3 Thoughts on First Man

1. Chazelle - This is incredible work for someone so new to the scene. It's not my favorite of his - I prefer La La Land from a technical perspective and Whiplash from a story-telling perspective. But First Man has everything one could want from a fairly straight-forward biopic about Neil Armstrong. I read a critic (or film blogger, I can't remember who it was to give proper credit) who commented that Armstrong was a boring man who did one extraordinary thing, and at first I thought that was incredibly insulting, but it's honestly pretty truthful. Now, I guess we probably should re-examine the word "boring" as an insult because, let's be honest, a lot of "boring" people get shit done. Chazelle's films are so different that it's hard to see the most glaring similarity - all 3 of them are about people overcoming obstacles to accomplish a "mission", so-to-speak. There are a few things about the story that I really appreciated - the two that come to my head right away are the use of silence once in space (it's sublime) and that they don't dramatize the tension between Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (it's there, but not focused on at all). There are also some things I could have done without (I groaned out loud with the whole bracelet thing. I knew it was coming, but I was hoping it wouldn't end that cheesily) and I could have easily cut 30 minutes of the film (making it tighter, a little more tense, and efficient - as I think Armstrong would have wanted). Overall though, it's my favorite film of the year so far, and will likely make it to my Top 10 - which makes Chazelle 3 for 3. There's clearly influences - from Spielberg to Nolan to Greengrass, and I don't think Chazelle has his own style quite yet, but he's got plenty of time.

2. Gosling - Not Gosling's best performance (we all know what his best work is and will likely always be), but still pretty solid. He's smart in sticking to roles that best suit him (it's either quiet and reserved or charming and smug, he's brilliant at both). I admit that when this was first announced, I could not picture it. Even though the role fits to his strengths, I didn't believe that he could pull it off. I still believe that someone else might have been better suited to the role, but I can't really think of a specific actor that would have a similar appearance and be in that age range. I will be frustrated if this earns him an Oscar nomination, though.


3. Foy - The standout performance is clearly Claire Foy. Just brilliant. She took a simple, cliched "supportive housewife" role and set the bar for every actress going forward. I thought it would be hard to see her as anything other than The Queen (which she does perfectly), but she proved me wrong with Unsane. Wouldn't it be awesome if she was nominated for Actress (for Unsane) and Supporting Actress (for First Man)? And what if she won both of them? Has that ever happened before? Interesting thought. Anyway, the rest of the cast is also wonderful - whatever happened to Patrick Fugit? He was so popular after Almost Famous (an overrated movie, in my opinion) and then he just...disappeared. Also, it is practically a given that this film will get nominated for an Oscar simply because Coach Taylor is in it and he has been an Oscar Lucky Charm for a few years now (Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Carol, Manchester by the Sea). His agent is very smart.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Tag - I'm not really sure what to make of this movie. It's much darker and actually really fucked up. Yet, the concept is actually really funny (and oddly based on a true story) and the cast is unexpected. I like the idea of casting non-comedic actors (like Jeremy Renner) in roles like this - he's like super "serious" and he plays to that perfectly. I don't usually like Hannibal Buress (I've never seen his stand-up, though), because his line delivery is always off, but it works really well in this. I think he's the only reason I laughed through the entire movie. It definitely could have been funnier. And also, there are certain things that just aren't funny - no matter how hard you try, so this movie hits a very sensitive topic and suddenly becomes very problematic. I feel like it should come with a trigger warning - and usually I would be against something so ridiculous, but in this case, when you are watching a COMEDY you don't really expect to be blindsided by something that could have possibly caused you recent trauma. (****soooo spoiler and also trigger warning****this movie contains multiple mean-spirited "jokes" about having a miscarriage. It's not even something that offends me personally, but I just know so many people who are dealing with this and I just kept thinking while watching this "Gosh, I hope they don't see this". ).

2. Murder on the Orient Express - I've not read the book, nor have I seen the film version from the 70s (although I had no idea it was Sidney Lumet - might have to move it up the list now). Honestly, I wasn't a fan of this movie. It was very beautiful (more on that later), and has a dream cast, but I felt like it took itself too seriously for such a ridiculous plot and even more ridiculous accents. I wish it was more like Once Upon a Crime....(OMG remember that movie?! It was so great. I was a huge fan of John Candy, as was everyone at that time. I watched Once Upon a Time and Uncle Buck so many times that I could recite every line). This movie was just so hard to pay attention to; I actually had to look up the plot on Wikipedia because I had no idea what was going on (and it wasn't because it was complicated, just boring). However, those tracking shots...aaahhhhh...those gorgeous tracking shots. I could watch those on a loop for hours on end. That's probably the only nice thing I have to say about it. The cinematography alone makes it a 3 star movie. And to comment on the Johnny Depp thing (because I've avoided commenting on it), I 100% believe Amber Heard (I also adore her!), but I also 100% think Johnny is an addict and he needs help. Like right now. I will never make excuses for abuse, but completely labeling someone as a horrible person isn't exactly the right move. I've grown up watching Johnny since 21 Jump Street, and it's heartbreaking to see what he's turned into. I hope someone in his life can make a positive impact.

