deerstalker
“I like books.” —J.R.R Tolkien
Under the direction of Dome Karukoski and written by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford, Tolkien is about the early life of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (played by Nicholas Hoult), his finding the love of his life, and the fellowship that he found as an orphaned scholar at the prestigious King Edward School in Birmingham and his journey on to Oxford University. While Tolkien did not come from a wealthy family, things seemed to work out in his favor as he became one of the most successful writers of his time, authored classic fantasy works such as The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Silmarillion.
Tolkien’s love of words and languages, his finding fellowship among the wealthy and elite young men with whom he later attends Oxford, as well as his interactions with a young Edith Bratt (Lily Collins), who lives at the same boarding house as he and his little brother are quite refreshing to see. The mere sight of four high-school aged young men pontificating in a “reading parlor” about the written word, speaking poetry, the composition of music, and their aspirational dreams and desires is quite inspirational. Throughout the film, the brotherhood between these young men strengthens and makes a lasting impression.
The story is told through flashbacks. Through these vignettes, we journey through various stages of Tolkien’s life, such as: his time in the Battle of the Somme in 1916; the death of his mother; falling in love with Edith, who later becomes his wife; and the mentorship that he receives from Professor Wright, played by Derek Jacobi, while at Oxford. Unfortunately, there is too much happening in the film’s plot and storyline. It’s almost as if there are many films within the film. The war scenes are too long and drawn out and distract somewhat from the otherwise overall poetic nature and beauty of the film. So many different vignettes interwoven made the film seem somewhat choppy. There is also a very strange scene where Tolkien is on the frontlines of war yet frantically and obsessively searching for a comrade that carries on a bit too long. However, visions of dragons, horses, and mythical creatures manifest in Tolkien’s mind during the war scenes and other vignettes, depictions that would later become the basis of the fantasy worlds in Tolkien’s works (Arda and Middle-Earth). The film does a decent job of depicting how Tolkien’s time in the war both traumatized and inspired him.
It would have been nice to have seen more interaction between Tolkien and Bratt, who he married as soon as he became 21. The chemistry between Hoult and Collins is very genuine, and their time on screen together is very sweet. In the biopic, Bratt encourages Tolkien in his work and his use of language, and he is inspired by her wit and musical prowess. I wish that the backend of their love story were explored a bit more. She is older than he, and they are of two different faiths, yet they manage to forge a bond that stands the test of time and even endures despite war. We don’t get to learn enough in the film about Edith Bratt’s character and background.
The art direction in this film is just as engaging as the story itself, if not more interesting. The set design and the costume designs are altogether lovely. From the dimly lit lanterns to the beautiful textiles of the wallpaper, the interior décor of the homes and buildings in the film is visually pleasing. The sight of young women wearing floor-length skirts and flowy dresses as the norm was different and refreshing to see, along with young men in sports coats and suspenders. As a millennial watching this film, I felt a yearning for a time past when the written word was the norm in juxtaposition to video, text messaging, or snapchat. I appreciated the delightful and elegant-looking calligraphy and handwritten notes and letters sent in the mail.
The reading parlors, the elegant libraries, and the books displayed in this film are beautiful. Bibliophiles will appreciate this biopic just on account of the pleasing way that books are displayed. Classic leather books, thin and worn and cherished, adorn the halls of the interior spaces. This film reverences the written word as well as the spoken word. Bratt and Tolkien build a close bond in their conversations about words and their meanings, and many moments within this film highlight the power of storytelling in its varied forms.
Overall, this film is cinematically interesting and gives a sympathetic look into the early and middle years of JRR Tolkien’s life. Tolkien creatively provides a glimpse into the past of one of the literary world’s most successful authors, without over-glorifying him.
Tolkien stars: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, and Laura Donnelly.
Tolkien premieres nationwide on May 10, 2019, and is rated PG-13.
The post ‘Tolkien’ Explores the Past of One of the Literary World’s Most Successful Authors appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
“I like books.” —J.R.R Tolkien
Under the direction of Dome Karukoski and written by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford, Tolkien is about the early life of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (played by Nicholas Hoult), his finding the love of his life, and the fellowship that he found as an orphaned scholar at the prestigious King Edward School in Birmingham and his journey on to Oxford University. While Tolkien did not come from a wealthy family, things seemed to work out in his favor as he became one of the most successful writers of his time, authored classic fantasy works such as The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Silmarillion.
Tolkien’s love of words and languages, his finding fellowship among the wealthy and elite young men with whom he later attends Oxford, as well as his interactions with a young Edith Bratt (Lily Collins), who lives at the same boarding house as he and his little brother are quite refreshing to see. The mere sight of four high-school aged young men pontificating in a “reading parlor” about the written word, speaking poetry, the composition of music, and their aspirational dreams and desires is quite inspirational. Throughout the film, the brotherhood between these young men strengthens and makes a lasting impression.
