Oscar Nominations: The Good, The Bad, and The Snubbed

I know I'm a little late on this post (trip to Thailand has delayed some posts - not complaining!), but here are my thoughts on this years Oscar nominations.

The Good

- My two favorite supporting performances: Stephanie Hsu & Barry Keoghan. I really hope they take the win too - both would be surprising and both are more than deserving.

- Colin Farrell (he's deserved way more accolades than he usually receives)

- Triangle of Sadness getting a Best Picture nod?? I was not expecting that! Love it!

- All of the first time nominees! Sometimes I'm hesitant about this because it could end up being disastrous (see: Rami Malek), but Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Ana de Armas, Brian Tyree Henry, and Andrea Riseborough have proven their talent in multiple projects already. It does get weird though when people like Colin Farrell, Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis are also "first time nominees". Timing really is everything. 

- Speaking of Andrea Riseborough - I'm going to put this in the "good" section for two reasons: (1) She's an incredible actress - I think I first noticed her in Welcome to the Punch and I've followed her career ever since. I have not seen To Leslie yet, but I'm pretty sure the nomination is deserving and (2) She is usually in independent movies, and because of this, she is often ignored as 90% of indie movies are. This "grassroots" campaign felt like more of a support for underseen, undermarketed films and performances, as opposed to this cynical anger about her "stealing" a nomination. The only reason it's being investigated is because nobody made money (that's the truth, if you don't believe it then you have a really warped sense of what Hollywood and awards shows are about). 

- Best Costume for Everything Everywhere (it's not even a competition)

The Bad

- LOL at Top Gun: Maverick. I don't even have words to describe the mediocrity of every aspect of this movie

- The love for Elvis - a nomination for Austin is fine (although I like him even less after his Elvis accent at the Globes), but the rest of the movie is...meh. 

- Andrea Riseborough - yes, I realize that I listed this as "good", but it's also bad for two reasons: (1) While I don't think it was intentional, her nomination did push out one of the expected nominees which would have likely been Viola Davis or Danielle Deadwyler. It's a bit icky when you think about the implications of all these white actors/actresses pushing this performance at the last minute - and having the tactic work. It sets a precedent that could lead to disastrous results for diversity (something that the Oscars already has a problem with) and (2) It kind of sucks that this whole controversy is taking away from Riseborough's talent. I've seen a lot of hate towards her because most people can't find nuance in situations like this. If I were her, this is not how I would want my first Oscar nomination to go down. I almost think that she should voluntarily drop out of the race? Is that something that could happen? 

The Snubbed 

- Thuso Mbedu is incredible in The Woman King and should be the snub that everyone is upset about (I'm not sure if it should be considered a lead or supporting performance, but she outshined her also incredible costars)

- My favorite performance of the year was Rebecca Hall for Resurrection - it was largely ignored, so I wasn't expecting her to sneak in, but there is definitely something to be said about the horror/psychological thriller genre getting ignored every. single. year. 

- How did After Yang get zero nominations? Seriously zip? Cinematography? Directing? 

- I'm not the biggest supporter of Nope, but it has incredible Cinematography and stunning Sound Design. Technically speaking, it's far better than some of those nominated (Elvis, Top Gun)

- Bardo should have received a Screenplay nomination

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Pearl - I liked X, but I didn't love it as some did (which isn't surprising - horror is not my genre, but a good movie is a good movie). But the crazy thing is that I had no idea that Mia Goth played the old lady until this sequel was announced. Is that a part of the movie that I missed? Are those two characters connected in some way to explain why they look alike? I obviously don't care enough to look it up. But it's a good gimmick! Anyway, Mia Goth is a great actress, and she really shines here. And she's also credited as a writer for this, which is super cool. I think I liked this slightly more than X (both are still 3 star movies), just because it feels really authentic for the time period, but also modern which is a really hard combination to get right. Goth is part of this authentic feel - her acting is that whiny sort of overdramatic acting that was a very popular style for movie stars of the 20s (I'm thinking of Clara Bow specifically), but has that more modern anger and vulnerability to her. There has been a lot of talk about her being snubbed for awards simply because it's a horror movie, and I completely agree (this has been a problem for a while - Toni Collette for Hereditary, Lupita Nyong'o for Us, etc.). It's definitely one of the best performances of the year (my favorite actress performance is Rebecca Hall for Resurrection - which is also kind of a horror. Psychological horror definitely). There are some scenes and sequences that are really creepy and definitely got under my skin (especially the end, and the scene with the scarecrow), but I don't think there is anything that will stay with me. 

2. Triangle of Sadness - I loved this! Second favorite movie of the year, for me (#1 is still After Yang - it is unbelievable that neither of these are frontrunners for awards). I was not expecting to like this, simply because I find Harris Dickinson really, really dull. But it works for him here because I think he's supposed to be this boring entitled white guy character who is hot (he's a model in this), but has nothing really to offer the world other than his looks (this sounds meaner than intended - I'm sure Harris is a lovely person - I have no idea- but I don't think he's a strong actor and he lacks screen presence). Charlbi Dean Kriek, though, was a force. It's so sad that she died so young, especially being on the cusp of hitting it big. The film starts off really strong with two incredible scenes - the first with the model audition. Modeling seems like such a degrading profession, but I watched every single episode of America's Next Top Model, so I am guilty of feeding into this culture (p.s. I never knew that forehead crinkle was called a "triangle of sadness" - I totally have that! How do I get rid of it??). Then, the next scene shows this incredible dynamic between this young couple - one in which the woman has a more successful career. They begin to argue over who should pay the bill, each having a clear reason as to why the other should (although if he just said "hey, you said you would get this one, right?" as soon as the bill came instead of playing the game, I would have been on his side. The passive-aggressive bullshit can get in the bin). Then, the film begins - about this terrible, rich, entitled model/influencer couple on a super rich yacht - taking selfies of her sunbathing, and eating pasta that she doesn't actually eat. It has a White Lotus vibe a little bit - a satire of the rich, while also giving these people the attention they so desire. It's really interesting to watch the class distinction between the crew members and the passengers - and how some mistake their kindness towards the staff as some kind of heroism. The contrast of the modeling audition (which is degrading) with the way the one passenger insists that the one staff member swims with her (also degrading), is beautifully done. I wasn't really sure if there was any more to this, though. It seems to say what it wants to say pretty quickly, so I questioned where else the story could go. And boy does it go to some surprising places. *slight spoilers ahead* After a very rough day at sea, and an accidental explosion, a few passengers and crew members get stranded on an island - and it is just as excruciating to witness as you think it would be, with the wealthy people having no survival skills whatsoever. I think it does a good job in keeping its neutrality because it doesn't exactly show the crew in a good light either - as they have no interest in helping their fellow human unless they are getting paid to (or something in return). It's all very fascinating - by far my favorite screenplay of 2021. And the ending is absolutely perfect. 

3. White Noise - This seemed like Noah Baumbach going outside of his comfort zone, and that, to me, was very exciting. I definitely consider myself a fan even though some of his movies come off as pretentious and elitist (Francis Ha and Mistress America come to mind). I really loved The Squid and the Whale, though - it's honest and raw. The poster for this is really cool - I stared at it for hours when it was first released. It's clear from the poster that the focus was going to be on consumerism and the overwhelming way that it has literally "consumed" our surroundings. But there is also this clear focus on death - the anxiety of getting older, dying before your loved ones, or having your love ones die, and the way that we use consumption and technology as a distraction from thinking about this inevitability. However, the movie is...a mess. The pace is insane, and there is a pattern of over-stimulation that is definitely intentional, but it's hard to watch. I completely lost interest about 1/2 way through, even though it seemed like that is when stuff actually started to happen. I'm also not the biggest fan of either Adam Driver or Greta Gerwig - and they both are just too annoying in this. There are some good things, though. The dialogue is mostly wonderful - all of the existential crisis stuff has a lot of truth and layers that had me lost in my own thoughts on the subject (although I'm kind of the opposite of this - death doesn't scare me at all and I have more anxiety about the fact that I might live for another 40 or so years?! What am I going to do with all that time??). I also like some of the absurdity of the dialogue ("she has important hair" is my favorite line of the movie). But the best part, hands down, is the end credits musical number of everyone dancing in the A&P (my mom actually worked for their corporate office until they closed so it has a special place in my heart). It's definitely true that if the supermarkets seem fine, then the world seems fine. I never knew that would ever be a discussion, but I clearly remember when the pandemic first started and there was talk of a mandated "shut-down", everyone's first thought was the grocery store. I vividly remember walking in and seeing the empty shelves, and suddenly everything felt apocalyptic. I definitely cried myself to sleep that night. Anyway, the credits scene is glorious and there is some wonderful camera work showcased. I could watch those credits for 2 hours straight. You know what's crazy though? That Jodie Turner-Smith is featured in the best opening credits scene from 2021 (After Yang) and the best closing credits with this - and that they both feature absurd dancing. What a weird coincidence!

4. Troll - I liked this. I don't really know what I was expecting because I didn't watch the trailer or hear much about it, but I thought "well, I liked Trollhunters and maybe this is similar?" (literally how my brain works), but I was not expecting a Norwegian monster movie. It's basically King Kong, but with a Jurassic Park plot (actually it's so similar to Jurassic Park that it's kind of offensive??). I was a little annoyed in the beginning because I was expecting it to be in Norwegian, but they speak English in the beginning. It quickly continues in the native language, so that's good. The main actress is excellent (Ine Marie Wilmann), but she looks so much like Kate Hudson that it becomes a distraction. There are some moments that are done really well - like when you first see the eye of the troll (especially if you're not really expecting a monster movie...I was shocked!). I love the way her father smiles while he's in the helicopter after finally knowing that his long-held belief is really true. I like the idea of switching the old saying "you have to see it to believe it" to "you have to believe it to see it" - I know there are a lot of people in this world who believe in things that seem ridiculous to me (horoscopes, superstitions, God...), but to each their own. I do think that once you do believe in something - you'll do anything to keep that faith even if it doesn't make logical sense. There's also some really strong action sequences for something this low-budget (I assume it's low-budget?), like the scene with the troll taking out the helicopters. It's glorious. 

5. The Woman King - It's unfathomable that Thuso Mbedu isn't a frontrunner for every award this season. I watched this and was in complete awe of her (she's also great in The Underground Railroad - and I remember being surprised there wasn't awards talk with that, but this is an even greater injustice in terms of bullshit Hollywood awards). I would also say that it's the lead role, even though Viola Davis is the bigger name. This story is incredible and so necessary for it to be told - it's refreshing to watch a story from 1800s that's about strong, powerful black women instead of the usual stories that we've been bombarded with. Unfortunately, aside from some really strongly choreographed fight scenes, I got a little bored by this. I don't really feel like the story goes anywhere, and the twist overtakes what it is trying to say (making it feel sappy and emotionally manipulative instead of powerful - does that make sense?). I didn't really expect the twist, but the foreshadowing is there so I should have guessed it. I just don't think that it's necessary - the story is strong in itself about womanhood & sisterhood. Anyway, I definitely recommend it - for the acting, mostly, but also to support these stories. 

15 Books I've Read in 2022

1. The Only Woman in the Room, Marie Benedict - Does everyone else know how fucking cool Hedy Lamarr was?? Is it common knowledge? It's definitely something that I missed. Two years ago, my husband and I were thinking of names for our kittens - he likes to name his cats after inventors (hence, his cat is named Tesla and we call her Tess. She had a brother named Edison), and I'm more random with my cat names, but sometimes go for pop culture or movie cat names (I had Milo after Milo & Otis and Simba from The Lion King). I know this seems like I've gone off topic (typical), but I promise this is related because he suggested a "compromise" and offered "Hedy" after Hedy Lamarr. And I thought, how the fuck is naming her after a movie starlet from the 1940s a comprise (that seemed entirely in my favor)? And then I learned about Hedy Lamarr: the inventor. But, as my life often goes, things got weirder when a week later I was in a book store and I randomly picked up a book and read the back - and it was this book. ABOUT HEDY LAMARR!! And when I tell you, I am obsessed, I mean it. I can't wait to read more on her. This book is an incredible read - there's a bit of mystery and intrigue with the whole espionage aspect, some heartbreaking stuff about her relationship with a prominent Australian arms dealer with ties to Mussolini and Hitler. Her escape is harrowing and brave, but I also appreciate that this recognizes her guilt about those she left behind. There are some parts that are fictionalized and parts based on gossip and theories, but it's ALL so fascinating. 

