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Blonde 2022 Director: Andrew Dominik This review will not criticize Marilyn Monroe in anyway because this film has absolutely nothing to do with the real Marilyn Monroe. No film has rendered me speechless the way Blonde did (derogatory). While the film begins with an underwhelming attempt at advanced cinematography, the moments following are prime examples of poor execution. Not only is there a lack of reason behind the characters and their actions, but given that there is an attempted explanation, it is unclear, underdeveloped, and unworthy of the audience's time. In an attempt to evaluate the film fairly, I will attempt to remove my feminists views and solely look at this as just another film. No amount of editing could fix this abomination. The problem lies at the source. The brainstorm for Blonde should have been left as just that: a brainstorm. Executing this foul attempt at a film was the second mistake the team made. This should never have left the page. The transitions from scene to scene are sloppy and careless. The plot lacks the ability to tell a real story. Instead the audience is stuck watching clips strewn together in an attempt to make a point that does not land. Essentially, they tried to recreate every famous picture Marilyn took and added a terribly traumatizing story behind each one. There is no continuity whatsoever. The acting is menial and yet somehow overdone. There is nothing worse than watching a film and feeling like you are doing so. Any film that fails to transport the audience from their place of origin to INSIDE the story is a waste of a watch. Unfortunately, (fortunately) this film is the perfect example of a bad movie. Ultimately, there is no art in this. No characteristic makes this worthy of a watch. This film shows the ugly in a world in an ugly way. That is not what art does. Even if the story itself is not beautiful, art finds a way to create beauty in its execution. Blonde does no such thing. From a feminist point of view, this is disgusting. As someone who values women's story and the TRUTH in them, I can assure that this is not the way to respectfully show a woman's journey. Instead this film makes a mockery of Marilyn Monroe and her story with its distasteful nature. Women's stories are not just a series of unfortunate events. There was not a single happy moment in this film. What kind of story does that tell? The intent of this film was not to tell a complete story. If that were not the case there would be ups and downs, highs and lows, that would expose depth and showcase the actors' range. Rather, Blonde makes a point to turn a spectacular woman's life into an unbearable tragedy that's completely false. While I understand this is based on a fictional book, I still feel this is a very inconsiderate way to honor Marilyn Monroe. In fact, I can assure the direction and production team of Blonde that Marilyn Monroe is rolling in her grave. If you wanted to show a woman's real story, fine. Theres a way to do that. For one, it takes a level of respect and honesty that is lacking in this depiction. Respect for Marilyn is undeniably lacking in Blonde. But also showing the twists and turns of someones life makes it all the more entertaining. ACCURACY in these twists and turns however is key. At the end of the day, the film's downfall is boiled down to the lack of respect the team had for Marilyn and women in general. You would never find a film made about Marlon Brando or Frank Sinatra that uses their likeness to intrigue a crowd only to exploit every form of trauma they could have possibly endured. Fictional takes on Brrando or Sinatra's lives don't exist because people have enough respect for them as men. Why was the same respect not shown to Marilyn as a woman?

TÁR (2022) DIRECTOR: TODD FIELD What stuck out the most about Tár was the way both the main character and the dialog were beautifully written. Lydia’s vernacular was one that really brought her to life in a way that you don’t see often. While I do feel like the film leaves the audience with a lot of unanswered questions I still really enjoyed the watch. However, I couldn’t- for the life of me- shake the feeling that I was watching whiplash. That aside, Cate Blanchett’s performance was nothing short of flawless, and I sincerely believe it was oscar worthy! Her emotions were raw and unfiltered and it really spoke to the legitimacy of her character. The story itself was beautiful. It shows the downfall of a great artists in a way that is rugged and real. Not every part of Lydia's story is perfect, making her even more real and relatable. The end was wow. It was such a graceful way to reiterate life's imperfection. Unfortunately, I feel the film fundamentally lacked a few pieces to be genuinely considered for best picture at the Oscars, but it is one for the books nonetheless!

I, TONYA (2018) DIRECTOR: CRAIG GILLESPIE Though I am not sure I loved the artistic direction of the film, the acting is what sets this apart. Allison Janney’s performance was absolutely outstanding, and Margot Robbie’s range is showcased impeccably throughout. I did not love the fourth wall breaks that occurred throughout solely because I felt it took away from the film rather than adding to it. Ultimately it was a good watch- but not a rewatch by any means. Thoughts???