The story is told through flashbacks. Through these vignettes, we journey through various stages of Tolkien’s life, such as: his time in the Battle of the Somme in 1916; the death of his mother; falling in love with Edith, who later becomes his wife; and the mentorship that he receives from Professor Wright, played by Derek Jacobi, while at Oxford. Unfortunately, there is too much happening in the film’s plot and storyline. It’s almost as if there are many films within the film. The war scenes are too long and drawn out and distract somewhat from the otherwise overall poetic nature and beauty of the film. So many different vignettes interwoven made the film seem somewhat choppy. There is also a very strange scene where Tolkien is on the frontlines of war yet frantically and obsessively searching for a comrade that carries on a bit too long. However, visions of dragons, horses, and mythical creatures manifest in Tolkien’s mind during the war scenes and other vignettes, depictions that would later become the basis of the fantasy worlds in Tolkien’s works (Arda and Middle-Earth). The film does a decent job of depicting how Tolkien’s time in the war both traumatized and inspired him.
It would have been nice to have seen more interaction between Tolkien and Bratt, who he married as soon as he became 21. The chemistry between Hoult and Collins is very genuine, and their time on screen together is very sweet. In the biopic, Bratt encourages Tolkien in his work and his use of language, and he is inspired by her wit and musical prowess. I wish that the backend of their love story were explored a bit more. She is older than he, and they are of two different faiths, yet they manage to forge a bond that stands the test of time and even endures despite war. We don’t get to learn enough in the film about Edith Bratt’s character and background.
The art direction in this film is just as engaging as the story itself, if not more interesting. The set design and the costume designs are altogether lovely. From the dimly lit lanterns to the beautiful textiles of the wallpaper, the interior décor of the homes and buildings in the film is visually pleasing. The sight of young women wearing floor-length skirts and flowy dresses as the norm was different and refreshing to see, along with young men in sports coats and suspenders. As a millennial watching this film, I felt a yearning for a time past when the written word was the norm in juxtaposition to video, text messaging, or snapchat. I appreciated the delightful and elegant-looking calligraphy and handwritten notes and letters sent in the mail.
The reading parlors, the elegant libraries, and the books displayed in this film are beautiful. Bibliophiles will appreciate this biopic just on account of the pleasing way that books are displayed. Classic leather books, thin and worn and cherished, adorn the halls of the interior spaces. This film reverences the written word as well as the spoken word. Bratt and Tolkien build a close bond in their conversations about words and their meanings, and many moments within this film highlight the power of storytelling in its varied forms.
Overall, this film is cinematically interesting and gives a sympathetic look into the early and middle years of JRR Tolkien’s life. Tolkien creatively provides a glimpse into the past of one of the literary world’s most successful authors, without over-glorifying him.
Tolkien stars: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, and Laura Donnelly.
Tolkien premieres nationwide on May 10, 2019, and is rated PG-13.
The post ‘Tolkien’ Explores the Past of One of the Literary World’s Most Successful Authors appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
We’re never short on entertainment material around here. It feels like our To Watch/Read list is always insurmountably long. But we figured, going into this weekend, why not throw some more recommendations onto the pile? We want to hear what you all are reading/watching/listening to/whatever else right now.
Here’s my current list to start things off:
- Watching: I just did a full re-watch of Playing House through Amazon Prime this week. It’s still one of the best depictions of female friendship on television ever.
- Reading: I’m slowly making my way through Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Carline Criado Perez. This book is fascinating and infuriating. It’s about how nearly every aspect of modern life that was designed to be universally accessible was actually designed using data for and from men, with the expectation that everything would work equally well for women. Spoiler: It doesn’t.
- Playing: I’m between video games right now! I need recommendations!
- Listening: I’m taking a break from my usual nonstop political podcasts and lightening things up with discussions of murder, courtesy of the women of Crime Junkie. On the music side, I can’t stop listening to Billie Eilish.
how to create billie eilish’s “bad guy” pic.twitter.com/FlubIPSD3i
— Seth Everman (@SethEverman) April 13, 2019
What are you all into right now? Let us know in the comments!
(image: Sarah Pflug from Burst)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
Lora King is keeping the legacy of her father, the late Rodney King, alive almost three decades after he survived a notorious police beating that triggered L.A. Riots.
Back in 1991, four white LAPD officers were charged with tasering and viciously beating Rodney King with their batons and boots during a police stop. Despite video evidence of the attack, an all-white jury acquitted the cops, sparking public outrage, the onset of rioting, and a nationwide call to end police violence against the African American community.
Now, at 35 years old, Lora King launched a scholarship program to honor her father, who passed away in 2012, and uplift other black dads, according to The L.A. Times. The goal of her “I am a King” scholarship is to encourage black fathers to play a more active role in their children’s lives by sponsoring special events for dads and their kids. The program will provide grants on a rolling basis that will fund a range of events, from a family dinner to a trip to Disneyland. In addition, in 2016 she launched the Rodney King Foundation to advance social justice and human rights causes.
