film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Allie Loukas

  • Ruby In Paradise: The BRWC Review

    Ruby In Paradise: The BRWC Review

    A young Ashley Judd stars in “Ruby in Paradise” a 2021 re-release of a film that made waves at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival and served as a catalyst for Judd’s rise to leading lady status she capitalized on throughout the 1990’s.

    “Ruby in Paradise” is a slow-moving coming of age film that follows Ruby (Judd) as she navigates her new life in Panama City Beach, Florida after she leaves her home, a small town in Tennessee in search of a fresh start and new experiences. 

    She gets a seemingly boring job as a retail clerk during off-season in a stereotypical beach shop selling hats and souvenirs. Although menial, Ruby takes the job seriously, trying to prove to her wealthy and overtly snobby boss, Mrs. Chamberlain (Dorothy Lyman,) and perhaps herself that she is worth something. She’s trustworthy and reliable, someone that can be counted on. As she travels through all these new life experiences, she journals them and narrates the film.

    When Mrs. Chamberlain tells Ruby she has to leave for the weekend she puts her sleazy and bratty acting son, Riley (Bentley Mitchum,) in charge of the shop and gives Ruby a stern warning not to date him. Watching this film in 2021 really made me realize how many strides we have made as a society since 1993. Why would it be Ruby who would have to be “warned” to stay away from her son? Why doesn’t Mrs. Chamberlain directly tell her own son who clearly has behavioral issues not to bother Ruby? Why does Ruby accept this as treatment? Why did women at large accept this as treatment in the early 1990’s? After Riley shrewdly convinces Ruby to indeed date him the situation escalates and turns violent, leaving Ruby emotionally scarred and unemployed.

    In a sequence that struck me the most, Ruby, in desperate need of a job, visits a topless club, but quickly realizes this isn’t a life she wants to lead. Even in the 1990’s Hollywood had such a positive view of strippers that I’m surprised this scene was included. In an industry that is so rife with rampant abuse of women the director, Victor Nunez, showed himself as a bright light here. Ruby, in processing her emotions and learning about herself, realized she didn’t deserve to be abused by Riley or groped by sleazy men in a topless bar off a dingy highway.

    Ruby was a girl who was ahead of her time, her character study is strong. She found independence within herself, not through men who didn’t treat her well, or women who cast her aside; she fought to lead a life she was proud of, although the path to get there wasn’t easy. Even Mrs. Chamberlain who seemed to be the stereotypical 1990’s mom who thought her son could do no wrong, realized she was indeed wrong in her own thinking and even offered to re-hire Ruby.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlWMYCONL4I

    In the latter half of the film Ruby has an interesting relationship with a local man named Mike, although a pleasant and likable enough guy Mike isn’t that serious about life or his relationship with Ruby. He prefers things to be easy, and he just wasn’t motivated enough to go outside of his comfort zone. Ruby, in stark contrast, has goals, aspirations and wants to grow. She’s far more mature than Mike and moved at a different pace, and I think a lot of people can relate to this. 

    Overall, my largest criticism of this film is its laborious pace. Not unlike a film like “The Wrestler” “Ruby in Paradise” takes a really, really long time to ramp up. It says a lot of important things, but it is very, very slow and I did lose my focus. This is not due to the age of the film so much as over showing the monotony of everyday life, although it seems appropriate as a re-release in the me too era I’m just unsure of how many Gen-Zers will be able to tolerate the pacing. The editing could have been tightened to have broken some of this up. Conversely, I wish there were more vehicles like this for women in modern cinema, hopefully the re-release will serve as a refreshment and motivate some producers and financiers to show the inner lives of women; because, although we have them, it often feels like we’re shouting into an empty void.

  • Queer Japan: Review

    Queer Japan: Review

    Documentary “Queer Japan” from filmmaker Graham Kolbiens follows the life of LGBTQ artists, activists, and everyday people living in metro areas of Japan. As an outsider, when I pictured Japan, Tokyo in particular, I have always envisioned a westernized society. Neon lights, anime, and cutting edge fashion; maybe I was ignorant but in my mind I had imagined something far more accepting and open than the reality that Japanese LGBTQ people are actually living in.

