The Pickle Recipe (2016)

A young girl who is determined to sail the ocean within 210 days at sea brings an adventurous story for viewers.

The Night Doctor achieves telling an original story in which the pace accelerates progressively while supported by dark aesthetics.

When a group of White women are invited to dinner by an Indian woman and a Black woman to talk about race in America, sparks fly.

Despite its glaring flaws, First Girl I Loved is not entirely undeserving of a watch. For people who can handle the more difficult aspects of the story and graphic scenes, it is worth looking into. It’s not a film worthy of rewatch, but it may still resonate somewhat with those who need a story like this. It is a genuine, if flimsy attempt at a coming-of-age tale. Were the film to be directed by someone with experiences more similar to Anne, it would likely be more powerful--as it is, it feels like a man’s perspective of what it means to come to terms with your identity as a lesbian. 

Throughout Brendan Fraser’s career, he has played a plethora of unique, layered characters who explore the importance of not being afraid to display your emotions, something that is often seen to not be a masculine trait. This idea of regulating emotion and what traits men are able to possess creates a toxic atmosphere for men who are often told they should not cry or represent their emotions in any physical way. These characters represent that men can be joyful, emotionally conscious, and sensitive, while also representing their masculine identity instead of painting those qualities as fighting against their masculinity.

The thing is, people like Wahlberg will only apologize if they have something to lose, which he did. His glamorous life, his reputation, and his career were all at stake.