Bright and Early (1918)

Another uneven "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" redux that says nothing novel about its subject matter.

The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.

'Little Woods' rethinks the Western genre and examines the misogyny and classism inherent in the healthcare industry.

Two Distant Strangers (2020) centers around Carter James (Joey Bada$$) as he tries to get back home to his pitbull, Jeter, after spending a night at the apartment of his date Perri (Zaria Simone). What gets in the way of Carter reuniting with his dog is that every time he tries to leave Perri’s apartment,  he is killed by police and wakes up back in her bed in a never-ending cycle. It addresses the issue of police brutality which rightly has been in the public eye more and more with the unjust deaths caused at the hands of law enforcement.

Tired of being cooped up in their cages, the critters escape the Australian zoo and try to find their way to the outback.

Given that Charlie Cox is having a moment with the rise in interest in 'Daredevil,' let's return to one of his earlier movies: the fantasy romance 'Stardust' where he shines amidst a slew of characters, from a stereotypical witch to a crossdressing pirate.