This week had one strong movie after another. The Scent of a Woman, Black Panther, The Big Sick and I, Tonya. They’re all fantastic in their own rights.
The Scent of a Woman (1992)
Continuing down the Al Pacino lane this week. In the Scent of a Woman he plays a blind colonel, Frank, who is not the easiest company in the world. His family is leaving for Thanksgiving and as he doesn’t want to come along they hire Charlie, a young man dreaming of getting into Harvard. Charlie and Frank end up going on a crazy adventure to New York, and despite being strangers with a big age gap they help solve each others problems.
It is difficult to explain exactly why, but this might be one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is relatively simple but tackle big feelings and important moral issues.
It cheered me up and made me feel understood when having a bad day. Al Pacino just has this presence. The command of a room. Demanding attention, if you like, which is simply captivating. And the dynamic between the two characters is very enjoyable!
Black Panther
I really wanted to like this movie. But frankly I ADORED it!
Representation! Black people! Women! All of the women!
It had real stakes and real problems. Not your average Marvel (or DC) box/magical McGuffin that we need to protect/get back to save the world. No, the villain felt like he had some substance and motives.
The scenery was beautiful, the plot line was beautiful, the relationships were on point.
The philosophical issues were so important. As a Norwegian I really identify with the issues of engaging with the world or protecting what we have. It is scary opening up your borders to the world. This is the issue Wakanda was dealing with throughout the movie. What is the best way to help your own country and humanity?
The movie also tackled the idea of black people around the world, and what it means to be black. For me it is interesting to explore the dynamic of being African versus African-American, and what that entails for the individual.
It was also good fun for me when they went to Busan, and a little old lady (ahjuma) spoke with such a strong Busan accent! It makes you feel like you know zero Korean even after a year of studying 😀
It was just a really good movie! International, exciting, action packed, thoughtful, full of awesome fantasy-technology! And the acting was great! Yes, yes yes!!
The Big Sick
“Kumail is a Pakistani comic who meets an American graduate student named Emily at one of his stand-up shows. As their relationship blossoms, he soon becomes worried about what his traditional Muslim parents will think of her. When Emily suddenly comes down with an illness that leaves her in a coma, Kumail finds himself developing a bond with her deeply concerned mother and father”. (X)
I am not the first person to say this, but this was awesome! It is funny, it is sweet, it is so engaging and intimate. Cultural differences and expectations are at the heart of this.
Absolutely loved it. A gem of a movie!
I, Tonya
This movie tells the story of Tonya Harding, an American figure skater. I was born in 1992, so I can’t say I payed much attention to the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Therefore, I came into this movie with no real understanding of who she was. I knew she was the first American woman to ever do a triple axel in competition. And American here is the key, because she was second in the world. As far as I can tell.
I have seen the movie sold as a “mockumentary” or a kind of comedy. To me this was not funny. It had some light moments, but damn this was heavy.
Tonya’s mother is emotionally and physically abusive. Her husband is abusive. And the figure skate judges won’t give her high scores because of her looks, clothing and socio-economic background.
The actress (Margot Robbie) who played Tonya did really well in depicting raw, teenage and early 20s emotions.
The movie gives almost zero screen time to her rival figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan. She is portrayed as an entitled princess. However, her Wikipedia page says her dad worked three jobs for her to be able to ice skate, so entitlement might be unfair here. But this movie is from the perspective of Tonya. Although Nancy is a clear victim, the movie brushes past this. This is Tonya’s story.
In a way this is done really well because at several points Tonya blamed others or circumstances for failure. Once she said her skates were not repaired properly, while the movie cuts back to her drinking and playing pool. Suggesting that she isn’t quite as innocent as she seems.
It’s a fine balance to strike. You feel a lot of sympathy for Tonya in this movie. She is often seen as the villain and there are lots of versions of her story! The fact that the movie uses that, breaks the 4th wall occasionally, and just points out that what people say is contradictory, was good.
I want to end, like the movie, on the real video of Tonya skating (It is just very very satisfying to watch so many amazing jumps!).
The Vast Intricacies of Life 