'Blackfish' & 'To Do List' Reviews

Blackfish is a documentary detailing the conditions and dangers of Orca captivity and training. It uses old Seaworld commercials, home footage, and interviews(mostly with former Seaworld trainers) to paint a vivid picture of the harsh conditions Orcas face in captivity and the dangers they pose to the humans "training" them.

There's nothing terribly new or surprising about the story that unfolds throughout the film, it chronicles Orca's injuring and killing humans from the time they were first captured and used as performance puppets in 1971. There's been an almost forty year history of these incidents which are consistently covered up and explained away by the corporations funding the attractions most prominently Seaworld.

The film tries a little too hard at places. The score comes in to strong in moments it needs to recede. There isn't any hard hitting surprise footage uncovered or inside tell-all interview. And there is no solution or way to get involved offered. The movie patiently and at times heartbreakingly elucidates the disturbing truth of Seaworld and other such parks.

It's impossible not to compare this film to The Cove the 2009 film documenting the dolphin slaughters in Japan. This film lacks a lot of it's predecessors punch. It's editing is sloppier, the edges murkier. There are some moving moments in the film but there are few and the filmmaker at times doesn't seem to know what to do with them. The film includes only one protracted Orca attack. That scene brings the film into sharp focus and shows how scatter shot the rest of the film is by comparison.

It left me unsatisfied, wanting more.

Rent It.

The To Do List is a teen-sex comedy reminiscent of American Pie or Girl Next Door the twist being the protagonist is a young woman on the quest for her sexual awakening. The film is fun, fast, and relies on proven comedy tropes to drive the film. Aubrey Plaza is Brandy a valedictorian with no sexual experience. She makes a list of sex acts to do before college so she can know what she's doing once she gets there. Plaza successfully carries the film and strays far from her somewhat over used bitter sarcastic go-to persona. The supporting cast is expansive and good and finds moments of occasional electricity but overall the story and plot are too safe. Too recycled.

Plaza's performance and the conceit of the film are refreshing. We focus on Plaza and her girlfriends and don't see a lot of the men in the film. Plaza's Brandy is never called or perceived or portrayed as a slut in the film, we see and acknowledge girls just like boys have a healthy curiosity and need for sexual expression. But the poop, cum, dick, and tit jokes are all ones we've heard or seen before.

A great film for fifteen year olds, the jokes a little too obvious and/or over done for anyone past high school.

Rent It.