I Care a Lot

Streaming: Netflix
Warnings:
Violence
Explicit Language
Rating: R

  I Care a Lot is a comedy thriller that follows a court appointed guardian who targets elderly people for their assets, but she messes with the wrong old lady and gets mixed up with a dangerous criminal. Written, directed and produced by J Blakeson, the film takes the audience on a wild journey that is unexpected and exciting. The film stars Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González and Dianne West. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was recently released to Netflix and Prime Video. The film overall received positive reviews and Pike received a Golden Globe for Best Actress. The acting, the screenplay and the awesome cinematography makes this film interesting and different from most thrillers that are out today. One aspect of the screenplay in particular that is intriguing is that there is no male love interest for the lead, which is commonly found in thrillers or action films, this is a refreshing approach to this genre. There are many other elements that makes this film great, but that part specifically makes this film different.

The screenplay is incredibly unique, there are not often films about the elderly that are action oriented, nor do they involve terrifying criminals played by the talented Peter Dinklage. I Care a Lot follows a different path when it comes to a thriller, the journey is completely unexpected and pushes the audience to the edge of their seat. Upon viewing the trailer, I assumed a lot about this film, but it certainly proved my skepticism wrong. The writing is well done, The New York Times states that the film is an, “unexpectedly gripping thriller that seesaws between comedy and horror”, they also praised it for being, “cleverly written and wonderfully cast,” and for its, “ice-pick dialogue.” The dialogue is certainly something that stood out within the film, it also added to the intensity of certain moments. The writing for I Care a Lot is just one element that makes the film great.

The second element of the film that is beyond remarkable is the acting, the casting was really well done especially when considering the chemistry between Rosamund Pike and Eiza González. It is not a surprise that Rosamund Pike won a golden globe for this role because she is simply captivating, her character comes to life through her tactful choices as an actor and the chemistry with Eiza González certainly added to that. Along with the two main leads, Peter Dinklage is terrifying, it is hard to forget him in Game of Thrones but in this role, he isn’t at all like his character in that show, he is very different and its refreshing to see him in a new role. Dianne West does a great job as well playing the innocent elderly woman who is prayed on, yet surprisingly has some friends in high places. This cast wonderfully brings the story to life and I look forward to seeing them in new roles in the future.

Lastly the cinematography is interesting, it adds to the story without being too distracting. Doug Emmett executed the cinematography, he is known for films like Sorry to Bother You, The One I Love, and Truth or Dare so it’s no surprise that he did an excellent job. The film is mostly shot in high key which highlights the way Pike shows one side of herself to the world while being incredibly deceitful and truly a monster. She is often filmed in powerful angles that also allow her character to be viewed as authoritative. In addition to that decision, Peter Dinklage is filmed in powerful angles as well which allows his character’s power to command the scene. Decisions like this allow the characters true colors to show while bringing the screenplay to life. Doug Emmett is a masterful cinematographer, and it is also a treat to see his work in films like this.

Generally, I Care a Lot is an enjoyable film that will take the audience on an unforeseen adventure. Some critics state that it is incorrect with the portrayal of the guardian system that is in place in the United States, however personally I don’t think that takes away from the film at all. I Care a Lot is a comment on late-stage capitalism and how the elderly is very vulnerable to vultures like Pike’s character. Not only does the film expose a lot of what’s wrong with the elderly care system in place, but it also comments on how people oftentimes take advantage of perfectly capable individuals in this country. The film has an interesting political point while not being too heavy handed on the point throughout the story. If you wish to see a thriller that has some comedic relief while also being different from the norm, I highly recommend I Care a Lot.

Someone Great

Streaming: Netflix
Warnings:
Drugs
Sex
Explicit Language
Rating: R

  Someone Great is a romantic comedy about a woman who decides to pursue a career opportunity of a lifetime, but that means she loses her long term boyfriend, this sparks her journey of self-reflection and growth with the support of her friends. The chemistry between the actors is vibrant and showcases healthy relationships between women. Although the film’s focus is about a breakup for Gina Rodriguez’s character Jenny Young, and Lakeith Stanfield’s character Nate Davis, the film portrays how women can support each other through a difficult time. It also changes the focus of Rodriguez’s character; her life no longer revolves around a man but instead she is focusing on her own career and personal growth. Someone Great isn’t the most memorable film, nor is it the most unique film out there, but for what it is, it’s certainly an entertaining, romantic story that shows how women don’t always have to rely on men to learn who they are. One particular thing that is relative about this film is that it’s a part of a new form of romantic comedies that will be produced more often in the future in result of political correctness. Someone Great portrays complex female characters which isn’t always the case in romantic comedies. It also shows that a woman can rely on other women rather than chase after a man, even if she misses him. With that being said, even though this film isn’t an original concept, the film does a good job showcasing female relationships, a new perspective of romantic comedies, and the writing was not bad at all either.

            The first thing to focus on is the nod to feminism, there are coffee mugs, t-shirts, and other objects in the film that refer to intersectional feminism. At one point of the film Gina Rodriguez is wearing a shirt that says “Latina AF,” this might not seem like a big deal, but this representation matters, especially in Hollywood. Oftentimes Latinas are not portrayed as intelligent, and usually they are hypersexualized in the media. One relatively recent example of this is a skit that was written by Lena Dunham for SNL called, “The Jewelry Party.” In the skit, a gorgeous “Latina,” (played by Cecily Strong – not a Latina) was accompanied by her men’s rights activist boyfriend to a Jewelry party thrown by only middle to upper-class white women. This skit was offensive and blatantly racist, Cecily Strong’s character was so naive that she didn’t realize that her men’s rights activist boyfriend was a “bad guy” and she bragged that he shut down a planned parenthood. It’s unfortunate that these types of representations still happen often in our media and positive representations of actual Latinas are important for that reason.

            The script is an interesting part of the film, the dialogue is very natural and adds to the chemistry that the three main characters have. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is the writer for Someone Great, besides writing she is also an actress, director, and producer. She created and produced the show Sweet/Vicious for MTV which premiered in 2016 and ran for one season before unfortunately being cancelled. Someone Great is the first feature film where Robinson was the writer and director. In the near future she is set to write, direct, and produce a Center Stage TV series. Hopefully we see more feminist films from her in the near future as well.

            The acting is truly what carries the film, Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, and DeWanda Wise have clear chemistry and it wouldn’t be shocking to learn they are friends in real life. One critic from Rotten Tomatoes states, “What Someone Great Lacks in originality it makes up for relatability and charm, thanks in large to the undeniable chemistry between its talented leads.” This is certainly true, and it doesn’t hurt that the leads are well known for other feminist roles in media like Jane the Virgin, Pitch Perfect and She’s Gotta Have It. It just goes to show that these women are working towards more positive representation in Hollywood, and they are creating steppingstones for more women to flourish in the future.

            Even though Someone Great isn’t the most original film, it is refreshing to see a romantic comedy with feminist elements in it. It is also positive that more lead roles for women of color are being supported on platforms like Netflix, without mass audiences seeing women of color in lead roles, change wouldn’t happen as quickly. Someone Great certainly doesn’t fall far from the original romantic comedy tropes that came before it, but the fact that the representation within that romantic comedy has changed, is a big step. If you wish to view a romantic comedy without the usually prevalent “male gaze”, I highly recommend this film.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

Streaming: Shudder/Prime Video
Warnings:
Violence
Graphic Imagery
Sexual Intercorse
Drug Use
Rating: Not Rated

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a love story about two tortured souls who live in a ghost town called Bad City located in Iran. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a feminist film by default that changes a common narrative from previous films. The film blends different elements of genres like western, neo-noir and even horror. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night debuted at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and it received positive reviews from critics. The film is written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour for her feature directorial debut. She is an English born Iranian-American director, screenwriter, actress and producer. Besides international recognition for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Amirpour is known for an episode in the rebooted Twilight Zone, The Bad Batch, and A Little Suicide. She described A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night as, “The first Iranian Vampire, spaghetti western.” For those of you who do not know the term, “spaghetti western,” this is referring to a broad sub-genre of western films that were produced in Europe that emerged in the mid-1960s. Beyond the wonderful direction from Amirpour, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night also has breathtaking cinematography, interesting themes and a kickass musical soundtrack. 

Amirpour never intended for this film to be considered feminist, and when asked if the film is feminist she stated, “it can be feminist if that’s what people think.” She also went on to say, “I wonder when Tarantino made Kill Bill, did people say he was being a feminist? It’s weird, I wonder if like, ‘Oh a female and so she’s battling misogyny.” Amirpour made a point that she would rather be considered an artist separate from her womanhood. She also states that she is oftentimes drawn towards outcasts and she notes that she finds the characters from a personal place within herself. Although she approaches the feminist element in A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night with reserve, she does hope that the audience appreciates the film’s representation of a silent character in drag named Rockabilly who is genderqueer. She states that Rockabilly’s presence is the one political thing in the film because it’s not okay to be gay in Iran. This representation is a bold statement supporting self expression and individuality in a place that doesn’t always allow it. 

