Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Cherry’.
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There are some unfortunate stigmas that surround addiction. In that, modern society tends to view folks that turn to drugs as hopeless losers. The kind that simply don’t care about anyone or anything but their next fix and that they do will whatever it takes to get that, even if it means harming those they love or breaking the law and well, that’s an unfortunate view to have of folks that suffer from addiction. Because it genuinely implies that they have made an active choice to turn their backs on humanity and embrace something evil and really, the issue with this particular view… is that it is utterly and completely wrong. Because addicts aren’t inhuman monsters that hide in the shadows, they are human beings that have either lost their way or are suffering and use drugs to cope.

Which is an unfortunate reality that we are just now starting to understand, since science is making it clear that mental health problems and addiction often go hand in hand, and genetic predispositions don’t exactly help the cause either. And we are also slowly coming to learn the exact science that revolves around why people that suffer from trauma make a point to turn to drugs to cope as well and it just so happens, that particular topic is something that directing team Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Endgame, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) and talented actor Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) wanted to focus upon for their next filmmaking collaboration, a movie named Cherry.

Now in this particular motion picture, Holland plays a man named Cherry and we are privy to a great deal of important moments in his life. Such as when he meets his one true love, a woman named Emily, and how their sorted and insecure love affair leads to marriage and temporary heartbreak and an important decision that will change both of their lives forever. Because the heartbreak segment of their relationship, motivates Cherry to join the military when he falsely thinks he is going to lose Emily and well, what he sees in the Iraq War changes him forever. Because he watches good people die horribly on a consistent basis and the resulting trauma that comes from that motivates him to turn to drugs when he returns home, in order to cope with the images and unending terror that haunt his mind and soul. And unfortunately, Emily joins him and with the two of them constantly using and burning through their funds, Cherry is forced to do the unthinkable and turn to bank robberies in the hopes of getting him and his love, their next fix… and a moment of peace. 

So, it’s best we just get it out there right now and point out the fact that this is a supremely dark film. One that offers up a devastating exploration of how trauma can drive people to use drugs. Since you are privy to every heartbreaking moment that forms the need for Cherry, and eventually Emily, to use drugs to cope and well, that particular storytelling decision allows for some heartbreaking and visceral moments to take place. The kind that shows us the raw power of anxiety and trauma and how difficult they are to control when they’re surging through someone's mind and body, giving us bold new insight on PTSD and its lasting impact on the human mind and psyche. And this part of the story really does make it crystal clear how drugs can provide folks suffering from it, a brief and powerful break from its horrific grip. 

But while that makes for a fascinating journey for certain, one that also holds nothing back in regard to how drug use transforms a person as well, where this motion picture truly shines, is in its commentary on how we view mental health issues in America. Because despite the fact that Cherry and his love are clearly crying out for help, and are genuinely broken by some rough emotional experiences, they never really ever receive the help they need. For the mental health system is quick to provide Cherry with pills and have him move along and their families see them as problematic disappointments at best, that simply need to get their lives together and well, all of that should feel familiar since that is how mental illness and mental health issues are viewed in our world, as problems that need to simply go away and that makes this movie an outright plea to stop that and treat these issues with the seriousness that they deserve.

If anything, all of these elements make this a supremely unique viewing experience. Simply because, you don’t see movies revolving around this subject matter, offer up this kind of care and detail, since they tend to want to focus on the big and moving moments. But this one, really does take you on a sweeping journey. One that allows for you to genuinely understand and care for the characters, and it also features some powerhouse performances as well. Since Holland shows off his acting chops and range as Cherry and Ciara Bravo is electric as Emily and well, this is one that you should definitely check out whenever you get the chance. Simply because this grand American epic, sheds incredible light on a topic that deserves more recognition and discussion, so that stories such as these, can serve as educational tools instead of a harsh reminder that we still have a long way to go to fixing mental health care in the United States of America.

‘Cherry’ will be available to stream on AppleTV+ on March 12, 2021 and will receive a limited theatrical release, starting February 26, 2021.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary film, ‘The Act of Reading’.
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Back in the day when we were schoolchildren, there was one particular assignment that all of us dreaded… the book report. Because that particular style of report, likely meant that we would need to sacrifice precious playtime or video game time to sit down and read a book that we likely weren’t going to enjoy the slightest. Because the kind of books that required a report were stuffy in nature and going through it was going to be an awful experience for certain. But we either buckled down and finished the book because that’s simply what we had to do, or we didn’t, because that was something that happened from time to time as well and we of course, moved on from that moment, never giving it a second thought until later in life.
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For eventually we came to realize that book reports were designed to be more than annoying busy work or some kind of boring punishment from our teacher. No instead, they were designed to teach us critical analysis and how to properly examine literature and life, and regardless of how much we despised them growing up, the skill set they sent our way, eventually makes us grateful we ever dealt with them and perhaps wistful that we didn’t finish all of them in a proper manner. Which leaves one to wonder, what it would be like, if we could go back and finish those unfinished reports now? Would that disdain return thanks to mental muscle memory? Or would we enjoy diving back into those books now that we have a little life experience and a better understanding of the analytical process? Well as it turns out, one man decided that those questions would be fun to answer and that allowed for the documentary film, The Act of Reading, to be born. 

