? AT THE MOVIES-

Killers of the Flower Moon (trailer: runtime 2:23) is directed by Martin Scorcese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro alongside some of the industry’s best talents has hit Egyptian cinemas. The fuss surrounding the film is warranted: It addresses an unusual case of native American exploitation, uses narrative elements such as voice overs, actual excerpts from the FBI investigation, and a coda that presents the events of a film as a 1950s true crime radio show with a live audience with Scorcese himself making a cameo that underscored his dedication to this cause.

Based on the book by DavidGrann, the events of the film are set in 1920 Oklahoma, and it nobly tells the true tale of the Osage murders that were uninvestigated. This Native American tribe grew wealthy as their land was oil rich and granted them headrights: Ownership of the land and the ability to use the wealth propagated from this oil. Almost in retaliation, non-natives used methods to control this wealth: The Osage cannot drive, must attend church, and cannot withdraw their own money without non-native permission. But some money-hungry non-native members of the community took it a step further: Marry their women, kill them off to inherit their wealth, and then marry more of them to get more land under their control. And repeat.

Aside from DiCaprio’s transformation into Ernest Burkhart, Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone) is another one to watch. Her near stoic face, posture, transition to Osage language were captivating on the big screen. Robert De Niro’s version of William “King” Hale was as expected, he brought nothing new to the table, but it could not have been played by anyone else but him. Honorable mentions go to John Lithgow and Brenden Fraser who had minimal amount of screentime but their role as lawyers turned the film into a more stage-y performance.

PRO TIP- Arrive on time: The film is three hours and 26 minutes long, and will begin without any trailers in the cinema. Also, expect two, short, five minute intermissions as opposed to one longer ten minute intermission in the middle of the film.

WHERE TO WATCH- The film debuted in Egypt on Wednesday and is playing in VOX Cinemas, Zamalek Cinema, and Golden Stars Cinema.

Dumb Money (trailer: runtime 3:04) is not your typical poor v rich story.Based on real events and “The Antisocial Network,” a book by Ben Mezrich — the films opens with its recollection of the 2020 and January 2021 crisis, where a group of small investors, led by a nerdy YouTuber and Reddit user Keith Gill (Paulo Dano) aka Roaring Kitty, invested a large amount of money and caused a frenzy around the struggling video game store chain GameStop. His relatable tale connected with the masses and actions caused a spike in the stock value, the repercussions of which led to massive backlash for several hedge funds. The incident was read as a retaliation against the unethical practice of short-selling, where a trader bets on a business’ decline. It also symbolized the opening up of the stock market, which was previously controlled by the extremely wealthy and privileged.

The mostly young ensemble cast work together very nicely. Paul Dano as the lovable, your-next-door-neighbor-couch-potato/geek who strikes gold felt genuine and relatable. Meanwhile, his deadbeat brother Kevin (Pete Davidson), who spends most of his time ridiculing his brother’s life or delivering pizzas, added to the film’s humor. The supporting cast: Gabe Poltkin (Seth Rogan), a stressed Wall Street player, and Vled Tenev (Sebastian Stan), the treacherous CEO of Robinhood, and finally, following up from her recent blockbuster movie Barbie, is America Ferrera as a single mom — nurse Jenny, who goes along with Gill’s hunch, delivered a captivating performances that seamlessly blended emotion, talent, and depth.

Pace and complex finance jargon were the concern. Some parts of the film were too stretched and the film would have benefitted from breaking down some stock market terminology and information as many might find it difficult to understand. Nevertheless, the film immortalized the GameStop stock story and is memorable — just make sure you take a buddy who works in the finance industry along with you.

WHERE TO WATCH- The film is playing in Renaissance Cinema (Madinaty), Vox Cinema, Plaza CineComfort Cinema, Golf City Cinema and Zawya.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Islamic Cairo in Maps: Finding the Monuments. Hailed as an “exceptionally ‘user friendly’ ” guidebook by the Midwest Book Review, this new volume by Yasser M. Ayad was recently published by the AUC Press. Within its 100 pages or so, you will find 77 maps and 22 photos depicting some of Cairo’s most iconic sites from Islamic Cairo. While an exhaustive volume is a gargantuan task, the author has nonetheless completed a heroic feat by providing us with information about a selection of over 700 historic monuments that were erected over the years. In addition to the beautiful imagery, you will also find background information including dates, locations, and historical contexts to fully grasp the beauty of one aspect of Egypt’s heritage.

Stepping away from the pharaohs: While countless tourists mainly gravitate towards Egypt because of its ancient civilization every year, this guidebook serves as a reminder that there’s more to see in this city in more recent centuries. While the illustrious pharaohs’ legacy will forever remain an undeniable source of pride, it is worthwhile to also be acquainted with other displays and embodiments of culture, art, and faith all in one. This volume does a fantastic job introducing this aspect of our history to the world.

WHERE TO FIND IT- AUC bookstores, Diwan bookstores or online.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Diala, located in New Cairo’s Nox Mall, offers all-day dining based on your preference. Whether you’re a breakfast person or prefer to indulge your taste buds later in the day, Diala is there to cater to you. The menu features all of our all-time favorites ranging from tabbouleh and fattoush which were fresh and tangy, to a wide range of manaeesh — kofta, lahm b ajeen, chicken, cheese — among others. As meat lovers, we liked the Mwardet soujok which is a new addition to the menu and Sfiha baalbakeya. If you feel like playing it safe or want something on the lighter side, the grills are always a good idea.The half boneless chicken was a tender and a satisfying choice without having to venture too far out into other menu items.

Indulging our sweet tooth: If calories are none of your concern, then perhaps opt for one of Diala’s special desserts. The winning one for us was the Diala knafeh, made with the chef’s homemade cream stuffed in knafeh rolls dipped in pistachio. Need we say more?

? Per person: EGP 600-800

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

Tags: