10s Movie Review - Harriet

Director: Kasi lemmons
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Clarke Peters
 
Description: The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s (Cynthia Erivo) escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 13: A MOVIE BASED ON REAL EVENT
 
Review: The true story of Harriet Tubman. Around 1850 she escaped slavery, traveling from the American South to the North, through the Underground Railroad. She ended up helping hundreds of other slaves escape the same way.

Even though it’s a somewhat standard screenplay, the story is inspiring. And Cynthia Erivo’s performance is rock solid and convincing. This is enough to keep your attention for the two hour runtime.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Movie Review - Glass Onion

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Comedy/ Mystery/ Crime
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, Madeline Cline, Ethan Hawke, Hugh Grant
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 52: A MOVIE RELEASED THIS YEAR
 
    
Description: Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to Greece for his latest case.

Review: The best murder mysteries have something to say about the world outside the mansion in which the murder takes place. It is the competing interests of people from all sorts of backgrounds, that provide most of the suspense and intrigue; the murder is merely the fuse to the bomb.

This was the strength of “Knives Out”, written and directed by Rian Johnson, which gestured to the cruelty and narrow-mindedness of white America via a bizarre murder in a wealthy family. The sequel “Glass Onion” is set on the private island of the wealthy tech entrepreneur Miles Bron, which is inevitable rocked by murder and intrigue. Once again, old-fashioned detective Benoit Blanc finds himself at the center of the mystery. And once again, the murder prompts digging into the ills of our society.  

“Glass Onion” has to take a few big leaps to get going, we meet all the characters. Not a family this time, but a group of old friends. All invited by Miles, we meet YouTuber Duke, controversial politician Claire, scientist Lionel, star Birdie and longtime associate Andie.  

“Glass Onion” mocks the very richest people, the characters are enhanced and fit perfectly into this crazy, sometimes hilarious murder mystery. Even though this film follows the same story telling structure as “Knives Out”, it being non-linear, “Glass Onion” is a very different movie. Besides the setting, the story is far from the family drama we had in “Knives Out”. Which makes it just as unique. I loved both movies equally.

Again, the film has a fantastic cast. Benoit Blanc is the only character we already knew, played fantastically by Daniel Craig. I think he is one of my newer favorite movie characters. I love his detective style, his way with words, the things that annoy him, the situations he gets himself into or gets into due to others. From the other guest, Janelle Monáe was the one that most impressed me and her character is the most interesting one. Up until the halfway point, her character Andie is a mystery. I loved that.  

“Glass Onion” is one of those films that you need to watch at least one more time, since there will be a lot of things you missed the first time. You have different things to focus on on second viewing, because of the non-linear storyline, things are revealed. On a second viewing, you will be looking for hints, if you could pick them up. And that’s why I love murder mysteries and whodunits like this.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” was one of my most-anticipated films of 2022 and it didn’t disappoint. This might even be my favorite film of the year.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Moonlight

Director: Barry Jenkins
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Edson Jean, Jharrel Jerome, André Holland, Shariff Earp, Patrick Decile, Herveline Moncion, Duan Sanderson, Alex R. Hibbert, Herman ‘Caheei McGloun, Kamal Ani-Bellow, Keomi Givens, Eddie Blanchard, Rudi Goblen

Description: A chronicle of the childhood, adolescence and burgeoning adulthood of a young, African-American, gay man growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.

Review: The 2017 edition of the Academy Awards was filled with diversity, thank goodness. With bigger productions like “Fences” and “Hidden Figures”, to smaller films like “Loving” and “Moonlight”. With eight nominations, “Moonlight” was the most popular choice and it won the best picture award. And although the film doesn’t avoid clichés, the way the story is told is anything but ordinary.
Chiron is an introvert boy, living in a bad neighborhood in Miami, tortured with a pretty tough life. His mother is a drug addict and he is the constant mark of bullies. Director Barry Jenkins introduced Chiron in three chapters in his life, that had a certain turning point: as a kid with the nickname ‘Little’, as teenager and as an adult. Every chapter defines his identity, formed by his surroundings, but also his own hopes and fears.
In the first chapter, Chiron meets drug dealer Juan, who eventually becomes a father figure for him. It’s a bit ironic that the man who’s selling drugs to his mother, becomes an important man in Chiron’s life. Chiron is constantly struggling between the hate for his mother and the love for his surrogate father.
In chapter two, Juan is out of the picture. He passed away, his mother is still addicted and in school teen Chiron is still an outsider only his friendship with Kevin keeps him going. Especially when the two admit their feeling for each other. Unfortunately they age is marked by aggression and early manhood and the duo is dramatically parted.
When Chiron is an adult, he is not the weak boy he used to be. He has become a man of the street, a drug dealer. Despite ,or maybe thanks to, his childhood he follow into Juan’s footsteps. As if he was meant to be there. His mother is sober and waiting for a way to restore her relationship with her son. And when he meets Kevin again, he sees that his life didn’t go the way he was hoping for.
The ingredients of Chiron’s life – drugs, violence, sexuality – don’t sound like anything new. But Barry Jenkins reuses these elements and creates and audiovisual experience that will stay in your mind. It’s the way Chiron’s story is told, the style Jenkins used with color and sound.
While the three chapters about the same character are one story, it almost feels like three separate stories all carried by great performers. Each actor gave his own turn to Chiron, which makes his character feel more realistic.
The actors portraying Chiron get great support from Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris, who respectively play Juan and Chiron’s mom. Two of the people with a big influence on Chiron’s life.
“Moonlight” is a well-deserved Academy Award winner (even though I preferred “La La Land” that year).

Rating: 4,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 99: Hidden Figures

Director: Theodore Melfi
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali

Description: The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Review: “Hidden Figures” is based on true events. About three African-American women who served a vital role in NASA. This inspiring period in recent American history is combined with the systematic injustice that was going on.
“Hidden Figures” is set in the early sixties, a time that is notable because for America’s optimism. The central characters are Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who each exceed in mathematics and technically do the work that computers do now. But the race difference and the fact that they are also women, constantly put them behind. Even though they excel at what they do.
“Hidden Figures” shows us that it’s not just the so called rednecks that act racist, but also the schooled brainiacs did it, without realizing.
The story is really inspiring and it rubs off because of the fantastic performances by all three ladies. And it’s also great to see Kevin Costner in his role as project manager Al Harrison. He fits the Kennedy era perfectly.
“Hidden Figures” maybe feels a little bit too Hollywood, but it’s a beautiful story that I’m happy to learn about.

Rating: 4/ 5