#peter chiarelli

[addictivecontradiction]

Crazy rich asians, 2018

[adamwatchesmovies]

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

While it would be nice for every story to be wholly new and completely unpredictable, there’s something satisfying about a film that uses genre tropes this well. Crazy Rich Asians is the best romantic comedy we’ve seen in a long time. It’s glamorous, romantic, gorgeous, hilarious, smart and expertly directed.

Economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is travelling to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding) for his best friend Colin’s wedding. There, she learns that Nick's family is among the richest in the country. Dismissed by many because they don’t believe she will fit in, Rachel becomes determined to prove them wrong.

I watched Crazy Rich Asians on a double-bill with Monster-in-Law because of the two pictures’ similarities. Basically, they share a plot but the execution makes them so different it’s like they have nothing in common. You can probably guess the story’s beats but there’s a twist to them that makes Crazy Rich Asians so much more. When you see Nick and Rachel together, they’re perfect. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. He’s wealthy but isn't insensitive to the problems of the common person and doesn't flaunt his riches. The performers have excellent chemistry. They’re both beautiful people. The camera doesn’t shy away from showing you Henry Golding without a shirt on and Constance Wu appears in several glamorous outfits that make her look like a princess. You like them as individuals. You like them even better as a couple. There’s no reason for Nick's mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) to disapprove of them but she does. In her eyes, Rachel's upbringing means she will never fit in.

It’s not that Rachel grew up “poor” and that Nick didn’t. This film is deeper than that. Eleanor doesn’t approve because of the way Rachel was raised. Her parents were Chinese but she grew up in America. In Eleanor's eyes, Rachel could never understand the values the Young family hold so dearly. The opening scene shows Eleanor being discrimated against for being a foreigner. It generates sympathy for her. Seeing her judge Rachel later shows how much of a hypocrite she is.

You could dig deep into the film’s themes of old money vs. new money, of tradition and need to move away from them as well, the significance of the relationship between Astrid (Gemma Chan) and her husband, Michael (Pierre Png), or what it means to see a major theatrical release with an all-Asian cast, but ultimately, all of these are gravy. What you came for are some laughs and scenes of tenderness that will make your date want to hold your hand. That's what you get. The wedding Nick and Rachel attend is so beautiful and so glamorous. It radiates love so brightly it’ll bring tears to your eyes. It’s as romantic as attending a real-life wedding between two people you know are perfect for each other. You love seeing Nick and Rachel together. Seeing them having a great time with every luxury money can buy at their fingertips is rewarding.

There's so much going on with the cinematography, sets and costume designs you could watch the movie on mute and have a great time but then you’d be missing out on the comedy. Awkwafina (an actress who continues to impress with each film) delivers one big laugh after another. So does Ken Jeong - the funniest he’s been in years. Many of the side characters are quirky and memorable for their comedic values. The “serious” characterization is left to the main cast, with Eleanor coming off as particularly multi-faceted. She can afford to be. As in any fantasy, the leads have to be “perfect” to reinforce that anyone who doesn’t cheer for them is a villain.

Crazy Rich Asians is so enormously pleasing only those with a bone to pick against romantic comedies could dislike it. That said, I would agree with criticisms directed towards the conclusion. It’s a bit too long and does indulge a bit in some rom-com clichés. I'm mentioning this to show I'm not biased. The visuals, humor, drama and romance make Crazy Rich Asians a film you’ll be glad to return to over and over. It’s a terrific pick for date night. (August 7, 2020)

[thosesadsuburbanghosts]

The Proposal (2009)

"If you touch my ass one more time I will cut your balls off in your sleep, okay?"

[stereax]

[screenmovie]

Dave Franco as Jack Wilder,

Now You See Me 2 (2016), directed by Jon M. Chu, based on a screenplay by Ed Solomon and a story by him and Peter Chiarelli.

[oscarkelfbom]

ken holland come back king i didn’t mean what i said peter chiarelli come back king

[hong-kong-art-man]

Asian-American Films Like Everything Everywhere All At Once, Joy Ride & Past Lives Are Becoming Popular: Can Hong Kong Follow & Make Cross-cultural Films?

We are not alone. Our life is the input of everyone. We are all part of one another. This applies to our art activities especially film art.

It has been proven time and time again that audiences love a movie that allows them to connect with the characters and situations. The traditional Hollywood movies of ‘white supremacy’ telling us how the white people live, to the exclusion of other racial groups, are getting out. Whether for the sake of cultural diversity or integration, we can see more and more Hollywood movies relating to African-American culture and with more African-American actors and directors for the past 10 years. One good example is Black Panther (黑豹).

In the creative world, we all dream. We may become popular and famous. Every dog has its day. It seems that the dream of equal opportunity of showing Asians’ talent and stories is now within reach.

A record 22 million Asian Americans now trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, each with unique histories, cultures, languages and other characteristics. The U.S. Asian population is projected to reach 46 million by 2060. In terms of a film market, the population means a huge supply as well as a handsome demand.  

For making a cross-cultural film, it is said that a ‘crossover’ is where the different races meet interactively but they remain essentially independent. But a ‘fusion’ is the new result of integrating different races and generating a new cultural form with its unique presentation, philosophy and charm.

In the past, Hollywood had only ‘crossover’ films with Hong Kong but they failed to impress because one could feel the lack of cultural cohesion or strength. The Hong Kong director or actor was simply ‘in’ but not ‘into’ the film. Examples are such as John Woo (吳宇森)’s Face Off (奪面雙雄) in 1997, Peter Chan (陳可辛)’s The Love Letter (情書) in 1999 and Chow Yun-fat(周潤發)’s The Corruptor (再戰邊緣) in 1999.

Better late than never and only time will tell. Recently, some Hollywood ‘fusion’ films finally took place. In 2018, Joh M. Chu directed an American romantic comedy-drama film Crazy Rich Asians(我的超豪男友) from a screenplay of Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim. Actors were Asian but they spoke English in the film as characters were almost American. The story is about a Chinese-American who travelled to meet her boyfriend’s family and was shocked to discover they were the richest in Singapore. It is a risky project by a major Hollywood studio to feature a majority cast of Chinese descent in a modern setting. It is an incredible commercial success. The film grossed over US $238 million on a budget of $30 million, making it the most profitable romantic comedy of the 2010s!  The next Asian-American film success is Everything Everywhere All at Once (奇異女俠玩救宇宙) in 2022! It is a film written and directed by Daniel Kwan with Daniel Scheinert. Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) stars as a Chinese-American immigrant who got connected with the parallel ‘multiverse versions’ of herself and everything became out of control. The stars and supporting actors are mostly Asians. The film grossed over US$141 million worldwide. It won awards all over the world and obtained 7 awards out of 11 nominations at the 95th Academy Awards.

In 2023, the stronger prevalence and power of a film vision is shown, by what the evidence can prove. There are 2 more shiny ‘fusion’, rather than ‘crossover’, Hollywood films. 

One is Joy Ride(尋根女團). It quickly became a word-of-month sensation. Having received positive criticisms which praised the lead performance and humour, its successful equation of an all-Asian cast and laugh-out-loud cultural script is re-affirmed. The story is about the love adventures of 4 American Chinese girls in China with behaviour ranging from sexual promiscuity to sex as the act of true love.

The other great one is Past Lives (之前的我們). By a Korean director Celine Song, the film is autobiographical. It tells the sad story of Nora, a character who moves from Korea to Canada as a child, and later gets married in the United States. She, for many years, cannot get rid of the infatuation with her puppy lover in Korea and will this never-ending crush damage her marriage with a Caucasian husband? It has been praised as a culturally moving film the romance of which will linger on your mind in the most naturalistic style. It is basically a ‘Korean’ film in the English language. 

A trend is the type of things that are changing over time. Some trends are nonsense. Some trends may have long-term implications. When current trends continue and continue, they will become the ‘new normal’ and can be turned into the norm in the future. Whether these cross-cultural ‘fusion’ films are just a trend or will be a norm is beyond our prediction. I hope they will last. The power for creating a better future by change is always contained in the present moment of what these films are doing. 

Many people are still less likely to be mentally simulated by the films of the ‘non-white’, although the characters speak English. They simply lack the empathy necessary to identify with any ‘black’ or ‘yellow’ characters. This problem is called a ‘Racial Empathy Gap’. 

Hong Kong is home to an exciting eclectic mix of individuals and cultures from all parts of the world, and different races communicate in English. The densely populated metropolis has cultivated a global mindset of ‘We are the Melting Pot’!   Hong Kong was once the Hollywood of the East. Can the trend of culturally ‘fusion films’ be the new hope and effort here to revive the declining film industry in Hong Kong?

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/he-li-huo-joy-ji-89246014?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Movie Crazy Rich Asians Trailer Acknowledgement-Warner Bros. Pictures

Movie Everything Everywhere All At Once Trailer Acknowledgement – A Really Happy Film

Movie Joy Ride Trailer Acknowledgement – Lionsgate Movie

Movie Past Lives Trailer Acknowledgement-A24

[davidshawnsown]

USA FOOTBALL AND NFL ONE SHOT - Are we ready to be in Ukraine - or are we not ready?

(AN: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began a week after Superbowl 56, is one of the biggest wars we've ever witnessed in recent memory, one that has had the attention of millions in these past few months. Now as the war continues on, the focus of the American people remain on how the war has affected the political and economic landscape of the world as the country faces a variety of enviromental and social issues, especially with the huge Russian involvement and financial aid to far rightists as well as far-leftists now being unraveled. The sport of American football, which has its roots in both soccer and rugby and began as a collegiate sport in the 1860s before the 1920 formation of the National Football League - just two years after the end of the First World War - which led to the nationwide and now global recognition and fame it now enjoys as one of the top pro team sports of the nation, has had its share of players serving the nation in both World Wars and in other military operations by the United States Armed Forces, past and present. And now the sport has grown once more, with two spring time minor leagues, 4 indoor pro leagues, the ever popular collegiate circuit with its elite conferences and the growing women's football scene in both flag and tackle forms. And of course, the national football programs have made the country proud more than ever in international competitions. This fic is the first one shot set in the current war and featuring many of the faces of the NFL, USFL, XFL, the indoor leagues and USA Football's national teams, ensuring the increased awareness of this conflict among the fanfiction writers online.)

HEADQUARTERS, 202ND BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

1400H CST

The 202nd Brigade Combat Team, the primary component of the larger 169th Command and its principal fighting force, had just finished the winter season and also had considered reinstating the regimental level at this time, having just honored the command's former commanding general, reitired GEN Raymond T. Odierno, who in 2019 was named honorary colonel in chief of the brigade and died just months ago. Just days ago, its new commanding general Peter W. Chiarelli formally assumed the office of commanding general and is expected to appoint LTG Todd Berry as his successor given his advanced age, with Peter choosing instead to be honorary colonel in chief like his predecessor was. Peter and Todd have agreed in principle for the return of the regimental level for the infantry components of the brigade, and they have also confirmed COL Scott Hallenbeck will remain the brigade's executive officer.

It was a stellar 2021 for this consituent service of the Army Reserve and its components. But now the brigade's command, led by BG Eric Mayes, given the international situation resulting from the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that began days ago, is seriously monitoring how the other mobilization commands are handling the aftermath. Already the 78th Brigade has been deployed to Eastern Europe and with the announcement of the International Legion of Territorial Defense's establishment has been back and forth of Ukraine to escort willing Americans who have retired from the forces to give this new force the experienced servicemen needed to help Ukraine's fight against the aggressor. 1st Battalion's commanding officer, LTC Patterson, has been concerned with the international situation and has been thinking: will the brigade be deployed to Ukraine or not in the weeks and months to come?

This was the same for COL Rudy Wyland, part of the 2017 national contingent who got recalled just 3 weeks ago, and those of the other national contingents. All are being asked to join the 1st Battalion with personnel having finished basic training but with ties to units of the command or in residence in these units' recruting AOR to man the rest of the formations, which will all be mobilized.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions based in Indianapolis and the 4th and 5th Battalions based in Anderson serve as the primary infantry formations of this brigade, which also has an armored battalion. Organized since 2003 as a brigade combat team the brigade also has combat and service support elements, its depot elements and its 6th battalion based in Martinsville which serves as the OPCON battalion and secondary depot unit. All personnel come from all over the nation - college graduates of the ROTC program, enlisted personnel having finished basic training, West Point and OCS alumni, and civilian staff assigned. 1 more infantry battalion is being activated in Springfield given that it is the state capital with partnerships being worked on with the ROTC program and student brigade of Purdue University.

Now that Ukraine is fighting back against Russia, the question still lies for the 202nd BCT to answer Ukraine's call as the world watches the heroic resistance of Ukrainians. No matter what the decision they would make in this regard the brigade is ready to answer to the call to serve in the interests of national defense and assistance to allies around the world.

@tulowitzki @agender-adrastea @hourcat

[crazyrichxplainr]

I am so proud of Adele Lim for knowing her worth and walking away!

[genevieveetguy]

- What am I allergic to? - Pine nuts, and the full spectrum of human emotion.

The Proposal, Anne Fletcher (2009)

[addictivecontradiction]

Crazy rich Asians, 2018

[jerichopalms]

*Crazy Rich Asians (2018, dir. by Jon M. Chu)

[the-citrus-scale]

Power, Privilege, and Pay Disparity

written by @the-galaxy-collector

As with every other article I’ve written for The Citrus Scale, I have no idea where to start. Most of the time it’s with a note, a prologue of sorts, or even an apology because I know my opinion is in the minority.

But last night I went to see the movie Hustlers and, now, I don’t care. I don’t care if someone’s feelings get hurt. I don’t care if you disagree. I don’t care if you take any of what I’m about to say the wrong way. As long as you’re respectful, we’ll get along just fine because that’s the wrong we’re trying to right here.

Because fandom is toxic. Fandom is glorious. Fandom is uplifting. And fandom is horribly entitled. Fandom is everything, but it’s tearing itself apart from the inside out and we need to stop because we’ve got more important things to discuss. So let’s just dive into the deep end, because we’ve waited long enough. We’ve attacked each other long enough. We’ve been ignored long enough.

Now, if you haven’t heard the story that inspired this article, let me give you a quick rundown. Adele Lim, an Asian woman, co-wrote the screenplay for Crazy Rich Asians with Peter Chiarelli, a white man. For the sequel, Peter was offered somewhere between $800,000 to $1 million. Adele Lim was offered $110,000. And before we go any further, if you don’t think that’s disgusting, this article isn’t for you.

Of course, Warner Brothers said this is industry-standard and that “making an exception would set a troubling precedent.” Which makes me nauseous. What they said, in essence, is that if women understood their worth, they’d demand so much more, and the men in charge are used to a certain way of life. A life they do not want changed for any reason. And why would they? They hold all the cards, all the money, and all the power.

Or… they think they do.

The problem with making Hustlers is that I was reminded the real problem is that they want us to think we hold no power. They want us fighting amongst ourselves. They want us disagreeing and being disrespectful to one another. Because then we can’t mobilize. We can’t force any real change.

And what would be the big deal if we kept doing it the way we’re doing it? Well, that’s easy. We’ll continue to be seen and not heard. Every character you see will be some variation of a Mary Sue, the Madonna, or the whore. Is that really what you want? Do you really enjoy being seen as entertainment only there for consumption? Because I’m kind of sick of it. I’m tired of being scared. I’m tired of being quiet. I’m tired of being tired. And I hope you are too. Because Hustlers taught me way more than I’m sure any of the men in charge intended.

[stereax]

[screenmovie]

Mark Ruffalo as Dylan Rhodes,

Now You See Me 2 (2016), directed by Jon M. Chu and based on a screenplay by Ed Solomon and a story by him and Peter Chiarelli.