Netflix

Intouchable White Tiger

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He wondered why his father never taught him to brush his teeth or not scratch his balls in public. Balram the main character in The White Tiger had a moment when he realized he wasn’t all he could be. It was not the typical movie from India that I watch. If cynicism was salt and the movie was popcorn, the salt would render it inedible.

But if that is your type of movie, you will love it.

This story examines the caste system with the tale of Balram who leaves his tiny village to work for an affluent family. He cherishes this way of life and his masters thinking they will take care of him forever. When they tell him he is one of the family, he really does believe it. Adarsh Gourav was so convincing as the impoverished servant, I had to look him up so see what other work he had done.

Another thing I had to do was suspend my African American beliefs so that I could appreciate how other people live. It was difficult not to measure it by my values instead of allowing the story to play out. It is one of the things I have begun to appreciate about stories from other cultures. Even so there were times I wanted him to punch them in face and run. This movie is in English, but use the subtitles because they talk fast.

I was impressed that Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Quantico) in addition to starring in the project, also produced it. I am always about #girlpower and women being able to tell the stories they want to tell.

The other movie I enjoyed was Intouchables with Omar Sy and Francois Cluzet which was based on a true story. In this story, Cluzet plays Philippe, a quadriplegic who hires an unlikely full time caregiver, a young man, Omar Sy from the projects.

These men share their ways of life with each other. Philippe introduces Driss to classical music, opera and art. Driss teaches Philippe how to smoke weed, go to massage parlors and date. Sy is big right now because of Lupin, but this film was made in 2011, which reveals his talent has been around a while.

It is a fun movie, in French so you won’t be able to multi task while reading subtitles.

Both of these movies, The White Tiger and Intouchables are available on Netflix. They will break up the series binging with some lighthearted thought provoking movies.

Here’s A Good Movie (Maker)

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My sister likes clothes and shoes.  I do too, but not as much as her. She suggested that I watch The Dressmaker because she loved the wardrobe.

Ok.

First let me say, I am so glad that this story was a 2-hour movie versus the six episode series that seems to be the current trend with new projects. I am tired of weak story lines that drag on for six episodes.

The Dressmaker tells an interesting story with compelling characters that keeps you guessing.

Quirky was the term my sister used to describe it to me, and she was right.

The main character, Tilly comes back to her hometown in the 1950s to avenge a wrong, but also to discover the true story.  Played by Kate Winslet, she leads us through the kooky town introducing us to the inhabitants, including a police officer who secretly cross dresses, a chemist with a hump in his back and the meanest schoolteacher I have ever seen.  My first thought is why would you want to go back to these people, but she did have family there.

Judy Davis played her mother who is as wild and crazy as all the town inhabitants. But she is so fun. She tags along with Tilly on her first date with Teddy (Liam Hemsworth) sitting in the movie theater talking loud.

I won’t give anything away, but I love how they told this story.  As much as my sister loved the clothes, which were amazing, I loved the story. At no time did I feel like I knew where it was going, but I was quite satisfied with the ending. You will be too.

It Is The Winner

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There are so many Christmas movies and so little time. I mean there are country Christmases, urban Christmases, California Christmases, Alien Christmases. It goes on and on.

For me, this season the winner is Last Christmas on HBO.

This is the best, most fun movie I watched all the way through and only stopped once. Child of the 1980s that I am, it won me immediately with the George Michael music throughout the movie. And this cute little film from the UK reminded me why I love his music which set a certain type of mood for the film.

The well written script tells me the story in a manner that keeps my interest by making me wonder where it is going. Our main character is Kate, a young woman living in the UK with her parents and sister, all of which have immigrated from Yugoslavia during the critical time of Brexit. She is living the life of a normal twentysomething.

Emilia Clarke is so good as Kate, she is annoying. The first 40 minutes of this movie, I wanted to punch her myself. I was yelling “Girl, get a life!” Then the very charming Henry Golding shows up at Tom and starts me to wondering. First of all, why would someone like him be interested in a girl who wears an elf costume? I didn’t find this to be one of those ordinary Christmas stories.

The Emma Thompson plays Kate’s mother which gives you a glimpse into why Kate is so crazy. Thompson’s character is this older woman who has immigrated to the UK has lots of fears about it. She is a doting mother, but none make you hate her. Michelle Yeoh plays Kate’s boss who goes by the name of Santa and also gives you moments to giggle. Both women characters have that thing that happens after you turn 50 when you say whatever you think to the twentysomething in the room, like “that’s stupid.”

The screenplay was written by Thompson and Bryony Kimmings who were inspired by George Michael’s song Last Christmas. I enjoyed how they chose to tell the story. It was cheeky, funny, corny and endearing.

I like the story because of the set up. It doesn’t do anything that I don’t expect. It slides a few things in, like the Christmas shop that sells odd Christmas ornaments like the baby Jesus with a full set of teeth and a smiling donkey or a Christmas tree made from baby cabbages.

The thing I love is that it takes me one step deeper than most movies like it. It explains why. Life is full of people who do dumb stuff. Once you know why they do it, it changes everything. For that, this movie will go on my list of movies I will watch over and over. And Henry Golding is hot.

