OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009)

New horror film "Pretty" is good to look at thanks to 19-year-old director Metecan Duren.

"Godzilla vs. Kong" is all style and very little substance. It's also the most fun I've had in months.

Joel Coen has gone solo to create perhaps the greatest version of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' since Shakespeare himself.

'Free Guy' combines classic Disney (a white heteronormative love story), exploration of popular video games and the culture around them, and Ryan Reynolds adult humor in the best way to make a super fun family flick.

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.

(Disclaimer: Harmful Language) In celebration of Pride Month, Father's Day, and father figures (and whoever supports you), I revisit Moonlight's brief but spectacular character, Juan. With overarching themes tied to masculinity, I reexamine his intimacy with Little.