Which is a motion picture that introduces us to a man named Mark Blumberg who years ago, failed an English class because of the fact that he slacked through it and basically didn’t bother to deal with an assignment revolving around the classic novel, Moby Dick. But now that he is older and wiser, he opts to go back to school, so to speak, and do a proper analysis of this classic tome and well… that leads to one incredibly fascinating journey. One that opens Mark’s eyes to the fact that books like Moby Dick, the kind that are complex and annoying to teenagers, do indeed find life in the everyday world after school has come to an end. Since he encounters so many people in his travels, that speak to how that novel touched them and moved them, to the point where fans of this novel gather together to celebrate it in a unique manner.

Plus, the realization that there is so much more to this book, leads Mark to begin to explore the life and times of the author himself. Which allows for him to come to learn of Melville’s mental health issues and the tough life he led in his Pennsylvania abode since he shared it with so many family members, and as an added twist, this part of the journey also allows for Mark to meet actual relatives of the man. Which in turn gives  Mark and the viewer the opportunity to hear about what it is like to be related to a famous author from ages ago that is still celebrated to this day, and that brings forth some fascinating and engrossing moments. Since it is both surreal and powerful to hear folks that share the Melville bloodline, speak to how his work is with them every single day. 
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But truly where this documentary shines, is by way of its examination of the actual science behind reading and how it impacts us. Because this segment of the story makes it clear that taking the time to pour over words and analyze them and celebrate them, is fundamentally good for our minds. Since it helps the brain to grow and does indeed teach us a great deal about critical thinking and most important of all, this segment also explores the wonder that accompanies losing ourselves within a story. Because immersing one’s mind within a world that someone else created, is quite the intoxicating experience, and really, it is this part of the story that makes it inherently clear what Mark wants to accomplish with this wonderful documentary, and it goes far beyond simply handling unfinished business from so long ago.

No instead, it is obvious that this documentary is an outright celebration of literature. One that is assembled by a man that came to discover its wonder and its power a little later on in life, and it is also a thank you letter to the fine teachers that dedicate their days to getting younger minds to appreciate it as well and really, everything we’ve discussed here today… makes this particular documentary a must see. Because it really does a fine job of showing us the magic that books produce and of reminding us of the importance of the classics. Plus, it asks those that don’t necessarily read all that often, to give literature another try and look at books from a whole new angle and those are some genuinely refreshing and uplifting messages to find, in an era where documentaries tend to focus on the darker aspects of our world.

Caution: This article contains some spoilers for motion picture, ‘Donna: Stronger Than Pretty’. 

When we are young, we are taught that we need to accomplish two key things in life, in order to find fulfillment and happiness. In that, we need to have a dream to chase and capture and we also need to settle down and find someone special and start a family, and it is understandable as to why those two notions are embraced by so many. Because a dream does indeed fuel us and keep us going when the days are long and the nights are longer and of course, having someone we love and having a family around us… grounds us and gives us more reason to chase our dreams. So that we can provide for them and feel satisfaction in knowing we did something special for them, and this is why so many of us chase those two concepts with gusto the instant we head out into the world.
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But while it is worthwhile to chase all of those things, our desire to obtain them quickly can bring about some unpleasant surprises. Because our focus to snag them over anything else, leaves some important lessons about the chase and its end results, out of the mix. Such as the fact that our dreams don’t always happen overnight and that can wear on a person, and also learn, that sometimes… the love of our life is not who we thought to them to be. In fact, they can harbor some real darkness and make our lives difficult when they indulge in said darkness and well, those surprises tend to leave us lost and listless and unsure of how to proceed in life since there is no clear-cut guide as to what to do, when everything we ever wanted, falls to pieces before our eyes. But while there is no specific blueprint on such matters, there is hope and there is inspiration to be found in the stories of others who survived these dark times and it just so happens that this reviewer had the opportunity to watch a film that offers a way forward in Donna: Stronger Than Pretty.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a young woman named Donna, who cannot wait to finish her schooling and become a teacher. But as she grows older and becomes a mother to a son, she realizes her priorities have to change and the dream will have to wait so that she can provide a better life for her baby boy. Something that becomes a reality when a charming man named Nick comes into her life. For he comes from money and he treats her and her son well, and the incredible love affair that comes about, makes marrying him an easy decision. But shortly after they tie the knot and begin to build a family of their own, Donna comes to learn that Nick is not what he seems. In fact, he’s an abusive and angry man that believes he answers to no one… and that horrible revelation leaves Donna lost and unsure of how to proceed in life since she now feels trapped. But eventually she comes to realize that sticking around is dangerous and unsustainable and that motivates her to do the impossible and cut ties with the once love of her life, in order to give herself and her children, the healthy and stable environment they so deserve and to give Donna a chance at finally living her life, her way.

So, the first thing you’ll probably notice about this particular film, is that the plot feels eerily realistic and incredibly detailed and there is good reason for that. Simply because this is a movie based on the life and times of the mother of the director of the film and her experiences with domestic violence are something Jaret Martino felt the world needed to see and understandably so. Because Donna handled this difficult aspect of life in the bravest way imaginable, by standing up to her attacker and by never letting him bring her down and for her efforts, she was able to accomplish her goals and give her family peace and a healthy environment to live in. And to top it all off, she was able to chase her dreams and finally achieve them later in life, which makes this a supremely inspirational film for certain, since it really does offer hope and direction to folks that are stuck in or know of someone, in a similar situation. For if Donna was able to figure out how to escape this rotten situation and find a positive way forward in life, so can others.

But while that alone makes this movie worthwhile and moving for certain, we would be remiss to not point out the fact that this is also a supremely brave and visceral motion picture. Simply because it does something that few stories are willing to do when it comes to the portrayal of domestic violence and present it here in the raw. Which means we are privy to some extremely uncomfortable and downright terrifying moments when Nick lets his anger and fury loose and well, it’s about damn time a motion picture put the horror of that on full display. Because this is a topic that is about as taboo as it gets in modern America, since we seem to want to avoid the fact that this kind of stuff is happening right now, but it needs to be spotlighted and talked about, so that it can come to an end. Because no one deserves to be abused in a relationship, in any manner and hopefully this movie’s decision to put this awful aspect of everyday life on display gets the conversation going and builds awareness around a topic that’s been in the shadows for far too long.

In the end however, this really is quite the unique and brilliant film. For not only does it do an incredible job of bringing a dark and uncomfortable topic to light, but it also accomplishes something that is a tough task in cinema. In that, it truly captures the essence of life, and the wonder and heartbreak that comes about from just being a human being. A feat that it pulls off by presenting us with realistic and genuinely intimate moments with its characters, the kind that allow us to feel what they feel in that moment and that also offers up moments of great beauty in this story. Since we are able to see exactly how much Donna did love Nick early on, and how much she cares for her family. Something is likely attributed to the fact that Kate Amundsen loses herself in the role of Donna, and truly brings this pseudo-character to life in an earnest fashion that quite frankly is worthy of every acting award imaginable out there and well, all of these elements make this a movie a must-see, when all is said and done. Because this is one that will move you to tears and cheers and stay with you, long after it has come to an end.   

When we think of the incredible people throughout history, the kind that managed to change the world in a positive manner, we only think of their deeds and the period of their life where they made said change. Which is both good and bad. Because on one hand, it allows for us to celebrate their incredible deeds over and over again and be reminded of the fact that they were an exceptional human being. One that truly did something quite amazing. But on the other hand, focusing only on that… doesn’t really allow for us to celebrate the person and what exactly made them into the hero that we admire today.
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The latter of which, is supremely important to recognize for certain. Since it does so much for formative young minds. Such as teaching them how to recognize injustices in the world so they too can speak out against them, and to keep us all grounded and humble. For this kind of study helps to remind us that our heroes are in fact people, who made a choice to embrace bravery and hopefully that fearless decision inspires others to do the same. But thankfully, as the years continue along and the good deeds of past heroes continue to be scrutinized, people are starting to ask for the whole story of those who made a difference… so we can in fact, know their complete journey and one particular film that does a phenomenal job of exploring the life of a civil rights icon, is the 1992 epic biopic… Malcolm X.

For this particular tale, provides us with some incredible insight into the life of a man that was born Malcolm Little and how his younger years were filled with strife and a desire to figure out how to fit in and find purpose as an African American in a time where Black people were viewed as second class citizens. And it also does a phenomenal job of showing us how Malcolm lost his way once he slipped into adulthood and let misfortune dictate a path toward prison… a place that genuinely helped to form him into the man we celebrate today. For his time behind bars allowed for him to truly reflect upon his journey thus far and how perhaps it wasn’t the right path to walk. Which in turn, allowed for the Muslim faith to find him and give him direction and purpose.

Which of course… leads to his days in the spotlight as the spokesman of the Nation of Islam. Wherein he took the time to speak upon racial equality in a manner that was jarring to the people of the 1960s. But while that segment of the story is equally as informative and powerful… it is the smaller moments in between his big speeches that truly captivates the viewer. Because we are able to see Malcolm X as a man and not as a legend. And that allows for us to learn how hard it was for him to juggle being a good husband and a good father, while maintaining his status a symbol of hope, and we are also to privy to how his fame helped to engender jealousy and disdain and how that sometimes wore upon his soul and his mind.
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But while those elements make for a powerful and visceral and heartbreaking experience for certain, where this biopic truly shines… is in its ability to present Malcolm X as fallible. For we truly do view our heroes as flawless individuals that can do no wrong. But in this film, Malcolm makes mistakes often and sometimes backs the wrong cause or the wrong people, which makes him quite relatable since we too have made similar mistakes. But what truly makes him inspiring in this story, is that rather than indulge in arrogance or hubris, he is always willing to open his mind and his heart to mistakes and learn from them. Which is what helps to grow his unique views on unity and equality and how they should be a virtue and a right for all and that makes this motion picture a powerful and poignant picture for certain. One that truly removes the mystique surrounding a civil rights legend and challenges the audience in the process since it points out something quite incredible about Malcom’s approach to the fight for equal rights.

