Netflix Documentary Shows Women Winning
The four congresswomen who star in the documentary “Knock Down the House” (Photo Credit: Netflix)
By Nelson Fernandez
“Knock Down the House” is a fantastically moving and ground-breaking narrative of resilience and determination. Starring congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Paula Jean Swearingen, and Amy Vilela, the May 2019 Netflix original documentary shows women and working-class people of America fighting for a voice in politics. Directed by Rachel Lears, the film is emotionally powerful and resonant as it follows women from New York, West Virginia, Missouri, and Maryland who share the main goal of winning an election.
The stories of these women are presented in a non-linear order, starting and ending with Ocasio-Cortez. They give an inside look into the lives of Bush, Vilela, and Swearingen, and how their struggles inspired them to enter politics and seek to enact change. Shifting back and forth between each woman’s perspective and personal and political motivations, the film does a good job showing how these brave women rose to prominence behind the scenes.
The film opens with Ocasio- Cortez applying makeup as she addresses the double standards and social expectations faced by businesswomen regarding dress code that is not faced by men. Old clips then show her working as a bartender in the Bronx while talking about the mistreatment she received from co-workers and clients in the workplace.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is victorious in “Knock Down the House” (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Ocasio-Cortez states that partisanship between the Democrats and Republicans is not the focus of her campaign; her focus is bridging the divide between the working and upper classes.
The documentary also shows how she and the other three politicians reach out to citizens from their hometowns and gain the support necessary for their campaign. Swearingen, for example, decided to run because she witnessed firsthand how lack of adequate healthcare impacted many residents of her small hometown in West Virginia.
These residents were ignored by the government as they became ill and died of cancer. The film takes the angle that these women ran their campaigns to take power back for their citizens, not for personal gain. Ocasio-Cortez shows that even a top-positioned Democrat with millions of dollars from supporters and huge cash premiums can’t withstand the intensity of working individuals banding together.
To reinforce this point, the film closes with Ocasio-Cortez winning the 2018 debate, where she shares a heartwarming story about the time her late father took her on a trip as a child to the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. There her father told her in reference to the House of Representatives, “This is all ours.”
Exceeding Expectations, “IT” Sequel Floats to Top of Box Office
The official theatrical poster for “IT Chapter Two” (Photo Credit: Collider)
By Michael Omoruan
After facing a notoriously fearsome clown, the Losers Club has come back 27 years later, following their oath to put an end to him someday. In “It Chapter Two,” released on Sept. 6, 2019, two years after the first film, Pennywise the Dancing Clown once again returns to Derry, Maine to feed on the inhabitants’ fear. Much of the film is really well made, blending humor and horror as skillfully as in the first film.
Almost too well, since according to Entertainment Weekly, playing Pennywise left Swedish actor, Bill Skarsgard with very strange Pennywise-filled dreams. “Every night, he came and visited,” said Skarsgard. Pennywise’s scares in the film are executed with an intensity that even shames the 1990 television movie. All the film’s special effects show advancement in technology and make you really empathize with the characters fighting the clown.
Now adults, the “Losers” Bill Denbrough, Ritchie Tozier, Ben Hanscom, Stanley Uris, Eddie Kapsbrak, Beverly Marsh, and Mike Hanlon reunite to face off against Pennywise once and for all.
Most of them seem to have moved on from their childhood days in Derry. Ritchie is now a headlining stand-up comedian, while Ben Hanscom leads an architectural firm. Only Mike played as a kid by Chosen Jacobs and as an adult by Isaiah Mustafa, has stayed behind.
The IMAX poster for “IT Chapter Two” (Photo Credit: Collider)
In the first film, Mike worked on his grandfather’s farm. As part of one of the only minorities living in Derry, he fell victim to racism and bullying by Henry Bowers and his cronies. Shortly after, he joined up with the Losers. In the sequel he now lives a reclusive life, listening to police scanners for reports of potential Pennywise attacks. When he overhears an incident involving the murder of two gay men, he calls each Loser to convince them to come back home.
Though most show apprehension or even forgetfulness of the pact they made almost three decades ago, eventually all but one agree to find time to head back to Maine. The scene of their reunion offers great levity, mainly through Ritchie’s sense of humor. Played as a kid by Finn Wolfhard and as an adult by Bill Hader, he begins cracking jokes at the Losers’ expense and gets the audience laughing along with him.
Many of the characters from the first film return, even if just for brief appearances. Beverly’s dad returns in a flashback scene where he continues to torment her for looking so much like her mother. Eddie’s mom makes a hilarious yet almost sad appearance as Eddie’s wife, implying she was the only woman he could ever get close to.
The skillful casting is another highlight, especially James Ransone, who plays older Eddie, and Jay Ryan as older Ben. They resemble their young counterparts so accurately they look as if they were relatives. Another old face to return as Henry Bowers. Since he killed his father on Pennywise’s orders in “Chapter One,” he has become the clown’s henchman, breaking out of an asylum to try to kill each Loser one by one.
Pennywise, for the most part, plays mind games on the losers that are downright cruel, including when he taunts Bill with the memory of losing Georgie. While Curry’s interpretation of Pennywise in the first version is more like an ailing father figure, in this second film, Skarsgard has a youthful demeanor that makes his luring and terrorizing of the kids a lot more believable and scarier. He also isn’t as hammy as the 90s Pennywise when delivering lines of dialogue.
The phenomenal acting, special effects and makeup were always of high quality, and the film’s music, composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, keeps you in a constant state of unease. Make sure to keep an eye out for cameos from director Andy Muschetti and “IT” writer, Stephen King. This film was made to be watched in theaters, so enjoy!
Season 3 of ‘Stranger Things’ Returns With its Nostalgic 80’s Vibes, Only to Make Fans Wait for the Next Season
“Stranger Things 3” (Photo Credit: Netflix)
By Sumana Ali
The Upside Down and its creatures have returned to Hawkins, Indiana in the third season of Netflix’s original series “Stranger Things”. Complete with nostalgic 1980’s vibes, malicious Soviet Russians, shopping malls and throwback soundtracks, Season 3 is a blast from the past that stays engaging despite being somewhat redundant at times.
As usual, the well-directed and cleverly calculated eight-episode installment features new characters and heartbreaking deaths, leaving audiences craving more of the small town and its residents.
Though it has a fair amount of surprises, excitement, and drama, the season opens with a strange sense of normalcy. Previously younger characters like Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) start dating, while the older characters like Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) juggle challenges at work after high school. Things quickly shift into high gear when Will (Noah Schnapp) starts sensing that the Demogorgon has returned.
Indeed it has, since the bad- boy resident, Billy (Dacre Montgomery), one of the most hated characters on the show, is possessed by the Dem gon. Now for the first time, Billy is given a chance to gain audience sympathy, and his character development and ultimate fate were met with mixed feelings from longtime fans. Montgomery’s performance is definitely one of the best things about the season.
Though a bit odd at first, the storyline remains engaging throughout, with charming team-ups between characters, stunning visual effects, and action weaving together separate, entertaining storylines that eventually converge in the finale. As in previous seasons, Dustin and Steve together make a pretty hilarious team but paired with Erica (Priah Ferguson) and a new addition to the quirky team, Robin (Maya Hawke), the comedy of the season was really elevated.
Max, Will, Eleven, Mike, and Lucas in “Stranger Things 3” (Photo Credit: Netflix)
The audience also gets to laugh at fan-favorite conspiracy theorists like Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman) chasing evil Russians with Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder). Though Hopper and Joyce meet an unexpected fate, it feels heartfelt all throughout.
Nonetheless, the season is very emotional and serious at times. Characters are given a chance to develop in meaningful ways through the plot, the brilliant script and fantastic acting. The season finale includes the death of a major character, and the cast mourns.
However, since the creators chose not to show the death on-screen, it’s unclear if the person in question is really dead. Especially since in the ending credits it’s revealed that the Russians have an American prisoner and creatures from the upside-down in a secret Russian base.
Though the season can feel a bit mediocre at times because of the seemingly repetitive storylines, there is a fair amount of character development and visual effects to compensate for that. Other than these elements, nothing really significant happens, although it was very hyped up. Compared to previous seasons, it could have been more exciting, but its fast pace keeps it interesting. Overall, it is a solid B+.