In 2010, Mike Mills put part of his life story to screen—the part where his elderly father came out as gay. That lovely, delicate movie, Beginners, won an Oscar for Christopher Plummer. With 20th Century Women, Mills has created an ode to his mother and cast her in Annette Bening’s image (what a privilege). It’s […]
Oscars 2017
Posted inArts + Music
Moonlight‘s powerful glow
In 2008, Barry Jenkins wrote and directed the best independent drama of that year, Medicine for Melancholy. A quiet two-hander about a one night stand that turned into something more, essentially in real time—with some class and gentrification issues deftly weaved in—it was assured and gentle, poignant and disarming. He brings that same care and […]
Posted inArts + Music
Bow down to Moana
Like Frozen, Moana is a princess story. Also like Frozen, it has been mismarketed to hide the fact that it’s a female empowerment story. (Unlike Frozen, its songs won’t attach themselves to the backside of your brain.) Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) is heir to the chiefdom of Motunui, a Polynesian island her people haven’t left for […]