What to Watch This Weekend: June 5, 2020

This past week, the world has come together in unity to protest racial inequality behind the movement of #Blacklivematters.  We have seen people go to the streets and protest for the notion that black lives do in fact matter and that systemic racism is a very real problem in our society.  Due to their efforts, the country and the world are focused on an issue that is often ignored in our current society.  This has happened despite an unprecedented pandemic and economic slowdown.  In order to help raise awareness of systemic racism and the very real problems that our black brothers and sisters experience on a day-to-day basis, here is a selection of recommended movies that highlight this inequality.  For those that experience these injustices on a day-to-day basis, these films are a powerful reminder of everything that the current protests are fighting against.  And for those that have not grown up experiencing these racial biases, seeing these injustices--if only for a brief moment--is important to try and understand the perspective of our friends and neighbors, and in some way try to empathize with the anger and frustration that has led to these recent protests.

Queen & Slim (Redbox, Digital Rental / Purchase)
Queen & Slim takes a very real--and unfortunately increasingly common in America today--situation and builds an eye opening, empowering Bonnie and Clyde-esque movie around it.  It gives a window into racial injustice in America, told through stellar performances, strong writing, and a commitment to realism that preaches a powerful message.

Just Mercy (Redbox, Free Digital Rental, or Purchase)
Just Mercy is an inspiring, timely, and sadly appropriate movie for our times.  It has Oscar-worthy acting, amazing cinematography, and tells an important story about injustice and the disparity in the criminal justice system that that doesn't leave a heart untouched or an eye dry at its conclusion.

The Banker (Apple TV+)
The Banker tells an important, timely story about inequalities in the 1950s and 1960s that made it nearly impossible for African Americans to become landowners.  This story has great charisma between its stars and manages to entertain while educating about complex issues.

Blindspotting (HBOMAX)
Blindspotting blends buddy comedy with powerful social commentary to tell another story of race in our country.  It highlights that inequal justice in our country can be based on skin color, and how that system can target one individual and affect their lives.

Fruitvale Station (Tubi)
Fruitvale Station tells the story of Oscar Grant, a young black man who was shot by a police officer at a Bart station on New Years Day in 2009.  This shooting shook the nation, and seeing Oscar's day and his plans to change his life make his death all the more tragic.

The 13th (Netflix)
This thought-provoking documentary has scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.  It is a wonderfully crafted documentary that balances insights from talking heads with painful archival footage.

If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu)
If Beale Street Could Talk is another painful look at the justice system and the inequal administration of that justice.  The popular play turned movie has powerful performances and artistic cinematography that only heighten the sense of injustice portrayed in this wonderful film.

Do The Right Thing (Digital Rental / Purchase)
Spike Lee's classic movie about racial tension was controversial when it came out and is sadly still relevant today.  Although it has aged, the nerves it touches are still exposed and painful.

Selma (Free Digital Rental)
The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of King, but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied.

What to Watch This Weekend: January 17, 2014

DVD: Enough Said

This romantic comedy about two divorcées (Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini) awkwardly trying to reenter the dating game stands apart from most with its natural dialogue and the lead's performances. Genre conventions are not totally absent, but the acting and writing are generally a step above its peers.

DVD: Fruitvale Station

Michael B. Jordan plays Oscar Grant III in this dramatization of the last day of Oscar's life, a day when he was controversially shot by police. The film takes a fair look at the positive and negative aspects of Oscar's personality, aside from a moment that feels overly manipulative.

Streaming (Netflix): A Hijacking

Like Captain Phillips, this Danish thriller focuses on a ship hijacked by Somali pirates and gives equal attention to both the captors and the captives. It was streaming back in October but mysteriously disappeared. Now it's back!

Netflix Link

Streaming (Netflix): The Attack

An Israeli Palestinian doctor (Ali Suliman) is shocked to learn that the perpetrator of a suicide bombing is someone very close to him. His search for insight into her reasons why is difficult, and he receives cold receptions from both his angry neighbors and the people of his homeland. The Attack examines the relationships between attackers and their targets as the doctor struggles to deal with the grief and shocking revelations of this event

Netflix Link

News: A Rocky spinoff, Creed, may star Fruitvale Station's Michael B. Jordan

Fruitvale Station writer-director Ryan Coogler is reportedly set to direct and co-write a spinoff of Rocky titled Creed. The spinoff would focus on Apollo Creed's grandson who, despite not wanting to box, is believed to have the potential to follow in the boxing footsteps of his late champion grandfather. MGM is considering Fruitvale's Michael B. Jordan for the starring role, and Sylvester Stallone's Rocky would reluctantly return to the ring to mentor the descendant of his former opponent and friend. Coogler came up with the idea and the studio liked it so much they decided to pursue it. Creed would be the seventh film in the Rocky franchise, and it sounds better than simply having Rocky come out of retirement again for some strange reason. See more details here.

