Cup of Tea Critiques

The hilarity of The Studio comes from the fact that despite Matt’s nerdy demeanor, lack of social grace and inability to project any modicum of strength, he still holds an authoritative position. His decisions, sometimes calculated but often impulsive, hold great influence, and even other producers and executives must defer to him. His character could be summed up as “if Michael Scott bought movies instead of selling paper.” The protagonist from The Office, played for many years by Steve Carell, Michael Scott had very endearing qualities but often seemed like too much of a stooge to be in charge. Nonetheless, he was. Not only did his place as the decision-maker bring about a lot of hilarious and cringe-worthy moments, it made him a sympathetic figure. Much of the audience undoubtedly has bosses they do not respect. So protagonists such as Matt and Michael serve as somewhat of a confirmation bias, while also providing us enough emotional distance to laugh at their mistakes—mistakes that are not so funny in our actual workplace.

Between its well-written characters, tremendous acting, uncomfortable scenes and gut-busting physical gags, The Studio may very well be the next award-winning comedy to be considered the best on television. Fans of The Office will surely see a hint of Michael Scott’s influence in this Apple+ hit and may take to it the same way. The Studio offers countless laughs every episode and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Cup of Tea Critiques® tagged The Studio with Ginkgo Biloba tea for its fun and lightheartedness and White tea for its hilarity. Check out the full review of The Studio in the TV section on cupofteacritiques.com.

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Cup of Tea Critiques

Starring Teyana Taylor as Inez de la Paz, A Thousand and One spans an 11-year period in New York City beginning in the mid-1990s, when a racially segregated Harlem consisted of tenement housing and densely populated communities of people struggling to get by.
Too often, stories with Black characters fall on long-held stereotypes. I like this story precisely because it does not. And while the movie challenges prevailing stereotypes, it ensures the pendulum does not swing too far in the direction of depicting the characters as infallible. Inez and Lucky (Inez’s partner played by William Catlett) are indeed flawed characters in the film—both do scandalous things. It leaves the question though: To what degree can the characters’ behaviors be explained by flaws in their personalities or their past (and present) hardships and life experiences? This is always difficult to discern. But a poignant moment in the film gives some insight into this when Lucky asks Inez why she loves him. Initially dismissing him, he insists on an answer. She slowly responds, “Damaged people don’t know how to love one another.”

The film makes use of the dark cinematography of the day and through voice overs of politicians’ speeches of the era, it conveys the reality that the lives of people in A Thousand and One are impacted by politically motivated initiatives. Also, the sight of Inez inserting coin after coin into telephone booths, affixed just outside of subway entrances and throughout the neighborhood, pulled me into the era that predated today’s technology. Even the use of the big, printed phone books surfaced long-buried memories of how tedious everyday tasks used to be. Anyone who doubts the convenience of or is annoyed by cellphones and computers is likely to think again after seeing this film.
We anticipated major award nominations for writer/director A. V. Rockwell for this piece and then newcomer Teyana Taylor for her compelling performance and were disappointed when they weren’t announced. But Taylor’s recent film, One Battle After Another, shows she still has a lot in the tank. Looking forward to seeing more films from both of these talented artists.
Cup of Tea Critiques® tagged A Thousand and One with Ginger tea for its nostalgic themes and Dandelion tea for its heavy subject. Check out the full review of A Thousand and One in the Movies section on cupofteacritiques.com.

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Cup of Tea Critiques

Beautiful music! I can't imagine today's films without it. Since film composers are not front and center like actors and movie directors, we have to be intentional about learning anything at all about them or the intricacies of their process. Underscore tells beautiful stories about film composition.

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Cup of Tea Critiques

With humor, jazzy Christmas music, and festive holiday decorations in mostly neighborhood settings, The Baltimorons maintains a light tone while dealing with what are normally heavy subjects. When Cliff calls his best friend Marvin (Rob Phoenix) for help getting out of a jam for instance, Marvin, who is a Black man, is incredulous to learn of Cliff’s request, responding “You want me, a Black man, to break into a tow yard?” It is only then that Cliff realizes he was asking his friend not only to commit a crime but that the perception (and likely consequences) of Marvin doing such a thing is very different than they would be for someone who is White. This exchange in the film is brilliantly executed, as its point is dulled neither by its brevity nor its humor. Complementing these humorous and teachable moments are the quiet spaces left for more serious, intimate dialog to soak in. I love this film about two people who can be seen as needing an escape to avoid the realities of their lives at a time of year when people often feel lonely. In addition to being funny and entertaining, The Baltimorons teaches us that the social dimensions we occupy don’t have to be hard lines or barriers that keep us from engaging one another and enjoying the rich relationships that can evolve from that. We give the movie Jasmine tea for its warmth and positive vibes and Mint tea for its setting in cold weather conditions. Check out the full review in the Movies section on cupofteacritiques.com.

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Cup of Tea Critiques

Unlikely couple. If we only had a dime for every time we heard this. When we see two people who differ dramatically in appearance, speech, or even sexual orientation, we tilt our heads as if mentally shifting the duo to the metaphorical misfit category, relegating their relationship to doom. James Sweeney’s Twinless forces us to modify such responses. It’s a story about Roman, a twenty-something man who suddenly loses his twin brother Rocky in a car accident and later meets Dennis (James Sweeney) who says he also lost his twin, Dean.

In their mourning, Roman and Dennis forge a bond despite some sharp differences between the two. Roman is heterosexual and Dennis is gay. Roman likes hockey and Dennis craves sandwiches. Roman is fit and goes to the gym regularly, and Dennis, who does not work out, is slim and lanky in appearance. Yet the two become very close. There are some great plot twists in this drama that help keep the audience in anticipation of what will unfold in the story. The questions posed challenge the notion that friendships built on lies and half-truths, wherever they line up on the compatibility scale, cannot endure.

We tag Twinless with Sage tea for its low-key characters and Ginger tea for its thought-provoking themes. Check out the full review in the Movies section on cupofteacritiques.com.

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Cup of Tea Critiques

Such a fitting title, One Battle after Another. One reason I enjoyed this film so much is it takes modern day problems and presents them through a 1970s lens using cinematography, close spaces, and automobiles that take us back to the era. The film stars Teyana Taylor of A Thousand and One, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Sean Penn in a gripping, moving story about an activist determined to right injustices through action rather than words, and a colonel just as determined to get his way. I'm thinking several Oscar nods!

2 months ago | [YT] | 1