Coffee Talk With Lou Lou

My Review on Joker – *Spoilers ahead*

 

It’s been a while since I’ve written a film review on here, and that’s because the past few films I’ve seen haven’t been that fantastic. IT: Chapter Two – it was ok. Hustlers – meh! The Goldfinch – terribly disappointing with no direction or identity. Judy – great performance but lacked that special spark. Joker – now this is a film worth having some coffee talk over!

 

It’s quite rare for a film to have a profound impact on me. I can only think of a handful of films that have given me an out of body experience in the theater. Joker is now on that list of elite movies for me. From start to finish I was hooked and in awe. I felt physically uncomfortable during most of the film (in a good way I suppose) and was absolutely enthralled by the way Joaquin Phoenix delivered his performance as Arthur Fleck/Joker.

 

This film will easily be nominated during awards season. Will it win? That’s a whole different story. However, Joaquin Phoenix certainly has my vote for Best Actor in the 2020 Oscars. He poured his heart and soul into that performance and it showed. It’s a performance like his that makes me LOVE the art of acting in the first place. His best scene was when he danced on the steps as Joker for the first time. It was an incredible accomplishment as Joaquin non-verbally demonstrated his character’s full transformation into absolute madness. He did an amazing job in this moment, and now I want to learn that choreography.

 

I won’t go too much into the film’s scenes as you should experience the entire movie for yourself. However, let’s discuss the story’s polarizing thematic elements. People have been divided and vocal with their opinions regarding the film due to its violent and antagonistic themes. There is no protagonist or hero in this story, and we spend 2 hours watching a mentally ill man hit rock-bottom every several minutes. He is beaten 3 times – once by a group of teens, once by 3 drunk men on a subway train, and once by Thomas Wayne himself! Two of those times were due to his neurological disorder. He has a condition that when stressed, will make him laugh uncontrollably. Because he laughs at times when it’s not appropriate, people immediately judge and make fun of him. He even carries a card explaining his condition to people when it happens, and no one seems to care. This is a real condition people suffer from, and Joaquin spent hours researching what it’s like to possess it. Apparently, it is not a pleasant condition as it could greatly hurt your chest, vocal cords, and breathing. Joaquin did these forced laughs with absolute perfection. He captured all the emotions you would expect someone to have who’s trying to stop himself from having this “episode.” While laughing, you could see him grab his chest, grab his throat, express scared facial expressions when it wouldn’t stop, etc. This alone was an amazing feat to watch and it provided a whole new take on the Joker’s infamous laugh.

 

So already you’re starting to feel sorry for him and hate the people being downright cruel to Arthur Fleck. Now this is when it got interesting for me. When the 3 drunk men attack Arthur on the subway train, he pulls out a gun and defends himself by shooting all 3 men dead. One of the men only gets shot in the leg and attempts to flee Arthur. However, he makes it a point to walk up to the crawling man and shoot him 3-4 more times. The person next to me applauded when Arthur killed the first 2 men, and I think other people did too. This is the division people are discussing. How much empathy do you gain for a person before you realize the moral line has been crossed? When Arthur kills the first 2 men you think, “Good! He needed to defend himself in that brutal attack.” But when he kills the 3rd man you think, “Ummm okay – that wasn’t necessary, but I guess I’m still onboard with the whole ‘justice for Arthur’ thing.” This turning point in the movie certainly makes you wonder about the real-life violence this world is confronted with daily. You’re feeling empathy for Arthur, because we’re experiencing the story through his lens. But the 3 men are mourned deeply by the citizens of Gotham, because they don’t understand what led to their murders. So as an audience member you become conflicted. You know that violence is never the answer, but since you “witnessed” the events leading up to this point, you understand the motive better. So, does that make it right? Why did the stranger next to me applaud? Would he have applauded if he was watching this film through the perspective of Gotham City’s citizens and like them, learned about the murders with no added context? I would hope not. But this is the reason why this film is getting mixed reviews. People are worried the film justifies violent behavior and promotes it as a suitable and realistic solution when people are cruel to you. They are worried society will blame victims for provoking an act of violence instead of the responsible party. And with no Batman superhero to turn to for moral reassurance, Arthur Fleck is our new “clown vigilante” for the downtrodden.

