6 minute read
Fix’s Movie & Album Review
The Fix from Fix A round up and review of some of 2020’s finest films and albums.
Dua Lipa “Future Nostalgia”
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— McCartney Fix, Co-News Editor Taylor Swift “Folklore”
The Weeknd “After Hours”
Photo sourced from Warner Music
Future Nostalgia is the second LP from Australian pop starlet Dua Lipa. The bright poppy album was released on March 27, 2020. Dua Lipa’s second LP is as practically perfect a pop album as has ever existed. Working with a solid stable of certified hit makers, Lipa is able to find her voice and refine her kaleidoscopic vision for pop music that’s just as much inspired by Kate Bush as it is Prince. This apparent clashing of styles only serves to diversify a deep track list chock full of brilliant moments and songs worthy of a spot on the hot 100. Lipa is able to explore a number of sounds while never straying away from that which makes her unique. Shes able to wear her influences on her shoulder while never getting enveloped by their shadows. The synth and thumping percussion aid in the creation of a retro-modern soundscape that Lipa wields with power and fully imbues with the qualities likely to make her a star in the coming years. Through a combination of incredibly energetic, layered production, and powerful hooks, the Australian starlet subverts the sophomore slump and supplants herself as one of the most promising figures in modern music.
Photo sourced from Reddit
Folklore is the eighth LP from Taylor Swift. Swift utilizes her background i country and pop to create a unique album, which was released on July 24, 2020. Folklore sets out to subvert the astronomical expectations of an LP by pop music’s queen, and does so wonderfully. Taking a jarring genre shift in stride, Taylor Swift reinvents herself artistically, reenters the limelight of country music, and revitalizes her creativity all on an LP that’s one part indie (“exile”) one part country (“betty”) and wholly inspired throughout. It’s clear that Swift took the criticism of her overproduced and underwhelming prior two LP’s to heart, opting to return to her roots. Wielding little else more than a somber guitar, a serene piano, and a sharp as ever pen, Swift crafts her most honest and introspective work. In the midst of this folk renaissance one may worry about a lack of truly great pop melodies, but that concern is swiftly and resoundingly made mute by the incredibly crafted melodies of tracks like “cardigan” and “the 1” On this LP, Swift delivers a lovingly crafted yet crushingly desolate, isolated listening experience that brilliantly echoes the lonely, quarantined conditions under which it was recorded.
Photo sourced from Reddit
After Hours is the fourth studio LP from R&B crooner turned pop star The Weeknd. The unique blend of 80’s pop and modern R&B was released on March 20, 2020. The Weeknd entirely reinvents himself once again on his fourth studio album, retaining the smooth stylings of his mixtape era while introducing himself to the spice of 80’s pop music. Through this subtle balancing act, The Weekend is able to establish himself as the preeminent pop star of our time, the last true heir to the throne of R&B infused pop left vacant after Usher and Justin Timberlake’s departure from the spotlight, while never losing his unique artistic vision. The Weeknd has always excelled at laying bare his soul over production that existed on a spectrum from uninterestingly bare to overbearingly extreme never truly finding the balance, yet he manages to do so effortlessly here. Whether its an impeccable homage to 80’s synth wave (In Your Eyez) or cold, calculated trap (Snowchild), The Weeknd has never so effortlessly imbued his flair into such broad horizons. After Hours is an LP rich with depth and variety that’s sure to have a little bit of everything for everybody, never sacrificing the quality of its whole for the sake of any of its individual parts. Feature
Dir. Spike Lee
Photo sourced from Reddit Photo sourced from IMDB “Tenet”, the time bending action film “Da 5 Bloods”, a film exploring featuring Michael Caine, John David themes of PTSD post Vietnam stars Washington, and Robert Pattinson is the Chadwick Boseman, Delory Lindo, and 11th film from English director Christopher Jonathon Majors. The film was released Nolan. It was released on September 30, on Netflix June 12, 2020 and has yet 2020 and is currently playing in theaters. to receive any theatrical showings. Tenet is a well acted, well shot, impeccably Da 5 Bloods, is a film that so easily scored, and conceptually fascinating film could’ve fallen victim to its own scope helmed by a visionary filmmaker, which is and ambitions, but Spike manages the to say, it’s really nothing special. balancing act expertly, creating a film that Christopher Nolan once again stretches perfectly captures the dichotomy between himself thin, with far too complex a the scope of war and the personal demons premise he hopes to explore in far too little and desires of those that fight in it. time, creating the perplexing illusion of The story is interesting but more so acts this half baked film feeling too long instead as a vessel for the brilliant interactions of of not long enough. the films solidly defined characters. This compiled with a clear lack of focus The direction is brisk and psychedelic, on the storytelling front and a disappointing solidly emulating the imagery of its poster. turn by the leading man John David The films use of Marvin Gaye’s “Whats Washington left me feeling underwhelmed. going on” provides an incredible backbone With many analysts assigning the weight of for the film to pace itself with. For every an industry to the shoulders to this film, I mode the script evokes theres a track that wanted to love it but care barely manage just as well matches it. lukewarm, primarily technical praise for Delroy Lindo and Jonathon Majors are what I believed would be more than just a electric on screen, each likely to earn well vehicle for pretty effects. deserved Oscar nods for their work, but I’d Though it clearly considers itself a be remiss not to mention what is likely to Pandora’s box hoping to be fully unlocked be the final role of Chadwick Bosemans after multiple viewings, Tenet is simply too illustrious career. This film makes evident bloated and boring to justify even a single has transcendent talent and makes his one. passing hurt all the more.
Photo sourced from Netflix “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is a familial horror film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, and released to Netflix. I’m Thinking of Ending Things confused me, and after a subsequent re-watch, I’m inexplicably more confused by it. Kaufman’s work has always been eclectic and idiosyncratic, but never before has it so uniquely translated to the films final cut. The film’s plot, which follows a young women as she contemplates ending her six week relationship with boyfriend Jake while taking a trip to meet his parents at their secluded farm, acts as a unique backdrop for films events to unfold. While watching this I grew mildly frustrated, the plot was very chaotic. That being said I think that my confusion added to the experience. I feel although the authors hoped to confuse their audience in order to let them draw their own conclusions. During this film it seems although the main characters can almost hear each other’s thoughts. Toward the end of the film I began to draw the conclusion that Lucy was merely a figment of Jake’s imagination. The ending of this film is not necessarily left open ended, however it is most definitely up to the audience.
