Reviews

In a lot of ways, The Ten Commandments has become what many people view classics like It's Wonderful Life, The Wizard of Oz, and even Home Alone, films that have been seen by generations of people from young and old, bring everyone around the TV and has become part of film history.

The film opens with Yochebel and her daughter Miriam casting the baby Moses onto the Nile to avoid the Pharaoh's decree that all-male born Jewish children must be executed, as the starts predict one will lead the Jews from bondage. He is rescued by Bitthiah the Pharaoh's daughter who after losing her husband and is nearly doomed to a life without a family, is overjoyed by this gift from the gods, though her servant Memnet recognizes who Moses is, but is sworn to keep silent by Bitthiah who threatens harm if the truth is revealed.

The story of the Exodus is captured with all its brilliance in color and awe by Cecil B. DeMille who in the final film of his remarkable career created arguably his masterpiece, a film that weaves a large tapestry to tell the story of Moses: The man who led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

We see the wonders of Egypt, from the Nile to the cities built on the backs of the slaves Pithom and Ramses, observe the torture and pain the slaves endure, from the men, women and children and also the pain that many Egyptians experienced as the plagues occurred and wreaked havoc on their loved ones.

But what is truly amazing about Ten Commandments is the cast, there are so many remarkable scenes and performances in this movie that truly capture out emotions and linger with us.

Heston: Charlton Heston who himself did not think highly of himself in this role is truly in my view wrong. He creates from his voice and power a man who is at peace with his life in Egypt, but we see glimpses that unlike others he has compassion for the "slaves" knowing they must be taken care of for the good of Egypt and sees them as people, not cattle or vermin like other Egyptians.

He is also flawed, from the mistakes he makes trying to initially get Pharaoh to free the slaves with his staff which backfires and nearly leads to a riot, and when he gives up at times twice the love of Nefretiri to learn more about his past, and even Sephora whose love he begins to forget as he finds God. But we also see a toughness and edge when he has to make decisions that are vital for the common good, and when he rebukes Ramses who belittles the Israelites, God, and human decency which ultimately later leads to his downfall.

Brynner: Yul Brynner is brilliant in this film, what could have been a cartoonish villain is instead played with power, arrogance, and pride but yet we pity this man. A man who wants to take his father's place, but is overshadowed by Moses, he wants Nefretiri who he knows loves Moses and wants him to marry her. He is always 2nd to father and later to his wife, which creates a hatred towards Moses(the Prince of Egypt changes this dynamic in my view wrongly) that shapes his choices.

Brynner commands the screen when he's on from his walk, to his look and to his words: SO LET IT BE WRITTEN, SO LET IT BE DONE. He has no qualms in trying to bring down Moses, and when he learns the truth that Moses is actually the son of Hebrew slaves, he uses this to get what he wants.

He is also cold... The slaves in his view are his to control, and he will work them to the bone to make sure Egypt is great. But that coldness, vanity and arrogance cloud his judgment and harden his heart in spite of the warnings of Moses and even his subordinates leading to the loss of his son and eventually his army.

Then you have Anne Baxter whose MOSES, MOSES may be silly, and over the top... but man the subtlety, wit and sarcasm she creates in Nefretiri at times steals scenes from her co-stars. Her work with Brenner and how she uses his ego to get what she wants as she mocks him, belittles him and tells him he will never get from her what Moses could give her.

Her dynamic with Heston is also powerful, Nefretiri loves him and kills for him when Memnet threatens to inform Ramses that Moses is a Hebrew, saves him when his people nearly riot against him and even saves his child and Sephora from Ramses's decree to kill the hebrews.

Throw in the work of John Carradine, Yvonne de Carlo, Vincent Price, Debra Paget and Edward G. Robinson's Judas-like role as Dathan, and Cedric Hardwicke's truly understated haunting scenes as Sethi and you get a remarkable thread showing the light and darkness of what slavery has caused the Israelites and how their freedom creates a truly magical film experience.