The cinematography is something that carries the film. Amirpour has 30% hearing loss, so she oftentimes depends on a lack of dialogue in her films, thus allowing the cinematography to portray the story. She states that her decision to limit the dialogue makes the audience uncomfortable and they often think there is a lack of narrative as a result of less dialogue. She says that those critical responses are interesting and states that she finds inspiration for this approach from various directors like David Lynch, Francis Ford Coppola, and Sergio Leone. The cinematography was executed by Lyle Vincent who is known for The Bad Batch, Thoroughbreds and The Woman in Black. Vincent had quite a task filming A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night because even though the story is based in Iran, the film was shot in California. The cinematography does a great job convincing the viewers that the characters are in Iran. The film is in black and white which adds to the neo-noir element with exaggerated shadows. The horror element is highlighted with extreme wide shots of the vampire girl following men in the evening. There are a few times in the film when the audience fears for the man’s life when he is walking home alone, this completely flips a common narrative that is seen in many Hollywood films. This aspect of the film is partially why this film should be considered feminist, the film shows a perspective that women understand that men might not.

The music is an additional element that adds to the film in an interesting way. The musical soundtrack was created and compiled by Bei Ru who is an American record producer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Bei Ru is known for blending airy, syrupy electronic, soul, psych, house & funk influences. Amirpour says that, “every piece of the story, every character, every costume, every bit of music is something that she ‘love[s] to the point of obsession.” Amirpour’s love for film came from pop culture and she experienced a connection through music and movies. When she was 12 years old, her father got her a camcorder and she began imitating commercials and making films. She absolutely loved putting on shows and stated that she was going to become a filmmaker. With her inspiration from pop culture, music and films, she has always been destined to become an artist. 

Even though A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night wasn’t necessarily supposed to be a feminist film, it certainly has elements of it that makes it one. From female representation, intersectional depictions, and the fact that a small woman holds all of the power in the film, it creates a story that hasn’t been told before. The different aesthetic elements also add to the individuality of the film, it makes the film visually stimulating, and even sometimes shocking. The cinematography, the thought-provoking styles and themes as well as the music make this film truly a masterful work of art. If you wish to view a film that is out of the ordinary with some political elements, I highly recommend A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.

The Predator (2018)

Seasoned American director, Shane Black is no novice when it comes to making action films. In the past he’s been known for the Lethal Weapon Series, The Last Action Hero, and The Long Kiss Goodnight; and he doesn’t hold back for the 2018 Predator. Not only did Black direct, but he also wrote the script for The Predator; which explains the superb dialogue in the film. Black is considered one of the pioneer screenwriters of the action genre. He made his mark with the Lethal Weapon Series but also wrote Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. His advanced experience in filmmaking only adds to the expertise that is behind the making of Predator. There’s a lot of great aspects of Predator that makes it stand out more so than other films in the classical Sci-Fi genre. However, to narrow down the elements that make this film great, the diversity of representation is truly thoughtful, the comedic relief is timely, and the amount of blood and guts is just right. I’d go even as far to say this Predator paid homage to the original, in a clever new age way.
First and foremost the comedy relief is perfectly timed, every character has their quick-witted moment. However something that is most prevalent is the politically correct lens that the humor is placed under. No one once makes a sexist joke and if a character makes a comment that is remotely sexist it is always thwarted with a feminist response. There are many types of comedy blended with perspective from the diverse characters. Of course there is the typical archetype in all action films, “the comedian” played by Keegan-Michael Key, but he is by no means the solely funny person in the film; the film doesn’t depend on his humor. Not only did the humor add a wonderful element to the film, the diverse humor from the characters also makes it a unique film. This type of humor isn’t often found in action films, but it can be found in the sci-fi genre, Shane Black hones in on the comedic diversity of his cast and plays to their strengths, making their humor inclusive yet different.
Another strong aspect of the film much like the diverse comedy is the diverse cast. The Sci-fi genre hasn’t always been incredibly inclusive with diversity, especially for people of color and women. This film broke the barriers of that by upholding people of color and women in positive lights within the script; even the “evil” characters were relatable on some level. With that being said, there are only two women in the film, which is typical of the Sci-Fi genre (usually there’s only one woman and she is almost always the love interest). However in this Predator, there are two women; the first female character I would like to talk about is played by Yvonne Strahovski, she was the wife of the main crazy soldier Quinn McKenna played by Boyd Holbrook. Within the film the other male characters expect Yvonne’s character, Emily McKenna to be like the other female archetypes of the Sci-Fi genre (just an ignorant love interest) but she is not only the wife of a soldier, she is trained like a soldier as well. There is moment where I was actually surprised, Emily started commanding the men around her to do things, and she proceeds to take a gun off the wall and clearly knows how to use it. This is something I haven’t seen in many Sci-Fi films so I truly appreciate that a new Sci-Fi archetype is being created. Emily’s character isn’t a huge role by any means, but she certainly made an impression by being a badass. The second badass female character who is featured prevalently in the film is Olivia Munn who plays Casey Bracket who is an important scientist. She is clearly one the most informed characters about the Predator and she is also trained in combat. The main thing that stands out to me about Olivia Munn’s character is the fact that the other male soldiers expect her to be strong willed and cunning; they even make jokes about how she surprises them. Throughout the film Olivia’s character is surrounded by men, and yet none of them really made a pass at her, beyond giving her a pathetic tinfoil unicorn as a gift. She does not become a love interest and she is a key character to understanding The Predator. There is even an eco-feminist lens that could arguably be placed on Olivia Munn’s character as well; she is the only character to interact with the alien dogs within the film, she plays fetch with them. Both of these female characters outsmart men within the storyline multiple times; they are independent, smart, refreshingly tactful and well equipped to handle weapons.
Not only does this film represent women in a positive way, it represents men in a way that I haven’t seen very often previously in the Sci-Fi genre. Male characters show more emotions than usual, they have heart to hearts with each other, and they understand that nobody is perfect. What makes these characters perfect, is their imperfections. Keegan-Michael Key plays the comedic soldier Coyle who I mentioned before, he has PTSD from being an incredibly accurate sniper. Key even has an anxiety attack in the film and one of the other male characters consoles him then says, “Its okay, this happens sometimes.” The fact that his PTSD is addressed along with Coyle’s anxiety attack is a big advancement in Hollywood action filmmaking, in the past soldiers would probably say something toxic like, “man up!” or “No time for tears soldier!” In action films men are oftentimes displayed as emotionless and violent, especially men of color. However this group of crazy soldiers is a diverse bunch. Key is one of three men of color within the group and there are more men of color throughout the film as well including the actor of Predator, government officials, and scientists. Nebraska Williams played by Trevante Rhodes is an especially interesting character. He is clearly an insane man, but he is also loyal to his fellow soldiers and has a good heart. There is a moment in the film where Nebraska opens up about being a suicidal soldier, which is something I have never seen in Hollywood cinema before unless it is the sole focus of the film. This moment where he confides about his past depression is a monumental step away from the toxic masculinity that has hindered so many films in the past. The fact that the character felt comfortable to talk about his mental troubles truly is an important highlight of how men should be able to talk to each other. Alongside the soldiers defeating toxic masculinity, Quinn McKenna’s son is an interesting character as well, Rory McKenna played by Jacob Tremblay. Rory McKenna is on the spectrum and it is believed that he has Aspergers (other kids tease him by calling him ASS-Burgers). This representation is certainly underrepresented in cinema and this film finds an interesting way to highlight how smart some people with Aspergers can truly be. Even though Rory McKenna is a child, he is one of the smartest characters in the film, and usually in other films, the soldier father imposes toxic masculinity onto their child, yet in this film that was not the case. Quinn Mckenna and his son seem to have a wonderful relationship of dialogue and communication, which says a lot when you have a son who has Aspergers. Alongside all of these characters, there is a Latino character that is incredibly religious and socially awkward, and a character with turrets syndrome. These representations might not seem like a lot, but they are incredibly important if we want to create meaningful cinema that is relatable to the population as a whole. Predator created a film that relates to more people than other Sci-Fi films in the past, which is important because white men are not the only demographic in this world.
Finally last but not least, the gore. Horror films are one of my favorite genres of cinema and oftentimes Sci-Fi films dabble in horror elements to improve the action of the film. Predator had the exact amount of gore that was needed to make the film great. There are still guts and blood but it isn’t to the degree where you feel queasy after you watch the film. Someone with a feint heart probably shouldn’t watch the film (I am quite desensitized to horror), but if you are a horror fanatic like myself, you will truly enjoy the effort behind the special effects horror makeup. Alongside the blood and guts, the costuming was great. I remember making note while watching the film that the female scientists aren’t sexualized much like I have seen in the past. They don’t have a ridiculous amount of makeup on, they aren’t showing cleavage and they are viewed as equals to the male scientists. There is even a part where Olivia Munn’s character is naked and she is still not sexualized. This is almost revolutionary for the sci-fi genre, a naked woman who ISN’T sexualized. Again, the costuming for the female scientists is great simply because they are equal to their male counterparts. And last but certainly not least, the special effects makeup and 3D animation of The Predator was chilling, they are terrifying to look at and yet you can’t look away, its almost as if you want to figure out how they operate biologically. This element truly made the film, in the past you can easily point out what is digitally added and what is makeup and they have finally found a perfect blend that makes The Predator more realistic than ever.
Overall I truly enjoyed the film, I think it is the first of many modernized and diverse Sci-Fi films that are to come. Of course the film isn’t perfect, there are still only two women in the film, and the majority of the main cast is still white, but these efforts of diversity are being noticed and appreciated. As an audience we need to support more films that are focusing on a diverse lens; we need to make it known that these types of films are welcomed. The world is not filled with only white men, so our films should not be filled with only white people, this change in diversity and inclusion will create a new generation of cinema that will possibly be even more enjoyable than the past; simply because the voiceless will now have a voice.