3. Molly's Game - First, how perfect is Jessica Chastain? Second, how was she overlooked for an Oscar nomination for this role? Is it because she made it seem so easy? Because that's what makes it so good. She's just stunning. The movie, however, is just ok. I think the memoir by Molly Bloom is probably really interesting (adding to the list!), but for some reason the movie just doesn't stand out. Maybe it's because everyone else is so dull? Like Idris Elba? I love him in most things, but every once in a while he's in a terrible role and he just can't overcome it (ahem...Pacific Rim). And what is Michael Cera doing in this movie? He will never be taken seriously as an adult, or a "serious" dramatic actor. Just never going to happen. I think I was also waiting for a twist? Or something? It just felt very linear and dull, but as if it was building to something really great that never happened. It did make me feel even more anger than I already do at the fucking male entitlement showcased. Also, Poker is still totally a male dominated game, and that sucks because I love it but I never feel comfortable playing because men always assume that I don't know what I'm doing.

4. Chappaquiddick - I think it's always interesting to make a movie about a true story in which the truth was never discovered. It's also hard to make a movie about one of the most powerful families in America - balancing out the "truth" while also avoiding any kind of possibility of defamation lawsuits is probably the hardest task with this story (which is why this is so tricky - it's like making a movie about Natalie Wood's death from the perspective of Robert Wagner without accusing him of murder. And let's be honest, he did it...). This story follows Ted Kennedy on the day of the infamous death of Mary Jo Kopechne. It mostly sticks to Kennedy's testimony and other facts about the case. However, because it never strays into the "what ifs", it does a bit of a disservice to the victim. I just don't believe that anyone would wait 10 hours to report an accident in which someone died - and that 2 other got people involved but also did not report it. There was OBVIOUSLY a reason that they waited, and it was to get their "facts" straight. And because they OBVIOUSLY lied about these "facts", the actual facts remain extremely muddled. I do have a problem with them advertising the movie as "the untold true story", because everything the movie presents are all known "facts" (i.e Kennedy's account of what happened). I also have a problem with Kate Mara's career taking such a step backwards (she should be starring in movies! Get it together people). There are some great moments in this movie, though, specifically the speech at the end, Jason Clarke's uncanny portrayal of Ted Kennedy, and the background news of the moon landing. It's interesting to see how the media can really control the focus, and how essential they are in our knowledge of events - especially when we look at today's constant rotation of news stories (it's incredibly exhausting to keep up). I would be interested to see a different version to this story with multiple perspectives, but I highly doubt that will ever happen.

5. Solo: A Star Wars Story - Honestly, any time I see people online talking about Star Wars, I immediately skip the conversation. People take this shit waaaaay to seriously. You didn't like The Last Jedi? Booo-fuckin'-hoo. Get over it. To actively destroy a franchise that you once loved, harass the actors, and bully people who did like it is downright ridiculous. If you "boycotted" this movie (which ultimately had nothing to do with The Last Jedi), then you missed out on something really fun. I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was really excited by the casting of Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover (not so much for Emilia Clarke. She's terrible. Beautiful, but terrible). But then the previews & trailers just seemed so cheesy and dull and...safe. For the most part, it was pretty safe - it hit all the notes that you expect as a a prequel, but there was just something so satisfying about it - watching it all come together. I think Alden did an amazing job as a young Han Solo, and let's be honest, that's probably one of the most stressful roles a young actor can be offered. The pressure placed on him must have been so mentally heavy, I can't even imagine (although if you pay me a few million dollars I'm sure I can perfect a young Han Solo too. It's not that hard. Just pretend to be a cocky asshole. Done.).

Fall TV Preview: 12 New Shows to Watch

1. Maniac - I'm excited about this show for a few reasons. First and most important, Superbad reunion!!! It's crazy to see how far Jonah Hill and Emma Stone have come in just over a decade. Hill has been nominated for 2 Oscars; Stone has one win and another nomination. I don't think anyone could have predicted that. Second, Cary Fukunaga. I wasn't as much in love with True Detective as everyone else, however - there is a lot of good stuff packed in. I think my expectations for it were just too high. I'm still excited to see how Fukunaga's career progresses (although, I just remembered that he did the It remake too and I thought that movie was garbage soooo....I guess we'll see). Third, the premise looks interesting - pretty much a Black Mirror episode turned into a mini-series.

2. The Kids are Alright - The commercial kind of reminds me of The Wonder Years, but I highly doubt it will come close its quality. My interest only peaked when I saw Michael Cudlitz - a criminally underrated television actor (thank goodness he got away from The Walking Dead. I feel so bad for all of the actors still stuck on that show). He should have several Emmys on his shelf for portraying Officer John Cooper in Southland (possibly in my Top 10 favorite characters of all-time and one of my Top 50 favorite shows of all-time). This show looks completely different from anything I've seen him do, but I have no doubt that he will excel.

3. Manifest - A little bit Lost, a little bit The 4400, a little bit The Returned. It could be great, or it could be a confusing mess. I'm going to give it a chance. I'm always hopeful for a great mystery/sci-fi series. Josh Dallas bores me a little bit, but I haven't written him off completely yet.

4. The Little Drummer Girl - I'm not really sure what this show is about, maybe spy stuff? But it has Michael Shannon, so I'm sold.

5. Mr Inbetween - I tend to enjoy shows that are on FX. They seem to put out good content. I passed over this show at first because it seems like it might be boring. And the "bad guy" is more than just a "bad guy" plot has already reached its peak (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul - it just can't be topped). But because it's on FX, I'm going to give it a try.

6. Escape at Dannemora - This is probably my most anticipated show this year - or I guess, this is classified as a mini-series since it has an end already? But, man, that cast is incredible - Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano. Directed by Ben Stiller. The story is insane, but it ACTUALLY HAPPENED, so the world is just a crazy place. I'm happy with this trend of developing these unbelievable true tales into really incredible and entertaining series (like American Crime Story and Waco) instead of crap Lifetime movies.

7. Homecoming - I have no idea what this is about. I just know that Julia Roberts is coming to television, and that's a big deal. People can no longer argue that television is a "lesser" art form than films, or that an actor taking a television gig are somehow taking a step back in their career (I recently heard this argument about Henry Cavill taking a television role. HOW DUMB ARE YOU?). Honestly, my interest in television has surpassed my interest in films. I barely even go to the movies anymore and I'm not even mad about it.

8. The Romanoffs - I have high hopes for this series - there is just so much story to tell. Great actors (Kerry Bishe! So happy to see her face again. I miss Halt and Catch Fire. It's so weird how attached I became after being so bored with it in the beginning). Also, it's from Matthew Weiner (enough said!).

9. Single Parents - I just can't picture Leighton Meester, a.k.a Blair Waldorf, a.k.a Queen Bee, in an adult role. Like, as a mom. For real? I have to see it to believe it. Also, I think this is the only new comedy that I've added to my list this year so it needs to bring it!

10. The First - So, not only is Julia Roberts joining the television world, but so is Sean Penn! Holy shit. Penn is one of my favorite actors of all-time (yes, I'm aware that he's an asshole. Two things can be true at the same time.). Also, I like the premise of this - especially because I'm currently reading The Martian Chronicles. It's very fitting.

11. Wanderlust - I love Toni Collette in anything and everything. She's just amazing. (Nope, I haven't seen Hereditary yet, but it's on the list for this week). I feel like she is very picky about what she is in, so I trust that the script for this is good (although it doesn't really look like my thing - Ugh, marriage blah blah blah, therapy, blah blah blah).

12. A Million Little Things - There was a very long preview that I happened to see about a month or so ago and I almost burst into tears just from that. It kind of reminds me of a This is Us or Parenthood type show that just is so touching and heartfelt. Sometimes I need a good cry so hopefully it will be a welcomed (but sad) addition to my tv schedule.

4 Thoughts on the Emmy Awards

1. The Host(s) - I have seen some terrible awards show hosts in my day, but these guys might take the cake. First, I have no idea who they are. I don't watch SNL anymore and based on this, I can see that I've made the right decision. Second, that's the guy that Scarlett Johansson (aka one of the most beautiful women in the world) is with??? REALLY? THAT GUY? He looks like a boy band reject and has no personality whatsoever. Third, I don't get it. Was the fact that they looked bored and annoyed the whole time supposed to be funny? Because I think it's rude. And last, they did get something right - the "Reparation Emmy" skit was hilarious, but not because of Michael Che, only because they got absolute legends to go along with it.

2. The Winners & Losers - I'm going to say it. Fuck Game of Thrones. There is no way in Hell that it was the best Drama on television this year, last year, or any other fucking year it's been on. I enjoy the show, but a lot of it is very dull and repetitive, and some of the acting is questionable. Out of the nominated Dramas - The Americans should have won (I got my hopes up when Matthew Rhys won, but Kerri Russell dominated that show, such a shame she wasn't showered with awards). I would have even been happy with The Crown. But, no, Game of Fucking Thrones took home the big award. UGH. Other than that, I wasn't terribly upset about any other wins or losses. Some exceptional talent was nominated, it just keeps getting tougher and tougher to decide what's "best". I still haven't seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel yet (on the list! The massive never-ending list.), but Amy Sherman-Palladino is a joy of a person and Gilmore Girls was brilliantly written, so I have no doubt that she deserves a win. I also have not seen Godless or Barry, but I definitely need to. Speaking of Godless, I had no idea Merritt Wever is in it (moving it up the massive never-ending list now). I was so excited when they called her name because she gave my favorite awards show speech ever ("Thank you so much! I gotta go, bye"), and I was really hoping for something golden (she didn't deliver, but I still love her). My favorite win of the night was definitely Darren Criss. This performance was the most memorable of the year for me (along with Jodie Comer, who wasn't even nominated! UGH).

3. The Show - Just, so, so bad. If it weren't for the proposal, no-one would have talked about it the next day. The opening monologue was way too long and I didn't laugh at all. The "we solved it" skit that opened the show kind of seemed a little demeaning. Plus, it became even more awkward when ONLY WHITE people were winning awards. I think it's much funnier to be honest about how fucked up the entertainment industry is (like with the "Reparation Emmy" skit) than to do a meta skit that basically pats itself on the back (like look how diverse we are, but NOT REALLY, but REALLY). Thandie Newton (love!) had my favorite line of the night "I don't even believe in God, but I'm going to thank her tonight". And I think the only time I laughed out loud was with the Patton Oswald clip (I can't seem to find it, but basically he says something terrible and then says something like "I hope this doesn't get quoted out of context" - hilariously used out of context). Overall, though, this is one of the worst Emmys I've ever seen.

