22 July 22 - Nope

"What's a bad miracle?" - OJ Haywood

First, there was Get Out - his Oscar-nominated socio-psychological thriller masterpiece that left many discussing its premise.

Then, he followed it up with Us - cue the Rod Serling narrative voiceover and Twilight Zone theme music.

Then last year, he brought back to life Chicago's urban mythical legend - Candyman to remind us why we still need him today.

Now, Jordan Peele is back, blogspot readers, with his latest feature with a very profound yet intriguing twist to the alien invasion plot. SouthSide will even dare to call it the year's "would you believe if I told you there's something weird going on in the sky if I didn't have video of it?" kind of movie. With Nope, Jordan Peele has definitely elevated his writing, directing and producing as well as his imagination craft to the next level. He cleverly combined such themes/movies like Signs (by M. Night Shyamalan), The Thing (by John Carpenter), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (by Steven Spielberg), a haunting movie opening scene like Ghost Ship (but without the razor sharp wire) and perhaps a touch of The Wizard of Oz tucked within ...such wonderfully crafted homage, blogspot readers. 

That is Nope - without giving too much away, of course, to spoil your enjoyment of the heart-racing, jump scares and bare knuckle turns with some sprinkles of comedic horror (only Jordan Peele loves to do to lull the average moviegoer into a false sense of security before ...WHAM - scaring the bejesus out of them). It's all about the "money shot" ending, blogspot readers, with this writer/director/producer. He certainly does in Nope. SouthSide in all honesty, was spooked in between the calmness and horror humor especially when Brandon Perea's Angel Torres character goes off on a tangent about the "love of his life" leaving him after landing a CW show job. Yet behind that calm and humor, there's plenty of subtle mystery and creepiness which surrounds thing/being hovering over the skies of Agua Dulce. What it is will (without giving much away) will shock, amaze or leave you in awe ...or perhaps all three.

And woe unto us who await his next adventure ...this reviewer surely doesn't want to know what's churning in his head ...not yet. Let her digest the awe and excitement of Nope after getting an advanced viewing the night before.

Nope stars Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther) as OJ Haywood and Keke Palmer (Alice, Akeelah and the Bee) as Em, short for Emerald, Haywood ...siblings who are sort of tasked into running the horse ranch used for movies in Hollywood after the mysterious death of their father (portrayed by the legendary Keith David) when sudden random objects start falling from the sky. These two characters are SO night and day, blogspot readers. Em is the multi-tasking, multi-business opportunist with a LOTS of energizer bunny energy while OJ is nonchalant, laid back, "I got to get up early ...chores to do..." kind of guy. Besides sibling love and affection, communication is one of their biggest problems that needs work though Jordan Peele never explains why. Upon experiencing a strange encounter with an unidentified object posing as a cloud overhead, the Haywood sibs decide to get that "money" or "Oprah" shot to which they enlist the help of Brandon Perea's character and then film documentarian, Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott - The Crow). To make this move and plot be more intriguing, Jordan Peele adds a former child TV star now running a Western family theme park Ricky "Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun - Glenn from the Walking Dead) who has his own unresolved living nightmare involving a murderous chimpanzee that went on a sudden rampage killing its human co-stars. Keep this in mind as you watch the nervous behaviors of the Haywood horses, blogspot readers. Plus Yeun's character also has a history with the unidentified object as well naming it "The Viewers". What happens next ...well, you need to see Nope for yourself. 

No spoilers here.

And like his previous movies, Nope does contain a hidden thought-provoking concept that Jordan wants us to take into consideration. For example, Get Out had the secretive, illicit mind-bending manipulation used towards another race to remain dominate and superior over them which in SouthSide's humblest opinions is not too far fetch. In Us (and despite what one woman enthusiastically exclaimed when it was over - "art sets you free!"), it was about the social class uprising of our doppelgangers wanting a piece of the pie. Peele's Candyman dealt with the horrifying police hivemind and its narrative when placing innocent people in a very tight situation that forces them to choose the narrative or suffer unjust consequences. Nope brings us the concept of racial policing like how horses don't like being eyed directly by humans. The same can be said about the alien protagonist in this movie ...it likes to view/"police" over Nope's unsuspecting cast of characters because one look can cost you your life, blogspot readers, though the tables do get turned towards the end.