Then there is the visuals: Demille creates a jaw-dropping spectacle from the first plague transforming the Nile River into blood, the dark green-hand of the Angel of Death slowly making its way into Egypt killing the first-born Egyptians a scene that as a child truly freaked me out, the hail, the creation of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai, the pillar of fire and of course the splitting of the Red Sea.

To do all this before CGI is simply mind-blowing, and yet the film has aged remarkably well and still holds up despite some melodrama.

But the it's the small scenes that truly catch me every time with this film. The scene where Sethi learns the truth about Moses, and we see the pain of this man seeing the son he loves in rags and chains, but must punish him for going against him. The horror on the faces of Hardwicke, Baxter and the court as they see Moses being shown to be in their eyes a traitor. And Sethi rebukes Moses and strips the name of Moses from every book, monument, tablet and tongue of all Egyptians and we see the heartbreak and pain etched on his face and voice as he issues this brutal decree.

Or the scene on Sethi's deathbed where he talks of leaving Nefretiri and the other person he loved and in his last breath says Moses breaking his own vow.

The scene where Moses lowers his hands to close the Red Sea on the Egyptians and he turns away, knowing that he has killed all those Egyptians in the chariots and Brynner's final scene where all the arrogance and vanity is stripped away, when he says: His God, Is god.

This is truly a remarkable film that will continue to create awe and wonder for moviegoers for decades to come, and truly is one of the great motion pictures in the history of the cinema.

To put The Father into words is hard, because it is confusing, hard to follow and even understand at times. We see a man who is uncomfortable with aging, wants to retain his independence and at the same time is blissfully unaware that his issues can't be fixed.

But that is only the top of the surface of Florian Zeller's film which is based on his play, and a screenplay he co-wrote with Christopher Hampton and a film Zeller also directed. Anthony(played by Anthony Hopkins) is 80 years old and has run off an aide his daughter Anne played by Olivia Colman hired to help him. Much like my Grandpa and I'm sure others all over the world have experienced with seniors, Anthony refuses aid saying he can manage on his own, and Anne shouldn't worry about him.

Hopkins gives Anthony humor in this scene like his sarcasm when Anne tells him she's leaving for Paris as she's found someone and can't take of him 24/7, but then comes the first brutal line of the film when he realizes she's serious and says so you're abandoning me.

Then we observe Anthony wandering around the apartment and he encounters another man sitting in the living room. He is befuddled, who is he? The man states he is Anne's husband and she is not leaving for Paris. Hopkins becomes defiant, saying he will not be forced to leave his flat to which the man states that this isn't his flat, Anthony has been living with Anne and her husband in their flat.

Anne comes back, but to the horror of Anthony it's another woman, not Anne. Zeller's screenplay is labrynth-like, where every scene takes the audience down a path we aren't expecting. The film is at times very hard to follow, and truthfully for most of the film me and my Mom were confused.. Is Anthony losing it, are others trying to make him crazy, or what?

Scenes repeat, things aren't what they seem and Anthony at one point asks why his other daughter never comes to see him. (In one of the key scenes, later on we learn why.) Hopkins performance is jaw-dropping particularly the scene where he meets the new aide his daughter brings in, he charms her and we see Anthony's charisma, humor and wit, but then he says she reminds him of Lucy in that she laughs inanely like her.

Hopkins immediately reestablishes dominance by saying Anne is after his money, he's not crazy, he liked his other daughter more, Anne is cruel and manipulative and goes from charm to humiliating both the aide and Anne in the course of 1 scene.

Also Hopkins with his eyes shows so much of Anthony's thoughts his anger, fear and confusion over what is happening to him, am I ok? He tries to maintain control telling the doctor his daughter takes him too that yes he knows his birthday, who he's staying with and so forth.

