Category: General
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Why ‘G.B.F.’ (2013) is Pretty Good, Actually
This review contains mild spoilers. G.B.F. is a 2013 feature film written by George Northy and directed by Darren Stein (Jawbreaker). G.B.F., which stands for “gay best friend”, tells the story of Tanner Daniels (Michael J. Willett), a closeted high school student who is “more than content to fly under the radar and leave the trailblazing…
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Why the #OscarsSoWhite Boycott Should Not Be Forgotten Just Yet
Even after a history changing event, the 93rd Oscars proved it always had the space for more inclusivity in its award ceremony. But it this enough to change the boycott?
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Stowaway: Netflix’s Latest Space Hit
In Stowaway, director Joe Penna narrates the story of a starship crew (Anna Kendrick as Zoe Levenson; Toni Collette as Marina Barnett; and Daniel Dae Kim as David Kim) struggling with serious technical problems on a two-year mission to Mars. During the trip, they discover aboard the presence of Michael (Shamier Anderson), a stowaway who…
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Why You Should Know About ‘Welcome to Chechnya’, One of 2020’s Most Thrilling Films
CW: This article discusses forms of LGBTQ+ oppression that may be triggering to many readers. This is a spoiler-free article but it should be known that this film comes with a trigger warning. ‘Welcome to Chechnya’ contains strong violence and real footage of gay bashing. Welcome to Chechnya is a 2020 HBO documentary that explores…
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Y tu Mamá También: A Profound Exploration of Mexican Society and Self-Discovery
Years before Mexican director, Alfonso Cuaron, was winning Academy Awards for movies like Gravity (2013) and Roma(2018), he directed a small, intimate film about two best friends who decide to embark on an improvised road trip to spend time with an older, attractive woman who miraculously agrees to go with them. Y tu Mamá También…
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Outer Banks Ignores Its Racial Context
Outer Banks (2020-) knows its audience: young adults in a country that can’t stop romanticizing good ole’ treasure hunts. Add a little of Riverdale’s (2017-) sex appeal, and no one can look away. Forty years after The Goonies (1985) America’s consciousness hasn’t strayed from the same tropes: treasure hunts, a vulnerable white male lead, and the whitewashing…
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“Concrete Cowboy” (2021) Review: An Endangered and Unknown Subculture
Ricky Staub’s Concrete Cowboy, based on Greg Neri’s novel “Ghetto Cowboy”, tells the story of a young teenager forced to adapt to a new lifestyle.
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“Inside Llewyn Davis” Is a Stunning, Melancholic Tale of Failure
Inside Llewyn Davis is a 2013 film directed by the infamous Coen Brothers and starring Oscar Isaac as the titular character. Llewyn is a struggling folk musician living in Greenwich Village in 1961, and things never seem to go right for him. The film depicts a week in the life of Llewyn, taking place shortly…
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Throwback Review: The Dreamy Landscape of ‘My Own Private Idaho’ (1991)
The following review contains spoilers. My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent LGBT drama, the third feature film from director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). The story follows Mike Waters (River Phoenix), a narcoleptic street hustler in love with his best friend Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves). The film opens with the definition…
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‘Fargo’ (2014): Does the True Story Genre Need to be True?
Although Fargo is not actually based on a true story, I do believe it is worth the watch. It has drama, suspense, and a mysterious figure to keep you engaged.