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Reviews
A Jazzman's Blues (2022)
Awful just awful
The only decent thing about this movie was when it ended.
Actors were good but plot was absurd and hilariously derivative. Literally a corny ripoff of The Notebook and Titanic.
Character motivations were confusing. Dialogue goes from 0 to 100 out of nowhere in every single scene. Too many plot holes. Extremely predictable. I guessed the ending within 3 minutes of the film starting.
The r*pe scene was was unnecessary and doesn't affect the plot at all. And for crying out loud WHY does Bayou ask his girlfriend's r*pist grandfather for permission to marry her? Huh??
The white people were all flat and 2 dimensional with no other purpose than to torment every black person every chance they get. So on the nose.
The stage Bayou performs on looks cheap and small. We're really supposed to believe this place houses the hottest ticket in town?? Uh...
Not a Tyler Perry fan but I hoped this would be at least mediocre. Nope. It was a Hallmark movie but worse.
Elvis (2022)
Best biopic since Amadeus
Just...well done. This film truly captured an icon. I don't know what else to say. If you're not crying by the time Elvis is belting "Unchained Melody" like a caged bird who still sings you have no soul.
Speaking of soul, Baz really shows how much black music and culture deniably inspired Elvis. He doesn't exploit it intentionally but truly *identifies* with black people and their musical expression. Too bad he himself was destined to be exploited.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
Excellent - Don't watch if you have irrational fears of yt genocide or whatever
If you look at the demographics of who DIDN'T like this movie, it's obvious that men, most likely from a group traditionally known as global oppressors, have a bone to pick. The film is of a beloved genre that doesn't center their perspective or worry about them at all. I guess that's scary for some.
A few things to keep in mind after watching this:
Don't complain about the gore if you enjoyed Django Unchained.
Don't call it derivative of Tarantino if you don't also call Tarantino derivative of Sergio Leone
Don't whine about the music if you liked the soundtrack to the newest iteration of The Great Gatsby.
Don't cry that it makes caucasians into caricatures if you liked Gone With the Wind, or pretty much any film that depicts 19th century black people.
Don't quack about it being "woke" when politics has always been reflected in art.
And don't call it "historically inaccurate" when it's clearly & intentionally a fantastical take on certain historical figures.
Not a perfect film (it's a rare film that is) but it's a damn good one. Entertaining, self-aware and aesthetically exciting.
Relax and enjoy.
The Lower Bottoms (2021)
this is a good one
Teresa Celeste as Shant'e--fantastic. And the legendary Kelsey Grammer & Dru Down?? Amazing, where else would you see these actors in the same room??
The Lower Bottoms looks at gentrification, police brutality and deep state activity and somehow makes it interesting, funny and educational.
Highly recommend to people who enjoy listening to scripted podcasts--it's literally like listening to a film/ tv show. Excellent production.