    Although this piece was pretty graphic in many ways, and dealt with a bit of an underbelly of Japanese LGBTQ culture; it simultaneously explores important topics and serves as a bit of a history lesson for those of us who are uninformed of how Japanese politics play a part in the everyday lives of people in the LGBTQ community. 

    This edgy aspect of the film may be squeamish for some; but, for me, as a person who has many LGBTQ friends and has seen and experienced the culture, it wasn’t really too scandalous. Though this comment should serve as a forewarning for anyone who may be more sensitive to a piece that at times veers into borderline pornographic. 

    This was the major part that threw me off about this film. There was, simply put, a lot of discomfort to digest. There were intersecting storylines that veered off into many different places; and none of the people we follow overlap, making the entire film pretty non linear.

    On the one hand we have these artists, one scene in particular shows a drag queen with gay couples behind her fondling each other’s private parts in full view, and on the other we have a male to female transgender political and activist, Aya Kamikawa, who fought hard for equality. So much so that she literally stood out on the streets with a blow horn to make her cause known and become an elected official.

    She was able to aid in the passing of a law where transgender Japanese people are legally recognized for their gender, with the shocking aspect of the equality law being they are required to sterilize themselves. This was another thing that floored me about Japan and Japanese law, and I again have to stress that on the very positive side this film taught me a lot. On the negative side, this is also where I feel like the film failed for me, the political activism story line I really enjoyed but there wasn’t enough of it, and I really felt it would have been a wonderful centerpiece.

    It was informative, well thought out, and showed an important political figure in Japan. I feel like if the film were to be about an alternative LGBTQ subculture it should have been that, or if it were to be about political activists it should have been about that. I would have preferred it as a political film, but I could have respected it as either. There was simply a more commercialized and digestible way to present this to an audience, and I think it missed the mark there. Regardless, this film is informative and I have not seen a documentary similar to this.

    It’s a good piece to watch to gather information and learn more about a different culture you would likely never learn about on your own unless you were immersed in it personally. It could have done with being more focused and each storyline more realized, but it served an ultimate purpose and will undoubtedly raise some much needed awareness towards the daily struggles of LGBTQ people living in Japan.

  • Fly Like A Girl: Review

    Fly Like A Girl: Review

    Documentary “Fly Like a Girl” from filmmaker Katie McEntire Wiatt follows women who went against the patriarchy and pursued a career in aviation, a field where women were long considered taboo or just an anomaly. The film frames itself around an 11-year-old girl, Afton Kincade, whose dream is to have a career in aviation. The innocent hopes and dreams of this girl were made possible by the brave women who came before her; paving the way for her and every other little girl who dreams of spending their lives near and in an aircraft. 

    The film then explores the stories of these women. Each story is unique and from different historical eras, showing all levels of advancement towards and for women in the field.

    Some familiar faces include US senator and veteran Tammy Duckworth from my own personal home state of Illinois, Patty Wagstaff, the first woman to become a US national aerobatic champion, Nicole Stott, a flight engineer and NASA astronaut, Shaesta Waiz, a woman who immigrated to the US as a refugee from Afghanistan and the youngest woman to fly solo around the world, Captain Venice Armour, the first black female naval aviator in the Marine Corps, and Bernice Falk Haydu, a female airfare service pilot who broke down huge barriers for women during World War II. Haydu had to wait 60 years for the government to finally award her with her wings and recognize her for the service she provided to our nation; the multi decade wait was all because she was, of course, a woman. All of these stories are edited back to back and intercut before we loop back around to Afton Kincade’s story.

    If it seems like there’s a lot of fragments of stories that are being told here that are intermixed into an hour and a half long film, it’s because there are, and this is really my main criticism. Although I loved learning about each woman individually, particularly Tammy Duckworth who I have always admired for her bravery, I almost wish they had zoned in on less women so that we could delve more in depth into their lives. It’s like we only got to see a snapshot or the edges of their interesting stories and didn’t quite have the time to fully capture their achievements, struggles, and rich emotional lives they developed as they battled into a field dominated by men. Moreover, although an interesting idea, there wasn’t really a clear tie in to Afton Kincade. I feel like she could have just been a clip, and the film really should have focused more on the women. There were just too many things going on and that part didn’t really make much sense editorially.

    This is where the film’s edit could use a polish. It is almost like the audience is being bombarded with so much information that we miss the truly inspirational feel we are supposed to get out of the film because we are too busy trying to keep track of which woman achieved what. This should not be interpreted as a slam on the film, which I do think was very inspirational, rather what I believe was an oversight in the direction. Where the film went wrong was that it shot off into too many storylines, it really could have benefitted much more from something much more linear.

    That being said, aviation, like many other careers, that were once incredibly sexist towards women, have improved considerably, and yet still seem to have a long way to go. There was absolutely no reason, for instance, that a woman could not compete in the national aerobatic championship, because, as Patty Wagstaff said, the aircraft doesn’t know your gender. This quote really stuck with me, and made me think of the struggles women face everyday, in every field, and in daily life. 

    Even in today’s progressive world, women who work in any sort of male dominated field are still seen as a fluke or an accident with their talents and achievements being downplayed. Everything a woman does is scrutinised; but when we can look to the strength of women like the ones seen in this film, it shines a light on hope. I was encouraged that we as women can fight to be everything we want and are created to be without feeling like we have to dumb ourselves down or not pursue our dreams just because someone else is uncomfortable with them. We must fight another day, support each other, and keep marching forward.

  • Manifestation: Is It Actually Real?

    Manifestation: Is It Actually Real?

    Manifestation: Is It Actually Real?

    Can you manifest the life of your dreams? Do our thoughts really dictate the direction of our lives? Can we think ourselves confident, smart, or successful?

    We’ve seen manifestation portrayed as somewhat of a fantasy element in popular films. In “Colossal” (2016) Anne Hathaways’ character Gloria somehow realizes she controls a giant creature that is destroying Seoul, South Korea, in the classic film “Groundhog Day” (1993) Bill Murray is stuck in an eternal loop until he can straighten out his mind and manifest a life with more common sense and stability, one that’s actually worth living, in “Big” (1988) Tom Hanks is sick of being a kid and, with the help of Zoltar, manifests himself, well, big; but, there’s a caveat. Manifestation in these films is just a fantasy, it doesn’t actually happen in real life; or does it?

    The concept of manifestation, contrary to popular belief, is actually nothing new. In 1952 pastor Norman Vincent Peale wrote self help book “The Power of Positive Thinking.” Revolutionary and somewhat controversial at the time, the book was nonetheless a spiritual guide for many who wanted to live the life of their dreams; and even a favorite of US Presidents Donald Trump, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton who all touted the power of our thoughts and how they take shape in our lives. Peale even officiated President Trump’s wedding to his first wife Ivana. Interesting that three US Presidents believe in the power of manifestation? Not so much.

    Many successful people believe that our thoughts shape our lives, and that abundance is within reach. JJ Scheinwynn is the founder of “Soul of Light” a spiritual organization focused on transformative thoughts and the power of a positive mind. “You are powerful, and you are in control of creating your best life,” Scheinwynn says. “If you see all life experiences as divinely orchestrated it will change your view. Any thoughts that deny your power or greatness are simply put, a lie. Thoughts of faith are important, we can’t consistently think negatively of ourselves and expect to live in abundance. We have to practice positive thinking, “I am” affirmations, and follow up on our thoughts and words with action.”

    These words ring true when we consider everything starts with a thought. Whether it be a business, any sort of relationship, or even a film or TV show. A screenwriter, for example, starts with a blank page. Everything that manifests on screen first began as a thought in someone’s mind. Every business, everything we use today.

    Even the computer I am typing on was a thought. As Steve Jobs famously said “have the courage to follow your heart and your intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.“ Our minds are a powerful tool, but it is up to us to decide where our thoughts go and how they direct our steps.COVID-19 has had such a shocking and unexpected global impact on everyone and everything that people don’t even know where to begin to pick up the pieces.

    The film business is teetering or at a total standstill, and no one knows what the future holds for movie theaters or live events. Scheinwynn says “now more than ever it is important that we remain positive, this year has been tough but we are tougher. We must think ourselves prosperous and stay on a positive growth pattern,” but he also advises that the power is within us and we maintain free will. 

    For myself personally, I would rather add up all the negative experiences I have had this year, and throughout my life, and somehow try to see how they changed me or made me better and stronger. Even if you think manifestation is a fantasy conjured up by Hollywood or a prosperity preacher, isn’t it better to remain positive in the face of adversity or unfair life events and circumstances? You’ll undoubtedly look better, feel better, and think better. It’s ironic to me that COVID-19 struck in 2020, because hindsight will be just that, 2020. 

    For more information on Soul of Light and how you can manifest abundance, please visit https://www.souloflight.org

  • Girl: The BRWC Review

    Girl: The BRWC Review

    Director and writer Chad Faust co-stars with Bella Thorne in his first feature film “Girl.” The twisted tale follows Thorne’s character who has no name, we only get to know her as “Girl” as she traipses through a grungy, dusty small town in search of her absentee father. Seeking revenge for her mother, “Mama” (Elizabeth Saunders) Girl, yielding an axe, is determined to find her father and get the payback she deserves in more ways than one.

    I have seen Bella Thorne in minor roles in other films and on TV, but this is my first time watching her as the lead. Not only does she deliver as Girl, she knocks it out of the park. Her performance, and the film in general, remind of a grittier “Winter’s Bone” though, in my truthful opinion, Thorne outshines Jennifer Lawrence here. She has the perfect rough edges to carry a piece like this, and holds the screen so well throughout the entire film that even her character, who doesn’t talk to much during the first act, is interesting to watch.

    We first meet Girl traveling by bus to the grungy town her father resides in. Upon her arrival she encounters an array of townspeople who seem to already know more about her and her background than she knows about herself. Even with an ominous feeling in the air Girl is determined; when the dive bar’s phone book reveals her fathers’ address she sets out to meet him face to face and heads for his house on foot.

    While walking she encounters a sleazy, suspicious looking sheriff played by Mickey Rourke who also really shines here and is as good as he was in “The Wrestler.” When she finally makes it to her father’s house she discovers he has been murdered, and is now more determined than ever to solve the mystery of who did it and why.

    What unfolds after is an interesting type of thriller. Girl is not only trying to solve a murder, she’s also trying to figure out who she is, where she came from, and who is keeping secrets from her and why. There’s violence, there’s drama, and touches of horror; a real rollercoaster ride I didn’t mind being on.

    What a debut from Chad Faust, and performance from Bella Thorne. This film is excellent, it’s like “Kill Bill” married “Winter’s Bone.” It’s dark, it’s dramatic, it has great suspense and pacing throughout and, the most interesting aspect of this piece to me is that there’s almost an unexpected simplicity to it. The locations are simple, the town is simple, the sets are simple. Nothing is overdone, in fact, it is almost underdone to the point where the audience can really focus on the story and the actors which is so greatly appreciated in an era of filmmaking that seems to love doing too much.

    This movie is old school in that way, simplicity in filmmaking is truly under appreciated talent and art form; less is most certainly more. This is a stripped down story for the modern era, with our unlikely hero here being a young girl in a role we don’t normally get to see young women or any women in. She’s a badass protagonist who almost isn’t a protagonist, and gives me all kinds of Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill”) vibes and I’m here for it. This is definitely one to watch, it will hold your attention and has tons of commercial appeal. Chad Faust will be a name to look out for in the future.