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Writer's pictureMichaela Paukner

January 2019: 5-Word Book & Movie Reviews

Updated: Apr 30, 2019


Five-word book and movie reviews: A headline summary of each work I've read and watched this month. Enjoy!




We're All Connected: Israel Version

Ajami

Despite the divisions among people in the Middle East, this movie shows how much they really have in common and how their lives interconnect. Major plot twist at the end. This was also the first work I've seen that addressed a relationship between an Israeli and a Palestinian, which was a totally new dynamic.





What Gets These People Off

KiKi: Love to Love

Five pretty funny stories of love and sex. Using sign language to translate a phone sex call and a woman who gets off on seeing her husband cry are highlights.








A Kinda Boring, Unrealistic Place

A Quiet Place

A family lives among deadly creatures hyper-sensitive to noise. And guess what? Mom's about to pop out another kid into this terrible world. I wasn't scared (which is saying a lot) and disappointed with the many flaws in the plot line. However, Rotten Tomatoes loves it, so maybe see for yourself.





Accurate Female-Friendship Depiction (Finally)

Skate Kitchen

Skater girl makes friends with a group of female skateboarders, fights with her mom, crushes on a dude, fights with her friends, etc. The story is a slice of life worth watching for an accurate and emotional depiction of the teenage girl experience. Not to mention how badass all the skateboarders are.





James Franco's Bad Accent Movie

The Disaster Artist

Another movie Rotten Tomatoes loves that I didn't get behind. This is a movie about a really terrible movie, based on a true story. Maybe it was too meta Hollywood for me, or maybe I just couldn't get past James Franco's bad accent.








Heartwarming Reminder to Live Happy

102 Not Out

A 102-year-old decides to send his 70-something-year-old son to a senior living place because he says his son acts like an old man. A bittersweet story with a heartwarming message, despite some slow points.







Is Tupac Actually Hotheaded Jesus?

All Eyez on Me

I know very little about Tupac's life, other than that he was shot, people think he's Jesus and Sug Knight is always the bad guy. I appreciated this movie for learning about his life and for how much Demetrius Shipp Jr. looks like Tupac, but it doesn't offer much otherwise.








Ridiculously True Commentary on Race

BlacKkKlansman

A black police officer and his white coworker tag-team infiltrating the Colorado Springs KKK chapter in situations that feel uncomfortably similar to Trump-era America and an ending that sounds about right when trying to take power from the majority.






Me at Middle School Parties

Eighth Grade

A man writing about an eighth-grade girl's experience. My expectations were pretty low, but I related so, so much. It's hard to be a middle schooler, let alone the one who struggles to fit in. This was me in middle school. Let's be real: This is me today.







Bond of Sisters Survives Everything

Mustang

Five Turkish sisters prove familial bonds and female empowerment are the path to overcoming the bonds of society.









Bunch of Mostly Funny Stereotypes

COOK OFF!

Disclaimer: May be biased as a Wisconsinite who loves seeing "Midwestern nice" exploited. A comedy poking fun at cooking competitions and Midwesterners' need to make sure everything is OK.









Haunted By This Psychological Thriller

Ghost Stories

A professor sets out to debunk three ghost stories, but the supernatural isn't the scary part of this movie. The plot twist is a creative interpretation of how the human brain works. Plus, the super creepy hooded sweatshirt guy haunted me while I was trying to fall asleep.

 





'Panic Room' In Real Life

A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return

Zeina Abirached

Going to visit Grandma means dodging snipers and sprinting across dangerous territory during Lebanon's civil war (1975-1990). Zeina's family's apartment shrinks to one room as the violence escalates, and eventually all the neighbors make it their home, too, in this interesting story of survival.


Kinda Interesting Abbi Passion Project

Carry This Book

I picked this up because I love Broad City. I like the fact that Abbi Jacobson completed her passion project more than the book itself. Worth flipping through if you see it.

 





Pick This Before Anything Else:

Eighth Grade... All the feels for this memorable, accurate depiction of how awful middle school can be and how things do get better.

...or BlacKkKlansman. Memorable, funny and relevant in the era of hate in America right now. Watch and appreciate.

Which book are you most likely to read based on its five-word review? What movie most interests you? How would you summarize one of the selections above in five words? Let me know in the comments below. if you're looking for more reading recommendations, check out my five-word reviews for December.


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