Minority Mindset

2024 marked the end of Benny and Josh’s collaborative journey in co-directing movies as they decided to pursue individual creative paths. As Benny shared with Variety, “This is a natural evolution of our separate aspirations.” He is now embarking on solo directorial ventures, eager to delve into projects that capture his unique interests. He desires the independence that will enrich his life at this moment. Both brothers have remained faithful to their pledge, with Benny premiering his standalone debut, The Smashing Machine, which recently won an award, and Josh set to release his Christmas production, Marty Supreme. For those yearning for a Safdie brothers reunion, hang on tight! History has shown that many creative sibling pairs have parted ways only to reunite later, so keep hope alive with your own solo projects first.

The upcoming 2025 film lineup will feature Rian Johnson’s latest mystery, which is generating buzz as the main cast prepares for promotional events. Among them is Jeremy Renner, known for his work in large ensembles, and he recently shared with Variety how joining this ‘Knives Out’ mystery felt akin to collaborating with Marvel Studios.

As a die-hard Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan, let me tell you that one of the most unexpected deaths in Phase 4 was that of the Scarlet Witch in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”. Although Wanda Maximoff’s end might have been set in stone during the sequel to “Doctor Strange”, there’s still a lot of chatter online about her fate, given how strong a character she was. With the Multiverse Saga due to wrap up and a reset on the horizon, a fresh piece of news could potentially clarify Scarlet Witch’s destiny – and it promises to be electrifying!

A significant portion of this is accomplished through acting and cinematography. The film portrays Maddie’s complicated relationship with food by depicting her looking at and consuming it in a passionate yet unhealthy manner. This begins subtly, as the meals she prepares, initially made to appear appealing, leave traces of sauce or frosting on her face due to her eating them too hastily – something many people can likely relate to after skipping a meal. However, the film soon progresses to a scene of binge-eating, where Maddie aggressively stuffs food into her mouth in a dimly lit kitchen. She forces it down by drinking milk so quickly that it drips off her chin. This scene is shot up close and in a way that could be described as borderline explicit, with sound design so intense that it could trigger a strong response in someone with misophonia.

During its debut weekend, I was among many who caught the movie “Caught Stealing.” To put it simply, Austin Butler’s film about a man in the wrong place at the wrong time provided an enjoyable, exhilarating viewing experience. As several critics have noted, even TopMob’s review included, Darren Aronofsky’s newest work might be darker and more violent at times than his past films, but it offers a more uplifting and entertaining journey compared to his previous projects.

In simpler terms, Olivier Assayas’s film portrays the story of Russia in the 21st century, focusing on a character inspired by real-life figures, such as a playwright, media mogul, and political strategist (played chilling by Paul Dano). This character helps put Vladimir Putin (delivered well by Jude Law) into power and works tirelessly to maintain his rule. He manipulates news, invents stories, stirs up discord, and teams up with the most radical segments of society to keep his chosen leader in office. As the movie races through significant events from the post-Soviet period, we witness a nation that was brimming with freedom and potential shut down and descend into brutal dictatorship, all under the guise of safety. Evidently, something similar could never happen anywhere else.