Review of The Dropout (2022): She’s just a lucky white girl
Why did this series make a profit-greedy woman a sympathetic character?
My guess is, it’s because she’s white.
Unsure why I’m now obssessed with startup disasters. Maybe it’s because I’m old enough to get over needing a lucky break. I’ve been reading Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams and it breaks my heart, as I think that optimism and hope in social media was only a handful years ago… but that was 2012, not 2025.
I forgot what got me to read up on Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes way back when, I have vague memories of even subscribing to WSJ to read it in its entirety, and listening in to the podcast on Spotify. Through pandemic, I skimmed headlines about Elizabeth Holmes’ real voice, her new boyfriend, and even giving birth.
And now, the Disney+ series. It’s been a few years, but what is time with an algorithm and FYP?
I was expecting something like the corporate drama equivalent of Gone Girl. Based on reports and footage of Elizabeth Holmes as the founder of Theranos, she had already been established as a robotic woman who will do the sales spiel to her dying breath. So I tilted my head to the side as the first 3-4 episodes showed us as Elizabeth the optimistic baby girl. While that can very well be the case for her family and husband, the sins of this woman is that she denied science and put lives at risk in the interest of profit.
Amanda Seyfried gave a believable performance as Holmes, maybe it’s why I write this in a fit of agitation at the caucasity of it all. There seems to be an apology for Holmes being who she is from participating in a patriarchal playground, but I am still stuck on her seeing health as a profit opportunity. In spite of the lens used for her story here, do not be fooled by the suggestion that she is a woman ruined by men in power.
The ‘Feels’ after Red Turnip Theater’s ‘Closer’
I first watched Closer the movie some years back, mere days after a college-era heartbreak. I left the theater weeping, and declared for the time, that Patrick Marber was my favorite playwright. Marber got that bizarre push and pull of love at its worst, and just who we really are when the crave and need to commit becomes an obligation. In the end of it all, perhaps we aren’t even who we say or think we are.
As if the movie wasn’t grueling enough, the stage play is even more heart wrenching. Do catch Red Turnip Theater’s final run this weekend and prepare to feel.
You can still catch Red Turnip Theater’s production of ‘Closer’ on October 26 and 27, 2013 at Whitespace, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati, Metro Manila. Visit their facebook page for show schedule and ticketing information: Red Turnip Theater.
The 'Feels' after Red Turnip Theater's 'Closer'
I first watched Closer the movie some years back, mere days after a college-era heartbreak. I left the theater weeping, and declared for the time, that Patrick Marber was my favorite playwright. Marber got that bizarre push and pull of love at its worst, and just who we really are when the crave and need to commit becomes an obligation. In the end of it all, perhaps we aren’t even who we say or think we are.
As if the movie wasn’t grueling enough, the stage play is even more heart wrenching. Do catch Red Turnip Theater’s final run this weekend and prepare to feel.
You can still catch Red Turnip Theater’s production of ‘Closer’ on October 26 and 27, 2013 at Whitespace, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati, Metro Manila. Visit their facebook page for show schedule and ticketing information: Red Turnip Theater.
The cost of a job – a review of OTJ
OTJ is a Reality Entertainment and Star Cinema production but it is far from feel-good. It takes one away on thrilling chase-and-shoot scenes across gritty Metro Manila, but its connect to the country’s social political reality is a punch in the gut. OTJ is the film for those wondering why the Philippines is what it is; why, for a democracy, we’re only furthered treaded on by the mishaps of actors turned politicians, how one woman can singlehandedly get away with pocketing billions of pesos of public funds in 10 years.
The reviews have remarked on its remarkable allusion to current events, so I won’t dwell too much on that, so I’ll just leave you with this damning quote from their politiko-villain, General Pacheco (played by Leo Martinez),
“Do you think the president, the lawmakers are running this country? Kung wala kaming mga pulis at militar, matagal nang walang demokrasya. Now we are running this country. Join us. And then maybe one day you will have your revenge…”
(Do you think the president, the lawmakers are running this country? If there were no police and military, there would be no democracy. Now we are running this country. Join us. And then maybe one day you will have your revenge.)
How much longer do we settle with the lesser evil in the hopes that our country will get better?
Disclaimer: while I am personally associated with one of the crew members of the movie, the opinions in this blog entry are entirely my own and do not reflect or represent Reality, Star, or any other authorized body. This is just me doing my part in promoting great Filipino cinema.
Catch OTJ at local cinemas near you. Click here for schedules. For those based in North America, OTJ is distributed by WellGo USA and is set to tour there in late September and October. Watch out for schedules in your local district.
Akashiya Sai versus Pentel Aquash
I took a leap of faith and ordered Akashiya Sai watercolor brushpens from Artmedia Trading, Philippines. While I learned the hard way that Multiply marketplace has yet to catch up with the times (they don’t have a ‘saved orders’ page the way ebay does), thankfully Artmedia got the order and processed it quickly. Within 24 hours of payment posted, my Akashiya Sai Summer Colors were in the mail and on the way from General Santos City, where Artmedia is based.
If you’re put off by multiply, Artmedia also processes orders and messages via facebook. They also sell copic products and deleter supplies, and a number of others materials you won’t find in your neighborhood arts and school supply stores.
I initially had high hopes for the Akashiya Sai, but was easily tempered upon reading Nattosoup’s review. In a nutshell, some colors work well with that dreamy wash look, some don’t. It boasts to be a watercolor, but it’s marker based. It didn’t blend as well as I’d like.
In the summer color set, I found the Sky Blue color most resistant to wash –
While it’s apples to oranges, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Pentel Aquash, which works like the Sai except that they’re watercolor crayons. They blend well, and are very cooperative with wash.
I haven’t spotted the Pentel Aquash set at the bookstores, but I spotted a few for sale on ebay or sulit. OfficeFab ships it to the Philippines for P299.75.
If having a set of colors is too big of a commitment, you can also buy individual Koi waterbrushes from Artmedia Trading, and use them with your choice of watercolor.
I highly recommend these materials for people who are just too big a control freak for watercolors. These wooed me back to them after years of sticking to acrylics, pastels, and oils.
Let me see how we can put these babies to work.