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Watch To Watch Tonight: 2022 Movie Year Recap

Another movie year ended, all the awards possible big and small have now been bestowed, most have now been made available to all democratically and most have been watched! Even though there is still soooooo much from 2022 to catch up on or sadly unreleased or not made avail to the masses (like that underwater movie we won't mention...) But we all know a lifetime will never be enough to go through years' past watchlists, and we must accept it and move on to the next one as sadly we cannot live in a EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE multiverse where one would be able to do it all at once. So in that spirit let's take one last look at what made us want to live to see it, and that we won't forget because, as the Best Movie Quote of Movie Year 2022 (from THE FABELMAN) says: 'Movies are dreams that you never forget...'

And we sure won't forget these from another interesting 12 months that brought us a truly varied array of films, and although we might not have many “perfect” ones reaching perfect notes (well, nothing reached 9/10 or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ for us this year,) it was satisfying, entertaining, and there was something for all the feels and emotions.

GREAT STORIES & GREAT FILMS

T’was a good time for wildly imaginative, to just wild and crazy stories from EEAAO to RRR to NOPE, APOLLO 10/2 or EO to even the quieter but less “bonkerz “ BANSHEES (what was it this year with fingers and donkey - definitely the “goat” of this year animal on film!) and the bold BABYLON or BARDO Then we also have our favorite with the “Eat the rich “ and “Let’s Revolt” varieties that NEVER.DISAPPOINT (We live for that sh!t!) with of course TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (that gave us great pleasure with the “I am the captain now” twist), the hit THE MENU, intense ATHENA, weirdos like FLUX GOURMET, MARCEL THE SHELL, WHITE NOISE… Anyway here are the movies that made our days/nights in 2022:

OuR Top Fave:

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE 8.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐✨ *Bonus Most Every Everywhere All At Once Scenes! (And fight scenes no doubts) TRIANGLE OF SADNESS 8.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐✨ *Bonus Most Memorable Scene!

APOLLO 10 1⁄2 8.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Most Nostalgia Inducing!

BABYLON 8.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Best Party and Movie-within-a-Movie Scenes! ATHENA 8 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Best Crowd, moving, and Longtake Scene! BROKER 8 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

BARDO 8.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Best Dreams & Dreamy Scenes! BANSHEES OF INISHERIN 8⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Most Hilarious Dialogue! WHITE NOISE 7.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus End Scene! NOPE 7.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

TAR 7.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

BOY FROM HEAVEN 7.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

ELVIS 7.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Music Scene! THE MENU 7.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

AFTER YANG 7.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Best Dance Scene! MEN 7.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Most WTF Haunting SceneS! ARMAGEDDON TIMES 7.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ EO 7.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus non-human actor! DECISION TO LEAVE 7.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

RRR 7.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ *Bonus Best Genre Switch, Crowd pleaser, & Suspension of disbelief!

We could provide a much much longer list of films from 2022 definitely worth a watch but because frankly no one has time for that with the amount of new films coming at us everywhere here is the next 20 to 100 IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. Enjoy!

MEMORABLE ENSEMBLES There is very little doubt again that this prize should go to either EEAAO or TRIANGLE OF SADNESS. But here are 20 spectacular ensembles from 2022 movie year!

ARGENTINA 1985 ATHENA BABYLON BANSHEES OF INESHERIN BARDO BOY FROM HEAVEN BROKER EEAAO EO KLONDIKE MARS ONE PLAN 75 THE MENU THE SWIMMERS THE WHALE THE WONDER TRIANGLE OF SADNESS WAKANDA FOREVER WOMAN KING WOMEN TALKING

**Bonus: Kid actors ensemble blowing your mind 13TH LIVES AFTER YANG ALCARRAS ARMAGEDDON TIMES BLAZE CLOSE PLAYGROUND PUSSY / SOFT SCARBOROUGH THE SILENT TWIN TILL TORI AND LOKITA

MEMORABLE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES Well, Yeoh was the GOAT, De Leon was MVP, but if there is one that shine brighter than most and got snubbed it was Mia Goth because; because after all she is a star (PLEASE she is a starrrr!)

Adèle Exarchopoulos ZERO FUCK GIVEN Ana de Armas BLONDE Angela Bassett WAKANDA FOREVER Aubrey Plaza EMILY AND THE CRIMINAL Austin Butler ELVIS Bill Nighy LIVING Cate Blanchett TAR Colin Farrell / Brendan Gleeson BANSHEES Danielle Deadwyler TILL Dolly De Leon TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Eddie Redmayne THE GOOD NURSE Hong Chau THE WHALE John Boyega / Michael K. Williams 892 Keke Palmer NOPE Mia Goth PEARL/X Michelle Yeoh / Ke Huy Quan EEAAO Ram Charan RRR Vicky Krieps CORSAGE Vincent Lindon ANOTHER WORLD *Soooo many more more should did fantastic works from all over the world but we wont name anymore name as this list would be way to long!

STUNNING VISUAL Whether these movies captured the light perfectly, offered us EXTRAVAGANZA with amazing sets and wowing costumes/Hair/Makeup, had us at the edge of our seats due to the immersive action or poetic sequences, or left us emotional staring at gorgeously filmed vistas or simple shots of every day life….

There is no need to explain why EEAAO rules here! Also about snub: ATHENA was the biggest quagmire of this season, snubbed left and right even in France of all places... Sure the story is surfing on LES MISERABLE but it was quite different and the intensity and visual defo hit different too. The techniques (highly recommend watching the BTS) is mind blowing as in Nolan-level of wow every other long takes!

3000 YEARS OF LONGING AFTER YANG ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT ATHENA BABYLON *Yes the party scene but also all other incredible to comprehend scene so left us dreaming like THIS

BARDO *Another maestro directing the hell out of another one, giving us possibly the most immersive oddities of the last season and surreal lyrical contemplations - one of our favorite thing in the whole wide world!

DECISION TO LEAVE DON’T WORRY DARLING EEAAO *They really gave us everything imaginable and we might never see a movie so imaginative visually... ELVIS EO GODLAND MEN *The beautiful imageries one will never forget! NEPTUNE FROST *We are also still here for that keyboard jacket NOPE RRR *The category is: Most Nonsensical Mindblowing Fights! THE NORTHMAN WAKANDA FOREVER *Will always win best costumes AND hair and Make up! WHITE NOISE *Props to the props and all those sets leading to that gran finale! WOMEN KING

**Here are other movies worthy for their look (but don’t be fooled, most of these have equally share, if not more, of substance… ) 13TH LIVES AMSTERDAM APOLLO 10 ½ BANSHEES OF INESHERIN BIG BUG BLAZE BLONDE ENTERGALACTIC INU-HO KADAISI VIVASAYI LEONOR WILL NEVER DIE MAD GOD MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON MATILDA THE MUSICAL NOTRE DAME BRULE PACIFICTION PEARL / X PINOCCHIO PREY SOMETHING IN THE DIRT TALE OF KING CRAB TED K THE BATMAN THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER THE HOUSE THE SILENT TWINS TOP GUN 2 TRIANGLE OF SADNESS TURNING RED UTAMA YOU WON'T BE ALONE

STIRRING SOUND It seems scores and OSTs were probably not as transcending as we would have liked in, but the Soundscape really outdid itself lately! Not sure if it is the advantage of watching almost everything at home with better sound in headsets that really let you drown in the sound. (and the non-annoyance of Cinema popcorn noise and often not optimal sound...) But no complaint on top of composers and supervisors giving us the right tunes at the right time conveying the right vibes, praises are seriously due to all that enhances things for our auditory pleasure from mixers to foley to engineer to musicians...

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (*How fitting that the first movie alphabetically is the one with thhose dread-inducing 3 notes! Most Memorable Notes of Movie Year 2022) APOLLO 10 1⁄2 ATHENA BABYLON BANSHEES OF INESHERIN BARDO BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER BLONDE ELVIS EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE INU-HO LIVING MEN PACIFICTION RRR TAR TED K THE STRANGER THE STRANGER WHITE NOISE

Bonus: Great Music Doc YOU'RE WATCHING VIDEO MUSIC BOX MOONAGE DAYDREAM

What To Watch Tonight - The 2022 Series Edition

What a year! Some might complain we had more choices (too much?!) than ever but if this means we have the opportunity to watch a wide range of projects representing a diversity of people and genres, who are we to whine about something that does no wrong? Well, I guess this was also the year of FOMO and goodbyes since so many shows ended or got canceled… So we might as well enjoy the abundance of choices of series, miniseries, and other “made-for-TV” while we can as the future might look a little less generous.

So let’s celebrate and reminisce about some of those we liked this past year that brought us unadulterated joy when we needed it, got us SO emotionally invested and EMOTIONAL, pleasantly occupied our time in the background while maybe-doing-some-light-activity;), they were perfect for when we were bored/sick/relaxing/avoiding “extreme weather events” inside, they were here for us when we needed some fun cheering or a change of perspective, taught us a thing a two, and definitely entertained us to the max - and pluses and beyond!

BEST OF THE BEST

*best of 2022 out of around 150 selected shows…

ANDOR

10/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Well, this is definitely one of those rare flawless shows.

Sure it helps that this was one of this year's STAR WARS series and prequel to *The best* film ROGUE ONE and manage to keep the same unsettling, exhilarating, grounded yet powerful same vibe, and that intensity hitting at the perfect moment.

And of course, it was visual marvel bringing multiple Best episodes of the year(the end of that first Adani blinding bringing us to the sky, the INTENSE final, to the escape from Alcatraz Narkina 5... )

This show excelled in every aspect from banging sound and score (they introduced house music, and a marching band with RE-INVENTED INSTRUMENTS so people could lose losing their minds on Twitter accordingly) We also had as expected incredible special and practical effects, grandiose scenes, and a production design that makes you want to go back to some scene to appreciate all the little details and easter-egg in the background. On top of that, the costumes were probably some of the best ever seen in the series, from the space-chic cocktail dresses to the fashionable impeccable authoritarian uniform, or the creative outfit with wild fabrics and edgy elements, the out-of-this-world yet looking realistic and practical enough that we can just picture ourselves casually wearing them... Enough to say that every single cast member, including extras, was making some serious fashion statement!

ANDOR got it all but obviously the storytelling and direction thanks to CREATOR Tony Gilroy back from ROGUE ONE and all other formidable collaborators and crews, but last but not least the pitch-perfect cast - including the secondary characters - delivered “Oscar-winning” monologues after monologues from the like of Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O'Reilly, Fiona Shaw, Andy Serkis... With so many quotable lines combo best deliveries… and timing... “Never more than 12”...

HOUSE OF DRAGONS

9.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Ah yes, the BIGGEST show of the year that hopefully, everyone watched religiously every year.

This GAME OF THRONE prequel might have outdone itself despite being focused on fewer (non-male) characters, stories, and locations. Yet the feeling of returning to something we all cherished was incomparable. Much virtual ink has been spilled on this one so we do not need to tell you how everyone in the cast deserves laurels for best performance, or how some DRAMATIC scenes (mostly involving swords and/or blood) stayed with us long after the episodes aired, or how the tales transported us to Westorosi lands and made us google way too many nonsenses about GOT “history” or fam-theories and so forth...

But part of its charm was also undoubtedly the post-watch parties on social media with all the reactions and memes - so many memes - for years to come!

ATLANTA

9.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

What a time to be alive indeed! This is what we told ourselves at the end of each episode (scenes!) of this last season of ATLANTA. The show we will definitely miss the most forever.

Sure last season was…A TRIP (to casually racist EUROPE lol!) but each entry of season 4 was wild wild rides unlike anything else out there and switched between styles, genres, and storylines...

But most importantly ATLANTA not only brought us the most incredible episode of the year but maybe the best ever with 'The Goof Who Sat by the Door'!

To talk about it would be to spoil the reason why it is so perfect but let's say every intrigued viewer was bewildered from the first second, jaws dropped to the floor, and we kept asking ourselves "WTF I am watching right now!"

(then probably followed by multiple “Oh Sh!!!!!iiittttt”!)

This was simply the most genuinely hilarious Brilliant and perfectly executed mockumentary or anything we had the pleasure to screen in 2022. So was ATLANTA as a whole.

It was a little touch of magic, fun, nostalgia, and philosophy every week, making us think and rethink various concepts and ourselves and we will now forever wonder if it was all real or a dream, and we are left with memories AND so many questions left unanswered ...

