Anais Ordóñez

SPOILERS AHEAD…. I don’t even know if I can put into words how much I fucking love this film!!! American History X is such an underrated masterpiece—literally, from start to end. This is not an easy film to watch, but damn is it worthy of every second.

A 1998 film directed by Tony Kaye presents to us the story about a neo-Nazi skinhead named Derek Vinyard—marked with a life of cruelty, violence, racism—who is sent to prison after brutally murdering two black men who attempt larceny. Once released, he desires a change and understands his mistakes. Derek sets off to change and fix the things he did wrong, specifically that his younger brother Danny doesn’t follow in his footsteps.

American History X obtains beautiful cinematography. There is an extremely distinct and intelligent representation of hatred in the movie’s photography. The past is shot in black and white to portray how Derek viewed the world as plain as black v.s. white; and the present is shot in colour to represent Derek’s change and comprehension of what social hatred has done to better his life, which is simply nothing but pain.

Sadly, 20 years later, American History X is still relevant to this day. Recently, many problematic hate groups have been exposed and often include neo-Nazis. Never had I thought I would live in a world filled with this atrocity but disappointingly, they have always been there. Deep inside, I have this raging gut to show this film to all people that commit hate crimes or simply hate. Hell, how could that ever happen, right?

Why is it that I love American History X so much? It is because the message that this film sends out is astonishing. The script is in every single way a lesson, and it all concludes perfectly at the end. This movie in no way sets out to present white people being victimized by different races and ethnicities. It simply speaks to the world about not only racism, but how hatred can affect individuals and tear loved ones apart. Technically, this entire movie should be the definition of hate. That “Hate is baggage. Life’s too short to be pissed off all the time. It’s just not worth it.”

The movie accomplishes to teach us how individuals are never born hating. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, then they can be taught to love. There are numerous amounts of scenarios where this is shown through the film’s very memorable moments. From the curb stomp scene, which presents HATE, sending Derek to prison (presenting: hate does not mean better), where he soon experiences BETRAYAL from a group of neo-Nazis when they rape him, to unexpectedly befriending a black man, displaying LOVE.

Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D’Angelo, and Jennifer Lien did amazing jobs portraying their characters—each and every single one of them with so much pain. The most difficult scene to watch was the brutal dinner table scene where Norton gives a fucking powerful performance. He really demonstrated how deep the character’s hatred can go once he sends endless insults to the Jewish man whom during that scene was in a relationship with his mother. Not to mention the part where he begins to suffocate his own sister!!

The ending of the film was the most unexpected and completely heartbreaking. Although this is a film that revolves around white supremacy, I cannot be the only one who was hoping for a happy ending. Watching a family go through such horrendous events and then watching this former neo-Nazi noticing his mistakes and profoundly attempting to fix them, only to see them end on the murder of his young brother is truly fucking tragic.

In a way, during that last scene American History X presents the cycle of social hatred. One loses, and the other wins, continuing to pass on the hate. That kid was probably put up to a test, and as soon as Danny’s blood splatters over his face, the kid’s eyes open wide, and we know he regrets it.

I have read the original script of American History X and I seriously wish this film could’ve been longer. I really believe it still would’ve been successful if they included a few scenes from the original screenplay. AMAZING MOVIE!

Oops, I guess you can say that, yes, I am aware I am breaking the first two rules initiated. But, fuck it! Fight Club sets out to break the rules. This classic about the Narrator, an insomniac who meets an odd but very cool soap salesman, named Tyler Durden, is fucking amazing in every single way! Once the narrator's apartment burns down, he begins to live with Durden, where soon, they create a secret fight club taken place under grounds. One of the coolest part about the movie is that not only does fight club become a favoured ground but it additionally ends up becoming a movement.

I think that Fight Club is such a hilarious; quotable; intense; brutal; and intelligent film. The cinematography is amazing but don’t even get me started on the script. The concept is intelligent in every single way. This movie is quotable af, and Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter completely epitomize their characters. So much talent in one film. It isn’t even just them but the supporting characters, too.

Fight Club demonstrates such a bleak and raw portrayal of human society. The narrator has such a dull life and relentlessly desires more, therefore, creating the imaginary Tyler Durden, whom, to quote the man, “All the ways you wish you could be, that’s me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, capable and most importantly, I am free in all the ways you are not.” The film teaches the audience that people should allow to accept their authentic selves. We are not special in this world. “Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need” (Tyler Durden), being cool and edgy, owning fancy clothes, and having a nice home and a kick-ass car does not make us special. And Fight Club completely mocks that utilizing it in the Durden’s “masculinity.” In this film, we learn to just wake tf up and take a look at the reality around us. No one is special and in the end, the movie just portrays the bleak and brutal, dark side of reality in which Durden faces; death. The narrator is left with a chance to start all over.

Mid90s was really beautiful and did well in terms of fitting in different subjects. The film made me laugh, shocked me, disturbed me, made me sad, made me relate, made me feel REAL. Made me feel like I am not alone in terms of dealing with shit, we all go through shit and Mid90s really demonstrated that subject. "A lotta the time we feel our lives are the worst. But I think if you look in anyone else's closet, you wouldn't trade their shit for your shit." It really made me think about and appreciate what I have in my life and who I have in my life. The characters really were memorable in every way and actors in general just had good chemistry which made the movie the most enjoyable. Additionally the cinematography was amazing and couldn't have been any better. It really felt like it was the 1990s.

The ending was pretty bad in my opinion. It's not that I thought the scene was bad, however, more that I just did not expect it to end in that way and it just lead me to wondering what the fuck was the point and plot of the movie? Jonah seemed to lack in understanding what he wanted to prove or present. We get that it is a skateboarding film and that it is a connection and reminiscing film to skater individuals who grew up in the 1990s, but what was the plot? It seem to lead nowhere.

Otherwise, still very enjoyable and definitely would recommend and watch again myself. 8/10.

Filled with a beautiful raw, black and white cinematography and stunning direction, screen-writing, and acting; La Haine is a movie that took me much by amazement.

La Haine is a French drama/crime film about anger, race, violence, and the harsh police brutality that is set in what seems to be painted as an extremely dull suburbs in Paris. It focuses on three characters whom are Vincent; a Jewish charged with rage and desire to be a gangster, Hubert; an African, smart and cautious boxer, and Said; an Arab who is quite both vigilant and bad tempered with a displeasure of certain aspects in his society. These all draw to la haine as they all consume off of each other's aspects during time in the brutal and dull suburbs, whilst additionally dealing with a tragic event that attaches more hate when their friend Abdel is brutalized by police during a riot and is left in a coma.

Although I found the film to be greatly scripted, directed and acted, I had a minor problem with it's tedious scenarios which seemed to lack pause in dialogues and that made me tiresome on attempting to keep up as I watched it in French with subtitles. The scripting was brilliant, with a very clear and bright manner of delivering it's message and narrative across, however, pauses were missing causing very little disturbances from the world of the protagonists. It felt like the film lacked detail about the world that surrounded them, including more depth in the protagonists' background. What have their life stories been? I wanted to know.

Fallen Angels makes me accept the fact that I’m a bitch for melodrama. Like, hey, Wong Kar-wai I’m worshipping you. This film is so simple yet so SO amazing. Just the fact that most of the film revolves around partnership, love, time and space... Have you ever gone to a store and seen the same stranger in there every time you go in? It’s like you know them but you really don’t? Still you feel there is a bonding between you too? And maybe it’s just you, feeling together in space and time but they only witness you in space and don’t think of you in time or maybe don’t even ever notice you at all!! Well Fallen Angels reflects on how we can often be together in space but apart at the same time; hence the scene of one of the film’s character Zhiwu when he watches a tape of his dead father. We perceive that Zhiwu feels once more connected with his father in space, but we also get a sense of “together in different times”. Utterly simplistic and beautiful, there is nothing more perfect than everything this film sets out to be. And I feel so connected to it. The way the cinematography plays, those odd yet intimate close ups on characters, the smoothed slow motion, the shift between the cold colours and poppy warm colours, the very simplistic small locations that make the film feel so much more intimate yet the emptiness in scenarios sometimes adds that melancholic touch... The beautifully composed music, I have never listened to such an amazing soundtrack, wow! This film is flawless. “Everyday you will encounter many people,” “There are some people you can never get close to,” “Maybe the fact we’re both so quiet explains why we’ve always been so close,” “Find out too much about a person and you lose interest.” Thanks for this masterpiece Wong Kar-wai.

A really haunting film about what addiction can do to people. Depression; Anxiety; Loneliness; and Oppression all undertake the lives of Requiem for a Dream’s four protagonists—Harry Goldfarb, Sara Goldfarb, Marion Silver, and Tyrone C. Love.

Drug addiction has always been portrayed in cinema, however, never as intelligently and authentically as Darren Aronofsky portrayed it in this film. It has never been portrayed so cruel, and heartbreaking, really touching on the weak and horrendous that comes within drugs.
This movie really made me question so much. I have broken down many times. I have experienced minor depression and have anxiety, however, never had I ever imagined how disturbing other individuals’ can experience it. Not only did it make me question drug intake, but It really made me question, “How far can depression go?” “How far can anxiety go?” “Can loneliness really go that intense?”

Coming from someone who has had experience in such activity—depression, anxiety, loneliness, and more—Requiem for a Dream greatly frightened the shit out of me but also captivated me so fucking much and taught me a lesson. It literally is in my top 20 favourite films. Aronofsky is a genius for making this film. Requiem for a Dream is a complete original alongside films that legit glorify depression and anxiety labelling it as “trendy", “edgy" and “angsty.” Those films literally need to end and go to hell for glorifying such harmful illnesses.

I can't believe I didn't watch this movie earlier—a young girl loses her family and gets taken care by an Italian professional assassin.

Be warned that this movie has extremely graphic content and might include scenarios that will cause you to feel uneasy and possibly disturbed. I highly appreciate the film's presentation of the relationship between Léon and Mathilda. Although I found it somewhat off-putting that they were so close, I rather prefer perceiving their relationship as much more platonic. Mathilda loses a family that she already felt unconnected with. Her family was dysfunctional and she was treated horribly by her violent and abusive father. Léon made Mathilda feel like someone finally cared for her. She felt loved, and Léon—who's spent half of his life alone—enjoys that companionship. Luc Besson (Director) surely is a creep for scripting such a strangely uncomfortable relationship between a little girl and a grown man. Many people believe that this film presented pedophilia. However, I much rather perceive that the film simply demonstrated to the audience a little girl—very much miserable—crushing on a man who saved her. And a lonely man finding companionship and opening himself up to generosity.

I was missing out on such an amazing film!! You don't want to be missing out either!! MUST WATCH.

P.S. I much recommend you rather watch the Léon: The Professional 2-hour-long, international version (French).

Stand By Me is the most beautiful film ever. This is honestly an 80’s MASTERPIECE! I felt myself wanting to go back in time to hang out with my childhood friends.

What I really enjoyed about this film was how the tone of the film would change so smoothly and perfectly through comical, sentimental, adventurous, making you reflect on your own childhood, and such topics. The cinematography was stunning and so aesthetically pleasing. However, one of the things that engaged me the most about this film was the beautiful relationship between Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) and Gordie Lanchance (Wil Wheaton). It is a demonstration of a much desired friendship and relationship by many individuals and something that I have been looking for my entire life. Having someone who always supports you when you are down and who is more of a sibling/a parent to you than anyone else because of their endless amount of authenticity and generous support is what my 12 year old self has always fantasized and I honestly still do. Chris and Gordie have a relationship with such feelings that obtain much more than what good friends have . There is so much true, tender love and attentiveness between both of them. They share a very special bond and both characters complement each other so carefully and nice. They are both in lack of family support and constantly go out of their way to treat each other like family.

Chris Chambers was such an astonishing and graceful character—River Phoenix presented to the audience such an incredibly beautiful portrayal of the character, leaving us with such a strong desire of a friend like him. I have an endless love and special place in my heart for Phoenix. He made me fall in love with Chris at the age of 9, and growing up I came to the realization that the actual actor was an angel and as genuine as Chris. The death of Chris Chambers was extremely sad, yet it was still righteous. He died in a heroic form, representing his true authentic self and individual identity. I will, however, forever be saddened by the death of River Phoenix. He was extremely talented and an original and sincere special being.

The ending of Stand By Me makes me sooo fucking sad, as we come to a realization of reality, and how we cannot stay young forever, and we will eventually grow up. Everything about this film was golden!! The actors were insanely talented and sooo real. The script was amazingly well written. Overall, one of my favourite movies ever.10/10

Inspired by the crimes of real-life serial murderer Ed Gein, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is a brutal, sadistic and gory film about insane cannibalistic murderers, specifically the infamous so-called Leatherface, whom is a chainsaw-wielding serial killer who pierced and slashed countless amounts of individuals. The story follows a group of friends who take a visit to an old farmhouse, when pair by pair and individually, they separately stumble upon their vicious neighbours and experience the unexpected, when they’re butchered like literal pigs, one by one.

Throughout the film, there is a question left wandering around alongside the audience. What drove these crazed humans to get such concept? And, what is the satisfaction that comes within the act of it? I think that from what we can perceive from the Leatherface is that he has been living in a verbally abusive destructive home. Constantly being yelled at and dominated, he is very obedient of what his father tells him to act upon, which are demands of committing murders of victims of their family. He somewhat lives a life of oppression, concluding that disobedience means a punishment. However, Leatherface is a man with feelings about his family's perspectives on him and he often proves his love for his family by murdering the victims. Additionally, his self-conscious and peculiar characteristics portray him as an outcast, which could also drive him to commit his actions. Leatherface is certainly not friendly to the social world around him but he always seemed to respect his family and their intentions. In a psychological manner, Leatherface is literally a child.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is honestly out-dated and not completely terrifying, however, there is something about it that has always been striking in a very disturbing and abnormal manner. The simplicity of this film is what I love the most about it. The film is only 1h 30min, set in a very dull environment, yet since the very moment it starts, the audience perceives an odd sensation from the atmosphere. This film starts off with the most off-putting scene in horror, or slasher, cinema! From the moment they pick up Nubbins Sawyer, the hitchhiker, we know that something is about to go wrong. Nubbins behaves almost erratically, and displays a very odd giggle, and it all becomes too much once he cuts through his hand with a knife. The conversations about the slaughterhouse also form a tense build-up for the film and in general, the entire cinematography truly, excellently captured disturbing shots. From the close-ups on Sally’s frightened eyes, to the clips of the cannibalistic family perceiving enjoyment off of her misery, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a horror classic!

This is honestly such a fucking amazing tv show! If only there were more television series like these ones that more people like me could relate to. I have related so much with Lindsay. I struggled with my identity for years and I still do. I still feel like I do not fit in with most people at my school. However, like Lindsay, I tried and I pushed myself to hanging out with the crowd that I knew I would have fun with. Lindsay said her friends didn't exactly drive her or inspire her to do anything, and that is how I feel with my current group honestly. I like to think they do, however, it is mostly just the similar interests we have that bring us together. For Lindsay, it was music, and I honestly believe that there's not enough shows that us individuals who enjoy rock music can relate to. Thank god for Freaks and Geeks because without it, I'd feel so unconnected. There are literally very minimal amount of tv shows like Freaks and Geeks. I can think of My So-Called Life, That '70s Show, maybe Skins?, maybe Dawson's Creek? That is it though. If any of you reading this have any other recommendations, could you please let meh know and make a girl happy, thanks :D
P.S. I have already heard of Undeclared and it is on my list. Started watching it once, never finished it. I don't think it was as good as Freaks and Geeks to be honest..