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Movie Review: With Realworld Stakes, ‘Guy Ritchies The Covenant Is Directors Best Film In Years

Movie Review: With Realworld Stakes, ‘Guy Ritchies The Covenant Is Directors Best Film In Years

Over the past few years, Guy Ritchie and his co-stars have alternated light-hearted stories with stories of great manhood. In 2019, the crime comedy "Gentleman" was shown, followed by "Operation Fortune: Russ de Guerre", which became a hit in the global spy scandal "Wrath of Man". Coming back to the more serious list, Ritchie directed his first realpolitik film, Guy Ritchie's The Testament, and it's his best film in years.

Although the film is not based on a true story, it was inspired by the very real and tragic stories of Afghan interpreters who served in the US military for over 20 years, who were promised visas and then lived in a hostile country. Withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021. Richie and co-authors Evan Atkinson and Maron Davis weave a story about the US military from the author's point of view, the covenant between the people, and the sacred duty to defend their cause. no consent

Ritchie alternates definitions of toys, locations, names, and military jargon with a lot of textual information about the movie. But at the very end there is a definition that illuminates the title of the film and emphasizes its thesis: the word "covenant", which is defined as a bond, pledge, obligation.

That promise aside, sergeant. John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal), a powerful shooter of speed and explosives who leads a close-knit army of soldiers, is inextricably linked to dust and danger. On the other hand, new translator John Ahmed (Dar Selim) is an enigmatic man who doesn't speak much, perhaps due to his dark past and his keen ability to read people and situations. He takes his role as a "translator" seriously – he doesn't just translate language, he reads non-verbal cues, confusion, and expressions to extract the truth.

The team finds a large IED factory in a remote location and is captured by the Taliban, who are continuously firing rifles from Toyota trucks. What unfolds is a story of survival, sacrifice and redemption, a masculine melodrama about blood-soaked bonds and covenants. While Ahmed and John are alone in the desert, John is mortally wounded and is hunted by the Taliban, and Ahmed returns him to the base at great risk to his own safety. It is a saving act of love, kindness, and self-sacrifice that brings John home, but Ahmadi escapes with his wife and child, who are wanted by the Taliban for killing their own soldiers and collaborating with an American.

Frustrated by the debt-laden bureaucracy and the memory of failing to deliver the promised visas, John takes matters into his own hands, leaving the system at his own expense, the only way to pay off the debt. The same personal risk and potential victimization.

Richie has a small cameo in The Testament and it's great to see him working with two really great actors. The two characters often communicate non-verbally, using their eyes and body to convey what is not being said. Both have a sense of mystery – isn't Ahmed too "wild"? Will John do the right thing with his interpreter? They must prove it to each other by their deeds. He expressed the support and importance that Salim attached to Ahmed; Gyllenhaal applies his wild eyes to John's mission, taking full advantage of the weight of the war machine for Ahmed's benefit.

Richie cinematically establishes their connection with a recurring motif that catches their shared eye through the camera lens. Composer Christopher Benstede's music recurs with punchy rhythms alternating between tribal drums and slow mournful strings. Cameras watch the scenery from the sky or drop to the ground in delicate drone footage that puts our characters in space, while chaotic handheld shots capture battles up close. The flashback sequence in which John remembers being dragged off a cliff to safety is lyrical and surreal, placing us in his flashback that led to his dangerous quest.

At times, the acting, camera work, and tone are a little too forced due to the seriousness of the subject matter. Taking on the theme of excessive politics is a new direction for Ritchie, which, when viewed from the point of view of his work, is not as radical as the story of a man who uses criminal thinking to get out of the system in order not to pay. Duty. The approach is to look at this issue at the micro level, at the individual level, but extrapolating from the macro level, it is difficult to consider the many life and death agreements that have been left unfulfilled in Afghanistan.

Why we have the worst media in the West flowing downstream

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‘The Popes Exorcist Review: A Terrific Russell Crowe Battles Demons In Movie Possessed By The Memory Of A Certain 50YearOld Horror Classic

‘The Popes Exorcist Review: A Terrific Russell Crowe Battles Demons In Movie Possessed By The Memory Of A Certain 50YearOld Horror Classic

© Provided by Afati

It's hard to watch a movie called The Exorcist and not immediately think of William Friedkin's immortal, Oscar-winning 1973 horror classic, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. However, dozens of films of all kinds have tried to bring their magic to this subgenre, but none of them managed to top what Friedkin and screenwriter William Peter Blatty created with this brilliant film.

