'Carmela's diary' tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who lives on the outskirts of Naples and is forced to work for her family's shopping center. Caged in a life that only promises her an uncertain future. Carmela perceives her adolescence as captivity, forced to live as a prisoner by her mother, Maria, who forces her to sell drugs along with her older brother, Ciro. War breaks out amongst the gangs in the neighborhood and Carmela is forced to stay indoors, with the windows well sealed, and give up everything, even one of the things she loves the most, going to school.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is exactly as the title describes, yet unexpectedly so. It's like the Matrix, but with OCD and hallucinogens, plus a heart’s dose of mother-daughter intergenerational intercultural growing pains. Review and cast.
Unfortunately, People We Meet on Vacation didn’t hold up quite as well as I’d hoped.
Did you know that Disney heroes and villains have kids? Check out the Descendants series.
Housefull 5 attempts something bold with two endings — but does the gamble pay off? Read this spoiler-filled review for a breakdown of both versions, standout moments, and why it might be the franchise’s most forgettable entry yet.
Star Wars is better if you believe that Luke Skywalker is gay. You can't change my mind.
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.
