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Film reviews

Sight Review

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Empathy is faithful. There are lines between the levels of permanent, temporary, and risky. Sight is a film that parallels those values for a miracle. Written and directed by Andrew Hyatt, a revelation is one of realism. Sight is all about “realism” with monumental effects. The true story of Dr. Ming Wang provokes purpose in Sight. There is a broad and precise perspective. There are moments where the transitions struggle sometimes.

Terry Chen plays Dr. Ming Wang, and Greg Kinnear plays Dr Misha Bartnovsky. Ming is a Chinese Prodigy who grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. Challenging events of Ming’s past had him around a blind individual. Ming found inspiration to restore people’s vision. His success has led him to become a world-renowned eye surgeon. His mentality is to the test. He is allowed to improve the vision of a young girl. Her name is Kajal (played by Mia Swaminathan). This procedure is risky. A young age means not much development.

What keeps coming to Ming’s mind is detrimental. Ming witnessed a horrific moment. Ming was a child. He was the witness of a stepmother blinding her adopted daughter. Sight’s writing finds its moments of shifting to the traumas of Ming repeatedly. It is thorough and faithful. The transitions between the present and the past just tended to throw me off in increments. It does give the notion that the procedure is risky for Kajal. With the help of Misha, Ming finds resilience in his research to create a miracle for those who are blind. 

Doing a procedure to change the view of life is presented with a surreal emotion in Sight. The thought of optimism is what is of importance. It is also an element that is a blur for Ming. With the human eye having many components to process, the complexity is mind-boggling. Can Ming create this miracle for Kajal?

The thought process of Ming is a layer of harrowing moments. He repeatedly thinks back to his past. He thinks about the time of his education, political tides, and the impact he has had on his own life. He feels that the past is the layer that can create an error in the procedure. Moving forward, he has a genuine heart.

There is a connection. There is also the sense that creating a permanent change for the better rises. Sight is a road of two directions. The first location is Ming and deep thought of his development. The second is the steps and the attention on the efforts to help Kajal gain her vision back. Sight soars with wonder. It leaves a mark of positive aspiration.

The center of creating enfranchisement dives into finding momentum poetically. The writing tries to over-examine moments. It thrives a heart of encouragement. The relationship between Ming and Misha (from the professional standpoint) creates that bind of medical studies. There are no results until a procedure is complete. Anxiousness of Sight has its eagerness as the moments of this task get closer.

My fascination with Sight is its context of persistence. Moments are blurred between transitioning (of the past and present), which creates the foundation of Ming’s successes. Ming dealt with political dynamics, but he fought to change lives. He does so by fixing the visions of his patients. When he does, they can see the many wonderful aspects of their own truly and indefinitely. Three out of four stars for Sight.

Film reviews

Wildcat Review

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Written and directed by Ethan Hawke, Wildcat follows the true story of the writer Flannery O’Connor. Through the direction of Hawke, he casts his daughter Maya Hawke as O’Connor. It is an adaptation gearing on the real struggles of O’Connor boil. Artistry is divine in capturing verisimilitude. Wildcat soars with abundance as it searches for the talent of O’Connor to be recognized. It brings in the 1950s era with mental difficulty. It brings in the narrative of Maya’s voice as she battles her errors in her evolving writing days. The subtleness is superb. There is a reality that an in-depth invigoration precedes Wildcat.

The film begins with Flannery creating a story in her mind. From that point on, it goes to the reality that she is in. With facing rejections from her writing, the support around her is not hopeful. Her mother is Regina (played by Laura Linney). Regina tries to encourage Flannery to focus on other aspects of her life. Flannery’s writing is what brings meaning to herself. Her emptiness is sad and hard to bear. She is living in an era of many classes and segregation among races. She also is dealing with lupus. Her theme of writing is her life. 

