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film reviews
Taxi Driver (1976)
taxi driver with a gun
east coast/jordan
The first time I watched this film was in a remote cabin in upstate New York during a winter storm and while watching the movie I could have not been more immersed in the film Taxi Driver. The film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a taxi driver that tries to reenter society after the Vietnam war which reshaped his view on masculinity. One of my favorite aspects of this film would be the cinematography, which pictures the movie as a dreamy reality as Travis roams the streets at night in his taxi. The grimy 70s new york setting helps set the scene of a broken New York and is represented by the character Iris, a child prostitute who Travis befriends. . My favorite scene in the film is when Travis dons the mohawk look and rescues Iris by killing her captives, much like a cowboy killing native Americans in an old western flick. Another aspect would be the score, which has an eerie feel to it as it lingers on and on, much like Travis’ mental state as he deals with insomnia while dealing with his taxi duties. This is truly one of Scorcese’s best works and I would highly recommend this film to anyone.
Rating: 5/5 stars
west coast/izzy
It is amazing what a guy can do when he is turned down by a girl. Travis went from the corner store creepy stalker to the local hero. His journey to win back the girl takes a dark turn as PTSD and a vengeful feeling of justice begin to take over his mental state as the film progresses. This film is incredibly fun to analyze as it seems as if every little thing presented on screen has a higher meaning. Such as the symbolism of Travis’s mohawk. During the Vietnam war, soldiers who were placed into intense Comando situations (hit and run raiding of enemy territory) cut their hair the same way. In the final scenes, Travis actually raids ‘enemy territory, and is left with bloodshed. This juxtaposition between Travis’s intense solo nightlife and his daunting past, mesh together to create an absolutely fantastic film; One that touches on war trauma and its deterioration of the human mind.
Rating: 5/5
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Scientologist flies a plane. Also, there's a guy with a cool mustache.
east coast/jordan
After years of legacy sequels that couldn’t seem to top their predecessors, Top Gun: Maverick helps rejuvenate the feeling of a classic 80s blockbuster, while also being a continuation to a legacy movie that is tasteful and brings its own ideas to the table that complements itself to stand out from the original. Tom Cruise, a questionable but dedicated filmmaker behind the scenes and on-screen helps propel this movie to a true cinematic experience. The fact that this movie was shelved until theatres reopened after covid shows cruise’s dedication to the movie theatre experience, and he wasn’t wrong. The action in this film and the training sequences leading up to the climax were nothing short of astounding; fully immersing yourself in the environment created one of my favorite movie experiences as a young adult. The story, while not mind blowing, shows maverick’s relationship with rooster, goose’s dad from the original, and the guilt maverick carries for the accidental death of roosters father. This movie was a great return to form for blockbuster filmmaking, and I hope many filmmakers follow suit to create something that is made to be seen in a theater.
Rating: 4/5
west coast/izzy
Miles Teller and his effect on men. Ever since this film appeared in theaters, I can’t walk outside without seeing at least 10 guys with mustaches. But honestly, I’m not complaining. I love Miles Teller, and I’m glad he’s rubbing off on millennial men. This film was fun, it was nothing cinematically mind-blowing, but the framework was gorgeous. The cutting of the head in order to get closer and more intimate with the subject’s eyes never seemed to fail. I was engaged the entire time. The use of the handheld technique and its causation of shakiness really kept me at the moment. There were times when I would forget that I wasn’t trying to shoot down a nuclear plant in under 2 minutes. It could have been due to the handheld shots, or the fact that I was at a drive-in right next to an airport. But regardless, I felt like I was there. Thank you Top Gun Maverick for bringing back the mustache.
3.5/5
Sin Nombre (2009)
Two people both searching for a better life find their paths crossing
west coast/izzy
Wow, just wow. the fact that this is a feature film still leaves me in awe.
Fukunaga does a great job of creating a story that is equally as rich as it is compelling. Throughout the entirety of the film, I was engaged. There was never a moment in which I had a thought or let alone an impulse to check my phone. I was on the edge of my seat eagerly awaiting the next conflict to arise. I also wanted to appreciate the fact that the movie doesn’t have the ‘Hollywood perfect ending’. This usage of despair adds to the realness of the film. It has the ability to show us that struggle is a human experience that can end in affliction. I also think it does a great job of showing the measures people put into fleeing their country. It emulates the idea that immigration isn’t a selfish act, but rather an act of survival. It comes from a place of love, such as wanting to give their children prosperous lives. There’s a big misconception that immigrating families want to ‘take away opportunities from Americans’, but this film expresses the truth. Just like Sayra’s, these families want safety. And to further add to my train of thought, this film depicts the lengths one must go to get even the slightest bit close to achieving it.
Not only was it fast-paced and well-written, but it’s the fact that I can form a personal connection with the film, that makes it even more impactful to me. Coming from a family with a Latino background, migration has been a topic of many conversations. After I finished watching this film, I discussed it with my mother. It’s her side of the family that I get this genealogy from. She told me about my great-grandmother and her migration from Mexico. She moved to Texas. They fled the war. If she hadn’t, my grandmother wouldn’t have had the opportunity to have a safe childhood or the opportunity to achieve her doctorate. My family had overcome racial prejudice to become the strong and educated people they are today. And they make me pruod of my Hispanic heritage.
6/5