ELVIS (2022) DIRECTOR: BAZ LUHRMANN Theres nothing better than a biopic done PROPERLY. Austin’s commitment to the role is not something that should be taken lightly. His embodiment of Elvis left even people of elvis’ generation shocked (my grandmother included). He exceeded expectations in every way imaginable and his partnership with Mr. Baz Luhrrman should be continued. Baz’s direction was nothing short of perfect. He put me in the world of the 1900’s and revealed to me and the rest of my generation the magnitude of a hold that Elvis had. He had me wishing I was alive to see a performance and showed a side of Elvis’ that hasn’t really been accurately portrayed prior to this film. His connection with the black community throughout the film was moving as was the concept of him carrying the soul of his twin brother through his voice. Not to mention the ENDINGGGG. When I tell you I was crying out of sheer pain for that man I cannot make this up. The exhaustion shown through Austin’s voice and the mashup/clip change that Baz incorporated to include the actual performance brought tears to my eyes. I had never felt so much pain and suffering for someone through a movie. It was truly inspiring to see how even til the very end, Elvis gave his all in his performances. It was awe-inspiring. I know my friends are tired of hearing me rave about and recommend this movie but I genuinely have never felt so passionately about a movie as I do about Elvis. It’s a MUST see for everyone. I promise you will finish the movie feeling emotions you did not expect to arise. Be ready to Fly!

DON'T WORRY DARLING (2022) DIRECTOR: OLIVIA WILDE I know everyone gives this movie tons of sh*t, but i’m not everyone. Personally, I loved the concept of this movie and felt as though the execution hit the nail on the head. While some view the inserted color and dancing clips (etc) as strewn about with no intention, I must disagree. Their juxtaposition of ‘order’ was precise and brilliantly portrayed. Not to mention Chris Pine’s narrating voice in the back shaming the idea of chaos and idolizing control and happiness brought everything together so much better than I could have imagined. Overall, I think the point of the movie went over a lot of people’s heads, and as a result they could not appreciate its beauty. Ultimately we learn there is no order without chaos, nor is there true, unfiltered happiness without consequence. Though I am not a huge fan of Olivia Wilde (and quite frankly wanted to flip her off every time I saw her face) I was able to put my differences aside to genuinely appreciate the power of this film. “Miss Flo” performed exquisitely and was accompanied by a team of actors that took the magnitude of this film and their roles just as seriously as she did. Yes, this movie “felt like a movie” but it also felt REAL. It’s retrospective in the sense that it makes you think about your own life. Where do you find order? How do you handle the chaos? What makes you truly happy? DWD did what needed to be done.

BABYLON (2022) DIRECTOR: DAMIEN CHAZELLE This movie was great but unfortunately missed a few pieces that would have taken it from great to impeccable. The beginning was perfect- it showcased the characters' road to legitimacy in Hollywood. I really enjoyed how the path to Hollywood can start anywhere- from seasoned veteran to Mexican immigrant, everyone has to find a way to mold themselves into the perfect Hollywood image. My issue with the film begins once the two underdogs are established in the industry. Considering this is sort of a rags to riches story, the time where Nellie LaRoy, in particular, is actually respected by her peers is not highlighted sufficiently for me. Her innate talent is what gained her the respect of Hollywood, and her Jersey Shore act is what led to her demise. But what was the driving force in between those two phases of her life that kept her relevant? Was it her talent what kept her in the industry for so long before Hollywood realized she was classless? I feel as though this part of her life was merely glossed over, and as a result, her downfall was not as significant because we weren't able to grasp the magnitude of her fame originally. On a separate note, the unrequited love story was not built up enough to make the final moments between Manny and Nellie significant. While there was maybe adoring glances here and there, Manny's love ultimately felt superficial and surface level because we did not see enough of their relationship to feel what he was feeling for her. One thing the film executed rather beautifully was Jack Conrad's story. Hollywood heart throb turned sellout actor who didn't know his best days were behind him. Aside from the actors' performances, Jack's story is what gave this film legitimacy. It was a story that translated and one that anyone in the audience could empathize with. The moments leading up to his death were filmed perfectly. Though it was obvious he was nearing the end of his time on Earth, the filmography ensured the audience did not check out on his story. Rather, we wanted to know what happened in every single moment leading up to the gunshot. It was exquisite. It is also not lost on me that there was not some big tribute to Jack. Instead his influence lived on through films and other actors and actresses- bringing me to the end of the movie. I understand that this part has been up for debate since the movie's premiere, and I wholeheartedly understand why. The significance of the final montage was not lost on me, but it was almost overdone. Also, there was not enough emphasis put on the people who make movies possible (aka the story of Manny's entire character). The montage should have included flashbacks to what and WHO goes into creating that movie magic (i.e Manny running and stealing and ambulance to get a film camera to set, and a man dying of heat stroke to ensure they got the perfect shot and sound with it.) This movie was not just about actors, it was about the evolution of film and consequently what comes with it. I was disappointed that the final montage did not depict the full picture and rather only a part of Hollywood's history. While I was proud of the way Babylon went above and beyond to show the high and lows of the characters while navigating Hollywood, I still feel it left out major parts to reinforce the juxtaposition rather than just flat out showing the complications of Hollywood and the film industry. Overall, I guess I wasn't utterly disappointed.