4. The Fashion - UGH, my biggest pet peeve trend for awards show dresses appeared way too many times - how many times do I have to say it, people, big white dresses are not flattering on anyone (not even on your wedding day). I would have loved Jessica Biel's dress if it was in another color. I guess if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Mandy Moore's, just because it's pretty, looks different than everyone else's and it's extremely flattering on her. My least favorite dress, though, was definitely Tracee Ellis Ross. It looked like she wrapped herself in cotton candy.

Thoughts on 5 New Shows

1. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan - I've only seen the first two episodes so far, but I'm in. I enjoy the Jack Ryan character, but I enjoy John Krasinski even more. He's just so charming and earnest and...tall (**swoons dreamily**). I'm also really happy that Wendell Pierce is doing something a little bit better than Suits (yes, I totally watch Suits, I have from the beginning - but it's not a "good" show). Pierce has been a television staple for the past 20 years (most notably known as "Bunk" from The Wire). He seems a bit bored by his role here - but I think that's partially the character description. The first episode was really, really long (and it felt long), and took too long to get to the point, but the second episode was infinitely better.

2. American Woman - I'm actually a little sad that this show was already canceled after its first season. It was pretty strong, but I guess Paramount didn't like their numbers (also, maybe no-one knows what the Paramount network is??). The show was a little bit like the female side of Mad Men, but obviously not as nuanced and a little bit more cute. I think Mena Suvari was the standout for me (I was never a big Suvari fan when she was really popular, but now I think she's great). Alicia Silverstone is a legend - she's just always going to be great (and also ADORABLE - which might be why the show came off as cute instead of serious). I guess writing about this show is now pointless, so moving on...

3. Castle Rock - Seven episodes in and this is one of the most disappointing shows I've watched in a while. The cast is spectacular, but the plot has been boring as Hell. I liked the first episode - leaving it on a cliffhanger was a smart move, and then picking it up in the second episode in a completely unexpected way. That's about the only nice thing I have to say about any of the story. I think it's purposely trying to be weird and that gets tiring really quickly. I keep watching though, because THAT CAST (a highlight for me is Noel Fisher - he was great as Mickey in Shameless too. I'm excited to see what he does next).

4. Take Two - I know this is supposed to be a stupid summer show, but it's like, really, really stupid. I do love me some Rachel Bilson, though. The premise is cute, but it got stale very quickly. I did like the "alien abduction" episode best, because it wasn't as predictable and they made several references to The X-Files. It's weird to me that this show wasn't cancelled yet, but something more substantial like American Woman is (again, I think it's a network problem).

5. Disenchantment - This wasn't on my original list of Summer shows to watch, but I didn't really see any advertisement for it until like a week before it premiered (a huge problem that Netflix must address - their marketing for original content sucks). I wouldn't say I'm the biggest Matt Groening fan, but I'm not NOT a fan. I enjoy The Simpsons very much, but I LOVE Futurama. This show doesn't feel like it's in the same league as either of them. It's actually quite boring and not funny. There's too much plot (and repetitive plot, at that), not enough humor.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Deadpool 2 - A little bit disappointing. Certainly not as funny as the first one, but I knew that it would have been a difficult task anyway. *spoiler* I DO NOT like that they killed Vanessa. First, such a cliche; second, I love Morena Baccarin (and she's married to Ben McKenzie so I *should* hate her, but I don't. Seeeee...it's possible). I do, however, love the addition of Zazie Beetz as Domino, and I think it's hilarious that her superpower is luck (and it was definitely "cinematic"). I also love Josh Brolin, as Cable. He's just always so perfect. Actually, I can't really fault anything specific in the movie - the cast is great, it has some funny moments, the plot is full of heart (like the first one), and the action is really fun. I think I just expected better - I expected to be crying with laughter like I did the first one. I am a bit confused by the end-credits sequence - if he went back in time, does that mean the whole movie doesn't actually happen? Also, I kept hearing about Deadpool going back in time and killing Hitler, but that wasn't in the version I watched. Are there different cuts? Hmmmmm....

2. Overboard - Better than I expected, and actually not terrible. I thought the gender swapping was a dumb idea, but it worked. Anna Faris does the same character from her tv show, Mom, but she does it so well (she deserves the same amount of awards as Allison Janney). The best aspect of it, though, is the casting of several Hispanic actors and having them ACTUALLY SPEAK SPANISH. The film brilliantly embraces different cultures and languages and does it so effortlessly - it feels authentic. It's kind of a big deal, but the film wasn't good enough for it to gain such positive attention. It's unfortunate that they couldn't also get "single mom with 3 kids and no money" correct (poor people don't live in gorgeous houses in the suburbs with fresh flowers on their table). Why didn't they refer to original for figuring out what "poor" looks like? Very disappointing. However, there were a few great moments - mostly the ones that nod to the original - the Arturo and Caterina story is continued and utilized at the end (side note - is it Caterina? I googled it for spelling and some people seem to think it's Catalina). Yet, the end still felt fresh (and it's really funny when he hesitates and then tries to negotiate). I love the scene where Anna Faris wears the denim jacket with her hair up (direct nod to Goldie). I also laughed at the line "Have a garlic knot, it makes everything a little bit better" - TRUE STORY. Garlic knots are pure bliss.

