The Broken Hearts Gallery

Written and directed by Natalie Krinsky

Rating: 💩 delightfully sh*tty

The Broken Hearts Gallery is the 2020 romcom you didn’t know you needed. Lucy (@yoyogeraldine) is a sentimental hoarder who can’t bring herself to toss the mementos that she’s saved from all of her ex’s. Fresh off a breakup, unemployed, and heartbroken, Lucy meets Nick (@dacremontgomery) and the two form an unlikely partnership that leads to creating an art exhibit designed to help people move on.

This movie is cheesy, funny, heartfelt, and it’s the lighthearted romcom that we desperately need. Many of the themes hit pretty close to home during this pandemic; hoarding, unemployment, uncertainty about the future, and the cathartic joy found in a renovation project. What I love about this movie is that it’s cheesy as hell, but it still manages to tackle deep themes. No one likes being rejected and heartbroken but this film did an excellent job of showcasing the power of friendship and open-communication to help heal the heart. Is this movie a cinematic masterpiece? No. But is it entertaining? Hell yeah. At The Basic Cinephile we will always get excited about a movie with a FEMALE writer/director, a diverse cast, and a plot that highlights strong female friendships. The Broken Hearts Gallery is now streaming in select theaters.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Charlie’s Angels

Directed by McG

Written by Ryan Rowe and Ed Sullivan

Rating: 🔥

Eric Knox, a powerful business owner and tech tycoon, has been kidnapped by his biggest rival. It’s up Charlie and his Angels to find Knox and recover the stolen software.

I was hesitant to re-watch this movie when I first saw that it was available to stream on Netflix because this film holds such a special place in my heart. I have so many fond memories of middle school slumber parties where we watched this movie for the millionth time. Would a childhood favorite hold up to my adult standards? I am pleased to announce that I still love this movie. The charming and sassy performances by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu that originally made me fall in love with this movie are still entertaining. But I have a newfound appreciation for the way that this movie celebrates women.

The angels are sexy, powerful, silly, smart, and so much more. Men are constantly featured in action films completing stunts that are well beyond their physical capabilities in real life, whereas women are more often constricted to more realistic expectations. But in Charlie’s Angels we see both men and women jumping out of planes, flipping through laser fields, and completing all kinds of crazy stunts that are not even slightly realistic. What I appreciated the most about this film is that the angels were allowed to dress sexy and then carry out badass action scenes. Their sexiness did not place limitations on their physical capabilities or intelligence. Too often when women are portrayed as sexy that is their only defining attribute. Though their costumes are iconic they are not defined by what they wear, they are defined by what they are able to accomplish. This is a theme that I will always be inspired by and celebrate. The world would be a different place if there were more movies that portrayed women as sexy and strong. Charlie’s Angels is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Falling Inn Love

written by elizabeth hackett and hilary galanoy

directed by roger kumble

rating: 💩

Gabriella’s (Christina Milian) life is falling apart when she wins an inn in New Zealand in an act of serendipity, and through renovations she discovers herself and a new life.

I love me a good romcom. Especially ones that involve people that can’t drive stick shift, hot shirtless men, and random scary goats. If you’re looking for a film of substance that will blow your mind with its innovative production and offer social commentary on the cultural zeitgeist, then look elsewhere. If you want to be entertained, this film is for you. The town is charming and has a Stars Hollow feel to it, the kiwi accent is very attractive, and the scenery is gorgeous. Falling Inn Love is one of my favorite rom com’s of 2019.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Eat Pray Love

Directed by Ryan Murphy

Written by Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt

Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 🔥

Liz Gilbert is divorced, confused, and on a quest for inner peace. After realizing that she has always been in a relationship or overcoming a breakup she decides that she needs to get to know herself independently. Despite the concerns raised by friends and family, Liz decides to leave her home in New York City for one whole year to find herself in Rome, India, and Bali. Throughout this year she challenges herself and seeks to cultivate a stronger and more enlightened self.

This movie is relatable on many levels. I think everyone, regardless of age, has had a life crisis that has left you wondering, who am I? Everyone is going to answer that question in different ways, not all involving traveling the world, but I am a fan of Liz’s style and would probably opt for a similar post-divorce experience. The film is structured chronologically which works well for telling the story because she learns such vastly different lessons in each place that she visits.   

Because of the stunning filming locations, the movie is visually gorgeous. The filmmakers did a great job of capturing the essence of each location; the grandeur of Rome, the chaos of India, and the natural beauty of Bali. There were some abrupt moments in the editing choices that I didn’t care for when a song would end immediately, and the next shot would be coupled with silence. This didn’t fit with the vibe of the film and that would be my biggest critique. Another critique I have is that the film fell on the cheesy side. Every life lesson was wrapped up tidily with a bow on top, and I don’t feel like that necessarily reflects the complexity of our world. But overall, I really enjoyed this movie and will be booking a trip to Bali ASAP. Eat Pray Love is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Perfect

written by aaron latham and James bridges

Directed by James Bridges

Rating: 💩

A persistent reporter is working to publish a story about health clubs becoming the new singles clubs, but the story gets complicated when he falls for the lead aerobics instructor.

First of all, this film is delightful. It’s full of short-shorts, leotards, and pelvic thrusting. Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta are legends for a reason, and they carried this film on their backs. The outdated gender roles and fitness standards can stay in the 80s. But the fun music and aerobics montages can live FOREVER.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Tod@s Caen

written by cory brusseau and martha higareda

directed by ariel winograd

rating: 🔥 

A romantically cynical tv producer is presented with a challenge, make a notorious Casanova change his facebook status to “in a relationship” and her network will green light her new tv show.

This movie is fun, lighthearted, and made me LOL. I haven’t laughed that hard in the theater in a while. The two main characters are constantly breaking the fourth wall to give the audience conflicting dating advice which ads a fun and unique element. At its core it’s a cheesy romcom, but I’m an unapologetic lover of any genre that can make me laugh and this movie delivers. It’s a Spanish film with English subtitles for my fellow non-native Spanish speakers, but funny is funny in any language.

Review written by Zianna Weston

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

written by Terry Mcmillan & Ronald Bass

Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Rating: 👌🏼 ok

How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Single stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) and her friend (Whoopi Goldberg) take a trip to Jamaica where Stella meets a much younger man (Taye Diggs) and their short-term fling develops into something more serious.

This is a movie that gets referenced a lot in pop culture and I don’t know why but I was expecting more of a comedy. It’s got some funny moments, but it’s definitely more of a slow burning drama. Although the plot never really blew me away I can give you two good reasons to watch it anyways; Angela Bassett 😍 and Taye Diggs 😍. 

Review written by Zianna Weston