New movies spring out of the theater
Introduction: This spring, many new movies were produced, ranging from horror films such as Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” to comedies such as Andrew DeYoung’s “Friendship”. There were also box office smash hits like the number one success this season, “A Minecraft Movie,” which was reviewed in Issue 8 of the Panther Prowler, paving the way for a summer packed with even more movies.
“Sinners,” which stars Michael B. Jordan as a pair of twins, left me confused and feeling like I would never get those two hours and seventeen minutes of my life back. As I left, I searched up the symbolic meanings of many of the movie’s elements, only to come to the conclusion that I simply did not care. The movie begins with almost an hour focused on the main characters, the twins “Smoke” and “Stack” and their little cousin Sammie, setting up for the opening of their new juke joint. The film takes place in Mississippi in 1932, so there were many messages about the power of Black music and gentrification. When the Irish vampire Remmick enters the juke joint, he is really attempting to appropriate their music and culture, although the film seems to suddenly transform into a movie about vampires. Although I know that there is a deeper meaning present, as I watched I couldn’t help but wonder: is this what Hollywood has come to? As one does, I checked Letterboxd and saw that its overall rating has reached 4.2 out of 5 stars. Perhaps the film appealed to some, and I can see how its cinematic elements and action-packed sequences could be enticing, however, it was overall not my kind of film.
Nonnas section: The time that I spent at my grandma’s house as a child is something so dear to me, something so sacred that I have often thought it could only be captured by my own nostalgia. The melody of Frank Sinatra’s songs or the taste of her homemade cannolis brings me back to those days, but as I watched the new Netflix film “Nonnas,” I was heavily reminded of her once again. “Nonnas” tells the true story of a man who opened a restaurant where real-life Italian grandmothers cooked, rather than established chefs, after the passing of his beloved mother. I found this film to be so beautiful and heartwarming, and I was disappointed by the reviews I read afterwards that called it “too simple” or “cheesy.” Although it was not the most complex film I have ever seen, I thought that it was a fantastic story of how grief inspired a revival of culture and connection among many older women. The women all had unique lives and backgrounds, but were ultimately brought together by their passion for cooking, and I found myself rooting for them all as they navigated the challenges of opening a restaurant. As the credits rolled, I thought to myself, “They don’t make movies like this anymore.” Each character was genuinely likeable, the plot was not too stressful, yet I was still invested and the runtime was under two hours. I think the negative reviews are simply pretentious. What’s not to like?
Friendship section: “Friendship,” an A24 film recently released in the U.S., was marketed as a comedy, however, while watching I thought of it as more of a horror film. It details the misfortunes of a man named Craig who seems to somehow do literally everything wrong. The film begins by explaining his exciting adventures with his new neighbor, Austin, until things take a turn. I will not give away any spoilers, but let’s just say that the friendship does not last very long. The film had quite a few moments which made me laugh out loud, including the many times that Craig said “I heard the new Marvel is actually nuts.” I found myself laughing at the absurdity of Craig’s character, however I could not help but feel bad for him as I walked out of the theatre. Friendship is, clearly, a vital part of one’s life no matter their age, and this film did a good job of portraying the dangers of not having any friends as an adult. I enjoyed that it was obviously an A24 film, down to the way it was shot and the soundtrack, which included operatic outbursts during tense scenes. Although I felt sad for Craig and his terrible decision making, the film was ultimately hilarious and felt unique in a time where I’ve begun to question if movie makers are fully out of ideas.