*Whew*

What a lot to digest there, blogspot readers. So, SouthSide is going to stop right here ...no more over analyzing Jordan Peele's Nope that boosts originality about a terrifying alien invasion to art direction as well as Hollywood movie history and much more. Yes this movie has plenty of "money" shots.

Nope is a yes from this reviewer, blogspot readers.

Nope is now playing in theatres.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

13 July 21 - The Forever Purge

“…Only full blooded Americans are welcomed here…” 

Blogspot readers, United States is divided. Besides by gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation and social class status, the biggest one is by race. There’s heated tension in the air in these days due to White supremacy and hatred against immigrants crossing the border seeking asylum for a better life. Real every day life however, blogspot readers, this is also the basis for the latest Purge movie – The Forever Purge. Ripped straight from the headlines, art has finally imitated the reality of life United States but without the ideal of annual “Purge” where all crime and murder is legal for 24 hours. Still one question remains – is the purge necessary? Keep that particular question in mind as you continue reading this review. 

The Forever Purge, the fifth movie within the Purge Series, picks up where Purge: Election ends. Apparently, the New Founding Fathers have suspended the annual purge for some time but now are reconsidering that decision since there’s an steady influx of immigrants crossing the Mexican border to the US. This causes a rise of White supremacy, hatred towards immigrants taking American jobs, fears of “rapists and bad hombres” spiking crime, and a return of the notion “America for real Americans”. Something that’s currently happening today. The movie centers around two families – one is our immigrant couple, Juan (Tenoch Huerta) and Adela (Ara de la Regera) [SouthSide doesn’t understand why the writers failed to give them a last name – more about that late], who cross the border seeking a better life in the U.S. The other family are wealthy Texan ranchers known as the Tuckers featuring Caleb Tucker (the patriarch of the family), son Dylan and his pregnant wife Harper and Dylan’s sister – Emma. SouthSide found it refreshing to have a character like Dylan in this particular Purge movie, blogspot readers. He clearly exemplified the “I’m not racist towards anyone but…” White American especially telling a friend during a dinner gathering he didn’t want his kids learning/speaking Spanish. 

Meanwhile, back to our immigrant couple, Adela works as a supervisor at meat packing plant while Juan works as a cowboy at the Tucker ranch. Reports of the annual purge returning …tensions are visibly seen across the tiny Texan town where they live. People purchasing their guns and weapons of choice as well as noticeable signs of a supremacy/Neo Nazi group, known as Purge Purification, is staging to make an appearance. Luckily, they’re able to hide with others in a safe house for twenty-four hours while many others aren’t …but those who survive to live another day aren’t either because someone has decided it’s time for a “Forever Purge” . The notion of taking back the country from “haves” for the “have nots”. Yet it’s mostly about cleansing the nation from immigrants who aren’t “full blooded Americans”. It’s total chaos across the U.S., blogspot readers! As luck would have it, our immigrant couple and the Tuckers are pitted together to cross the US-Mexico border in El Paso, TX for safety …and they have the difficult task of doing it within six hours. The journey alone tests their beliefs and faith within themselves as well as each other. It also happens to open Dylan’s eyes to which he somewhat experiences what Juan and Adela had when crossing Mexico to the US but in the reverse – leaving the US into Mexico to be the “American Dreamers”. Sorry, blogspot readers, no spoilers here, yet, this reviewer will say this – The New Founding Fathers America is being destroyed by a concept that no longer can be controlled. 