3. Tully - First, I don't have kids. I can not relate to what this woman is dealing with at any level at all. But I do want to say, this movie definitely makes me not want to have kids EVER. I'm already susceptible to being super depressed, I think I would end up exactly like her. The main reason is that I've realized that I absolutely need at least 7 hours of sleep every night. I can function on 3 hours just fine, but I notice that anything less then 7, the depression sets in. So, the idea of a Night Nurse sounds brilliant! Does this actually exist? I understand not wanting to have someone else take care of your baby - but this way you get sleep and then you can be a better mother during the day. Anyway, that's the concept of the movie - only that *spoiler* she doesn't actually exist. Tully is just a figment of her imagination; a younger version of herself. It's quite obvious from the beginning, so I'm a bit concerned about people talking about how great the twist is. While watching it I wrote in my notes - about 15 minutes after Tully's introduction - "she doesn't exist, does she?". It's still wonderful even if it's not "a twist". It's a beautifully written story about a woman who is trying to cope, and "Tully" helps her do that. I think a lot of mothers will be able to relate to this story. Charlize Theron is fantastic and I adore Mackenzie Davis - she is perfectly cast here.

4. Rampage - This is a seriously terrible movie. I don't even know where to begin - the concept, the plot, the acting, it's all TERRIBLE. I will be highly surprised if it doesn't end up as my worst film of the year. The plot is so dumb, but the weird part is - it doesn't have to be. It could have been, at least, cliched & average. Instead, there are villains who accidentally (?) create gigantic, killer animals and then call them into a major city (where they are residing - essentially killing themselves) for absolutely NO REASON. It's just silly. However, it's an action-packed, city-destroying, brainless, blockbuster. If I was a 14 year old boy, I would probably enjoy the Hell out of it.

5. Tomb Raider - I know I watched the original Angelina Jolie version, however I don't remember it at all, but I do believe that it is terrible. I thought that maybe this would be a good idea - maybe they would get it right this time? Casting Alicia Vikander, was certainly a step in the right direction (although, I'm a big fan of Jolie - so that wasn't a dig at her). I think Vikander serves the story well - it felt grittier, a bit more realistic, and down-to-earth. She kept me invested - even though I could have done without the origin story. This is the problem I find with most reboots. Filmmakers should understand that audiences already know the story, why not skip ahead? Or condense it down to just the first 20 minutes. This is ultimately the reason that this movie fails. It's actually a 3 star movie (which is much higher than I was expecting), it just doesn't get to the actual "tomb-raiding" until the end, and by then, we are bored. Imagine if we got this fantastic female action-hero solving puzzles, finding ancient artifacts, killing evil men, saving the world, etc., for the whole film? We would want to see more. Instead, we're left disappointed and certainly not wanting a sequel.

Fall Movie Preview: 17 Films That I'm Excited About

1. Peppermint (9.7) - FINALLY Jennifer Garner is back! She hasn't actually gone away, but I'm so sick of her doing cutesy, side-roles. This seems like the perfect role for her - a woman seeking revenge for the murder of her husband and daughter. I can't wait for Jen to kick some murderous ass.

2. A Simple Favor (9.14) - I'm intrigued by Blake Lively. She's given some strong performances (The Town, The Shallows). Her and Anna Kendrick in a "Hitchcockian comic thriller" directed by Paul Feig definitely has my interest.

3. Hold the Dark (9.28) - While I wasn't as obsessed with Green Room as everyone else, I still found it interesting. Jeremy Saulnier is definitely perfecting the slow-burn genre, so I'm interested in his next project. Also, I really liked Riley Keough in Logan Lucky. I want to see more of her.

4. A Star is Born (10.5) - I thought this movie was a joke when it was first announced. Then when I realized it was real, I thought "oh Bradley, WHAT are you thinking?!". Then the trailer came out and now it's all I can think about. It's going to be a HUGE movie. Like Oscar nominated and everything. I should never doubt my Bradley.

5. First Man (10.12) - And speaking of Oscars...Can you imagine being 33 years old and having your first 3 feature films nominated for Oscars? I'm already assuming this will be because it has Oscar written all over it. Also, I didn't know Chazelle wrote the screenplay for 10 Cloverfield Lane! What a talented guy.

6. Bad Times at the El Royale (10.12) - This movie looks like a lot of fun. I'm a big fan of Drew Goddard. I like the vibe of the trailer, and the cast is ridiculous.

7. The Hate U Give (10.19) - I'm a big believer in films as a highlighter for social injustices - films can change the world. Police brutality and racial tensions (and to be blunt - unarmed black people being shot by police) is a huge issue in our country right now, and I'm not sure how to get through to people who claim "all lives matter" (fucking duh!), but a film can't hurt.

8. Halloween (10.19) - Does this really need an explanation? I can't believe the first Halloween came out 40 years ago.

9. Suspiria (11.2) - I know this makes me a terrible cinephile, but I've never seen the original Suspiria. I should probably watch it before this remake. I kind of only want to see this because so many film geeks are upset by it. Oh and Tilda Swinton.

10. Bohemian Rhapsody (11.2) - How great is the casting of Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury? I can't wait to see how awesome he is. It's weird that they still list Bryan Singer as the director. I assume that he had most of it finished before he got fired?

11. Boy Erased (11.2) - The cast is great - Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crow and Joel Edgerton. Directed by Edgerton based on the memoirs of Garrard Conley - a boy sent to a gay conversion therapy camp. It's going to be a hard watch, but another necessary story.

