We are one year removed from “Parasite” being the first South Korean film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and making history. A24 now brings the tender, poignant, and delightful “Minari” to the table.

“Minari” follows a Korean family that immigrates to Arkansas in the mid-1980s and the hardships that come with that. Simon & Garfunkel’s song, “America,” rings true as the family pursuing the American Dream in a very non-progressive area and time. The Yi family is hit with constant roadblocks and that tests the endurance of their relationships.

As a Korean-American man who spent a year living in Virginia, the film resonated with me from the second the Yi family parked their vehicles on their newly-bought property. They are an hour from any sort of hospital, which proves to be important, and they are a complete fish out-of-water in this country area.

If there was one fault of the film, I wish it further explored some of the racial tension that clearly exists between the Korean family and their surrounding community. There are scenes early on that demonstrate this tension such as the first time the Yi family visit a church. They are on the receiving end of some really snarky looks, but the stigmas and stereotypes seem to go away almost instantly.

The director, Lee Isaac Chung, favored fixating more on exploring this poignant family story. The marriage between Steven Yeung and Han Ye-ri’s characters is rocky at best from the get-go; the kids are torn over taking sides and the youngest child has health problems. Despite the phenomenal performances by Yeun and Han are, Alan Kim is the one who absolutely steals the show.

This is the young actor’s first role, and he beautifully portrays a sweet and adolescent boy who is just beginning to discover his identity while also being held back by health issues. He also struggles to come to terms with his grandmother whom he has never met, played by Youn Yuh-jung, and that relationship was also something that hit home with me. Kim’s performance is adorable and infectious, already putting him on the map. He was recently cast in an upcoming dark comedy alongside “Eighth Grade” star Elsie Fisher.

“Minari” is one of the best films I’ve watched recently. The best part of the film is that you don’t have to be Korean to relate. The film focuses so heavily on America and what it is like to pursue the American Dream, making it relatable for any American in my opinion. It’s acted to perfection, the score will likely be a new addition to your Spotify playlist and the cinematography beautifully captures farm life in rural Arkansas. It is so tender like another recent A24 film, “First Cow,” and is a must-watch for anyone interested in films. “Minari” will be nominated for major awards as it continues to be in the discussion for all of the big awards and for good reason.

“Minari” is currently playing in select theaters and will get a wide digital release February 24.

Sources: A24, Variety

Image Description: Alan Kim (left) leaves audience stunned with his heartwarming performance.

It wasn’t so long-ago Ben Affleck hit rock bottom for the second time. The Academy Award-winning actor/director went through his second alcohol relapse. He lost his role as Batman in the DCEU in a very public fallout, and more importantly, he lost his marriage. About two years later, Affleck bravely takes on the role of an alcoholic construction worker who is given a chance at redemption coaching his former high school basketball team.

This easily could have been another cliché sports comeback movie, but what makes The Way Back different is just how personal the subject matter is to its lead. The opening scene alone tugs at your heartstrings as Affleck’s character leads such a mundane and sad life, sneaking his alcohol around in a soda cup you’d get at the mall before making his nightly trip to the bar.

Richard Foreman | Affleck (left) portrays a basketball coach in this film about basketball and the hardships of life.

The reason you watch this film is Ben Affleck. Going back to his Good Will Hunting days or the horrid Daredevil-era he has always brought an energy and likability that makes him hard to root against. Knowing the fact that the film’s story is obviously very personal to Affleck will attach you even further to his character in the film. As the film progresses, you begin to understand why Affleck’s character is grieving and in denial.

Sport scenes are always hit-or-miss due to the spontaneity of sports. It’s hard to make basketball plays look natural without it being a dance number of sorts, but The Way Back features games that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The crowds are loud and pumped up to the max, creating the atmosphere of an important playoff game.

Just because The Way Back is a comeback story, it doesn’t take the easy way out. It gives characters a happy ending but not in the way you may think. Ben Affleck’s character isn’t magically fixed by the end; it’s proof that we still have to work on our flaws if we hope to better ourselves.

I’m glad that Ben Affleck has come to a point where he can face his demons. Losing jobs such as being Batman had to be tough, especially when you consider how public his whole situation was, but that allows him to do more intimate films such as The Way Back. It’s by far his best acting showcase and one of his best films. He deserves major awards recognition, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit right as the film opened so it became lost in the group of films that were thrown onto V.O.D when the lockdowns started. The Way Back is available on HBO Max right now, and I cannot recommend this film enough to anyone who needs inspiration.

In a world of isolation and disconnection, technology has been a lifesaver during this pandemic, especially for the arts.

Like every other industry, the live entertainment scene was dramatically impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadway theatres went dark last March and will continue to be closed until at least May of this year. This hasn’t stopped artists from finding new ways to entertain audiences.

Instagram Live, Twitter, YouTube and other live-streaming platforms have become a popular way for comics, musicians and other personalities to reach an audience. The Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown has transitioned their usual orchestral concerts into a streaming format. Even film festivals have been forced into going digital. The upcoming Sundance Film Festival is just another film festival that is going all-digital this year where you buy tickets, which allow you to reserve spots to online screenings. To create some semblance of their in-person counterparts, the films are shown and sometimes feature Q&A’s after screenings.

While most live theaters aren’t open, Zoom has become a viable option for table reads. Actor Sean Penn hosted a charity livestream, which included a live table read of the hit 1982 film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” which contains Penn’s breakout role. Some of the actors included Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey. The live table read has clocked in over 3.8 million views as of Jan. 2021.

Even with digital screenings and live streams becoming a viable option, live music hasn’t completely ducked out of the spotlight yet. Busking was banned in Ireland this last winter, stopping the annual Christmas busking in the streets of Dublin. This busking usually featured some of Ireland’s most famous musicians. “The Late Late Show” recorded a concert on a large indoor stage where the musicians were spread out, almost resembling an Elevation Worship concert.

The SteelStacks in the Lehigh Valley are also offering in-person, live music. They have indoor seating, which must be reserved ahead of time, and people can sit and listen so long they spend at least $10 on food and beverages.

A vital part of stand-up comedy is being able to interact with a crowd. Earlier in the pandemic, various celebrities hosted Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show and suffice to say, it was hard to watch comedians such as Sebastian Maniscalco or Sarah Cooper do comedy routines in front of a fireplace and no audience. Some comedians, such as Ricky Gervais, have stayed away from doing actual comedy routines, opting for Twitter live-streams. On these live-streams, Gervais casually talks to his viewers. Others, such as comedian Mark Ellis, have attempted to do live shows to an audience digitally. His most recent project was a New Year’s Eve comedy special with guests, which was recently made available to rent or purchase.

The Guardian | Timothée Chalamet hosts an episode of “Saturday Night Live” with a sketch on the COVID-19 vaccine. The episode joked about Dr. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx as well as the rollout plans for the coronavirus vaccination. While the episode poked fun at the current situation of the pandemic, the cast followed COVID-19 safety regulations and guidelines, as pictured.

“Saturday Night Live” also found a way to live up to the “show must go on” mantra. “The Wall Street Journal” recently explored how they were able to continue their season last fall. Testing is frequently done, the talent is separated for the most part until rehearsals and only take off their masks when the cameras officially roll and NBC even took the precaution of adding plexiglass into control rooms where a lot of workers would be in close-quarters. Pictures from the usual table reads are almost unrecognizable from what you would normally see. Tables are spread out with only one person seated at a time, with others sitting spaced-out in bleachers. To their credit, they were able to get through last fall and will be resuming their season on Jan. 30.

Dr. Anthony Fauci does seem optimistic about live theatre returning in the fall of this year. According to “Deadline,” a timetable of “early to mid-fall” was given. Fingers crossed that this is true and live theater can open their curtains once again.

Sources: Billboard, Broadway, Deadline, Sundance, Mark Ellis Live, Miller Symphony Hall, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Irish Times, /Film, SteelStacks, Vulture

The 2020 release “On The Rocks” puts a twist on the cliché father-daughter film, and the cast makes it an early awards season contender. Bill Murray and Rashida Jones shine as the lead duo in A24’s latest drama. The film marks the third collaboration between Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray.

The film follows Laura (Jones), a young mother who begins having some doubts about her marriage
when her husband Dean (Wayans) begins taking more business trips with a new assistant. Her father (Murray) begins a game of cat-and-mouse tailing Dean to confirm or deny his suspicions.

Even if the plot sounds like something you’ve seen before, Bill Murray and Rashida Jones carry the film
with their great rapport. The film is filled with small moments of just dialogue between the two. There is a sensitivity to Murray’s performance as an estranged father, who treated his wife the same way he is accusing Dean of treating his daughter. Every quiet moment is matched with an endearing twinkle in his eye that shows the yearning he has for more time with his daughter. Rashida Jones also deserves a lot of credit. The comedy in the film is very reliant on her timing and delivery, and she hits the marks extraordinarily well.

Back in November of 2018, the Academy Award-winning studio A24 inked a deal with Apple to produce films exclusively for their streaming service. The studio has gained a following over the years, and have
garnered more attention recently with films such as, “Ex Machina” (2014), “Room” (2015), “Lady Bird” (2017), “Moonlight” (2018) and “Uncut Gems” (2019). Apple smartly wanted to be involved with producing original films for their streaming service, Apple TV+.

As of Nov. 4, “On The Rocks” has grossed $847,604 at the global box office in the month it has had a limited theater release. That is a really good haul considering the small scale of the film, and the current global pandemic likely played a part in that as well.

This specific theater rollout plan is becoming more common with the rise of streaming services. Netflix did something similar last year with their marquee film “The Irishman.” Netflix put it in a limited theater run throughout November in the few weeks leading up to its release date on their service. A plan like this allows for your film to be in consideration for Academy Award nominations. Previously, films needed to be in theaters in both New York and Los Angeles for at least a week in order to be eligible for awards consideration, but the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more relaxed eligibility rules. Regardless, Apple and A24 were smart to put “On The Rocks” in limited theaters to make it more accessible to the people who are not subscribed to Apple TV+.

I would highly recommend “On The Rocks.” Given our age as college students, this movie will likely make
you want to call your parents. It may be a clichéd story, but that speaks to the quality of the performances by the two leads. Bill Murray and Rashida Jones’ believable relationship is what makes you want to watch, even if you can predict where the story is taking you. It never quite hits the levels of Sofia Coppola’s other films such as “Lost In Translation,” but it’s a short, sweet and intimate film that simply explores this father and daughter dynamic. I wouldn’t be shocked if Bill Murray’s performance is still talked about during the awards season next year. It’s the type of heartwarming story that our world needs to see right now in the midst of the crazy times we live in.

“On The Rocks” is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

Sources: Box Office Mojo

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