In that, we are inherently uncomfortable with the truth and we tend to move past it instead of addressing the issue. But his sharp and biting words and truth spouting, really does point out that we need to hear the truth about race relations in America, no matter how uncomfortable that might be. Because that is the only way we can ever properly address it, since then it is out on the open and on display and while we wait for the all-important day for that to happen, we can continue to revisit the life and times of the man that brought this idea to the table by way of one powerful story. One that truly explores every moment and every nuance of a civil rights icon and if by chance you haven’t seen this motion picture, please do so. Simply because it does a wonderful of job of celebrating the life of an incredibly important African American, one that started a powerful conversation that still has us talking to this day.   

Something that is truly fascinating about modern America, is that so many of its citizens tend to view history through rose colored glasses. Manifest Destiny for instance, is taught and viewed as a giant turning point in American history, one where this nation expanded itself in a bold and noble manner, laying the foundation for the country we are today. And of course, we often look at World War II as our shining moment, wherein we put the world’s troubles upon our backs to save it from the horrors of the Third Reich and we even see the Civil Rights Movement as a flawless moment of progress as well, since it symbolized the ideal that all men are created equal. But while it is wonderful to ponder upon those important moments in a positive light, let’s be honest… our view of them isn’t exactly accurate.

Because Manifest Destiny saw the wholesale slaughter of Indigenous Americans to bring many of the western states of life, and World War II quickly got out of hand because of our xenophobia and desire to remain out of the conflict, and action was only taken when the bloodshed came to our shores. And of course, the Civil Rights Movement was quite the fight for equality, one wrought with violence and ugly moments as Caucasians in the south fought to resist change in a desperate effort to hold true to ideals long gone, the kind that still permeate the south today. If anything, it’s important to recognize that history isn’t always rosy, so that we don’t repeat its mistakes, and one handy way to dive into the harsh realities of history, is by way of storytelling. For creative minds can recreate those all-important moments and help us to understand their gravity and recently, this reviewer had the opportunity to watch a film that does a phenomenal job of helping us to understand the power and importance of a critical moment in the Civil Rights Movement in, Selma.

Now, in this particular film, we are transported back to 1964 to properly understand exactly why Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. wanted Selma, Alabama to be a place of note in the mind of Americans and it just so happens to relate to the fact that some grave injustices were happening in that part of our country at that time. For African Americans were forced to go through all kinds of processes and busy work in order to vote in that state, despite the fact that the law made voting for all, legal. And to top it off, police and everyday citizens down there, were still viewing African Americans as second-class citizens, despite the fact that segregation was also forbidden in this part of the world and those core issues helped Doctor King to realize that coming to Selma and pushing for voting rights, and having that iconic March, was critical to changing the way the nation viewed equal rights. 

Because America would see firsthand, the kind of oppression and wanton violence that was being waged against African Americans in the name of outdated and stupid views and that revelation adds some serious depth to this March and makes it far more significant than a fair chunk of us learned in school. For it goes to show that Doctor King understood that one possible way to properly end decades of this kind of systemic racism, was to put it on display and show the world how wrong and unsettling it is and the movie definitely holds nothing back in that arena either. Because in order to properly understand it, the viewer must also face it and that is why we are privy to some harrowing and supremely uncomfortable scenes. The kind that allows for us to experience the horrors that African Americans went through back then and sadly… are still going through. Since some of the images here appear as though they were cloned from news broadcasts from last summer.
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Which means that this movie also makes it clear that while we’ve come far in race relations in America, in many ways… we didn’t learn our lesson and we have miles to go. And that is a sobering realization to come to, and it makes the ending of this film, bittersweet in a way. Because the work isn’t done yet, but at the same time there is still room for hope. For the film’s unfettered examination of Doctor King himself, and the toll this event took upon him emotionally, speaks to the fact that such change cannot be up to one man. Instead, it is up to all of us to call out racism when we see it, and shame it and push it away until it finally does die. Only then will the sacrifices made in Selma be properly honored, and the fact that there is solid awareness around equal rights once again, is what gives one hope when this inspiring movie comes to a close.

But all commentary and lessons aside, it really is powerful to see Dr. King and his friends and co-workers, stand tall against adversity and fight for what’s right and what’s just in the world. For these men and women exhibit a level of bravery that few will ever understand, and they endured incredible hardships to reach their goal and really… their struggles remind us to never give up when it comes to the big causes and to never stop fighting for them. Because that is what will make the world a better place for all and all of these elements make this a powerful and poignant film. One that truly gives us some incredible insight into a segment of our nation’s history that we need to talk about more, and properly learn from, and if by chance you haven’t seen this motion picture, please do so as quick as you can and if you already have… watch it again and celebrate it often. For it is a historic and moving masterpiece that reminds us that when we band together, we can achieve anything.      

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Paradise Cove’.
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There is a prevailing belief in our modern world, that our lowest points are a blessing more than a curse, and it is quite understandable as to why people hold to that particular notion. After all, we are beings that understand change is a constant and that in order to grow in life we need to go through both good and bad experiences. And if we genuinely take the time to examine a tough situation in an objective manner, once we’ve mourned or felt whatever it is, we need to feel… we can pick up the pieces and use the lessons we’ve learned to move into a new phase of our life. One that will bring us prosperity and peace since we have found value in our suffering. But while that notion brings us great comfort and strength, it is sadly… something that not everyone is able to subscribe to.
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Because for some people, those dark moments in life are the worst-case scenario they’ve feared for years, and seeing it come to fruition, outright puts them in a supremely bleak place mentally, from which there is no recovery. Or worse yet, the pain they carry from those ugly experiences, leaves them jaded and angry and dangerous, and ready to lash out upon the world; they feel attacked and abandoned them in their time of need. If anything, these are the folks that we don’t talk about enough in the world since they seemingly go against the grain of this beloved notion. But they deserve the same chance to thrive as anyone else and recently, a motion picture revolving around the dangers of ignoring people that are in this kind of pain hit the market, in Paradise Cove.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to Knox and Tracey Bannett, who have just arrived in Malibu to take ownership of a beachside home that they’ve inherited from Knox’s late mother. A home that they plan to renovate and flip so that they can finally have a little money to live out their dreams and start the family they’ve always wanted. But there is just one little problem when it comes to their future plans, in that… beneath the house is a squatter named Bree. Who was once a rising starlet before tragedy struck, and she is of the opinion that a little bad blood with Knox’s mother, the kind that saw Bree lose the house to dear old mom… warrants a measure of revenge. And now she will stop at nothing to ensure that Knox and Tracey pay for the sins of the mother, and the chaos of the world that Bree cannot comprehend. 

So, make no mistake about it… this is a supremely devastating and bleak thriller, largely thanks to the fact that Bree is a tragedy come to life. Because she really is the embodiment of a broken human being. Since she has no hope or belief in anything, anymore, and she’s locked herself into thinking that if she can just make the right person pay for the sins the world committed against her, that she will finally find some semblance of happiness and she can start to put the pieces of her life back together. Which obviously, isn’t the case in the slightest. But seeing that kind of raw anger and pain on display in this story, lends a genuine sense of realism to it. Since we’ve all encountered people who blame others for their problems or they are keen to go after their fellow man to resolve their pain and that makes this film fascinating and compelling and frustrating to say the least. 

Because it is inherently obvious, that if Knox or Tracy or anyone in their neck of the woods, saw Bree as more than a simple statistic and offered genuine kindness and assistance, then perhaps the grand tragedy of this story would never play out. Since Bree is in dire need of help and direction. But alas, that never happens, and the end result is ugly to say the least, which brings about the frustration in question and it also gives the viewer pause. Since this aspect of the story, more or less provides the audience with some powerful commentary on how the homeless are viewed in America right now and how the system has failed them. Since they have little resources to get them on the right path and this movie deserves serious props for injecting all of this into a story that is at its core, a thriller.

Which is an element that is indeed present in this particular tale. For one Bree reaches the point of no return mentally, she is a force of terrifying nature in this film, and all you can do is sit back and see where the terror takes you and really, in the end, this really is quite the engrossing motion picture. Simply because it offers up a different kind of home invasion/evil neighbor story, one that features depth to the malice and is also filled to the brim with dynamic performances from the cast. Since Todd Grinnell (Knox) and Mena Suvari (Tracey) do a wonderful job of selling the frustration and terror that comes with having one’s home violated and of course, Kristin Bauer van Straten, who plays Bree… outright steals the show. Thanks to her earnest and dynamic portrayal of a broken women that has been swept away by the swirling waves of chaos that life sometimes sends our way.

​Scott’s Review
​One of the things that everybody has is an art, trade or craft they excel at, and it is different for everybody. No two people ever have to be the same when it comes to this. One person could be excellent at baking pies while someone else can design the oven that it is cooked in. Everyone has something that they are good at and I hope that in time everyone discovers this and is able to pursue it, because when you love what you do, it never feels like work.

Chef Carl Casper is one of the most promising chefs around the Los Angeles area and he knows it. Being praised for many years when coming out the gate, Carl is slated to get reviewed by one of the biggest bloggers in the area and this could make or break Carl’s career doing what he loves. Wanting to spice up the menu for his special visitor, Carl is given advice by his boss about what the people want to eat and not to change what already works. Although he does not agree with this, he believes that his boss knows best and follows the advice.