My Entire Education Has Been Ruse

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I feel this every time I run into a major moment in history about people of African descent. As I watched Mangrove, part of the Small Axe on Netflix I felt my history teachers had bamboozled me. It is one of a collection of films by Steve McQueen originally on BBC One.

This movie tells the story of a West Indian community in the Notting Hill section of London in the 1970s. Nine members of the community were arrested after their peaceful demonstration turned violent. They faced prison sentences in a system that didn’t want to see them as equals. It reminded me of the Chicago Seven, but apparently Americans were not the only ones stuck on stupid.

I was drawn to the story, but the telling of it put me off sometime. It tended to linger over elements too long. If I notice a scene is too long, it is way too long. I tried to resist the urge to fast forward (which is why I don’t go to theaters anymore.) Good stories can tell themselves, we artist just need to get out the way.

This movie stars Letitia Wright from Black Panther, Shaun Parkes from Lost in Space and Malachi Kirby from Roots. Wright is Althea Jones, a strong female urging the community to organize, while Parkes is Frank Crichlow, the owner of the Mangrove restaurant which takes the brunt of the harassment. Kirby’s character, Darcy’s Howe, is a bit vague to me until the end when he absolutely nails it in his closing argument.

McQueen did very interesting things with sound that helped me relate to the West Indian community in his film. It also added depth to the story for me because I had never imagined the 1970s in that way. Although the story didn’t need any help. There were difficult moments when oppression impacts the community. I found myself wanting to fight with them.

The real folks who fought this fight battle, did so for a while. This movie shows one battle, in a much longer war. Which brings me back to my history teachers. What I hate most about not knowing this struggle is that my brothers and sisters across the pond didn’t have the support they needed to stay in the fight. I mean they stayed in the fight, but did so alone.

It is much easier to stay in the fight if you know you have been seen. If you know others are in this fight with you, even if it is just spiritually. But I love that we tell these stories now and hope others find the courage to continue the march for justice. I hope you find encouragement here. I did.

There Is Fire

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It was 1 am. It was episode 5. Should push play or go to bed. I mean it was the pandemic so no real reason to early rise.

I didn’t even want to see the show originally because it sounded corny to me. I mean put together a diverse and inspirational gospel choir. How ridiculous. I mean gospel choirs can’t be done like American Idol or the Voice. Let’s keep somethings sacred.

Then the first auditionee opened her mouth and it gave me chills.

I was wrong.

Voices of Fire, produced by Pharrell Williams and his uncle Bishop Ezekiel Williams, documents their journey to produce this choir in Hampton Road, Virginia. Like many of those shows that audition people to sing, there are long lines and colorful people. 

Bishop Williams shares his vision to build a choir that is black, white, Asian etc, creating a melting pot of people like Jesus talked about.  He said when all of those people come together it would draw other like-minded people. It allowed them to give incredible testimony.

Bishop said people might not listen to him preach a gospel message but would sit down and listen to a song that carries the same message. He said music transcends racial divides and cultural boundaries.

Bishop and the judges started out looking for unicorns, people with extraordinary talent and stories.

They found them.

I was inspired. I was encouraged. I was blessed.

I watched people from different cultural backgrounds sing songs that caused me to lift my hands, rock from side to side and sing with them. I thought if the power of the spirit of God was this strong weeks after it actually happened, I can imagine what it felt like in those rooms.

One evening when you need a pick me up. Check this out on Netflix. It will bless you.  And I can’t wait for them to come to town.

12 Days Til Christmas

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Netflix! I have fallen in love with Netflix. It has almost become an obsession, except that I do watch “regular” TV on occasion. I enjoy watching an entire season of a show all together. I get a kick out of shows from Australia, Canada and the UK.  I even read subtitles for shows not delivered in English.

Call of Midwife

Call of Midwife

To date, my favorite has been Call of Midwife. Somebody needs to put Sister Monica Joan on a leash.  One of the funnies about this program, is how do you tell a story about someone’s life and they leave the story? Only on the telly. I enjoy seeing story of these midwives and the society they worked in. It introduced me to things I had never conceived.

Miss Fisher Murder Mystery

Miss Fisher Murder Mystery

Netflix has introduced me to Miss Fisher’s Murder Mystery, Copper, Murdoch Mystery, Paradise, Peaky Blinders (yes, I got a little carried away with historical period pieces). But I did find some good current age, like Alphas, Crossing Lines and Longmire.

Longmire

Longmire

I fell in love with Longmire on Netflix. “Happy Thankstaking.” Again, it gives me a perspective I have not always had available.

I remember I spent one day watching the entire season on Brookhaven. I was so wrapped up, I missed the Amazing Race that evening. I enjoy seeing how other people tell a story.

The other thing I like about Netflix is that it allows me to revisit those shows from my childhood. I waded through all 174 episodes of Emergency.  Did the same with Adam 12. (Can you tell I like cop and medical shows?)

I appreciate being able to experience television from other regions.