Tag Archives: DeWanda Wise

THE WEEKEND (2019): The Things I Liked…

The Weekend (2019), DeWanda Wise, Tone Bell, Sasheer Zamata
The Weekend (2019), DeWanda Wise, Tone Bell, Sasheer Zamata

The Weekend, a comedy about Zadie (Sasheer Zamata), a comedian who goes away for the weekend, but with an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend is a movie with some well acted funny moments.

Written / directed by Stella Meghie, what I enjoyed right away was the musical score and Zadie’s chilled vibe, particularly while she’s on stage. Another highlight is Zadie’s mother Karen (Kym Whitely). in fact, thanks in part to Whitely’s great comic timing, at least two of my favourite lines in The Weekend came out of Karen’s mouth.

As for what I didn’t necessarily like a great deal, put simply, I see Meghie’s film as ‘a story about when heartbreak makes a person barely bearable’. In other words, Zamata’s Zadie – though well-acted, simply proved too petulant and annoying for me.

Perhaps I just sympathised a lot with Margo, Zadie’s ex’s new girlfriend (DeWanda Wise). Either way, I much preferred the on-stage version of Zadie. The version where she’d turned the pain of heartbreak into humour; as opposed to the Zadie who insists on taking every opportunity to make everyone around her as uncomfortable as possible.

If I haven’t completely put you off, watch The Weekend if you’re very curious. Maybe you’ll relate to Zadie more if your heart is currently broken. Or maybe… not. She really is quite annoying.

Happy Film Loving

G

SOMEONE GREAT (2019): The Things I Liked…

Someone Great (2019), Gina Rodriguez
Someone Great (2019), Gina Rodriguez

Someone Great stars Gina Rodriguez as Jenny, a young woman who just went through a devastating break-up. She becomes determined to enjoy one last night in New York City with her friends, before moving to San Francisco for work. 

After you watched the trailer for this movie, just in case – like myself you were thinking that half the film would be set in New York City and the other half in San Francisco, you better forget about it. Someone Great happens entirely in New York and there are zero gorgeous images of the Golden Gate Bridge to be enjoyed here, sorry. 

Now that I’ve delivered the bit of news that probably only I care about, I enjoyed writer / director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s film more than I thought I would. In fact, I’ll even go as far as to say that this is my favourite of Rodriguez’s roles. She did a good job of selling the romantic connection, the devastation that followed when it all fell apart, as well as the bond between Jenny and her best friends, played by DeWanda Wise and Brittany Snow.

Nicely edited and paced, Someone Great captures well, though semi-briefly the highs and lows of a passionate relationship in one’s twenties. I also enjoyed the sisterly, non-toxic female friendships plus the music and dancing. The talented LaKeith Stanfield’s performance as the love interest and Rosario Dawson’s small role were also definite highlights.

The only thing that frustrated me during Someone Great is when the momentum slowed down a little and I found myself thinking, ‘OK, OK! You’ve already established the intimacy between the three friends. So please move the story along!’ I may or may not have said that out loud.

The part I liked most overall is actually the voice over towards the end because it’s so beautifully written.

Watch Someone Great for the writing… and all the other reasons mentioned above.

Happy Film Loving 

G

SOMEONE GREAT (2019): New Trailer From LaKeith Stanfield, Gina Rodriguez, DeWanda Wise, BRITTANY SNOW…

Someone Great (2019), Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, Netflix
Someone Great (2019), Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Someone Great (2019)


Someone Great is a new comedy / romance from writer / director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson – and featuring a cast that includes Gina Rodriguez, LaKeith Stanfield, DeWanda Wise and Britanny Snow.

Rodriguez plays Jenny who’s on a mission to enjoy one last New York City adventure with her two best friends; and all following a devastating breakup on the eve of her cross-country move to San Francisco…

I’m most interested in the chemistry between the three female leads and what is hopefully beautiful images of both New York City and San Francisco.

Faith Logan, Peter Vack, Ben Sidell, Kenneth De Abrew, Salvatore DiSanto, Thomas Kopache and David Granados also star.

Someone Great Release Dates: April 19th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G