Wildcat is breathtaking on Flannery to build her name. As her disease lingers, she only continues to form her creative mind. With some hopes for love, acceptance, and having a voice, Wildcat parallels all those values. The sense of Flannery in a blur is because of her window closing due to her disease. The narration continues through her moments of aches. Maya’s performance is revolutionary. Her portrayal of someone real delivers vast characterization. “Characterization” with constant thinking of connection. How though? Does Maya want to feel loved? Does Maya have other ambitions? Her disease and her voice are her focus.

My appreciation for Wildcat is its realism of encouragement. The “encouragement” is finding your voice. I try to find my voice as a critic every day. Flannery did her work. The theme of love serves as an important as well in Wildcat. Flannery finds herself in a moment with a man named Manley Pointer (played by Cooper Hoffman). At that moment, boundaries seemed blurred. Will Flannery be taken advantage of? Is that what Flannery wants? The cinematics of trial and error set the course of there being no defeat for Flannery to publish her story.

The vastness of moments is only the beginning of a triumphant story. When watching Maya perform as Flannery, the younger days of her father came to me. Ethan’s days in The Dead Poet’s Society and White Fang connect to his daughter. It does in the sense of having a gift and dealing with receiving little recognition. That is the inspiring factor of never quitting a craft of meaning.

Wildcat will enthrall its audience with a story of purpose. It keeps its momentum in keeping Flannery the focus of what she is striving for. Where does the story take its audience? Find out in Wildcat. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Babes Review

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The subject of pregnancy is not for everyone and is awkward for many. Pamela Adlon handles this “awkwardness” superbly in Babes. Adlon’s style of directing has no filter which brings out the best in satirical humor.  Babes is a one-of-a-kind comedyin which what should be commonsense does not always seem normal. This movie tackles a variety of difficult subject matter with heart.

The film takes place in New York City. The focus is on two best friends, Eden (played by Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (played by Michelle Buteau). Eden becomes pregnant after a one-night stand. She also suffers with some mental struggles. Eden expects Dawn to always be there for her given her unexpected condition.  Eden’s pregnancy is the overwhelming factor prompting her to keep her friendship with Dawn so close. However, Dawn is busy living her life with her own family and does not always have time for Eden. Still when they are together, they are like high-school besties. 

The art of friendship is portrayed honestly due to Adlon’s direction. There is a sense of disconnect that adults do not want to feel but impacts the relationship between Eden and Dawn. Pregnancy causes challenges which limit the joy in Eden’s life. The story provides a vivid portrait of Eden’s emotional condition and a clear understanding of why she may desire some form of escape. 

Glazer (who plays Eden) is also one of the co-writers of the film. Her character’s personality drives the frequent humor in Babes. Her persistent attitude and quirky coolness keep the awesome jams in Babes rolling. Eden is dealing not only with a major personal struggle, but also with trying to keep a friend in this tumultuous environment. Her vantage point is written and seen thoroughly throughout the film.

Despite some of the film’s peculiar moments, it is poetic. There are some gags that are repulsive and disastrous, but they do add some value in buffering some drastic scenarios. Between a pregnancy and a friendship, Babes paints a clear picture of the acceptance required in a true friendship. Does Eden want this baby? Does Dawn want to tolerate Eden’s nonsense? Are Eden and Dawn mentally prepared to deal with the changes evolving in their separate lives?  Babes explores some hard-hitting aspects of friendship that are very relatable.  

The complicated picture in this story is one where the paint does not dry quickly. The dynamics between Dawn and Eden get messy before they get pretty. There are rapidly flying colors of clever madness where frustration creates an unsettling atmosphere in this story of a fierce friendship. Adlon knows how to push the envelope when it comes to tough subjects. Her unique vision and directorial talent are on full display in this unique comedy.

What is more important? Is it friendship? Is it pregnancy? Is it the concept of adulting? All these dilemmas are questioned as the complexity of life plays out in this film. It is a bizarre comedy with class that is heartfelt and authentic. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Babes.