Change Your Image
Aurora579
Reviews
The Mindy Project (2012)
So Pasty Yet Witty and Satisfying Comedy
On the upside, this show attempts to create balance in the TV landscape by showing the perspective of a woman with a normal (??) libido with a life lived, somewhat absurdly. Some of the comedy is witty and quick-paced, which I enjoy.
On the down-side, Mindy clearly has a type and this happens to align with the construct of internalized racism, or having a colonized mind.
Plus, all the men who are not Danny Castelano look ill and pasty, like they have really bad allergies. Peter, Jeremy and Morgan all look gross and kinda sick-ish like they're all about to vomit.
Other than that, I like the foolishness of the show. It is easy to watch and I'm rooting for Mindy. Go Mindy!
Love,
Late to the Party in 2023.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024)
Just what I needed
I love the writing -- clever. I love the chemistry - odd couple. I love the house -- want to live there for a week. I love the intelligence -- they're smart people, even if they weren't spies, still smart. I love that they have emotional intelligence though they shouldn't (because SPIES aren't supposed to care -- yes, there's the irony and humor of it). Beyond the uncommon interracial pairing (we don't usually see black and asian people together on screen), we see that they are each a "type", as demonstrated in the ski slope episode, when compared with the fighting couple -- aren't we each a type, regardless of melanin depth, eye and nose shape? Thank you for adding real world/real people variety and charm to my media experience!
God's Favorite Idiot (2022)
Angelic Minstrel Show?
The way Tom's character is written and treated put this show in the thumb's down category for me after three episodes. I hoped for better from contemporary writers -- to not portray black characters as stupid or of poor character. There are too many negative portrayals of black people in the media, which is harmful. The effect is that what should be a light-hearted comedy crossed with Touched by an Angel ends up being a series of malformative attacks on the black image within the American collective unconscious.
I wish Netflix had a way of fielding reviews on its site, so writers receive direct feedback from viewers.
Nope (2022)
Not Exactly a Horror Film
I avoid horror films because I feel there's enough real world horror to contend with -- why pay for more? That said, my went to see this to have a shared experience with my beau. This film has scary moments that made me clutch his hand, but is more sci-fi than horror.
I appreciate the statements it makes about the importance of human craft (in this case film-making) and archaic, analog forms of technology in an increasingly tech dependent world.
The film also forces us to think of ourselves as prey to more organisms than we're familiar with in Earth's ecosystem. There's more "out there" and yeah, they might be hungry for us. Ewe!! (show respect for all animal life, and the universe)
Great job by the actors, especially KeKe Palmer who I've not seen play this kind of character before.
Bridgerton: An Unthinkable Fate (2022)
Best scene of the whole season!
Is at minute 42, when Kate asks to speak with Anthony. The intensity of, "you are the bane of my existence, and the object of all my desires." And then the glorious direction! The zooming in on her shimmering dress as they breathe into one another - so multi-sensual! We can hear them breathing, see her gorgeous jeweled dress in detail, and really be with them in the moment, in the divine instant of first mutual acknowledgement of their passion for one another. Kate's spoken acknowledgement is so tender, because she's more stubborn than he is. And then, Anthony, head shaking, like he's thinking, "look at this mess I'm caught up in. Who's joke is this? This is not funny. It's a trap!" We feel you Anthony.
Olympia (2018)
Crossroads story
What I appreciate most about this is seeing myself in Olympia. So refreshing to see a black woman, and families, in fully human roles. This story is beautiful in its broad relatability. We've all had to weigh staying safe and small (and afraid) against the unknown, potentially broadening experience, that brings confidence. I love this film because it supports real living. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this art!
Uncorked (2020)
But, how do we show Blackness?
I was confused by the picture painted of black people and culture in the beginning of this film. Characters saying "we be" (unnatural) and plenty of raunchy conversations between female friends. Black women's asses in the air for no reason. Characters' style of speaking that code switched between Black people, when this wouldn't happen in real life. These were the misrepresentations.
Other than these strange culture paintings, I liked the story line and the father/son resolution.