KNOCK AT THE CABIN | BODY PARTS | FULL TIME
Pop Culture Weekly Round-Up 03/02/2023
Hello, everyone. I’m back to give you guys some Pop Culture recommendations for your weekend. In this week’s newsletter, I share my thoughts about three new movies that will be available today in the theatres. M. Night Shyamalan's KNOCK AT THE CABIN is not a bad movie but it isn’t great either. The documentary BODY PARTS has an interesting subject matter, sex scenes in Holywood. And last but not least, the great French film FULL TIME will probably stress you out, but it is worth a watch. And as usual, there is a playlist with five songs I was listening to this week.
QUICK THOUGHTS
KNOCK AT THE CABIN is M. Night Shyamalan's latest movie. It follows a young girl and her family who are held captive by four armed strangers and are then required to make an impossible decision to save the world. The movie dives right into the conflict rather than spending time establishing the concept. It develops tension quickly and is self-aware of its horror clichés, yet I found it to be too safe and drawn back for my taste. Despite significant plot holes and dubious character choices, the film is lifted by strong performances (Dave Bautista killed it) and the tension it creates. In conclusion, KNOCK AT THE CABIN isn't a bad movie, but it falls short of the standards set by a filmmaker of M. Night Shyamalan's reputation.
BODY PARTS is a striking examination of how Hollywood sex scenes are made, and sheds light on the distressing realities of female exploitation in the movie business. Director Kristy Guevara-Flanagan skillfully weaves together interviews and footage from other movies to create a harrowing portrayal of how Hollywood has objectified women's bodies and promoted antiquated ideas about female sexuality for more than a century. This film serves as a crucial reminder that, even if progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in the fight against racism, sexism, and the objectification of women in Hollywood. BODY PARTS gives viewers optimism that change is achievable with more awareness and actor protection.
FULL TIME follows Julie (Laure Calamy) as she juggles her job as a maid, two children, and the long commute to Paris while trying to secure a better job. Just as she's about to get the interview, a national transit strike throws her plans into chaos. This film is an intense look at how much stress one human can bear, and the anxiety it can cause its viewers. FULL TIME captures the struggles of modern city life and the hardships of the working class with skilled directing, powerful editing, and an excellent score. Laure Calamy shines in her performance, and fans of The Safdie Brothers' UNCUT GEMS and GOOD TIME will find much to like here. I highly recommend it.
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.