Finally, we begin to understand that we are watching a man who is losing his sense of reality due to the illness that is controlling his mind. The aide tells him she heard from Anne about his other daughter and what happened to her and we see a photograph of Anthony, Anne and Lucy. We observe the other woman appear when the aide Anthony likes is supposed to come, and then we observe Anthony no longer at home.

Anthony has most likely not been home either in his flat or daughter's flat for a while, and has clearly has lost sense of time, faces and what he knows. Finally, at the end Hopkins shows a man who finally realizes he has lost all control and in his final scene which I will not divulge BUT INSIST ANYONE WHO DOES TO BRING TISSUES... is horrifying, heartbreaking and absolutely gut-wrenching.

Zeller's film which he takes major risks on by taking us on a journey of dementia is frightening and disturbing. But it is a powerful and important film that deals with an issue many of us sadly will encounter with loved ones, and features the genius of Olivia Colman and the brilliance of Anthony Hopkins.

Hopkins nearly 30 years after his brilliance as Hannibal Lecter, once again demonstrates his brilliance with a performance that is almost operatic from humor, to drama, to pain, to horror and finally to tears. I'm so glad the Academy recognized this and for once got it right.

What are our rights as humans? Do we have the ability to question the status quo? Or should we be conformed into the beliefs of the masses around us? These questions lie at the surface of Inherit the Wind a film brilliant in its ability to transcend time and be just as relevant today as it was back in 1960. The film is based on the actual 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial where a HS teacher was put on trial for violating the Butler Act, a law passed by the Tennessee state legislature banning the teaching of evolution.

In the movie, Scopes renamed as Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching evolution in his HS science class, and be put on trial. As the trial begins to capture attention of the nation, Matthew Harrison Brady(Frederic March) a former three-time Presidential candidate comes to town to assist in the prosecution against Cates. Meanwhile, E. K Hornbeck a writer for the Baltimore Herald convinces Chicago lawyer Henry Drummond and one of Brady's long-time friends to come to Hillsboro to defend Cates setting the stage for a titanic confrontation of wills.

The town led by Reverend Jeremiah Brown openly welcome Brady as a messiah who will fight for their views and denounce the evils of Cates and outside agitators like Drummond and the ideas of Darwinism. The trial which takes place in the "dog days of the summer" heightens the tension as we see Drummond and Brady go to war over their views and beliefs. For Brady, Drummond's defense of Cates is an "attack one people's belief in God", and an abandonment of faith. Drummond views it differently as Cates is being punished " for being a thinking man" and roundly condemns Brady and specifically the town for their vitriol towards what he feels are America's democratic values free speech and free thought. Rachel Brown who is dating Bert is torn between her father's religious views and her love, trying to find a way to balance the two but is ultimately condemned by her father "for speaking out for a sinner."

Tracy and March are brilliant in this film, particularly their scenes in court where they disagree on their beliefs but also the scenes outside there as well. However, what March does in this role which could have come off as over-acting and cartoonish is instead harrowing and tragic. Brady in spite of his religious zeal and passion, is also a man who understands the fear of the small-town to change. Note the scene he and Drummond share outside the boarding house where he begs Drummond not to take away from Hillsboro their belief in a higher power which gives them strength and joy in tough times. March also shows outside of the bombastic personality that Brady is not like the town and others, as he shows in perhaps the film's most haunting scene the prayer meeting.

As the town and the reverend call for Cates to be struck down by God, and Reverend Brown condemns Rachel for asking forgiveness for Bert both Brady and his wife have had enough. Subtly, Brady condemns the Reverend for his rhetoric saying that the Bible teaches us "God forgives his children" and that "he who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind." Brady stands up against the almost cult-like atmosphere, and shows his compassion and care.