2. The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue - I read this because I am such a big, big fan of Room, not really knowing what this was about. AND OF COURSE it's about a fucking pandemic - something I absolutely did not want to read about. Even worse it's about a nurse in a maternity ward - and it's one heartbreak after the next (miscarriages, women dying giving birth, etc.) and it is very graphic in the descriptions of these events. I actually had to skip over some paragraphs because it's just so hard to read stuff like that. It's relentless, really. I was so focused on how much I didn't like what I was reading, I didn't even notice the love story unfolding. And the love story is wonderful. I just wish it wasn't such a brutal read. 

3. Music is History, Questlove - Ugh I love Questlove so much you guys. This is a really interesting read, especially if you have a passion for music. I like the way Quest writes about different political happenings and world events that happen the same year that important songs or albums were released because it provides a rich context to the history behind this music. And it's also interesting to see how people connect certain songs with certain events. It was eerie when I started reading the chapter on 2001, which was focused on 9/11 (obvi) and he talks about his plan to go to the Michael Jackson concert on September 10th. I was actually at that concert and it was one of the best nights of my life - the fact that the next morning was one of the worst just exemplifies how quickly life can change. I will forever connect Michael Jackson with 9/11 even though they are unrelated (and I think the thousands of people at MSG that night do the same). I also connect JLo to 9/11 because Z100 was playing "Play" when they stopped the song and announced that a plane hit the World Trade Center. Anyway, I also learned that Questlove was the drummer for FIONNA APPLE at one point!! She is my all-time favorite. This is a really fun read and I added a lot of songs mentioned to my Spotify "liked" list. 

4. The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith- This is an interesting read if you are a fan of the movie (it's one of my all-time favorites). It gives some more insight into Tom Ripley's state of mind, as it's told through his perspective. I also had no idea that it's only a *part* of a whole series of books based on this character, and I'm definitely interested in reading more. I'm surprised how interested I was in reading this, while knowing exactly how it all plays out. It's written really well, though, very detailed and with a purposefully increasing pace. Just a perfect psychological thriller. Wonderful. 

5. Firestarter, Stephen King - This is one of those movies that fucked me up as a child. I definitely watched it way too young, and it terrified me (I think I was like 6 or 7. I remember my grandmother told me that I couldn't watch it, so she waited to watch it until after I went to sleep. But I pretended to sleep and instead opened my door a crack because I could see the tv from my bedroom. And boy did I regret it). It's not really a typical "horror", but the main theme of being hunted and taken away from her parents really resonated with me (there's a lot that I can get into with my father, but it was actually more from my mom because she would always tell me that I had to be good because if I was "bad" then people would think she was a bad mother and "they" would take me away from her. And people were trying to take me away, my paternal grandparents actually, because they didn't think my mom could raise me on her own. They eventually settled on a non-official agreement that had me spending my summers in California with them, under the guise of "helping her", but it was really to assess how she was doing. When I got older, I realized how fucked that was of my mom to put that pressure on me - I mean, I was so scared that I was going to be "taken away" that I didn't even tell anyone when I got hurt. I broke my finger when I was 12 and didn't say anything until it was already healed and now I have a crooked finger!). Anyway, I decided to revisit this story to see if my memory of it is in tact, so I read the book and then re-watched the movie. The book is actually very good - it's an easy read, and is obviously quite suspenseful. And the implications of pedophilia were completely lost on my as a child, but really disturbing. 

6. The Lost Daughter, Elena Ferrante - I like this book, but I'm a little shocked that I liked the movie a lot more. First, the pivotal line "children are a crushing responsibility" is not in the book. Second, the last line of dialogue is changed as well (I won't spoil it), but I prefer the movie version. There is just something in the novel that made me disconnect with this terrible woman, while the film did the opposite. It's a quick read, though, and the story is still very interesting with a lot of discussion on motherhood and womanhood in general. 

7. The Anamoly, Herve Le Tellier - What a fantastic sci-fi premise! It kind of reminds me of that terrible tv show Manifest but with an even crazier premise. This could totally be made into a tv series with multiple seasons (each season could focus on a different character?). The character introductions are really quick, but brilliantly done. It's probably my favorite book that I've read in 2021 (aside from The Talented Mr. Ripley, but I feel like it doesn't count as much because I already knew the story?? Does that make sense?). I could not put this book down, quite literally. I don't really want to say too much, because I don't want to spoil anything, but I think if you like shows like Lost and Fringe, then you'll love this story as much as I did. 

8. Inventing the Abbotts and Other Stories, Sue Miller - I love Inventing the Abbotts (very underrated 90s movie starring Billy Crudup, Liv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix). The book is exactly how I remember the movie - a little rebellious love story with differences in class and social status as a backdrop. It's lovely. The other stories range from also lovely to downright bizarre. I think my favorite one was "Appropriate Affect", which is about a woman who has a stroke and it changes her personality, and "Slides" which was about a divorced couple who fight over some risque pictures taken during their marriage. A lot of the stories have themes of lonliness, "other"-ness, and identity. But some stories seem pointless and felt very empty. 

9. Crossings, Alex Landragin - The structure of the book is wild - you can read it in different orders (one way is front to back creating a few short stories or you can read it by following the page numbers at the bottom and it's a complete story.). The gimmick got me though, as it's why I bought it. But unfortunately, it's not a fun read. Like, I think I actually hated most of it. And I definitely hated every character, so after reading it the "normal" way (front to back), I would never ever want to read it...again??? No fucking way. 