Quite a change of pace for a movie of this caliber. Surprisingly, with The Forever Purge being more political than its typical bloodied, murder fest, SouthSide thoroughly enjoyed it, blogspot readers. She was expecting elaborate methods of murder/crime/torture however, that took a backseat behind the concept/plot. The murders/killings are still embedded in this movie but it wasn’t really the focal point something this reviewer believes the writers wanted a more of a message approach than a violent hour and forty plus minute movie watching. From such tone, it’s clear that everyone has forgotten United States was and still is a nation of immigrants …unless you can trace your ancestry back to a Native American tribe. Then too, as pointed out in this movie, the purge was designed by the wealthy to rid the “ills” of the country – legally so they can golf the next day without any remorse. The people who purge are simply their lackeys doing their dirty work for them. Even when Dylan Tucker (Josh Lucas) states “everyone should stick to their own kind”, he does make a valid point, blogspot readers, because he doesn’t understand the Hispanic/Mexican culture and puts out doubt that they in turn understands his. The “American Dreamers” (what American refugees are called in Mexico) is a fun way to poke at DACA. SouthSide found herself laughing at the NeoNazi savoring each sound the bullets as he expertly names the gun they came from. This guy was totally rockin’ out to the pops and bangs. The only problem this reviewer had with Forever Purge is why our immigrant couple have a last name. She knows it’s not really important that they have one but why didn’t the writers tagged Juan and Adela with a “Vega” or “Vasquez” or a any common Hispanic last name. They were, after all, the main characters of this movie! 

Recommended.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

22 March 19 - Us (2019)

Picture if you will sitting in a darkened theatre with your buttery popcorn and favorite soda …relaxing and enjoying the latest cinematic feature but you feeling there’s an unsettling presence near you …around you …then suddenly, the darkness gradually fades to light and you realize there’s someone …something who looks exactly like you.

Are you absolutely certain that you are the REAL you? Are you sure there isn't another you out there somewhere ...waiting to take your place?

Think about those questions for a minute or two, blogspot readers, while SouthSide cues the famous Twilight Zone theme music.

Welcome to Jordan Peele’s latest cinematic piece simply titled – Us, a somewhat follow-up to his breakout hit, Get Out, but as a sophomoric film, it nearly lives up to what Get Out was …yes, blogspot readers, believe the hype.

If you’re a fan of the Twilight Zone series, you know each episode presents itself with a rather calm and “nothing is about to happen yet” sequences until you reach the middle of the story. Well, blogspot readers, that’s how Jordan Peele sets up Us for you. We meet the average Black American family spending bright sunny days at their vacation home in Santa Cruz …sandy beaches, roaring seashore and lively boardwalk complete with games and carnival rides. All seems “normal” about this family  - dad Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke from Black Panther) cracks a lot of the typical “dad” jokes and is seriously loving his new speedboat, daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) is a typical teen who has unbelievably unlimited battery power for her phone since she spends part of the vacation on it more than SouthSide’s own teen, son Jason (Evan Alex) is quite the handful with his smart-alecky mouth but the only who seems out of place is mom Adelaide {Lupita Nyong’o also from Black Panther) because of a tragic childhood event that keeps haunting her. They are joined by their White counterparts the Tylers (Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker) and their twin daughters. Again …all seems “normal” except for that other family …”what other family?” you might ask. Well, that where the “normal” ends and the real Twilight Zone-like nightmare begins, blogspot readers. Without giving too much away, blogspot readers, let’s just this other family dressed in red are willing to do anything to replace and be you.

