Tag: marriage

Kumail waits at the hospital with Emily’s parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano)

THE BIG SICK

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

This is my favorite film, so far, this year.

“The Big Sick” is all about how a brave Muslim comedian, Kumail Nanjiani, (true story) meets an American girl, Emily V. Gordon (Zoe Kazan) in his audience, while he is struggling to become a comedian.

She brings out the best in him, and he responds by loving her forever.

As the story opens, Kumail is fighting his way out of the expectations of his Pakistani, Muslim family, who are not too subtle about hooking him up with a nice Muslim girl.

This is post 9/11, when all Muslims are under intense scrutiny by all Americans. In fact, Emily’s parents, are quick to ask him, point blank, “What’s your take on 9/11?”

Breaking out of his multi-faceted, straight-jacket, after having been confronted with this question, over and over, Kumail responds, “Yeah, it was bad, we lost 19 of our best guys.”

Clearly, Kumail is letting go of all sense of safety. He is saying go ahead and kill me now. A stressed-out Muslim, seeks suicide by stressed-out American parent.

I loved seeing Holly Hunter as Emily’s mother. As always, she is laser-sharp in her approach, but fair. She has disappointments in her marriage, but stays for the love and support.

As soon as we see Emily’s father, Terry, played by Ray Romano, we know immediately what attracted Emily to Kumail. He’s the spitting image of her father. Except, the real Terry Gordon, does not look that way at all. I guess the filmmakers felt a need to explain the attraction.

Kumail puts together a one-man, stand-up show to introduce Americans to his Pakistani culture. He innocently is trying to show us why he is proud of his country of origin.

Emily, a student therapist, suggests to him, that what would make this piece interesting to Americans, would be for him to tell us about how he really feels about his country.

This is the key that unlocks Kumail’s career as a comedian. There is nothing like extreme tension to make people laugh.

In his final stand-up performance, Kumail explains about how his parents do not approve of his chosen profession. “There is doctor, lawyer, hundreds of jobs, Isis, then, at the bottom of the list, is comedian.”

I have to say that before seeing this film, I was aware of the existence of a Muslim comedian, who talked about being a Muslim in America.

This film is a must see on many levels. It’s timely, relevant, real, and it tackles what matters in today’s definition of a marriage.

top to bottom) Movie Emily (Zoe Kazan) and Kumail vs real Emily and Kumail.

Kumail Nanjiani Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumail_Nanjiani

Emily V. Gordon Bio: ( Zoe Kazan)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_V._Gordon

Holly Hunter Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Hunter

Ray Romano Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Romano

History vs Hollywood:

http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/the-big-sick/

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7/10/2017 # The Big Sick

Love and Friendship - Lady Susan Lady Susan (Kate Beckinsale)

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

By Marlene Ardoin

“Love and Friendship” reveals a decidedly unromantic side of Jane Austen as she reveals the ferocious ego of “Lady Susan,” whose only virtue is her penchant for neglect.

We find that Lady Susan (Kate Beckinsale) has just been widowed and has a daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark), tucked away in a boarding school somewhere.

I say that Lady Susan’s virtue is neglect, because her neglect is probably what saved the temperament of her daughter. Austen does have such women in her novels, but rarely as the main character. “Lady Susan” was written when Austen was 18 (around 1794) and was not published until after her death.

Lady Susan also has a special genius for manipulation. She is very attractive for a woman with a marriageable daughter, and she knows it. Her best line in the film is “too old to manage, and too young to die.” She is referring to men, but she could also be referring to herself.

I understand how such a woman during that time period could be created. She is a beggar, who seeks to be supported by others. During that era, men were the providers, property holders and the decision makers.

Lady Susan, on the other hand, is too intelligent to be managed. She prefers to set goals. Neither men, nor other women, can defend themselves against her intellect and cunning stratagems.

I also noted a slight resemblance of one of the suiters to Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy, but that is where the resemblance ends. Tom Bennett as Sir James Martin is not a Mr. Darcy. Pride and gullibility are not the same qualities.

The ending to his film will leave you with your mouth wide open in “I didn’t see that coming” expression. Lady Susan maneuvers affairs with two younger men, Lord Manwaring, and Reginald De Courcy, yet somehow, her daughter does end up married to a suitable mate, and so does she.

6/7/2016 # Love and Friendship