Film reviews

The Color Purple Review

Leave a comment

The Color Purple opens with the poetic themes of love, friendship, and encouragement—all of which will go through ages of neglect and abuse. There is a saying in the outset of the film, “Good Lord works in mysterious ways,” and it seems to ring true in The Color Purple. Faith, passion, and empathy remain important motifs as the film follows the story of a loving and lasting friendship. The Color Purple is joyful, but not as solid as the original from 1985. This one goes for a more blockbuster approach, but the music and story still soar in many moments.

The film takes place in the early 1900s in Atlanta, Georgia. The two main characters are Celie (played by Fantasia Barrino) and Nettie (played by Ciara). The true story is seen in the younger characters that play both women. Young Celie is played by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and Young Nettie is played by Halle Bailey. A friendship torn apart in an era of slavery. Celie spends her life with Mister (played by Colman Domingo). He is a harsh landowner that beats and neglects her for many years of her life. Celie’s happiness is always found around her friend; however, Nettie ends up leaving the picture because Mister scares her away. The film effectively uses musical inspiration to enhance its many characters, settings and situations.

Hard moments transition to songs—the steppingstones of a touching masterpiece. The film’s songs display a message of staying strong, especially for Celie. Relationships of abuse negate Celie’s purpose and inspiration to find Nettie, yet Nettie remains in her heart. The spirit of Celie never losing hope is in the music, conjuring the feeling that simply being alive is something to be grateful for. The Color Purple is a journey where laws and boundaries do not exist.

The portrayal of racism and segregation goes too deep into a Hollywood mode. The downfall is that there is over exaggeration in the dramatics that do not serve a proper purpose or a form of realism. The Color Purple is rather frustrating in the sense that it seems made to sell rather than authentic. The music is terrific though. It attempts to be a fulfilling flick through itscontinuity, acting and story, yet it falls short of attaining trulyjoyful vibes. It is an experience where boredom will come sooner than expected in its time length of two hours and forty minutes.

Despite the film’s slow approaches of being inviting there is more to the film to add sense of positivity. Celie meets Shug Avery, and she is played by Taraji. P Henson. She is the leading celebrity of the town. She has a big soul and an open heart and feels Celie’s pain. With the support of Shug, does Celie have more hopes to have a new life? Are there hopes she can find Nettie? Can she get away from Mister? Her hopes and prayers go a long way. Color Purple paints a portrait of how life can be when one deals with abuse physically and mentally every day.

With all of the joyful elements, the dynamic of the film is cursed because it takes place in an era of non-acceptance at intolerable levels. The Color Purple displays a raw, riveting and inspirational experience that will warm many hearts. It is also a musical experience that is driven to test boundaries to find light in the darker places of life. The film just lacks some realistic qualities, relying rather on over-the-top dramatics and ironies. This remake just does not make it. Two out of four stars for The Color Purple.

Film reviews

Eileen Review

Leave a comment

Eileen is a film where being vulnerable is at its core. In the film’s introduction, there is already a sense of desperation to feel connected as a girl watches others kiss in their vehicle. With a sad backdrop and eerie lighting in the depths of winter, there is bound to be a treacherous adventure. In Eileen, director William Oldroyd brings his audience into the world of the 1960s. It is a time when feeling loved is at the core of being fulfilled…despite the consequences. Thomasin McKenzie plays Eileen, and she has the looks and the personality to portray a character of deep emotions from a rough life. She sees that some light may come her way, but questions whether what she is doing is right.

Eileen works as an employee at a prison facility where she has agreedy and negative boss. All kinds of weird behaviors go on at the prison and each day is filled with catastrophes and mental stress. There are bizarre scenarios and rude employees all around. On top of it all, she lives with her father Jim (played by Shea Wigham), a former police officer and an alcoholic. Eileen’s father behaves erratically while he verbally abuses and blindsides his daughter. Eileen’s turmoil causes her to seek empathy and imagine closeness to cope. When a new doctor named Rebecca (played by Anne Hathaway) is hired at the prison facility, Eileen feels she has found a loving friend who truly cares about her. Is Eileen’s life about to be fulfilled?

The direction of Eileen focuses on the inseparable bond between Eileen and Rebecca. Rebecca caters to Eileen, buys her a few cocktails, and talks to her repeatedly. Eileen begins to feel her life is improving because someone cares for her. The human connection is surreal as Eileen and Rebecca are chatting on a winter’s night. What Eileen does not realize is that there is something sinister about Rebecca which is hard to see due to the clever and laid-back style of Hathaway’s performance.

While Eileen’s home life is a wreck, she believes that Rebecca is there for her until she begins to experience some weird patterns. Her father is still a narcissistic prick, and the prison facility is still filled with upsetting factors. Most of the film’s first halfcenters on the trials and errors of Eileen’s mental frustrations at home and work. However, Rebecca remains on her mind despite the looming danger. Eileen is a paced-out suspense that remains neutral in its tone. The writing is about personality trumping thoughts of personal safety. Because Eileen feels worthless every day, Rebecca is her light. Will Rebecca shine as brightlyas Eileen believes?

There is a moment in which Eileen’s father tells her, “Love will make you crazy.” This certainly holds true for Eileen as her-obsession with Rebecca causes her to underestimate the kind of situation, she is putting herself in. Due to the negativity in Eileen’s family life, she struggles to suppress her fascination with Rebecca. The tension is hidden, and the conflict is burdensome. Will audiences be ready for what is hidden when they experience Eileen? There are surprises in store for those curious about what is possible in the midst of a crazy trainwreck of a broken life.

Eileen is invigorating thanks to the captivating personalities in the performances of McKenzie and Hathaway. McKenzie’s performance is of a cute young lady who is unaware of what she is getting herself into. Hathaway’s performance is of a mightywoman with an ego and personality to die for. The connection between the two characters is where Eileen truly takes its audience by surprise. Does Rebecca really have deep feelings for Eileen? Is Eileen a target for Rebecca to use as a scapegoat for something irreparable? Rebecca helps Eileen express heranger and emotions about the sad life she must endure. Eileen is a daring experience with an unexpected and questionable outcome. Four out of four stars for Eileen.

Film reviews

The Boys in The Boat Review

Leave a comment

The Boys In The Boat is a heartfelt film about rowing in the era of The Great Depression as it delves into the theme of bonding through sportsmanship in a tumultuous time. Director George Clooney displays the importance of teamwork from the start, exemplifying that commitment is crucial. The film is set in an era of financial deficits and not many avenues are available for college students who do not have much money. Rowing becomes an opportunity for the young men in this situation. Inspirational in as much as it tugs on emotions, The Boys In The Boat is however lacking in its ability to fulfill.


The film takes place in Seattle, Washington. The year is 1936and the setting is the University of Washington. A time when finances for education are not easy to come by for many students. The first student the film introduces is Joe Rantz (played by Callum Turner). He lives in a broken-down car most of his days since he cannot put a roof over his head. The second student is Roger Morris (played by Sam Strike). He has a mind for engineering, but his finances are the blockade to him getting an education. Both Joe and Roger find themselves in dire circumstances, which leads them to join the rowing team of University of Washington. Their coach is Al Ulbrickson. The rest of their teammates are Chuck Day (played by Thomas Elms), Don Hume (played by Jack Mulhern), Shorty Hunt (played by Bruce Herbellin-Earle), Jim McMillin (played by Will Coban), Johnny White (played by Tom Varey), and Gordy Adam (played by Joel Phillimore). They are a team that will thrive and encourage each other to soar to new heights in their sport.

The writing in the film delivers a strong message of sportsmanship and encouragement. There is a quote in the film, “Every good race has a jockey”, which exemplifies that every position in the boat has a different responsibility during a race. The power and angling are controlled by the rowers in the back. Speed is the duty for the front rowers. All together though, everyone must deliver as much power as they can and the timing must be perfect. There is also another quote in the film, “Technique is more important than power.” This becomes true to the aspects of winning in The Boys in the Boat. The boys learn that momentum and synchronicity are the most importantbuilding blocks to keep their power going. All of this creates a feel-good experience as they come together as a team and as friends.

The writing begins to lack when the politics of academia enter the story. The biggest issue is finances. The University of Washington cannot compete financially with the wealthier Ivy League schools during this economic time and the resources for a rowing program are scarce. The performances of the rowers do not matter when money and reputation of other schools come first. The unfair advantage of the Ivy league schools is the component that is unclear. Edgerton’s performance as the coach shines with realistic frustration and turmoil. He wants his team to be one of an achievement, but the academic and financial factors keep interfering with their chances of success. Harvard and Yale have the upper hand and he has to find a way for his team to stay in competition.

The road to the Berlin Olympics is the shining accomplishment awaiting in The Boys in the Boat. This climactic moment of the film brings home a strong message of persistence and sportsmanship. Unfortunately, the ironies of the political and financial issues get lost in poor writing and make the script fall short of its full potential in exposing the turmoil they create.There are still politics today when it comes to colleges and sports, however this era depended on survival through pure fortitude and belief in the hope of a better future. It brought forth the ones that shine the brightest lights. Three out of four stars for The Boys in The Boat.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!