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[themoviemonopoly]

Double Film Thoughts

Usually I give a pretty long list of things I like about movies or I'll discuss what I liked about them but with the last three movies I watched I either A) had nothing in-depth to discuss, or B) I've already seen it and someone has already discussed what I liked about it and said it better than I ever could 💀. So here I'll just talk about the 2 movies (Diarios de Motocicleta (2004) and Amelie (2001)) that I thought I'd give me little two cents on !

Starting at #2: Diarios de Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries)

The Motorcycle Diaries is a 2004 biographical coming-of-age road movie directed by Walter Salles from a screenplay by José Rivera. The film recounts the 1952 expedition, initially by motorcycle, across South America by Guevara and Granado, observing the life of the impoverished indigenous peasantry. Through the trip both of them witness the social classes struggle in Latin America.

I really enjoyed the main two characters (Ernesto and Alberto) and their bonds with one another throughout the whole journey. I also really thought it was interesting gettin a glimpse into how different countries outside of the US feel about one another. It made me really want to look into why certain countries next to each other didn't seem to get along like I thought they could've.

I also think the visuals in this movie are stunning and really provide the viewer with a comfortable vibe. I really liked the grainy look it was going for.

Overall, this movie was very feel-good and enjoyable to watch. I want to rewatch it again at some point to really appreciate it outside of a classroom setting.

The next film I'm really interested in looking into is 'Amélie'

Amélie is a 2001 French-language romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story of Amélie Poulain, a shy and quirky waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better while dealing with her own isolation.

I'm just gonna get straight to the point: I love this film. I had such a blast watching it and honestly would rewatch it again with friends. This was one of those few RomComs that actually FELT like a RomCom. I was having a good time with the movie the whole way through.

One of my favorite things about Amélie is how relatable and well written she was (for me at least). I noticed some discussion online saying she could fall into the 'manic pixie dream girl' category and while I do understand the statement, I kinda disagree. On my viewing of this film I thought it was really obvious that she was on the autism spectrum!

In the beginning montage, we see how the narrator talks about her parents dislikes and likes and how they react to those things. We see that Amélie also adopted most of those kinda neuro-ish traits as well and they stay with her well into adulthood. It's also very apparent that Amélie doesn't seem to fit in with the average joe. She doesn't understand most romantic relationships like other people; she's seen seeking positive stimuli (her loving to put her hand in the bag of grain cause it feels good); and she tends to miss social cues plenty of times with different people.

I think this is one of the reasons for her wanting to isolate herself as well. And I love how this movie shows her trying to work through that after she spends a bit of time with the lonesome, brittle-bone painter.

Personally I felt a somewhat kinship to her character. Do I think she's perfect rep written? Def not 💀. For the time this was filmed, maybe but honestly no it could be written better. However, there's a reason I notice a lot of autistics resonated with her. I personally am not autistic, but I've come to realize over the years that I'm on the ADHD spectrum (which can overlap with Autism for some folks, not sure with me tho). I resonated with a lot of the struggles she had. The want for self-isolating out of fear, feeling intense emotions towards certain textures and stimuli, sometimes missing a social cue or two.

I honestly just thought it was really nice seeing a neurodivergent protagonist that does end up finding love in the end (which I think Nino was also on the spectrum but that's a discussion for another day) and isn't shown to be uncaring or such. Overall, great movie. Def in my top 4 or top 3 for the class.

[themoviemonopoly]

Ran (1985)

Ran (Japanese: 乱, lit. 'chaos or tumult') is a 1985 epic historical, action drama film directed, co-written, and edited by Akira Kurosawa. The plot derives from William Shakespeare's King Lear and includes segments based on legends of the daimyō Mōri Motonari.

I'm not gonna lie y'all....This was a tough watch. I wish I could say I was interested throughout but honestly I could barely pay attention to this one. I might have to give a rewatch at some point but overall I don't have much to say.

Granted, maybe if I rewatch this movie and pay more attention, I'll be sure to give it the appreciation it deserves but The beginning was very slow for me. Usually when watching movies, I give a film like 20 minutes to grab me. I know it takes time for good buildup so I'm pretty lenient with this stuff but I just...did not get gripped. The near 3 hour run time was not helping in the slightest neither. This is coming from someone who has sat down for 6/7 hour documentaries and video essay, and was just fine for them.

I think one of the things that also didn't help was the lack of soundtrack for a lot of moments in the movie. I'm really big on music in movies and honestly I think a soundtrack can really make or break a movie for me. I can forgive a silent/quiet film if the story and characters at least are gripping me enough to warrant the lack of it. This was not one of those pieces of media that warrants it though.

I understand I'm coming off very subjective with this review and I apologize for that, but I just could not show much interest. I'll have to give it a rewatch to give a more solid opinion it but for now I'm very neutral on this movie. I don't hate it, I just wasn't interested. However, as always, I always love seeing different cultures from my own portraying their own versions of well known classic plays/stories. I loved all the sets and outfit designs for the characters but that's about all I can trully get from it.

I'll be sure to revisit this one someday.

[themoviemonopoly]

Film things I liked about Black Orpheus

Black Orpheus (Portuguese: Orfeu Negro) is a 1959 romantic tragedy film directed by French filmmaker Marcel Camus and starring Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello. It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which set the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice in a contemporary favela in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. The film was an international co-production among companies in Brazil, France and Italy.

I think I might be a sucker for Brazilian movies 😭. I really enjoyed watching this one and wouldn't mind giving it a rewatch if given the chance. I love a good retelling of a myth mixed with good music, good imagery, and good vibes. I just wanna talk about the stuff I really liked about it.

As mentioned earlier I love seeing "modern" retellings of myths and fables on film (I use the term modern loosely here). Black Orpheus, sets the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in the slums of Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval.

In the original Greek myth, Orpheus is a legendary musician whose music can charm all living things. He marries Eurydice, but she dies shortly after. Devastated, Orpheus travels to the underworld (Hades) to bring her back. His music moves the gods, and they allow Eurydice to follow him back to the living world, but on one condition: he must not look back at her until they are fully out of the underworld. At the last moment, Orpheus turns to look, and she vanishes forever.

While the film preserves the central elements of the myth, it transforms them through its cultural setting, characters, and tone.

For example, the underworld becomes metaphorical and physical: nightclubs, empty streets, and a symbolic descent into darkness after Eurydice’s death. I also think it's cool that Death is personified as a masked figure dressed in black. Stalking Eurydice, showing that her time is soon to be up.

As a major music nerd I especially like the genres used in this film! Scored by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá, the soundtrack introduced bossa nova and samba as a major contender in the movie.

"Manhã de Carnaval" ("Morning of the Carnival") by Luiz Bonfá is used as a recurring motif. It symbolizes Orfeu and Eurydice’s love and the bittersweet tone of their doomed romance.

Orfeu’s guitar isn’t just an instrument, it’s a symbol of his identity, his connection to the divine. Like the mythic Orpheus, his music has magical properties It makes children believe he brings the sun up with his song; It soothes the mourning and allows him to call out to Eurydice’s spirit after her death. The soundtrack was just stunning to listen to and really made the music stand out to me most. I loved every track played in every scene and this movie made me really appreciate bossa nova and samba more than I originally did.

Overall, I really loved this film and its aesthetics used to tell a really cool story I knew very little about before going in. I'd def give it a rewatch.

[themoviemonopoly]

Themes I noticed on 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl'

‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ is a 2024 black comedy drama film written and directed by Rungano Nyoni. In summary, the movie is about our main character, Shula, stumbling across the body of her uncle ​​on an empty road in the middle of the night. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.

I’m gonna be completely honest, I didn’t really pay much attention to this movie on first watch. It didn’t really grip me the way other movies we’ve seen in class had before. Despite my neutrality on the movie, it’d be dishonest of me to say there weren’t some really good themes presented during my screening. The film discusses pretty heavy topics pertaining to generational trauma, patriarchal complicity, and the complexities of familial bonds.

For generational trauma, the film poignantly portrays how the trauma of sexual abuse, perpetrated by Uncle Fred, reverberates throughout the family. Shula’s journey reflects the struggle of breaking the cycle of trauma and the challenge of confronting uncomfortable truths within a family that prefers to maintain appearances. As an African-American, I definitely could resonate with this concept. I’m lucky enough to have not been in a family that hid predators, but this is still something I see a lot of in many of my communities, and it has very real life long effects on those affected. 

The film also critiques the societal structures that prioritize male reputations over the well-being of women. Family members grapple with the tension between upholding tradition and acknowledging the painful truths about Uncle Fred's actions. The narrative sheds light on the issue of denial and the courage required to confront these things head on. 

