Minority Mindset

The recent passing of a comedic legend has prompted many to share their favorite moments of her work. For fifty years, she consistently brought joy to audiences, whether through her early roles on SCTV, beloved films like Home Alone, her brilliant improvisational skills with Christopher Guest, or her often-overlooked voice acting in animated projects. She was a truly essential performer. While her loss is deeply felt, revisiting some of her most memorable performances – listed below in order – can offer a bit of comfort. After all, laughter really is the best medicine.

The film opens on a small family farm where Shaban and his wife, Hatixhe, make a living by selling milk and dairy products from their cows. They live with Shaban’s mother and brother, Agim, a teacher – a large, seemingly cheerful family who share meals together. The family dynamic shifts when their youngest brother, Liridon, asks for 1800 Euros to move to Germany for work, but is largely dismissed due to a history of unreliability. After an argument, Liridon vanishes, along with the family’s cows. Now without income, Shaban, Hatixhe, Shaban’s mother, and their three children relocate to Pristina, where Hatixhe’s brother-in-law, Alban, owns a nightclub and provides them with temporary housing and odd jobs. Struggling to make ends meet, Shaban begins taking on any available day labor work, finding jobs with groups of workers on the street.

The theater wasn’t very full last night – maybe 40 percent. The audience seemed to be split between supporters of Donald Trump and those who came to criticize the film. This wasn’t unexpected. Melania, the documentary, follows its subject for the 20 days before the 2025 inauguration. It’s not a loud, aggressive pro-Trump film, though it does take a few jabs at the Biden administration with unflattering images of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Instead, it subtly aims to present Melania Trump as a glamorous celebrity. It feels like many other popular celebrity documentaries – like the ones about the Beckhams, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, or Arnold Schwarzenegger – which often function more as promotional material than genuine films. The movie tries to establish Melania as someone so fascinating that viewers will sit through a surprisingly dull and repetitive story of her travels between cars, planes, and meetings.

Directed by Paul McGuigan (known for Lucky Number Slevin), Push features Dakota Fanning as Cassie Holmes, a 13-year-old whose mother is a powerful psychic held captive by a secretive group called The Division. This organization captures people with special abilities and turns them into soldiers. Cassie seeks help from Nick (Chris Evans), a man with telekinetic powers and a troubled history with The Division, to locate a woman who holds a new drug that could shift the balance of power in the conflict between psychics and the agency.

Linda is a hardworking but overlooked employee who’s constantly belittled by her new, self-important boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien). After a plane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island, the tables turn. Linda, who actually knows how to survive in the wilderness, becomes the one in charge. The film doesn’t shy away from violence – expect scenes of graphic action, including Linda hunting a wild boar, playfully terrifying Bradley with rat blood, and ultimately, defeating him in a brutal fight with a golf club. Send Help is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Horror shows are becoming increasingly popular on streaming services and cable TV. While many are good, only a select few deliver consistently excellent episodes. These standout shows are either limited-run miniseries or manage to keep audiences hooked for several seasons.