MOVIES
Thursday, april 22, 2021 • ThE BullETiN
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 21
DreamWorks Pictures
A scene from “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio” (2005).
Continued from previous page
David Kelly in a scene from “Waking Ned Devine” (1998).
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) — The
22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
had the big task of pitting Earth’s mightiest
heroes against the ultimate bad guy, Thanos
(Josh Brolin) while at the same time wrap-
ping up a few storylines, and still manag-
ing to be a good movie. There is no way it
would have worked if they didn’t have the
21 movies before it and banked on the audi-
ence having seen each one of those precur-
sors. In the end, they win, because of course
they do, but what “Endgame” does is high-
light what is truly lost. Because a victory that
big cannot be achieved without losing some-
thing. But heroes always know the risks and
do it anyway. Stream it on Disney+ or rent it
on Amazon Prime, Google Play, or Vudu.
“Misbehaviour” (2020) — The British
movie slipped under the radar when it was
released last year, and while it’s a pretty sim-
plistic retelling of the events that happened
in 1970, it’s still a nice little film. Following
the formation of the Women’s Liberation
Movement in Britain, a group of protesters
including Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley) and
Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley) decide
to protest the Miss World competition that
year. The story of the feminist protesters is
still inspiring, but what the film also does a
good job of showing is the other side of the
liberation movement, with the women in-
Tomboy Films
volved with the pageant, specifically Miss
Africa South, Pearl Jansen (Loreece Harri-
son), and Miss Granada, Jennifer Hosten
(Gugu Mbatha-Raw). The two went on to
get second and first place, respectively, that
year — the first time a Black South African
competed and the first time a Black woman
ever won Miss World. Stream it on Starz
or rent it on Amazon Prime, Google Play,
iTunes, Vudu or YouTube.
“The Prize
Winner of De-
fiance, Ohio”
(2005) — This
adaptation of
a nonfiction
book about Ev-
elyn Ryan (Ju-
lianne Moore),
a midwestern
housewife of 10
children who
enters jingle
and slogan con-
tests and keeps
winning them.
The true story
of Evelyn and
her husband,
Kelly (Woody Harrelson), is chaotic as Kelly
struggles with alcoholism and his abusive
behavior toward her as he feels his place as
the breadwinner of the family is usurped
by Evelyn’s successes. But she perseveres,
winning helpful household items and much
more in the process. The film is bittersweet
but not as remarkable as it could have been.
Stream it on Paramount+ or rent it on Ama-
zon Prime, Google Play, iTunes or YouTube.
“Science Fair” (2018) — A delightful and
insightful documentary on a few students
as they enter an international science fair
competition, facing off against 1,700 other
like-minded and equally intelligent teens.
It’s quirky and inspiring to see these kids
from all backgrounds and countries have
the same drive towards scientific discovery
and excellence knowing that winning in the
competition can mean so much more than
just a trophy. Stream it on Disney+ or rent
it on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu or
YouTube.
“Waking Ned Devine” (1998) — The
incredibly Irish film hilariously is set in a
small town of 52, where one of its residents,
Ned Devine (Jimmy Keogh), wins the lot-
tery and dies from the shock of it. That’s
when the crafty Jackie O’Shea (Ian Bannen)
and his best friend, Michael O’Sullivan (Da-
vid Kelly), come up with the idea of fool-
ing the lottery office into thinking that one
of them is actually Ned, therefore claiming
the winnings for themselves. Its macabre
humor and sweet side stories make it a real
winner. Stream it on Hulu or rent it on Am-
azon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu or
YouTube.
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Reporter: 541-383-0304, mwhittle@bendbulletin.com