AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER | THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN | NANNY

Pop Culture Weekly Round-Up 16/12/2022

Hello, everyone. it's Friday and I’m back to give you some Pop Culture recommendations for your weekend. This week’s newsletter has some thoughts on two great films that I enjoyed very much. Martin McDonagh’s THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN and the very unique NANNY. I also talk about the long waited AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER which I did not have a great time watching. There is also a playlist with five songs I was listening to last week.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

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QUICK THOUGHTS

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN is the latest film of the writer/director Martin McDonagh that debuted at the Venice International Film Festival and is currently accessible via VOD. The film revolves around two friends who come to grips when one of them ends their relationship unexpectedly, with terrifying implications for each one of them. This was one of the few films I watched this year that left a lasting impression on me, from the many laughs, the excellent dialogues, and the stunning location to the tragic situations and its simplicity, I loved every minute of it. It is uncomfortable, it has a surreal tone, and is very Irish. I liked how the movie intensifies as it goes along, building to a surprising and stunning ending. All of the actors delivered outstanding performances. But Colin Farrell has really wowed me. This is his most nuanced and passionate effort to date. It was also lovely to see him working with the slightly restrained but no less powerful Brendan Gleason once again (they worked together in the 2008 movie IN BRUGES). They complement one another incredibly effectively, with their respective characters driving the narrative toward the gloomy conclusion. Kerry Condon also delivers a stunning breakthrough performance that, hopefully, will lead to her being cast in other projects down the line. I really enjoyed THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN and I highly recommend it. 

NANNY follows Aisha (Anna Diop) an undocumented immigrant who becomes a nanny for a wealthy couple in Manhattan. She is looking forward to being reunited with her son from Senegal but is haunted by a violent presence that threatens to ruin her chances of achieving the American Dream. This is a slow-paced movie with great cinematography and sound design. The story is told beautifully. Also, Anna Diop is a star! She is so captivating. The film has a distinctive genre and haunting visuals, with fascinating mythology and a heavy punch of nuance. The story incorporates elements of magical realism and horror, resulting in a unique and thought-provoking character drama. Writer/director Nikyatu Jusu delivered a very powerful film. 

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is 2009’s AVATAR long-promised sequel, which takes place fifteen years after the first movie's events. So, after 13 years, James Cameron finally finished this movie. But unfortunately, I wasn’t completely sold on it. Let me start by saying that yes, the movie reimagines astonishment and wonder in visual terms. It redefines immersion with its striking aesthetics and technical mastery. However, THE WAY OF WATER is plagued by weak character development and poor writing. The story is pretty much a remake of the first movie. I honestly think that ChatGPT would have written a better script than the one Cameron used. Also, the 192 minutes length left me feeling very tired and the 48fps approach made the movie feel like a 3-hour video game cut scene. Overall I would say that AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is a great visual experience but a terrible movie. Cameron's ego is on full display here and it is not pretty. My advice is, don’t give him your hard-earned money, or otherwise, he will keep spewing more of this nonsense. 

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TOP 5 SONGS 

These were the 5 songs on heavy rotation in my house last week. You can listen to them on Spotify and YouTube.