12. The Girl in the Spider's Web (11.9) - I wasn't a big fan of Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, so I'm ok with him stepping away from the series. I'm also interested in Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander because that is such a "what the fuck" casting, but I have a feeling she is going to kill it.

13. Widows (11.16) - Steve McQueen is doing a heist movie?? Um, ok. I'll obviously watch it.

14. Robin Hood (11.21) - I'm not a big fan of the many reincarnations of Robin Hood, but Taron Egerton is so hot, so I will watch this. *shrugs shoulders*

15. Ralph Breaks the Internet (11.21) - Wreck-It Ralph was super cute, so I'll watch the sequel (although I'm really waiting for a sequel to Big Hero 6). The whole Disney princess thing was a great marketing tool.

16. Green Book (11.21) - All I needed was that image of Mahershala Ali and Viggo Morensen in that old-fashioned green car from the 60s. It's just perfect.

17. The Favourite (11.23) - First, Yorgos Lanthimos. Second, it stars Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone AND Olivia Colman. That's like the Holy Trinity of actresses.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Shape of Water - Shockingly, this movie doesn't come close to my Top 10 of 2017. And it's not just because ***spoiler*** the monster horrifically eats a cat (someone should have warned me!). It's just sooooo derivative. You can call it "inspired by" if you want, but that doesn't change the fact that it basically takes parts of Creature from the Black Lagoon, E.T., The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast and made a very beautiful, but very unoriginal film. Also, while again, it's very beautiful, it reminded me of the film Amelie which I haven't seen in probably a decade, but that was the clear vibe that I got from the whimsical set design, cinematography, and adult fairytale storyline. It felt very French. This apparently isn't a coincidence - as the director of Amelie is suing Guillermo del Toro for copying parts of his films (I had no idea while watching it. Afterward, I googled "The Shape of Water Amelie" and was satisfied that I wasn't crazy in my comparison). I'm not really a fan of Sally Hawkins - she's not terrible, but I think she's very overrated. I'm also aggravated by her because while watching an awards show, my boyfriend pointed to her and said "wow who's that? She's like your twin", which I DID NOT take as a compliment. She's so pale and skinny and awkward and...oh wait...FINE I guess she's my twin. UGH. ANYWAY. Michael Shannon has done this role before (many times), but he's just so damn great at it. I could have watched a two hour movie that just revolved around his character alone and it probably would have made my Top 10. 

2. Unsane - You guys what the Hell happened to Steven Soderbergh retiring??? Did I imagine that? I mean, I'm glad he's still going because I tend to love his films. Unsane is no different. It is currently in my Top 10 of this year (but if it's still there by the end of the year, it will be a sad year for movies). There's a lot to unpack in this movie - the entitlement of men, the American Healthcare system (or lack thereof), how we, as a society, treat patients with mental health problems, the lack of protection for women being stalked/abused, etc. Everything is very black & white, with little subtlety, but maybe that's necessary? The ending is a very typical over-the-top, unbelievable mess with several plot holes, but overall, I really connected with the story. It helps to have such a fantastic actress carrying the film - Claire Foy is just absolutely stunning. She keeps your attention through the whole movie, and really sells the plot - even the dumb parts. Also, I had NO IDEA this film was shot on an iPhone. That's insane! Or...unsane? Side-note: Is this Matt Damon's new thing? To just show up in movies without warning? It's kind of weird.

3. The Glass Castle - Very forgettable film, which is sad because it could be incredible. The potential for greatness is all there. Two of the best actresses working right now - Naomi Watts and Brie Larson (Larson doesn't have the quantity that Watts has, but she is in two of my favorite films of the last decade - Room and Short Term 12), and an incredibly nuanced story based on the memoir of Jeannette Walls - a book that was recommended to me years ago, but I didn't make the connection until after I started watching the movie. The film is super melodramatic and predictable, and the ending is terrible - so I hope the book is better (it's still on my list). ***spoiler ahead*** I'm a big fan of forgiveness as a form of catharsis, but the fact that she "forgives" her father, which is implied by her visiting him on his deathbed, is horrifying. Ultimately, a big part of the story (that is kind of swept under the rug) is that her father was molested by his mother, but then as an adult he leaves his kids in her care for several days. WHAT?! Why would you ever do that? Only out of desperation...right? But then we also find out that they were never really desperate because they had access to money THE WHOLE TIME. How could you ever forgive your parents for that? Putting you in danger, causing you the mental and physical anguish of being poor, just for the adventure. Because...it's FUN TO BE POOR. Okay..now that I'm actually thinking about it, this film makes me downright angry. I don't even want to think about it anymore. I will just say two more things - Woody Harrelson is fantastic. I love when he actually tries (not hating, but sometimes he's clearly there for a paycheck). And who is the Emma Stone lookalike? I honestly did a double-take.

4. The Florida Project - Speaking of being poor...wow. This film gets it so right where most films fail so miserably. So often the words "poor" and "poverty" are thrown around in movies and then they depict a very romanticized middle-class life. Even if it's lower middle-class, it's still not poor (Lady Bird is a perfect example of this). This is a depiction of a young mother truly living in poverty. It's the "wrong kind of poor", meaning it's more realistic in its depiction of drug-use, prostitution, and terrible parenting. There's also no redemption. Or hope. I wasn't expecting to like this movie because I hated Tangerine. Like, really, really hated. This film has a lot of similarities (loud, rude, terrible people being loud, rude and terrible), but it has some redeeming qualities - the acting for one, and the clear advantage for me, is that I can connect with it. I also just really love the juxtaposition of these children living in poverty right outside of Disney World. It's tragic and beautiful. It's a stunningly realistic view of Florida. I don't understand why ANYONE willingly goes there. I think this movie will stay with me for a while, simply because I will always wonder what happened to Moonee. Does she break the cycle?

5. Wonder Wheel - Woody Allen has fallen back into the depths of mediocrity again. He hasn't reached his genius level since Midnight in Paris (Blue Jasmine was only good because of Cate Blanchett). This movie is one of his worst recent films. The cast is just...off. If you told me 20 years ago that Justin Timberlake and Kate Winslet would be in a Woody Allen film, I would have laughed hysterically. They are just not right for Allen's dialogue, plus Justin trying to do a NY accent is painfully hilarious. Also, Juno Temple is the worst (she was also terrible in Unsane). The film felt very stagey, and inauthentic. I get what Allen was trying to do - but in the end it's a typical 'women are jealous and crazy, men are cheating liars' territory (even though she is the cheater), with a little bit of 'women are incapable of aging gracefully' thrown in. Is it weird that I've never been to Coney Island? I've never even had the urge to go. I equate it with the Jersey shore (and I hate the Jersey shore, although everyone around me tells me of these mystical parts of the shore that I will like - but I've yet to experience these places). On a side-note, all 5 of the films in this post are female-driven stories - a total coincidence, but also probably a first? The best thing about this is how incredibly different these films are, and how unique these characters are. It's wonderful.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Call Me by Your Name - What a disappointment. I don't have any idea what everyone was praising this movie for. It's a really boring love story about an entitled boy and an even more entitled man (both are complete assholes and I have no idea why anyone roots for them to be happy???). Yes, Timothee Chalamet is good (not even close to the best performance of last year), and Yes, Michael Stuhlbarg is a treasure. That doesn't make this a good movie. Armie Hammer is adorable and that little dance that he does just about stole my heart, but again, this does not make this a good movie. Romance is not necessarily my favorite Drama sub-genre, but a great story is always welcome. This story felt very disingenuous. I never felt like they actually liked each other until *suddenly* they are in love/lust. Their interactions from the very beginning don't seem like real people talking to each other - they are very argumentative for no apparent reason and the scenes are cut really short. Also, I would never root for a relationship about an adult taking advantage of an impressionable teen who is at a critical moment of discovering himself. It's all just a really boring. That last shot, though, is perfect.

2. Only the Brave - Better than I thought, but still a little bit of a cliched "based on a true tale of heroic men" story. It's the type of movie that you would expect Marky Mark to star in, but the cast is actually great (for the record, I love Marky Mark, but I'm tired of him in these types of roles). Josh Brolin is an incredible underrated actor - he can do it all, from big blockbusters to indies to biopics, and he is brilliant in all of them. Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, James Badge Dale, Jennifer Connelly, Andie MacDowell, and Jeff Bridges - you really can't go wrong with that cast. So this film tells the story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots - a group of 20 firefighters who battled the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, in which 19 of them died (*sorry for the spoiler, but it's a pretty famous story). I think they did a good job with development of characters and relationships - they created a good  amount of tension, but also camaraderie among them. They also did a great job with the drama between Brolin and Connelly's characters (as husband and wife) - there is very realistic fighting between them, but there is a still a deep love between them (and the fight is based on something big, not just bickering and drama for drama's sake). I really love how they edited the end credits with the real people, though. I think that will be the most memorable part of the movie.

3. Blockers - Cute, funny, semi-original, fully satisfying comedy. I laughed out-loud several times - my favorite scene is definitely The Notebook scene. I've mentioned my love for Leslie Mann many times before, but this movie just continued to solidify that love. She is one of the funniest actresses around, but still so charming and sweet (and GORGEOUS). I also really loved the girl who played Sam, and I figured out why! She's the wonderfully talented Pamela Adlon's daughter!! I can't wait to see more from her. John Cena definitely steals the spotlight, though - he has all of the really gross-out humor scenes that are (unfortunately) the most memorable scenes. He does it with an awkward, endearing ease. All of the characters are given moments and allowed to shine, which is great. The premise is a little wacky to me (my mom was never, ever invested in my personal life when I was a teenager. I think she always just assumed that I knew what I was doing and it was none of her business...). Also can they not say "Cock Blockers"? Because the title Blockers is odd, but it makes sense with the picture of the rooster in front of it. It's a weird, but brilliant way to circumvent the standards for film titles.

4. A Bad Moms Christmas - I liked Bad Moms for many reasons, and I was also frustrated by it for many reasons. Yet, overall, my memory of it is that it's a cute movie in which 3 talented women get to shine (actually 4 including Christina Applegate, but she wasn't in this one! How disappointing!). This one is...not so cute. It's also not funny. It's about these really entitled, wealthy people who I guess we are supposed to feel bad for because their Christmas doesn't go exactly as planned? I thought the first one had a good message about teaching your kids to be independent and grateful. This one didn't really have a message. Did Christine Baranski's character learn to not be a racist bitch? No...not really? So, what's the point then? Anyway, the only good thing about this movie is the end credits. Super cute. Oh, and Jay Hernandez.

5. Ready Player One - I haven't read the book (added it to the list!), so I didn't really have any of the expectations that people seemed to have. I know it's Spielberg and therefore, expectations are automatically high, but that hasn't been the case for me in....years. I honestly thought I would be bored to death, so I'm happy to report that I had so much fun with this movie! I mean, I guess as much fun as one can have with a movie set during a global apocalypse. Is it 90s Spielberg? Not even close. However, it felt closer to it than any movie of the last decade. I think many people are disappointed because it has so much potential to be more than it is - it's a 3 1/2 star film that could have easily been 5 stars. If they developed the characters a bit more, had a few more moments of wittier dialogue, edited the ending down, etc. it could have been perfect. But, it is what it is, and I enjoyed the Hell out of it. Partly because of the incredible cast - Olivia Cooke and Tye Sheridan are perfect. Partly because it felt like it was made with love and affection for pop culture. But mostly because it's just a solid, straight-forward summer blockbuster type flick.

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

The Good 

- Could this be the year that The Americans finally has some presence at the Emmy awards? While it's received some nominations in the past, it's never been nominated for Series (which is shocking). I think it might pull an upset and win this year! I'm really pulling for Keri Russell (especially since her main competition was NOT nominated...). Although I didn't realize that Tatiana Maslany was still in the running - It seems like Orphan Black ended years ago!

- Other shows that seem like their seasons were more than a year ago - GLOW and Better Things (both would have been included in my Best of TV post but I didn't realize they qualified for this year). GLOW was great - fun, heartwarming, easy to binge, and well-written. I'm happy that Betty Gilpin was recognized. Better Things is one of my favorite shows! The second season was even better than the first, and that final episode with the dance number made my heart soar. Pamela Adlon deserves every award ever.

- YAY for Netflix! 112 nominations! That's so crazy. I'm a big fan of whatever Netflix does.

- I wasn't in love with season 2 of Atlanta as much as I was with the first season, but two episodes really stood out (and no, it wasn't "Teddy Perkins" for me). "Woods" and "FUBU" are just about perfect. Brian Tyree Henry is so good in "Woods", I almost cried. How were these episodes not nominated for writing??? (although "FUBU" was nominated for directing, which is well-deserved). I'm also happy that Zazie Beets was nominated - she's my favorite on the show.

-Yay for Darren Criss!! He's so good as Andrew Cunanan. I think he might actually win?? His competition isn't very strong - although awards shows do love to shower Benedict Cumberbatch with awards. UGH.

- Of course I'm happy for The Crown, Westworld, This is Us, Stranger Things, but those were all 'expected' nominations.

The Bad 

- I'm sorry, The Sinner was a "good" show (not great, and not award-worthy), but Jessica Biel is one of the worst actresses of my generation. She wasn't awful here, but a freakin' Emmy nomination??? For real?

- Why the fuck would Ozark show up on any awards show list? That show had some great moments, but overall is very mediocre compared to the competition. I'm ok with Bateman getting a nomination (although I would have chosen J.K. Simmons in Counterpart over him), but the show received TWO, I repeat TWO, directing nominations. FOR WHAT EXACTLY? I don't understand.

- I know everyone suddenly hates Modern Family now, but I don't. It's still consistently funny and that's hard to do after so many seasons. After 8 consecutive nominations and 5 wins, it's finally fallen and it makes me sad.

- How SNL is receiving so much love is beyond me. I haven't enjoyed it since the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler days. I don't know anyone who watches it. When I told my boyfriend that Kenan Thompson was nominated for an Emmy, he replied "The guy from Kenan and Kel?" Because that's how he's still known, even though he's been on SNL for 15 years.

The Snubbed 

- How is Killing Eve not nominated? Even more shocking - Jodie Comer isn't nominated??? I thought I was reading it wrong when I went through the list. I assumed she would be as Lead Actress in a Drama, but then when her name was missing, I thought maybe she submitted herself as Supporting Actress in a Drama, then I figured maybe the show decided to call themselves a "mini-series" or something. But her name is NOWHERE on the nomination list. It's the best performance of the year. HANDS DOWN.

- I'v recently watched the show Counterpart (which is why you haven't seen me rave about it before bc now I will be going on and on about it for months). It's soooooo good. And it's J.K. Simmons in two versions of the same person! I know it's not really on anyone's radar, so I wasn't expecting nominations, but the question is why? There are just too many shows. And too many good ones. If this show came out even just 5 years ago, it would be all anyone talked about.

- Nothing for Brooklyn Nine-Nine? I know the competition is tough but take away the nominations for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (which I like) and give them to Brooklyn Nine-Nine  - it is far superior.

- While Netflix dominated, the one show I expected to show up more was Mindhunter! I thought Holt McCallany would definitely be nominated, along with some writing or directing nods? (But sure, let's nominate Ozark lol).

- Alison Brie is what made GLOW great. What a fuck up. Seriously.

- I know no-one talks about it, but I would have loved for Dan Levy to get a nomination for Schitt's Creek. It's my favorite comedic performance of last year (and yes, that includes Andre Braugher from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, who is usually my favorite).