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Film reviews

I Saw The TV Glow Review

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I Saw the TV Glow operates within the context of spellbinding fascinations with hobbies and moments of connections searching for understanding and empathy.  The film was written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun. Schoenbrun’s direction is audacious in its grandeur and colorful revelations. The film is experimental and worthy of awards. I Saw the TV Glow made my head spin in a positive way. The film centers on a reality TV show and its impact on a set of viewers throughout their lives.One that will build connections and memories that will mesmerize the minds of its audience.

The film’s focus is on the social disconnect of its main characters in the beginning. One is a boy with this feeling namedOwen (played by Justice Smith). Owen finds love and connection to the other, his close friend Maddie (played by Brigette Lundy-Paine). They are both fixated on a TV show called The Pink Opaque. It is a reality TV show based on the supernatural. It brings Owen and Maddie closer to their hearts and their feelings of where they sense they are meant to be. Owen has always struggled with loneliness. Maddie is also disconnected, but she tolerates being an introvert. The Pink Opaque builds a certain power within Owen. One that he will carry with him for years. Ultimately, his love for Maddie and his love of the TV show is where he feels there is meaning to life.

The era of the VHS days is portrayed in this film. Looking back at the era of having to watch programs in their scheduled time brings its audience back to a more structured reality when television viewers had to plan out when to watch the shows they loved. Owen collects VHS tapes of recordings of The Pink Opaque. He says, “I watched these tapes over and over again, and they never got old.” The fascination with a TV show is just the beginning of the story in I Saw the TV Glow.

The time when technology was limited in repeated views paints a portrait of how special this show is for Owen and Maddie in the film. It creates their bond of closeness in a surreal and experimental direction. The direction is breathless. The film shines with radiance. The friendship of Owen and Maddie thrives indefinitely in correlation to their love for a show they are obsessed with together.

The direction of Schoenbrun is artistic in its creation of an atmosphere where sharing an obsession creates a euphoric world. The presence of Owen and Maddie’s relationship brings a sense of urgency to what they have shared for years. Their love for The Pink Opaque goes to the horizons of imagination with sparks of wonder. Schoenbrun knows the depths of experimental value among in exploring aspects of personalities that bind and are inspiring. 

In the performance of Lundy-Paine, I saw the loving side of her wonderful aura in I Saw the TV Glow. It brought me back to her performance as Casey from the series Atypical. She has that personality where hardship in personal life is something she tolerates with a firm attitude. Her attitude is even firmer and revolutionary in I Saw the TV Glow.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? What are the chances of discovering the hidden treasures that tempt the characters in I Saw the TV Glow? This mesmerizing and in-depth trail of fear and friendship compounded by reality is off the charts. A true and surreal film that feels scientific in its search for a light of truth to the highest perception. Four out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2024: Sing Sing Review

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Sing Sing, directed by Greg Kweda, soars with empathy and is a film in which turmoil finds courage. In the initial tone of the movie, it may appear that all is lost. However, there is lightwhen inmates have a chance to feel restored through doing stage performances. 

Sing Sing is the name of the prison in this true story. The main character is John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield (played by Colman Domingo). He is in prison for a crime he is falsely accused of and faces good and bad days. He builds connections with other inmates, such as D Dan (played by Sean Dino Johnson) and Clarence Maclin (played by himself). John shares the disconnect in this life of turmoil. This begins to change with the help of Brent Buell (played by Paul Raci) who provides the voice of inspiration for these inmates. They all act together in a theatrical group. Their fascination with the arts is where they find their voices again.

Sing Sing is about letting go and finding fulfillment. With strong writing by Maclin, the real John ‘Divine G” Whitfield, this true story displays realistic and humanistic qualities which add to the depth of Sing Sing.  By exploring the process of finding rewardsin the present, a powerful message is delivered.

There is value in Sing Sing as it effectively portrays how theperformance arts can create spellbinding achievements. Adrenaline of appreciation went pulsing through my chestduring the film due to my background in the arts, I rememberedhow much the stage meant to me. A heartfelt love for the arts makes for memorable connections with Sing Sing. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Civil War Review

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After the last few years of having life disrupted to the COVID-19 pandemic, there comes a film about a world in turmoil. Civil War is a representation of what the future could look like if we stayed in pandemic mode much longer. Director Alex Garland is brilliant and an auteur at adding layers of realism and political factors into Civil War. This is not a common, explosive war flick, but instead tells an honest story. Once the film began, it felt like just yesterday when I was annoyed with the world because of the harsh realities of Covid 19 which included lockdowns, governments imposing restrictions, and no clear truth.  I was quickly hooked on the film because of its characters and its intention to find “a clear truth.”

The film is set in a future America where mayhem and turmoil have ensued throughout the world. Nick Offerman plays the president and is bound to be the next target if the demolition overcomes Washington DC. Kirsten Dunst plays Lee, Wagner Moura plays Joel, and Stephen McKinley Henderson plays Sammy.  They are all journalists embedded with the military on the front line working their way to DC. They live the reality ofdestruction every day as they work to capture whatever horrific story comes their way. Cailee Spaeny plays Jessie who is eager to join Lee and her team on their journey to DC.

The brilliance of Civil War lies in its pacing in each setting. Each town they encounter has a unique set of challenges based upon the politics of corruption. Whenever there is a moment of impact or combat, Lee and her team suit up to capture the news. Each day includes life-or-death tasks which becomes the new norm as war makes an impact on everyone. Garland is brave in his direction of Civil War which makes it mentally spellbinding given the combination of politics, news, and wars.

Dunst truly steals the film—her persistence is a portrait of determination to make a story count in Civil War. This is one of the best films I have seen her do. Her performance will enthralland captivate audiences. Her husband Jesse Plemmons is also in the film, and he plays an antagonist. Both deliver roles with gutpunches…Dunst for the good and Plemmons for the bad. However, Dunst is the true revelation and makes this surrealistic film memorable.

Civil War is one of the most captivating films of 2024. Deep-down, my love for Civil War is based on the tolerance it reminded me of during the frustrating the days of 2020. It reminded me of how angry I was that my love for movies and the arts was negatively impacted. During that time, I was consumed by political news from around the world. Over time, I had to learn to tolerate the things I couldn’t control and put adopt a more positive mindset. Civil War painted a true image of life in chaos, and showed what it is like for journalists to cover harsh news. Civil War takes a political story to a whole different level that is unforgettable. Four stars for Civil War.