Movie #1588 "The Bill" (short) was the last film we saw in the Black Lens series, and I can't remember much about it at all. Caralene Robinson put the film together (lots of women directors in this series) . In my notes I have that it was funny and took place in a restaurant -- I think neither the girl or the guy knew who was going to pay the bill. But I'm not sure. I didn't like it much because I gave it 3 stars out of 5.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Movie #1587 ........................."French Fries" - short
Movie #1587 "French Fries" (short) is the 5th film in the Black Lens series, and it had the longest, most involved story --- Wife goes to a motel to get some work done and her husband follows --- needless to say, not much is done --- and she's trying to lose weight while he is pounding down the french fries (thus, the title) --- it was one of the most universal of all the films, since it focused on man/woman relationship, and I'd give it 4 stars out of 5. Janine Sherman Barrois put the film together.
Movie #1586 ........................."Suitable"
Movie #1586 "Suitable" was the 4th Black Lens film that we saw and it centered on kids going to the prom --- it had a lot of angst dealing with teens, what to wear, whom to go with, being yourself, etc., and I really liked it --- 4.5 stars out of 5. Not quite perfect because I am having trouble remembering specifics from it, and for it to be a stellar film, I shouldn't have trouble doing that. But I gave the score of a 5 that day in the theatre. Thembi L. Banks put the film together.
Movie #1585 ........................."Forever"
Movie #1585 "Forever" was the third film in the Black Lens batch of short films, and the one I least liked. It was confusing and hard to follow but what I got out of it was a love story that was interrupted because she was black and dragged away to be lynched, but their love lived forever. Film is done by Joyce Sherri. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Movie #1584 ........................."Bodega" --- a short
Movie #1584 "Bodega" was the second film in the Black Lens series --the film was done by Donna Augustin and Talibah L. Newman. I thought this one was topical --- it concerned a muslim old man/store owner whose daughter was waiting on a black customer and the grandpa suggested the black woman had shoplifted and she jumped on that and asked for an apology --- he wouldn't give it -- so the situation escalated to flyers given out in front of the store, to protests, and even worse....it made me think that if everyone supported each other and were more tolerant, we could all share in a neighborhood. The film dealt wit unfortunate circumstances because we seem to be living in a divisive society ---- I'd give this a 5 out of 5 stars. Very effective ending.
Movie #1583 ........................."Mr. Talented"
Movie #1583 "Mr. Talented" is the first short we saw in the Milwaukee Film Festival offering entitled: Black Lens Shorts Presented by HBO: Be True to You" -- this one was put together by Jeffrey Rochee, and it concerns an African American artist at his show and how he tries to play the game of trying to charm people who could buy some of his art, or be a constant supporter for his work; instead, he loses his temper at a condescending remark and starts to have a breakdown. This was a tough watch (besides it being awkward dialogue between artist and the audience members at the show, the camera movement was too dizzying for my eyes and I found that annoying). But it was riveting and there were a few surprises in it for such a short film. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Movie #1582 ........................."First Man"
Movie #1582 "First Man" concerns a GREAT event of the U.S. landing on the moon, but this is not a great movie. It's dark, brooding, dialogue-less, and filmed more like a documentary than other films in the genre of space travel. If you want to see a film that shows a frightening take off and travel in space , this is the film for you ---- there was so much shaking that I had to look away several times --- We have heard how nausea-inducing everything having to do with space travel can be, but rarely do we see it on the screen ---- but it gets tiring to watch --- the film made it look dangerous and kind of a trial by error kind of approach to sending people up in space at this time ---- very scary. We've seemed to have seen films like Apollo 13 and The Right Stuff pushing more the heroic aspect of the Nasa program --- the glorious, ticker-tape parades, and rarely see this ugly, scary, dangerous side --- and to watch what it does to one family, that was ailing already due to the death of Armstrong's little girl. Very sad, and it looms over the film through its entirety. I guess I expected more --- I never was pulled in emotionally, and the payoff, the moon landing and walk on the moon, didn't come across as exciting as it should have been. I would give this 3.5 out of 5 stars. Disappointing.
- Overview
- Details
- Cast
When America needed a hero, test pilot turned astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped up to the plate, becoming the first person to walk on the moon. This absorbing biopic recounts his extraordinary journey and the sacrifices demanded of him along the way.
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