Lastly, Shula's character embodies the quest for personal identity amidst a backdrop of familial expectations and societal norms. Her internal conflict and emotional detachment serve as a reflection of the broader theme of navigating one's identity within the shackles of family obligations. The film explores the complexities of belonging, particularly for women who find themselves at odds with the roles prescribed to them by patriarchal structures.

Overall, this movie definitely deserves a watch by many if they can. I personally am not that interested in watching this again but that’s just me lol. I’d recommend it though. 

[themoviemonopoly]

How Neptune Frost speaks on Techno-Colonialism

“Neptune Frost is a 2021 science fiction romantic musical co-directed by Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman and starring Cheryl Isheja, Elvis Ngabo and Kaya Free. Set in a post-civil war Rwanda spanning past, future, and present times, the film follows the relationship between an intersex hacker and a coltan miner.” 

Side Note: There’s a lot of debate on whether or not the movie can be considered a musical, but personally I think it qualifies. I mean the soundtrack and songs sung move the story along and adhere to the narrative, but this isn’t what we’re here to discuss. 

Throughout my watch of Neptune Frost and the themes I was presented with myself I couldn’t help but think to myself, ‘Damn…this is literally what is happening now with big companies. Without the Sci-Fi element of course…and fuck google'. 

First, let me explain the plot of the movie and what it was about. The film is an Afrofuturist story set in a village in Burundi made of computer parts, and centers on the relationship between Neptune, an intersex runaway, and Matalusa, a coltan miner, whose love leads a hacker collective.

The film opens with scenes of mining and communal singing, introducing Matalusa and his brother Tekno, who dies from the coltan they mine—sparking Matalusa's transformative journey. Meanwhile, Neptune attends their grandmother's funeral, also marked by song and mourning. Visions from their future child create a psychic link between Matalusa and Neptune, guiding them on parallel journeys to find the "Unanimous Goldmine," a symbolic and spiritual community representing unity and resistance. There, they emerge as leaders, using speech and song to challenge the dominance of big tech and reclaim collective power.

Neptune uses their technokinetic powers to spread their philosophy globally through untraceable hacks, which world powers wrongly blame on Russia and China. Meanwhile, Innocent—Memory's brother—disguised as a police officer from an authoritarian regime, accidentally discovers the hidden Unanimous Goldmine community. He is asked to leave of course because they don’t wish to be discovered by any outside forces. Unfortunately, Innocent was followed by a drone which outs them to the world and gets their community destroyed by a strike of explosions. Neptune survives, having been away at the time of attack, and reveals their existence to the world. 

I thought the messaging was really obvious but in case you’re curious as to why I might think this way, here’s a brief reasoning as to why:

Aside from the sick ass afrofuturism vibe they put into the film (which could be a discussion in itself) I thought the way they portrayed the exploitation of  coltan mine workers in Africa was really good. In the beginning of the film, when we see the death of Tekno we see how it affects Matalusa the most out of all the workers and yet it seems to be treated as if this a norm and that death is just another thing that happens when in the coal mines. I don’t think he even got the chance to properly mourn and move on, still put to work and expected to mine for output. Coltan is a real-world mineral essential for making electronics (like smartphones and laptops), and most of it comes from Central Africa. This sets the stage for the film’s critique: African resources and labor are exploited to sustain a global tech economy dominated by Western/European powers and corporations.

The Unanimous Goldmine, to me at least, seems to be portrayed as a safe haven for not just individuals that go against the gender binary, but those who don’t want to partake in patriarchal heteronormativity and economic exploitation. 

I also like how the film brings up digital resistance and tech reclamation. Let me explain, The protagonists, Neptune and Matalusa, are part of a rebel hacker collective in a dreamlike, off-grid realm. They repurpose technology as a tool of resistance rather than oppression. This act of ‘rewiring' or ‘hacking’ is both literal and symbolic—an effort to reclaim agency from systems that treat African bodies and resources as disposable inputs.

By envisioning a speculative future where African people control their own technologies and narratives, Neptune Frost presents Afrofuturism as a decolonial tool. It offers a vision of sovereignty that breaks from extractive models and imagines a tech future built on solidarity, not exploitation.

[themoviemonopoly]

I'm Not A Robot

For our latest watch, our class took a look at the short film “I Am Not A Robot”. This’ll be a smaller review since it was pretty short, but I want to highlight some things I liked about it. 

One thing I liked about this short was the characters. I thought the main character was sympathetic in her storyline and seeing her have a mini existential crisis was really interesting. Even I was on the fence on whether or not she was a robot. 

