The chaotic plot narrated by Quinn (who often breaks the fourth wall and dazzles the audience) is well-crafted and entertaining. But what makes it even more exciting are multiple fighting sequences and phenomenal stunts. Continue reading #WomeninAction: ‘Birds of Prey’, Glitter Bombs, and the Importance of a Hair Tie
Getting sober is difficult. Especially when you’re doing it alone. That is what Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) goes through in 2012’s “Smashed.” Kate and her husband, Charlie (Aaron Paul) are alcoholics. We learn that very early in the film.
But after Kate, extremely hungover, gets sick in front of her kindergarten students, she starts to rethink her relationship with alcohol. Her students assume she’s pregnant – one noting their mom got sick when expecting a younger sibling – and she goes with it. But it is not until a night of drunkenly doing crack, another – of many nights – of urinating in the bed, and in all sorts of intoxication stealing a bottle of booze from a liquor store that she decides it is time to stop. Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Month Review: “Smashed”
Following the infamous “Suicide Squad”, “Birds of Prey” sees the return of of the infamous Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) to the big screen. Only this time things have changed since we’ve last spent time with her, she and the Joker have broken up. With this framing “Birds of Prey” follows Harley as she navigates her newfound independence from her toxic relationship, through various means she ends up in the hands of Roman Sionis/Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) and his twisted henchman Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina), that eventually see her crossing paths (Reluctantly) with Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), and Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco). Continue reading Review: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn)
Last year was probably one of the best years for film in quite some time. Throughout the entire fall, week after week, it felt like the phrase “oh, this is going to be in my top ten for sure” became incredibly common. From Bong-Ho Joon’s enthralling and mind-blowing depiction of class with “Parasite” to the box-office smashing end of the Infinity Saga with the Russo Brothers’ “Avengers: Endgame”, there were so many new kinds of stories and visions that constantly pushed genre boundaries. 2019 was especially a great year for female filmmakers as there was an onslaught of incredible films from both new and already established women in film. Continue reading The Most Anticipated Movies of 2020
Eva Vives’ 2018 film “All About Nina” is an incredibly relevant and surprisingly funny film about the effects of domestic abuse on women’s lives. Nina Geld (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) leaves her abusive, married partner in New York City. She restarts her life in Los Angeles, where she continues to pursue stand-up comedy. Onstage, Nina is known for talking about sex and being a strong woman. Offstage, though, Nina is struggling with the aftermath of her abusive relationship and childhood trauma. Continue reading Retrospective Review: All About Nina
In Their Own League 