Lora D. King, daughter of Rodney King (Facebook.com/dene.king)
King is part of a long list of black women who have used the tragedy of a loved one victimized by racialized violence as motivation to affect change. Some of the most notable women are the “Mothers of the Movement,” who joined forces to advocate for police, criminal justice, and gun reform following the deaths of their unarmed African American children by law enforcement or gun violence.
Here are six other black women who’ve turned their agony into activism by pushing for institutional and structural change, fighting for social justice, and raising awareness around the disproportionate rates of violence against black Americans.
Lucy McBath
U.S. Rep Lucy McBath (Wikimedia)
In 2012, Lucy McBath’s 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed by a white man at a Florida gas station over an argument about loud music. When the killer invoked Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law as a defense, McBath asserted herself onto the frontlines of the fight for gun control and justice. She retired from a 30-year career with Delta Airlines to become the national spokesperson for both Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
Eventually, McBath’s son’s killer was sentenced to life in prison, but that did not stop her activism around gun reform. In 2018, she launched a successful campaign for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. Now, as a U.S. representative, McBath has co-sponsored gun control legislation that would require universal background checks for those seeking to purchase armed weapons.
Sybrina Fulton
Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and father, Tracy Martin (Twitter.com/SybrinaFulton)
Since Sybrina Fulton’s son Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by white vigilante George Zimmerman in Florida, Fulton has been working to expand voting rights in the state and has become one of the most visible members of the “Mothers of the Movement.” She also helped found the Trayvon Martin Foundation, an organization that seeks to find solutions for youth, help parents who have been victimized by senseless violence, provide scholarships to inner-city youth, and strengthen a positive self-image within the community.
Gwen Carr
Gwen Carr (Twitter.com/GwenCarrEric)
Gwen Carr said that the death of her son, Eric Garner, who died in 2014 after being placed in a police chokehold, was her political awakening. In an editorial published on NBC News’ Think column in October, Carr talked about how the tragedy has encouraged her to become more civically engaged.
Me, I don’t like to write. So instead, I go up to Albany, and I get in the faces of our politicians. I try to emphasize what I want from our government, and what I need elected officials to do. For instance, I went to Albany with a group of other New York mothers in 2015, and got Governor Cuomo to sign an executive order that allowed a special prosecutor from the state attorney general’s office to investigate all police killings of unarmed people for a year. (He’s since extended it.) And what this does is that, when these senseless killings take place, the cases are taken it out of the hands of the local district attorney and put in the hands of the state attorney general
Lesley McSpadden
Michael Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden on stage at the St. Louis Peace Fest the day before burying her son. (Photo: Brett Myers/Youth Radio via Flickr)
The shooting death of the unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 sparked nationwide protests and fueled the Black Lives Matter movement. A grand jury chose not to indict the white officer who fatally shot Brown while his hands were in the air. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, however, has taken up the cause, running for a seat in the 2019 Ferguson city council. Although she did not win that race, McSpadden revealed that she is open to running again in 2020.
“I did this because we were all devastated over what we saw almost five years ago,” McSpadden told CNN last month. “I was personally devastated because that’s my son. My children witnessed the devastation.” She added, “After watching Ferguson over these years, I’ve looked for progress and I haven’t seen anything. My candidacy is the first step of building towards justice for my son and building towards a part of his legacy to make sure that my son did not die in vain.”
Tiffany Crutcher
Tiffany Crutcher (Twitter.com/TiffanyCrutcher)
The death of Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old unarmed black man who was fatally shot by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while his hands were in the air, shook the nation in 2016. The incident occurred when Crutcher’s SUV broke down in the middle of the road. But, instead of receiving car assistance, he was met by several police officers who drew their weapons and typecasted him as a “bad dude.” Video footage shows the officers walked closely behind Crutcher while his hands were up. He then stood beside his car moments before he was tasered and a white female officer opened fire and killed him, arguing that Crutcher failed to adhere to police commands and was reaching inside of the driver side window for a weapon. Crutcher’s attorneys, however, insist that his car window was rolled up.
Following his tragic death, his sister, Tiffany, quit her job as a healthcare provider and became a full-time political activist. In addition to working as a field organizer for Doug Jones’ senatorial campaign in Alabama, she has been involved in several judicial races in the state. “The death of my twin brother forced me to get involved [in politics],” she said, according to The Root. She also launched a national Campaign Against Bad Cops, which seeks to abolish the immunity that protects government officials from being sued for discriminatory actions performed within their official capacity. Furthermore, she and her family are fighting to lower the legal standard an officer has to meet so that they can be more easily indicted for biased killings.
Geneva Reed-Veal
Geneva Reed-Veal (Facebook.com/geneva.reedveal.3)
Geneva Reed-Veal loss her daughter, Sandra Bland, in 2015 in an unexplained hanging death inside of a Texas jail cell, following an unlawful traffic stop. Since then, Reed-Veal has used her voice to speak out against police brutality and state-sponsored abuse by law enforcement. She, along with the eight other “Mothers of the Movement,” also delivered a powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention where she endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.
The post From Sorrow to Strategy: 7 Black Women Who’ve Turned Their Agony Into Activism appeared first on Black Enterprise.