MARIAH's THOUGHTS on The Hate U Give (2018)

Genre:

Young Adult

Crime/Drama

Release Date:

October 19, 2018

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

January 22, 2019

Run Time:

2 hr 13 mins

Rating:

PG-13

Directed by:

George Tillman, Jr.

Screenplay by:

Audrey Wells

Based on the novel by:

Angie Thomas

Production Co.:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment, State Street Pictures

Distribution Co.:

20th Century Fox

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, K.J. Apa, Anthony Mackie, Sabrina Carpenter, Common , Issa Rae

See Full Cast List on IMDB

Plot Summary:

Based on the best-selling novel, The Hate U Give tells the story of Starr Carter, who lives in two worlds: the poor, black neighborhood where she resides and the mostly white prep school she attends. This uneasy balance is shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood friend by a policeman. Facing pressures from all sides, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

The Hate U Give is an emotional and brilliant film based upon a YA novel of the same name. It presents issues that are relevant to many who struggle in poorer neighborhoods or experience racism. A young black boy, Khalil Harris, is killed by a Caucasian police officer with the only other witness being Khalil’s childhood friend, Starr Carter played by Amandla Stenberg. The film, however, does not only focus on Khalil’s death, but on Starr. As the main character, Starr is an intelligent, loving, and courageous girl who balances two lives. She lives with her family in Garden Heights, a poorer but close-knit community, but she attends Williamson Prep School with predominantly, well-endowed Caucasian students. The balance she has keeps crumbles when she decides to find her voice and speak out for Khalil’s death. Her classmates begin to see the real Starr, not the quiet and complacent black girl that she appeared to be. Her family encourages her to be herself regardless of what anyone thinks. The message, “The Hate U Give Little Infants F’s Everybody,” is executed with amazing timing when Sekani, Starr’s little brother, steals his father’s gun from his belt and becomes a representation of the violence as a result of Khalil’s death. At first, Sekani seemed to be a passive observer but proves to be an important part of the film. The Hate U Give displays amazing cinematography and storytelling.

I enjoyed The Hate U Give not only for its YA novel origins but because the actors brought the story to life. Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Lamar Johnson, and TJ Wright made a beautiful unit while playing Starr’s family. Hall plays Lisa Carter, a nurse and encouraging mother who wants to help her children succeed in life. Hornsby plays Maverick 'Mav' Carter, Starr’s father is the protective and stringent paternal figure in the house. Johnson and Wright play Seven and Sekani, Starr’s caring brothers. Starr’s family is loving and protective of each other regardless of what the threat is. After Starr witnesses Khalil’s death, they try to support and comfort her with success. They seem to be a beacon of hope for a better future for Garden Heights.

The drama of the film builds up and encourages Starr to fight for her right to speak out and protest the Grand Jury’s verdict not to bring the officer to trial. Hailey played by Sabrina Carpenter, starts the film as Starr’s friend at Williamson. She represents ingrained racism and is Starr’s opposition to Starr’s Williamson persona. Aside from Starr’s supportive family, Hailey helps Starr see that she should not hide her origins and who she is to appease others. To do this, Hailey’s character is superficial, while she uses the hashtag BlackLivesMatter and Khalil’s death to skip classes, she solely sympathizes with the police officer. With Stenberg, Wright, Carpenter, and many other’s performances, The Hate U Give offers a deep message and an emotional story. As a YA novel-based film, it is inspirational for young adults who need help expressing their own beliefs.

My Rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on The Darkest Minds (2018)

Genre:
Adventure/Science Fiction/Suspense

Release Date:

August 3, 2018

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

October 30, 2018

Run Time:

 1 hr 44 minutes

Rating:

PG-13

Screenplay by:

Chad Hodge

Directed by:

Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Produced by:

Shawn Levy, p.g.a.; Dan Levine, p.g.a.

Based on the novel by:

Alexandra Bracken

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Amandla Stenberg, Mandy Moore, Gwendoline Christie

See Full Cast List at IMDB

Plot Summary:

From producers of Stranger Things comes an empowering tale of teens who mysteriously develop new abilities and are declared a threat by the government. Ruby, one of the most powerful young people anyone has encountered, escapes and joins a group of runaway teens seeking safe haven. Soon, this newfound family realizes that collective power is needed to take back control of their fate and save future generations. 

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

The Darkest Minds seems like an one hour and forty-three-minute metaphor for the longstanding battle of every century, the old generation versus the new generation. The premise of the movie is the government declares that kids and teenagers that have developed special powers, such as high intelligence to pyrokinesis and mentokenisis, are a threat. From the very first twenty minutes of the movie, the children are collected, categorized in camps, and either forced to work or are killed on the spot. The movie follows one special teenager, Ruby Daly, who places in the rarest category, orange, for her ability to control others. She escapes from the camp that has held her for six years with some help and is introduced to a world different from her old one. It is highly segregated between the camps that are government controlled, the League who collects children to help free them from the camps, and all the runaway kids and teenagers trying to find a new home with each other.

The Darkest Minds has a rather linear story and little character development, making it open to sequels or spin off series. The most character development the viewer will get is Ruby and her backstory. From the very beginning Ruby proves that she is brave, loving, but still insecure. She escapes her camp to reunite with her parents but later remembers that she erased her from their memories with her powers. She is then afraid of becoming close to people because of this memory erasure ability. Many of the other characters such as Zu, Liam, Lady Jane, Cate, and The Captain fill one dimensional roles and lack depth as they are given little to no history. The story to The Darkest Minds has little background, as children and teenagers developed these special powers with no explanation, no origin. The best the movie has to offer the viewer as an explanation to these special powers and how the government dealt with them is that Clancy Gray, another orange, was used as a lab rat by his father when the powers started to develop. The camps seem to simply exist to dehumanize the children and force them to become child solders. But, “why?” Therefore, like I said, it (The Darkest Minds) is open to sequels or spin off series.

The Darkest Minds has everything it needs to be an entertaining young adult fiction, action, romance between Liam and Ruby, self-discovery, some comedy, heart-felt moments, and most of all hope for the future. I enjoy the movie for what is offers and what it could represent, but of course, there is always room for story telling improvement.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Everything, Everything (2017)

Genre:

Contemporary Romance/Drama

Release Date:

May 19, 2017

DVD Release Date:

August 15, 2017

Run Time:

1 hr 36 min

Rating:

PG-13

Directed by:

Stella Meghie

Screenplay by:

J. Mills Goodloe

Based on the book by:

Nicola Yoon

Production Co.:

Alloy Entertainment

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Social Media:

   

Cast:

 Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Ana de la Reguera,Taylor Hickson, Danube R. Hermosillo, Dan Payne, Fiona Loewi

See Full Cast List on IMDB

Plot Summary:

What if you couldn't touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face...or kiss the boy next door? Everything, Everything tells the unlikely love story of Maddy, a smart, curius and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly, the boy next door who won't let that stop them.

Maddy is desperate to experience the much more stimulating outside world, and the promise of her first romance. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, she ad Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together...even if it means losing everything.

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*My Thoughts*

If I could go anywhere, live anywhere, I think it would be in the mountains or a tranquil forest. Everything, Everything is a sweet and inspiring movie. Even if it’s not exactly my cup of tea, I wouldn’t turn down an invitation to see it with friends or a significant other. Like the trailer, the story follows Madeline Whittier, played by Amandla Stenberg, a girl trapped inside her house by an illness namely Severe combined immunodeficiency or SCID. She is sweet, soft-spoken, and curious. Although Madeline has never left her house she’s intelligent and ambitious; her personality blossoms when her new neighbor, Olly Bright, moves in next door. Their personalities complement each other with little conflict but both of them have something to offer their relationship.

So, what is a movie without conflict? The combination of the characters Madeline, Olly, and Pauline Whittier provide the stereotypical scenario where an overprotective parent tries to separate two love birds. Pauline is a loving mother, dedicated doctor, and one of three people that knows Madeline exists. But Madeline and Olly also bring their own demons into the story, Madeline is obvious because of her SCID and Olly is a bleak young man with a troubled family. Despite these flaws in their lives they are free-spirited and loving individuals. Their relationship starts slow and cautious, but they become open to each other as time passes. Overall, the characters aren’t fully developed within the movie and the audience can only infer or summarize their lives based upon the bits and pieces given. It didn’t immerse me in Madeline’s small world.

The trailer makes the plot simpler than it is and hides the twist in the end. As inspiring as risking everything, even your own life, for love sounds, it was too far-fetched. I’m not against the idea of people living their lives to the fullest, a message that Everything, Everything delivers to its audience, but Madeline could use a different stimulus to get her to go outside. The movie doesn’t have a definitive ending but tries to encourage others to take risks. I won’t say this movie was boring, but it could have more to stimulate more sympathy in its audience.

My Rating: