Stephanie Chuang’s Top Ten Films of 2021

2021 was a year that began in strict lockdown and ended in cautious reopening. Films that were meant to be released in 2020 and subsequently delayed reluctantly opened this year to much less pomp and circumstance once it became clear that we were in the pandemic for the long haul. For me, this year saw my return to school, and also my return to theaters. I was delighted to be able to see films with my friends on the big screen again, many of which I had been looking forward to for over a year. After the disappointment that was 2020, it’s undeniable that 2021 was an improvement both in film and overall.

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Stephanie Chuang’s Top 10 Films of 2020

It’s no secret 2020 has been an absolute mess of a year. In addition to a pandemic, the election, racial inequality, and much more, the movie industry was decimated. Films were delayed, then delayed again, then postponed or released on streaming services. Disappointment after disappointment followed each and every announcement bearing bad news. The movies I largely spent time watching were mostly from streaming services, and I must admit that most of what I watched were not your typical top tier worthy films. Continue reading “Stephanie Chuang’s Top 10 Films of 2020” →

Retrospective: ‘Wanda’ Is A Pioneering Feminist Film

When watching Barbara Loden’s Wanda, it’s hard to imagine how this film is even remotely considered feminist. The main character, Wanda Goronsky, modeled after Barbara Loden herself, seems to refuse to stand up for herself or take control of her situation. Continue reading “Retrospective: ‘Wanda’ Is A Pioneering Feminist Film” →

Stephanie Chuang’s Top Ten Films of 2019

What a year! 2019 was the first year where I actively sought out new releases to watch. While I still didn’t get to everything on my watchlist, (namely Ad Astra, A Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Hustlers, The Lighthouse, and A Hidden Life) I still got to join in on the fun and see several critically acclaimed films. Personally, I thought this year was a great year for female directors. Though many got snubbed for Oscar nominations (namely Greta Gerwig), I feel like there were more female-directed films than I had seen in previous years. Though only 3 of my top ten films are female directed, I hope that number grows and those ladies get the recognition they deserve. Honorable mentions include: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Toy Story 4, and 1917.

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Review: ‘Little Women’ is Heartwarming, Grounded, and Just as Relevant as Ever

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is widely considered to be one of the most beloved coming of age stories of all time. The classic story follows the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy during the Civil War as they struggle to get by while their father is away. It’s been adapted many times to various stage, film, television, and musical productions. Newest to this family of adaptations is Greta Gerwig’s film starring Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Eliza Scanlen as Jo, Amy, Meg, and Beth March. It is difficult to fully say how unique and pivotal this story is, and how much it is a tribute to women in particular as a female driven story. Little Women details life, loss, and love as it chronicles a bittersweet journey of growing up. Gerwig’s writing and directing, as well as the stellar performance of the cast, captures this spirit with a steadfast and dutiful hand.

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Review: ‘Frozen II’ is Gorgeous to See and Hear

Six years ago, Disney’s Frozen was released, and to say the least, it was an immediate success. Anna and Elsa merchandise flooded stores, exasperated parents endured repeat plays of “Let it Go,” and kids everywhere grew obsessed with the film. The New York Times listed Frozen as one of the top ten most influential films of the decade. Frozen set several records upon its release, including highest grossing musical film, highest grossing animated film, and highest grossing film of 2013. There was even a spike in babies named Elsa.

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Review: ‘Unlikely’ is Not Here to Entertain, But to Educate

Unlikely is playing at Northwest Film Forum at 7:30pm on November 22nd, 7:30pm on November 23rd, 7:30pm on December 4th, 7:30pm on December 5th, and 7:30pm on December 6th.

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When news of the “Varsity Blues” scandal broke out earlier this year, a spotlight was shown on the elitist and catering industry that is college admissions. Though multiple wealthy celebrities were found to have been directly bribing admissions officers and test proctors for their children’s benefit, it’s still no surprise that, even without cheating, students from wealthier families have statistically higher standardized test scores, and by extension, higher chances of college admission and graduation. Unlikely attempts to unpack this discrepancy and the reasons behind it with testimonials and statistics, while also offering plausible ways to address the issue on a national scale.

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Review: ‘The Goldfinch’ is All Smoke and Mirrors

There are several factors filmmakers take into consideration when creating a movie with an adapted screenplay, some of which being faithfulness to page, accurate casting, and more. These kinds of movies can be a tricky thing for filmmakers to navigate, and sometimes it’s a select few factors that make the difference between a really great and a really bad film. Unfortunately, The Goldfinch falls into the category of the latter. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name written by Donna Tarrt, The Goldfinch is a wannabe film that leads you on a confusing journey with ultimately no payoff.

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Review: ‘Spiderman: Far From Home’ Falls Short of Potential

Spiderman: Far From Home, the highly anticipated sequel to Spiderman: Homecoming, is the first film to take place after Avengers: Endgame. Unfortunately, Spiderman: Far From Home falls below its potential and is only a meager addition to the Marvel Universe. Packed with moments of intense action, drawn out humor, and sloppy character development, Spiderman: Far From Home leaves its viewers entertained, but not impressed. Jon Watts returns to direct, with Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Favreau, and Marisa Tomei reprising their roles from Spiderman: Homecoming.

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Review: ‘Teen Spirit’ Presents a Promising Debut for Max Minghella

In his directorial debut, Max Minghella’s Teen Spirit tells the all too familiar tale of the underdog trying to make it big. While I won’t give the film any points for narrative originality, its style and cinematography not only resonate strongly with the indie aesthetic, but are also bold and unapologetic in nature. Combined with great performances from Elle Fanning, Zlatko Buric, Rebecca Hall, and Agnieszka Grochowska, Teen Spirit is an honest homage to the dreams we hold on to growing up.

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