Year: 2021

“The Mauritanian”–Guantanamo Diary

Written by Diana Paul on April 19, 2021. Posted in Unhealed Wound. No Comments on “The Mauritanian”–Guantanamo Diary

Based upon the NYT best-selling memoir, Guantanamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Salahi, we see the endurance of a young Mauritanian, Mohamedou Slahi (played by Tahar Rahim, The Prophet). He is being held in Guantanamo Bay after 9/11. The legal drama The Mauritanian demonstrates the lawyer’s duty to represent a client, regardless of doubt in his innocence, and whether winning at all costs is what a justice system should condone. Attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster in her Golden Globe winning performance) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) are committed to defending...

“The Father”–A Patriarch’s Decline

Written by Diana Paul on April 12, 2021. Posted in Unhealed Wound. 2 Comments on “The Father”–A Patriarch’s Decline

The Father is a devastating, disquieting journey into the horrors of dementia, both for the afflicted and for those who are close to the afflicted. Artfully helmed by French playwright Florian Zeller in his directorial debut, Zeller invites the viewer into a breathtaking and wrenching look at advancing dementia through both the individual frightened by what is happening and to the no-less-terrified family and caregivers. Watching a loved one die is always harrowing, but dementia makes it especially so, as the patient not only slips away mentally, but lashes...

“I Care a Lot”–Caregiver or Caretaker?

Written by Diana Paul on April 5, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Unhealed Wound. 2 Comments on “I Care a Lot”–Caregiver or Caretaker?

In this Netflix original movie, I Care a Lot, the highly successful court-appointed guardian, Marla Grayson (the astonishing Rosamund Pike of “Gone Girl” fame), masterminds a scheme to being appointed guardian of wealthy elderly patients by the state court. Marla is charged with caring for the elderly who are identified by doctors as incompetent to manage their own health needs, daily living and assets. Marla and her partner Fran (Eiza González) run a highly profitable hustle –a guardianship grift of elderly “wards of the state”. To the judge...

“Soul”—The Spirit of Rebirth

Written by Diana Paul on March 29, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Unhealed Wound. 1 Comment on “Soul”—The Spirit of Rebirth

Guest Blogger: Mahshid Zamani Bozorgnia, film critic [Edited by Diana Y. Paul] Soul, an animated and complex film from Pixar directed and created by Pete Dokter (who also created “Toy Story”, “Inside Out” and “Monsters Inc”), refers to the jazz music genre and tackles the theme of what is the spirit or soul, the distinction between passion and obsession, and what constitutes the “spark” of happiness. There is something compulsively watchable and comforting about Pixar movies with their photo-realistic imaginary worlds. But there is much more. There...

“Your Honor”–Judge Me Not

Written by Diana Paul on March 22, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Television reviews. 1 Comment on “Your Honor”–Judge Me Not

Unconditional love–are there limits? In Your Honor, a ShowTime mini-series, a highly respected recently widowed New Orleans judge, Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad”) is known for his fair and impartial sentencing of young criminals. But the judge gets personal to protect his teenage son, Adam (newcomer Hunter Doohan) from the consequences of his reckless actions. At first, the judge advises his son to turn himself in to the police, and explain how he panicked after hitting another teen. But then he discovers...

“Promising Young Woman” –Breaking Over and Over Again

Written by Diana Paul on March 15, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Unhealed Wound. 1 Comment on “Promising Young Woman” –Breaking Over and Over Again

Promising Young Woman, written and directed by Emerald Fennell, is a revenge thriller on a brutal topic–Don’t let the title mislead you. Cassie (Carey Mulligan), a 30-year old former medical student, is now a barista living with her parents In the opening scene we see a very inebriated Cassie barhopping and wandering the city streets at night. The viewer doesn’t know why this bright and attractive woman is engaged in such risky, dangerous behavior. To say much more about the film’s artistic and courageous story would ruin it. But this is an...