‘Antebellum’ Brings to Life a Horrifying Historical Nightmare
(Photo Credit: Lionsgate)
By Veronica Longo
A psychological thriller that portrays the traumatic realities of slavery with startling realism, “Antebellum” sends a poignant and clear message: saying and doing nothing is not an option in these tense times. Reminiscent of similar mind game conceptions such as “Get Out” and “Us,” the film is the feature-length debut of Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, known for their past work on the video short “Kill Jay-Z.” Originally slated to hit theaters in April, movie theater closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic delayed “Antebellum’s” premiere on the big screen until it was finally released through video on-demand services, including Amazon Prime Video and iTunes, on Sept. 18.
The emotionally-charged opening sequence introduces us to the main cast. In the midst of the Civil War, slaves Eli (Tongayi Chrisa) and Eden (Janelle Monae) are caught trying to escape. As they are brutally and graphically punished, the opening score is heavy and haunting. Musical composers Nate Wonder and Roman GianArthur capture perfectly the tragic nature of what is happening on-screen. The effects of the score are highlighted by a lack of dialogue - the characters’ actions alone are speaking volumes. The scene also gives audiences their first glimpse of the film’s antagonists, Senator Blake Denton (Eric Lange), Elizabeth (Jena Malone), and Captain Jasper (Jack Huston), those responsible for catching and punishing Eli and Eden. It’s a tense opening that’s hard to watch. Quite suddenly, though, Eden wakes up.
Janelle Monae is now Veronica Henley, a renowned sociologist in 2020 who leaves her family to travel to a conference and speak on intersectionality. A sense of foreboding follows her, and on her trip back to her hotel she is kidnapped. Once more awakened in her bed, this is how the film comes full circle as we join Eden. It is revealed that these are no mere dream sequences, Eden and Veronica Henley are one and the same.
This film seeks to create a connection for viewers who suffer this type of cognitive dissonance that atrocities of the past don’t happen anymore. Unfortunately for Veronica, the sights she witnesses were not just nightmares. It becomes apparent that these injustices of the past were actually all taking place in the modern day and not the 1800s, to her. After the abuse of another kidnapped victim causes a suicide, this is what spurs Eden and Eli into action. The film reflects an unfortunate reality, that people will often say nothing about injustice until a tragedy spurs people into action.
“Antebellum” is the story of both Veronica Henley and Eden. The picture shows the trials that she and the others face. This film is strange but the ambience and the music pull people in. As the final twist is slowly shown, it is up to the audience to use the clues to figure what is actually going on. The shifts in “Antebellum” will keep readers intrigued, and the tone makes the film a great addition to any scary movie binge-watch.
Paulson Delivers a Mesmerizing Look with ‘Ratched’
(Photo Credit: Netflix)
By Michael Omoruan
The nurse is in. From the dark and twisted mind of “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy, starring Emmy-award winning actress Sarah Paulson of “American Crime Story” and “American Horror Story,” “Ratched” tells the story of Nurse Mildred Ratched’s beginnings, long before she encountered the rebellious McMurphy in “One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest.” Among a plethora of reboots and films, “Ratched” is led by acting juggernauts like Vincent D’Onofrio, Sharon Stone, and obviously Paulson. But despite these stars, overall the show felt a tad superfluous and even teetered into soap opera territory at points.
Right from the jump, we meet a Nurse Ratched with an already sardonic demeanor and a facade that she uses to hide her true wicked nature. We see her serve in the military before being dishonorably discharged, using that experience to find a position in a local psychiatric facility.
Based on Ken Kesey’s revolutionary novel and Milos Forman’s 1975 film, the show takes place in Lucia, California and plants Easter eggs over the course of nine episodes that call back to key moments in “Cuckoo’s Nest.” Most notable are a scene featuring a lobotomy and someone being smothered to death with a pillow. The first makes sense in the context of the show and displays Ratched’s twisted pleasure from the suffering of others, but the second felt too forced, as if Murphy wanted to remind the audience that this was based on the novel and film.
A side by side comparison of Sarah Paulson and Louise Fletcher as Mildred Ratched (Photo credit: Netflix/Shutterstock)
“Ratched” touches on many pressing matters such as how society views mental health, same-sex relationships, and female empowerment. Characters are described as mentally ill who today would just be considered normal- two older lesbian women and one child who was caught daydreaming, for instance. “Ratched” highlights how flawed perceptions were of what constituted a mental disability back then, when the slightest deviation from the norm could be considered a sickness or ailment.
In some instances, the staff seem more disturbed than the patients. When news of a serial killer who has murdered several priests makes front pages, Nurse Dolly (played astutely by Alice Englert), falls in love with him. The head of the mental ward, Dr. Hanover, is shown in several scenes injecting, inhaling, and filling up his body with a host of medication and barbiturates when he is alone.
Nurse Ratched herself is revealed to have grown up in foster care, subjected to abuse and made a spectacle of by her families. These early experiences leave her emotionally reserved and prone to rejecting the advances of both men and women. She forges documents and uses everyday slip-ups and mishaps at the psychiatric facility to advance her career. However, as the story progresses, the plot begins to feel a bit contrived, especially when the governor of the state, played by D’Onofrio, visits the ward where Ratched works.
One of the series’ highlights is definitely the production design. The use of garish colors throughout, like pastel pinks and greens, works well to transport modern viewers in 2020 to how life looked back in the early 1940s and 50s. The show overwhelms viewers with entire scenes full of bright greens and reds when Ratched or her eventual boss Dr. Hanover are present. Cropping up often in moments when they are about to or have just committed a malicious act, the color symbolizes not just the field of medicine, but also wealth and corruption. The show is shot very cinematically with wide sweeping shots showcasing cars and the costume design with finesse that deserves just as much praise.
Season one of “Ratched” ends on a cliffhanger that’s just intriguing enough to have audiences hooked. However, there are so many unearned deaths just when we’ve begun to see backstories and development for several key secondary characters that audiences will have to gauge for themselves whether they’re interested in a second season.
Female Heroine Brings Relevance and Charm to Sherlock Holmes Franchise
(Photo Credit: Netflix)
By Brittany Aufiero
Netflix’s “Enola Holmes,” the newest adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s notorious Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, centers the detective’s lesser-known -- but equally brilliant -- little sister, Enola (Millie Bobby Brown). Released Sept. 23, the film features a star-studded cast and has profound political relevance for a period piece set in Victorian London. Director Harry Bradbeer succeeds in modernizing the appeal of the franchise, presenting a balanced film that empowers even as it maintains the elements of intrigue and mystery that fans have come to expect.
Enola Holmes is barely sixteen when she wakes up to find that her mother, Eudoria (played by Helena Bonham Carter), has vanished without a trace. Since she’s still underage, her brothers Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and Sherlock (Henry Cavill) are called in to organize her care. Mycroft arranges for Enola to complete her education and training at Miss Harrison’s Finishing School, but Enola has other plans. Determined to uncover the truth of her mother’s disappearance, she sets off on her own and must avoid her powerful brothers along the way.
In contrast to past adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s world, the film aligns itself wholly with feminist movements. In this it differs from its predecessors, including BBC’s “Sherlock,” created by Steven Moffat, which gained a reputation over its four-season run for sidelining its female characters and using them primarily as plot devices and for male character growth. “Enola Holmes” side-steps such issues entirely and takes things further by prioritizing its women and framing the actions of its men through a critical lens. Woven throughout the plot are mentions of a reform bill which, if passed, would grant women the right to vote. Overall, the film goes to great lengths to emphasize that girls and women are capable of great things.
The political undertones of “Enola Holmes” are a pleasant surprise that work to the film’s advantage. One of the most entertaining moments is when Sherlock is told to check his privilege by Edith (played by Susue Wokoma), a friend of his mother’s and Enola’s former martial arts instructor. Edith, a black woman, reprimands Sherlock how little he cares about politics, stating that his attitude is “because [he has] no interest in changing a world that suits [him] so well.” For American viewers watching during an election year, the plot is a call to action with a clear message: change will only happen if you show up to the polls and vote in November.
Ultimately, what makes “Enola Holmes” so special in a sea of franchise adaptations is Enola herself. Self-possessed, stunningly clever, and well-trained in physical combat by her unconventional mother, Enola is a heroine who has a lot to prove in a world that still views her as a member of the inferior sex. She has all of the intelligence of her detective brother but far more humanity; as shown when she elects to cease her search for her mother in order to help the young Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), a young man of noble blood who is being pursued by a persistent assassin.
Best known as the telekinetic adolescent Eleven in the Netflix original series “Stranger Things,” Brown shines as Enola. Her delivery in comedic moments is spot-on and her performance in tender moments is exquisite, allowing audiences to share in the pain and abandonment she experiences at the loss of her mother. Also worth mentioning is Cavill’s Sherlock at times also shows emotional warmth uncharacteristic of Doyle’s original sleuth. This change seems to propose that now more than ever, empathy is a valuable ability we should all be practicing.
“Enola Holmes” is a charming coming-of-age adventure. Younger viewers will see themselves in the free-spirited, daring Enola, determined to reject the expectations society has placed on her due to her gender. Hard-core fans of Doyle’s Sherlock may find themselves disappointed, since this film’s Sherlock lacks the extreme stoicism of previous depictions. Regardless, the film is well-written and well-acted, and it’s a worthwhile watch for those who enjoy their movies with a side of political commentary.
Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, flanked by Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes (left) and Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes (right). Photo courtesy of IMDB.