I’m really not sure how I feel about this movie.
SPOILERS!!!!!
Really though, she ends up with the guy and the best friend despite all the lies and deceit and complete betrayals? What kind of message is this sending? You think you’re ugly so that gives you a pass? Hmm. I don’t know. Can we discuss?
Netflix's high school rom-com Sierra Burgess is a Loser has been criticized for many things: its catfishing plot, the fact that its heroine gets away with cyberbullying and pretending to be deaf, and its casual reliance on anti-LGBT humor. The movie’s racialized moral hierarchy, however, is less commonly seen as an issue. The show's supporting African-American characters form its moral backbone, while the primary Asian American character is morally deficient.
Alice Lee plays Mackenzie, the most prominent Asian-American character in the film and the only East Asian character. Like head cheerleader Veronica, she is depicted as being vain, mean, and mainly concerned with maintaining her place at the top of the school’s social hierarchy. While Veronica is eventually accorded more complexity and character development, Mackenzie is a decidedly flat character.
When criticized for the show's transphobic slights (which come from Mackenzie) on Twitter, writer Lindsey Beer apologized in this manner: "The line was supposed to vilify the mean girl, and be the opposite - the example of something only a horrendous human would think or say [...] only someone as dumb and heartless as the mean girl I depicted would ever say something at your expense.”
Read the full report here.
So, apparently this was missed by those commenting on this movie. This movie was a loose modern retelling (with switched genders) of Cyrano de Bergerac - which was a catfish story from another era. Even the main character's name was a play on the original name. Sierra = Cyrano. Burgess = Bergerac. Also, one of the most famous translations of the play was done by Anthony Burgess.
The FaceTime scene was simply the balcony scene with modern tech. Other characters fall into place, with Jamie being Roxanne, and Christian being Veronica. Sierra's unattractiveness (by societal standards), Veronica's lack of knowledge, and Jamie's comliness. It doesn't all line up, but Cyrano is definitely the inspiration.
Inb4 not unpopular but hear me out
We know Sierra isn’t supposed to be this perfect role model for unpopular girls in high school, and she made plenty of fucked up decisions throughout the film like catfishing a guy she likes, sexually assaulting him while pretending to be the hot cheerleader girl he likes, and even exposing the cheerleader girl because Sierra saw her kiss her boy crush.
After rewatching the movie, the biggest missed opportunity is that it could’ve been a unique lesson to teenagers that unpopular kids in school can be just as cruel as the cheerleaders and jocks, and they shouldn’t be let off the hook just because “I’m a loser woe is me”, especially that song that’s supposed to pass off as an apology.
The film would’ve been stronger if both the cheerleader and the boy crush got together and didn’t forgive Sierra, followed by the students at school “cancelling” Sierra for what she did, making her an actual loser.
I've loved Mujhse Dosti Karoge since I was a kid. It's horribly corny with just plain bad acting, but I've watched it so many times.
Can't help but get a MDK vibe while watching the trailer for Sierra Burgess is a Loser.
Anyone who's seen both movies feel the same way?
CW: sexual assault/rape mention
Just watched the movie Sierra Burgess is a Loser and I have some thoughts…
So, first of all, it was a cute idea for a movie. I do adore Shannon Purser, and I think her and her cast mates’ acting was what helped me to stick through the whole movie. Sadly, that was really the only thing I enjoyed about it…
I was ready to watch a movie made for women, especially overweight/ugly women (even though Shannon Purser isn’t ugly, that’s what the movie kind of focused on). Which is not what I actually ended up watching. This movie felt more like a generic, outdated 80′s teen flick, and it all had to do with the cliche choices it made. Just because it starred an overweight woman (which, by the way, wasn’t ever directly addressed in the script), does not mean the production team created something new and/or revolutionary.
Some of these cliche choices included a black best friend with no backstory or character of his own, a group of mean cheerleaders who “learn their lesson” when a non-cheerleader separates their friend group, former mean cheerleader being “changed” by the social outcast after some bonding over boys, the outcast doing something extremely and life-changingly shitty after the mean girl did something kind of shitty, then the two of them bonding and becoming even closer like nothing happened afterwards, the mean girl quitting cheerleading in the epilogue, and of course, that goddamn epilogue.
So, not only were these cliches tired and overused, but they also prevented a far better storyline from happening. For example, when I saw the on wikipedia under “List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing”, I assumed that the script would have taken the opportunity they gave themselves from 1) Sierra pretending to know ASL, 2) the romantic interest having a younger brother who’s actually deaf so he actually signs, and 3) the really obvious set-up of the guidance counselor telling Sierra to “think outside the box” when it came to learning a different language. Maybe, I don’t know, Sierra could have learned ASL to bond with Jamey outside of her relationship with him as Veronica. The story could have moved in the direction of them liking each other because of actual face-to-face interaction, despite a totally different form of deceit. That story might have ended with her saying “Yeah, I know I’m not actually deaf, but you thought I was Veronica and you knew my voice from the phone so I couldn’t just talk to you. But didn’t
... keep reading on reddit ➡I know it doesn't seem ed related but for some reason it triggered me. Which I feel stupid for because it's a MOVIE. But like how can the fat girl get the guy? It also reminded me of when I was in high school and I was fat and the football player did like me but I was fat so It didn't go anywhere bc I wasn't thin ¯_(ツ)_/¯ The narrative is that if there's something "wrong" with the protagonist they fix it become "beautiful" or socially acceptable and then get the person of their dreams. That didn't happen so I feel uncomfortable even though I should be happy. I should be happy that she didn't have to alter herself. That people could accept her for who she is. Maybe I like being miserable. Ok this kind of went on a tangent.
Day Started: May 12, 2018
Movie: Sierra Burgess Is a Loser
Date Watched: Nov 4, 2018
Review (Spoilers): I can see how some of the ideas for scenes in this movie could come into someone's mind but as soon as you think about how much of a violation it is of someone's trust, it gets disturbing. I'm mainly talking about the first kiss scene. I'm not sure if the ending was already bad but this noncensensual kiss scene really made the ending where the love interest accepted her despite this completely fucked up situation made it the worst. And another thing!: After she publically humiliated her friend, there wasn't really a convincing reason why that friend would forgive her! To me, the plot of this movie is that Sierra Burgess wasn't a loser (in my opinion) to start with, just other people saw her as a loser. Then, she makes an unexpected friendship with a cheerleader based on a stupid concept (you have to have me tutor you so that college boys like you and in exchange pretend to be you on my phone). And through that friendship, both of their true selves are revealed: Sierra Burgess, by the end of it, in my opinion, is actually the worst (beyond a loser, just a bad person) and the cheerleader is revealed to be an actually great person. I liked that element to it but I didn't like how they forgave each other and how seemingly Sierra Burgess didn't learn any lessons... she just got the guy in the end. I recommend not watching this movie.
Rating: 1.5/5
Spoilers ahead.
Like, she catfished him and even kissed him without him knowing it was a different person. And she exposed Veronica like that. Maybe I'm missing something but, to me it's pretty messed up.
Minor Spoilers here
So, I just got to see Sierra Burgess yesterday. The movie is a waste, it begins interesting and then its a bunch of cliches that don’t work together. Bright side :
Let’s get to the specific part.
On Love, Simon after simon is outed two guys, one white and another non-white make an homophobic joke. Simon stands to defend himself and a black teacher defends Simon being harsh with the students. Someone then say “You can’t talk to them like that” and the teacher says something to the effect of“I can and I did”
In Sierra Burgess is a loser, two people make a transphobic comment, one is white the other is non-white, then the black teacher defends Sierra, being harsh to the kids, someone says something like “You can’t talk like that” and the teacher replies something to the “I can and I did”.
Its the same scene.
Anyway, if you are interested in my opinion of the movie here it comes with spoilers : it isnt worth it. I think it was a vehicle to launch the star but it doesn’t work, I personally didn’t like Shannon Purser at all. The protagonist isn’t likeable, does a bunch of bad things then there is no recovery arc. Things just go well in the end and we are expected to accept it. Its wasted potenial
Content Warning: Sexual assault, transphobia, homophobia, ableism
Disclaimer: Spoilers ahead; I recommend reading a quick plot summary before diving into this review
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser (2018), directed by Ian Samuels, is not a lost cause. It has some elements of what makes a heartwarming, engaging teen romance film—warm lighting and cinematography, some really earnest performances by young actors, and a good soundtrack—but it also ostracizes its audience for a number of reasons.
Shannon Purser (Sierra Burgess), who portrays the film’s dorky protagonist, is certainly a young actress to look out for. After making her claim to fame in the beloved Netflix series, “Stranger Things,” Purser is back and better than ever. Her performance as Sierra is raw and real; she expertly embodies the awkwardness of band geek, Sierra. Purser is joined in the cast by Noah Centineo (Jamey), who rose to fame recently after his breakout performance as Peter Kavinsky in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018), directed by Susan Johnson. In spite of the underwhelming and predictable script, Purser and Centineo manage to give truly authentic performances; the actors’ commitment to their roles was, for me, one of the only redemptive qualities in the film. The film’s other major characters in the film, Veronica—the mean girl-turned best friend—and Dan—Sierra’s classically spastic best friend—played by Kristine Froseth and RJ Cyler, respectively. Together, the aforementioned actors came together to form a tight cast of believable characters. Unfortunately, the rest of this ambitious film falls flat beyond characterization.
Noah Centineo (Peter Kavinsky) in \"To All the Boys I've Loved Before\" (2018).
In a tight 1 hour and 45 minute span, Sierra Burgess Is A Loser attempts to pose and answer the question: Is Sierra Burgess a loser? And the answer is—in large part—yes, but not for the reasons that the movie suggests. Sierra Burgess is not a loser because of the way she looks, the fact that she plays the flute in her school’s marching band, or because she is a bookworm. Sierra Burgess is a ‘loser’—to use the antiquated insult—because she makes deeply concerning, manipulative choices throughout the film.
Burgess’ manipulation of others spirals out of control early on in the film. She spends the majority of the film cat
... keep reading on reddit ➡So I have always wanted this sweater ever since I saw it in American Apparel's store 2 years ago, but I thought it was too expensive back then and didn't get it.
Then AA went bankrupt and I forgot about it, but I just saw it again in the Netflix Original Sierra Burgess is a Loser, Veronica was wearing it:
https://preview.redd.it/sid8bap0oal11.png?width=2158&format=png&auto=webp&s=8a988a949bb49d95d9a4c6c261120f7308556eca
https://preview.redd.it/a0dk1cq1oal11.png?width=1020&format=png&auto=webp&s=418df8a69552c625966fa2dc1439568cb897396b
I tried to search for the name of this sweater for the past 30 min without success. Anyone happens to know what the sweater is called (or is selling one even)? I searched for "AA Striped Sweater Sea Grass (one of the other colors)" and some girls are selling the long-sleeved version of the sweater on Poshmark, but I'm dying to get the short-sleeved/red one.
