Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 244

Girl Town – Graphic Novel Review

‘Girl Town’ by Carolyn Nowak is a graphic novel whose art panels scream a myriad of emotions, wrapping you in its colors, characters and situations. It’s a collection of short stories, all focusing on interesting women protagonists, who are friends, lovers and sisters to each other. The first few panels reminded me of graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi’s work, but soon, the similarities disappear.

There are a total of five stories in the book. I love the bright artwork, the LGBTQ+ representation, and the the blending of genres throughout the collection. Nowak gives us an almost American frat-like story in the first tale, while the second one titled ‘Radishes’ has a dash of Studio Ghibli like magical-fantasy elements. There’s a scene where the two protagonists go to an ‘all you can eat’ stall, and it strongly reminded me of a scene from the animated film ‘My Neigbour Totoro’, a Ghibli classic.

Nowak goes for a cyberpunk-like theme for the third one, about a heartbroken girl who buys a lifelike male companion/sex robot to comfort her. Titled ‘Diana’s Electric Tongue’, it’s my favorite tale, and isn’t too far from the reality of our times, where humans seek comfort in AI; it’s the only one that has a conclusive end too. Diana is the most relatable protagonist, reflecting our deep need to connect with someone who is ready to listen when we want to pour our heart out. Nowak’s art is vivid, bold and brings alive the tale in a manner that will stay with you for a while. The others aren’t as memorable.

What bugged me most about ‘Girl Town’ was how all the other stories end abruptly, leaving the reader disappointed, as you are left hoping for more. In-fact, after the first one ended, I went back to the earlier pages because I thought maybe I had skipped some! That’s how incomplete the tale felt. The fourth one was slightly confusing and irritating to read because a lot of script was squeezed between the art panels.

The last one was an intriguing tale of a recently divorced woman house-sitting her parents’ home with a friend. What starts off as a simplistic looking ‘holiday story’, gets poignant and has elements of magical realism infused into it. Just when you begin to hope for more plot, it ends!

If it hadn’t been for the hurried climaxes, I would’ve given ‘Girl Town’ a 5/5, but the story-telling is not consistent enough. So it’s a 3/5 from me.

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Listen to Episode 50 for a lowdown on 22 Studio Ghibli films

Peter Rabbit 2 – Quick Movie Review

Who doesn’t like movies that somehow manage to revert us back to a childhood version of themselves? Stories that remind you of the time when our parents used to take us to the theater to watch productions meant for kids, like ‘Toy Story’ or ‘Space Jam’. ‘Peter Rabbit’ is one such film, a wholesome family entertainer, that might not be memorable, but is fun while it lasts.

Directed by Will Gluck, ‘Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway’ has the same ‘Dennis, The Menace’ like theme, where our furry little protagonist is usually up to no good. The sequel starts with an idyllic looking wedding set in the countryside. Bea (Rose Byrne), Peter’s human mom is getting married to Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson). All the little animals are dressed for the special occassion, Peter’s three sisters as flower-girls are adorable.

If you are a sucker for cute children movies, with silly simple jokes, Peter Rabbit 2 fits the bill perfectly. It helps that there’s an interesting plot at play – Bea lands a book-deal with a publisher in the big city for her illustrated book about the rabbit family. Meanwhile, Thomas continues to see Peter as a troublemaker. A misunderstanding between the two leads to our protagonist abandoning his family and exploring his ‘bad side’.

The animated is bright, engaging and draws inspiration from a lot of other children’s movies. The humor is very British, so it’s not very hilarious, but funny enough to keep kids giggling I suppose. Cynical adult viewers might get bored quickly, but for those looking for a wholesome family entertainer, especially when there are kids at home for the holidays – Peter Rabbit 2 makes for a good pick.

It’s a 7/10 from me. You can stream the film on Netflix.

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Listen to Episode 50 for a lowdown on 22 Studio Ghibli films

The Unholy Review – Mary Needs Sacrificial Lambs

A fallen journalist visits a small town to do a ‘cattle mutilation’ story, but the one-day outing for a forgettable byline turns into a long complicated trip of alleged miracles and redemption. Directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos and produced by Sam Raimi’s banner ‘Ghost House Pictures’, 2021 horror film ‘The Unholy’ is an interesting story about a girl who claims to have been granted special powers by virgin Mary.

Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays Gerry Fenn, an infamous journalist who fabricates news. Just when his career couldn’t get shittier, he lands in a small town just in time to see a deaf-mute girl gain speech and healing powers out of the blue. Cricket Brown plays Alice, the young girl in question, who is raised by an uncle who is a priest at the only church in their small town. The small town gains worldwide attention for its miracles, Gerry Fenn gets exclusive access to the story of the moment, and it seems like a win-win situation for all. While everybody believes Alice is the vessel for Virgin Mary, the source of her powers is something very unholy. Mary in this film isn’t ‘the good shepherd’ like Jesus, but someone who needs sacrificial lambs.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a corrupt scribe is the glue that holds this movie together. Since it’s based on a 1983 novel of the same name by James Herbert, the plot is engaging for most parts. Evan Spiliotopoulos has managed to direct a tale that has enough meat to spark conversations around religions and blind faith. However, the cinematography is quite weak, especially when it comes to the special effects used for the supernatural elements in the film. The makers could’ve used something simpler to depict the evil forces at play, instead they turn back to the 1980s, using movements and make-up that are too outdated to scare adult viewers. In-fact, nothing about the movie is scary at all. You have the same old flickering of lights, a creepy being slowly crawling on the floor (even though it can apparently move at the speed of light when it wants to), cloaked mannequins in a dusty old ancient room, blood coming out of eyes of statues. If you are a horror fan, you’ve seen it all before.

Cricket Brown as the protagonist Alice isn’t exactly bad, but she doesn’t stand out either, a forgettable character in what could’ve been a fantastic religious themed horror movie. There is enough back-story, with historical precedents that makes the first-half believable and gripping. Too bad that the makers give into the temptation of giving the audience an almost fairy-tale like ending. The climax was weak, rushed and quite laughable. It’s still worth a one-time watch for those who love horror movies, especially if you watched and liked ‘Midnight Mass’, the 2021 mini-horror series.

It’s a 6/10 from me. You can stream the film on Netflix.

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Listen to – 15 Freaky Facts About The Case ‘Conjuring 3’ Is Based On

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.

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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.

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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.

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Listen to Episode 56 for three fun Netflix Show Recommendations