Trainwreck: Woodstock '99

 

Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 is a Netflix produced documentary that gives insight into what was supposed to be a revival of the 1960s Woodstock and why it turned into a debauchery filled riot instead.

I didn’t remember Woodstock ’99 so I found this chronical to be very interesting and also infuriating. It did a get job of showing you the delusions of these producers who thought they could get away with being negligent and basically treating over 500,000 people like crap.

Emma Clarke who is a writer for the Independent rightfully called out Netflix for glossing over the massive amount of sexual assault that occurred at Woodstock ’99, similarly to the organizers at the time, who had the nerve to blame the women and the musical artists but not themselves and their lack of rules, safety or security. She also mentioned that Netflix didn’t do their due diligence in protecting these women, by concealing their identities, when showing archival footage of them being grouped while crowd surfing.

Even though Netflix missed an opportunity to share more, the breakdown of the story was clearly put together from all of the corners the producers were cutting to how that ended up playing out in the end. The ways the organizers were trying to spin all of the violence and sexual assault was despicable and I’m disheartened that they were never held accountable for their actions. Ultimately, I’m glad that I was able to see this documentary and hope that this cautionary tale is a learning experience on what not to do.

The Man from Toronto

 

The Man from Toronto is a Netflix produced story of mistaken identity. When Teddy, played by Kevin Hart, accidently ends up at the wrong Airbnb, he is incorrectly thought to be The Man from Toronto, one of the world's deadliest assassins, played by Woody Harrelson.

This action comedy seemed like an interesting concept and there were some good themes around never giving up on yourself and not being afraid to try something new, but overall this turned out to be a disappointment. While there were a few entertaining parts, the majority of the movie was unrealistic and filled with terrible dialogue. Teddy’s monologue at the end was unnecessary and Harrelson couldn't even pronounce Toronto correctly.

Kevin Hart was able to deliver a couple of funny jokes, but the majority were lame and his performance was too over the top. I've also seen him as this type of character before, the butt of the joke, the screw-up character who has to be saved by the tough guy. I'm kind of over this type of role for Hart. Harrelson on the other hand did give me a bit of variety. I was okay with him as the tough, no nonsense killer who had plans to get out of the business.

The fight choreography was creative toward the end but looked really fake, like it was on a cheap green screen. And maybe that was the intention to add a bit of extra corniness to it, but I wasn’t feeling it.

The Man from Toronto is the risk you take when watching Netflix films. With so much content on the platform, not everything is a hit. And unfortunately this is one of those times. This movie was a complete waste of time.

A Secret Love

 

A Secret Love is a documentary of two women, Pat Henschel and pro baseball player Terry Donahue, who fell in love in 1947. Over the course of 65-years we see their journey as a couple through their silent protest against the prejudice of a nation.

This story was so intriguing to me because you get to see women, now in their late 80s, having a very unique coming out journey. You learn why it took them so long to reveal their true selves to their families, the mixed reactions it caused and how they persevered through all of the ups and downs of their lives. I also appreciated the honesty and transparency of the ageing process and how Terry and Pat embraced it.

A Secret Love is a story of resilience in the face of bigotry. The amount of archival materials (photos, letters and videos) that Pat and Terry were able to share over their six decades together really helped to connect you to these women and their story. It was educating and also saddening to see how they had to hide their relationship for so long. Seeing a couple that have aged together through such difficult times and still love each other deeply was beautiful to see. If you are looking for a documentary that is heartfelt and also a bit of a tearjerker, this is the one for you.

Anything's Possible

 

Anything’s Possible is an Amazon Prime produced romantic drama directed by Billy Porter, starring Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali. This coming of age story follows Kelsa, an openly trans young woman, as she navigates her senior year of high school filled with complicated friendships and love.

The plot was filled with themes around being your authentic self and not letting others determine your happiness.

I appreciated the modern costumes and casting diversity. I liked seeing a more uncommon, unique love match in Kelsa, played by Eva Reign and Khal, played by Abubakr Ali. The character development was strong and I thought they both did a great job playing off one another. Eva Reign played a very confident and likeable character in Kelsa and Abubakr’s Khal was more shy but also very kind and talented. I liked that his character was a Muslim, I just wish the writers would have done a deeper dive on his culture vs just emphasizing what a nice guy he was. My only other critique was that I wasn't a fan that the "villains" were both Black.

Overall, I enjoyed seeing a story that is not as common in Hollywood. Stories like this that shine a positive light on the trans experience are so important and needed. For me Billy Porter's directorial debut was a hit and one I would definitely recommend.

The Gray Man

The Gray Man is a Russo brothers directed, Netflix action film starring Ryan Gosling as a CIA agent who is being hunted by his own organization after he uncovers damaging agency secrets.

The plot is based on Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel of the same name. The Russo brothers are known for their Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, so I was hoping, since they were involved in the screenplay and directing of this film, that The Gray Man would be another great piece of cinema. Unfortunately this was nowhere near the quality of a MCU film. The script was corny and predictable. It was full of cheesy one liners that were supposed to be funny but they weren't.

I did appreciate the creative fight choreography and action sequences. I also liked the cast diversity. Ana de Armas who played Dani Miranda was the star of this movie to me. In this more character driven role, she had an opportunity to not only do the physical fight choreography but to also show her emotional range as an actor. It was nice seeing Regé-Jean Page in a role outside of Bridgerton. Unfortunately his role as Carmichael was a bit over acted.  I also wasn't impressed with Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling. Evans, who played Lloyd Hansen, is not a villain. Even with his tacky mustache and deep cutting lines, his delivery was still too wholesome. And Ryan Gosling is the same in everything to me. I liked seeing him in an action role but he's still pretty one dimensional. His trademark dry humor was also boring and played out for me.

Regrettably the action sequences couldn't save this movie for me. The Gray Man was a disappointment and not one that I would watch again.

Hustle

 

Hustle is a sports comedy drama starring Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangómez. The story follows NBA talent scout, Stanley Sugerman, played by Sandler, who discovers an unknown street ball player, Bo Cruz, played by Hernangómez. With the pressure on, Sugerman must try to get Cruz NBA ready, which if successful, could change the trajectory of both of their careers.

The plot was authentic, earnest and engaging throughout; though a bit predictable. There was strong character development for Sandler and Hernangómez’s characters. This is the first time I've seen Hernangómez act and I thought he did a really great job in this co-leading role. He did a great job portraying a man, down on his luck, who really needed this shot. I also quite enjoyed the pairing of Queen Latifa as Stanley's wife Teresa Sugerman and Sandler. It was unexpected but they had great chemistry together. There was also an impressive amount of active and retired basketball players that made cameos or had parts in this movie and they were all surprisingly very good in their acting.

I’m starting to really appreciate Adam Sandler’s transition to more serious roles. This is the second film where he’s taken this risk, that I’ve really enjoyed. I thought the story did a great job of mixing in comedic moments while also being raw and genuine in the storytelling. This is definitely a movie I would recommend.