Movie Reviews

They Shot the Piano Player

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  • Title: They Shot the Piano Player
  • IMDb: link

They Shot the Piano Player

They Shot the Piano Player weaves together a fictional framework, true events, and real interviews to explore the disappearance of Brazilian pianist Francisco Tenório Júnior, and its wider implications, as well as the rising popularity of bossa nova music coming out of Rio de Janeiro in the previous decade. Originally writing a more lighthearted book about the the music of the period, our protagonist is introduced the work of a promising musician and begins pulling on the loose thread of Tenório’s life.

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Wish

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  • Title: Wish
  • IMDb: link

Wish

With nods to several Disney films, some more subtle than others, Wish is a blending of the look of Disney’s historical cel animation with that of CGI, and features many of the classic tropes of its fairy tales including opening and closing sequences involving the story springing from the pages of a book. Along the way we’ll also get talking animals, big musical numbers (which sport an obvious Broadway feel towards them making me suspect that show can’t be too far off), and themes of dreams, magic, wonder, and wishing upon a star.

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Napoleon

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  • Title: Napoleon
  • IMDb: link

Napoleon

Napoleon is certainly goofier than expected, especially for a film coming from director Ridley Scott. Screenwriter David Scarpa‘s script paints the French soldier, and later emperor, who dominated Europe for the better part of two decades as an uncouth petulant cuck forever stuck between his grand ambitious destiny and his love for Joséphine (Vanessa Kirby). The unexpected version of Napoleon (Joaquin Phoenix) gives the film its unique feel but also obscures the military strategy of a man who conquered half of Europe by really only delving into the plans for his failed campaigns in Russia and at Waterloo.

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The Disappearance of Shere Hite

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  • Title: The Disappearance of Shere Hite
  • IMDb: link

The Disappearance of Shere Hite

The Disappearance of Shere Hite examines the life and work of Shere Hite whose books on masturbation and female sexuality caused an immediate stir and brought conversations about sexuality, gender, love, autonomy, and gender, which are still debated go this day, to the forefront of national discourse. A researcher, feminist, and author, the documentary covers both Hite’s work and the backlash they caused both to her personally and later to the feminist movement which eventually led to her to leave the United States, renounce her citizenship, and spend the remainder of her life in Europe.

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Next Goal Wins

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Next Goal Wins
  • IMDb: link

Next Goal Wins

Based on a true story of a washed-up soccer coach exiled across the world and tasked with turning around the worst international soccer team in the world after their historic loss 31-0 on the world stage, Next Goal Wins is pretty much what you would expect following in the footsteps of films such as Cool Runnings, A League of Their Own, or The Mighty Ducks… just not as good.

While perfectly acceptable as family friendly TV entertainment for something like The Hallmark Channel, Next Goal Wins lacks the heart of a champion and is more notable for Kaimana‘s role portraying Jaiyah Saelua, the first openly non-binary and trans woman to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, than the story of the coach (who does little on-screen to teach soccer and whose motivations seem to come and go when the film needs them to without ever providing any proper motivation to change his attitude towards himself, his situation, or the team).

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