When researching about the behind the scenes and the ideas behind making the short film, I found it fascinating how the directors brought into play the existential dread of wondering if you’re human or not based on failing a silly little captcha. I think it’s super unique and leaves the audience pondering what really makes us human. Is it the fact that we aren't born with strict programming? Is it having feelings? Who’s to say AI and other machines can’t learn to experience feelings as well? Overall, it was no wonder this short won so many awards. The filming was fantastic and the main actress was really good! I loved her acting a lot. 

[themoviemonopoly]

Moolaade!!

The fifth week of class we gave the movie ‘Moolaade” a watch! Honestly, City of God still remains the winner of the films we’ve been shown so far, but Moolaade is a step up from the last few weeks! I found the story really good and honestly felt emotions (mainly anger lmao) towards a lot of the characters. 

The story of Moolaade speaks of an African village that follows the tradition of “purifying” girls once they reach the ages between 4 and 9. This purification process involves the quite lethal action of cutting girls (female genital mutilation). Many girls that know of this ritual would even rather kill themselves than to be cut but the elders. ‘For fear of enduring genital mutilation, a group of girls flee their own "purification" ceremony and take refuge with Collé, a woman who had spared her daughter from the same fate. Collé casts a spell to protect the girls, which causes much consternation among the village elders. In retaliation, they confiscate all radios from the women villagers and demand that the spell be broken, but Collé nevertheless holds fast.’

I really like how this movie tackles feminist and religious issues in many countries. As someone who grew up religious, I’ve seen a lot of dangerous rhetoric that gets spewed out by the elder generation that directly can affect younger kids and even harm them. It even shocked me to see a group of women pushing these ideals of stripping women of their reproductive rights for the sake of “tradition”. In the movie, we also see how this affects Collé and her husband’s relationship. Her husband, at first glance, is pretty neutral about Collé’s actions and doesn’t do anything to stop her. But as soon as he gets pressured to control her by his brother and council members, he starts to stoop to their level. Even going as far as to whip his wife in public after being told he should do so. Of course he regretted it afterward, but the fact that he went that far for the sake of pleasing other men around him also intersects with the issues of toxic masculinity in religious communities. 

This movie has a happier ending though. Collé never once backs down from the fight to protect her girls and makes a statement in the middle of the village. As she voices her strong opinions backed by her friends and other female supporters in the village, she rips the traditional clothing of the girls forced into purification and frees them from the trouble. Even her husband leaves the council of men and joins her revolution. 

Overall, I thought the movie’s message was really well portrayed and showcased a serious issue in a well thought out manner. I would recommend this film to anyone interested in movies about revolution and drama. I really thought the characters and their motives were very strong and I felt invested in the movie for its whole run. The actors were honestly incredible, they played their personalities so well and really made me care for them.

[themoviemonopoly]

Double Feature: Battle of Algiers & I Am Cuba

Last two weeks I found myself watching these two movies for my film class. They had a pretty interesting premise and I personally love watching older movies! However, I fear I wasn't as captivated by these two movies as I was by our prior movie 'City of God'. Here's a few of my opinions.

I would like to preface beforehand that these two movies are historical and showcase very tragic events that had happened in both countries. I'm very aware of the political and social climate that both movies hold and understand why they were made as such. This is purely based on how I perceive these two films during my watch of them. I am only passing judgement for acting/shots/etc. Please be sure to do some research on both of these topics as they're honestly very interesting and can apply to what's going on in the world as of right now.

One of the things that I love about both of these films, is that they both highlight real issues prevalent in the world and try to tackle them as best as they can for a widespread audience. I personally was able to resonate with a lot of the characters in I Am Cuba, especially the women in the film. It felt very raw the way they portrayed how foreigners come in and treat them like trophies and toys to play with. It sucks that speaking up about these things as well usually got them in trouble (whether with management, or with the foreign white men that are not “entertained” enough from them).  I also was quite invested in the men from the Battle of Algiers’s story. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m well versed enough to talk on those political topics. But after seeing these, I’d honestly rather read into the history of both.

I think the main thing that couldn’t keep me 100% invested was the fact that they were both just made at a point in time where film was still relatively new. So of course, there are gonna be audio cracks, not as much visual stimuli, and somewhat ok acting. But again these are just personal nags for me. It’s not the move’s fault, I’m just used to modern ways of filming and color. I will say as invested as I was in the characters stated early, it was hard to be really convinced by the actors. A few of them weren’t the most emotionally captivating.  Overall, I’m willing to give these films another shot (maybe solo instead of in a class), I just don’t think they were interesting enough for me from a movie standpoint (as someone who actually likes historical movies). I’d rather just read upon these issues and talk to those who would know most about it. 

