This film is what 8 Mile would be if Eminem was a thick, female New Jerseyite. Patricia Dombrowski, aka Killer P aka Patti Cake$ has got the passion and the talent. She also has the poverty and misogyny that come from small-town New Jersey life. Her one dream - to get across that bridge to Manhattan. Patti's mom - a singer herself, who once had aspirations of making it big, doesn't quite understand the music ... but Patti's grandmother has always believed in her dream.
Patti's story is really a coming of age tale. She battles the local bully and earns his respect. She and her entourage record and distribute their music and work hard to get heard. What I did not expect from this movie was a love story, a mother-daughter connection and a statement about seeing through your idols. It's really got it all.
So, I recently watched the movie Good Time by the Saftie Brothers (Ben and Josh). I have to say it is one of the best intense and also crazy depressing movies I've seen.
The premise is that Connie (Robert Pattinson) and his brother Nick (Ben Saftie) were raised by their grandmother after dad died and mom left. Nick is mentally handicapped, while Connie grew up as a product of his enviroment. He had done jail time. The movie starts with Nick in a therapists office, recommended by grandmother. He is being asked several questions about his history to which he clams up and gets offended when the therapist is taking notes. Connies bursts into the room, saying that Nick shouldn't be there and the notes are ripped up to which Connie flees with Nick.
The next thing you see is Connie and Nick trying a bank heist, which all goes wrong. Nick is arrested and sent to jail and Connie, who feels he is the only hope - attempts to help Nick - as he doesn't see his brother lasting long behind bars.
The rest of the story - which is done in true timeline fashion is Connie's attempt to save Nick
What remains is a timeline of Connie seaking and manipulating others to free his brother, and it gets incredibly intense. Connie is not a good person, even to his brother.
This movie affectedly me deeply - it almost will make you sick, but you can't stop the ride. The Saftie brothers have done and excellent job of capturing disparity in New York City.
If you like real representations of real world practices in a movie, then this is for you. But, be warned - it's not pleasant or redeeming.
I would say that this is my favorite movie of 2017 because of the raw portrayals in it. The title Good Time is the exact opposite of what is seen on screen. This night is not a Good Time, but the worst time imaginable.
The story and characters are incredible, the shots and soundtrack are perfect. Robert Pattison's performance is stellar. This movie cranks it up to 20.
This should've been covered long ago. One of my favorite films - Slam ... which, I recently re-purchased. I had bought it before, but it was stolen. Needless to say, it is a great film. Slam is poetry - literally. Ray Joshua (Saul Williams) gets incarcerated in a D.C. jail for selling weed, at the same time his dealer got shot. Ray gets locked up and quickly discovers that he is rumored to be involved and/or implicated for his friends shooting. Faced with joining a gang, Ray comes out into the jailhouse yard with style - slinging poetry like an automatic machine gun. His dialog doesn't go unnoticed. Lauren (Sonja Sohn), who is teaching at the prison immediately takes notice.
Long story short - His words affect fellow inmates, he makes bail, he falls for Lauren who tells him that he has to go through his punishment to change. Then he goes to a poetry slam as the final act still contemplating his situation.
When people speak for God, fundamentalists usually call them prophets. Doesn't God talk to us all? I'm an agnostic but I can appreciate that sentiment.
Raury, as raw as he is - really strips to the core for this one. He accompanies this with Devil's Whisper on this album. I highly recommend checking the lot!
