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Neon (2023)
Neon's salvation is it's music and cameos
As a non-Latina who is a huge fan of Latin culture, I was hyped when the trailer for Neon dropped. I was thrilled to see that (I thought) this show wouldn't focus so much on the hustle culture that is promoted in other series revolving around the world of hip hop.
Boy, was I wrong. As good as lead actor Tyler Dean Flores is, his character Santi comes across as a completely self-absorbed and immature young man who grows to care more about his fame and how he can use it to gain money and women than his best friends, who he calls his «corrillo», or his clique. The sheer hubris and naivete exhibited by Santi and his friends Ness and Felix is what seems to actually make this funny.
Things only get worse when they encounter Mia, a young woman who presents herself to them as a powerful record executive when she is really the executive's secretary. Believing that Mia will get Santi a record deal, the corrillo begins to celebrate prematurely, beginning a web of complications and lies that get them all into pretty deep trouble when they are introduced to a woman posing as a rival A&R person named Gina, who has much more sinister ties, in a storyline that seems to have been left as a thread for a potential season 2.
It would be better if Ness' only storyline was not that she is a meek lesbian disaster of a character who waits until around the fifth episode to grow a spine and stick up for herself and her friends (not a good sign given that the season was only eight episodes). Also, both Mia and Santi's storylines are crazily unbelievable. There is such a thing as suspension of disbelief, but in my opinion, the show pushed that entirely too far when Santi rocketed to attention over night with no real team behind him. And you expect me to believe that someone among the corrillo wouldn't try to look Mia up to see if she was who she claimed?
For me, the saving grace of the show comes in its music, and in the cameos made by some of my favorite actors, including Santiago Cabrera as Oscar, the scheming real A&R with a secret heart of gold.
Overall, worth a watch, but it's pretty much mindless entertainment. I hope a season 2, if it gets one, will be better.
In the Heights (2021)
Overall an excellent film
If you're a fan of the musical soundtrack, or the stage version of In The Heights, you'll be pleased to know that the film retains most of the charm of the musical. Anthony Ramos is fantastic at channeling the character of Usnavi and the challenges he faces, and his cadence and delivery come across well. Corey Hawkins' Benny is smooth, but it's astoundingly clear at moments throughout the film that Hawkins is trying too hard to channel his predecessor, OBC Benny portrayer Christopher Jackson (who has cameos in the film as the rival to Lin-Manuel Miranda's piraguero, Mister Softee).
I found Daphne Rubin-Vega endearing but somewhat dry, and at times straight up annoying as Daniela, the salon lady. Dascha Polanco also failed to impress me as Cuca, a new salon worker with very little to add to the narrative. Perhaps one of the best numbers in the movie adaptation is "Paciencia y Fe" (Patience and Faith) where a dying Abuela Claudia recounts her childhood in La Vibora, Cuba and how she and her mother came to America seeking a better life.
If you had any doubts about Miranda playing the neighborhood shaved ice seller, he immediately puts them to rest during the show stopping solo number "Piragua". Ultimately the film amazes, but falls flat on quite a few notes and storylines including representation of the DACA legislation and a shallow, veiled attempt at LGBT+ representation marred by religious jokes in poor taste.
Nonetheless, this is a film I would see again if I had the opportunity, and one I still plan to add to my collection when it is released on DVD.
Gone Girl (2014)
Great Actors and Concept, Poorly Executed
Nick and Amy Dunne seemed to have the perfect marriage. Amy is a writer, worth millions and well known for the "Amazing Amy" series she writes, an embellished tale of her life as a young girl. Amy is married to the love of her life. But her seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel when Nick's relative becomes ill, forcing an unwilling Amy to give up her posh NY lifestyle so that the couple can move to the small town of Carthage, Missouri to help his family. Amy becomes further perturbed when both she and Nick lose their jobs and she discovers shortly before their fifth wedding anniversary that he is having an affair with a young college student. A distraught Amy then hatches a brilliantly twisted plan: to disappear, commit suicide, and frame her husband for her murder. Unfortunately, what should be the best part of the story comes out less brilliant and more banal, highly convoluted and overdone despite a nearly immaculate performance by lead actors Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Amy reveals a highly paranoid fear that Nick may kill her in lengthy journals that are later revealed to be mostly fake. She turns their anniversary clue game into another opportunity to frame him, forcing Nick and his sister Margo, along with Nick's lawyer, Tanner Bolt, to find Amy before they run out of time. As they search, Amy escapes, taking on a new identity. In the end, Amy meets her match in a former love, Desi Collings, whose obsessive feelings for Amy frighten her so much that she kills him in order to escape, faking the story of a captive rape victim to endear herself to the public even more and allowing her to return to Nick. A worthwhile thrill ride, one has to admit that most of Gone Girl will leave the watcher shaking his or her head.
