Minority Mindset

I was so excited to hear Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Emily Blunt, and director Benny Safdie took their new film, The Smashing Machine, to the Venice Film Festival! It was actually The Rock’s first time being invited to a festival of that caliber, which is pretty incredible considering how huge he’s become in Hollywood. He told me he started noticing all the other stars there and hearing about these massive standing ovations other films were getting. Being a first-timer at Venice, he was definitely a little nervous about how The Smashing Machine would be received, and honestly, he admitted he wouldn’t pretend otherwise – it’s a big deal!

In 2012, Peter Jackson revisited the world of Middle-earth with a new movie trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel, The Hobbit. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, Frodo’s uncle (technically a cousin), as he joins a group of dwarves on a quest to take back their home and treasure from Smaug, a dragon living in the Lonely Mountain. Jackson divided the book into three films: An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). While inspired by the book, the trilogy isn’t a strict adaptation; it often feels more like a prequel to Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. This is especially noticeable in the darker, more dramatic ending, which differs significantly from the tone of the original Hobbit book.

Though the movie takes place in the 1950s, it feels very current, largely because it centers on a character driven to succeed at any cost. However, the character, Marty, still has a strong sense of empathy, which stops him from doing truly wrong things and highlights the complex, often contradictory, nature of people.

Despite any criticism, The Simpsons remains a hugely important part of American television history. It’s understandable that the show’s quality has varied over its many years – as the longest-running scripted prime-time series in the US, some inconsistency is to be expected.

Once Kara realizes she can use her abilities to help others, she finds it challenging to juggle her life as a superhero with her everyday human existence. Her boss, Cat Grant, quickly sees beyond Kara’s friendly exterior and offers guidance – sometimes subtle, sometimes direct – to help her embrace both sides of herself. Ultimately, Kara understands that Supergirl can only thrive because Kara Danvers exists. As Clark points out, being Kara is just as vital as being Supergirl, and it’s thanks to Cat that Kara remains true to herself.

With beautiful, grainy visuals evoking 18th-century America, The Testament of Ann Lee initially creates a charming and peaceful atmosphere. However, the film quickly challenges this idealized image with a powerful and politically driven narrative. While the filmmakers seem hesitant to fully explore some of the story’s most interesting themes, the result is still a captivating film.