Month: August 2018

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ offers a wealth of fun but the script needed a tighter budget

Jeff Mitchell

“Crazy Rich Asians” – Singapore is a wondrous place.  Located just one degree above the equator in Southeast Asia, this small island city-state (only 31 miles by 17 miles) bustles as a massive business hub and hosts over five million residents.  Malay is Singapore’s single national language, but the country proudly boasts three additional official ones: English, Mandarin and Tamil.  The multi-lingual culture is no accident, because the island’s gorgeous, tropical beauty, towering skyscrapers and commercial importance are universal attractions. In director Jon M. Chu’s film, he wholly and beautifully…

‘Dark Money’ sheds light on a massive political problem

Jeff Mitchell

“Dark Money” – Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission (2010) – “Political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections.” No matter your political stripe, it is difficult to declare that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision on Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission is good for the country’s democracy.  This ruling – a 5-4 decision – opened up the floodgates for corporations to spend unlimited funds…

Go towards the unruly, raw comedy ‘Never Goin’ Back’

Jeff Mitchell

“Never Goin’ Back” – “I know that in my past I was young and irresponsible, but that’s what growing up is.”  – Lindsay Lohan Angela (Maia Mitchell) and Jessie (Camila Morrone) are young and irresponsible. They dropped out of high school, waitress at the Buttermilk Café, barely make ends meet, and begrudgingly live with other housemates, including Jessie’s brother Dustin (Joel Allen).  Ending their diploma-pursuits was not a terribly wise and graceful career move, but the girls stumble into a series of additional missteps that completely exasperate their delicate financial…