Now, however, with a slight twist, we have a new entry, The Exorcist of the Popes , which hopes to captivate audiences with the promise of a story about a real exorcist, not just your run-of-the-mill demon slayer. but Father Gabriele Amort, who practiced his profession in the Vatican for 36 years and was chief exorcist there from 1992 until his death in 2016. He also wrote books on the side – "good ones," as this movie The Exorcist notes. Tells his stories. and An Exorcist: More Stories , which served as the basis for the film's script, which also made sense in giving Russell Crowe a clear, colorful, and determined portrayal of Amorth that shares the many facets and varied stories of his "exorcisms". " ".

Lest you think this is a biopic focused on actual events, think again or just wait until the credits roll to find out that "this is fiction" with characters unlike any other. living or dead person. So writer-director Julius Avery invented a story more familiar to the horror genre, centered around the demonic possession and subsequent exorcism of a young man named Henry. But before we get to that, we see Amort perform another exorcism, one that puts him in hot water (which he's used to), with a harsh Vatican Council questioning his methods, particularly the way how he turns on people with mental illness or mental health problems. . . . to challenge the "devil in them". As mentioned, Amort typically escalates 98% of these cases to healthcare professionals, but 2% stand out (and of course they will be successful).

We continue to sunny Spain, where we meet a seemingly normal American family, but here we come to a remote, run-down and abandoned abbey that Julia (Alex Esso), recently widowed, inherited from the family estate from her last husband. . It's definitely a house in need of repairs, and restoration work begins when she arrives with her son Henry (Peter DeSouza Feigoni) and troubled teenage daughter Amy (Laurel Marsden), who are unhappy that their lives will change after the move . in a dark place. and such a scary monster in a foreign land. It gets even scarier as this place seems to have a long history and the demons inside are about to awaken.

When Henry shows signs of truly horrible behavior, a new priest, Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto), is sent to watch over him. What he notices exceeds his salary level, and soon the Vatican sends Amort down the street on his scooter. Despite his initial skepticism, he is soon dismayed by what he sees and is now convinced it is the devil's work, probably another 2%. It becomes much harder to figure out, and Amorth finds himself down a slippery slope into the past and back into deep-seated secrets with the help of a young priest and the support of the Pope (veteran Franco Nero), who gets more than he bargained for . .from the church. .

Unlike Friedkin's The Exorcist, in which Max von Sydow had to exorcise demons from the insane Linda Blair, this is about the phenomenon of multiple ownership up to the Pope. Avery does what it's worth, and it's certainly going to be taken on its own terms.

By giving us a clear characterization of the unpredictable Amorth, Crowe is a godsend (sorry) for this film and becomes the only true beacon of credibility in a fairly Hollywood-ready approach to the subject. I wanted to know more about the real Amorth and also watch a documentary that shows him doing a real exorcism (you know, the kind where they don't have a 24/7 special effects team). Week). Anyhow, I found this film quite interesting and certainly well done, with excellent cinematography by Khalid Mohtaseb and excellent design by Alan Gilmour.

Produced by Doug Belgrade, Michael Patrick Kaczmarek and Jeff Katz. Sony is only releasing Screen Gems in theaters on Friday.

Title: Papal Exorcist Distribution: Sony Pictures Release date: April 14, 2023 Director: Julius Avery Writers: Michael Petroni, Evan Spiliotopoulos (written by R. Dean McCreary, Chester Hastings and Jeff Katz) Cast: Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe , Franco Nero, Laurel Marsden, Peter DeSouza Feighoney, Carrie Munro Rating: R Duration: 1 hour 43 minutes

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Review: ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Review: ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Movie Super Mario Bros. A film full of clichéd animated films, but enhanced with beautiful animation and a lively soundtrack.

Light and cute, Super Mario Bros. there is little to challenge the status quo of children's animated films.

The latest work from Illumination, the animation studio best known for the Despicable Me franchise, is sure to appeal to a younger audience, among other successes. It can also serve as an appetizer for old, nostalgic Mario fans. The film was released on April 5th.

The film's release marks the return of the Mario Bros. to cinema for the first time since Super Mario Bros. Because outright failure was the only time a major studio made a Mario movie, it didn't set much of a precedent for theatrical adaptations of popular video game franchises.

The 92-minute film has a very simple plot: Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) go their separate ways. Marion, along with Peach (Anya-Taylor Joy) and Toad (Kegan-Michael Key), must rescue Luigi from Bowser's lair.

Simple plots have become typical of light films, but for a film of about 90 minutes, simplicity works and is not welcome. Luigi deserves a few extra points for taking Peach's place as the stereotypical damsel in distress.

It stars Mario and Luigi as enterprising plumbers trying to grow their plumbing business in New York City. After a major plumbing malfunction wreaks havoc in Brooklyn, the brothers attempt to make a name for themselves by saving Brooklyn, but are instead sucked into a pipe leading to the Mushroom Kingdom.

