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Mad Men S7
When I watched CNN's the "2000s", it raved about Mad Men. In particular, it raved about the women of Mad Men. I did not get it. The series moves at a languid pace and features misogynistic men cheating on their wives and treating women like trash. The women tend to be background noise. But their characters have grown. The men have remained somewhat static in their behavior. The women though have evolved.
Peggy Olson, Don Draper's mousy secretary from the first episode struts into the McCann Erickson office in the finale. Cigarette in her lips, sunglasses for her hangover, and a lewd painting in hand; she is ready to smash the patriarchy.
Joan Holloway the ultimate secretary and office manager has morphed into a businesswoman. She clawed her way into handling accounts at Sterling Cooper. When McCann Erickson wants to push her back into being a secretary she starts her own production business.
Betty Draper puffs a cigarette in her kitchen. She started off as a woman who gave up everything to be a good wife to Don. She is dying of cancer. Everything is being taken away. But for the first time in her life she is doing everything on her own terms.
Sally Draper has grown into a teenager who is as stubborn and self-driven as her parents.
There is a wow moment that sinks in the final episode as you realize that these are the women who have carved out the path for career women today. It makes the whole journey satisfying.
PS: IMO Don Draper has the epiphany of "Buy the World a Coke" at the retreat and goes back to create that ad.
Short Term 12
One of Brie Larson's lesser known indie films. It is a sometimes heartbreaking sometimes uplifting examination of group homes in the United States. Brie Larson's Grace is one of the adults who works at "Short Term 12" one such home for troubled teens. As she supports these teens, she has her own demons from the past that get in the way. This is a stunningly honest and well written film about coming to terms with the issues in one's life.
Notes
It is heartwarming to see that almost the entire cast including Lakeith Stanfield, Rami Malek, and Stephanie Beatriz have gone on to carve a name for themselves.
I love how Brie continues to work with Destin Daniel Cretton. She worked with him on Glass House and will be in Just Mercy as well.
I am really curious how Destin Daniel Cretton will handle Shang Chi his major MCU directorial film. Going by his track record it will have some serious emotional graphs for the characters.
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