What to Watch This Weekend: July 19, 2013

  

It's a theater heavy weekend with some really great releases!  Beat the heat this weekend and catch a movie in theaters.

In Theaters: Fruitvale Station

The Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize winning Fruitvale Station opens in DC this weekend. Fruitvale Station combines a powerful recent event, amazing acting, and great directing. Together, they manage to tell a poignant and important story; one that should not be missed. 

In Theaters: Turbo

If you want something a little less emotionally powerful, or something to take the kids to this weekend, Dreamworks Animation's new animated movie Turbo is a great choice. The movie features some beautiful animation, good voice acting, a cute story, and a great lesson for kids and adults to learn. 

In Theaters: Red 2

If you want something a little less emotionally powerful, but want to leave the kids at home, Red 2 is a great choice. It has a stellar cast, an interesting mission, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's one of the few sequels that manages to surpass the original by having all your favorite characters in a better all around story. 

On DVD: 42

42 is part gritty sports movie and part Disney inspirational film. But you know what, I'm fine with that. It's a great story about a great man; a well done but not perfect movie. If you like sports movies or want to learn more about Jackie Robinson, see this movie now.

Streaming (Amazon Instant): Synecdoche, New York

This is the ambitious and abstract directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman, writer of Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It revolves around a sick theater director who, upon receiving a fellowship, crafts a strange, unusually massive theatrical production. It's one of Kaufman's most polarizing projects, with some critics hailing it as a classic while others feel that he should stick to writing. If nothing else, you will likely find it interesting and visually impressive.

Streaming (Netflix): The Intouchables

Alright, so we already had this movie on a What to Watch This Weekend, but after it was available that Friday, Netflix unexpectedly pulled it. It's back now and anyone who hasn't seen it needs to watch it. The movie is simply phenomenal. It tells the story of a wealthy paraplegic who takes a chance on a guy from the streets when he hires him as a caretaker. The two begin an interesting, funny, and wonderful friendship that grows throughout the movie.

Review: Fruitvale Station

Release Date:  July 12, 2013

Running Time: 85 minutes
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer

Who to see it with: Someone concerned about social justice.

David:

Fruitvale Station is based on the true story of Oscar Grant during New Years Eve 2008. The movie follows the events leading up to that fateful night as he meets friends, enemies, and strangers. What eventually unfolded was shocking and painful to watch. And thankfully, it's masterfully told by 27-year-old director Ryan Coogler. Coogler has a clean style of directing that is great for telling a story like this. This movie is a character driven one and it definitely shows. There are long cuts, flashbacks to help give Oscar's character depth, and some of the most dramatic scenes are masterfully done. The movie has a slow, deliberate pace that focuses on the story it's telling, but also leaves you anxious for what you know will come later. 

One of the risks Fruitvale Station faced was the concern that it might put Oscar Grant on a pedestal and change his story, memorializing him after the fact. Thankfully, Coogler and Michael B. Jordan portray Oscar as I expect he was: a good but flawed character. They don't try to sugar coat his past or his many faults, but they also manage to bring out plenty that was good in him. You're left feeling a sense that Oscar is a real character, not a saint, which makes the movie all the more powerful. It also helps that the supporting cast is great. Octavia Spencer is phenomenal as Ms. Grant and Ariana Neal is wonderful as Oscar's daughter Tatiana. The chemistry between the cast is easily apparent, especially the relationship between Oscar and his daughter. If there is any criticism about the movie, it's that instead of being a "true story," it's "based on a true story." Some of the scenes do feel a little contrived and convenient, placed in the film to give Oscar more characters to interact with. There is another scene part way through the movie that seems completely random. But, those aren't enough to derail what is already a very good film. Fruitvale Station combines a powerful recent event, amazing acting, and great directing. Together, they manage to tell a poignant and important story; one that should not be missed.

See it.

Trailer: Fruitvale Station, Sundance Award Winning Movie Trailer

The trailer for the Sundance Film Festival award winning movie has arrived.  Fruitvale Station tells the true story of Oscar Grant as he meets friends, enemies, and strangers on New Years Eve 2008.  The events that unfolded that night were shocking and painful to watch.    What occurred after highlighted a community trying to understand and reconcile those events with their experiences and personal views.  Living in the Bay Area at the time, I expect this movie to be especially poignant.  It stars Michael B. Jordan ("Vince" from Friday Night Lights), one of my favorite up and coming actors.  The movie is out in November of this year.