All Forms of Art

Mindhunter  is an interesting show about the origins of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.  I was curious, the minute I heard about it. It’s the beginning of a study that I was quite interested in during my college days. The story takes place in the seventies, extremely well recreated down to the smallest detail. It also gives us good, deep characters in a combination that makes it impossible for you to watch only one episode. As The Sinner , it is not about the crime itself, but rather about the "why" and understanding the mind of the criminal.  Fighting For Recognition Focused on the  early days of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit,  Mindhunter  shows how  a couple of passionate professionals worked hard to be taken seriously by the rest of the bureau and other law enforcement agencies. It is fascinating the way they enter the psyche of serial killers, trying to find out how their minds work. While conducting their intriguing stud...

This is not the sort of show that I usually talk about on this blog. However, as a psychologist, I’m usually quite curious about criminals and their minds, and one day I started watching this documentary on Netflix. Taking into consideration the kind of thing this is, I can’t say I ‘liked’ it. I mean, what you see in there is nothing to like, but I was rather terrified, which is probably the usual response.  Nonetheless, it was definitely a good documentary. The eyes of a killer Everything displayed in this story was terrible. The descriptions, Bundy’s posture, everything seemed like some sort of horror show, putting into perspective what we may consider to be lucky or unlucky in this life. Before I even start watching it, I read somewhere that this was the kind of thing you shouldn’t watch alone. Sounds accurate right now. At the time, and considering my mostly academic experience, I didn’t think that this could actually be so upsetting. Every time...

As a mother of a young child who cries for me every 5 minutes, it’s difficult to imagine the moment she’ll leave home, as well as the feeling of an empty nest.  As a daughter, I’ve heard, “You could come to see me more often…” a few times already. That is what this comedy is about, and I loved it. The Message No matter how you feel about the movie itself, it has a particular message. It is an essential part of it. It is indeed a cliché, but even as such, some people still need to hear it. With Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette, and Felicity Huffman, this is, in fact, a movie for moms and children, and it contains messages for both to think about.  For mothers, it tells you you need to let your kids grow. Be there when they need you, but without interfering. You need to give them space to evolve. Your life doesn't end when they leave your house; it is just a new beginning - where you can rediscover yourself and redefine your life. For children, the m...

There are more and more shows helping to demystify the LGBTQ+ world. This show was the first one to do it in the 90s, and now it returns with this fantastic miniseries.  The backstory introduces us to different generations of the LGBTQ community, each facing their own problems and offering the public a wide range of perspectives. I had zero knowledge of the story, the book, and previous adaptations, other than knowing they exist. You definitely don’t need to know them to get into the story and love it. Anna Madrigal Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) is a 90-year-old lady who built a haven for all in the middle of San Francisco. Anna takes care of everybody, as if they were her children, “because they are,” she says in one of the episodes.  That alone makes her an amazing character, impossible not to like, but that’s not all. Throughout the show, you’ll know the real and sad story of Anna Madrigal. It is a reminder for all new generations of how the L...

Good Girls is a funny, light comedy with a great cast. It touches on a few interesting topics amid much craziness and a not-so-realistic storyline. The plot is about three moms who, out of despair and facing financial problems, decide to rob a shop. Everything seemed to go perfectly well until they realized that they found more money in the safe than what would be expected. The problem? It belongs to a local gang. The story is, indeed, a little implausible. Nonetheless, quite interesting. You simply can’t stop watching it. The perfect mom The main characters are mothers who would do anything for their children. However, forget the idea of the perfect mom. They are human beings, after all.  The excitement of committing a felony, the fear of getting caught, seems to be the rush of adrenaline they lacked in their lives. Nevertheless, one second is enough for everything to get out of control. They are trying to remain ‘good’ while they need to hide all they ...

Daddy’s Home 2 is a light Christmas comedy, and as such, it had a few negative reviews. I’m not a fan of this kind of movie, but I was in the mood for a light, laughing night. So, why not? The movie is a sequel to Daddy’s Home , which I didn’t watch, so I can’t compare it to it. Hard critics The critics slammed it!  The movie’s plot has two significant points: two men trying to co-parent their children in a respectful, caring environment, and the arrival of the grandfathers for Christmas, which will mess with the already fragile family dynamics. Both of them were highly criticized. I read a lot of reviews, and the vast majority were not kind. Comedy  It is a comedy movie, or it is supposed to be. It has a few non-significant situations that make us laugh, sure. But, other than that, there is nothing.  I watched the movie and read some reviews. I sat down to write a review, and… there is almost nothing to write about. It’s empty. ...