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Reviews
Tiny Shoulders, Rethinking Barbie (2018)
I miss my Barbie
If you think Barbie is anti-feminist or teaches some antiquated way for girls to be, you are missing the point. Check out this documentary about Mattel's process of relaunching Barbie. What a complex problem to be faced with. Interviews include Roxane Gay and Gloria Steinem who do not love Barbie. There's also an interesting history of the doll including biographical info on Ruth Handler, her creator.
Whether you love Barbie, are ambivalent towards her, or think she's a bad role model for your daughter, this movie will probably not change your mind.
The Enchanted Cottage (2016)
A crime against the visual/performance arts. I am angry for having watched.
Some people use their wealth to enhance life on the planet. Other people make terrible movies. I can only assume that whomever green- lit this movie a) was trying to end a hostage situation, b) was determined not to use anyone who might upstage Richard Hatch, and c) was Richard Hatch. If there was a lighting director, the position was part-time.
The writing would be mocked by moderately capable tweens. For instance, the movie opens with laborious exposition from the owners of the cottage about an awkward neighbor who can't get a boyfriend. Then the husband can't breathe so the wife calls the awkward neighbor who gives him CPR until they both spew water like a drowning rescue. The wife embraces him and he dies in her arms. The neighbor/nurse watches him die -- makes no attempt to resume CPR. Flash forward. An engaged couple arrives to view the cottage. The neighbor gushes over how handsome the man is. He is not. The owner explains (for no reason) that the cottage was moved from Europe-- taken apart in sections, shipped, reassembled.
Directing. Flash forward. Gratuitous use of 9-11 footage. Flash forward. The man is injured fighting the Taliban. He's then seen being dragged (not carried) into the cottage by two soldiers who then walk out of the cottage, stop and glare into the darkness (for no reason) then walk away. Later he's struggling with his disfigurement. He's not disfigured. Children would consider his scars a bad boo boo.
If anyone involved in the decision making for this film ran it by a friend, it would have been heavily edited and exponentially improved. Clearly they have no friends.
There are so many talented writers, directors, cinematographers, sound editors, lighting directors, actors, costume designers, set decorators
Why not hire them?