Nomadland, Judas and the Black Messiah, and the birth of new stans
Two films that might turn you anti-capitalist, plus a new Randall Park appreciation meme
Hello!
On this week’s episode of Criticism Is Dead, we discuss Nomadland, a film about human impermanence, and Judas and the Black Messiah, a betrayal biographical drama.
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03:12 Nomadland, streaming on Hulu, follows the uprooted life of a woman who lives out of her van.
Nomadland is about mortality, it’s about the crushing grind of American capitalism, it’s about the need to regain something after a lifetime of work, it’s about the bottom falling out, it’s about being stuck between choice and force, it’s about the emptiness and the beauty of the American landscape, it’s about the transient nature of existence and, maybe, whatever comes after.
It’s hard to describe much more than that, so we’ll just leave it at this: yes, we recommend this film. It’s one for the ages.
29:12 Judas and the Black Messiah, available on HBO Max through March 14, follows the life and eventual death of revolutionary Fred Hampton.
There’s no denying that Judas and the Black Messiah waters down Hampton’s radicalism, focusing more on his romance, as well as the struggle of William O’Neal, an FBI informant who maybe is starting to buy into Hampton’s ideals. Of course, it’s a mass-market film, that’s what they do; but when there are so few opportunities to tell the story of a figure like Hampton, the results may disappoint some. Here’s Angelica Jade Bastién for Vulture:
Judas didn’t need to be a history lesson. No film should or perhaps even can be. But it never gives Hampton’s legacy the proper detail, context, or weight.
Still, it’s a pretty decent film, one that potential as a vehicle to introduce Hampton to the greater public (and to introduce to some viewers the violence and bigotry of the state).
Bonus: We also have this movie and its promo cycle to thank for this clip:
39:26 Plus, cultures notes about how WandaVision is introducing some under-appreciated actors — like Randall Park, Kathryn Hahn, and Teyonah Parris — to a whole new generation of fans.
There’s a mini-trend on TikTok where fans, in awe of Park’s 150 acting credits on IMDb, go apeshit over all of the random shows, movies, and commercials he’s appeared in. Here are some examples for you to enjoy :’)
And here’s a Kathryn Hahn fancam!!!!
Bonus links
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (aka the voting body for the Golden Globes) allegedly has no Black members and also apparently had no qualms about being wined and dined by studios, which maybe explains some of the ~controversial~ nominations. Remember:
Zendaya responds to the critics!!!!
ICYMI, check out our Minari episode featuring Inkoo Kang last week!
Finally, please clap for Pelin!!!!
Okay bye!
— Jenny
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Some credits:
Music: REEKAH
Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu