An examination of Luca Guadagnino’s Oscar Winning movie “Call Me By Your Name” and how it’s representation perpetuates negative stereotypes in the LGBTQ community.
Read MoreWhat is it about Ari Aster’s beauteous, sun-soaked nightmare that lulls us and sustains our intrigue? As a personal victim of its entrancement, I explore how Midsommar’s longevity and cultural resonance is directly connected to its feminine subjectivity.
Read MoreWhen we think of action movies, we often sigh and remind ourselves of regurgitated, formulaic, high-octane and tired film franchises such as Transformers and Fast & Furious. Yet, one such franchise which defined the action-adventure and post-apocalyptic genre is Mad Max. Staying fresh and relevant to modern discourse and global issues, Mad Max doesn’t shy away from expressing radical views of anarchy, feminism, anti-capitalism, and environmental collapse. George Miller not only accurately captures public discontent but also imagines a post-apocalyptic scenario that is entirely possible, given our current condition.
A show all about girls skateboarding in New York while fighting the patriarchy. What could get better than that?
Capturing the 70s rock scene through the eyes of an idealistic teen journalist, Almost Famous is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story. The film, which turns twenty this year, has become one of the most beloved music films of all time. At the center of the film is Penny Lane, a groupie who prefers the term “Band-aid”, played by the utterly charming Kate Hudson, who goes on tour with fictional band Stillwater to, as she says, inspire the music.
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Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy has finally graced our screens and it's even better than the first season. A tiny Pogo, a time jump, a cult, and more of Ben? This season has everything you need and more. *SPOILER ALERT*
Read MoreAnna (1967) is the perfect French musical comedy starring Anna Karina. But when I scoured the internet in an attempt to re-watch the film recently, there was no evidence of its existence.
Read MoreAs an aspiring film major and as a person of color, I’ve had trouble reconciling with the way we glorify films when we regard them as ‘classics’. By doing so, we allow ourselves to ignore their often blatantly problematic natures. So, I’ve decided to explore the following questions: What roles have people of color held in what we think of as cinematic masterpieces? How can we continue to enjoy these films with more consciousness?
Read MoreIn honour of Olivia de Havilland, I chose to discuss The Heiress, which features what I consider to be one of the most powerful endings in a film. After years of emotional abuse, Catherine Sloper finally chooses herself. Leaving the audience with the shot of Catherine climbing the staircase with lamp in hand, is a powerful and richly layered shot.
Read MoreThe Breakfast Club debuted on February 15th, 1985. Written and directed by John Hughes, this teen classic centres around a group of students in different school cliques, all spending their Saturday in detention. The movie resonated so much with viewers that television writers and producers have repeatedly taken aspects from The Breakfast Club and remixed them to pertain to their respective programs.
The Kissing Booth (2018) is trash and we all know it. But don’t worry, I underwent the burden of experiencing the sequel so you don’t have to. Oh, and I drew wild parallels to a popular French movie musical from the 60s. Enjoy!
Read MoreStudio Ghibli, one of the most beloved film companies in the world, has created a diverse variety of films, yet they are all bound together by intimate and honest portrayals of humanity and the human condition. I’ll be considering the question “What makes Studio Ghibli films so extraordinary?” with reference to five of my favorites: Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Whisper of the Heart, Spirited Away, and From Up on Poppy Hill.
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Fiddler on the Roof is a story of survival in the face of oppression and hardship. It argues, through its songs and joyous scenes, that the key to survival is love in its many forms.
Read MoreWe express love through many different languages, and films can capture those expressions beautifully. In La La Land, we are shown how our hearts fall in love. Meanwhile, Her explores how our minds can fall in love.
Read MoreAfter rewatching the 2010 comedy Grown Ups starring comedy legends Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Maya Rudolph, Rob Schneider and more, I quickly realized it wasn’t the funny and light-hearted movie I had rewatched endlessly whilst growing up.
Read MoreDisney+ has put the original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton, filmed in New York City in June 2016, on their streaming service and now I’m an emotional wreck. Here is a deepdive into the film and how the director elevated the musical and the sentiment of the story.
Read MoreOur relationships with intimacy and our closeness with each other all stems from early childhood development. In a new critically acclaimed coming-of-age film, a nine-year-old strives for the love that has been missing for much of her life.
Read MoreIn a strange turn of events, teenagers are now nostalgic for the very days we’re living. Dazed and Confused continues to remind me of the pleasures (and pains) of life, and it encapsulates a sentiment applicable to youth of every decade: a perpetual longing for something different.
Read MoreBy looking at five very different Old Hollywood stars - Katharine Hepburn, James Dean, Greta Garbo, Jane Russell, and Rock Hudson - I was able to explore different forms of gender expression and performance. These limited but important examples teach viewers valuable lessons about discovering one’s self and how every form of expression, when taken to its extreme, breaks from the traditional binary.
Read MoreOpen your eyes to the reality many communities are facing today - particularly the black community. The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a fantastic captivating piece about the life of Jimmie Fails in the Bay Area.