After receiving a rancid review, Carl wants to do or say something to save face and get another chance to prove that he is just as talented as he was when he hit the L.A. scene. With the help of his son, Percy, Carl gets connected to social media via Twitter and gets to read all of the unsavory things that have been posted. Trying to redeem himself, Carl posts a challenge to the reviewer to come back to the restaurant to try some real food. This time Carl has the menu all picked out and will not be stopped at his quest to prove the man wrong, but his boss has other ideas and threatens to fire Carl if he goes off menu. Fed up with his food censorship, Carl goes home without being able to cook for his new foe, but the reviewer comes in and blasts the cuisine once again. Beyond angry, Carl comes back down to the restaurant and gives the reviewer a piece of his mind and with all of the cell phones present, his confrontation goes viral on the internet.

Seeing a possibility of this being a good thing, Carl’s ex-wife puts him in touch with a couple of agents to see what could be done after this altercation. But Carl does not want the publicity, he just wants to cook, and he is offered one way out of his current downfall, a food truck. Although it is not the dream job, Carl gets the opportunity to cook what he wants, when he wants and that is too much to pass up. With the help of his old line cook, along with his son, Carl takes his new rolling business from Florida back to L.A. to live his life in style. All the way, Carl is challenged by his love for cooking and the love of his family whom he has never truly had the chance to be around.

Talk about a feel-good movie, bam, Jon Favreau hits this one out of the park. After watching this, you are left with great character growth by your three leads, feeling great about second chances and most of all… hungry. With a cast that will leave you in awe, there are so many people that make this movie magical, along with so many things about the internet that will make you wonder where the rock chef Carl was hiding under really is. I will admit that this story is much stronger than cooking, much stronger than second chances, it is about family and doing whatever it takes to make sure they know and understand that that they come first, which is one of the points I will always hammer home, at work, at play, at the office, in the… I don’t have a rhyme there, sorry. Oh well, this is a movie that you need to check out as you will laugh, maybe cry and most of all, leave hungry. Happy Viewing.

​John’s Review
​Of the many, many reasons that I enjoy writing for the web, one that stands out in my mind is the fact that working together with a fantastic team at Nerds That Geek allows for all of us to share stories and franchises that each of us love and adore with one another. It simply helps to expand our minds and one man that I work with that sends me recommendations often, is Scotty, and I take those recommendations seriously because if he’s jazzed about a particular show or film, I know it’s something that is worthwhile and fun and one film that he said I needed to check out, was Jon Favreau’s Chef.
 
This is a film that he said would just be a delight for me to watch since it was so supremely different than anything else Favreau has done and my goodness he was right on all counts because this really was a special movie through and through and really, what caught me off guard first thing when I settled in to watch this flick, is the sheer intimacy on display. Which surprised me simply because up until this point, Favreau was well known for creating either quirky screenplays or big concepts films, so to see a simple story involving a chef was a refreshing change pace here for starters, but I must digress, because we need to talk more about the wonder of that intimacy.
 
Because what Jon accomplishes here is something that is often taboo in film, since he offers up plenty of simple and everyday moments between Chef Carl Casper and the rest of the characters. Ones that feature mundane conversations that experts and critics firmly believe won’t work on film because the industry standard is that dialogue has to pop during every waking moment of a film. But here, those routine conversations are downright fascinating because they feature words that we’ve all used at some point or another in our lives since Chef Casper discusses his frustrations at being held back creatively when it comes to his current job and how much he wants to get back to basics when it comes to cooking and how much his passion means to him.
 
Which brings us to what truly makes this motion picture so utterly magnificent, the fact that it is just so incredibly positive when it comes to its message revolving around chasing one’s dream and doing anything and everything one can to keep a passion alive. That is of course accomplished by Carl’s career change in the film when he buys a Food Truck and starts cooking food on his terms again, but the true wonder of this decision is how infectious it turns out to be since his buddy Martin (played brilliantly by John Leguizamo) and his son Percy join him on his food truck road trip and watching father and son cook, and seeing the joy that getting back to basics does for Carl is a blast to watch and well, it inspires.
 
