American Fiction
A hilarious but dark film on the stereotypes and struggles of black people in America.
The film opens with a white student taking offense at a black professor's use of the n-word. It highlights how wokeness is now performative and ignores the input of people it is supposed to uplift. That professor, Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, is a highly intelligent writer. He writes complex philosophical novels inspired by Greek myth but struggles because his work isn't "black." After seeing a black writer succeed by giving in to black stereotypes, he angrily writes a satirical book from the perspective of a black convict. That book turns out to be a success.
The movie's plot centers around Monk's moral quandaries and his beliefs about what he wants to write versus what sells. Meanwhile, he struggles with his sister's death, his mother's deteriorating health, and his antagonistic gay brother.
Migration
A cutesy family movie about a family of ducks migrating for the first time.
Mack Mallard is an overly cautious duck who refuses to leave his pond to migrate out of fear. After meeting some ducks headed to Jamaica for migration, his kids insist on migrating. They finally set off on a wacky and wild adventure through New York City and beyond.
Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
This Hunger Games prequel traces President Snow's origins and rise to power. Set during the 10th Hunger Games, the movie is a lot more about politics and power play than the actual Hunger Games. The narrative traces a teenage Snow's journey as a mentor in the Hunger Games and his relationship with his mentee, District 12's Lucy Gray Baird.
The movie presents a softer, more sympathetic portrayal of Snow. The book is more scathing and revealing about his manipulative personality. But you can still see traces of his psychopathy and callousness. The most delightful are the parallels between Lucy Gray Baird and Katniss Everdeen, and you can see why Snow hated Katniss so deeply.
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