All Forms of Art

  When I sat down to watch Bombshell , I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy film. Not because it’s shocking or disturbing in a graphic way, but because it tackles a real-life story that’s deeply uncomfortable: the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News that brought down powerful CEO Roger Ailes. An Amazing Cast Directed by Jay Roach and written by Charles Randolph, Bombshell stars Charlize Theron (executive producer of Mindhunter ) as Megyn Kelly , Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson , and Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil (a fictional composite character meant to represent the experiences of many women at Fox). John Lithgow  (Churchill in The Crown ) plays Roger Ailes with unsettling conviction. The cast is stacked with talent, and the performances—especially Theron’s near-transformation into Kelly—are what keep the movie engaging. That said, I personally found the film kind of boring . It’s not a thriller, it’s not flashy, and it doesn’t always dig as deeply into the tox...

  I Am: Celine Dion , the new Prime Video documentary, invites viewers behind the spotlight to meet the woman behind one of the most powerful voices in music.  It’s a story about talent, resilience, and suffering, all wrapped in a painfully honest narrative. Seeing the Woman, Not Just the Icon What I appreciated most about this documentary - and others like it - is how it strips away the glamour and gives us Celine as a human being—vulnerable, soft-spoken, and struggling.  For decades, we’ve seen her on massive stages, larger than life. But here, we meet the mother, the patient, the grieving widow, the woman fighting to live a life that once seemed destined for fairy tales. It’s powerful to witness that shift. An Intimate, Sometimes Painful Portrait The documentary doesn’t shy away from Celine’s battle with Stiff Person Syndrome , a rare and devastating neurological disorder. It’s heartbreaking to watch, especially knowing she still has so much love to give—to her au...

  Netflix 's Baby Reindeer takes viewers on an unsettling journey.  The show revolves around the unstable and frightening Martha. Its narrative is full of creepiness and psychological disturbance.  Psychological Journey Baby Reindeer explores the protagonist's confusion and low self-esteem. They act as catalysts for the bizarre and terrifying situations he finds himself in.  The series does an excellent job of it. It portrays perfectly how fragile self-worth can lead to inexplicable choices and entanglements. Dark Reality The depiction of abuse in Baby Reindeer is both raw and unflinching. It sheds light on a less commonly explored facet of this dark reality.  The series doesn't shy away from the complex dynamics of power and control. It forces the viewer to confront uncomfortable truths about manipulation and emotional torment. The human mind is not linear and Baby Reindeer shows it brilliantly. The fragmented and often shocking portrayal of the protagonist...

  The Crown, the Netflix show about the British royal family, ended, and the audience was slightly disappointed. I understand, but, for me, it was a good end. The writers had already said they wouldn't go much further. They wouldn't feel comfortable writing about the present. Obviously, we wanted more and to see some of the things that happened in the last few years, but it was understandable. They give us tips on what could happen, like the beginning of the Princes William and Harry falling down. Once you accept that they wouldn't write anything too close to the present, you can see that the end wasn't bad because it was a kind of happy ending. The show ended at a time when everything seemed to be going in the right direction.  This last season was a bit less focused on the Queen; it was about Diana's death, her children's grief, and a lot focused on Prince William. I'd like to have more of Prince Harry's screen time. However, while smaller, the focu...

  Pamela, a love story is a Netflix documentary where Pamela Anderson takes back the narrative of her life.  After being so exploited and even humiliated throughout the 90s, the time came when she was able to tell her story. She gives access to her thoughts and feelings through her own words, memories, videos, and journal entries.  Who is this woman? The media sold her as a plastic doll, a Barbie, ridiculous and dumb. So, you may find it intriguing to know who this woman is. You can argue that she is faking for the camera. In my opinion, she wasn't. She comes across as an adorable, gentle, and giggling person. A sweet mom and a passionate woman. She seems a little nervous, maybe a bit uncomfortable at some points, but she is a well-resolved middle-aged woman. She went through a lot in her life. From a young age, many things happened to her that no one should ever have to deal with, but she persevered without bitterness or victimization. “Why do these grown men hate me s...

  Pistol is a show about the British punk-rock band Sex Pistols . And, despite many flaws, I binge-watched it. I am not a fan of the band, but the whole production is quite interesting and, more importantly, makes you feel something.   Frenetic pace The series shows us the ascension and fall at a fast pace. Sometimes you feel like you lost something because 10 minutes ago, it was all so different.  Strangely enough, this is a good and a bad thing. Artistically speaking, it is the perfect metaphor for what happened to them. Their story is exactly like that: one day, they were Gods, and the next day, they ended. Yet, it also has a bad side: the fact that everything happens so fast, the story tends to lose some depth.  It’s a Sad Story You can feel annoyed with their behavior, or you can hate them. It doesn't really matter. But, if you pay attention, the Sex Pistols' story is a very sad one. You have it all: abusive stepdads, crazy girlfriends (and mothers) who le...

  We already know that this kind of documentary has a single reason to exist: to humanize its protagonist and clean their image when they have too many haters. Neymar: the perfect chaos wasn't any different.  Who is Neymar? Neymar was the protagonist, yet we don't get to know him very well. As a result, we have a deeper insight into his brand instead of him as a person. He didn't show who he was at all. Different people talked about him, especially his father (what a surprise) and the humble person they all claim him to be… well, it didn't show up in his body language. There could be many reasons for that to happen. Was he nervous talking to the camera? Is he shy? Very shy people tend to be seen as arrogant and distant. Was that the reason? We can't know. All we know for sure is that the Neymar we know is a company, the person behind that is well hidden. So, the documentary's main goal failed - you will probably not like him more because you watched this show. ...

  Pamela Anderson's sex tape - we all heard of it. At least people from my generation. This show is about how and why the video suddenly becomes so infamously famous. The show didn't disappoint. The first episode was a bit slow. It was clearly to give us some context. In some way, to help us understand the thief's (Rand Gauthier) motivations. In a certain way, this episode gives us his perspective. Tommy Lee appears as this arrogant idiot. He is disrespectful, and a horrible human being, while Pamela is like an extra. You barely see her during this episode. This was what Rand saw. Their story After giving us his perspective and, in a way, his version of the story, we travel in time. We go to the moment Pam and Tommy meet each other, following their romance. We follow their story, and here is when your perspective can change.  They really loved each other. While watching those first scenes, you start to feel bad for what is about to happen. More than a tape The show's ce...

Daughter of Dust  is a biographical book about Leila Aziz, a Sudanese orphaned girl, raised among other children in her condition in the “Institute for the Protected”, in which no one was really protected. The Hard Truth Ignored by Many As she grows, Leila wants to lead a normal life and be respected by the world. Subjects like female mutilation and the punishment for having sex out of wedlock, among others, are exposed by the eyes of a child who oftentimes doesn't really understand what is happening. It hurts This story calls out against the way women are treated in Sudan. For that, Wallace refuses to write it overly sentimentally; she describes what's happening in a crude and direct way that makes us shocked and angry. Any change in Leila's life is a new possibility, and you will wish for her to succeed and find a safer place. Never Stop Fighting  Along its pages, Leila fights for what she believes in and wants and never lets her birth condition dete...