Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 240

Brightburn Review – A Fun ‘B-Horror Meets Super-Villain’ Film

“It’s like a horror film, human parents adopt a evil alien baby” I tell mom, before putting on the 2019 film ‘Brightburn’ on Netflix. In-fact, mom and I did see its trailer three years ago, but it wasn’t on any streaming site yet, so we played something else.

Directed by David Yarovesky, the film stars Jackson A Dunn as Brandon Breyer, the extra-terrestrial child who is raised by Tori (Elizabeth Banks) and Kyle Breyer (David Dennman). After Brandon turns twelve, he starts exhibiting worrying behavior and signs of supernatural powers. When people around the Breyer start getting hurt, his parents are forced to make some difficult decisions.

The cinematography felt a lot like a B-horror film, with the lot of slow jump scares and exaggerated gory scenes that were comical. For those who cannot stand blood, some of the violent scene are quite hard to watch without flinching your eye. ‘Brightburn’ tries to explore ‘what is superman was a bad creepy kid’ and makes for a fun watch for viewers who are open to some genre-blending stories.

Jackson A Dunn carries the entire film on his shoulders, because the rest of the cast is mediocre at best. Dunn doesn’t just look the part of a weird kid with superpowers, but also pulls of the ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ kind of character that’s written for his part. On one hand you have a regular nerdy kid, who aces his exams, is a loving child at home; on the other hand you have a potential monster that could spell doom for those around him. Elizabeth Banks as the gullible mom was forgettable, so was David Dennman as the dad.

I love how the director foreshadows two strong possible climax outcomes and then surprises the viewer with an end that is quite unlike ‘evil vs the rest’ kind of films. In-fact, the climax is so entertaining that it almost redeems all the other plot-holes and ridiculousness that unfolds before.

It’s a 7/10 from me.

10 Book Reviews Under 10 Minutes #11thEdition

We are back with another edition of ’10 Book Reviews under 10 Minutes’ for our podcast. So if you aren’t into reading long book reviews, listen to episode 53, where we quickly look at some diverse titles, including some comics/graphic novels. The books are as follows –

The Humans By Matt HaigLove in a Fallen City By Eileen ChangChhotu by Varud Gupta and Ayushi RastogiRoom of the Roof by Ruskin BondYour Letter by Hyeon A ChoAlice in Leatherland by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa RomboliWhy I Am An Atheist & Other Works by Bhagat SinghPost Office by Charles BukowskiAmerican Born Chinese by Gene Luen YangA Horse Walks Into A Bar by David Grossman

Please subscribe to the channel on YouTube, if you still haven’t.

Lola, A Ghost Story – Book Review

‘Lola – A Ghost Story’ is a graphic novel by J Torres and ELbert Or, that’s steeped in Filipino folklore and beliefs. ‘Lola’ is the Tagalog word for grandmother readers are explained. The story is about a young boy called Jesse, who lives in Canada with his parents and they are all visiting their village in the Phillipines to attend his Lola’s funeral.

What I loved about this book is the theme of alienation in what is considered ‘one’s own land’. It’s not something other writers haven’t explored in the past, but combined with supernatural elements, “Lola” makes for an interesting read.

Jesse is an introvert who feels out of place in his ancestral village. It doesn’t help that his cousins constantly talk about ghosts, ghouls and local legends all the time. His grandmother was considered a “special” woman by everybody, considered born with a monster’s part inside her. And Jesse’s family believes he could have inherited some of her special powers too.

The artwork is simple, and colours monochromatic. The title can be misleading for horror fans, because despite horrifying local lores, the plot isn’t scary at all. So adult readers can be quite disappointed, although it’s a great pick for kids.

It’s 3.5/5 for me.

The Iconic Cover of ‘Jaws’ Is Forever Ruined For Me

No matter how much writers try to find solace in the old saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’, we all know the sneaky truth – readers do pick books by the cover. Heck, even Penguin keeps bringing out ‘pretty’ editions of old best-selling classics, just so they can get fans to buy a book they already have, because their new editions look way more gorgeous.

As a reader, I don’t care much for covers, but minimalist designs always hold more allure for me. Like Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s books, his novels are usually drenched in only two tones – black & red. It’s hard not to wonder if the striking colours and simple designs have something to do with the sales. They’ve sort of become iconic stamps to his stories.

And while it’s easier to remember designs of the novels we love, there are others that are just so stark, that it’s hard to forget them, like ‘Clockwork Orange’ and ‘Jaws’. I recently stumbled upon an old NYT article titled ‘The Making of a Bestseller’ and among several things, it talks of how the cover design of ‘Jaws’ by Peter Benchley came to be.

The cover of the first edition has an image of a shark lurking ominously at the bottom of the page, while a woman swims on the surface. But that wasn’t the original plan – the first decided to go with a plain typographical jacket, but it was Oscar Dystel who wasn’t very happy with the idea. Dystel was in-charge of Bantam, the paperback publisher of ‘Jaws’, who is considered a pioneer in mass-market paperbacks. When he had joined Bantam, the publishing house was in debt and on the verge of banruptsy, but he made a series of decisions/deals, that turned its fortune around. And needless to say, Dystel wasn’t wrong about going with a text only jacket for his future bestseller.

According to the NYT article, Dystel had said “without an image, no one would know what ‘Jaws’ meant. It could have been a book about dentistry.” So he suggested that they put a shark on. The illustrator was told if he could put a swimmer in too. And that’s how the iconic ominous cover was born. But here’s what editor Tom Congdon had to say about it – “We realized that the new version looked like a penis with teeth, but was that bad?”

Didn’t seem to turn out bad for them, it sold thousands of copies within the first weeks. But once you read what Congdon had to say it, it’s hard to unsee the image it conjures up. Now the shark just doesn’t look like a shark anymore. Despite having seen that cover numerous times throughout the years, the idea never occurred to me. But now, the iconic cover is forever ruined for me. While earlier it was only an ominous looking illustration that spells doom, now it’s gotten a whole lot disturbing.

Guess reading too much isn’t always a great thing.

Just Short of Perfect – Quick Movie Review

Ivana, a divorce lawyer meets a renowned cardiologist and sparks fly immediately. The only problem? He is half her size. Going through a divorce herself, is Ivana ready to battle her family and the world’s prejudice for her new man? A remake of the 2013 Argentinian film ‘Corazón de león’, the 2021 Netflix reboot ‘Just Short of Perfect’ directed by Alec McHaddo, is just the right title to stream if you are looking for a no-brainer fun watch.

Brazilian comedian Leandro Hassum plays Ricardo Leao, a charismatic doctor, who is perfect in every way, except for his almost dwarfish height. Juliana Paes plays the leading lady Ivana, and constantly reminded me of Bollywood actor and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. Like Sen, Paes is tall, smart-looking, with a smile that lights up the screen and passes on to the viewer.

Written by Marcos Carnevale (original screenplay), Michelle Ferreira & Paulo Leierer, the movie has a solid hilarious first-half. And the laughs aren’t constantly drawn from the height difference between the lead couple. A lot of the humor is very situational and between other members of the cast. For example, there’s a scene where Dr Leaso’s kid hands him condoms before a big date and says ‘I don’t want to share my inheritance’. The upbeat Spanish tracks the makers use through the story adds to the breezy comedic mood and it helps that Leandro as Leao has great comic timing.

Actor Elizangela who plays Ivana’s mother was amusing as the annoying control-freak mom who doesn’t let anybody else have their say. Marcelo Laham as Ivana’s asshole ex-husband, gets some mean punchlines that fit the part. There’s a little sub-plot of a gay wedding that gives the director scope for some outlandish colorful settings and more situational laughs. It really makes one want to watch the original film, since the remake is quite a riot too.

I did not have any expectations and just wanted to watch a new light funny film with family. But we were all laughing out loud a lot in the first half. The second-half however gets a little slow and cliched, with the classic ‘miscommunication’ trope that leads to the big conflict before the climax. With two smart adults as protagonist, a lawyer and a doctor at that, the little twist towards the ends was too juvenile for a script that keeps things fun yet realistic for most parts. Also, it’s rated 16+ for sex scenes, which honestly weren’t necessary at all. Had it not been for those scenes, ‘Just Short of Perfect’ would’ve been a perfect film to watch with the family (minus minor kids) on a free evening. But you are better off watching it by yourself or with friends.

It’s a 7/10 from me.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 5 7 for a spoiler-free review of Netflix film ‘Dhamaka’

A Thing Called Truth #2 Comic Review

Issue #2 of ‘A Thing Called Truth’ by Iolanda Zanfardino & Elisa Romboli is just as fun and colorful as the first one. The story begins with a quick flashback into the life of the second protagonist Dorian Wildfang, about who we don’t get to much before.

Quick recap – The primary protagonist Doctor Magdalene Traumer wakes up with a hangover in her car with a stranger driving it! This happens just hours after she was kicked out of the lab she dedicated her life to, right after she developed a path-breaking device for her employers. So what will Magdalene do? Go on a wild trip across Europe with a hot-tall stranger as chauffeur or go running back to her disastrous life? If the covers of the first two comics haven’t given it away yet – she chooses the former.

The second issue has a bright Hollywood road-trip-cum-romantic-comedy feel to it. There’s the classic trope of two opposite leads – Dorian is an impulsive go-getter, living from paycheck to paycheck, doing all sorts of jobs or ‘hustling along’ as they say; Doctor Magdalene is a serious nerd who cannot think beyond work. But the trope continues to be gold, because a clash of personalities always makes a story more interesting.

A little more background to Dorian’s character would’ve helped, unless the author is saving more flashbacks for future issues. The story still feels like it has only begun, so that’s both a pro and con. Pro because it keeps the reader’s interest alive, con because it feels like the plot hasn’t move forward and it quite disappointing when it ends.

Elisa Romboli’s artwork stands out as usual, especially since this issue has a few tourist spots, involving drawing historical buildings in the comic panels. Iolanda introduces some new touching themes in the issue – that of family bonds, relationships and how movies can influence our lives. Dorian’s desire to tour across Europe is wild yet serious, mixed with an emotional need to cope with a recent loss. It’s going to be interesting how these two very different people interact in the next few comics.

It’s a 4/5 from me.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 50 – Why You Must Watch Studio Ghibli Films

Tick, Tick… Boom! Review – A Burst of Emotions

The only reason ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ was streaming on my screen was because Netflix suggested it in big bold banners at the top of its home-screen. Andrew Garfield was on the poster, so perhaps like thousands around the world I told myself ‘why not?’. Without a clue about the title. But as it starts, you are drawn to a story that will stay with you for a while. Softly sniffling mid-film, I made a mental note to myself “must check out who the director is and what movies they’ve made in the past”.

Here’s the deal – this is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut. Now that’s some ‘boom!’ for the brain right there. Miranda has been a successful writer-composer on Broadway, and that definitely shows – ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ feels more like a live-stage play in many parts. And for those who love musicals, it doesn’t get better than this.

The story is based on a musical by Jonathan Larson, who had won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama (posthumously). Andrew Garfield plays Larson and we go on an emotional journey of his rise from a penniless writer to a ‘great American playwright’ in the bustling New York. Anybody with a creative streak will find this musical cathartic – the struggle of staying up night after night, acutely aware of how the time is slipping right under their noses, as they try to finish their next piece – it hits you in the gut. Garfield is no longer the friendly neighborhood hero we associate him with. Instead, he is an obsessive-narcissistic writer, too lost in his own world, who does care about his friends, but just doesn’t have the time to show it.

Alexandra Shipp plays Alexa, Larson’s dancer girlfriend who wants him to come away with her after she lands a ‘good/conventional’ job, because he is barely making any money as a part-time waiter and a full-time dreamer/writer. Shipp is gorgeous and measured in her performance, she has a diva-like deep singing voice. Unfortunately there’s just no spark between Garfield and her. In-fact, Garfield has more chemistry with Robin de Jesus, who plays his gay best-friend. The two are childhood besties and their love-hate friendship is touching. Too bad Robin doesn’t get to do a lot of singing, because that man’s got a great voice.

Garfield of course has turned out to be a revelation for everybody in the entertainment industry, since nobody really knew he could sing, and HE CAN. He sings alongside Vanessa Hudgens in many scenes and pretty much outshines her. Hudgens has a cameo as Karessa, a singer in Larson’s musical and she just blends into the background, like a regular likable member of a band. Hudgens does get her spot in the limelight, she gets to co-sing the standout track in the film called “Come To Your Senses” with Shipp. The first thing I did after the movie was finding and downloading the track on my music app.

Since the film unfolds in 1990, the plot touches upon the AIDS epidemic that was at its height in America at the time. The makers poignantly capture the homophobia and heartbreak the LGBTQ+ community had to grapple with back then. The story’s strength lies in its realism, despite all the dancing and theatrics. The songs are elaborate, filled with details of instances that carry the story forward. It’s quite unlike the Bollywood-like ‘La La Land’ (2016), whose easy to remember songs made it an instant hit with viewers.

Since the soundtrack is all based on Larson’s award-winning work, Lin-Manuel Miranda already had a winner in his hands. But as we’ve seen with the disastrous 2019 remake of ‘Cats’ (which won six Razzies that included worst film, screenplay and director) by Tom Hooper – one can go grievously wrong with an already hit script. Miranda doesn’t get too ambitious with the sets and cinematography, even though there is a touch of whimsy to some of the scores. There’s a clever number shot at a diner, where Larson is having a tough Sunday at work, so he spins a song around his grumpy customers. Towards the end of the song, he pushes down the wall of the diner, and it’s symbolic of how he is pushing his creative limits by milking everything that happens around him for his writing.

The climax is the kind of crescendo you would expect from a movie such as this. It’s emotional, moving and wraps the tale of Larson’s ascent into the American theater world. Just one song could’ve been chopped off in the second-half (there’s one at a swimming-pool), it only serves to over-explain stuff. So apart from one extra song, and the lukewarm chemistry between Garfield & Shipp, I have nothing to complain about. I loved this film and could probably watch it again. It’s a 8.5/10 from me.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 56 for three fun Netflix Show Recommendations

‘Inventing Anna’ First Look & Just Who The Hell Is She

Netflix dropped the official Teaser for its upcoming series ‘Inventing Anna’ on YouTube and it seems promising. For viewers who don’t know Anna Delvey, the teaser doesn’t give anything away. All we see is some fashionably dressed women posing for photos and a journalist claiming she might have an interesting story. And the teaser declaring that the series is ‘INSPIRED BY THE STORY OF A TOTAL FAKE’. A total fake could be anything – a fake businesswoman, a fake designer, a fake social media ‘influencer’ fooling people with a misleading lifestyle. Well… the options are unlimited.

So who the hell is Anna Delvey?

Born in 1991 in Russia, Anna Sorokin is a German con-artist, who posed as a German heiress to swindle banks, hotels and wealthy people. She basically leeched off gullible rich folks and service providers, by pretending to be super-rich. Funny but true. According to news reports, she was sentenced to 4-12 years in prison for fraud in May, 2019.

Almost a year before that, in April 2018, Vanity Fair ran a full-length feature by one of Anna’s victims titled “She Paid for Everything”: How a Fake Heiress Made My $62,000 Disappear”. Anna had befriended Rachel DeLoache Williams after meeting her at a fancy New York pub. The two kept meeting a fancier places, and one day Anna promised her friend an all-expenses-taken-care-off trip to Marrackech. Although, at the end of it all, it was Rachel who had to pay for everything, because Anna claimed something wasn’t right with her banks. And Rachel’s money disappeared, Anna did what cons do – become evasive.

Rachel was obviously not first of Anna’s victims. Micheal Xufu Huang, a Chinese art collector was one of the first few who had gotten suspicious of the young woman. The two had become friends and Anna had asked Micheal if she could accompany him for an art exhibition in Venice. He booked her flights and hotels, expecting to be paid back, but that never happened.

To those who knew Anna, they claim she was extremely confident in peddling her story of being a wealthy heiress with a lavish lifestyle and ambitious dreams. She used the classic trick of borrowing from one to pay another, creating a cycle of debt she hoped she could escape forever. But good luck can only last so long.

It would be interesting to see what Netflix has to offer! Here’s the teaser.

‘Still Life’ Review – Between Beautiful and Drab

‘Still life’ by Anoushka Khan would always pop up on my book recommendations each time I’d go shopping online for graphic novels. That’s how I ended up buying it on a whim one day, without reading even the blurb, like with countless other online titles. So I cannot blame anybody for finding out it wasn’t exactly like most regular graphic novel. It’s more like an illustrated book for adults. It doesn’t have comic panels, instead the pages have abstract art and paintings, and the story flows over them in poetry format.

The first few pages weren’t very engaging and might make some readers just give up. But it gets better. ‘Still Life’ tells the story of Pinky, who goes in search of her missing husband Pasha, starting from a local shop. Everybody believes the man is probably dead, but Pinky and her mother-in-law do not give up hope. One day, a clue turns up in a shirt’s pocket – a phone number of an old classmate, who reveals Pasha wanted to stay in their guest house. So off goes Pinky, in the hopes of finding the man she fell in love with and married.

It’s when Pinky goes to her childhood home, and author Anoushka Khan finally gives the readers glimpses to the protagonist’s life and relationships, that the book becomes interesting. The art is simple, some of it even feels very calming, while most others are quite forgettable. Anybody who has ever lost a loved one, will perhaps find a kindred spirit in Khan’s story. The first few pages were boring, the next few relatable, with childhood snippets and the last few come with the cold reality of relationships and family.

Just like the title suggests, not a lot happens in ‘Still Life’. Everybody goes on with their daily chapters, while Pinky’s life halts for a while, in search for a loved one. There’s that element of a good old mystery, even though Khan’s story-telling gives you a strong sense of foreboding, as if nothing is going to happen. The ending isn’t what one would quite expect, it’s realistic and perhaps that’s why is almost feels disappointing. I would have liked more story, but the climax arrives abruptly and the novel is before you expect it to.

It’s a 3/5 from me.

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Listen to Episode 48 – Three Underrated Graphic Memoirs To Read

Adele’s ‘Oh My God’ Has Drawn Me Into Loop Hell/Heaven

It’s been an hour since Adele’s ‘Oh My God’ has been playing on repeat on my speakers, from her new album 30. It’s nothing like her other songs on the album. The music is upbeat, the vibe feels like a cross between Jazz and disco to me, the kind that makes you want to sing and dance along. And her voice is like dessert – smooth, like your favorite flavored cream being poured into a glass.

‘Rolling in the deep’ was the first song by Adele that I had heard many years ago, her powerful smouldering vocals lamenting a broken relationship and what could’ve been. With ‘Oh My God’, Adele seems to be more at peace with her decisions and past relationships. It’s a sentiment that would resonate with a lot of listeners.

I ain’t got too much time to spare
But I’ll make time for you to show how much I care
Wish that I’d let you break my walls
But I’m still spinning out of control from the fall
Boy you give good love… I won’t lie
It’s what keeps me coming back even though I’m terrified

I know that it’s wrong
But I want to have fun
Mm yeah
Mm yeah

Oh my God, I can’t believe it, out of all the people in the world

What is the likelihood of jumping out of my life and into your arms?

Maybe baby I’m just losing my mind ’cause this is trouble, but it feels right

Teetering on the edge of heaven and hell is a battle I cannot fight

Lyrics of Adele’s new song

I don’t usually write about music, but it’s been so long since I last played a song on repeat, that I couldn’t help but write an appreciation post. Although it’s not fun to be dragged into a space where you just want to listen to one song over and over again.