't always aim for accuracy, but this movie contains a few pretty gross factual errors. I am pretty sure it's a uniform rule that the surrogate must have at least one biological child - for good reasons. She needs to prove that she is at least capable of carrying a pregnancy through. Second, they really prefer women who are "done" having their own children, as surrogacy can potentially lead to infertility.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">The couple comes across as unsympathetic and shallow, not to mention hypocritical, as they reject a more experienced surrogate for using the program as her main source of income and serving as a "professional incubator". Well, duh! What do they think a surrogate is? They wanted to a a "virginal" and altruistic surrogate who also looks like a supermodel?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Nobody specifies what sources of income Mallory has, yet she is able to afford a pretty fancy apartment. But that's to be expected in most TV productions. People live in apartments they would never afford in real life.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">The cops look extremely naive and slow-witted. There were a few pretty close calls. Amazing how one psycho can totally outsmart the police department.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">So, if you want to view this movie was a psycho fantasy, it you will be satisfied. But if you know the specifics of surrogacy, you will be rolling your eyes at the inaccuracies.</span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-21892127264794723522022-10-04T11:06:00.003-07:002022-10-04T11:06:16.078-07:00Kept Woman: "The Collector" meet "Stepford Wives"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71BAV6Px5PL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71BAV6Px5PL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If need more moderately satisfying guilt-free guilty, not too mind-numbing pleasure, consider <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kept-Woman-Courtney-Ford/dp/B09HX3THYP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YQ78TH4JT6XA&keywords=kept+woman&qid=1664906644&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjMwIiwicXNhIjoiMS40NiIsInFzcCI6IjAuMzQifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=kept+woman%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1">Kept Woman</a></i>, a dark dark comedy exploring nightmares and gender stereotypes</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jessica and her fiancé finally move out of the city and into their dream home on a quiet suburban street. When their strange and mysterious new neighbor lures Jessica inside his home, she finds herself imprisoned in a meticulously decorated 1950's bunker.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Many of the reviewers already brought up the classic novel by John Fowles "The Collector" as the genre-setter. It's impressive that the novel is still read and remembered. "Kept Woman" is a satirical take on the hostage trope. Do not take it as a straight drama. It's a dark, dark comedy. No, it's not a feminist manifesto. It doesn't put down the work of homemakers. But it does make fun of stereotypes. It's also an allegory. The characters represent movements and ideologies. The dynamic between Jess and Robyn kind of busts the myth that women, when facing the same ordeal, will stick together. The only thing that seemed implausible is the naivete and stupidity of some of the characters. If you suspect that your neighbor is a murderous creep, why do you go into his house unarmed or alone? The cop who took it upon himself to confront the antagonist should have known better than going into his house alone. Same for Jess. She acts like a curious 12-year old schoolgirl. One would expect someone her age to be more cautious and savvy.</span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-41093289355132172712022-09-24T13:23:00.001-07:002022-09-24T13:23:00.184-07:00The Voyeurs: a guiltless guilty pleasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91qZ2Lp6IUL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91qZ2Lp6IUL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">You don't have to wait for Halloween to enjoy a creepy treat. For some of us it's been political Halloween for the past 7 months. If you want to take a break from WWIII, consider streaming <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Voyeurs-Sydney-Sweeney/dp/B09CSDQJDV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VMTKBA3QAKIF&keywords=the+voyeurs&qid=1663963942&sprefix=the+voyeurs%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1">The Voyeurs</a></i>. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A young couple (Sydney Sweeney and Justice Smith), find themselves becoming interested in the sex life of their neighbors across the street (Ben Hardy and Natasha Liu Bordizzo). What starts as an innocent curiosity turns into an unhealthy obsession, after they discover that one neighbor is cheating. Temptation and desire cause their lives to become tangled together leading to deadly consequences.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"If you see something, say/do something." Right? Not necessarily. Modern culture is filled with mixed messages and moral ambivalences. If you see "something" that "looks like something", what do you do? How do you decide if it's your place to step in? Are you truly following the call of your conscience to expose lies, or are you merely gratifying your idle, obscene curiosity? By the way, there is no such thing as "innocent curiosity" when it comes to other people's sex lives. I felt strangely dirty and guilty myself for watching a movie about voyeurs. I would call it "guilt-free guilty pleasure". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A few words about Sydney Sweeney. I saw her in "Nocturne". She does a decent job playing a "good girl" with a few pesky demons who suddenly grow on her and take over her life. She has an expressive face and can go from innocent to psycho in a few seconds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Alas, the absolutely implausible ending cheapens the movie. If you can cut out the last 5 minutes, you will find yourself much more satisfied. I am not going to dismiss the movie altogether, because it does raise many valid questions in the realms of ethics and social norms. Take it as a cautionary tale about dark impulses masked as good intentions. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-31241716863356188402022-08-26T08:06:00.005-07:002022-08-26T08:06:54.609-07:00Brimstone: a religious thriller<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c2/Brimstone_film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="326" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c2/Brimstone_film.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In a mood for a light summer flick? Not a chance! I don't watch or review those. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brimstone-Guy-Pearce/dp/B08LDNHV9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=219GTFORN6JL6&keywords=brimstone&qid=1661525625&sprefix=brimstone%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1">Brimstone</a> is an excellent choice guaranteed to give you nightmares. It's billed as a "A gritty revenge western, about a young woman in a frontier community who must go on the run when she is targeted by a diabolical preacher."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not every film set in the West qualifies as a "western", and not every plot that contains elements of revenge automatically becomes a "revenge" piece. "Brimstone" is more of a multi-layered religious thriller. It helps to have some understanding of the Scripture to appreciate the structure of the film, all the theological references. If you are a totally secular viewer without any interest in the Bible, you will view this film as yet another attempt to make Christians look bad. If you already have an aversion to organized religion, this movie will not change your position, certainly. But this film is so much more than just another criticism of the hardcore evangelical movement in the US. The cinematography is stunning, horrifying and stern. The plot is blood-chilling. The antagonist is so repulsive, that you forget that he is a minister. You don't focus on his position in society. That kind of fades into the background. One thing that put me off is the idealized depiction of less than ideal women. Of course, they are depicted as agents of compassion and solidarity in this harsh, male-dominated world. I wish there had been more ambivalent female characters, capable of backstabbing and manipulation and cruelty. These acts should not be reserved to men alone. </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-5962704918800370022022-07-28T11:48:00.003-07:002022-07-28T11:48:19.893-07:00The Act: a toxic family drama enough to make you paranoid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91yl9aGudxL._RI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91yl9aGudxL._RI_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, commies & mommies-dearest! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As many of you are preparing to send your kids back to school, you are, no doubt, getting all sorts of complaints "Do I HAVE to go back". If your kids accuse you of being "mean", if they wish they had a different mommy/daddy, you can always say: "At least your mommy is not like Dee Dee Blanchard." Based on a real harrowing case of Munchausen by proxy, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/La-Maison-du-Bon-R%C3%AAve/dp/B07RSTFZK4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=195S7FIJCLWHB&keywords=the+act+gypsy&qid=1659033316&sprefix=the+act+gypsy%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-3">The Act</a></i> is a must see for all wholesome (or not) families. As kids, many of us have feigned symptoms to gain sympathy and avoid going to school (come on, own up!) But imagine if the roles are reversed, and it's your parents who are doing the feigning, trying to convince the world that their precious child suffers from a string of mysterious maladies. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have to say, having worked in child protection services, I am a little paranoid and prone to scrutinizing certain families. We are trained to see abuse, neglect and toxic parenting everywhere. So it's amazing that the characters in the series had managed to keep up the act for such a long time. Dee Dee Blanchard, brilliantly portrayed by Patricia Arquette, fools the most skeptical and hardened of neighbors. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A post-menopausal Arquette, is no longer a sex symbol. In the past she had played some dark vixen characters. And Joey King, God bless her, will never be a sex symbol (not that Hollywood needs more of them). She is a few plastic surgeries away from being a generic, mainstream beauty. I hope she never goes the Jennifer Grey route, gets a nose job and loses her quirky appeal. In "The Act" she flipflops between the wounded ugly duckling and a fetish worthy almost-swan. Not many young actresses would have been able to pull that off. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, if you think your family has problems, splurge on "'The Act". </span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-91082709795799415842022-06-26T16:57:00.005-07:002022-06-26T16:57:37.684-07:00Ammonite: a speculative same sex romance<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPuczW_Le0rq8akAgNztljtyMfR198oodEh6hjI_K2a_5gInmu" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1175" height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPuczW_Le0rq8akAgNztljtyMfR198oodEh6hjI_K2a_5gInmu" width="267" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, commies! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's Pride month, so I thought it would be fitting to review a film featuring a same sex love story. If you are in a mood for a beautifully shot slow burner, check out <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ammonite-Kate-Winslet/dp/B08P3STZ28/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31Y6II0093Q6W&keywords=ammonite+film&qid=1656286392&sprefix=ammonite+film%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1">Ammonite</a></i>, starring my two favorite actresses, Kate Winslet and Saiorse Ronan. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1840s England, acclaimed fossil hunter Mary Anning and a young woman sent to convalesce by the sea develop an intense relationship, altering both of their lives forever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My thoughts:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I said it before about the French film "Portrait of a Lady On Fire", and the same idea applies to this review. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A same sex love story should not be used as an excuse for lazy writing. Imagine if this was a heterosexual love story. Would you feel cheated out of a richer, more engaging plotline and character development? Some writers think that just because the story is about two women, that alone should carry the weight of the film. </span></span></p><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">First things first, the social context. Some may not realize, but in Victorian England, two women in love could get away with much more than their male counterparts. It was not uncommon for women to form romantic friendships, live together for periods of time, and not be suspected of "immoral behavior". A spinster and a young wife spending a lot of time in each other's company would probably not raise any eyebrows. Public hand-holding, embraces and kisses were regarded as tokens of tender affection. Women were believed to be "too pure" for any kind of deviant behavior. So the two lovers in "Ammonite" were not exactly endangering themselves. </span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, the cinematography is sublime. The ambience is moody and brooding. But there is only so much the finest of actresses can do with a dull, unimaginative script. There are too many narrative gaps, too many proverbial guns that were never fired. One of such guns is the infamous Mr. Murchison. He is not even two-dimensional - he is an empty shell, a sketch of a character. I can certainly appreciate leaving to the viewer's imagination, but his character was just left in its embryonic form, and that's a shame. He is reduced to a cold, patriarchal talking head. There could've been so much more to him. Why is he so reluctant to engage with his wife in intimacy? Could he be struggling with some same sex attractions as well? I wish he had been developed more. </span><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, the much-anticipated love scenes. I found them a little too ... "expert"? These two women are supposedly unversed in the art of same sex love. It must be new and awkward for both of them. Yet they seem to know what to do right off the bat. </span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nobody expected a happy ending, but its bitterness was a little unconvincing. The main character pretty much throws away her chance at happiness. There is really nothing standing in their way, no harsh conventions. We have Mr. Murchison, who is immersed in his newly found hobby, who has no interest in his wife. Yet Mary harshly rejects her young lover's attempts at building a future together. </span></span></div>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-21498831064884096692022-05-25T18:05:00.001-07:002022-05-25T18:05:09.529-07:00Home: a compilation of religious stereotypes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81AN+PgsJvL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="164" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81AN+PgsJvL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Greetings, commies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Glory to Ukraine! (First and foremost). If you want to take a break from the horrific news in the real world, consider killing 90 minutes of your time on <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B075JR4HZW/ref=atv_dp_cnc_3_7">Home,</a></i> a supernatural horror flick from 2016.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Synopsis:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Carrie, a young religious fundamentalist, must learn to overcome her own fears and believes to save her little sister from a haunted house.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The makers of this C-list clearly had a crude, blatant liberal agenda. It's clear that whoever wrote the screenplay had not bothered to research contemporary Christian beliefs and practices. The protagonist, Carrie, is billed as "fundamentalist", yet she wears a cross and makes a sign of the cross - both practices more in line with Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism. It's a shame that the character is portrayed as a series of Christian cliches, including her self-righteous homophobia. At the same time, her mother and her new wife are depicted as atheists. Newsflash: not all gay couples reject religion altogether. The writing could have been much more sophisticated and nuanced, if not for those stereotypes. The manifestations of the malevolent demonic force are also rather cartoonish. A few times I caught myself laughing instead of gasping with terror. Not to spoil the ending, but the writers took away a few elements from "The Sixth Sense". If you are a film student looking for an example of lazily executed horror movie, give "Home" a go.</span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-81786726259983812292022-04-25T12:55:00.003-07:002022-04-25T12:55:10.841-07:00Ulster Lament: an Irish tune ... sung by the English<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41F8RTzZ8oL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="500" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41F8RTzZ8oL.jpg" width="333" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Greetings, chaps!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The situation in Ukraine and the various humanitarian missions have kept me so busy, I somehow missed the release of my own novel. It's not quite as bad as locking your dog in a hot car, but still. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ulster-Lament-M-J-Neary-ebook/dp/B09PQHZVZK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YUD1NL8PHPIK&keywords=ulster+lament+neary&qid=1650916183&sprefix=ulster+lament+neary%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1">Ulster Lament</a></i> touches upon many topics that are perpetually relevant and near and dear to my heart: nationalism, imperialism, perverted loyalty. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Ulster, Co. Antrim, 1903</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Born with a limp, unsuitable for military service, Peter Greenwood knows that he is an embarrassment to his father, an officer in the British army. At seventeen the youth travels to Belfast to study journalism. New friends help Peter find a job at a conservative newspaper The Empire.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">His first assignment is to publish the memoirs of a retired captain Evan Pryce, a veteran of the Transvaal campaign. At the very first meeting Peter recognizes a broken, bitter man, who is not proud of his past. Molly, the captain's feral and uncouth daughter, takes a liking to Peter and shares a few family secrets that do not quite tie with the patriotic spirit of the newspaper.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">The Pryce family has a sworn enemy, an Irish nationalist hungry for vengeance, to which Peter becomes a witness. Even though his own life is spared, it now belongs to the rebels. He must use his literary skills to cover up their crimes.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Ulster Lament, a bewitching folk melody sung by the ringleader, infects Peter's thoughts and makes him question his loyalty to the crown. He starts sympathizing with the rebels and believing that their rage is justified. Will he turn against everything he was taught to hold sacred?</span></span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490511526934844142.post-80989836840246909302022-03-15T15:07:00.001-07:002022-03-15T15:07:00.198-07:00Titane: a winsome mix of sickness and sweetness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91dYDf636oL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="153" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91dYDf636oL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="153" /></b></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Alexia suffers a terrible skull injury and has a titanium plate fitted into her head. When she gets out of the hospital, she rejects her parents and embraces passionately the car that almost killed her. The coming years she has problems with her sexuality and meets Vincent. Vincent is a tortured man who tries to preserve his strength by injecting steroids into his aging body. Will they find a way to deal with their emotional problems?</span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We saw this movie on a big screen when it came out in the fall of 2021. "Titane" is sick in a sweet way, and sweet in a sick way. Agathe Rousselle really puts herself through hell to play the role. This actress is no great beauty - but the roll doesn't call for it. Her androgynous angular features really lend themselves to creating this creature beyond gender or flesh. Rousselle creates a whole twisted universe inside herself - and around herself. The film features a whole slew of unique, grotesque, memorable faces. Wounded, twisted, emotionally disfigured people have a way of finding solace in each other, and that's the message of this film.</span></p>marinajulianearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087933375097640349noreply@blogger.com0