[themoviemonopoly]

How Lil Z and Benny's Relationship Held a Lot of Romantic Undertones (IMO)

City of God is a criminal drama film from Brazil that was directed by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles. It centers on the lives of a number of people living in Rio de Janeiro's slums, with special attention paid to Rocket, a young child who aspires to be a photographer. The brutal turf conflicts between gangs and the emergence of organized crime in the slum are depicted in the movie.

The story spans across several years as it tells the tale of how the aspiring photographer and all of the other residents living in the slums connect with one another. Rocket, even as he is actively getting out of the slums, documents everything he witnesses. Themes of the story include a lot about violence, drugs, and growing up in poverty. This movie also highlights how each generation in the city quickly repeats the cycle even after the old gangsters are gone. City of God should be well known for its irregular storytelling and gripping character interactions.

One of the most appreciated things about this story was it’s beautiful composition and color correcting. Every shot is carefully constructed and shows a clear emotion. From the vibrant and warm colors of the beach shots to the gritty and washed out shots pertaining to the cyclical drug rings. Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund were very attentive with how they wanted to direct this movie and they did not disappoint in the slightest. 

Another major highlight of the film for me were the character interactions. My favorite dynamic throughout the film was that of Lil Z (formally known as Lil Dice) and Benny, his childhood friend.

In the beginning of the movie we’re shown that these two are inseparable. They’ve grown up in the slums together since they were both young kids and have had each other’s backs for the longest. They run a drug ring together and are basically in charge of what goes on on their turf. Lil Z’s behavior as a child can be heavily described as sociopathic. He has no problem killing innocent people and will often take things to the next level if he so desires. Benny, on the other hand, has a bit more humanity to him. He’s seen going through the city and talking with a lot of the residents there. He also makes friends with Rocket and his little group of friends. Hell, Benny is so likable that even after stealing the heart of Rocket’s crush, Rocket still remained friendly with him and even came to his going away party!

Lil Z and Benny are connected and yet kind of opposite of each other in a sense. Benny is Lil Z’s FOIL; the angelic conscience on his shoulder; the one that keeps him grounded. And maybe it’s just me but I also felt that Lil Z even felt much more than kinship for his best friend. Throughout the movie, Benny is constantly always keeping Lil Z from not making too much trouble. He keeps him in check and makes sure he doesn’t go overboard with the violence during their deals. Benny, in Lil Z’s eyes, is the only one worthy of respect and puts him on an equal level to him. Benny is the only person Lil Z ever (and will ever) need. 

So imagine his surprise when Benny starts to become occupied with another woman. Insert Rocket’s crush: Angela. I won’t go too into detail on their relationship but after dating her Benny realizes he wants to leave behind this harsh life and start a new peaceful one with Angela. He could've done it as well, he had tons of money from slanging coke and was ready to settle down. This doesn’t make Lil Z the happiest. And though he never outright says he doesn’t want Benny to leave him, we see it through his behaviors and what other phrases he throws onto him. 

“We’re doing so well. You can own this part of the city after we’re done!” 

“You can’t just leave after making this much progress.”

"You're doing all this for some bitch?"

I’m paraphrasing a bit here, but these are similar to the lines said to Benny when confronting him about his desire to leave the city. Benny even proposes to him that he should get a girlfriend and realize why he’d want to leave. He basically proposed that if he found someone he loved enough, then he’d want to leave this life as well. I believe, however, that one of the reasons Lil Z truly enjoys this gangster lifestyle is because he’s always had Benny, his other half. 

I don’t think Lil Z understood that what he felt for Benny was romantic. Benny was always prioritized in his mind along with the City, he never really left his side, and he shows a lot of distaste to his other gang members besides Benny.

I almost wished that they explored a bit more with their relationship in the movie but I also believe that it was intentionally done. From an outsider’s POV, there were heavy romantic undertones to how Lil Z felt about Benny. But from Lil Z’s POV, he didn’t truly know what love is. So how could he have known that was what he felt for Benny? 

I won’t get into too many heavy spoilers so this will be my take on how their relationship is to me during the 1st and 2nd acts of the movie. Most likely to be continued.