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Despite the drama, there's hope to be had

> ‘The Return of Eugenia Cooney’ review

Roshni Riar
Staff Writer

 

Content warning: This article contains
mention of eating disorders and depression.

hane Dawson has finally returned to

YouTube after a four-and-a-half-month
break following his two-part conspiracy
theory series uploaded in February.

Since the success of his in-depth series
delving into YouTubers’ lives such as The
Mind of Jake Paul, The Secret World of
Jeffree Star, and The Truth About Tanacon,
Dawson’s YouTube comments have been
rife with suggestions and pleas for who the
centre of his next deep dive should be.

When it was announced that
Eugenia Cooney would be Dawson’s next
interviewee, social media blew up. Eugenia
Cooney—up until the release of Dawson’s
video The Return of Eugenia Cooney on
July ig—had been on a social media and
YouTube break to focus on her health. Her
step away from the internet attracted a
lot of speculation and controversy, which
Cooney has been no stranger to during her
six-year YouTube career.

The Return of Eugenia Cooney opens
with video clips from The Doctors, various
YouTube commentary and speculation
channels, fan videos, and clips from her
frequent live streams. The intro focuses
on the speculations surrounding her

physical and mental wellbeing due to

her extremely thin appearance—which
over the years has become increasingly
more severe and alarming. Clips from
Q&As and her livestreams show Cooney
constantly combatting hate—many people
were constantly threating her or insulting
her—or having to quell her fans’ fears,
telling them not to worry for her. One fan
is shown nearly crying and saying, “I think
youd probably be a little prettier if you
weren't dying.”

Starting Dawson's video with that
clip show really drives home the fact that
since her start on YouTube in 2013, it’s been
hard to avoid the feeling that something
hasn't been right, despite her repeated
deflection and shrugging off rumours. The
clips highlight just how many people were
talking about Eugenia’s wellbeing and how
apparent her physical state was, despite
how she regularly uploaded YouTube
videos and appeared to be active and
incredibly positive.

After some nervous back and forth
and preparation for his meeting with
Cooney, Dawson finally arrives at her
home. He’s greeted by her lawyer—which
I found a little strange—and then finally
sees Cooney, who is her usual bubbly and
happy self. After a house tour and some
awkward small talk, Dawson and Cooney
sit down to chat about YouTube, her time
away, and what she’s been struggling with.
Cooney admits that she did struggle with

an eating disorder and was in a rehab
program during her internet hiatus. I really
commend her for admitting that she was
struggling on her own terms, as opposed
to being pressured into it when she was
uncomfortable and unhappy, prior to
attempting recovery.

Dawson and Cooney talk about
the massive amounts of hate she would
regularly receive online, which Cooney
admits was hurtful but ultimately shrugs
it off, opting to approach not only the
hate but life in general with positivity. I
found that to be a very mature take on the
situation and applaud her for moving past
the negative to focus on her health and
wellbeing.

—_—_

  
 

Screenshot via Hollywood Life

The Return of Eugenia Cooney
focuses more on exactly what the title
suggests: Her return to the internet after
the controversial career she’s had. I hope
that she’s able to recover fully and perhaps
not jump right back into a regular upload
schedule so as to avoid any unnecessary
pressure. A lot of Dawson’s fans wanted
answers about her family, her life outside
of YouTube, the history of her eating
disorder—all the nitty gritty details. This
video wasn't meant to provide those. It was
meant to welcome someone back into a
community that for years had flung hate,
ridicule, and threats her way, in order to
show her that people will support her.

Quentin Tarantino returns to roots
with a slower but impressive outing

» ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ film review

Craig Allan
Contributor

kek YY

or over 25 years, Quentin Tarantino

has excited audiences with his style
and inventiveness. With his gritty,
clever, and unique style of filmmaking,
Tarantino has smashed the mould of
conventional cinema. Whether it is his
non-linear masterpiece Pulp Fiction, or his
bloody slave-era revenge Western Django
Unchained, Tarantino has made films so
well that in the years where he does have a
movie to present, the entire industry takes
notice. He continues that with his most
recent film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
(OUTIH).

Set in 1969, the film stars Leonardo
DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as actor Rick
Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth
respectively. Dalton is a fading old
Hollywood bad guy, who after years of
being punched out in Westerns is coming
to terms with the realization that his
days in the Hollywood industry may be
numbered. As Dalton frets with worry,
Booth is completely unfazed by Dalton’s
pessimism. Also in the film is Margot
Robbie with the role of Sharon Tate. While
Dalton concerns himself with the end of
his career and Booth takes it easy, picking
up a hippie girl (Margaret Qualley as
“Pussycat”) and fixing Dalton’s antenna,

 

Tate watches herself in The Wrecking
Crew. Robbie’s role in the film may seem
small and inconsequential but this is an
intentional move.

This film follows both the party of
Dalton and Booth, and the separate story
of Tate not driving but gingerly walking to
the climax of the movie. While it is difficult
to talk about the movie without spoiling
the dramatic ending, there is one scene
that perfectly articulates what Tarantino is
expecting from his audience. In the middle
of the movie, after dropping off Dalton at
his home, Booth returns home to his dog
Brandy. He grabs some dog food to give to
Brandy as she waits patiently on the couch.
After opening the can Brandy whines, to
which Booth warns that if she continues to
whine, Booth will have to reluctantly throw
the food out. Brandy must wait until Booth
has made his dinner of Kraft Macaroni
& Cheese. He plops the dog food in the
bowl. While he drains the pasta, he plops
another helping of dog food in the bowl.
After mixing in the cheese, he pours some
kibble in the bowl. As Booth settles in with
his pot of mac and cheese and a six pack,
he gives the command that Brandy can now
commence with eating. This is Tarantino's
subtle way of conveying what he is trying
to do with this film. There may be some
moments that lag or seem unimportant,
but if you stick with it instead of giving
in to your immediate desires you will be
rewarded with a climactic scene that ranks
among the best in Tarantino's filmography.

 

This is a new era for Tarantino, since
this is his first film separated from his
long-time collaborators in The Weinstein
Company after founder and CEO Harvey
Weinstein was brought down due to sexual
harassment and assault allegations. Now
set up at Sony’s Columbia Pictures, this
new era for Tarantino may very well be
his last. During the press junkets for the
film, Tarantino has hinted that OUTIH
and another (possibly Star Trek) film may
be the end of his filmmaking career; he
has strongly indicated that he is looking
to go out on top and focus on other
entertainment mediums like plays in the
future. If this is true, then OUTIH isa
true showing of Tarantino’s advancement
as a filmmaker. All the sets are real, the
recording is actual film, and the film is
shot with a caring eye and a strong sense

in Hollywood'

Promotional image for
‘Once Upon a Time...

of understanding. If Tarantino is setting
himself up for a ride into the sunset, he is
looking as high and mighty as ever with
OUTIH.

When judging a Quentin Tarantino
film, they are so well done and highly
praised that you can only judge them based
on how they stand up to other Tarantino
films. With that in mind, due to its slower
pace and more methodical storytelling,
OUTIH may not reach the highs of
Tarantino's more well-known films like
Inglorious Basterds or Django Unchained.
However, for those who admire Tarantino's
earlier work such as Pulp Fiction and
Reservoir Dogs, Once Upon a Time in
Hollywood will see a happy return to early
Tarantino, with audiences getting the dog
food and the kibble.