Sunday’s Pick

Paradise

The series Paradise is set in a quiet community where some of the world’s most prominent figures reside. However, this peace is shattered when a shocking murder occurs, launching a high-stakes investigation. A little gem that came out of nowhere—honestly, I didn’t see this one coming!

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• The performances are excellent, with standout work from our lead, Sterling Brown, who is phenomenal in a role that is undeniably rewarding.

• Special mention to the marketing team, who managed to keep the major plot twist in the very first episode completely under wraps in all the promos—a twist that turns the whole series on its head.

• The script is engaging, smart, packed with mystery and twists, and makes you want to binge it all in one go.

• It successfully blends political thriller, drama, crime, and mystery into one cohesive and compelling narrative.

• The time jumps help us better understand the story as a whole.

• Excellent editing.

• Fast-paced, with very interesting characters.

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• Honestly, I didn’t find any negatives—except for the fact that now we have to wait for season two. Ugh!

• Okay, just so you don’t say I’m being biased—it does give off a bit of a “haven’t I seen this before?” vibe, but it’s so well-crafted that it doesn’t bother you at all.

Ainda Estou Aqui

Rio de Janeiro, 1971. Former congressman Rubens Paiva is suddenly arrested by the dictatorship’s police. His wife, Eunice, a mother of five, refuses to stay silent and does everything in her power to find out what happened to him. This film won the Oscar for Best International Feature and tells a very compelling story, though it has moments of sluggishness.

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• Fernanda Torres delivers a truly outstanding performance, more than deserving of her Oscar nomination—nuanced and deeply moving.

• Beautiful cinematography.

• Fantastic production design and a great depiction of the era.

• The screenplay is also very strong and well-crafted.

• It’s particularly interesting that the film doesn’t resort to moralizing, even though it easily could have, given its subject matter.

• It leans heavily on emotion, and it does so masterfully—without ever feeling manipulative.

• A brilliant ending.

• It effectively blends the broader political narrative with a deeply personal story.

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• While I wouldn’t say it was tiring to watch, it could have been shorter.

• Some parts feel a bit slow, stretching out unnecessarily, making it drag at times.

• A few scenes come across as merely functional rather than impactful.

• It’s not a groundbreaking cinematic experience, but it still manages to stand out.