10. Bluebird, Bluebird, Attica Locke - I liked this. It's an easy read, with some interesting look at racism not only in small-town America, but among the police force (the Texas Rangers to be specific). I like the way the mystery unfolds, in many expected and unexpected ways. The characters are fully thought out, and it feels very grounded in a heartbreaking reality. 

11. Live By Night, Dennis Lehane - The book is far better than the movie (the only Ben Affleck directed movie that is just plain awful). I decided that I wanted to read a few Lehane books because some of the movies based on his books are excellent (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, The Drop), but I'm not sure why I chose this as my introduction since I hated the movie? I did really like the book though, and definitely plan on reading more of his work. There's definitely a lot of stuff in it that I don't remember being in the movie. Also, there is a weird publishing defect in my book in which the page goes from 182 back to 151 for about 30 pages (repeating itself for 30 pages). How did nobody catch that? I looked it up and couldn't find anything about it. I thought the main character was having a flashback for a second and then I was like...no that doesn't make sense. 

12. An Artist in a Floating World, Kazuo Ishiguro - Beautifully written, but probably my least favorite of the Ishiguro books that I've read so far. It's similar to The Remains of the Day, in that it's about someone who is kind of a cog in a wheel, so to speak, with politics and war surrounding him - he just continues to do his duties. There are a lot of interesting little moments in it - I particularly like his interactions with his grandson and wanting to take him to a movie that might not be appropriate, just to have that memory. I think a lot of the background stuff went over my head a little bit - I'm not as well-versed in Asian history as I would like to be. 

13. American Pastoral, Phillip Roth - There are parts of this book that I love - as I felt the same with the film. But a LOT of it is very...long-winded. It just goes on and on and it's hard to find the point sometimes. It really messed up my entire reading schedule for the year because I was on such a roll with reading - and then it took me, like, 3 months to get through this. And I don't like to read more than one book at once. It just didn't hold my interest. I like the history of NJ (Newark, in particular - which used to be one of the most productive industrial areas in the country), the intricacies of being a Jewish family during this time, and the love/hate relationship with what it means to be an American. I also find the father/daughter relationship that is at the heart of the book really interesting and layered. However, there is just so much of it that I find unnecessary and dull even. 

14. Daisy Jones and the Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid - Honestly, this is one of the worst books I've ever read. It felt like like YA (which isn't necessarily bad, but in this case, it is), but it's about sex, drugs & rock & roll, so not the subject matter for YA. It's one of those cases where it just tries so fucking hard to be edgy and cool and it fails in every sense of the word. I will admit that I didn't ever imagine the twist (because why would there be a twist?), and the reveal of said twist is done very, very well. I'm not surprised that there is a miniseries version being released this year, and unfortunately, I'm going to watch it (because "starring Riley Keough" is an automatic yes for me). It's just all so cliched and it's been done many, many times (it's basically Almost Famous but bad). 

15. The Sandman, Neil Gaiman (Audiobook) - Not sure I should include this in a "read" list, since it's an audiobook, but I'm going to do it anyway. This is actually *my first* audiobook! I'm not really a fan, just as I'm not a fan of podcasts or any kind of talk radio. It usually causes an instant headache for me (something about listening to people talk without seeing them just doesn't work well for my brain). But, I wanted to listen to this for one simple, very predictable reason: Taron Egerton is the voice of Constantine AND James McAvoy is Morpheus. My two loves, together, in one project. They both have the most lovely voices, too, so it seemed like perfect casting. I'm sad that Egerton is barely in it, but his part is definitely the highlight (and I think he should get cast as Constantine in a live project - I'm not an expert on the intricacies of British accents, but I read several reviews that say that he nails the Scouse accent. He's far better suited for Constantine than for Wolverine in my opinion). Anyway, as for the rest of it - it's very long. But I did enjoy it, for the most part. It feels very epic and grand, the characters are all given time to shine, and it successfully creates this world of dreams and gods with a mix of grounded realism and fantastical imagination. Some of the voice casting is a little odd - Kat Dennings as Death is a choice (and I love her usually!) and some of the chapters feel unnecessary, but overall I liked it. Looking forward to the next part of the series. 

4 Thoughts on The Golden Globes

1. The Host - I don't know much about Jerrod Carmichael, but he started off the show very strong. It felt very real & honest, and discussed the controversy surrounding the Globes and the HFPA upfront without holding back. "I'm here because I'm black" is probably the line of the night. I had such high hopes for the rest of the show, but it felt a little like Carmichael got lost along the way and seemed annoyed that he had to continue telling jokes. Most of his jokes towards the end fell flat (like really, really flat). However, I am a fan for life due to his Scientology quip. It was a ballsy move - joking about Tom Cruise returning his Golden Globes and offering to use them as collateral for the return of Shelly Miscavige. There have been a few hosts who dared to make fun of Scientology (Ricky Gervais definitely never held back), but I can't think of anyone who said something so direct and accusatory. And he did it right before introducing Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick co-stars, which is even more ballsy (the complicity angle is always interesting - we're all complicit. Tom Cruise continues to make blockbuster films and people will trip over themselves to work with him, and we continue to watch! Just one big cycle of what-the-fuck!). Anyway, I just thought he lost his steam and the whole show took a deep dive. I also think the piano elevator music was so weird. I appreciated how much Jerrod kept trying to hype her up - she's definitely talented but it just didn't work for an awards show. 