But as the trial goes on, things change. Brady and the court ensure Drummond can't his witnesses scientists, professors or even religious figures who can explain evolution and show Cates didn't try to hurt anyone. Drummond erupts at this, and in perhaps another incredible scene Tracy says that "ignorance and fanaticism is forever busy and needs feeding." And that if you pass laws to ban teaching evolution, soon you'll ban the ability to write about it or think it, or even worse. Tracy creates a man who is sharp, funny, and is also not openly for evolution or religion, he simply wants a man to have the right to think for himself.

He also is flawed with his outbursts, but also has a sharp wit like when he calls Brady to the stand as a witness, as the court will not allow any one to speak on evolution, only the bible.

On the stand, Brady is confident in himself but begins to break as Drummond questions whether every word in the Bible should be taken literally or not. The first day which since there was no sun, could have been a day for an indeterminate length of time a month, a year, or even 10 million years which a rock sample that Drummond has from the area was dated from.

Drummond adds that that in order for society to develop, people must abandon faith which Brady erupts over saying faith is vital to people. Drummond spins around questioning why God would give us the power to think then, and starts to ground down Brady for his refusal to recognize the greatest thing humans have their own minds and ability to reason. As the testimony concludes, and as the crowd begins to turn and sneer him Brady begins to rant and rave about his belief in the Bible.

As the movie concludes, I was reminded of one of my favorite Greek myths the story of Icarus who flew too close to the sun out of hubris. Brady grows more and more fanatic and stubborn as he believes he is fighting for God and his pride cant let him see how he's trying to force people to think like him or worship him. He breaks down with his wife Sarah saying people the ones he is trying to defend were laughing at him, his religion and his God.

Finally at the end, even when Cates wins Brady is not satisfied because in his view the punishment of $100 is not enough, and will not deter anyone. He then asks to read a speech about God and religion as the trial ends and the only onlookers really watching him are Cates, Rachel, Hornbeck, Drummond who looks away as he see his friend is gone and Sarah watching her husband with tears in her eyes as she sees her husband fighting for his beliefs no matter whether they are popular or not. Brady who has flown to close to the sun, finally gets burned as his fervor and pride kill him as he falls with a thud to the floor of the courtroom.

Gene Kelly as the cynical and bitter Hornbeck is just as brilliant as March and Tracy particularly his final scene with Tracy. Also Florence Etteridge who I didn't know until I re-watching the film after a decade, actually was March's real-life wife for almost 50 years adding even more heartbreak and pain to her work as she is really watching her husband lose himself.

The film is a constant reminder as we deal with partisan politics amid fights over cancel culture, critical race theory, etc... that free thought and will are the vital things that hold us up. And that when people start trying to tell us how to teach, think, act or write we are heading backwards when truth is questioned, people are punished for being different and no one is willing to stand up for for themselves. Democracy depends on people's understanding of our freedoms and without them we will cease to exist.

These words are perhaps the most important ones ever spoken in the film, how do we define what is true or false, is everything as clear as we thought it was and so on. I Tonya opens with a title card saying it's based on irony free, totally contradictory and true interviews of Tonya Harding and Jeff Gillolly. We also at times hear from Lavonna Harding( Tonya's mom), her former coach Diane Rawlinson and her "bodyguard" Shawn Eckhardt. The screenplay written by Steven Rogers in my view is brilliant as we always hear varying perspectives from all sides over what happened, Tonya the person and the events of Kerrigan-Harding the infamous scandal which made Tonya a tabloid pariah.

The music, editing and pace all blend perfectly as they capture Tonya's personality, her fast-paced life, her wildness, and her attitude. Tonya is in many ways a rock-star in the figure skating world due to her skating style, lifestyle as a tom-boy, redneck and someone who came from nothing and tried to survive using the only gift she had. The film is styled as a black-comedy, but is in many ways a tragedy as we observe someone see their dreams taken from them by bad choices, bias, loved ones and outside forces.

