Change Your Image
winda97
Reviews
Funny Girl (1968)
Delightful and deep
My biggest complaint about movies from this era is often that the emotional depth is just not there - or they only explore easy emotions. Barbra's performance in Funny Girl was anything but shallow. Her ability to be wry and devastated at the same time is unmatched. And as a person who's just gone through a romantic ending, I really felt her sense of loss even as she chose that path. I can tell she brought a lot of vulnerability and truth to the role. I also loved how progressively feminist the story is, and how innately she believes in herself. Even as her romantic life is tumultuous, she never doubts her talent. Would highly recommend this movie to anyone.
Beautiful Disaster (2023)
Campy Fun
A timeless classic it's not, but I had a great time watching this movie. It felt like the producers replaced all of the After self-seriousness with a healthy dose of lighthearted self-awareness, and the result is so much more watchable. Especially in the first half, each predictable plot turn came with a big wink to the audience, which somehow made me forgive the predictability and just go along for the ride. The two leads had excellent chemistry - I was especially impressed by Dylan Sprouse, who came across very charming but authentic. I'd watch another self-deprecating romcom like this, over the treacly fare that's dominated the genre for a while.
Women Talking (2022)
Challenging and effective
I grew up in a high-demand religion, certainly nothing as extreme as these women's circumstances, but there was something so cathartic and beautiful about watching them choose themselves and their own values. This story felt human and authentic in a rare way. I think its strangeness in form and style only adds to the sense of authenticity. Moments like this aren't straightforward.
I disagree with criticism that the dialogue is stilted or overly pedantic. It felt like conversations I've had with friends and family who've also left my church. In religion, you often grow up grappling with these massive questions around what you believe and who you are. It's just that there are only a few acceptable answers. When I found myself in faith crisis, I used the very skills I learned in my childhood religion to find my way out of it. That's what all this dialogue felt like to me. Sure, it's a little circular. But that felt all the more real to me.