mmukasa Reviews

Lakeview Terrace (2008)

Exploitive and canned

[2/10 · 12 April 2017]

LAKEVIEW TERRACE REVIEW

While I can see the filmmakers were trying to make a reverse-expectation movie in terms of black oppressors and white dynamics. On one level this film is just a run-of -he mill stalker picture that II could take or leave. But for me a if was more problematic than this. This just isn't an off the shelf stalker movie, but the use of this social context need much better writers. This subject matter could be a brilliant movie; there is so much potential depth. But but instead in seem to have no greater goal than to make more. Some many elements seem poorly crafted. Even strong actors like like Samuel Jackson could save the film. His performance was so cliché it seemed like he had little to work with, a film with forced and predictable dialogue and interaction.

Homicide Hunter (2011–2020)

Zenda and the Art of Homicide Investigation

[10/10 · 12 January 2017]

What I like so much about this show is the depth of Joe Kenda's thoughtfulness. This show is far above the typical sensational crime stories and delves into deep human issues and social and personal interactions. I also appreciate how much he explains about his approaches to homicide investigation. He gives a sort of deeper understanding into tragic events (thus the word play on his name "Zenda.") To me he makes me think of a Zen teacher with his insights. "The Art of Homicide Investigation" is a play off of the title of Robert Pirsig's classic book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Another plus is also how he has a sense of humor and can be ironic. I really like the show. I personally don't watch crime shows that are like soap operas or just horror stories or kinds.I don't usually Investigation Discovery kinds show shows which don't seem to have the depth was this one "Homicide Hunter: Lt/ Kendal" is definitely on a top notch show for me.

The Help (2011)

A Disservice to Important History

[1/10 · 29 February 2012]

This film uses every cliché in the book starting with the liberal minded white person who is the voice of conscience and the long suffering good hearted but somewhat simplistic black people.This film is emotionally manipulative and panders to a sentimental reduction of complex history. Its moves were predictable and uses every trick in the book, even the scene in the church is cliché. Both the white and the black characters are mostly reductive caricatures out of some story book world which doesn't do justice to the historical complexity of such situations. Why would you want to make a saccharine comic book out of profound historical situations-- other than to pander to audiences longing for a feel good experience for the sake of box office. I actually don't mean to disrespect to people who like it, and I don't want to attack the actors. They didn't write the film, but at the same time, I can't believe that so many people fell for this bag of tricks. Still, a bigger problem and disservice a movie like this does to our culture is that such bad history and simplistic human portrayals turns race dynamics into good guy bad guy stories which we can watch with a complacent feeling of how much better we are than those bad old days. Such complacency leads to a historical ignorance that retards honest critique and real progress. This movie would be better if it just didn't pretend to be about something. Let it be some sappy comic book. That wouldn't be the worse thing in the world. At least it would be more honest.

Imitation of Life (1934)

Imitation indeed!

[4/10 · 27 February 2006]

The shame in Delilah's portrayal in this movie is not so much in her being a good person as in her being a non-person! She might as well be Lassie or Rin Tin Tin for all the individuality and power to act independtly she has. She is simpleminded, seems to be able to function only in a relationship of dependency, as is illustrated when she turns down Miss Bea's offer of a 20% stake in a multi- million dollar business that was based on her pancake recipe because she wants to stay a housekeeper. A moment earlier on in the movie is particularly offensive when she is asked to hold a goggle eyed, smiling "darkie" pose to model the sign for the pancake business. While the moment was clearly for comic effect, her staying obliviously frozen in the pose long past what was needed is to me emblematic of the frozen stereotype that her character was, and it is not fair to say that her character was simply all the "Mammie" could be. Just look at the work of Hattie McDaniel or Ethel Waters to see that despite its limited range, the Mammie could be something other than a simpleminded "faithful soul." On an up note, despite all of this Louise Beavers does a good job in this very limited role, and I've always been a fan of Claudette Colbert. In addition, I know Fannie Hurst was genuinely trying to be sympathetic in her novel upon which this film was based, so I can see someone enjoying this, but please don't miss the reductive stereotyping.