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Am I Racist?
(2024)
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Jessie Gender
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Despite a better target than the bigoted What Is a Woman—an industry about profiting off white guilt, not fighting racism—it shares the same flaws: manipulative editing, lazy jokes, and no curiosity, ending on a thoughtless finale with no call to action.
Posted Sep 18, 2024
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The Marvels
(2023)
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Jessie Gender
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While it certainly fails to reaches the heights of MCU's halcyon days, The Marvels also manages to not feel burdened by the franchise's more recent missteps; mostly bolstered by a strong first two acts and the wonderful chemistry of its three leads.
Posted Nov 10, 2023
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
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Jessie Gender
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 not only provides an emotional ending to James Gunn's time with this crew; but also delivers the strongest and most meaningful, both in its characterization and its anti-fascist message, MCU movie since Avengers: Endgame.
Posted May 07, 2023
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What Is a Woman?
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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A film made to sermonize to the already converted, those already primed to see the simple existence of trans people as worthy of laughter and contempt rather than curiosity or empathy, then hand them weapons in the form of lazy disinformation and hate.
Posted Aug 12, 2022
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Nope
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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While less engaging on a purely visceral level then his pervious works, Nope remains true to Jordan Peele's reputation as a filmmaker who can pack dense themes and ideas into his work; this time setting his sites on Hollywood's explotative history.
Posted Jul 24, 2022
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Thor: Love and Thunder
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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While Chris Hemsworth continues honing his comedic chops as Thor and the film remains consistently entertaining, those hoping Taika Waititi would breathe new life and excitement into the growing Marvel fatigue of Phase 4 will be disappointed.
Posted Jul 10, 2022
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Dual
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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Like the director's previous film "The Art of Self-Defense", Dual has us enter a world that's just slightly off-kilter and makes us see the truth that hides underneath our typical veneer. Karen Gilen delivers a fantastic double performance to boot.
Posted Jun 22, 2022
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Cruella
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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Cruella is absolute trashy cinema, but it certainly is my kind of trash. Basically, The Devil Wears Prada for the queer crowd who loves to stan a messy villain.
Posted May 30, 2022
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A Quiet Place Part II
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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A Quiet Place Part 2 proves that there's still enough thrills in this concept to yell about.
Posted May 30, 2022
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In the Heights
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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In the Heights recaptures the old Hollywood magic of cinematic musicals.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Werewolves Within
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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While sometimes over-reliant on stereotypes and broad characterizations, Werewolves Within finds enough hilarity and twists within it's "The Thing" style premise to be worth your time.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Fear Street Part One: 1994
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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While Fear Street certainly has that cookie-cutter Netflix gloss to it, it still manages to provide enough thrills and unique surprises to make it a worthwhile entry into the horror genre.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Black Widow
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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A lukewarm farewell to a character who never got to take center stage when she deserved to, and this film feels too-little, too late as a result.
Posted May 30, 2022
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The Suicide Squad
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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James Gunn not only provides a hilarious and unique superhero tale, but also brings a surprising understand and empathy to those who are often cast as villains in a world that never allows them to be seen as anything else.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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While it still hits every single MCU storytelling beat, Shang-Chi at least manages to evolve the franchise's action and provide a bit of refreshing diversity to the superhero world.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Venom: Let There Be Carnage
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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This sequel is clearly in on the joke this time, but I'm still not entirely sure it's all that funny.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Riders of Justice
(2020)
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Jessie Gender
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An engaging yet surprisingly funny tale about trauma, empathy, and loss that never lets you forget the path that giving into your pain can take you down, and how the cycle never ends unless you work to stop it.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Dune
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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While clearly just the first half of a longer narrative, what a thrilling first half this is.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Last Night in Soho
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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A wild ride, not only with its narrative, but in your trust with the film to discuss the treatment of women with enough empathy that is required for a story like this one, and while it almost loses you, it recaptures that trust in its final moments.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Ghostbusters: Afterlife
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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Ghostbusters Afterlife doesn't do anything original with its narrative, but its new setting and earnest heart manage to make this franchise feel worth the revisit one more time.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Spider-Man: No Way Home
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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While banking a tad hard on viewer's nostalgia, the movie still ultimately manages to provide a strong emotional throughline and sense of finality for not only Tom Holland's Spider-Man, but for its myriad cross-franchise characters.
Posted May 30, 2022
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The Matrix Resurrections
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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The Matrix Resurrections evolves the original trilogy's anti-capitalist metaphor and places it front and center for all to see, ensuring that no one can look away from it's message that only community and resistance can save the day.
Posted May 30, 2022
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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While the film may not live up to the multiversal madness of its title, Doctor Strange 2 manages to be something wholly unique in the MCU; a film that stands out with its own unique directorial style that hopefully signals a new direction for Marvel.
Posted May 09, 2022
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The Long Night
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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The Long Night is more concerned with atmosphere than trying to do anything new or engaging with its tired "trapped in a house" slasher formula.
Posted May 04, 2022
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We're All Going to the World's Fair
(2021)
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Jessie Gender
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Not for everyone, but if you're enthralled by the creepypasta community, and the drive to seek for community that underpins it, then this movie perfectly captures that spirit.
Posted May 04, 2022
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The Northman
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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Drenched in testosterone, Northman is less concerned with reinventing the wheel with it's narrative built on the same mythology that inspired Hamlet, but rather with making you feel the visceral human anger and rage underpinning it's entire proceedings.
Posted May 04, 2022
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4/4
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)
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Jessie Gender
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The most movie to ever movie. An ambitious, bonkers and yet ultimately touching film that reminds you revel in your humanity; all told through the constantly inventive storytelling that never feels confusing despite the endless absurdity.
Posted May 04, 2022
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