No Good Deed (2014)
Great Actors,Poor Concept and Execution
The only reason I went to see No Good Deed was because my girlfriend asked me to join her and her sister for a movie night to give them some girl time. I personally found the storyline to have fantastic actors I loved, but an extremely poor execution. Colin Hayes (Idris Elba) is a convict who is serving time for manslaughter. Deemed unfit for parole due to his narcissism and sociopathic tendencies during his five year hearing, Hayes charms the driver and guard on his way back to prison, kills them and escapes. Meanwhile, Terri Granger (Taraji P. Henson), a former lawyer who is now a stay at home mom of two, is preparing for her husband to leave on a business trip. Colin's run from the cops leads him to his ex fiancée, Alexis, whom he violently kills after she denies being unfaithful to him, and, through a series of then-unexplained circumstances, Colin finds his way to Terri's home, just before her friend Meg arrives to keep her company while her husband is away. The film jumps between story lines quite a bit and features a very convincing performance by Elba, but Henson's Terri is written in an incredibly weak, naive and borderline stupid manner. Terri's friend Meg (Leslie Bibb) is a stereotypical white-girl-attracted-to-black-man, in an easily throwaway role as one of Hayes' victims. Most intriguing is the twist that led Colin to find Terri: his ex fiancée was having an affair with her husband. The ending does redeem the film to a point, but overall, it's a cheesy, unimpressive, cheap thrill.
Liz & Dick (2012)
Waste of time
I watched this film mostly out of curiosity, and I regret it. There are times, for very brief moments, when Lindsay captures Ms. Taylor accurately. However, those moments aren't even big enough to define the film. Poor acting isn't so much the problem as the mediocre script. Then again, anyone who expected more from a made for TV film is foolish, although the trailers were not nearly as bad as the film itself. If you are a Taylor or Burton fan, skip this film. The alcohol usage, though probably true to life, is excessive, and Lohan doesn't have the grace or age to fully accurately do justice to a legend such as Taylor. Both Taylor and Burton are out of character for most of the film. The storyline is chopped and seems haphazardly thrown together. This film would have been better left undone. Liz and Dick would be rolling over in their graves at this travesty of a film. Then again, I knew not to expect much from a made for television movie. Please, please, skip it. Don't waste your time.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
A Wonderful Tale!!!
I went to go see The Hobbit this evening with my mother and I was extremely pleased. As a 22 year old fan of the movie series, I was impressed with the way that the characters I remembered so well from the other films were handled. The scenery was as breath-taking as any of the other series films and provides a wonderful backdrop. The only reason I give this a 9 out of 10 is because of the cluttering of so many characters into one film. I did find several moments of the film to be very comical, but mostly I was glued to my seat waiting to see how the film would play out. This film is a perfect introduction to the legacy of adventures had by Bilbo Baggins and later carried on by Frodo in the trilogy! If you are a fan of Tolkien, or the other films, The Hobbit is a must see!!
Candombe (2001)
Amazing Film
I got the chance to see Candombe at North Carolina Central University, where I am a Spanish major, as part of the 2011 NC Latin Film Festival. In fact, it was one of our Spanish professors who is originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, who suggested that the film be shown. Candombe is a real look into the lives of the Uruguayan people, especially many of African descent. I thought the film found excellent ways to showcase the drums and rhythms of candombe. I found it interesting to see how the drums play such a large part in the people's lives, how the music seems to free them and take them back to their roots in Africa. Definitely a must see film!
The Shunning (2011)
Could have been done much better
I understand the idea that this is a Hallmark movie and it was probably done in a way that would not offend the Amish. That being said, the movie doesn't do justice to Lewis' book on a whole. The plot feels very rushed, and it appears as if Hallmark was trying not to offend the Amish with their portrayals. In the movie, as compared to in the book, even Katie's shunning seems to happen much too quickly. The flashbacks lack the meat that appeared in the novel, and the portrayal of the community was very stiff. I was unable to appreciate the movie itself because I've been so busy expecting it to be close to the book. Hopefully if Hallmark decides to continue the series it will be done in better continuity with the novels.
Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (2004)
Excellently Done
I think this movie is excellently done. It tells Williams' story in vivid detail and lets you know a lot about him. Anyone who is in either the Bloods or the Crips needs to see this movie, as well as people who aren't in gangs, but want to know more about them. We watched this movie in my Health class last year and I became fascinated with Williams and how he tried to escape the violent life he'd led by doing good for others. This has changed the way I look at gangs and I really think people need to see this movie for their opinions to change as well. Tookie Williams admits that he regretted the things he did and for that, he deserves to be granted clemency...although that will never happen now. I feel sorry that such a good influence has to be destroyed. He didn't start out well but he more than made up for it. I suppose the ones too shallow to see that are the ones calling for his death, and truly I pity them. If they look upon his works and call them insignificant because they were written by a gang member then they are crazy and need to be shown what change is.