An advertisement for Chris Pratt as the voice of Mario generated many semi-joking reviews online. The film did not feature any Italian actors, which caused some outrage, but Pratt's association with the extremely homophobic Hillsong Church did rattle some.

After all, Pratt did a good job on the film. There is nothing necessarily outstanding in his vocal work, but at the same time nothing unusual either. He does an Italian accent only at the beginning of the film to advertise the brothers' plumbing.

The voice acting of various minor characters is one of the strongest parts of the film.

Jack Black brought Bowser to life, especially in some of the whimsical piano riffs. Seth Rogen in Donkey Kong, Key in Toad and Fred Armisen in Cranky Kong also have a lot of charisma.

As with most big-budget children's films, the soundtrack consisted of popular songs, in this case "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys, "Take on Me" by the Beastie Boys, and even "Battle Without Honor". Humanity Tomoyasu Hotei. (signature song "Kill Bill"). Let's hope these hits, perhaps as big-budget as Universal Pictures, will be appreciated by older millennial parents who take their children to see them in theaters.

The color palette used to design the Mushroom Kingdom (and the many frogs that inhabit it) provides a colorful spectacle for much of the film.

Brightness helps to highlight beautiful and well-designed animation. Perhaps that's why, despite the bouncing walls of simple clichés and the overloaded undertones of children's films, Super Mario Bros. Very good feeling.

Movie Review Mario Easter Eggs and the Details You Missed!

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review: Not So Much A Film As It Is A Checklist Of Video Game References

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review: Not So Much A Film As It Is A Checklist Of Video Game References
(Image credit: Universal Images)

Publication date: April 5, 2023
Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenik
Screenplay by Matteo Vogel
Starring: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen.
Rating: PG for moderate action and violence.
Duration: 92 minutes

I'm definitely not a movie buff on this list, but I don't like Super Mario Bros. I am a professional film critic in charge of film review. from subjective opinion. So I can say I was shocked at how weak this effort was – a new cinematic embarrassment for a generation not old enough to remember/know Nintendo's live-action Super Mario Bros. movie. of 1993. Nice to see. when animators bring the wonderful aesthetic of the source material straight to the big screen, but fail to come up with a single inventive or clever idea. Instead, it functions more like a list of gameplay tips than a story feature.

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How Accurate Is The Movie ‘Air? Nike Insiders Give Mixed Reviews

How Accurate Is The Movie ‘Air? Nike Insiders Give Mixed Reviews

After Peter Moore and Rob Strasser left Nike in 1993. © Tim Jewett/oregonlive.com/TNS Peter Moore and Rob Strasser after leaving Nike in 1993.

Legendary basketball player Sonny Vaccaro suddenly becomes the protagonist of a feature film after 60 years of playing.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's new film Air follows Vaccaro's efforts to help turn around struggling Nike with new shoes and a marketing campaign aimed at untested newcomer Michael Jordan.

The film, which premiered on Wednesday, is a testament to the 83-year-old, who has long felt he didn't get the credit he deserved for what he brought to Jordan and helped create one of the world's highest-profile sports marketing campaigns.

"I don't feel the need for excuses," Vaccaro said from his home in Palm Springs. "I just want someone to tell the truth."

Truth, of course, can be an elusive thing. Here in Oregon, the heart of the sneaker industry, the movie caused a sensation because something went wrong.

Damon stars as Suda Vaccaro, which premieres Wednesday. Ben Affleck stars as CEO Phil Knight, who must convince Vaccaro that Jordan can change Nike's fortunes forever.

Jason Bateman plays Rob Strasser, a senior Nike executive who takes Vaccaro's side after a series of problems. Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, Michael's mother, who convinces her reluctant son to sign with Nike.

It's a great theme for a great movie. It's about a group of entrepreneurs who are struggling to come up with a marketing plan. No guns, no superheroes, no murders, not even flesh-eating zombies.

However, there are some special effects, including an unusual attempt to have Mount Hood sprout from West Mountain instead of waterfalls.

"Efir" was highly appreciated by many critics. One critic called it a "slam dunk". Others call it a "total slam dunk." Others said it was "not a slam dunk" but added that the film was "slam and well played".

Perhaps the best line comes from Original Movie's Jim Slotek, who gave the film a B-plus. Yes, Ben Affleck's juice is an ad. But damn, it's good advertising."

Some Nike fans are also insiders.

"I think it captures the passion and passion of Nike's early years," said Howard White, the company's basketball marketing manager at the time. "I think he can continue his magic for a few days."

White, played by Chris Tucker in the film, worked in Nike basketball marketing for decades.

Now about the error.

Perhaps most striking is Bateman's portrayal of Strasser as a meek drone. According to the film, Matt Damon's Vaccaro was supposed to bring Strasser to Jordan's project.

"It's a strange world of stress," said former Nike marketing manager Jeff Kramer, echoing the sentiments of most of the people interviewed for this article. It's a funny movie, but it's not reality."

In fact, Strasser was bold, loud and stubborn. And most of the industry insiders and observers interviewed for this article said Strasser was the driving force behind Jordan's campaign.

His widow J. An unofficial visit to North Carolina and Deloris Jordan's belief that Nike was the best fit for her son also went awry.

According to him, the visit was made by Rob Strasser.

The image of Peter Moore, the talented designer behind the famous Jumpman logo for Jordan products, also makes a lot of sense. He is known as a mad mad scientist. Actor Matthew Maher portrays Moore with inexplicable lips.

Indeed, according to his old friend Rick Long, Moore was a born master constructor and a fine athlete. Moore spent hours on the golf course teaching Jordan the ins and outs of the game.

"They didn't try to authenticate these photos," Julie Strasser said.

Long-time, now-retired, Strasser and Moore are unique talents. Now both are dead.

"I am concerned that the historic success of the Jordan shoe was made possible by Rob and Peter," he said. “With Rob and Peter gone, Sonny is telling the story he wants to tell. It's great theater, but the truth gets a little hazy."

There is no doubt that Vaccaro played a role in Jordan's game. Clearly, Vaccaro was the first to recognize Jordan as a revolutionary talent. And he fought hard to convince Nike management.

But is he in charge of the campaign? Was he the one who entered his office with the knight without notice? Controversial

White urged people to relax and not treat Hawaii as a historical document.

"This film requires freedom and flexibility to tie the story together," he said.

The film ends with the Nike team finally getting their man.

But the happy ending hides a bitter rift between the characters in later years.

Just two years later, in 1987, there was no sign or warning that Strasser would leave Nike. Moore left soon after. They started their own consulting firm, Sports Inc.

Sports Inc. archrival Nike signed Adidas as a client, sparking a fierce city-to-city rivalry with its former partner in Beaverton.

Vaccaro lasted longer, breaking marketing deals with colleges and college coaches who used the Nike Swoosh everywhere in college sports. In 1990, he was named the strongest man in college sports by a sportswriter.

But in 1991, Knight fired him. Vaccaro says he still doesn't know why.

Vaccaro remains a force in basketball. He advised former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon in his famous class action lawsuit against the NCAA. In 2014, a federal judge agreed with O'Bannon that the NCAA's ban on athletes violated federal antitrust laws by allowing college players to accept kickbacks without NCAA approval.

Vaccaro said that this was his greatest success.

As for the allegation of wrongdoing, Vaccaro denied it.

He recently spoke with the film's producer, Hollywood heavyweight Peter Goober.

According to him, when Vaccaro tried to raise some factual questions about the film, Guber leaned over and said, "Remember, Sony, this is not a documentary."

– Jeff Manning; [email protected]

© 2023 Avans Local Media LLC. Visit www.oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How $1.3 billion worth of counterfeit goods was seized at John F. Kennedy Airport | big business

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‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is Set For A Big Opening Weekend — Despite Bad Reviews

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Is Set For A Big Opening Weekend — Despite Bad Reviews
  • Super Mario Bros. The film received poor reviews from critics, but box office analysts are predicting a big weekend for the Nintendo adaptation.
  • The film currently holds a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 122 reviews, giving it a "rotten" rating.
  • The film is projected to earn over $100 million on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and over $150 million over the full five days of release starting Wednesday.

Chris Pratt and Charlie Day voice Mario and Luigi at Universal and Illumination. © CNBC Chris Pratt and Charlie Day courtesy of Universal and Illumination Mario and Luigi

Super Mario Bros. The film does not seem to impress the critics.

Produced by Universal and Illumination, the Nintendo film was praised for its stunning visuals, but failed to impress reviewers. As of Wednesday afternoon, Rotten Tomatoes has a "rotten" rating of 54% from 122 reviews.

Critics say the well-developed character is based on episodes taken directly from the video games and the character development. They were saddened by jokes and unfunny voices calling him names. That is, except for Jack Black, who voices the villain Bowser.

So far, audiences have reacted positively to the film, with over 100 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience rating of 98%. Box office analysts don't expect poor critical reviews to keep moviegoers, especially families, from going to theaters to see The Super Mario Bros. movie".

The film is expected to be the top-grossing video game adaptation domestically at the box office, surpassing last year's $72 million debut, Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

According to BoxOffice.com, projections currently suggest that "Super Mario Bros. The Movie will gross over $100 million on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and $150 million over the full five days starting Wednesday. Universal sought between 100 and $110 million at the domestic box office over the 5-day holiday weekend.

What critics are saying about Super Mario Bros. The movie:

Nicholas Barber, BBC

The film's plot revolves around Brooklyn brothers Mario and Luigi who want to start their own plumbing business, much to the chagrin of their father.

Viewers get a glimpse of Chris Pratt (Mario) and Charlie Day (Luigi) donning an exaggerated Italian accent as part of an exaggerated TV commercial for their business. The movie also uses this ad to explain why Mario and Luigi wear white gloves.

Nicholas Barber reviewed the film for the BBC and the film gains momentum "one night when the brothers investigate an inexplicable flood and discover an inexplicable magical trumpet". "The pipeline will take them both to another planet or perhaps another universe, never discovered."

While the brothers are separated, Mario descends into the fabled Mushroom Kingdom, where he meets Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Kegan-Michael Key) and finds himself in the arms of the terrifying Bowser, who is out to capture him. . Marry the Kingdom of Mushrooms and Peaches with Luigi.

"The problem starts when Mario is suddenly surrounded by flying bricks, giant gold coins, bonus cubes and electronic sound effects that only make sense in the context of video games," Barber said. "For now, it's clear that the filmmakers have moved away from creating a cartoon that everyone can enjoy, and have instead focused on references to benefit die-hard gaming fans."

According to Barber, screenwriter Matthew Vogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Lego Movie 2: Episode Two) did an effective job incorporating various video game references, “but the movie lacks good jokes. lines, funny productions, touching emotional moments and without playing with insults, any viewer can enjoy it.

Read the full review from the BBC.

Jack Black voices the villain Bowser in the Universal and Illumination series. © CNBC's Jack Black voices the villain Bowser, presented by Universal and Illumination.

Radeyan Simonpillay, The Globe and Mail

Critics call it "Super Mario Bros." Long before they sat down to watch the movie, the big question came up for the movie's most famous actor, Chris Pratt.

Initially, fans wondered if Pratt would attempt to use the "I Am" accent, and producers expressed mixed feelings that he would not. Half of the netizens were relieved, while the other half were worried about how Mario's sudden appearance on the big screen would sound.

At the end of the day, Radejan Simonpilli of the Globe and Mail wrote: "The Internet was right, Chris Pratt was completely wrong as the main character."

"The problem here isn't that Pratt can't translate Charles Martinet's helium-filled 'This jam me' and 'Go' lines into video games," says Simonpilli. “The thing is, Pratt is a very different character—a short, mustachioed plumber with a turtle shell who's not average at all—and he gives one of the most down-to-earth and over-the-top performances. I have come across many Watchmen, The Galaxy and The Lego movies.

Simonpilla called Pratt's voice "bloody and hollow" and called Seth Rogan Donkey Kong and Black Bowser only impressed the audience.

He also called the story "8-bit"—as many critics called the film's use—referring to the 2D animation of the original Mario games.

"I wonder if the filmmakers were too scared to go beyond standard copyrighted material like 1993's Super Mario Bros." To finish such a terrible feature film," he said.

Read the full review from the Globe and Mail.

AA David, Chron

"The Super Mario Bros. Movie." so wonderful and so fun to watch at first that it takes a while to realize that it's not a movie at all, "wrote AA Daoud. In its absence, it rejects the best. The animation can be purchased with money."

Dowd, like other critics, noted that the cartoon was a visual feast, "beautifully drawn".

"But the long jump animators here don't understand the difference between the time and care they put into their work and the effort they put into writing," he said.

As for the plot, Dowd wonders why Mario is taking the time to create a textbook-style montage where Princess Peach plays a damsel in distress. .

"It would probably be silly to complain about the story in the stage adaptation," he said.

"But" Super Mario Bros. The general story of the film is “stock offering; It's hard to shake the feeling that this is written with a checklist, more easter eggs than plot points and more needles… than jokes. ."

He said that the scene between Mario and the other characters was written late in production and inserted into the film.

"It's all pure CG animation, kind of brushing up… well, whatever Mario throws down in his day job," he said.

Read the full review from the Chron.

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC. NBCUniversal owns Rotten Tomatoes and is the distributor of The Super Mario Bros. movie".

Super Mario Bros. movie | Official teaser announcement

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Review: ‘The Peking Express’ Raises Niche Historical Event

Review: 'The Peking Express' Raises Niche Historical Event

"Beijing Express. Bandits Who Stole Trains Shocked the West and Ruined the Republic of China,” James M. Zimmerman (Public Relations)

The little-known episode of the story takes place 100 years after the luxury Beijing Express train was robbed in the middle of the night and hundreds of passengers, including dozens of foreigners, were taken hostage and marched through the Chinese countryside.