SouthSide’s not about to reveal all of Jordan Peele’s secrets held within Us. However, she highly recommends checking out this wild rollercoaster ride that will have your heart pounding in time with the creepy music or laughing at the Winston Duke’s corniness as the one person who would rather stay than leave to escape the strange doppelgangers who have invaded their home and tried to “replace” them ie murder them in terrifying ways that only can come from the mind of Jordan Peele. There are certain things …clues here and there tagged throughout the movie just to give some idea what Us is about. The Bible verse Jeremiah 11:11 is among the other few. And, blogspot readers, don’t think you know what’s going to happen next or second guess Jordan Peele while watching this movie because you don’t and won’t. This writer/director is controlling all of the horizontal and vertical as well as diluting you will and will not see for the rest of the movie. In other words, shut off the brain …Jordan Peele has rewritten all pre-existing horror movie rules for a movie that truly doesn’t have any horror movie rules. For example, you might think there’s a moment of relief and calm, ha …Jordan Peele takes that  and you for a loop to another unexpected horror tense scene after another like the Nutcracker dance/fight scene between Adelaide and her doppelganger – was that ever intense and very well-choreographed as each movement is performed in time with the music. Oh speaking of music, SouthSide will never listen to The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” the same way ever again. Not saying it’s a bad thing but when you see Us, you will understand what she’s saying. Loved a touch of NWA’s iconic song, “Fuck the Police” to really add to the moment. Now, is Us better than Get Out? Honestly, this latest movie ranks up there but not as great as Get Out. Us has its mixed moments of humor and horror as well as an interesting, thought-provoking premise what it’s about …especially the twisted, fucked-up, mind blown ending that only Jordan Peele could surprise us with like any other Twilight Zone episode. 

Never expected or saw that coming. Mind was totally blown.

Cue the Twilight Zone theme music one more time, blogspot readers, that’s how you will feel once you have reached the credits …do take time to process what you just saw …probably will have to repeat to process Us some more.

SouthSide plans to see it again. Just can’t keep this blogger from a heart-pounding, thrill ride like Us. And yes Jordan, you have her permission to use that quote.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

26 Feb 17 - Get Out (2017)

Get Out

A whack movie title but a bare-knuckle type of psycho-thriller written and directed by Jordan Peele. If "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" had this much stereotypical racial tension and innuendos packed into a near 2hr run-time, Sydney Portier wouldn't have that peaceful resolve at the end. However Get Out isn't that kind of movie. There are some racial jokes and stereotypes addressed within the movie as well as deep mind-bending hypnosis in which had this reviewer clawing at the armrest of her theatre seat and freakish psycho-horror that totally jumps at you towards the end.

This movie is about an interracial - the guy named Chris and the girl named Rose who travel to a very secluded suburb to visit her parents for the weekend. Did SouthSide mention the parents live in a very secluded backwoods suburb where everything and everyone is NOT what they seem to be. Things seem to be out of place especially since there aren't any Black people in this community except those who are employed by Rose's parents. And even they seem to be acting weird to Chris. As the movie progresses, you instantly get the sense there's a sinister motive behind everything Rose's parents say and do as well as their friends and neighbors within this secluded suburban community. Creepy isn't the word to describe what's happening throughout this movie, blogspot readers. There are plenty of OMG moments amidst some hysterical funnies that will definitely shock and awe to totally outrage you beautifully scripted within Get Out's plot line. SouthSide is willing to admit the deep hypnosis scenes did have a lasting effect on her psyche to the point she actually "feel" herself sink within her inner conscious thus losing a bit of her persona.

To say Jordan Peele wrote and directed a very good horrifying racially intense movie is a gross understatement. It's THE best movie of 2017 ...and the movie year just began. He took the common stereotypes about the "Black experience" to interracial dating twisting them around to expose everyone's deepest and darkest thoughts about one another. We all have them whether it's within our own race or towards another at one point of our life we've heard something mythical or untrue about that racial group. In SouthSide's experience, she's heard the wildest things about Black women and sex from White men who never dated a Black women before. Yet, they thought what they heard was the absolute truth. Not entirely true, blogspot readers, though SouthSide does not speak for every Black woman. However, you do understand the point she's making. Get Out despite its deeply intensifying subject matter will get you talking about the hows and whys of this movie like why people are afraid of the Black superiority and experience. It certainly gives you a lot to discuss rationally as to why there's such a division between White and Black yet it's one movie that will you having deep discussions with your White friends, etc.

A powerful yet frightening movie ...this reviewer highly recommends seeing Get Out not just once but a couple or few times.

 

Now on video.

 

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide