Morning Reel

"Before Midnight" is the third and final installment of the "Before" Trilogy directed by Richard Linklater. We all know his work of "Dazed and Confused", "A Scanner Darkly", "School of Rock" and "Boyhood". His film tackles existentialism between relationships and their own with the characters of Jesse and Céline as they are older and they are parents. I dig the film for it's realism, how deep it goes with the charaters that are tackling the issues that comes with relationships, familes and blended families. This is a film that is important to watch, showing the slice of life that we are not alone with our issues and insecurities. I really appreciate it too because we are able to relate to the film, it crosses all kinds of boundaries.
Four out of four tokes.

Kevin Smith wrote, directed, and edited "Zack Miri Make a Porno" which is an ambitious film about people who get together and make something especially when you gotta make quick money. But life is about more than money and that's where this film stands out and it especially stands out from Kevin Smith's filmography. The man proves he is more than just a "sequel" director. The characters in this film prove themselves even as simple as making an adult film. I dig the film the film for it's premise. It's plot is plain for the most part because we can already tell what's gonna happen at the end but it's fun to see HOW that works out. It's a fun watch but it does have serious moments when it comes to love & romance even between the main characters we have. This film is sweet overall because it tells us that it's never too late to change your life for the better. If you believe in yourself & your ideas and have a strong supporting cast to back you up, you can conquer. Yes, this film as raunchy as it seems, does that. Watch it.
Three out of four tokes.
#zackandmirimakeaporno #kevinsmith #filmreview

John Singleton showed us 1991 America in less than two hours and he was relentless. The f-ed up part of it all is that even though it's a fictional film, what you see in the film happens everyday. What sucks even more is that it still happens to this day. This is my favorite film from this director who took a chance and he dragged us along with it and we can't look away. I talk about how impactful this film is through its subject matter of parenthood, growing up in tough & unpredictable neighborhoods, trying to survive in order to make out to have a better life. Not only that, it shows us that we have power especially if we stick together instead of killing each other. Why? It's a big and heavy slice of life that shape the characters. Such a simple plot that went all over LA but still kept it in the "hood". This is more than just a film of kids growing up, it's about being forced to grow up quicker just to stay alive for the next day and it's not guarranteed. Every person should see this film because it crosses barriers and it's realistic. You can laugh for one moment while eating a cheeseburger with your friends only to find out that you might be gone without finishing your meal. That's rough. But Singleton made it to be because that's how it can be. It's a dangerous film with dangerous writing and the incredible cast acted their asses off. You can run, but you can't hide. Know what you want, set course for it, and stick to it.
Four out of four tokes.

William Friedkin is an underrated filmmaker and he took "The Exorcist" and gave the film its own spiritual cleanse on screen. He made a film that's iconic and will stand the test of time. It's very in-depth, the characters show great sense of purpose and their purpose pushes the film. The film's tone goes all over the place. It can be dark, uplifting, and even humorous. The devil can play tricks on you and it doesn't care and will laugh at you. The film shows you to not mess with people or things that just feels like it ain't right. It also shows the faith you have not on a creator greater than you but PEOPLE. You can have faith on people. The mom never gave up on her daughter.
Four our of four tokes.

Ava DuVernay directed "Selma" that deals with the marches of Selma in 1965 led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This actually happened that led to an official to pass signed by President Lyndon B Johnson. A dramatized film of course but it's straightforward, it's gets to the point and the performances from the talent really give this film the attention it deserves. We get to see a MLK Jr. very human, almost too human, seeing him deal with all kinds of aspects in life epsecially with things that have nothing to do with him. People look up to this man because he is a leader and for the greatest cause any man can put themselves in because it'll literally set course to what's to come in America. The scenes of the bridge crossings are brutal and DuVernay does not relent, she shoves it to us because that is what happened. Injustice all the way to the physical level and thankfully during that time, people all over the world were able to see it and it's messed up. I'm sure in reality, it was far more brutal, you have to give it to DuVernary for showing us just a fraction of those events played out. It's hard to watch innocent woman just get beat for walking. FOR WALKING. Then again, it was George Wallace's Alabama and he didn't give a f. Tim Roth knocked the Wallace role right out of the park as he usually does. Although I feel that the film itself was a bit too scripted, like I feel the other cast were kind of robotic in a sense. The main characters, you can tell they had a lot of range to play around with and used it to their advantage. Overall, "Selma" is solid, effective and entertaining. It does get real and it makes you mad as how politics work. You ask yourself, does the president really care? Does the government really care? Regardless, when you want something you real bad, you're gonna do what you can to achieve it. MLK Jr. is the greatest example of that and he led millions.
Three and a half out of four tokes.
#selma #avaduvernay #injustice