BETTER CALL SAUL

9/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Another show we had to bid a sad sad farewell to... and this one hurts really bad since it was so bittersweet and many of us “grew up”(at any stage of life!) with those characters for more than 10 years…

This show, although using formulas from its sequel/prequel BREAKING BAD reinvented the wheel and was groundbreaking in its own way, with perfect editing, musical cue, props and costumes, entertaining writing, menacing characters, relatable deeply flawed (murderous/criminal) individuals topped by shenanigans and mindblowing plotting with accompanied montages that will forever be seared in our brain.

We will miss Saul and all the beautifully executed scams by some of the most oddly bonkerz characters and we will miss the underrated Rhea Seehorn and all the other actors with their tour-de-force performances...

EUPHORIA

8.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Ha yes, it had to be here as not only was it a grandiose season but it was definitely one of the buzziest show/pop culture events of the year (with HOD) Returning for a second season even more unbelievable in every way than its predecessor. The show managed to be even CRAZIER and more bold, with incredible chases (mostly while high), tense dramatic scenes worthy of the most dramatic drama, uncomfortable yet powerful meltdowns, and crises, and important moments appropriate for teens, YA, and adults of all ages alike, hilarious youngster shenanigans (also while high), but also a full-on high-school Broadway production basically recapping the show…Very meta!

EUPHORIA aesthetic is surely here to stay representing a very distinct period of our era but its appeal is wider as it is equally style and substance. It is the sort of immersive show that makes you want to tune in every week! (Yes it would have been the most binged show if it was avail in full tho!)

Now, not sure how they can top all the coming-of-age/adulting foolish beguiling nonsense, and that rebellious teenage spirit attitude next!

RESERVATION DOGS

8.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

We talked about this show last year but this is another case of sophomore season topping it up while staying authentic and fresh.

RESERVATION DOGS is one of those rare shows managing to be a true dramedy, with scenes that will make you chuckle non-stop and others that will make you want to ball out... Sadly, it took so long for this sort of show to be on our screens but anyone can see that the uniqueness of the narratives offered has such a universal appeal.

Powerful scenes delivered by a cast that “live “ their characters, bleeding facts into great storytelling sublimed by the perfect wicked sense of humor and a heavy dose of surrealism, this is our kind of show!

*Although we had a few projects with a strong indigenous presence this year we can only hope this will become the norm.

PACHINKO

8.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

An epic tale about a Korean family fighting for its survival and success generation after generation. This series spanning decades set in Korea during the Japanese occupation, then in Japan, is a feat of cinematography and certainly a masterpiece.

Every episode looked like an Oscar-winning best picture, it was crafted with so much care and all actors elevated the already sweeping and potent material to new heights.

PACHINKO was a cinephile treat like no other...

THE BEAR

7.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Imagine the intensity of BOILING POINT in a series that you can binge in one go because you did not know any better!

THE BEAR made everyone who worked in the restaurant/hospitality industry justice, but also made some of us so glad we are not part of this special gratifying yet hellish work environment!

Despite being low-key and quite short it manages to bring the heat and make a mighty impact.

PEAKY BLINDERS

8/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another show we wish we did not have to say goodbye to but hey at least we got a movie coming our way!

The aesthetic, the mood, the brooding, the FACKING AMAZING cast, the costume, the scenery, the sets, the darkness of it all... It haunted our screen masterfully

FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL

8.25/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A mini-series not for the faint-of-heart but of the utmost importance. Some might say it was too soon, but we can appreciate it even more now, particularly after these few years of pandemic and climate-change-related catastrophes. This show about helpers and all its heartbreaking complications is not one to overlook.

(Also not to overlook the incredible FX work and chaos of the set recreation of flooding)

THIS IS GOING TO HURT

7.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Would make for the most miserable double-watch if coupled with the previous, but this show is indeed one that'll hurt you if you care about the state of the healthcare system, may it be in the UK or elsewhere as it says a lot about societies and nowadays life at large.

FOR ALL MANKIND 7.4/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We slept on this show for wayyy too long but for every space fan, history fan out there this will be the most fascinating show.

WESTWORLD 7.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I guess we also have to say goodbye to WESTWORLD. Despite the many changes and twists no other show will ever be able to replicate the viewing experience and effect, it had on so many...

Other must-watch and honorable series:

FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE

ONLY MURDER IN THE BUILDING

UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN

LITTLE AMERICA

INDUSTRY

OBI-WAN KENOBI

IRMA VEP

THE CROWN

RAMY

THE ENGLISH

SEVERANCE

HANDMAID'S TALE

RINGS OF POWER

MOON KNIGHT

THE WHITE LOTUS

WE OWN THIS CITY

SHINING GIRLS

BLACK BIRD

DARK WIND

DHAMER

WEDNESDAY

RUSSIAN DOLL

ARCHIVE 81

SHANTARAM

(with special mentions to the entertaining and must-watch show about the villainous “visionaries” and such disturbed individual

WE CRASHED

THE DROPOUT

INVENTING ANNA

PAM & TOMMY

SUPER PUMPED

CHIPPENDALES

PHYSICAL

SERPENT QUEEN

THE OFFER

*BONUS soundtrack of the series year

The White Lotus Opening theme - the remix

"Cinema Year 2021": What You Should Have Watched

That’s it! We end the month and we leave behind award seasons and the many movies that populated the last 12+ months…

To recap "Cinema Year 2021" (or films released initially or widely at some point in 2021 - but for some sadly only avail to the mass early 2022 *out of roughly 650 cinematic projects) we are going to keep things short and simple for once; no preambule necessary as it seems we pretty much had an extension of 2020 in terms of "things to say about" right?! *Just hoping more day and date are here to stay or they will finally “think of the cinephile worldwide” by stopping the gatekeeping and releasing movie on VOD not 3-months-to-a-year-to-never after they premiered (like 30-45 days seems reasonable - even for big movie at a premium…)

So no further intro, remark, or causes for heated let’s go straight to the good stuff only:

1. FLEE - 9

2. THE GREEN KNIGHT - 9

3. LAST NIGHT IN SOHO - 9

4. THE POWER OF THE DOG - 9

5. BELFAST - 9

6. THE FRENCH DISPATCH - 9

7. HIT THE ROAD - 8.75

8. ZOLA - 8.5

9. BEYOND THE INFINITE 2 MINUTES - 8.75

10. TITANE - 8.5

11. MEMORIA - 8

12. ONE SECOND - 8

13. A HERO - 8

14. BOILING POINT - 8.5

15. LAMB - 8

Sundance Film Festival 2022 Highlights

That’s a wrap on SUNDANCE 2022; the festival that opens “movie year” delivering some of what would be the most talked-about US indie films of the year ended and this edition had quite an interesting offering... It ended last week and having few days to think about everything, it was probably not the greatest year but, as usual, every projects screened had something special about them that made them the “SUNDANCE type” - or we can say they are all somewhere on the scale of “recommended-viewing to must-see!”

