E K Daufin

A sweet, better than formula romantic comedy with great acting and Christmas sights in Baltimore.

This movie is SO much more than the predictable romcom it appears to be at first. It’s sensual, romantic, funny, scary, absurd and all around wonderful.

Except for some (intentionally) but unbearably S…L…O…W scenes, especially in the beginning, and that it represents a standard of living/senior care that few could afford even before the “Big Ugly Bill” passed, this film is exceptional in so many ways. The cinematography is exquisite, the colors enlivening, the actors magnificent with an intricate, soft landing sad story line that is all too real for all generations.

I wish I could file a class action suit against whoever made the deceptive trailer. The first hour is a scary, patriarchal, misogynoir, human contribution to global warming/climate change acceleration- denying piece of poo. I was so disappointed and got no “balm for my soul,” as advertised. It was only the film that bombed.

#ArtLovers, filmmakers and history buffs will love this poetically rendered film that is part documentary. It’s slow paced and moving as well as thought provoking. It tells the story of the repatriation of 26 out of 7,000+ spiritual, cultural and historic 19th century Benin sculptures and artifacts and the complex social and cultural significance of this return home, in part from the perspective of the spirit of the sculptures themselves.

Im Still Here I enjoyed a stress-free day at the gorgeous white sanded beach, perfect weather, lodging at a loving functional family’s beachside home, important caring community conversations, good kids, their friends Andy ours, great abundant food, kitchen and caretaker affectionate , reliable paid help and a lovely little dog. Then of course “those men” (Dictator’s militia? “Revolutionaries”?) came and took the dad away for “questioning” and made their menacing presence, at home in the house…A lesson in accurate Brazilian history and the price to be paid to survive something like that, just to stay integrous and help those being targeted in small, peaceful but dangerous ways. Yeah all that in 2.5 hours, worth every minute and the real life photos in the credits. I didn’t notice the English subtitles once the story got rolling. You probably won’t either if you decide to see this #GoldenGlobe winning, #Oscar nominated, acting marvel #ImStillHere, instead of or in addition to the #SuperBowl. Some indie film houses are showing it now. I wish there had been time to depict some of the race problems then and now in Brazil but that was not part of the autobiography on which this is based.

The artwork is fantastic. Powerful acting. Touching. Uncomfortable. Still falls too much in the shove forgiveness down your throat. Rewarding to see a successful Black artist couple.

Here and there it lagged yet I loved the subtle sci fi on several levels, the Black woman as a main character. The surprises all the way through were a delight and the transformation of the character feels real!

I couldn’t stand the main character- a nasty, selfish, sexist, racist boy the viewer is supposed to feel sorry for. His male privilege at home, the way he talks to his sister and the ONE Black girl in his social group AND HIS MOTHER! He is manipulative but nice to his sexist grandmother who dotes on him and unfairly criticizes his mother/her daughter-in-law. I dispise having my real life wasted by this type of person at any age and resented the 45 minutes I gave the film to somehow redeem itself. Ack!

PrisonReform AND #Theatre buffs will find a marvelous, not a minute wasted experience, in #SingSing sort of a docudrama but better. It’s about #RTA a program for the incarcerated for which there is a 5% versus the usual 80% prison recidivism rate. Many of the actors are graduates of the program playing themselves! I didn’t know that going in and it was a delicious unfolding of realization. Yet I hope that this “spoiler alert” will encourage those who might otherwise not make time for it . #OscarBuzz