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Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ poignant dramedy My Dead Friend Zoe is a delicate piece of art about the mental health of our veterans. Starring Sonequa Martin-Green as Merit, a vet recently reeling from the loss of her best friend Zoe (Natalie Morales). Merit is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and undergoes group counseling set up by veteran affairs (VA). The head counselor leading the group sessions Dr. Cole (Morgan Freeman) is frustrated that Merit refuses to open up about her past. The only way she can relinquish any pain from the present is to unleash that history — which she refuses to do.
When Dr. Cole refuses to sign her release form, this also further frustrates Merit who turns to her dead friend Zoe for consolation. She sees Zoe appear everywhere with her, and the two share an exceptional relationship that is to the detriment of Merit’s own mental health and well being. And while Merit is dealing with her own mental wellness, her estranged grandfather Dale (Ed Harris) is suffering from cognitive dysfunction. He was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her overbearing mother Kris (Gloria Reuben) insists that he stay in a nursing home.
Merit’s life is further complicated when she meets a man by the name of Alex (Utkarsh Ambudkar). There’s an instant attraction between the two, but Zoe is still the third wheel in Merit’s life.
Zoe is a free-spirited girl with no scruples. She’s funny, charismatic and a loyal friend to Merit. The two served together in Afghanistan and the film does a great job in establishing how close these two were during their tour together. The narrative is structured in segments of Merit’s past in the form of snippets of flashbacks. From there we move back to the present day dealing with her current dilemma of her father’s caregiving. As the story reverts back and forth from past to present, the tension slowly builds for the viewer as to what exactly happened to Zoe.
Merit refuses to uncover what happened to her and Zoe in Afghanistan, and as the story progresses and more time is spent between the two during their scenes overseas, you’re more engaged in Zoe’s fate and why Merit has carried so much guilt around it for so long. And then there is the parallel story happening between Zoe and her grandfather — who is also a vet. And because he is from a different time, for Dale, bottling up your feelings and keeping what happened during times of war in the past is exactly what a good soldier is supposed to do. But for Merit it’s far more complicated than that. Too complicated to even articulate to her grandfather what really happened.
This film delivers some incredible performances most notably from Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales. Martin-Green who carries a great deal of this movie is absolutely flawless in her scenes and when she gets emotional it is palpable. When she cries on screen, you are crying right there along with her. As for Morales she is on the opposite side of the emotional spectrum as her character Zoe adds a great deal of levity and humor to the film. There’s also a beauty in the fact that this film features real veterans in starring roles that makes the film feel more genuine.
And while this film deals with issues of mental illness it’s not ham fisted with its messaging around it. The filmmaker handles the issue with care, grace and from a perspective that allows anyone to empathize with these characters. The core of this film is Zoe and Merit’s relationship and how they touched each other’s lives in such a significant way. There is a lesson to be learned about how we impact the life of another human being — and we see that in My Dead Friend Zoe.
While there are a number of producers on the roster behind this movie, which is not at all surprising for many films, what you may be surprised about is that Kansas City Chiefs NFL star Travis Kelce is an executive producer on the film and this is his first foray into Hollywood producing. The other executive producers on the film are: Ed Harris, Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Jeff Annison, David Baxter, Brandi Plants, Nancy Masterson, Joe Masterson and Igor Tsukerman.
The beautifully crafted family dynamics, the messaging about mental health and wellness and the impeccable performances are worth every bit of your time.
The film is written by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes and AJ Bermudez.
My Dead Friend Zoe premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film and TV Festival.
With the upcoming premiere of X-Men ’97 on Disney+, there’s an all-time high appreciation for the Marvel mutants in their ’90s heyday. As much as we may love (some) of the live-action films, no media outside of comics has captured what people love about the students of Charles Xavier’s School more than X-Men: The Animated Series. Now, you can display your love for the ’90s era X-Men’s ultimate love triangle heroes, Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey, with a new series of figures from the folks at YouTooz. You can check out images and details for each one right here:
Cyclops (X-Men #1)
The first figure is of Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. The X-Men’s field leader, whose deadly optic blast can shatter a mountain. This figure captures Cyke in his Jim Lee-designed costume, featured prominently on the cover of 1991’s X-Men #1. Of course, it became world famous when X-Men: The Animated Series used it. This Limited Edition X-Men #1 Cyclops will set you back $39.99.
Jean Grey (Uncanny X-Men #281)
Where there is a Scott Summers, so too must there be a Jean Grey. The mutant with psychic abilities arrives wearing her signature ’90s look, as it appeared on the cover of Uncanny X-Men #281. This was the era when Jean joined the X-Men’s Gold Team, and Sentinels killed her (Don’t worry, she got better quickly again). No longer Marvel Girl or Phoenix, the Jean Grey of this era was the team’s most powerful member. This Limited Edition Jean Grey figure is also priced at $39.99.
Wolverine (Wolverine Omnibus Vol. 4)
Finally, it’s just not the X-Men without their most popular member, is it? This Wolverine figure is based on the cover of Wolverine Omnibus Volume 4. It shows Logan tearing through an alley with his adamantium claws. Like Cyclops and Jean Grey, he wears his signature ’90s costume. Also just like his teammates, the Wolverine YouTooz figure is $39.99.
To order these amazing X-Men YouTooz figures for yourself, head on over to their official site.
The post X-MEN YouTooz Figures Showcase Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey in ’90s Costumes appeared first on Nerdist.
Some people come along who make an indelible mark on the industry they work in and the people they come into contact with on their journey. Jackie Shane is one of those people.
Many have not been introduced to Jackie Shane, and that’s a shame, because not only is her story one of a person being steadfast in their morals and unafraid of standing their ground, but she’s also an example of what bigotry and forces queer people must overcome to reach their dreams. From executive producer Elliot Page, Any Other Way tells the story of Jackie Shane and her rise to stardom in the ’60s as a trans soul singer who’s forced to hide her gender identity in an industry plagued with rules about who is and who isn’t welcome.
During the film, we follow Jackie’s story from a young child who grew up with her supportive mother Jessie Shane, who always knew that Jackie was a girl. Jackie Shane dared to dress in feminine clothing and wear makeup, even though she was living in the American South in the 1950s when it was hard enough being Black, let alone being a Black trans woman. According to Jackie, her mother’s support and words of wisdom gave Jackie the drive to be herself despite other’s feelings about it. It’s this mantra that she carries through the rest of her life, and it’s the running theme of this doc.
After booking a gig in a traveling carnival, Jackie finds herself in Ontario, Canada, where she would settle for most of her life. It’s here that she releases her classic hit “Any Other Way,” a cover of a William Bell Stax original and the song she would be known for. Oddly enough, for a time it was very difficult to get your hands on any Jackie Shane music because it wasn’t widely released. So only the most dedicated collectors could say that they owned a Jackie Shane record.
Throughout her career, Jackie was very flamboyant in her stage attire and the way she wore her makeup, though she was not able to be out as a trans woman at the time. Because of the treatment of queer entertainers at the time, it wasn’t something she could do. But that didn’t mean she didn’t challenge the status quo in her own way. Though Jackie was billed as a man and performed as a man, she still used her extravagant clothing and makeup to express herself. She took herself wherever she went, even if she couldn’t be as open about it.
One of the things that viewers might find surprising is that not only was Jackie Shane a popular soul singer, but she also was beloved by many popular icons at the time, such as George Clinton and Little Richard, who also pushed the boundaries of gender presentation in those days. Cheetah Girls fans will also get a nice surprise as we get an appearance by a good friend of Jackie and fellow trans actress Sandra Caldwell (who played Drinka Champagne in the hit Disney Channel movie). Hearing how Jackie’s journey and Sandra’s journey compared and contrasted was a reminder of how far we’ve come but also how far we still have to go. And it’s a nice reminder that the ’60s were not that long ago in history.
One of the things that sticks out about Jackie is that she was not someone who bent when it came to her morals. If a venue or a show would not accept her as a Black performer and treat the Black audience members with respect, she had no issue walking. She did as much on none other than The Ed Sullivan Show. She was told to cut her hair and not wear makeup, something that was not only part of her performance but also integral to who she was. She refused, making the point that the Beatles were not told to cut their hair, but both she and James Brown were.
Jackie also took a stand against American Bandstand for the racism that the show perpetuated, mainly with their segregated audience. Black audience members were rarely, if ever, allowed on the show. When they were, the Black kids were not allowed to dance with the white kids; this was something that Jackie would have no part in.
Something that jumps out to the viewer immediately is the style displayed in the editing. The documentary has a style to it. It switches to stylized animated/rotoscoped scenes to visualize direct quotes from Jackie throughout the movie, as though giving her a voice to speak for herself. These pop up throughout the film, and it’s a nice way to bookend stories or interview portions without doing a hard cut to the next topic.
Any Other Way made its world premiere at SXSW on March 12, 2024.