By Morgan Roberts Wow. 2020 was a giant dumpster fire, wasn’t it? But here’s the thing: television and films saved us. The arts are always the first thing to go with budget cuts, but without art this year, how many of us would have the respite we so desperately needed during this time? So, thank you to everyone who puts their all into their craft, … Continue reading Morgan’s Top 10 Films of 2020
There is a specific type of film, which appears to remain nameless, that you understand will be noteworthy from the moment you begin watching it. This particular breed of film is unique in that, whether or not you end up actually enjoying it, at the very least you will be able to appreciate something about it. You can tell from the very start that you will be impacted by it; in its wake, you will be left with your perspective expanded. Continue reading A Special Breed Of Film: “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”
“I give really bad blowjobs” laments Mandy (writer/director/star Billie Piper) on a first date as “Rare Beasts” opens. Mandy, a clearly agitated yet quirky woman prone to over-analyzing herself sits across her work colleague, Pete (Leo Bill). He postulates that he is religious that “modern women have more testosterone coursing through their veins than blood”.
Mandy’s response? She ends the date by sprinting across the street and regurgitating the dinner they had just had onto the sidewalk. This is the best indicticator of the tone to follow: a blend of cringe-inducing, self-deprecating, visual humor confidently presented through a woman’s unfiltered vision. This is a wonderfully stylish and brave film that offers a new and unique perspective on the role of the modern woman in today’s society. Continue reading SXSW Review: Rare Beasts
Regardless of your opinion on the merits (or lack thereof) of Batman vs Superman, there was a clear winner that came out of it all. Though only in the film for a handful of scenes it was immediately obvious that Diana, aka Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), was going to be a force to be reckoned with in her own solo film.
This film also came at a perfect time for the DCEU. While the MCU was racking up critical and box office successes, they were yet to have a solo film for any of their female characters or a film directed by a woman. DC decided to buck that trend and handed the reins of one of their trinity to Patty Jenkins. It came as a bit of a surprise, given the last film she had directed was “Monster” in 2003, and a far cry from a superhero film. Continue reading ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry No. 2: Wonder Woman
In Their Own League 