2. The Show - So the show was kind of awkward, as I expected it to be. There's this weird line that nobody wants to cross, but most did. I saw so many people on "film twitter" absolutely refusing to support this awards show, only to have them give-in and ultimately support the show. I get it. I was always going to watch it, to be honest. Not only am I an awards show junkie, but I love the Golden Globes, in particular. I love that they honor both film and television, and I love that they separate comedy from drama (if only they actually awarded things in the proper category though!). The celebrities tend to get drunk and it feels a little more like a party than the Oscar telecast. I'm a fan. But I was expecting this year to be fairly low-key and a quiet event. I was surprised at how many celebrities actually showed up! They got Brad Pitt and RIHANNA?? And they didn't even win?? That's kind of hilarious (I was at least expecting them to present something? But...nope). And the people who did win took it very seriously. The speeches were so, so long! After the first two wins, I was like "oh fuck this is going to be one long-ass award show". I think it was hilarious that they kept trying to play off the winners and it just...didn't work at all. The speeches were all fine. People love to cry about some sappy speech (seems to be Ke Huy Quan this year), but I like more of a Colin Farrell type speech - he just seems far more genuine than most actors of his caliber (and he's a Blonde fan! He gets it.). Don't even get me started on Austin Butler. I rolled my eyes hard when he started talking in his Elvis voice and I thought okay...enough of the bit, but he just kept going. And then he had the audacity to pretend like he didn't know he was doing it. Fuck off with that nonsense. Actors are so fucking weird and pretentious, but he is far too new to the game to get away with it. I thought it was weird to give Ryan Murphy a lifetime achievement award for 25 years of television (sorry...I feel like lifetime awards should be for like 40+ years of achievements), but it felt fitting given the trouble that the HFPA have been in, to award it to someone who actively finds diverse talent and projects to support. And there is no denying that Murphy has changed the television landscape (in a mostly good way) even if some of his latest projects have felt empty. Eddie Murphy is definitely deserving of a lifetime award, so that was nice to see as well. The presenters were mostly dull. The only one I remember is Regina Hall accepting the award on Kevin Costner's behalf - initially making fun of the dumb teleprompter telling her what to say but then realizing that he was effected by the deadly floods in California and had to shelter in place. The look on her face as she read it was so priceless. I've watched it like a dozen times because it's that perfect and just so fucking funny. 

3. The Winners (& Losers) - There are a lot of talented people that won this year. I think my favorite wins are: 1. Jeremy Allen White - who was incredible for the better part of a decade on Shameless and was always completely ignored. He is so good in The Bear. He brings the same vulnerability and authenticity to the role, and I'm so glad that he is getting recognized now. 2. Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin. I'm crossing all my fingers & toes that this translates to an Oscar. I think he'll for sure get the nomination, but if Austin Butler beats him I'm going to bang my head against a wall. Farrell has given us 20+ years of wonderful performances. He's due. (also Butler & Farrell should switch their categories? Isn't Elvis considered a musical? Or close enough, at least? That's the part of Elvis that Butler excelled in - he blew those performances away, it's the rest of the film in which he's bland. And Banshees is definitely a dark comedy, but I feel like, in terms of acting, it's a dramatic performance). 3. Paul Walter Hauser for Black Bird. Obviously I wanted Taron to win (UGH and I knew Evan Peters was going to be a threat as soon as I started Dahmer, but I truly think Taron is better - there is no way you can watch ep 5 of Black Bird and tell me that any of those actors are better), but PWH is the more consistent performance in the series. I can't believe that I just listed out my fave winners and they are three straight white men (I AM PART OF THE PROBLEM). There are some other great wins of course - Angela Bassett (Queen! Someone please save her from that 911 show!). "Naatu Naatu" is an incredible song - just full of joy, and I so hope it's performed live at the Oscars. I've written about my love of Amanda Seyfriend's performance in The Dropout already, but I'm glad she got another award for it. Michelle Yeoh deserves the award for her entire body of work (although the more I think about that movie, the more I don't love it - the only awards I would give it are for Stephanie Hsu and for Costume Design). The line in her speech "It was a dream come true until I got here", cuts really deep, though. But there are also, as always, some really what-the-fuck wins. Like House of the Dragon OVER Better Call Saul, Severance and The Crown??? Get the fuck out of here. I like Jennifer Coolidge a lot, but she plays herself on The White Lotus (Niecy Nash is incredible in Dahmer and definitely should have won. Without question.), and the show is not award-worthy good (although the second season is better than the first. And I'm saying this as someone who enjoyed the show!). I don't really have any comment on all the Abbott Elementary wins. I have it on my list, but I keep seeing commercials for it that are not funny, so it keeps moving down the list (although my bff watches it and tells me every day that it's hilarious). 

4. The Fashion - My favorite look of the night is, hands down, Salma Hayek. HOLY FUCK. I don't even really like the dress, but she just looks incredible. My other favorite, of course, is Lily James. The dress is gorgeous and the red is jaw-dropping, but it needed a good steaming (I'm sure it was steamed but then sitting in the limo wrinkled it). I also appreciated that she was sitting next to Taron's table because when they would pan to the audience her dress stood out, so I could immediately find my husband (super convenient). And speaking of my husband, can I also say that his mom looked stunning!! I know it doesn't count, but I'm counting it because she looked better than most of the celebrities. I also liked Jenna Ortega's dress, but her haircut made her look a little matronly. Niecy Nash wore a very flattering dress - it just hugged her perfectly even though it's not exactly my style. Oh and Hannah Einbinder looked wonderful in that retro black and white dress. Super cute. I always like when the guys wear something other than a black tux, but some went a little too far (Andrew Garfield looked like a literal pumpkin). The worst is pretty obvious - Heidi Klum can usually look great in a garbage bag, but this looks was horrendous - it was like a figure skater ran over a muppett. I also did not like Anya Taylor-Joy's two-piece - I expected something more impactful and it didn't even look like it fit her (the skirt had too much material in the waist). 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Black Adam - I wasn't really looking forward to this for multiple reasons - and it started way before the bad reviews started rolling in. I like The Rock in certain projects (pretty much the family adventure films he's done, like Jumanji and Jungle Cruise), but he's in wayyyyy too many things now. He's not a very good actor, which isn't always necessary in comic book movies, but I feel like it is in this case because it's not part of an ensemble. He's the lead, and he needs to be charismatic (he's not). Also, I think the release of this felt a little bit pointless because it was super clear that DC were going to reboot themselves (they had no choice, really), so even when they made the announcement of Cavill returning as Supes, I was really skeptical. It just didn't make any sense whatsoever. I don't even think they should release The Flash, at this point - just take the L (it's a big expensive L, but releasing it will be embarrassing). I don't know why people are still so attached to this universe - so much of it has ranged from mediocre to terrible. I don't see how anyone can deny that? And yet...! Anyway, I think Gunn is the perfect person to put in charge of creating a new cinematic DC universe - he's super passionate about comics, has a clear vision, and all of his projects have been fun (Guardians, Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad - all a blast!). I know none of this has to do with this movie, but I feel like even reviewing it is pointless? It's awful. On every level. The Justice Society are filled to the brim with the blandest characters I've ever seen in a comic book movie (and I say this as a big fan of Aldis Hodge, but fuck me he is absolutely awful in this). The plot doesn't even really make sense nor is it interesting. And Black Adam is one of those characters that has a different superpower every time I blink, which makes him very, very boring. And the whole "heroes don't kill people" is moronic. Do they not think there is collateral damage every time they have those huge fights with thousands of people around? Like when Cyclone does her little weather phenomenon, a piece of furniture doesn't go flying through the air and hit an innocent person? Like, can we just assume that A LOT of people die during these fights and movie on? It's a movie. 

2. BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths - Not gonna lie, I rolled my eyes hard at this title. Just so pretentious. But I'm a huge fan of Alejandro G. Innaritu. I've mentioned it before but I feel like I definitely don't talk about it enough - 21 Grams is one of my all-time favorite movies. It was a life-changing experience when I saw it in the theater 20 years ago. I had the poster on my wall for years. I'm also a big fan of Amores Perros. As for his more recent films, I think they all have moments of brilliance - but none compare to those two. I liked this movie, a lot, but it didn't make my Top 10 which I expected it to (probably in Top 20, though - and I think the Screenplay is among my favorite of the year). I love movies that play with perspective, "truth", and memories. It's *most definitely* self-indulgent, but it's the point as it's a partial autobiography. I think it handles the loss of a baby in a really beautiful way. It just has to be the most painful experience imaginable, and Innaritu pulling from personal experience really made the emotion and underlying sadness of the characters feel really authentic. The "closure" scene is so hard to watch, but it's absolutely stunning - just unforgettable imagery. I also like his grappling with fame and feeling the loss of his Mexican identity. Unfortunately, because of the length, I started to lose interest. This is a rare time in which I will concede that watching it in a theater would have been better. At a theater, I would have been forced to pay attention, but at home, my mind wanders (Did I get the mail? I'm hungry, I should make a snack. Oooooh Lily wants to play with her springs! The mess by the door has been bothering me for days, let me clean that up real quick. etc.). The dialogue kept pulling me back in, but I know at a theater, I would have been more focused and I would have loved every second of it. 

3. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - Another dumb title. I totally agree with Rian, it did not need the Knives Out attached to it; anyone that is a fan of the first will recognize this as the sequel. But also, they lost a partial audience specific to Netflix (of people who may have not watched the first, but feel like they need to before watching this. Which isn't necessary at all as it's a completely different story). I wasn't the biggest fan of Knives Out. I enjoyed it, sure, it's a solid murder mystery, but the way people rave about it is really crazy. I wanted it to be a bit more fun, embrace the campiness a little more, etc. I wasn't that excited for this because at least with Knives Out, I love the cast. Not so much with this one (going in to it: love Kathryn Hahn & Janelle Monae. Daniel Craig was the least interesting character in the first, aside from his weird accent. But Kate Hudson and Leslie Odom Jr? Should they really be seen in the same room together after that Music disaster? And Jessica Hardwick was awful in The Grey Man. One of the worst acting performances of 2022. Edward Norton can very easily tip into the over-acting scale), but I'm happy to say that they all work really well together. I think everyone's highlight is Janelle Monae, but mine is the relative newcomer, Madelyn Cline. It must have been overwhelming to be among this super-cast, but she holds her own brilliantly. The beginning is a little shaky (that puzzle invitation is Ridiculous with a capital R), and watching all the "look at me, I'm rich" stuff is really tiring. It's very obvious that the "murder" he is investigating is not the actual "murder", and I think it's fairly obvious as to who invited Blanc to the island. I'm glad that they don't drag this out, and cut to the chase very quickly ("I hired Gillian Flynn" is hilarious). And then *major spoiler alert although it's probably been spoiled because some dumbass on twitter criticized it and instead of everyone ignoring him, they retweeted him endlessly as some sort of burn*, there is a complete misdirect and we get to the actual mystery. It is sort of true that the whole first hour of the movie is a little pointless, but I find it interesting to revisit those conversations and interactions under different a different context. It's weird that people assume that it's trying to be "complex and self-important", when the title is literally Glass Onion. It's not that deep. It's a movie. Have fun!

4. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio - Well, this seems to be a post all about film titles, because it's weird to attach the director's name to a movie title, and yet, it seems totally acceptable here. The audience automatically knows that they are in for a new version of this classic story - a darker, deeper story with incredible visuals. I absolutely loved it. The passion that del Toro has for filmmaking is incredible and he shows it here. I think I've been hyper-critical of del Toro's most recent films because they've all felt way too referential and...unoriginal, which is disappointing coming from someone who is beyond creative (Nightmare Alley was obviously a remake, but it also copied the tv show Carnivale. The Shape of Water is obviously inspired by The Creature of the Black Lagoon but it also felt deeply "inspired by" Amalie. Even Crimson Peak, while beautiful, didn't seem any different than any other ghost story.). But with this, del Toro seemed to embrace the concept, taking one of the most well-known stories of all-time and making it his. It didn't feel like anything I've ever seen before, even though these are well-known characters, with well-known dialogue and plot points. The stop-motion animation is STUNNING. It truly feels magical, innovative, and epic. Ewan McGregor has a lovely voice for animation and I adore the song at the end. Overall, the whole thing is just lovely.

5. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris - I mean, I guess I'll stick to the theme here and mention the title, because it's super cute (and catchy)! And it's very fitting for the movie. The premise is fairly simple, but it's a super cute movie with some lovely moments and a very likeable main character. I'm not exactly an expert on designer fashion, but I do have an interest in it. And as someone who works in retail (currently for a company that sells higher end fashion, including some excusive designer fashion), I can see, firsthand, how a great dress can transform someone's mood. I know for myself that if I wear a colorful, fun dress to work, my mindset will be "happier" (and honestly, getting compliments throughout your day is never a bad feeling - and it's also how I approach customer service/striking up a conversation. Just find something to compliment and people instantly talk to you and trust you). This may seem like a tangent but it's directly related to this movie because I completely understand that feeling of falling in love with a dress and feeling like having that dress will make your life better (the term "retail therapy" exists for a reason). And that Dior dress that she falls in love with is stunning - the lavender color, the beadwork, the flowers - just so much detail. The story becomes a little predictable, and some of the characters feel a little one-note (Isabel Huppert is such a great bitch, though). The ending is a little ridiculous (lending the dress is a great message about being kind and giving back, but there is no way they would wear the same size...). Overall, though, I really liked this. I have a really crazy side note, though, that is probably going to make me seem like a judgmental bitch, but whatever. So, I couldn't figure out how I recognized the model in this, and IMDB didn't really help because her biggest project is called Warrior Nun (LOL), but then I realized Alba Baptista is Chris Evans' new girlfriend and I was just talking about her with my husband the day before I watched this. I was telling him how I think it's CRAZY that the guy trying to take down all the NFT/Crypto crap is none other than my soulmate Ryan Atwood. And how he wrote a book about it and isn't scared to call out all of the celebrities who are promoting that crap. I then went on a whole tangent about how he's also married to one of the most beautiful women alive (Morena Baccarin) and my husband said "well of course he is, all those movie stars only date the most beautiful women" and that's just not true at all. And I used Chris Evans as an example because I heard about his new girlfriend and I googled her and was like...."um....really?". He could literally have any woman in the world, so I was a little shocked. He didn't believe me, so I showed him her picture (I even picked a good one) and he said "you're so judgmental, she's really cute!" UM "really cute" and "one of the most gorgeous women in the world" are not comparable. "Would you look at her if she passed you in the street?" "Well, no probably not". EXACTLY. So, my point is that Ben McKenzie is really playing his A-game, living his best life, and definitely married up (I'm so happy for him!). I feel bad that I used Alba as an example to prove my point, but it is what it is. This is the first thing I've seen her in and she's very cute. Cute enough for me to look up who she was at least. That video of them scaring each other is nauseating and they seem like the kind of couple who call each other "babe" (fucking kill me), but whatever floats their boat. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Emily the Criminal - I saw that this got fairly decent reviews, so my expectations were pretty high and it definitely didn't deliver. It's very mediocre. I appreciate that Aubrey Plaza has broken free of her Parks & Rec character, but her performances don't always work for me. This is one of those times - I winced at her New Jersey accent and there is something off with her timing (like she's trying to remember her lines? I hate that. Timothee Chalamet (Chamalet?? I still don't know which one is correct and I don't care enough to look it up) does it too and it drives me insane). I also LOVE Theo Rossi but whatever accent he is doing here is quite shockingly bad. The plot and pace kind of has an Uncut Gems quality to it, but then it loses steam instead of intensifying. There's really not much else to say about it, but I do have stuff to say about the "criminal" part as someone who has worked in retail for 20+ years. First of all, I'm pretty sure most retail companies have forgone background checks. You fill out an application and check the "I consent to a background check", but it's never actually done (same for reference checks). I'm told it isn't cost effective. My point is, if you have a checkered past, you can still get a job in retail just by smiling and being pleasant in an interview. Work your way up, and *boom* you can make a decent living. Second, most large retailers do not let you swipe cards anymore? At least in NJ? You have to have a card with a chip unless it's like an Amex/Visa type gift card. Which is why most stolen credit card information is used online now not in stores. I just can't see a retailer letting someone *swipe* a card for a large purchase like a television. Third, I know most people see stealing from retailers as a "victimless" crime, but it really sucks for the staff - we have goals for how much "loss" is acceptable within a year and if we don't hit the goal they actually cut hours (which doesn't make sense because then there is even less people to watch for theft), but that means less money for the staff and eventually if the store doesn't hit their goal for multiple years they will close the store (and people lose their jobs). Side-note: my store came in # 6 for the lowest amount of loss in the entire company (IN NEW JERSEY), and I'm convinced that people don't steal from us because we are too nice (CUSTOMER SERVICE BABY). Of course we do have people who do some shady shit (mostly fake returns - so they don't actually swipe the merchandise from us, they just return it to our store - which hurts the company but not our store specifically). Anyway, none of this is about the actual movie, but thought I would give some insight from a retailer perspective. Probably more interesting than watching this, to be honest. 

2. Spirited - This is a cute holiday movie. I can see it being added to the rotation of Christmas movies and I don't mind it. It's pretty much an updated version of A Christmas Story. I like that the musical numbers are very traditional feeling as opposed to the Hamilton style rapping that has seemingly taken over a lot of musicals nowadays (none of them do it right, not even Hamilton - sorry, I hate it so much. I know I'm a minority in this). The "Good Afternoon" number is probably my favorite, but they are all fun. I'm not the biggest Ryan Reynolds fan, and I do think he's the weakest link here (and the many references to him being hot just really blow my mind). The highlight is surprisingly Tracy Morgan as the Yet-To-Come spirit voice ("I'm tired of being the guy who points at stuff!" LOL). There are some fun cameos (*spoiler*** the Judy Dench one is the best. I laughed out loud. And Rose Byrne in the beginning as "Karen" who is a very typical "Karen". I truly feel bad for people named Karen, now). The only real criticism I have is that it could have been a cool, fun 90 minute holiday classic, but they added in 40 whole minutes of absolute fluff. It's dragged out waaaaaay too long. 