Because when you’re done with this movie, your own passion and dream are at the top of your mind and you’re ready to drop everything to pursue it right then and there because of the feel-good nature of this film, and you want to experience the joy that Carl does and well, that makes this movie a must see in my book. It really is quite the unique story, and it features a magnificent cast who play their roles with glee and their A-list skills add depth to this story in the process and really, you just cannot go wrong with a movie that makes an effort to relate to the audience on a fundamental level and leaves you smiling in the process. So, please, check this one out, you’ll be glad you did.  
 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Happy Cleaners’.
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Something that is truly fascinating about American culture in general, is how we tend to romanticize and simplify outdated and incredibly complex ideas. Such as The American Dream for instance. For this near century old concept is one that we still preach to citizens and immigrants alike, and we still promise them that hard work and determination will pay off with them enjoying a lavish home life in the suburbs, where their 2.5 kids will admire and respect them at the dinner table when they come inside from playing in a yard surrounded by a white picket fence. Which is in fact, quite the lovely way to view life in America but it really is a skewed and outdated view, one that we hold to tightly when we should be discussing the harsh reality of said Dream.
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Such as the fact, that hard work alone won’t get someone rewarded with all kinds of merits and riches. Now, that’s not to put down a hard day’s work and the personal reward that comes from that. But in 2021, ingenuity comes into play if one wants to be truly successful in America and that includes learning how to market one’s self and assemble an audience that will help propel you to new heights when you finally want to make your move. Plus, we don’t talk at all about the fact that The American Dream, isn’t for everyone, anymore. Sure, we preach that, but xenophobia and systemic racism have created a culture, where those who come to America to chase the Dream are looked down upon or are deemed undeserving of it, making their climb toward the pursuit of happiness all the more difficult. But while the masses aren’t ready to have these types of conversations yet, filmmakers certainly are and recently a motion picture was released that tackles the harsh reality of The American Dream in Happy Cleaners.

Now in this particular film we are introduced to the Choi family, who are led by a pair of Korean immigrants who came to America in pursuit of that all-important dream. But despite owning their own dry cleaning shop for the past decade, they’re struggling on a consistent basis. For business isn’t always steady and rising costs and maintenance are making their quest to own a successful business difficult. Which means they often turn to their daughter Hyunny to help with the bills around the house and they have high hopes that their son Kevin will finish college and find his own path free from their daily strife. But when the new landlord of their building decides the time has come for Happy Cleaners to close, and Kevin decides that school is not for him, this proud family will face some incredible challenges. The kind that will force them to re-evaluate what The American Dream means to them. 

So, the first thing you’ll notice when it comes to this movie, is that it really does offer up a shocking and stunning look at how The American Dream has changed in 2021 and how our continued push to romanticize it and reinforce its outdated notions, does more harm than good for those who come here thinking hard work will accomplish wonders. Because while mom and dad are indeed dedicated to their craft and their business, they don’t understand the nuances of technology and social media and how that could save their business and bring in the dough and that makes for some heartbreaking moments as we watch them suffer and fret over paying the bills when there are options for them to succeed. But while that alone makes for a supremely powerful story, where this motion picture truly shines… is by taking the time to show us how the Dream has gatekeepers surrounding it now and how immigrants are viewed and treated in modern America

Which are feats that this story accomplishes by way of some poignant moments within the walls of Happy Cleaners. Such as when an uppity woman comes in and demands two-thousand dollars for a mistake the Choi’s likely did not make. But she doesn’t care about such facts because she clearly looks down upon them as dumb and to blame for her woes. Because they’re nothing more than ‘lowly immigrants’ that she can take advantage of, or else they’ll face the wrath of her privilege. Which was powerful and poignant and sobering for certain and as for the gatekeeper aspect, well that was handled by the Choi’s scuzzy new landlord. For he’s quick to view the Choi’s as imperfect immigrants, the kind that don’t fit his vision for the property, and that’s devastating and powerful since it speaks volumes to the fact that there are people, who do indeed believe in this day and age, that only certain immigrants should be allowed into the country and afforded opportunity and if they don’t fit a particular mold or vision, then oh well. 

But while that produces some heartbreaking and infuriating moments, it is necessary to go through this experience with the Choi family. Since the loss of their shop forces them to re-evaluate what they actually want out of life and what really matters to them, and that leads to some beautiful segments for certain. The kind that challenges the audience to ponder upon what The American Dream should mean in 2021 and really, in the end, all of these elements make this a brilliant and downright powerful motion picture. One that holds nothing back in its commentary on modern America and family life and how the time has come to stop viewing immigrants as inferior and instead see them as equals. Simply because we are all human beings, and we all deal with similar struggles and the sooner we realize that and the sooner we hold one another up, the sooner we can all make our dreams, a reality.

​If it is an inevitability that eventually our favorite franchises will fall into a funk and produce an awful or film or two, then it is equally inevitable that eventually the franchise will rise from those ashes as either a remake, or a reboot. Because let's be honest... those two ideas are about as popular as they come and you can currently find them everywhere in cinema.

But while the reboot/remake is the hottest thing in Hollywood right now, they have at times, been quite the mixed bag. Sometimes they're downright incredible and worth seeing in theaters, over and over and over again and sometimes... they're nothing special and easily forgotten. Once in a while however, a remake or reboot manages to do everything right, but they simply don't resonate with the audience, as was the case with 2014's relaunch of our favorite cyborg police officer in RoboCop.

Now this iteration of RoboCop followed some of the same plot lines found in the original, with the most obvious one being the transformation of Alex Murphy into RoboCop, but past that point, this is a fresh new take on the story, and it's a film that also explores so much more than any of its predecessors from a thematic concept standpoint since it digs into our reliance and attachment to technology, morality and ethics in both the business and political worlds, all with a dash of social satire/commentary revolving around the current need in the media to continually provide the audience with over the top rhetoric thrown in for good measure as well.