James M. Zimmerman's "Beijing Express. The Bandit Who Stole the Train That Stunned the West and Ruined the Republic of China' contains many studies and summarizes them in 1923. the consequences are mostly forgotten. Using images and quotes (some directly from thugs, hostages, and other participants in the so-called Lynching riots), the lawyer uses the strangely compelling voice of a chronicler, interspersing people and scenes like a film.

Based on live broadcasts and news of the time, the whole sound has a bit of an early 20th century radio sound to it, so you can almost hear the transatlantic accent in the lyrics.

The acquisition also provides a unique eccentricity to highlight the various people who play a role in the story; hostage Lucy Aldrich is a plump and deaf spinster who is unfriendly to the thugs, even sometimes leading them. The Russian is a well-travelled and vodka-drinking bandit, he can sing Chinese or Russian folk songs at any moment and cheer up both the hostages and fellow bandits.

These details, tinged with racism, sexism, and ageism for a comprehensive look at the times, become necessary to keep the characters straight and the story interesting, as well as understanding people's motivations.

And Beijing Express is convenient for entry and exit. While it reads well chronologically, you can also pick out parts of user input and have enough context to not get lost. There is a detailed index, map and even a list of symbols for ease of use.

Zimmerman's challenge is to balance dry geopolitics and tough negotiations with the human experience and emotions that make them important and powerful, mostly, but not entirely, successfully.

Beijing Express highlights the slow moment. But the lingering blows are offset by a wave of emotions that turn into friendship, hate, joy and more as a difficult situation brings many different lives together.

If you like historically accurate retellings of special events, you'll love this. If non-fiction isn't usually your thing, it might not be interesting or entertaining enough to keep you hooked, but if you're willing to take the plunge, you'll find moments of excitement and moments of intriguing intrigue.

___

Ed's Note: The author of this book has occasionally done legal assignments for AP; several US outlets, including the AP, have engaged him to advise on some of the legal issues facing the media.

Listening Ielts Real Exam 2020 / Listening New Format 2020

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Movie Review: ‘A Thousand And One A Fascinating Portrait Of Maternal Instinct Caught In Unforgiving World

Movie Review: ‘A Thousand And One A Fascinating Portrait Of Maternal Instinct Caught In Unforgiving World

Mothers are often keepers of secrets, born out of a primal instinct for survival. But secrets inevitably crumble, grow and explode with the resonance of truth, as happened in One Thousand and One, written/directed by EV Rockwell's early work. The film, which won the Grand Jury Prize for American Drama at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, tells the harrowing story of a mother and her son in Harlem, New York.

One Thousand and One was a scene for multiracial Harlem native star Teyana Taylor, who put on an impressive performance in a ready-to-pounce panther pose. Her character, Inez, appears as the only defense, an attitude and a spirit that has never wavered in the 20 years that we have followed her.

Huge aerial shots on moving wires transport us to the iconography of New York: the Empire State Building, Central Park and, of course, Rikers Island, home to New York's largest prison. It's 1994 and we meet Inez, seized by a moment of sweetness; kindly make up another inmate. He was soon released onto the streets of Harlem, selling his hairdressing services and desperately trying to stay out of the asylum.

Your quick and confident movements are captured in handheld footage. Cinematographer Eric K. Yue also uses pan and zoom reminiscent of 1970s New Hollywood films, contextualizing the film as part of a long line of independent New York films.

A wrinkle in Inez's story of survival materializes, a wrinkle that soon becomes her purpose and driving force; their young son Terry (wrestler Aaron Kingsley Adetola) lives in an orphanage. When an accident lands her in the hospital, Inez returns to her heart with Power Rangers toys and a good time. He asks her if she wants to stay with him for a while, after all, a boy has to live with his mother. They meet up with some friends and eventually find their place in a brownstone, with Inez getting her hair done in her bedroom for money. Since he basically kidnapped her from the government, she pays a man for a fake birth certificate for Terry, who Darryl calls at school.

The story of Terry and Inez, and then of Lucky (William Catlett), his girlfriend who becomes Terry's father figure, is simple, but the quality of the vivid material makes this story feel so real and almost strange. that sometimes fiction It's not a true story, but it comes from a place of truth, and in his writing and directing, Rockwell brings an over-the-top idiosyncrasy to the film, whether it's how young Terry spends his time at home alone or in his messy backyard. made as a teenager In the conversations Lucky and Inez share with Terry about getting over what they've been through, it never feels bad or exhausting.

The film is utterly captivating, anchored by Taylor's sometimes erratic performance as a very complicated but very caring woman. Faced with dire circumstances, she perseveres and then dares to imagine Terry's life outside of the one she was in, forcing the family unit she never had. Through sheer force of will, she gets them to the point where she can see a bright future for herself, and when 17-year-old Terry (the wonderful Josiah Cross) finds herself accidentally repeating some of her mother's actions in 2005, it seems that it is dark: . destination.

