Blog Archives
Flash Movie Review: The Book of Clarence
I WAS HESITANT TO GO, BUT my friend did not want to go alone and asked if I would go along. My friend had been following an “entrepreneur” online, who claimed to have found a pathway to success. The few videos I was forced to sit through showed a man talking in front of these impressive backdrops like a stately mansion or at the edge of a line of dramatic cliffs. He was pitching a series of courses that would teach an individual how to become a successful entrepreneur like him. I knew this was just a sales pitch and honestly could not believe my friend was buying into it. However, they were convinced they could succeed and make money from it. We had to leave early for the hotel where the entrepreneur was conducting an all-day seminar because my friend wanted to get a seat up close. I was surprised by the amount of people filtering into the ballroom to essentially listen to a sales pitch. Over half the room was filled with people; I could not believe it. When the lights dimmed and he walked out onto the stage, everyone stood up out of their chairs and cheered him. Based on the videos I watched, in the room at that moment, I felt as if I was in the middle of a cult. THE DAY WAS LONG AND BY the time everything was done, I was exhausted. Listening to his sales pitch and instructions on how one could earn money, it was clear to me his business model was like a pyramid scheme. Not to disrespect companies that use such a tactic, but this man was telling everyone they could double their income solely by signing up enough individuals who would then work for them. If I understood correctly, there really was no business plan except to get other people to sign up for the courses. I could see my friend was excited and “revved up” from the seminar but I had to express my concerns. They listened but always had a rebuttal to anything I said, so I eventually dropped it and let them go on talking about their plan of action. They listed the things they would need to buy despite having already spent close to three thousand dollars for a variety of DVD’s and “sales tools.” I honestly hoped I was wrong with my thinking, but I could not see where my friend could make a living out of doing this thing. Of all the people my friend could emulate, I did not think this entrepreneur was the best choice. Maybe they needed to have higher aspirations like the main character in this dramatic, comedy adventure. SEEKING A BETTER LIFE FOR HIMSELF, a struggling man decides to act more like the rising messiah everyone was talking about. With LaKeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah) as Clarence, Omar Sy (The Strangers’ Case, The Intouchables) as Barabbas, Anna Diop (Us, Something About Her) as Varinia, RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Elijah and David Oyelowo (Selma, Role Play) as John the Baptist; this history film confused me. Yes, there was a mix of comedic and dramatic scenes, and I enjoyed the well-versed cast; however, nothing stood out for me. Most of the scenes lacked punch; it felt like everything was on one level. I did not feel connected to any of the characters which, at times, led to boredom. With the idea for the story being outrageous, I thought the script would have gone all in to either the comedic or dramatic side. The best thing I can say about this movie is that it had some amusing moments.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Emergency
WE WERE SITTING AND HAVING A SCRUMPTIOUS dinner at a restaurant, when a couple walked up to me and said, “What a surprise to see you eating all that food!” Now if they were total strangers I might have been offended; however, I knew them from my fitness classes. I asked them why it was a surprise to see me with a plate of food and they replied they assumed with me being so healthy teaching classes, I would have stayed away from restaurant portion sized food. I could not resist so asked them what they thought I would have been eating; they said a healthy sized salad. Really?!?! Granted I always try to eat a salad every day but more of an appetizer size before the main course. We exchanged a few more words before they wished me well and excused themselves. I sort of wished they had stayed longer to see the chocolate dessert I was expecting soon. My friends at the table were curious to know, based on the conversation they heard, why the couple thought all I would be eating would be raw vegetables and tofu. I explained how this has happened to be before throughout my teaching years. People assume based on how I look and act in class, that I am some type of “intense fitness person” who maintains a strict diet. To tell you the truth, I am used to hearing this; but I try to impress upon them and the rest of the members of my classes that one must find balance with their daily food intake. I can splurge on a Saturday night because I am carefully watching my food choices during the weekdays. HAVING EXPERIENCED INCIDENTS SUCH AS THESE throughout my years of teaching fitness, I wonder if it is in our nature to quickly make assumptions based on visual information. I have certainly been guilty of doing such a thing from time to time; though I do not act on such assumptions unless proof is provided. For example, I was introduced to a friend’s friend. From the brief time we all spent together, I felt he was a cheat. We all went out to eat and when the bill came, he picked it up, scanned it and told us what each of us owed. Because he was the only one who ordered alcohol, I would have thought he would have taken that out of the money we owed, but he did not. Not too much later after that meeting, I heard about him cheating a friend out of money. In this case my impression was correct. But I can certainly see how acting on first impressions can result in erroneous conclusions. If you need to see some proof, then I suggest you view this comedic drama. COMING HOME TO PREPARE FOR A night of partying, two friends discover a woman passed out on their living room floor. They wondered what the police would think if they saw this scenario. With RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Sean, Donald Elise Watkins (Free State of Jones, Black Box) as Kunle, Sebastian Chacon (Angelfish, Pose-TV) as Carlos, Sabrina Carpenter (The Hate U Give, Tall Girl) as Maddy and Maddie Nichols (Anderson Bench, Like Son) as Emma; this thriller posed multiple questions for the viewer to ponder. I enjoyed this film and thought the writers did an excellent job of presenting significant issues in a poignantly funny way, side by side with real concerns and feelings. It did take me a little time at first to get into the story until I realized that part of the film felt like an eighty’s slapstick comedy, though it was kept to a small amount. When the movie ended, it did not leave me; I kept thinking about how easy it is to make assumptions about individuals without getting to know them. If the writers hoped they would get the viewer to think while entertaining them, they succeeded.
3 stars
moviejoltz 