Adina Bernstein

The story of the underdog is one of the oldest stories in human history. It has inspired countless people over the generations to go for what they want, despite the obstacles that stand in their way. But the problem with this narrative is that it is too common. For a film with this basic story to succeed, it has to stand out from the pack. Enter Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which premiered on Netflix on June 26th. Part absurdist comedy and part inspirational drama, this mo...

Since the beginning of history, writers have looked to the past to inspire them. The problem with this perspective is that when history fades into myth, the real person and the real story are often forgotten. While this allows for a certain amount of creative license, it also gives authors leeway to re-write that particular story based on their own values and point of view.
Back in 1995, Disney released its first historically based film, Pocahontas. The film is loosely based (and I mean very ...

Wartime comedies must walk a fine line. Obviously, they have to be funny. But they also have to fully present in a world in which war is the norm. In 1942, the original To Be or Not to Be premiered. In 1983, the reboot hit theaters. Both told the story of a Polish theater group that is pulled into the resistance to fight against the invading Nazis. The question is, which film is better?
The 1942 Version
There is a certain something about comedies (especially the romantic comedies), from about...

Since the advent of computer technology in the last few decades, world-ending movies have become a staple of the Hollywood blockbuster. In 1998, Armageddon and Deep Impact were released within a few weeks of each other. Both told the story of a comet or asteroid racing toward Earth, promising the destruction of every living creature. The question is, do these films with very similar narratives stand out, or are they just two prominent examples of lazy storytelling coupled with eye-popping spe...

It has been said many times that life imitates art and art imitates life. In 2011, the film Contagion hit theaters. At the time, it was just a movie about a virus that had the capacity to wipe out humanity. Who could have predicted that nearly a decade later, the narrative of this film would hit a little too close to home with the emergence of COVID-19?
The movie starts innocently enough (as they usually do). Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) has just returned from a routine business trip in Asia...

The opening paragraph of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma is as follows:
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty one years in the world with little to distress or vex her.”
Emma Woodhouse is the quintessential rom-com character. The queen bee of her world, she thinks that when it comes to love and romance, she knows everything that she needs to know. She has no...

When I was about ten or eleven, someone gave me a child’s abridged version of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women. The story of the March sisters growing up in Civil War-era Massachusetts left a mark on me that has lasted for decades. A few years later the 1994 Gillian Armstrong adaptation was released into theaters and I knew that I would have a lifelong love affair with this novel. The most recent adaptation, directed and written by Greta Gerwig was just released on Christmas Da...

Sadly, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace have been the norm for years now. Especially by powerful men who use sex as a tool against female subordinates or women who lack power. In our era, the balance is starting to tip against the men who use sex as a weapon, but not without the brave women who have come forward. The new movie, Bombshell, tells the story of the Fox News sexual harassment scandal from the perspective of the women who broke the scandal and stopped the haras...

When Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood went off the air in 2001, it was the end of an era. Fred Rogers died two years later, leaving a gap in our cultural landscape that will never be filled. The messages of kindness, self-love, acceptance and the ability to openly express our feelings are timeless and ageless. The new movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, helps to rekindle a lot of those feelings.
Based on a 1998 Esquire article entitled “Can You Say…Hero” written by journalist Tom Junod, A ...

Back in the day, a music store was more than the place in which one purchased the latest album from their favorite artist. It was an opportunity to see and be seen, to be known as the fan of a particular genre and artist. But like many aspects of American life, the local music store has gone in the same direction as the dodo bird.
The 1995 film, Empire Records, is the last gasp of the mom and pop music store. Joe Reaves (Anthony LaPaglia) is the manager of Empire Records. His day consists of ...

It’s not uncommon to see a movie, television show, or story about a man who stands up against injustice. However, the same story with a female protagonist (especially a female protagonist of color) is not as commonplace. At this point, we’ve all been far too inundated with biopics about a great historical man. Thankfully, the new Harriet Tubman biopic, Harriet, was just released in theaters.
Known on the plantation as Minty, the future Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo) was born a slave. Though h...

Every fall, as the Jewish High Holidays roll back around, I go to services as I have since I was a child. As an adult, I attend services because I feel it is important to attend. This year I will be attending with the idea of forgiveness on my mind. Forgiveness is the general theme of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But this year, forgiveness has been on my mind in a different form.
I’ve officially lived with depression since my late 20’s. One of my most noticeable symptoms is the constant...

I love going to the movies. But there is one genre that I will not touch with a ten-foot pole. I will not see horror movies, especially around Halloween. I have an active imagination that is sometimes too active. The thought of blood, frights, and gore does not appeal to me, especially when I am trying to get a good night’s sleep.
However, there is one Halloween movie that I will never pass up: Hocus Pocus. It has just enough Halloween in it to create a fright, but not enough to keep me from ...

Judy Garland was a performer with a capital P. She is an icon above icons, a movie star in every sense of the word. She was also a human being whose life off camera was far from perfect. Judy captures this aspect in detail, chronicling the end of her career and the poor habits that developed from years of abuse and tragedy.
The following review will be spoiler-free.
Synopsis
Directed By: Rupert Goold
Written By: Tom Edge (screenplay b) and Peter Quilter (based on the stageplay by)
Starring: R...

Every writer or director has his or her own signature style. Quentin Tarantino’s signature films contain violence, humor, a slightly out-there narrative, and many callbacks to the films ans shows that he loved growing up. His 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds, added a new dimension to his storytelling style: a historical film that is not exactly historically accurate, but still entertaining.
Most films that focus on World War II and The Holocaust are usually and rightly dark and dramatic. There...