There are bigger forces at play than the decisions Inez made out of fear and anxiety when she was 22 and fresh out of prison. The house you built begins to fall apart as your family unit disintegrates. Its new owner put on a helping face and offered to fix things, but beneath its smiling exterior that apparently wanted them gone, the house ended up turning sour when Terry needed it.

Rockwell developed the film's style over the years, using aerial shots of ghost towns as motifs and stylistic devices to position the viewer and indicate the passage of time in the atmosphere. During Terry and Inez's climactic conversation, all colors fade from the painting, the two depicted in stark contrast against a blank wall. All that stands between them are confusing and tangled truths, even as shades of gray fade to stunning black and white.

Mille et un is a fascinating portrait of maternal and feminine instincts trapped in an unforgiving world. Taylor's Inez, who has strong self-defense skills, stays one step ahead, keeps moving forward, a ray of hope is her only terrifying consolation.

"One hundred one"

3.5 stars (out of 4)

  • R Rating (for language)
  • Duration: 1:57
  • How to see: Friday in theaters
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Movie Review Air (2023)

Movie Review  Air (2023)

Air , 2023

Directed by Ben Affleck.
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Julius Tenon, Damian Young, Matthew Maher, Gustav Skarsgård, Barbara Sukova, Jay Mohr, Joel Gretch, Michael O'Neill, Asante Deshawn. , Billy Smith, Al Madrigal, Jackson Damon, Dan Bucatinsky, Jessica Green, Gabriel Bourne, Joshua Funk, Andy Hirsch, Jeff Cook, Albert Stroth and Mackenzie Rain.

Synopsis

Discover the story of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro and how he helped Nike find the greatest athlete in basketball history.

It's 1984 and Michael Jordan (arguably the greatest professional basketball player of all time) has yet to set foot on an NBA court. Sonny Vaccaro, Matt Damon's Nike-wearing player scout, walks into the store (which belongs on sick days, among cereal-box jocks) and, chatting casually with the basketball cashier, Michael thinks Jordan has won. the twins He did little for himself or the Chicago Bulls. It's hard to imagine people who haven't yet noticed this goodness, but Ben Affleck's Aira (played by Alex Convery) offers him the opportunity to tell a touching and heartwarming story about people who have seen something special in him since birth. the University the games

Perhaps more importantly, the Air shouldn't function as a standard biopic about the life of a celebrity or a ragtag group of Nike employees, coupled with Sony's risky bid to play the future of the company's basketball shoes. Not only can you sign Michael Jordan's lucrative contract online, but you can also sign his shoes with his personality and team, even if it means breaking the NBA's shoe color rules (must be at least 50% white ) and always pay out of pocket. . .

Sitting in meetings where no one wants or has a hand in the basketball scene, Sony leads them to CEO Phil Knight (played by director Ben Affleck), a boss who has grown more secretive and lost his edge. Make a big bet. As a director, Ben Affleck avoids the problem of getting the audience to enjoy the company. Sure, there are competitors, like the German company Adidas (now owned after a tragic bankruptcy, though perhaps not so tragic, given that the former CEO was a Nazi) and Converse, who appear greedy or out of touch. with reality, with bad guys, but Air 's Script is about the stagnation and failure that can happen when a company becomes complacent, unable to reinvent itself with a new vision and connect with the talent involved in the business.

Michael Jordan (played by Damien Young) no doubt manages to treat his friend Harvey Weinstein by looking in the back of his head (an annoying creative decision that takes away more purpose and focus here as a person and character, but somehow understandably, it's hard to fathom). However, with limited screen time) As you can see, it stands to reason that his mother, Deloris Jordan (an extraordinarily reliable Viola Davis), and her son, are not interested in signing with Nike; they have the lowest market share, are out of date and are more likely to get offers from other companies unless they build a house there (depending on your question) (who is willing to lend a luxury car) can't be matched.

It's Sony who can connect with marketing maven Rob Strausser (Jason Bateman), brand spokesperson Howard White (Chris Tucker), his experience with gamers before his injury, and unsung hero Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), tragically died. a month later Before announcing it as Project Air , they teamed up to create the perfect shoe that embodies Michael Jordan's personality and as a player, as well as something that fits your preferences on the court. It also focuses on imagining and creating a product that is specific to the person, bending and breaking the rules to develop a great product that captures that appealing look, no matter the person's level of passion for footwear.

Meanwhile, Sony spends a lot of money on this deal, undermines Phil's skepticism, gets into a bit of a fight with Michael Jordan's agent John Falk (Chris Messina), threatens to eat seeds and gets something done. College basketball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) is thrust into the spotlight when Sonny directs 18-year-old Michael Jordan (on all things Michael Jordan).