But, obligatory side note, the 2022 festival itself was initially a bit of a "sh!tshow"… Starting with how it waited to pivot, at the very VERY last minute, to online-only and half-pulled a Fyre Fest on those who purchased prior in-person tickets (with all the hotels + travel arrangements to be canceled also at the last minutes) or those who online packages for the full week and were enjoy themselves safely with optimal setting from the comfort on their house... Guess SUNDANCE did them a bit dirty and was not really sorry - or sorry without great action; eg: no reimbursement policy, no swapping for single tickets policies, no credit, no replacement days despite the having movies playing everyday… But in the end it sort of got sorted and hopefully the festival will learn from this and not penalize the eager fans in the future. (And maybe customers with modest resources will know better to proceed with caution and maybe risk not getting everything they want to see by booking tickets at the last minute but at least not lose money!) That being said, we have to truly be thankful that SUNDANCE is one of the few festivals that truly understand the power of having an online/in-person/satellites hybrid festival offering the same opportunities to ALL cinephiles whether they are wealthy and able to fly to Park City and dressed warmly to stay in line in the cold, or on a budget allowing them to only watch one or two films in their small hometown. Because that is the power of Cinema and it should be democratic! (sure being "not free" makes it already biased but $20 for a single ticket is pretty much what one would pay at a cineplex these days so great deal all around!) Now we can only hope that even when the pandemic eventually goes away ALL festivals get on board and stop being so elitist about how one gets to watch things first…Because let’s be real, even online, some of those film tickets were impossible to get! So see, there is still room to make some people sad and depressed that they are missing out on the good stuff while others get the privilege to brag about it! (Sorry not sorry ;) ) Anyway, SUNDANCE utimately did it right with their 2022 online platform (although gotta admit the 2021 system was better) and let’s hope they keep it up and do it even more rightfully in 2023 and beyond.

What To Watch On "TV"... If You Had Time In 2021

It’s a new year; we’re STILL in the midst of yet another “weird” award season, and a few days ago the Golden Globes delivered winners via Twitter telling us what they thought was to watch on Tv in 2021… And they were almost not wrong with the likes of SQUID GAME, POSE, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, and TED LASSO winning one or more gold statues. But let’s take a moment to reminisce about what was good, great, and memorable on “TV” (more like streaming services!) last year. This will maybe give one inspiration or hint on stuff to watch if one is sadly still locked down, staying safe, or staying warm and cozy at home in these uncertain times… It was not all escapism as strangely many shows kinda tackled nowaday's problems, and guess, made “the most'' of pandemic life; Art imitating Life imitating Art… Sometimes you gotta ask: ‘What came first tho!?!’

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO...Where Nothing Is As It Seems

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, the 2021 British thriller-horror flick by Edgar Wright, is as slick as they come and it leads viewers ever so smoothly deep down into a neon-lit trippy rabbit hole.

TITANE. LAMB. ANNETTE. (Who Did It Best: "The Creepy Child" Edition!)

Halloween decorations are now long gone but let's keep the freaky spirit going with this 2021 triple bill about creepy children from hell! TITANE, LAMB, and ANNETTE

What they have in common, despite having a particularly cool one-word-title, is that they are somewhat magic or surreal, and play like fairy tales filled with bizarre events and weirdos having even weirder... progeny. These movies are definitely of the “WTF Did I Watch Today" variety (and maybe a tad NSFW - depending on where you work!) thus are not to be recommended to everyone, which somehow might make them even more precious. Sure, they are considered niche and maybe will appeal more to cinephiles, cult-film-like lovers, possibly the "hip and hype movie-folks'', and those like us on an ongoing quest for the odd & unusual...

Highlights from TIFF 2021

We cannot start this list without talking about what seems (and feels) to be THE film of 2021 THE POWER OF THE DOG...

This is the kind of engrossing film that stays with viewers for a longgg time and somehow scream "prestige arthouse" Oscars material all around and rightly so. From the direction, to beguiling cinematography, fitting score, unsettling (in a good way ;) ) actings from pretty much everyone, to the writing, and that chilling story .... And that unsuspecting ending for non-bookreader🤯

The Best and Weirdest from Fantasia Fest 2021

As usual, the 2021 edition of Fantasia Film Festival brought us some "interesting", peculiar, and weird weird stuff from all around but the following movies are some highlights (only some of the many many) you might want to seek out at some point when you feel the need for something odd and/or unusual…

BEYOND THE INFINITE 2 MINUTES

What is it about:

THE GREEN KNIGHT (& The Wannabe Knight)

THE GREEN KNIGHT was likely one the most anticipated movie of the year, if not the most hyped pandemic-delayed release courtesy of A24 and directed, written, edited, and produced by David Lowery (yep definitely one of his!) and it did not disappoint; if anything it might be one of those rare films that exceed all expectations!

I. The Movie, The Myth, The Legend…

Tales of Resilient Heroines at the 2021 Bentonville Film Festival

Narrative feature films from the Bentonville Film Festival, that champions women and diverse voices, had heroines for almost everyone and/or almost every situation this year. These protagonists all shared one thing in common - apart from being a woman and all that ensues! - they showed resilience in front of adversities. And sure enough, adversity can mean different things for different people but in one way or another, it might be easy to relate to their struggles, big or small, and appreciate, or even relate to, how each woman in all the films shown dealt with their issues successfully or sadly not...

What To Watch In "2020"... A.k.a Best #100 Movies From"Last Year" & So Much Much More!

