betterment

‘Le Guin’ documentary presents an ode to a visionary author

Various fields of artistic expression often go through radical conversions as a result of the visionary works of a handful – or sometimes even just one – maverick figure. Through the singular works of these individuals, entire genres are frequently transformed. In filmmaking, for example, the name Stanley Kubrick comes to mind. In music, it’s the Beatles. And, in science fiction literature, many often cite the writings of author Ursula K. Le Guin,

Brent Marchant2022-07-10T19:15:14-05:00June 2nd, 2022|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘Minamata’ follows the courageous pursuit of a just cause

When we’re past what we think of as the top of our game, we may grow despondent, disillusioned and withdrawn, perhaps believing that we’ll never get back what we’ve lost. It can be a frustrating and depressing time, one that leaves us sorely wanting. Can the redemption we seek be attained, or is it really too late?

Brent Marchant2022-05-19T12:22:40-05:00April 18th, 2022|Biography, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Everything Everywhere’ puts multidimensionality on parade

How well do “you” (sometimes called “the localized you,” the version of ourselves with which the majority of us are most familiar) know the totality of your true self? Chances are most of us aren’t even aware of the existence of any of the other parts of ourselves, let alone any of the particulars about them. But those well versed in metaphysical circles have a good sense about our innate multidimensionality

Brent Marchant2022-05-06T19:12:30-05:00April 13th, 2022|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi|

‘Spencer’ examines the life of a woman in transition

Removing oneself from a difficult situation can be a challenging task. Numerous impediments can infringe on the process, not only making it difficult to execute, but even to launch. That prospect can be exacerbated even further for those in the public eye, their words and deeds scrutinized in virtually every detail.

Brent Marchant2022-01-02T05:31:35-05:00November 22nd, 2021|Biography, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Shang-Chi’ charts the search for self

Who we are and how we determine that can be an arduous undertaking, one replete with doubt, uncertainty and even denial. But, if we’re to attain satisfaction and fulfillment in life, it’s a process we must all go through to discover just what makes us, us.

Brent Marchant2021-10-07T13:41:56-05:00September 12th, 2021|Action-Adventure, Conscious Creation, Movie Reviews|

‘Respect’ strikes an inspiring chord

Becoming ourselves is often a challenging process. We may have difficulty feeling our way through a cloudy morass of ideas and suggestions, and we might be unsure how to separate the good from the bad. This can be particularly daunting when we’re young, bombarded by others who think they know what’s best for us, leading to confusion and uncertainty

Brent Marchant2021-09-29T07:24:07-05:00September 6th, 2021|Biography, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Petrunya’ offers hope where it’s absent

When our lives stagnate or don’t turn out as hoped for, we often need a miracle to get on track. Out of cynicism and disbelief, that’s frequently seen as too much to hope for. But, then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, something happens to change all that

Brent Marchant2021-09-08T04:29:38-05:00July 28th, 2021|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Truman & Tennessee’ profiles the creativity of two icons

Genuine literary icons are rare. Writers who possess the ability to grasp profound insights and then deftly express them through prose don’t come along often. But, for those times when they’re present in uncharacteristically prolific numbers, it’s indeed fortunate for the world of literature.

Brent Marchant2021-09-06T21:51:48-05:00July 23rd, 2021|Biography, Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘Against the Current’ navigates the quest for personal truth

To truly prove ourselves, sometimes we must pursue goals that are seriously over the top, quests that most of us would view as seemingly impossible, possibly even foolhardy. The statements such gestures make go a long way toward validating the intents behind them. But, perhaps even more importantly, they say a lot about us – who we are, what we’re championing and what we’re made of.

Brent Marchant2021-09-04T04:51:38-05:00July 16th, 2021|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘Dick Gregory’ embodies the principle and practice of integrity

Living one’s truth is indeed a virtue – and one that some say is becoming increasingly rare in these contentious times. It’s unclear whether this is due to an unwillingness or an inability to do so. Either way, though, if we’re to revive this practice, we need inspiring examples to draw from

Brent Marchant2021-08-18T08:37:12-05:00July 10th, 2021|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|