There seems to be a lot going on in the air , but Ben Affleck is a seasoned filmmaker who knows how to keep the texture clean, gliding through the air and screeching with energy as each thrust comes together to achieve that harmony. He assembles a talented team who, in key moments of ping-pong chat, remind Sonny how much work is at stake and that one ill-advised risk can have dire consequences for his colleagues. Some parents struggle or enjoy coping with a midlife crisis.

Expanding on this point, it would be silly to pick a one-off MVP, but Matt Damon is believable as a guy who trusts his gut and takes bold steps as he tries to take Nike to new heights. She and Ben Affleck had electric chemistry, and her character-driven scenes with Viola Davis spark important conversations about companies that exploit young gamers. In fact, there's good reason to think that the story would have been more powerful and interesting if it had been told from the point of view of the parent, Deloris Jordan. There's room for more time with Jordan's family, but what's here is light, comforting work on serious issues changing the world of sports. This is an original approach to tell the life of a family.

Each square in Robert Richardson's cinematography depicts the office space, culture and fashion of 1984, with a reference level that oscillates between nostalgia and an organic representation of the era. Even the often noticeable needle drops are so spot on that it's hard to hate them. There's also a fair amount of fan service (the Chicago Bulls opening theme plays at one point), but it's full of sincerity throughout the two-hour run.

And this is how the film compensates for its lack of character depth, serving as pure entertainment with the eccentric characters involved in negotiating this deal. Each of Ben Affleck's playmaking decisions play deftly with the momentum of the air , breaking the conventional frame and soaring through the air with the power of Michael Jordan's dunk.

Rating Flash Legends – Movie: ★★★ / Movie: ★★★★

Robert Codger is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics' Choice Association. He is also the reviewer for The Flying Legend. Stay tuned here for new reviews, follow me on Twitter or Letterboxd or email me at [email protected].

"Air" review.

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‘Ruby Bridges’ Movie Under Review By Florida School District After Parent Complaint

'Ruby Bridges' Movie Under Review By Florida School District After Parent Complaint

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — A film about a black grad integrating an all-white Southern elementary school is under review by a Florida school district after a parent objected to the school's use of the profane film, saying it could "educate." the students. Whites hate blacks," school officials and CNN documents said.

In 2015, the parents of a second grader at North Shore Elementary School in St. They filed a formal complaint on March 6, demanding that the 1998 film Ruby Bridges be removed from the school's list of approved films. It comes after the film was shown to about 60 students on March 2 as part of Black History Month, Pinellas County Schools spokeswoman Isabelle Mascarenas told CNN.

In a copy of the complaint provided to CNN, the parent whose name was redacted wrote that the film was unsuitable for second graders and would be better suited for an eighth grade American history class. Parents objected in part to the film's racist overtones, depiction of a child putting a noose around a doll's neck, and characters threatening to hang.

The parent wrote that the film could teach students racial slurs, "how to be different" and "white people who hate black people."

After receiving the complaint, "the school will now participate in a formal appeals process to review the disputed material," Mascareñas said, referring to the district's policy on disputed educational materials.

He said the film had not been removed from all of the district's schools and is still in the district's film library.

Florida school curricula have become increasingly controversial as Republican lawmakers push for restrictions on instructional materials and tools that include race, sexuality and gender. Under the laws discovered by the government last year. There is a bill signed by Ron DeSantis that will require school library books to be pre-approved or reviewed by a Florida Department of Education-trained media specialist.

Two weeks before the film was shown at North Shore Elementary's second grade, consent forms were sent to the students' parents along with the Ruby Bridges trailer, Mascareñas said. The complaining parent said it was between two families who decided not to let their students see the film.

"Because the film was shown earlier, the parents were told that the school would not be showing it again this school year," Mascareñas said.

On November 14, 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges, the film's namesake, became the first black student to enroll at William Franz Elementary School in New Orleans. Accompanied by four federal detectives, Bridges yelled insults and marched through the crowd. Angry white people. New Orleans schools were suspended by federal judge's order. The Supreme Court upheld racial segregation in public schools in Brown v. Brown fired. Education Council. The film tells the story in the form of a drama.

The film's screenwriter, Toni Ann Johnson, told CNN that second graders are never too young to watch the film when their teacher can provide the historical context and answer their questions. Teachers across the country told him the film was an "invaluable educational tool."

"The reason I think second grade isn't too young is because kids that age understand racial differences. Ruby was 6 years old when she served William Franz," Johnson said.

"When children are old enough to be called the N-word and learn what it means, seventh and eighth graders can and should start learning about the history of racism in this country." Johnson said:

"Parents who don't want their children to learn this story in public schools should have the right to vote," he said. "However, teachers should not have the right to prohibit other public school children from learning the Ruby Bridges story."

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