 

While most people will appreciate the film for what it is, I can understand the concern regarding someone thinking this behavior is okay. When Arthur Fleck/Joker continues to kill more people, including his favorite late-night talk show host for berating him on live television, it leads to an absolute frenzy in the city of Gotham. People are following the Joker’s path and taking situations into their own hands. This is scary, because it’s portrayed in a way that makes you think about the possibilities of something like this occurring. And it all boils down to broken systems, a lack of compassion for others, governmental neglects, and mental illness.

 

This leads me to my next point – mental illness. I personally believe the film is trying to get us to have a conversation about mental illness and not so much about violence. Arthur Fleck is outstandingly troubled, and you witness how little the government/people care about him and those who need help. There were some crucial lines in this film that cut me like a knife:

 

1. “I hope my death makes more sense than my life.”
2. “You don’t listen do you doc? All I have are negative thoughts.”
3. “The worst thing about having a mental illness is everyone expects you to behave as if you don’t.”

 

The 3rd line hit home with me as I’m sure it will hit home for many moviegoers. It is a true statement when compared to modern day society.  Mental illness still has the stigma that you are weak, unworthy, and not capable. Many American workplaces claim to promote mental health awareness, but realistically don’t advocate for it. It’s much easier to call out of work with a cold than it is with depression – even in 2019. I believe the film is not promoting violent behavior, but instead telling us to be kind to people. Because you never know what battle someone may be fighting. All I could think about during this film was if 1 single person would give Arthur Fleck a speck of decency, respect, and kindness, he may have not become the Joker after all. And that’s the polarizing conversation we all need to have. Can we alleviate acts of violence with proactive empathy, compassion, and human spirit? I also believe this film is not promoting gun violence but illustrating how easy it is to obtain a gun despite one’s mental health. That’s a whole different topic that hits close to home for us too.

 

In conclusion, I didn’t necessarily find the film to be dangerous. I found the film to be an awakening to how we treat others, how we target serious mental health concerns, and how we look at access to guns. This joker was very different from other Joker portrayals. In The Dark Knight, Alfred described the Joker as someone who simply wanted to watch the world burn. But in this film, it seems the Joker’s “watch the world burn” mentality could’ve been avoided. Can the same be said for the real-life scenarios we see frequently? Does mental health and gun violence intertwine as much as this film suggests?

As I mentioned before, this film was astonishing and will easily be one of my all-time favorite films. It received one of the biggest awards a film could receive (The Golden Lion) when it premiered during the Venice Film Festival a few months ago. As a result, I do believe we’ll see this film nominated in several different categories during awards season. And it would be very deserving of them as the film is one big roller-coaster. You have no idea what’s going to happen next and Joaquin did a great job keeping you at the edge of your seat consistently. I do highly recommend it, even for those who are afraid of graphic violence. There is one scene when Arthur Fleck stabs a man in the neck and eye with long metallic scissors. This is the worst scene when it comes to blood and graphics. Everything else was done tastefully and without much graphic depiction. Enjoy!

My review on Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (spoilers ahead):

If you enjoy Quentin Tarantino’s films, then I am confident you’ll love his latest work. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood is a 2 hour and 45 minute “love letter” to 1960’s Hollywood, and I was all for it. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie who each gave powerhouse performances, especially Brad Pitt.

The film is based on a fictional story centered around real-life historical events. Leo DiCaprio stars as Rick Dalton, a film/tv star who is struggling to remain relevant in the consistently fast-paced world of Hollywood. It is said Rick Dalton’s story is loosely based on the life and career of Burt Reynolds. Brad Pitt stars as Cliff Booth, Rick’s longtime friend and stunt double who is very confident with himself and where he is in life. Margot Robbie stars as Sharon Tate, the famed actress known for being brutally murdered by the Charles Manson group. We sort of follow three storylines throughout the course of this film. We watch Rick Dalton get in front of a camera again to film a new television show, Cliff Booth explore the glamour and shadows of Hollywood only to become entangled with the Charles Manson group, and Sharon Tate live life to the fullest as she quickly becomes a rising star unlike her next door neighbor, Rick Dalton, who’s slowly fading away.

The film is definitely long and you will feel those 2 hours and 45 minutes. But if you’re familiar with Quentin Tarantino, you’ll know to expect that going in. Quentin has a tendency to let scenes play out for 15+ minutes, and he does so in a way that makes you think there was never a script. It’s as if he gives the actors his initial thought and simply says, “Let’s see where we end up.” But thats the beauty of a Quentin Tarantino film. You find yourself in the middle of the scene, not sure where the characters are about to take you. You just go along for the ride.

And perhaps the biggest plot twist you’ll witness in this film is when the Charles Manson group plans to kill Sharon Tate. We all know they succeeded on August 9th, 1969, but Quentin decided to change the course of history in his 9th film. This is something Quentin has been known to do in previous works of his (ex: The “Inglourious Basterds” successfully assassinate Hitler). In this film, the three killers make a last minute decision to go after Rick Dalton, Sharon Tate’s neighbor, after he aggressively scolds the group for their vehicle being too loud in the neighborhood late at night. Once they break into the home to kill Rick Dalton and anyone else inside, Cliff Booth is there to fight them off and successfully kills them. The film ends with Rick Dalton meeting Sharon Tate after the police complete their initial crime scene investigation and depart Cielo Drive. Sharon invites him to her house for a drink and the film ends with us believing Sharon Tate lives on.

For a Quentin Tarantino film, there is surprisingly a minimal amount of graphic violence and it’s not until the final 15 minutes. Instead, the film heavily focuses on the historical aesthetics that made up Hollywood in 1969. It’s a wonderful nod to one of the classic versions of the town that movie magic lives in. With that said, Quentin Tarantino truly elevates the film’s setting by featuring an enormous amount of time-period influential songs that added great substance to the movie’s personality. It is one of the unique things Quentin Tarantino does to increase the value of his films. He has this incredible skill to be able to plug in songs that enhance the plot 10 times. It’s honestly a rare trait to find in a film maker.

I do believe we’ll see this film show up during awards season. The Academy likes Quentin Tarantino and the actors gave strong enough performances to be considered. I can see this film picking up nominations for Production Design, Screenplay, Directing, Film-Editing, Supported Actor, and/or Lead Actor.

A deeper analysis of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (spoilers ahead):

Let me begin by saying I very much enjoyed the newest attraction at Universal Orlando. With that said, let me dive into a few things I found to be great, and some things I found to be missed opportunities.

1. The queue – the queue is very well done. If you experienced Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge in the past, then you’ll recognize many of the queue’s paths as you wait for your turn. However, they redesigned the queue very well and it flushed nicely with the rest of the Hogsmeade decor. My favorite room was the wide corridor that featured several large eggs and drawings of mystical creatures on the wall (nice nod to the previous Dragon ride too). I also liked the room before getting assigned to a car – you look up and it seems as if Hagrid is riding his motorbike on the roof.

2. The story – I felt there was a lack in storytelling here. As soon as you enter the building, you find yourself in a room with Hagrid and Mr. Weasley. It’s basically the pre-ride video, but in the beginning of your wait. However, I couldn’t hear a single word they said or make out what they were trying to achieve. My guess is they were explaining the story of the attraction and our reason for being there, but I missed it. It was perhaps a mix of poor volume and several rowdy bystanders. There really weren’t any other opportunities afterwards that allowed you to absorb the attraction’s story.

3. The ride vehicle – you either sit on a motor bike seat or the side car seat (just like Hagrid’s motorbike in the films). I sat in the motor bike seat and I was definitely higher than James was. Both seats seem similar, except you get to hold onto the bike’s handle bars when sitting in that seat. With that said, I can see someone with limited mobility and/or a handicap having challenges getting onto this ride. The vehicle doesn’t stop moving as you step onto a moving walkway before mounting the motorbikes. However, the space you have to walk into the vehicle is very narrow and makes you feel as if you need to crawl a bit to get to the seats. I was nervous my foot was going to get stuck and you do feel this pressure of getting on quickly because the attendants are “pushing” for that efficiency. And with the vehicle never stopping – just makes for an anxious moment. 😬

4. The ride experience – it was quite refreshing to be on a ride that didn’t require glasses or featured screens. Thank you Universal!! I honestly felt this attraction is a tad better than the other two Harry Potter attractions. You moved very fast, there were twists and turns all throughout the experience, and it was just the right amount of time in length. I genuinely jolted when we dropped a level and when we went backwards. But it was really well done how they brought the forbidden forest to life. I loved how they used forced perspective, berm (trees), atmosphere, and props to really elevate the experience instead of screens. Since that’s been their biggest criticism the past few years, I’m glad to see they listened. Well done.

I do highly recommend this ride, but be cautious. Listen to the warning signs for this ride for sure. There’s enough jolts and frights that come at you. I think my soul came out of my body for a moment when the platform dropped us. I still can’t get over that section of the ride haha. Will I wait another 4 hours for this attraction though? Probably not! But it definitely enhances the experience at Wizarding World of Harry Potter for sure. Enjoy!

I was a little apprehensive walking into this film, but I very much enjoyed it. To be honest, it had a bigger impact on me than Toy Story 3 did, which made me experience an “ah-ha moment.” This whole time I thought I was growing up with Andy’s story when in fact, I was growing up with Woody’s development. And maybe that’s because deep down, I can relate to Woody’s struggle in accepting his new life chapter as Bonny’s toy. When Toy Story 3 ended, I was disappointed. I didn’t want Woody and the toys to be passed on to Bonny. I get the reason behind it as no toy should be left alone and not played with, but I had no emotional connection to Bonny. I just met her! So seeing these toys I’ve grown up with for years get handed to a character with hardly any sort of development was upsetting to watch. Toy Story 4 gave me the ending I didn’t realize I needed for this franchise.

Throughout the whole film, Bonny doesn’t even know Woody exists. It’s all about Forky. Woody goes to great lengths to protect Forky because he feels that is his purpose – to serve Bonny. And right now, Bonny’s number 1 toy is Forky. He understands he is unwanted by Bonny, but refuses to admit that to himself during the course of the film. I mean, anytime Bonny thinks she lost Forky (and Woody), she’s only glad to see Forky when he turns up thanks to Woody. I’m not going to lie, this only made me dislike Bonny more. And I understand I’m getting mad at a 5 year old, but Woody doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. Which makes me kind of want to go apologize to all my childhood toys now.

Anyway…when Woody finally gets the ok from Buzz Lightyear to live his life with Bo Peep as a “lost toy”, I became ecstatic. I was so glad to see Woody evolve as a character and realize the future cannot mirror the past, and happiness cannot be forced. And at the end of the day, you have to put yourself first to truly be happy and move forward in life the way you desire. So when he says goodbye to the toys (and Bonny) to finally pursue his relationship with Bo Peep, it was a great way to capture the growth of this iconic Disney/Pixar character.

So that was the biggest thing I loved about the film.

What I didn’t like about the film: I feel as if Disney no longer wants to create true villain characters. When Gabby Gabby gets introduced as the antagonist, I was intrigued to learn more about the film’s potential villain. However, she’s a villain for less than 10 minutes and somehow becomes a friend to the toys in no time, even after guilting Woody to give her his voice box. I just don’t get it. Either write a villain or don’t. Where are the leading antagonists that truly elevate a story? The reason why Simba, Aladdin, Ariel and Beast are iconic characters is because they each have incredible and solid antagonists within their respective stories. Maybe I’m being like Woody and still living in the 90’s perhaps. The 90’s Disney villains are just a whole incredible class of their own.

Also…the ending could have been executed better. Woody is saying goodbye to his best friends! This is the most intense moment of the entire Toy Story franchise – perhaps more than when Andy gave them to Bonny, or when we all thought the toys were about to die. Why would you break that up with an RV engine being turned on, startling the entire group? I also felt the group was too cheerful as they were hugging Woody and saying goodbye. It could’ve been a little more somber to really tug at the heartstrings. Not that it didn’t already – but there was some missed opportunities to really give us that “UP montage” or “Coco finale” quality.

So those are my thoughts on Toy Story 4. Would I love to see a Toy Story 5? As long as the toys somehow reunite with Andy, he’s married (preferably to a man to really kickstart the idea of gay animated characters), and they’re passed down to Andy’s kid. But if that doesn’t happen, I’m very happy with how Toy Story 4 ended should this be the final installment.

To infinity…..and beyond!

My review on Yesterday – *spoilers ahead*

Yesterday was a cute movie with a nice message, but I didn’t walk out of the theater loving it as much as I thought I would. It was a little slow moving at times and for a 1 hour and 56 minute film, it felt longer. I also didn’t care for how the film ended – that The Beatles REALLY were forgotten and the world moves on as if they never became a band. It’s like watching “13 Going on 30” and Jenna Rink staying put as a 30 year old. So we’re not going to explain how The Beatles among other major pop culture phenomenons were just wiped away from history?

If you take the story literally (like me I guess), you’ll be disappointed and feeling as if something is missing. But if you appreciate the film for what it is, I think you’ll enjoy it. I genuinely loved the moment when Jack meets John Lennon at the end of the film. It was an extremely touching moment, but again…very confusing. The world forgets The Beatles overnight in present day yet somehow that causes a reverse effect on the past, allowing John Lennon to stay alive. Ok I guess?? But that’s the film – you get emotionally touched by some of the scenes but as soon as you try to understand the reality behind them, your brain starts to hurt. I feel as if I can explain time better in Avengers: Endgame than this movie. Whomp whomp!

The acting was fairly strong with good diversity and representation. I felt casting a British/Indian actor from African descent was a great way to show the world (and other movie studios) that race does not define the talent. Himesh Patel sang live throughout the course of the film, and I deeply respect that. He gave a strong performance in the leading role. Ed Sheeran did a good job performing as himself, but I feel as if the film painted a negative image on him. As if to say he’s not as great of a singer/songwriter as we all think he is. I sure hope Ed was ok with his portrayal. Kate McKinnon as always, gave us great comic relief, and Lily James made you fall in love with her character instantly as you appreciate the pure innocence she gives in her performance.

If you’re a Beatles fan, then I still recommend seeing it. It was fun listening to all those classics again.

Ok…let’s talk about Midsommar (spoilers ahead):

What is Midsommar? It’s an American/Swedish film that was released in theaters during 4th of July week. With the popularity of Toy Story 4 and Spider-man: Far From Home however, many people may not be aware of this new film.

It’s not getting the biggest marketing push since it’s more of an independent film. But if you’ve seen the trailers and/or watched the director’s previous film, Hereditary, you can only imagine how incredibly frightening this film is.

Midsommar is about several young grad students who are invited by their friend to attend his family’s Midsommar celebration in Sweden. The celebration takes place every 90 years, and is believed to have deep roots to folklore and ancient Swedish culture. The group of friends gladly accept this opportunity as they believe they are about to be immersed in a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. I mean…they’re kind of correct in thinking it’s once in a lifetime. 😬

As the celebration unfolds, the group slowly learns this is not a celebration or festival, and finds themselves entangled in the web of a dangerous cult. They realize this when they watch 2 elderly people perform ritualistic suicide while everyone else watches with glee. The group believes life mirrors the 4 seasons. Ages 0-18 is when you blossom (spring). Ages 19-36 is when you find yourself and go on life’s adventure (summer). Ages 37-56 is when you settle into who you’ve become (fall). Ages 57-72 is when you mentor the youth and teach them life’s greatest lessons as you continue to age (winter). Once you turn 72, life is over whether you like it or not. The young grad students were not prepared to watch this moment unfold, and neither was I.

What makes this film so frightening is how wonderfully graphic everything is. It’s not your typical horror movie as the entire film takes place during a bright sunny day and features vibrant colors and beautiful flowers in all its scenes. How scary can that be? Well…it’s what happens in the scenes that inevitably lead you to feel extremely uncomfortable and unsettled. As beautiful as the setting is, watching two elderly people willingly jump off a cliff and all that follows during and after such an act (that’s all I’ll say about what else happens in the scene) makes you realize you’re in for a very psychologically draining experience. The director, needless to say, wants you to feel uncomfortable and mimick the reactions of the young grad students who watch in disbelief and utter shock.

As the rest of the story progresses, more and more “rituals” are performed that deeply endanger the lives of our protagonists. The cult does a great job in convincing them these rituals are celebrations of life and should not be judged by their “cover.” As the students continue to stay in order to see what else happens (but why though?), the cult’s grasp on them grows tighter and tighter.

The “twist” at the end of the film is we learn the cult had intentions on killing the young students their friend invited all along. The celebration lasts for 9 days and requires 9 human sacrifices by the end of it. Four of them were selected by the cult, two members of the cult volunteer, the two elders count towards the total number of sacrifices, and the May Queen decides between an outside visitor and a lottery picked cult member. So what’s an even bigger twist? The May Queen is actually an outside visitor. Dani, who joins her boyfriend and his friends on the trip to Sweden, wins an all-female dancing competition during the festival. As a result, she is crowned as the May Queen and the cult celebrates her as you would a goddess. Dani now has to choose the final sacrifice, and it’s between her boyfriend and the cult member. She ends up choosing her boyfriend, because she witnessed him cheating on her with one of the female cult members. However, he was drugged and coerced into doing this very uncomfortable sex ritual, but Dani did not know that. With that said, their relationship was falling apart well before the trip to Sweden took place. He was never there for her emotionally, physically, and mentally, and treated Dani like a bother when she needed comfort and support. Dani would end up apologizing for “asking too much” of her boyfriend. I mean…her entire family dies in the beginning of the film. How dare she expect her boyfriend to be there for her (insert sarcasm).

But when she becomes the May Queen, she is unconditionally accepted by the cult and whatever she feels, the cult “feels” with her. At first she is horrified by this group but as the festival continues, she feels more and more accepted and valued. The film ends with her watching all her friends burn in the sacrificial temple, sobbing at first but eventually smiling as she now finds herself “with a family.”

The director does an amazing job bringing this film to life as he embraces the use of wide-angle shots consistently throughout the movie. You’re watching 5 scenes unfold in one camera angle and while that may be tough to watch, it’s a beautiful feat to witness in film editing. It makes you feel at ease although the film features some of the most grotesque and unsettling scenes ever. And perhaps that is due to the idea you believe you’re in control during the whole movie just like the protagonists did. You’re thinking, “Well I have eyes on everything so nothing can sneak up and get me now.” Your guard is down so when the cult does act, you’re not ready for it. You’re in disbelief as you continue to look on.

The film runs for 2 hours and 27 minutes so go use the restroom before it begins. Many scenes do stretch out for uncomfortable amounts of time, but that’s the point. It’s a very refreshing work of art that brings about a new form of originality to the horror genre. There’s a lot to think about and reflect on as you leave the theater regarding the cult’s practices and the way the protagonists responded to them. If you go in expecting a stereotypical horror/suspense movie, then you’ll be disappointed for sure. Be ready to cringe, be ready to get unsettled, and be ready to have your mind attacked by what happens in this movie.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t right? Here we are nearly a week after the Oscars took place, and people are still talking about the Best Picture win. Green Book, The Academy’s safest choice for Best Picture, caused a massive swirl this week in the news and Hollywood community. They didn’t pick Roma, because a streaming service would have won Best Picture and The Academy was not ready for that to happen. They didn’t pick Black Panther, because a superhero film winning Best Picture is just not heard of yet. They didn’t pick Blackkklansman, because it was too vulgar and bold for The Academy to recognize. They didn’t pick Vice, because well….Republican. And yet here we are. Honestly, Black Panther should have won Best Picture, but what do I know?

So why is Green Book getting such a negative reaction to its Best Picture win? For starters, you have the writer tweeting about how he witnessed Muslims in the United States dancing in the streets when 9/11 occurred. You also have Viggo Mortensen saying the full N-word during an interview, which was highly unnecessary. Viggo argued that he used the full word to elevate the historical context he was trying to demonstrate during his interview when discussing the film’s setting. Just say “N-word” Viggo…we’ll know what you’re trying to say. You also have the family of Dr. Shirley (Mahershala Ali’s character) infuriated over the way their family member was portrayed. They claimed the film inaccurately represented the relationship of these two men and made them out to be best of friends.

With all that said, let’s focus on what the main negative perception of this film is: a story about racial relations being told through the lens of a white man. Many people perceive this to be the main element of the film, which understandably is making them upset when you have films such as Blackkklansman and Black Panther up for the same award in the same year. Green Book is being accused of glorifying racial tensions and showing audiences that racism can be cured after a simple road trip to the deep South. But there is so much more to the film than that. Green Book is an onion and if you peel back more layers, you’ll find this story goes beyond just racial relations.

Yes..racial relations is a huge component of the film. You have Tony Lip, a loud-mouth rambunctious Italian white man from the Bronx, who is clearly racist from the start of the film. For example, one of the beginning scenes features two black men working on his kitchen. When Tony sees his wife give them glasses of water to enjoy, he throws away the glasses after they depart. You then have Dr. Don Shirley, a world class African-American pianist who despite the times, has managed to achieve incredible wealth and acclaim. When Dr. Shirley goes on tour to the deep South, he recruits Tony to be his driver (and borderline bodyguard). Clearly, Tony is not 100% on-board with working for a black man, but takes the job anyway. This road trip should be quite interesting.

