Skip to main content

Roma (2018)


Roma is about the life of an upper-class family living in Mexico seen through the eyes of a servant in the 1970s.

Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Cuarón was born in Mexico and has even said that this film depicts a lot of his childhood. It certainly has a feel like Y Tu Mama Tambien. More average moviegoers might recognize his name from the movie Gravity where he won his first Oscar. He also did the underappreciated Children of Men.

The cast is mostly unknowns. The main character is named Cleo and is played by Yalitza Aparicio. She is wonderful and stoic. She is reserved in her emotions to make them more impactful when they do rise to the surface. Her character has to put up with a lot of shit, literally. Her life goes from bad to worse throughout the movie.

At the end of the movie, you'll be attached to this maid. The first part is hard to watch because it's just setting up future moments. At the time it just feels like you're watching a maid do her job. Which at times can be boring, but the boredom allows you to empathize with her. There is almost too much symbolism in the film. That is the key to this film being less than perfect. Everything means something and to the everyday joe, that means it'll go way over their head. To the experienced watcher, it'll be a struggle just to keep up with "Wait. Now, what does that mean? Why is he focusing on that? Is that important too?" This makes me want to watch the movie again but also the film is not a happy one, even at the "happy" ending it's really sad and because of that I probably won't.

Result: A (It's not perfect but it's damn great.)



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is directed by Jon Favreau , known for Iron Man and Chef , with much of the story influence clearly coming from Dave Filoni , known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ahsoka . Unfortunately, the film falls into the same “and then” style of storytelling that hurts many modern franchise films, where scenes feel stitched together without enough meaningful progression. Entire stretches of the movie, particularly long sequences involving Grogu wandering through a forest, feel padded and lacking purpose. Instead of building momentum, the film drifts from moment to moment without ever creating a compelling central narrative. Pedro Pascal , known for The Last of Us and Narcos , once again plays the Mandalorian, though his presence feels strangely limited. It is difficult not to notice how often the character appears disconnected physically and vocally, giving the impression that Pascal himself may not have been involved in large portions of the performa...

In the Grey (2026)

In the Grey is written and directed by Guy Ritchie , known for Snatch and The Gentlemen , and the film carries all the style and personality audiences expect from him. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is confident, and the story constantly moves with a sense of swagger that keeps it entertaining throughout. Ritchie once again proves he knows how to make even familiar action setups feel fresh through his direction and character work. Eiza González , known for Baby Driver and Ambulance , plays the beautiful and manipulative lawyer role perfectly. She brings confidence and charisma to every scene, balancing charm with danger in a way that fits naturally into Ritchie’s world. Beyond just looking the part, she fully commits to the character’s aggressive personality and ends up being one of the film’s strongest presences. Henry Cavill , known for Man of Steel and The Witcher , delivers another very likable performance. His natural charm works extremely well here, especially in the fil...

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)

Lee Cronin's The Mummy is directed by surprise-surprise  Lee Cronin , best known for Evil Dead Rise , and his style is immediately recognizable. The film plays less like a traditional Mummy story and more like a modern possession horror with a different skin. It often feels like a “what if Evil Dead involved a mummy,” leaning heavily into familiar genre beats rather than carving out something distinct. The tone prioritizes intensity and shock, with a focus on gore over sustained dread, which keeps it engaging in moments but limits its ability to build true horror. Jack Reynor , known for Midsommar and Sing Street , plays the father figure at the center of the chaos. His performance is solid and grounded, fitting well within the expectations of the genre. He brings a level of sincerity that helps anchor the film, even as the story follows a fairly predictable path. His arc plays out in a way that will feel familiar to anyone who has seen possession films like The Exorcist , but ...