This is it Moviepeople, Filmfolks, Movielovers, and everyone else! Today we can FINALLY turn 2020 once and for all (at least “movie speaking”!) So this is your compulsory recap of all that happened at the movies - and mostly at home - since last year...GOOD STUFF ONLY THO ;)

🎞👀Today In #WTF Did I Just Watch: THE MAN WHI SOLD IS SKIN 😱🤯🙌 . MORAL OF THE STORY: 9/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  Watch👏It👏  .  Took a while for #THEMANWHOSOLDHISSKIN to be available FOR ALL to see (cuz distribution system still sucksssssss 🍋) But this is now an all-time-favorite - and slightly edging ANOTHER ROUND as my pick for Foreign Oscar (altho knowing how people are, it seems sadly an unlikely outcome ) In any case I truly hope all Cinephiles get to see this wild ride & precious gem …  .  . https://www.instagram.com/p/CNwaRCGBRrs/?igshid=zn5zi09lovnq

Today In WTF Did I Just Watch, And More Importantly, Why Did You Not Watch: JALLIKATTU!

This is a story about a film that starts with a bang and ends with a…BIG bang!

What To Watch In 2020: The Bingeable And Streamable; Series, Shows, and More...

2020 was definitely a memorable year for all the wrong reasons... BUT some good things happened, and there were on our screen because all the best shows of last year seemed to have made an effort - or effortlessly did the right things - not only in terms of the quality of the projects but in terms of representation; because as ALWAYS representation matters. Sure we are talking about the usual factors and how people see themselves represented on screen by characters who look like them or have the same characteristics, BUT we also saw diverse stories from across all genres, from new narratives, to tweaks to old-timey tropes, to shows about completely new subjects or made in very novel ways. It was refreshingly refreshing!

But of course, what was comforting was the fact that our favorite shows had the perfect combo of Art + diversity with concepts such as intersectionalism and inclusivity coming together front and centre. By doing so they offered genuine complex stories that appeal to a wide range of people. We might say this every year but it has never been truer and what's most impressive is that most of these series are also (strangely) about people finding light in the darkest time of their lives... and we strangely watched those during one of the darkest periods of this timeline! Maybe there is something cathartic about it, but also considering that most of these projects were made pre-pandemic, we know that it have be the last time in a while we could watch anything through a certain lens (the one where people were "not being worried by a deadly disease and its multiple consequences." At this point, it is safe to say anything seemingly current but not mentioning Covid might be some sort of "modern period" genre or alternate reality!

Should be noted, and not to put this on the shoulder of being emotionally on-edge due to recent events of all kinds, that most of these series strokes a nerve because of their bold and raw attitudes when talking about serious subjects or how they masterfully handled "emotions" and made them universal for all to be touched by... So maybe we never cried so much in front of a screen than in 2020 but it was beautiful tears! Beautiful because of the shows, and chiefly the best ones (on the following list!) were simply beautiful themselves, and again, displayed diversity a multitude of ways, in all its splendor and touching depth

So here are the must-see series of 2020 to watch tonight (of course they are bingeable! ) or when you don’t know what to watch!

The most explosive show of the year 2020... I May Destroy You is probably the most real and raw, depressing yet hilarious show there is. Comparisons have been made with Fleabag as it also keeps things riotously entertaining while tackling very challenging and painful subjects - but here everything is amplified time 100! I May Destroy You brings the intensity to the roof thanks to a brilliant cast and its intersectional approach to all things. Actors, and in particular Michaela Coel who created the show, appear to be playing a version of themselves, which is for better or worse for them as all involved seem to have brought on their personal traumas to the table, and/or possibly reenacted the worse scene from their own lives… There should definitely be something cathartic about this process and it might also be the case for many viewers relating to one or more situations or narratives. Likewise, I May Destroy You is definitely one of the hardest show to watch for various reasons, one of them being that it’s very tough (without being graphic or voyeuristic) in its depictions of various triggering issues and all “forms of violence”, may it be verbal, physical, sexual, domestic, racial, homophobic, sexist, family abuses, abuse of power in the workplace, and even just “casual” school bullying… But this is also why the show is so great! It gives such an insightful true-to-life view and presents all the greys areas with scenes making one feel uncomfortable enough that they might wanna crawl under their blankies; or others might want to turn on the TV in order to not be depressed thinking about their own past decisions. That being said, some scenes were also fantastic in the depiction of friendship with all its beautiful (and annoying) complexities. The subtleties of the interaction between the characters, besides being between black and non-white folks akin to Insecure, were very important, and people who can relate can testify. Moreover, the series is not only about powerful storytelling but it also looks damn fine! I May Destroy You is a beautiful piece of Art from the terrific writing, to eye-pleasing cinematography, to, again, the performances, and the cherry on top was the nostalgia factor (possibly truer for Brits, Londoners, and those in the know!) Episodes set in the past really managed to encapsulate the time and that “ting” made it so special! The big “problem” is that it was too short for its own good! Not to bring back the Fleabag parallel, but why so damn short!? We could have had so much fun laughing out loud at many comical situations and feeling like we are seeing our lives in action in all their glory, full of clumsy, funny, tender, and disturbing moments. BUT also with some real action-ish sequence so well-done they will keep you on the edge of your seat! MORAL OF THE STORY: 9.5/10 ***** A must-see before you die show and the superior drama series (BUT why many prize-awarding organizations did not see that is baffling AF...) So WATCH IT before now if you could or defo before you die! *possible trigger warnings for traumatized or sensitive viewers...

Need we speak or remind people about this hit show!? Probably not, since possibly everyone already know what The Mandalorian is about; baby Yoda right!? (lol) Or more like the story of a masked bounty hunter on a quest across the galaxies to bring ‘the child’ to its kind or protect him from getting killed or kidnapped every10 minutes! Season 1 was a revelation with all the Star Wars nostalgia one could only dream of, AND with a fantastic diverse cast in front and more importantly (in SW’s case) BEHIND THE CAMERA! There was a strong lead, real motive, emotions with a cute creature that broke the internet, jaw-dropping visuals, and the surprising highlight was the amazing score by Ludwig Göransson. Then Season 2 brought us something else... It took the concept of diversity and blew it to pieces into the most beautiful explosion. One would not believe their eyeballs how cinematic some scenes - hell even full episodes -were, and almost all were filled with POC. AND from all kinds, it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! AND they even blew our socks off with an all-women team kicking ass in all sort of way in the finale episodes... A dream come true! For these reasons and so much more, this Disney+ show gave us faith not only in the service (let's be honest we only pay those monthly fee for 1 show at time... That is until they finally bring more originals!) but also in the power of “Peak TV: the blockbuster era chapter" with The Mandolarian‘s technical achievements deserving all the laurels if this world. Last but not least, when some Star Wars films disappointed some fans, The Mandolarian went above and beyond by delivering fan-service like never before (THAT ending!) while also providing something completely new and fresh, albeit following an old formula. Guess that is what one would call a win-win-win situation... This is the way! MORAL OF THE STORY: 8.5/10 ***** Like we just said, everybody wins when watching Mandalorian especially if you are into SW. Also, watch it if you like fun stuff!

This one's for the kids and kids at heart! It centered on a group of skater girls (or bettys) navigating teenagehood and trying to live their best lives free of stereotypes and boundaries in NYC. Sure, if you liked Crystal Moselle 2018 Skate Kitchen then you would probably dig Betty. But even without prior knowledge (or one looking to fill that Euphoria gap - although these very different project live on the same world and emanate some comparable vibes), this skate coming-of-age show is a real treat one that elevates the genre to a new fresh height. The chemistry between the girls gang at this heart of this story is a rare one and it makes Betty feel very authentic. Stories and emotions seem lived and, like the aforementioned I May Destroy You, it aims to tackle real and serious issues but from an angle not often explored. Betty's crew are not your typical cliched teens, some of them might not know entirely yet who they are and are exploring the world, while most are aware and proud of their differences not waiting for the world around them to accept them. BUT none of them are lost delicate souls looking for nonsense and romance! Sure there are some fun nonsense and some romance in Betty, but in fact, one might say it is a show about friendship. Or friends who share a common passion that might not be the "norm" for their gender but they have a delightful "F-it" attitude about it, and in the 20's (2.0 edition!) it's about time we all have "F-it" attitudes about what one wants to do with their lives, hobbies, or else, as long as they are happy and they leave you to be you too :) This "free-ness" approach is what makes Betty so interesting and compelling, and it helps that the show is longing real crisp like an eye-candy! MORAL OF THE STORY: 8/10 **** Watch it because you won't see anything quite like it out there. It's also a fun one for teens or for "post-teen” folk as it is very relatable and might even take you back and fill you with nostalgia. Plus, it looks darn good and colorful!

This is one has one of the cleverest SciFi narrative ever made by the guy who does just that, Alex Garland! He brings a distinct detailed vision and a unique aesthetic to this complex slightly bonkerz yet "credible" SciFi show effortlessly blending high-Art, high tech, and nature. From the first scene of the first episode, you know you are in for something great and a sight to behold. The Silicon Valley set miniseries full of mysteries follows a computer engineer who will see her life changed dramatically after starting a "dream job" at a company developing a groundbreaking, morally questionable, and possibly dangerous project involving Quantum science and stuff! It stars Sonoya Mizuno, one of the few Asian lead protagonists on the TV landscape, particularly for this type of show - although it seems there is a trend towards diversification with programs like Homecoming (that btw could be Devs's cousin as it feels they are on the same "wavelength", they share many similarities and that mysterious vibe!) She might be Garland's muse now, and it appears she found quite a cozy niche for her style; artsy, auteur series about "the future", with Devs and last year Maniac ... And wait for it, she is set to be in the GOT prequel/sequel/whatever-it-is-we-will-watch! Devs is one of the most unique shows of 2020, it is a rare gem whether in terms of the story, the moods, the "unusual" yet captivating performances, or the incredibly innovative sets enhanced by gorgeous VFX. It is also highly addictive and bingeable. It should have made the top list of many more people and garnered much more praises than it did this award season... But, guess this is one of those "not for everyone; either too clever or too quiet for its own good" type of sciency futuristic endeavor. Sure, Devs is geeky escapism for the better, but to define it solely as just that would be wrong! It is about a mystery thus is, in essence, labyrinthine, and although we are far from the typically brainy mind-fuckery going on in Nolan's fares (and conceivably required less than 1000% of your edge-of-the-seat attention!) it is a show that appeals to your thinking. (coming to think of it, Devs actually share some vibes with the moody Interstellar!) The revolutionary yet low-key futurism resonates widely with our present and where we might be heading. Devs warped in philosophical conundrums, an eerie atmosphere with intriguing characters, feels a bit like - to lesser degrees - Westworld in the sense that it is grand with a story relying heavily on technological advances, yet very intimate and toying with human (or robot, or AI, or hologram...) emotions and morals profoundly. MORAL OF THE STORY: 9/10**** This is a show that will stay with you long after you watched it... What's more: is how the suspension of disbelief is easily achieved as the premise and its science elements are extremely well incorporated; only time will tell if it holds up...but Devs as a whole is a brilliant and mellow ride into the (not so distant!) futuaaa'

Like seriously, why all the "hate"! If one would have watched this show in a vacuum when it came out, they would have felt like they discovered a hidden gem. The Eddy is the story of an American in Paris, played by André Holland, where he own a Jazz club in a bad financial situation. He gets in all kinds of trouble with his angsty teenage daughter (an excellent Amandla Stenberg), his business partner (a welcome against-type performance by Tahar Rahim), his jazz band led by a surprising Joanna Kuligis (from that great yet annoying Cold War movie!), and of course he owes money to the wrong people! The Eddy was amazing for many reasons, amongst many the fact that it boasts a diverse cast like rarely see on French show about "the Arts”, and the fact that it was really a music / Jazz show thanks to Jack Thorne and no other than "the new Jazz movie dude" Damien Chazelle! THE EDDY might have been too specific for too many people and very heavy on, well, Jazz! (to our delight and probably boredom of others since the show did not do so well...) But there are probably another element at blame for this like, admittedly, the plot going full nonsense cuckoo for cocoa puffs after few episode cuz...the mafia or some sh$t! Did not helped that everyone was people full of ego so well that it felt like the whole thing was full of itself BUT that was the intended purpose! (And it worked) Though undoubtedly Chazelle is not a filmmaker that make the unanimity and this project was as divisive as it gets, no one can deny its real artistic merit. From the story, and again sure there were few plotholes and nonsense but the imaginativeness and inventiveness of the overall characters' background stories, the interactions; it all felt like rarely seen before. In addition, the acting was also great and the music was good AND played "live" by real musicians so what's not to like people!? Why the hate!? MORAL OF THE STORY: 8/10**** If you like all things music & movies then you must watch this one; you will not be disappointed. But you can still watch it if you are looking for an interesting show, something atypical, dare we say "exotic" being very foreign in some aspect, and one where people get to speak their own languages and nobody is faking an accent! ;) (*And for the love of all that is sacred DON'T watch Emily In (#fake) Paris! The Eddy might not picture the capital perfectly but it gets more things right and the vibe, so consider this your "travelling via your screen show"!)

Yet another series tackling serious issues! This time from the perspective of graduates entering the treacherous (and abusive) world of finance. Viewed through the eyes of yet another American expat in Europe (well, we’re talking pre-Brexit!) with a mysterious and shady past. She and a diverse group of young graduates from various class - all carrying with them some sort of heavy emotional "baggage", mental issues, and/or dramatic backstories - are starting a new position (kinda like an internship++) at a major investment bank. But the thing is the pressure is higher than normal as these youngsters have to compete to be hired permanently. Thus, making friends (and/or more) in this environment is hard... Welcome to real life y’all! This very “HBO show” (make of that statement what you wish) is one of the most daring ones and a bit more low-key than the usuals. And despite being set in a word of excess, it is not as extravagant and riotous as other “banking” films or series like Wolf Of Wall Street or Showtime's Black Monday. In fact, it might be closer to its London set contemporary I May Destroy You both thematically and tonally, some fun is to be had but it gets real dark and twisty making the audience feel "unease" or morally compromise. Industry is also one of those shows about the post-coming-of-age or the-reality-of-adulthood, and in this sense, it also has a good mix of Girls's style (with Lena Dunham directing the pilot) but a-la London high-end filmmaking sauce. Guess, you can say London Town had a good year on shows AND the real-ish on, like the one we can see with our own eye full of diverse people talking multiple languages and bringing in their own culture and subculture, far away from the The Crown this world! MORAL OF THE STORY: 8.5/10**** Watch it because apparently this show, like its protagonist, is an underdog and underestimated one! It might not look like much at first, but it ticked all the boxes of a great and bingeable show with an excellent cast of mostly unknown very convincing actors, agreat narrative, and somewhat believable yet over-the-top stories.

Paolo Sorrentino's papal saga, including this second season with a slight change of name (or whatever this beautifully odd setup is), is still the most exquisite, bizarre, and creative thing seen in this ever-changing TV landscape. Therefore showing us that what one can now make, offer, or consume is limitless. First off, if you haven't watched The Young Pope, which is the aptly titled prequel or season one; watch it! But if you don't/didn't and were to start this journey with The New Pope, one might dare say it can stand on its own, or still be appreciated without its predecessor - if one is willing to overlook and go with the flow. You will be forgiven for thinking it is "cray-cray to the max" and A LOT! The New Pope as its name indicates is about, you bet, a new bishop of Rome coming to town and more! As per its IMDb synopsis: 'Two Popes. Only one Vatican. A holy war to come.' Simple; and it's all one needs to know to start the show without spoilers! But fret not, this is not a simple affair as the writer really found impressive ways of making this show about so much more, being at the same time a satirical comedy, a romance, a drama, a mystical fantasy, a political thriller-ish, a mockumentary, maybe even and an experimental alternate history novel. But of course, like the first one, this is definitely one to come with a HUGE "not for everyone" label (altho it really shouldn't) and for a myriad of reasons: one; religion. Two, as mentioned above; genre confusion. Three; the divinely surrealism of it all (in the visual and artistic sense) despite being a “grounded” story can confuse/upset some viewers. Four; not only it is surreal in style but the story is likewise populated with delightful comical nonsense and crazy plots involving so many characters, nuns, and cardinals like you've never seen them before! It could be argued that The Young Pope was indeed a revelation so holy many connected on "a spiritual level", and The New Pope felt less impactful because it was novel anymore (although the pope was!) So after an out-of-this-world first season some might have thought that Sorrentino had already pulled the rabbit kangaroo out of the hat mitre, BUT he still had many marvelous tricks available to surprise and enchant us. As a matter of fact many fans thought season 2 reached new heights and was even more bewildering as the maestro went all-in showing off his embolden confidence after the success of Pope 1.0 knowing the audience will be game for whatever shenanigans, and because of Law & cast & crew visible faithful commitment and trust in the process to go all in! There is no denying this show is what the peak of Peak TV looks like; dare we say this is it. THAT's the peak, or at least one that will be hard to topple. It is what happens when streamer and/or network, decide to give carte blanche to auteurs renown for their out-of-the-ordinary stuff and they're like ‘Hey dude (and once in a while lady or other), come with us and we'll let you do what you could not in your 2 hours+ movies because of time, money, or miscellaneous movie biz constraints... Actually, you know what, do more than that, go bananas if you like - but try not to get us sued (too many time!)" Hence watching a show like The New Pope is like watching a dream; someone's wildest dream; a filmmaker's craziest idea made with all the money in the world -or a lot of it! The maestro seemed free to explore evey ideas that popped in his mind and gave us series filled with unconventional stories, including a music video?, a perfume ad?, an electro experimental art piece?, a heartful drama about tormented men, a fairy tale about faith and will-power, a sexy love affair, a comedy about politics and delicious plotting in the Vatican... Well, it always helps that Paolo's projects have the most on-point cast, and here he is back with Jude Law in his career-defining role that everyone keeps on ignoring!?! (why is that!!!!) He is having so much fun and making us believe he is possibly just too good to be an actor; he should aim to be a Pope! And then this season co-lead is the one and only John Malkovitch being, well, himself to some extent, and it was perfect for the character. But yet again the MVP was Voiello. The Italian thespian Silvio Orlando was back at it again using his word and "faith" for the greater good or not. (might be sinful to proclaim such a statement but may the 3rd season be his!) Also, a noteworthy turn by his fellow cardinal bro Gutiérrez played Javier Cámara who continues to find a way to bring quiet and tender EMOTIONS to this extravaganza. Never thought watching cardinals going about their businesses full of connivances and shenanigans could procure such heavenly feelings and laughs (like laugh out loud by your own damn self on the couch!) In comparison to many shows on that list The New Pope might not rank as high in term of skin color or gender diversity of its A and B characters (tho it is the perfect vessel for old actors playing old cardinals from all over the world, so hear hear to more opportunities for aging male performers !L.O.L.) but so many languages and accents can be heard and major characters talking in their native tongue or accent - and seemingly naturally as in not soften for the American ears that normally have issues with the likes of Tom Hardy and some of his British compatriots! AND bonus point: most folks are not obnoxiously portraying or pretending to be or to speak with some fake French or Russian accent! (*well guess Malkovitch and his weird$ASS legendary elocution can play whoever white person he damn wishes, he is the only native English-speaker that can get a pass for obnoxious Slavic or French-speaking role ..) Lastly, can we just say; THAT ENDING...how can one forget! MORAL OF THE STORY:10/10**************** Watch it because: That's entertainment; that's Cinema! (AMEN!) *But also because it is sooooo flamboyant, soooo aesthetically intoxicating, soooooo supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, soooooo devilishly blasphemous yet so religiously divine. In a nutshell, it is sooooooo Sorentino-esque! So give us this year our yearly fix, and forgive our impatience as we also have forgiven your tardiness! And lead us not into binging mediocre shows, but deliver us from this wait... So now can we get more seasons of this please?! May it be young/old/new/renewed/infant, whichever pope, we will take it gladly!

THE WHITE TIGER; or How to Eat the Rich With a Side of Paan & Some Chai!

THE WHITE TIGER is the story of how our protagonist, the quick-witted and trickster Balram, went from slumdog to millionaire! But unlike that other movie, his tale is not one of love and luck at game shows. In order to break free of the metaphorical “rooster coop” (or India’s vicious circle of having a huge minority being subservient and not rebelling against basically the corrupt 1% in a broken democracy,) Balram created his luck going from a poor low-caste boy in a small village dropping out of school to help out with the tea and sweets family business, to a personal driver and servant for one of India’s elite - and corrupt- family. To them becoming himself a “nouveau riche” an entrepreneur assuming a new identity. Everything is told from his perspective, the perspective of a boy, and later a man, who is thought to be a one-of-a-kind, like the most intelligent animal in the jungle, a white tiger.

The whole film is just full of those metaphors putting in opposition noble ideals to overcome one’s circumstance in a rigged society, and the reality of playing the game and crossing lines.THE WHITE TIGER oozes #eattherich and “f#$% the system” vibes! Great thing that we do love those “eat the rich” films about class & social struggles, and in the vein of the great PARASITE (that will forever be the pinnacle of this genre and the reference we will keep mentioning on and on and on till the dying days,) THE WHITE TIGER is a very worthy successor and is equally excellent in showing how “servant” take can take kver their “master’s lives”. The 2021 film by Ramin Bahrani adapt the explosive story from Aravind Adiga's 2008 successful book of the same name, that sure might have been problematic for some reasons, especially for people who are actually Indian deeming the pov “westernized” and obviously because the director who is neither Indian nor live there or being familiar with the culture being American-Iranian. But guess you could still say he is a POC and a person that might be better-suited than a famous white posh director to understand the very “rise of the brown man” spirit of this story- lol....We take what we can get! Indeed, one of the memorable quote from the main character is that of him declaring that “ It’s the century of the brown and yellow man…”; his world to not be insensitive to anybody! But yeah it’s about time and it’s really comforting that, again not to bring it to PARASITE, THE WHITE TIGER is indeed a film from and about what in the West would be considered minority, but also is about the low or hard-working class standpoint which also makes it universal for everyone in the world that not a 1% or not from an upper-class! So many people around the globe can relate to these sorts of narratives. Yet again they are very specific about the culture of their respective countries, or Asia's hard social boundaries approaches. And in the case of THE WHITE TIGER it can never be truer, has a India’s millennial age a caste system that enables situations where millions like Balram are abused and used and then threaten (or their families) if they don’t comply with the rules set for them by the powerful...

What’s rather impressive about this movie is that it moved from the first scenes with this fast pace and high HIGH energy. Likewise, it has a very distinct vibe, mixing crispy and eerie cinematography with a bleak yet riotous sense of humor that sets the tone for what would be something like we rarely see on the screen. But also thankfully the movie stays focused on its material and its engrossing plots very “made in India” being set there, and with what transpires as a commitment to not “Netflixing '' things too much! As mentioned the filmmaker is not familiar with the reality of the country but at least the bulk of the production crew and the actors speaking both English and Hindi (the film is in both, let say 70/30!) are Indians, including our main guy played by Adarsh Gourav in his first International feature but who has been acting in India for years. The other main cast members are all actors known to various degrees in their land (with Priyanka Chopra being the “big draw” for US audiences since I guess she is also American now! - Or usually that is what happens when one is that famous or married to someone who is in the US of A!) However, they are all arguably all quite famous and obviously they don’t belong to the same class as Balram but they are probably more aware of things than if the casting director had choosen some famous American or Brits thespian who might just look the part (or maybe they would have just “brownfaced”/”whitewashed” the whole thing and nobody would be surprise! But mercifully this was not the case- Highly doubt DuVernay would have accepted producing such a thing - she exec-produced this one!) but who has never even been there! Thus, for Netflix global audiences THE WHITE TIGER looks authentic enough and that is quite appreciated and even if the acting or some other things might be very “ hollywood” we can still see that little touch of Indian Cinema Bollywood (not NOT every movie production from Inda is Bollywood OKay... what is wrong with people!)

MINARI: Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!

The wonderful 2020 MINARI by Lee Isaac Chung is inspired by his own story as an immigrants' child in rural America. The film is about a Korean man chasing that American dream by starting over in rural Arkansas in the 80s, in the hope of growing produce and having his own farm. The father (Steven Yeun) who moved his family to a precarious trailer on the forsaken land he bought as a dubious deal, is a dreamer with an elaborate plan. But maybe he did not plan so much for all the bad things that can happen when one has a dream but very little means or opportunity to achieve it.

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