As to be expected, Tony quickly judges Dr. Shirley based on their differences. While race is a contributing factor, Tony is judging him due his perception of Dr. Shirley being consistently uptight and high maintenance. Dr. Shirley clearly behaves in a manner that makes you think he feels he is better than everyone else because of his success (the stereotype still given to today’s “one percent”). He has become desensitized to the real world as he is constantly surrounded by the fine things in life. Tony sees this and feels put off by Dr. Shirley. Now you have Dr. Shirley who equally judges Tony for demonstrating poor vocabulary, terrible manners, and no class whatsoever.

So you have two men judging each other solely based on their differences until they start forming conversations. As time progresses, they learn a little more about each other and you see the tension between them dissipate. Why? Because only when you learn about each other’s similarities can you accept each other’s differences. Once their “walls” start to go down, Tony teaches Dr. Shirley how to enjoy the simple things in life whereas Dr. Shirley teaches Tony how to elevate his demeanor. During the film, you see Dr. Shirley get mistreated for being black, but you also see people disregard Tony for how uneducated and stupid he comes across. The two men need each other in order to learn how to gain social credibility in their present day.

There’s a pivotal moment in the film when you realize it’s main purpose as Dr. Shirley passionately yells at Tony, “If I’m not black enough, and if I’m not white enough…then what am I?!” It’s a huge a-ha moment in the film when you realize this goes beyond racial relations. This film is about self-identity. You have Dr. Shirley trying to figure out where he fits in based on his race, and you have Tony trying to figure out where he fits in based on his lack of class and education. With that said, Tony continues to be unapologetic for how he acts and that is because of white privilege. It takes Dr. Shirley to knock him down a bit and teach him some valuable life lessons.

By the end of the film, these two men by no means are best of friends. But they each learned something from the other person that allowed them to grow, develop, and even mature a bit. They learned how to co-exist despite having all these differences.

Green Book continues to get negative reactions, because it is being seen as a film that portrays black people the way white people prefer to see them as: in period pieces, in distress, and in need of saving. I totally understand that as a gay man. There are times I physically cringe at the way gay men are still portrayed in today’s films: promiscuous, obnoxiously flamboyant, sick with AIDS, and/or “broken” and depressed. It makes me think Hollywood continues to portray gay characters as such, because it’s the easy thing to do. When you have a film like Black Panther, celebrating the culture of African-Americans and positively destroying their negative stereotypes, why isn’t that film winning Best Picture?! I totally see the frustration as well as it proves Hollywood can still do better.

But Green Book is a perfect example of “perception is reality.” If you take the film solely as a racial relations story, then yes…you may be upset Blackkklansman or Black Panther didn’t win. But if you look at the film as a story featuring two TOTALLY different main characters learning how to accept each other’s differences and achieving personal growth as a result, you have a message that’s relevant to nearly everyone in today’s modern day society. Think about our immigration issues, our cultural clashes, and our rise in prejudice mindsets in 2019. It’s because we stopped accepting each other’s differences, and we’re not doing enough to figure out our similarities as human beings.

No matter how true or dramatized the film’s story is, if a racist and classless Italian white man, and a snobbish black man blinded by success in 1960s America can learn how to co-exist, clearly we can learn how to co-exist with those different from us today. And for that reason, Green Book can be argued as an appropriate Best Picture winner, because it carries a deeper message we all need to hear today. I’m not here to dismiss the negative perception, but to offer an alternative one.

My thoughts on Hamilton:

Ok…so I can now say I finally experienced Hamilton – the musical phenomenon that caught the attention of nearly everyone. While I do believe no show is worth the price of a mortgage payment (including Hamilton), this production is an incredible work of art to witness. So what did I enjoy most about this show? Allow me to break it down:

