Movie Reviews C

Boiler Room (IMDB Wikipedia)

It falls short of indicting Wall Street, but it’s about a rogue investment firm. At the beginning the main character compares selling stock with selling crack. The stock brokers are violent, homophobic and use drugs.

I give it 3 stars out of 5.

Bowfinger (IMDB Wikipedia)

A non-political but very funny comedy.

I give it 5 stars out of 5.

Boycott (IMDB Wikipedia)

An amazing movie about the Montgomery bus boycott during the Civil Rights campaign in the American South. I don’t know how historically accurate it is, but it’s very inspirational. It includes as a character Bayard Rustin. The thing is Rustin was gay and told Dr. King that. I don’t know how homophobic King was, but in this movie he gets along with Rustin.

I give it 4 stars out of 5.

But I’m a Cheerleader (IMDB Wikipedia)

This is a COMEDY about the idea that gay people can convert to straight through therapy. It’s sort of serious (it’s a serious issue and the other movie I’ve seen about it (Boy Erased) is much more serious) but also pretty funny. It does a great job of illustrating how ridiculous the idea of gay conversion therapy is. It isn’t explicit, but it’s kind of implied that a lot of gay teens end up homeless because their families reject them.

I give it 4 stars out of 5.

Come See The Paradise (IMDB Wikipedia)

This is about the internment of Japanese and Japanese-Americans during World War II. I’m not sure if it’s based on a true story or how historically accurate it is, but it seems pretty accurate and about 1/5 of my BA is Asian-American Studies. The male main character is an Irish immigrant and a labor activist.

I give it 5 stars of 5.