"The Big Sick" tackles Prejudgments and Arranged Marriages set in our Modern Tinder Era

            “The Big Sick” not only delivers good laughs, but a look into the Pakistani culture surrounding arranged marriages, and a compelling modern love story. The film features an aspiring comedian falling for a girl, and as the two grow closer, an opportunity to impress a big talent scout arises, but couldn’t come at a worst time, as his girlfriend is placed in a medically induced coma. The entire cast does an incredible job at pulling the comedic strings in this musical instrument of a film. The story places likable characters in a difficult situation, enabling the humor to come in as a surprise, making the film much more enjoyable. The Big Sick takes it a step further by portraying a Pakistani-White American relationship.

The love story told in this film explores racial verbal attacks, prejudice behavior, and a clash between two different cultures.

            As the aspiring comedian, Kumail, chooses to stay by Emily’s side, her parents deter him from doing so. Emily’s father creates a memorable moment when he presents Kumail with a conversation on 9-11, which Kumail handles very eloquently. 

Emily’s parents soon get to see another side of Kumail when seeing him perform on stage, and their prejudices are soon belittled by real ignorance being outpoured in a malice intension. The film also succeeds in re-enforcing some pretty well known information like, “all racist frat boys have small shriveled up penises.”

            The love interest that grows between Kumail and Emily captivates as both try to not grow attached to one another. As both our lead characters find comfort in each other, Kumail has a hard time stopping his mother from finding him a Pakistani wife. Our lead character seems torn by two cultures, the one he’s been brought up in, and the one he meets outside of home. 

He even comes to question why his parents would immigrate to a country if they didn’t expect their children to simulate to the culture surrounding them. The film offers a comedic look into the culture cultivating arranged marriages, which happens to create another barrier for our leading character.

            The Big Sick provides an interesting modern love tale set in our tinder-era. Kumail and Emily are the type of couple one roots for until the end of the film. Humor leaps out even in the most ordinary scenes, like Kumail and his brother having a conversation in public. As their conversation grows heated, a concerned white family turns to them, Kumail can’t help but to notify them that they hate terrorist, too. Overall, the film gives us an example of how when one forms a strong attachment to someone, not even belonging to different worlds can stand as an obstacle. The Big Sick is a must watch! In the mood for a comedy, or a good love story? You found it!

"Wind River" Succeeds in Portraying Injustices Inflicted on Native American Women, Yet Indulges in the White Savior Complex

            “Wind River” stands as a strong well-rounded story with metaphors, embodies injustices inflicted on Native American women in the U.S, but also indulges in the “white savior” complex. This powerful narrative uses symbolism, such as the upside-down flag in the intro, commenting on the urgent help the Indian reservation needed. The film turns terrifying statistics on the disappearance of Native American women into a scary reality. While standing as a strong story, it can’t help but to indulge in the “white savior complex,” where a white character rescues people of color from their plight. “Wind River” delivers a vital message on the lack of statistics on Native American women going missing, while also providing a memorable murder mystery.

            According to the United States flag code, the flag should only be displayed with the union down when signaling dire distress […]. With that fun fact kept in mind, the opening shot of the upside-down flag being hit by the strong cold wind, forms a deeper impact.  “Wind River” follows a wildlife officer and an FBI agent solving the mystery behind the death of a young woman in an American Indian reservation. Within the story following the murder mystery, the wildlife officer is on a mission to kill a group of lions killing livestock. The job task the officer faces is parallel to the truth behind the death of the 18-year-old Native American woman, where another pack of lions is responsible.

            While the movie delivers a compelling story, it also manages to inform it’s audience of the morbid statistics surrounding Native American women. Without giving too much away, the film shares a quote at the end; “While missing person statistics are compiled for every other demographic, none exist for Native American women.” According to the New York Time’s article, “Higher Crimes, Fewer Charges on Indian Land,” tribal members have sued the government for declining prosecutions. Director Taylor Sheridan shared research done before shooting the film with Newsweek, like how it wasn’t until 2013, that “sexual assault of a Native woman by a non-Native couldn’t be prosecuted because it was a state crime on federal land…[.]” The lawsuit was an example of how the United States attorney’s office has a tendency of declining cases where the victims are Native American.

            While Native American actors played the criminal, meth-head, and victim, it would’ve been interesting to have another Native American actor as the good guy of the film. The lead character helps solve the case behind the death of a young woman, and also can’t help but to learn something about himself in the process. It makes sense why the FBI agent brought in to help would be of another race, since she’s an outsider. Yet, the lead male role was brought in because of his knowledge of the area, so it would be understandable if he were Native American, but was not. The film sadly fell into the white savior genre.  

            “Wind River” is an intriguing murder mystery set in a natural beautiful environment. Symbolism and metaphors adorning this film give way to a satisfying aftertaste. Director Taylor Sheridan succeeds in portraying the injustice inflicted against Native American women in the U.S. Even though the film partakes in the long cinematic tradition of the white savior complex, it still succeeds in many forms. The acting, scenery, and purposeful shots, are delivered eloquently in this motion picture. 

Check out the trailer and give the movie a shot, you won't regret it! 

“Get Out!” Immaculately Tackles White Supremacy and Modern-day Slave Auctions!

            “Get Out!” resonates with audience members through disturbing imagery, commentary on white supremacy, and impact of a modern-day slave auction. This rotten tomatoes praised horror narrates the story of a black man uncovering his white girlfriend’s lucrative family secret. 

The film is complemented by amazing attention to detail that reinforces the story’s theme of black oppression. Jordan Peele’s feature subtly comments on the international reach of modern-day slave auctions. The full-length succeeds in portraying paranoia through a young Black man’s perspective. This classic thriller correlates with the racial tension issues saturating hot topics in the U.S. 

            The film successfully plays tribute to “Jaws” in the opening scene, where the initial victim does not see the shark, but senses it near, augmenting the fear. With laws like “Stand Your Ground” and the Trayvon Martin case kept in mind, it’s easy to grasp the fear and impotence felt by the lead character. A walk down an isolated suburb street never seemed so chilling.

            Jordan Peele manages to distill incredible attention to detail throughout the story. In one minor scene, the lead character’s counterpart reaches for a bowl of colored cheerios, and then proceeds in sipping from a glass of milk. 

With the previously mentioned scene taken into consideration, it’s easy to understand that she was segregating the colors and the whites.

            This horror film comments on the international reach of modern day slave auctions. In a scene already given in the trailer, an Asian character stands out as the only other race present in the film. May have not been done intentionally, but the Asian character in scene speaks with an accent, allowing us to sense the family’s business international reach. 

As proven in a pass viral video, exposing the migrant auctions infesting Libyan society, a modern human auction is not so farfetched. This movie is composed of an amazing cast, well-constructed story, and enticing performances.

            “Get Out!” is a modern classic that embodies the worst our society has to offer. The story explores the fear embedded into a group of people victimized by institutionalized racism. Jordan Peele’s gem offers many subjects of conversation that should not be kept in the shadows, but brought to light, to grasp a better understanding of the problem at hand. If you haven’t done so yet, please watch “Get Out!” I guarantee you won’t regret it!