The symbolism – I absolutely love symbolism (probably why I’m obsessed with The Great Gatsby and La La Land). This show screams symbolism when it comes to its character development and musical lyrics. So the first piece of symbolism – Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. These two gentlemen were not just characters in a musical. Hamilton was not just the protagonist while Burr was his antagonist. That would’ve been too easy. For this production’s sake, they were the symbols of two fundamental routes one could take in pursuit of his/her own dreams. In today’s world, both styles are celebrated and frowned upon at the same time. I know cause I personally live this struggle every day. Do you constantly make your voice heard, no matter what the implications may be? Or do you sit back and wait for the right moment no matter how long it takes? Hamilton aggressively goes after his goals and succeeds A LOT as a result. But his assertive style frustrates many of his colleagues and forces him to defend his relationships often. Burr on the other hand, waits quietly for his opportunities to surface, but many of those opportunities end up going to the loudest person yelling “pick me; pick me” (Hamilton), which is very common in today’s business and political world. When it comes to living life, Hamilton is always looking at what’s next while Burr is a creature of habit and okay with the status quo. But what these two have in common is that neither of them are satisfied. Hamilton doesn’t appreciate the “destination” while Burr doesn’t appreciate the “journey.” They both want more and Hamilton can’t understand why his successes aren’t coming sooner. In the meantime, Burr can’t understand why Hamilton gets rewarded so much and jealously consumes him. Both men teach us that it’s okay to want more, but you should never let that stop you from appreciating what you have right in front of you. They also represent the dangers of comparing your life to someone else’s. Hamilton and Burr act as the scales of life – “seize your moment” vs “count your blessings.” Both will lead you to happiness and success, but too much of one will tip the scale and lead you to fall. Which leads me to my next point – George Washington. He served as the perfect balance for when to go after your dreams and when to “learn how to say goodbye.” It’s ironic Hamilton looked at George Washington as his mentor considering he never took the man’s advice.

The music – I was very impressed with how many genres of music are covered in this show. You have traditional Broadway, hip-hop, dance, pop, and opera all bundled into one consistent flow. Many of the lyrics complimented the symbolism I mentioned earlier, and you can tell they were carefully written to elevate the story and character development. However, you really need to focus on what’s being said and sung throughout the entire performance in order to fully appreciate the show’s mission. And boy do they sing quickly. If you have to go to the bathroom, wait till the end of the Acts for sure.

The choreography and rotating stage – Easily was my favorite aspect of the show. The ensemble was amazing to say the least, and the way they moved around the central characters was awe-inspiring. The scene (“Satisfied”) that illustrates the story “going back in time” to share the same moment from a different character’s vantage point was genius. Again…the ensemble made that scene one of the best moments of the show. The songs “My Shot” and “The Room Where it Happens” featured some of the best choreography I’ve ever seen. It also helped immensely that the stage was able to rotate. This added a multi-layered dramatic effect to each scene. For example, when Hamilton and Burr finally have their duel, the rotating stage allows Hamilton to “swirl” in his thoughts one last time before his fate is decided. It was a powerful climax to an already powerful show that naturally led you to go on the edge of your seat.

The lighting – Brilliant, brilliant use of lighting effects. The one that really stuck out for me was whenever Aaron Burr sung his thoughts regarding Alexander Hamilton to the audience. Each time he did this, the lighting was different to reflect Burr’s mood, and you can see Burr’s hatred for Hamilton grow each time. The second to last time he sings to the audience, the lights are bright red to illustrate the fact that jealousy and hatred fully consumed Burr. After their deadly duel, Burr sings to the audience one final time and the lights become neutral. This shows the audience that Burr’s emotions came crashing down as he finally realized his anger and jealousy towards Hamilton was unnecessary.

The casting – I totally respect and appreciate how each character was cast. In order for this show to get its point across, you HAVE to color-blind cast. America is now a melting pot of different races, creeds, and backgrounds – more so than ever. To honor that, Hamilton is orchestrated in a contemporary style that allows everyone to equally grasp the lengths our Founding Fathers went to in securing America’s longevity. Honestly, I left the show understanding more about our history than when I took Advanced Placement U.S. History in high school. If you cast the characters based on how they looked in the 1700s, the show just won’t make any sense. The casting acts as the backbone to the whole production – the symbolism, the music, the lyrics, etc.

Act I was definitely more up-beat and adrenaline rushing than Act II. It featured a ton of fast-paced numbers and left the audience on such a high by its conclusion. As a result, the audience had to quickly adjust their energy (and expectations) after Intermission, and that was not as easy as you may think. It was if Act I was the “Hamilton” Act, and Act II was the “Burr” Act.

Overall, Hamilton definitely deserves all its accolades, and I could certainly keep writing more thoughts on the show. But I’ll leave it here – if you have an opportunity to see Hamilton, I say take it. You’ll be glad you did as it’s a very unique and original work of theatre. I’m glad I was finally able to experience Hamilton, and hope to see it again soon…..but only if the ticket price is right haha!