Margot Robbie is not the actress I envisioned to play someone like Tonya due to her beauty, and other factors. Yet she delivers arguably her best work on screen showing Tonya's highs and lows from her skating career, to the struggles of her life off the ice. Tonya in spite of her image as a rough and tough girl, is actually very insecure look at how Margot's voice quivers when she talks of her 1st date with Jeff, or when she hears a judge tell her she doesn't fit the mold of what the USFGA wants a female skater to be like. But when she is wronged, Margot using profanity or sarcasm pulls no punches like telling the judges to suck my d**** when she is told you have no talent, and we don't like your attire. Tonya's anger fuels her at times, and also is possibly the instrument of her destruction.

Allison Janney who I've been a big fan of thanks to MOM on CBS' delivers a incredible performance as Lavonna. She is Tonya's chief tormentor, frequently putting her down emotionally saying she won't amount to anything, asking why she tolerates' her husband's behavior and violence and at times her skating skills.

Lavonna's view is that Tonya's anger fuels her, she even pays a heckler at one point to enrage Tonya before her skate at nationals where Tonya lands the triple axel. Her chemistry with Margot really stands out, particularly when she and Margot have their big argument scene at the table when she yells at Tonya, and yet her whole expression changes to horror when she throws a knife and pierces her arm. She shows no outward love for Tonya, but there are two scenes one where see on the job tells her boss she's not serving tables, till she sees Tonya's face finish a good routine and of course the wire scene.

Lavonna in a twisted way really does want the best for Tonya, but is so machine-like in how she goes about it and finally when we see a "tender" moment, it's revealed Lavonna was willing to hurt her daughter again. Sebastian Stan is brilliant too, but is in some ways overshadowed by Margot and Allison. On a side note, I'm so happy Allison won an Oscar here, though I think the film really should've gotten a best picture nomination.

Many say the movie is too pro-Tonya and glosses over her mistakes, but to me that's not the point of the film. Tonya's anger does hurt her career as does her stubbornness and willingness to speak her mind and fight back.

Yet the film's most tragic moments are Tonya after the scandal. There is the haunting mirror scene where Margot I truly think earned her nomination as she tries to put make-up on and be the girl the community wants. But Tonya's spirit has already been broken by the constant media harassment, Jeff's abuse towards her and how no one really shows her any love. She is on the verge of tears, she's hurting and finally smiles trying to put a brave face on but we know it's not the same girl who exploded with joy after the 1991 Nationals.

Then there's the banishment scene at the courthouse where Tonya learns in spite of cooperating with the FBI and pleading guilty to hindering the investigation of the Kerrigan attack, she learns she is banned for life. Again, Margot is haunting crying almost having a nervous breakdown telling the judge not to take away the one thing that gives her stability, joy and a canvas where she can be herself. And finally, the boxing scene where Doris Day's music plays and Tonya talks of how she tried to make a living as a boxer because "Violence is all I knew anyhow."

Is Tonya a saint? No, but to see a woman lose her career, dignity, and everything while others made money off her, got away with abuse, or committed more wrongs than she did is injustice personified.

And yet, Tonya gets up after getting KO' d, and continues to try and make a living and a name for herself. The best films are the ones that challenge what you thought you knew, and make you see things differently. Tonya was featured in documentaries and interviews, but the media always portrayed her in 1 negative light, and we never saw the other side of the story.

Tonya's reputation precedes her, and yet most of the craziest quotes and events from the film are actually backed up by archive footage of the real participants, and other sources. Tonya it turns out was not a full-blown liar, and the film ends with telling us in spite of everything she has made a living, become a Mom and wants the world to know she is a good mother.

PS: My mom was very anti- Tonya, and openly asked me when the trailer came out for this film why people would want to see a movie about Tonya who was trailer-trash, a liar etc... After we saw the movie with my Dad, she told me her opinion on Tonya while it wasn't a full 180 change, she did note

" I wasn't aware of what she went through, and she deserves to have a chance to coach and come back."

As we approach Pixar's 25th anniversary, many people like to list their favourite Pixar film. Some list Up, Ratatouille, Toy Story, Inside Out, Wall-E, and as of recent even Coco. The Incredibles, is not always as well-noticed as these films and in my view actually underrated of its brilliance and undertones of social tensions and familial dynamics.

The film opens with Superheroes like Mr. Incredible being adored by the public stopping crime, fending off evil and generally enjoying life. But then as time passes, mistakes begin to happen as these superheroes powers' lead to injuries, damages and other stresses on the populace. Much like 1950's America, fear is stoked and people begin to demand these superheroes be stopped, they are different, dangerous, out of control and are doing more harm than good. Mr. Incredible who at the end of this montage has married another super Elastigirl are forced to become ordinary, take menial jobs, bury their powers and live in suburbia.

Some years pass, and we now see both heroes living as ordinary people, Mr.Incredible(Bob Parr) stuck working in an office block as an insurance advisor, and Elastigirl(Helen Parr) as a housewife. They are now parents to two kids Violet and Dash, along with a baby Jack-Jack. There are so many great lines in the film , one incredible choice by writer/director Brad Bird after another that as a kid when I first saw this film in 2004, didn't pick up on and now see with clarity.As the film goes forward, we begin to take notice of the family dynamic and how each one is bitter, torn and suffocating over the restraints the world has placed on them.

Their son Dash whose superpower is extreme speed can not try out for sports because his mom fears he will expose his powers, and endanger them. He is upset and takes his frustrations out at school getting in trouble and acting out. Violet is socially awkward, stuck not knowing how to socialise out of fear of exposing her power and can not express her emotions. Meanwhile their father Mr. Incredible, voiced by Craig T. Nelson is stuck in a mid-life crisis angry at the boredom of his life, hiding their powers, no longer helping achieve the fame and notoriety he once had.

He sneaks out of the home with his friend another superhero Frozone voiced by Samuel L. Jackson to save people, fight crime, etc... This puts him at sharp odds with his wife voiced by Holly Hunter who is tired of her husband's recklessness, inability to move on from the past, and endangering their family's well-being.

This film is funny especially EDNA MODE, its serious, tragic at times and also the rare blend of action and reality that will bring kids and adults together. Im happy that Brad Bird who also did the Iron Giant a film that was overlooked due to studio mismanagement, finally got recognition for his brilliance here and also with Ratatouille. Every character is relatable and you feel their frustrations, pain and fear of the situations their in. As in the Iron Giant, Bird is able to create serious situations with his characters that pull at you, like the plane sequence and the terror as Helen tries to save her children from harm, or when Bob breaks down thinking his family has been killed and nearly snaps in a dark scene but one that makes sense if you were in his shoes.

These are moments you don't usually in a kids' film, and the action and familial dynamic really captures what most families super or not go through at some point or another. Even Syndrome a villain who is ruthless is three-dimensional because he recognizes his flaws, and is driven by the fact that he was told he could not be what he wanted due to being different. Even the minor characters step up like kid on the bike who was funny as well, and of course Bird's work voicing the great Edna Mode. This film while not emotionally as powerful as Up or Inside Out, is brilliant in its scene of familial bonds, action and power of how differences should bring us together instead of tearing us apart.

PS: CANT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!

9.5/10

The New Year's Day shooting of 22-year old Oscar Grant gave birth one can argue to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the power of social media to shape our perceptions of injustice and wrongdoing by those sworn to uphold the law. However, Fruitvale Station does not analyze the crime's ramifications, but rather shows us a young man's final day alive preparing to celebrate the New Year and change things in his life, only for everything to be taken away from him. We meet Oscar that morning as he tries to have sex with his girlfriend Sophina played by Melonie Diaz. She refuses due to his infidelity, and this is one of the most important scenes in the film.

We see Oscar is no saint, he has made numerous mistakes hurting those around him like his girlfriend, his daughter and the rest of his friends and family. Micheal B. Jordan who became a break-out star thanks to this film correctly shows Oscar as being flawed, not taking responsibility for his shortcomings like trying to get his job back at the store and nearly assaulting the boss when he's told someone else who doesn't always show up late like him has taken his place. Ryan Coogler the director doesn't sanitize Grant as a martyr, but shows him as a troubled young man who loves his family.

The film's language isn't forced, but authentic as we see Oscar and his friends interacting about how they'll celebrate that New Year's Eve, the upcoming Super Bowl and other things. Hanging out, listening to rap music, etc... normal things for a young man are portrayed honestly and humanely.

Wanda Grant played powerfully by Octavia Spencer is a tough woman who it's clear goes out of the way to make sure her kids are OK, but also doesn't suffer fools lightly. She too in flashbacks of seeing her son in jail is fed up with his mistakes hurting her, Sophina and his daughter who she mentions on one occasion doesn't get why her Dad prefers taking vacations then spending time with her. She then tells him it's her last time visiting him in jail and there's a haunting shot of her crying as she walks away but doesn't turn her back while her son begs for forgiveness and to give him a hug in order to show him she is serious about him getting his life in order.

Oscar dumps the weed , has loving moments of tenderness with his young daughter and even at the store gets his Grandmother on the phone to help a young woman figure out what to cook for New Year's Eve. He then enjoys the night with his mom and family and tells his mom as she's helping him wash up that he's going out with his friends and Sophina to San Francisco to celebrate the New Year.

Like any worried mom, she tells him to be careful, and take the BART so he can have fun and not worry about driving home after.

Here in my view is where Coogler's job as a director goes from very good to sheer brilliance. First we see Oscar and his friends on the train flirting with girls, having fun even breaking out music when their train is delayed and celebrating the New Year with other patrons. Then later, Sophina needs the restroom and they convince a man closing his store to let her in along with a pregnant woman who walks by. Her husband thanks Oscar and they talk and he gives Oscar his business card. They get back on the train laughing and joking around as Sophina sits down, and tells Oscar to find a place to sit. He begins to look for a seat and the woman he helped at the store sees him and thanks him for helping her.

Then someone from the jail Oscar had trouble with sees him, and starts a fight prompting the train operator to call the cops. The cops remove his friends from the train and begin to shout at them as the film engages in rapid cuts between Oscar and the cops. One cop screams for the rest of the "suspects" to get off the train, and Oscar gets off and is soon accosted by the cops. He tries to mediate, but the tension rises as witnesses take out their phones and record the police's excessive force.

He calls Oscar the n-word and they put the cuffs on him and pin his head on the platform. Screams, and protests from witnesses are heard and the main cop tells another to control Oscar as a shot rings out. Oscar mutters "You shot me and I have a daughter" as he bleeds to death, witnesses scream at the cops who shove the passengers back on the train and tell the driver to go.

Sophina calls Wanda terrified of what she heard and then sees Oscar being wheeled out on a stretcher. She, Wanda and the family go to the hospital where they pray for a miracle, but the next day Oscar dies. Wanda in tears blames herself for telling him to take the train as Sophina picks up her daughter, as she hauntingly asks in the final shot where is Daddy?

Films like this are often seen, but very rarely do they shake you to your core, make you angry and heartbroken like this. Coogler's message isn't political it's that people are flawed in numerous ways, but they do not deserve like Oscar did to have their hopes and lives cut sort so cruelly, sickeningly and tragically. This is a brilliant film, with one of the most heartbreaking endings I've ever seen in a motion picture.