​But while that is a lot to assemble in a story, I'm fairly certain the big question of all of your minds is whether or not this reboot is any good and worth your time and the answer to that question is a resounding yes. The acting is top notch, with wonderful performances from Michael Keaton, Gary Oldman, Jackie Earle Haley and the always incredible Samuel L. Jackson and they are bookended by a fast-paced script that keeps the story moving along, which in turn begs the question; if the cast is so kickass and the story so solid, why didn't this film do bigger business at the box office and find itself beloved and embraced by the fans?

The answer to that is simple… it tries to do too much. The filmmakers clearly saw an opportunity to create the most intelligent film in the franchise and quite frankly, they succeeded in their goal, but look once more at the list of things they packed into this particular feature and it's really just too much to tackle in a single film. There's nothing with writing a whip smart script that features all kinds of goodies, but what made the original film so successful is that it catered to the fanbase on every level. If you weren't in the mood to think deeply on a film, there was plenty of action to entertain. If wanted you dissect the movie, there was plenty to mentally digest. But this particular entry in the series at times almost demands that the audience appreciate the smarts of the script and well... that removes the fun of the experience, because let's not forget, this is about a dude who is transformed into a freaking badass cyborg.

Which brings us to the film's other fatal flaw...the fact that it plays everything a little too straight. The tongue in cheek moments and silliness found in the other films are completely and utterly gone from this version of RoboCop and that's a turn off as well. But make no mistake about it, while those flaws do detract from the film, it's definitely watchable and it definitely gives the audience a lot to think about after the credits have faded to black and much like the original, it is in line with the times and likely ahead of the curve when it comes to the future of technology as well, so when approaching this remake if you haven't seen it yet, my advice is simple...go in with zero expectations. Don't worry about the past films and enjoy this one for the brooding and intelligent feature that it is, and the key is to enjoy it, because sadly... since it wasn't a giant box office smash, it's hard to say if we will see another film featuring Officer Alex Murphy ever again.

​Whether we like it or not, at some point our favorite franchises fall into disrepair. This is that ugly moment when the stories are no longer cohesive, casting changes happen involving the most important actors and just like that...we're stuck sitting through a film that leaves us confused and concerned that this may mean the end of a beloved franchise.

When that dark moment does arrive, there's always a myriad of issues to blame as to why everything fell to pieces. The last entry in the saga didn't make enough money, a particular actor no longer wanted to play the role, or sometimes the rights to the story are sold off. Regardless of what issues arise, in the end it's the fans that suffer by watching an inferior product on the silver screen and for the RoboCop franchise, its darkest hour arrived in 1993...with the absolutely awful, RoboCop 3. 

It's a shame too, because the plot of this movie actually had the potential to make this film the finest in the series, since it revolved around Omni Consumer Products finding themselves at a crossroads as they face bankruptcy for one bad deal after another, including their purchase of Detroit, and their failure to transform the Motor City into Delta City. However, one company's downfall is another company's gain and the Kanemitsu Corporation buys controlling shares of OCP and quickly revitalizes a program to remove the people of Detroit from areas of the city that are to be remade into Delta City at a breakneck pace, whether they like it or not. It's a bold move that doesn't sit well with the citizens of this proud city, forcing them to fight back to protect their homes and as this Urban Civil War gets underway...the man/machine known as RoboCop will be forced to take a side and either support the company that gave him life...or fight alongside the people he serves and protects. 

As I mentioned before, this plot could have helped lay the groundwork for an absolutely stunning film when you consider that it featured some powerfully dystopian themes with the whole notion of a corporation kicking civilians out of their homes to further their own plans and not to mention the whole idea of RoboCop fighting against his own creators gets into all kinds of awesome philosophical territory.

​So with that in mind, what then made this film so jaw dropping-ly awful? The answer to that is simple... the execution of it all by way of poor direction. The production values are slightly sub-par, and one can forgive that. Heck, I can even overlook the change in casting with Peter Weller handing over the Alex Murphy role to Robert Burke. But what I can't stand about this film is the fact that the acting is downright atrocious because everything comes across as camp and comical, and that's definitely the fault of the director and to make matters worse, yes, that's possible, it's filled with silly ideas that do nothing to advance the plot.

Case in point, to this day, I still have no idea why the hell there were robot ninjas in the film. They were just there, and it was damn weird. Also, why on earth did RoboCop actually need a jet pack? Sure, it serves its purpose, but come on, RoboCop flying through the air is just plain ridiculous. So, when you take silly ideas like that, toss in some half assed and piss poor acting and focus on that over a kickass plot, you're left with a terrible tasting stew that no one wanted a second helping of and to this day, it's a tough one to watch. If by chance you haven't seen it, watch it at least once out of respect for 'ol Robo, but just be fully prepared to cringe while you do and if anyone is doubting just how bad this one turned out to be... bear in mind that it completely killed the franchise for decades, before the reboot craze resurrected this awesome character.  ​