Movies don’t have to be perfect. Sometimes the most flawed win our love. Filmmakers don’t set out to make perfect films, because they can’t please everyone, because it’s impossible. But with last year’s The Florida Project, Sean Baker did make the perfect film. This is a film about poverty – people on the fringes that…… Continue reading Film Diary: The Florida Project (2017)
When I was in middle school, the stories I wrote featured Cape Verdean protagonists. This wasn’t a conscious decision. It might have been a response to all the books and movies I loved with girls who were just as smart and spunky as I was, but who didn’t look like me. I’m 27 now, and…… Continue reading Ceaseless wonder: A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Here’s a movie I love even though it’s somewhat boring, with its visuals far outweighing the story. This is MGM’s lavish star powered biopic of composer Jerome Kern (Robert Walker), who penned some of the most famous musicals of all time – Show Boat being the most well known. If you consider yourself a fan…… Continue reading Favorite films: Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
A bubbly girl and a prickly boy find romance among baked goods. It promises to be fluffy, cheesy, and just a nice, easy, fun time. Wrong. So wrong. Panda and Hedgehog is all those things with a dash of tragedy. I started watching the series in December and was hooked after five episodes. It’s now…… Continue reading Bittersweet Dessert: Panda and Hedgehog (2012)
Writing about a critically acclaimed film that inspired Beyonce’s Lemonade is not an easy feat. What exactly am I supposed to say about Daughters of the Dust that is new or original? I felt overwhelmed because there was so much I loved, so much to say, but I didn’t know how to begin. Its visual…… Continue reading Daughters of the Dust (1991)
Viola Davis wisely said that diversity is not a trending topic. The work and commitment required to bring inclusive stories to screens both big and small must always be our focus. We have to hold Hollywood accountable, support films led by people of color, and demand representation across the board. The statistics highlighting the disparity…… Continue reading A Warm December (1973)
“The office is filled with wolves, waiting to rip each other into pieces.” Horror movies usually aren’t comfort movies. My threshold for horror is pretty low. I just can’t stomach gore. So it’s a little ironic that I love the South Korean thriller/horror movie Opiseu (Office) as much as I do. I watched it repeatedly…… Continue reading Opiseu (2015)