9.5/10

We all have seen men like Sy Parrish: People who are on the fringe of society doing what they do to survive yet being alone and removed till they find something that makes it all worth it. In this case, the pictures of the Yorkin family which Sy has done for years has given him such pleasure that he sees himself as he puts it in 1 creepy scene as "UNCLE SY." It's remarkable to see Robin Williams who I've loved for his remarkable turns in Aladdin, Jumangi, Flubber and other comedies to be playing such a lonely, sad and perhaps sympathetic character. He is amazing in showing his loneliness, especially in his scenes at his home and how he sees himself as a member of his family by saving a copy of all their pictures in that frightening collage in his house. His silence and sad isolation from everyone is chilling, and then Williams' expertly explodes in 3 powerful scenes which you will know once you see them.

In addition, the film doesn't tun into a slasher like I first feared when Sy is fired and takes the knife from the Savemart. Instead, it's a red herring and the director and Sy lead us down a curvy path where he gets revenge on his boss by doing what he says a snapshot originally was, " a hunting term." There's another scene where Williams sits in his car near the Yorkin home, and we see him stealthily going through it. The director amazingly is able to confuse the viewer into losing track of what's real and fantasy, and though Williams' is only talking to the dog watching TV in the living room the effect of the scene makes it feel wrong, he shouldn't be there and honestly this along with the eyes' scene were the films creepiest moments and no blood/gore was needed. Connie Nielsen is great as is Dylan Smith(Jake) in showing how even such a happy family like them has issues, which the director teases wonderfully between Mr. and Mrs. Yorkin till "Uncle Sy" sees the truth himself in the photo lab. He then take sit upon himself as he later says, due to his anger at Mr. Yorkin for neglecting and abusing his family to expose him to his family and what better way then with a picture which "says a thousand words."

It's a shame that Williams' didn't get more acclaim for this part,though Ebert and others(2003 Saturn Award) saw what myself and others did. In the light of his tragic death, this is the first full movie of his I've seen since then, his suicide shocked me and my family who were all fans of his work.) Yet in a way, this movie seems to channel Robin's own life, someone who seemed to have a lot going for him, yet had his own pain, issues and fantasies about how he wanted to live which sadly never came to fruition.

Over the course of his life, Steven Spielberg has graced us with powerful movies like Jaws, ET, The Color Purple, Schindler's List and now Lincoln. A film that's so powerful, so moving and awe-inspiring that it might be his best film since Schindler's List. It tells the story not of a man who has now considered a saint and legendary president, but instead focuses on a offbeat, humorous and somewhat awkward man who helped lead our nation in arguably one of its darkest hrs. First off, what Daniel Day Lewis does in this film is so remarkable and so poignant as he plays Lincoln again not as a "divine" man, but someone who has his flaws like all men but has a passion and belief in something and will fight at all costs to get it done. We observe Lincoln's humor, deal-making and compassion as he fights to get the 13th amendment passed while also bring to end the Civil War with as little bloodshed as possible. However, Day Lewis is matched remarkably by Tommy Lee Jones who is just extraordinary as Thaddeus Stevens who captures all of his zeal and passion in helping blacks get equal rights and Sally Field who really is under appreciated but captures what Mary Todd Lincoln dealt with losing a son, being mocked by politicians and citizens alike yet standing by her husband even though it's hard. Credit also goes out to David Straitharin, Hal Holbrook, Jackie Earle Haley, Joseph-Gordon Levitt who has that remarkable scene with Day Lewis when they're arguing over whether he should go to the army or not, and the rest of this remarkable cast. The cinematography, the music and the set designs all match the 1860's and the scenes where Lincoln clashes w/ his cabinet over the bill is one of the more powerful moments I've seen in a movie in a long time. Tony Kushner's script is on point as he portrays the amendment's passing as a work of compromise, shady dealings and other tactics that match American politics today and the whole fight for the bill really captures how we as Americans are divided as of today over major issues and how we have to fight to appease them before they tear our Union apart. Also the movie's ending is so raw and powerful that I'm sure you'll be like I was in tears of this extraordinary man whose life was cut short before his greatness could be ascertained. This is the best picture of the year and I hope the Academy honors Day Lewis, Field and Jones and Spielberg for their unbelievable achievement. 10/10