3. Top Gun: Maverick - The popularity of this film, honestly, is insane. Actually, not the general popularity, but the popularity among film people is what is most surprising. I've seen it listed on practically everyone's Top 10 list. t's not a bad movie, but it's certainly not great. I wasn't really the biggest fan of the original one (again, it's okay?). There is just nothing special about this, it's incredibly predictable (I felt like I could recite every line of dialogue before the characters said it), and it is *most definitely* pro-war, pro-military propaganda (and like super, duper GO AMERICA GO energy). I also didn't really find it very fun? And WORST OF ALL, I'm not attracted to not even ONE of those men! Miles Teller looks ridiculous with that mustache and those blonde streaks. Glen Powell is a cutie (and so funny in Scream Queens - definitely the best part of that show), but there is something about him that is too wholesome for me. I've never liked Tom Cruise. In fact, I actively don't like him as a person and he's only given a total of *one* truly great performance. I will concede that he is very charming and likeable, and always gives every performance 100% (I will let you do the guessing as to what the *one* truly great performance is...). I do really, really, like both Jay Ellis and Manny Jacinto but neither are given much to do (did Manny even have any lines????). OH WAIT, I guess there is someone in the cast who I'm attracted to - Jennifer fucking Connelly. How does she keep getting hotter??? It's so unfair. Anyway, this movie is the epitome of average to me. *shrugs shoulders*

4. The Banshees of Inisherin - I think I wanted to like this more than I did, but I still really liked it. There's just a tinge of disappointment, though, which is frustrating because it's more about expectations than the actual movie. I love that people seem to be appreciating Colin Farrell more this year (he's had an incredible year with this, After Yang, The Batman, and Thirteen Lives. Completely different genres and roles, and he's brilliant in all of them). Martin McDonagh has directed one of my favorite movies of the last decade (and perhaps ever? It's probably among my top 20 all-time), and I know you're expecting me to say In Bruges (although released longer than a decade ago, still probably his most well-received), but I'm talking about Seven Psychopaths. I love it so much. It's endlessly rewatchable, smart and layered, really funny with not only laugh out loud moments, but also some very dark and subtle humor. And that cast. Anyway, I obviously love In Bruges too, and Three Billboards is very good but suffered the same fate for me (I wanted it to be better than it is). There are some really lovely moments in this that are somehow heartbreakingly sad, while still being hopeful and resonating. The one that seems to be shared a lot is the "well there goes that dream" scene, which honestly only works because of Barry Keoghan's brilliant performance. He is the standout in this for me. Just every movement, expression, inflection in his voice feels intentional but authentic - and I don't think a lot of actors can successfully accomplish this without it feeling forced. I think there is a lot of interesting dialogue, not only about friendship and loneliness, but about leaving a legacy in the world vs being a kind and good person to the world in front of you. It's hard to admit it, but in the past, I've done exactly what Gleeson's character does. I dropped people from my life - specifically, when I left my hometown and went to college. I stopped talking to my best friends for no real reason other than I wanted to start fresh, and I felt like they were holding me back from doing that. It was incredibly selfish and hurtful, I realize that now. But I also see a lot of people who still talk to their high school friends 20+ years later, even though they have nothing in common and they don't even really like each other. It feels so forced and it doesn't really make much sense to me. But I'm also a loner, and having more than like 5 friends seems like way too much energy. Anyway, as I've gotten older, I've realized that being kind is probably *the* single most important attribute to ones personality. It's not always the easiest, and in some cases it's not a natural instinctual reaction, but people will remember you for it. I promise. 

5. Ticket to Paradise - It's crazy to me that there is a rom-com starring Julia Roberts & George Clooney and it barely made any money and nobody is talking about that as a problem (and yet Amsterdam and Babylon are getting lambasted even though they are both films that are not really marketed to non-film people. When I think about "non-film" people, I always use my mom as an example. Would my mom want to see this? And the answer is definitely no for both Amsterdam and Babylon, but most definitely a yes for this, and I guarantee you she doesn't know this movie exists). The even crazier thing is that it's actually really cute! My mom would love it! And Kaitlyn Dever is in it! She's so good (and very perfect casting). I like that the plot is about enjoying your life and being present in the moment, versus living the life that is expected. I do think that this is a privilege that only people with money can really enjoy, but I think a lot of people with money don't take advantage of this. Seriously, if I had money like this, I would just travel around the world and lay on every beach I could find. Instead, people tend to just find ways to...make more money...that they aren't even enjoying? Makes zero sense to me (but also I stand by the advice that my uncle gave me, which is to seriously sit down and figure out what you want in life, how much money that costs. Find that "number" and once you have that "number" or are on the path to that "number", sit back and enjoy it. Basically, find your "enough"; instead of constantly stressing yourself out to have "more than enough". I recently took a step down at work, which baffled a lot of people, but when I analyzed my financial well-being vs my mental well-being, I realized that the lower position was still "enough" money, but the stress level was infinitely less. Seemed like a no-brainer.). I'm on a tangent, shocking, I know, but I think this movie has a a lovely lesson, and a whole lot of heart. Clooney and Roberts have obvious chemistry, and seem to have a lot of fun together. The scene with them dancing to the "old people" music like "Gonna Make You Sweat" and "Jump Around" is hilarious. The best part is, by far, the bloopers in the credits (usually this only happens with bad movies, now, but this one is an exception). - the Batman prank is gold, but also Julia's quip "It's just George Clooney, we have another one" made me laugh so hard. 

Best and Worst Films of 2022

Here it is! My best & worst of 2022. This year I've seen 100+ new releases, which isn't a lot compared to other film enthusiasts, but definitely a lot for me (next year I plan on catching up on some missed classics instead of focusing on new releases). Out of those new releases, I only rated 9 of them 4 stars. Some people may assume that I just don't like films very much, but it's quite the opposite. I'm just very critical! Hence the name! Anyway, I do think that it's been a good year, but a lot of my favorite films this year were critically panned. I guess that happens sometimes.... 

Best 

1. After Yang

2. Triangle of Sadness

3. Men

4. Resurrection

5. Everything Everywhere All at Once

6. Emergency

7. Blonde

8. The Banshees of Inisherin 

9. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio 

10. The Fallout

Worst 

1. The Weekend Away

2. They/Them

3. Blackout

4. Firestarter

5. The Bubble

6. Last Seen Alive

7. Morbius

8. Umma

9. Spiderhead

10. Memory 

There are still quite a few films that I haven't had the chance to see yet (Aftersun, Till, Women Talking, She Said, The Whale, Decision to Leave to name a few...) so check back in July for my updated list, as per usual!