Thoughts on 4 New Shows

1. Schooled - As a cute family sitcom, it's mediocre. As a spin-off of The Goldbergs, it's extremely disappointing. I like Lainey Lewis as a side character, but she doesn't carry a sitcom. That's the biggest problem - the characters are all...just okay. While on The Goldbergs, every single character is pure gold. I also don't think they take the 90s thing and make it as fun as they do with the 80s on The Goldbergs. There is so much potential, but it's never taken far enough. Part of it has to do with nostalgia factor for the 80s (and I have a stronger connection to the 80s because that's when I was a kid), but I was a high schooler in the 90s so I should have the same nostalgia factor, but it is severely lacking. And a little too specific (I don't think many people knew of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion - that became a cult classic after-the-fact). Anyway, it's still cute, and I keep watching.

2. Miracle Workers - Much too short of a series! It's only 7 episodes that are only 30 minutes long. On one hand, I appreciate it because my list of television shows is so long and I will never catch up. But, on the other, there are so many good ideas in this - and it felt really condensed. I really like Daniel Radcliffe outside of the Harry Potter movies. He's got great comedic timing and has a lot of subtle nuances that make his performances interesting. It says a lot that he can hold his own against a talent like Steve Buscemi. I'm interested to see what the second season will be about. I read that it's going to be a completely different show but with the same cast...and that just seems weird.

3. The Enemy Within - Honestly, this show is fucking stupid. But I just love Debra Morgan so much (Jennifer Carpenter will always be Debra Morgan to me). I have to watch anything that she's in. The premise is basically The Blacklist, which apparently is a show that still exists (I lasted one season - I just could not stand the main girl). This show is painfully predictable - the pilot episode was so in-your-face-obvious, that it was almost embarrassing. The next few have just been plain boring. However,...Debra Morgan! I'll watch it to the end. Even though she wears mascara while she's in a maximum security prison (so realistic! LOL).

4. Fosse/Verdon - I've only watched the first episode, but it was extremely well-made, and incredibly interesting. Sam Rockwell is going to win so many awards, and ditto for Michelle Williams. They are both giving a performance of a lifetime (and that's saying a lot because they've already set the bar pretty high). The editing is sublime - the way it mixes the choreography and dance sequences within the story, and mixing of the past and present is all just really, really well-done. I can't wait to watch more, and it's been a while since I've said that about a new show (Killing Eve is the only show that I truly look forward to currently, which is sad, but also the show is so spectacular that it's enough on its own.). I don't know anything about the story - I mean, I'm aware of Bob Fosse, as a director, but that's where my knowledge ends, so I'm really invested in the story because I have no idea where it's going to go (and I'm trying really hard to not look it up).

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Predator - This wasn't as terrible as I was expecting it to be. For the most part, I would describe it as a fun action movie. I recently watched the original for the first time (and by recent, I mean probably 3 years ago, which seems like it was only 3 months ago.), and it was so satisfying to finally understand all the famous dialogue that is constantly being quoted. I appreciated that this new version stuck to being "new", instead of creating a remake that is shot-for-shot. I think it fails in its dialogue, though. There were two funny moments - having the guy from Moonlight (I'm too lazy to look up his name) yell "Get to the Choppers!" referring to a bunch of motorcycles (it was expected, but they did it in an unexpected way), and when they describe The Predator as "an alien Whoopi Goldberg". I actually spit my coffee out with that joke. However, the rest of the jokes (I hesitate to call them that) were really not funny, instead they were really dated - they ranged from "your mom" jokes to calling a kid with Asperger's "retarded". The cast does a good job trying to make the dialogue work, and they seemed to be having fun, which is extremely important in movies like this. I'm glad someone gave Olivia Munn something to do. I feel like she's in a lot of movies, but she always ends up having like two lines of dialogue.

2. Hotel Artemis - Extremely disappointing. I was so bored that I kept pausing it to do housework, because that was more stimulating. I adore the cast - Sterling K. Brown (also coincidentally in The Predator, which I watched directly before), Charlie Day, Jodie Foster, and a brief appearance from Jeff Goldblum. I thought that it was a spin-off from John Wick because I heard that they were creating something about the hotel for assassins, but I guess this was just a copy of that idea. And copy they certainly did. There was absolutely nothing original about it. They even did a hallway fight scene - Jesus Christ, Hollywood, how many hallway fight scenes do we have to sit through? You're never going to top Oldboy, guys, so just move it along. The only other thing I have to say about this dull movie is that I miss Jodie Foster. I forgot how wonderful she is. She used to be one of my favorite actresses when I was growing up, but I don't think I've really seen her in anything in decades.

3. Instant Family - You guys, I have to admit, I cried. UGH. There are just two wonderfully powerful moments about feeling unwanted and unloved that are really touching, and I just couldn't help myself. I wasn't expecting it, but it just happened. The tears just started flowing and they couldn't be stopped. Marky Mark and Rose Byrne are a fantastic comedic match, and they seemed like a very real couple. The story is based the writer/director's real life experience of fostering three siblings, which is probably why the story felt so genuine. The highlight is Isabela Moner - what a fantastic young actress! I looked her up and apparently she is going to be Dora in the live-action Dora the Explorer movie(s). That has the potential to be a pretty big franchise (for kids, obviously), so good for her! Anyway, this movie is super cute, a little bit too gushy, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I've thought about the possibility of fostering, or even adopting, one day. It seems like such a heartbreaking process, though, and this movie certainly doesn't make me feel any better about it (which is obviously the opposite intent).

4. A Star is Born - Where to begin?! When this movie was first announced, I just COULD NOT picture it. I absolutely adore Bradley Cooper (if you read this blog, then this is not news to you - Alias fan FOREVER). He's so talented, so he deserves every ounce of popularity that he has gained over the last 10 years (I don't think many knew his name before The Hangover). But, I had my reservations about him directing a very popular remake, and casting Lady Gaga as the main star. I don't have anything against Lady Gaga, per say, but I'm not really a big fan. I just don't like any of her music (other than the song Born this Way, which got old really quickly). However, when a teaser trailer was released, the buzz was very strong, so I gave it a watch. And, I was blown away. Just from 2 minutes of footage. I was mesmerized by the song that was featured. Unfortunately, I missed seeing this in theaters (I specifically waited to take my mom, and to my surprise she had already seen it! The nerve!). I was really confused by all the traction that the song "Shallow" made in the weeks after the film was released, because that wasn't the song from the trailer, until suddenly it was. It's the only song that was talked about. And that is my only complaint about the movie. I watched the entire fucking thing and the best song comes on during the end credits. It's called "Is that Alright?" and it's the best song of last year, and should have won every award given out last year (even Best Picture). I get chills listening to it, and Lady Gaga sounds phenomenal. I get why they went after "Shallow" so hard, especially after watching the movie but ultimately, it's very frustrating. And speaking of "Shallow" (which is a song that I do enjoy. I had no idea Bradly could sing. UGH. Just one more reason to love him), I'm not really a sappy person, but I literally burst into tears when she gets on the stage and sings it for the first time. It was such a cliche, but I fell right in the trap. It's just such a powerful moment - and I credit Cooper for making that moment work so well. Anywho, overall, I liked this movie a lot. I've never watched any of the originals, but it's not hard to guess the outcome. Even with the story being so well-known, there is still a lot to unpack about relationships, jealousy, toxic masculinity, substance abuse, fame, etc. I think the editing could have been a little tighter, but otherwise it's pretty great. OH WAIT - three more things: 1. Bradley Cooper is gorgeous, but he's so greasy in this movie. WHYYYY. He looked like the main guy from The Walking Dead (but at least that guy has an excuse to look like that). 2. Are we supposed to think that Lady Gaga is ugly? Is that an actual thing that people think? I don't get it. And I saw many articles about how she "bravely" went without makeup for several scenes, and if you believe that for a second, I have some magic pills I would love to sell you. Let's chat! 3. I screamed out loud when Eric Weiss and Arvin Sloane appeared. So wonderful.

5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - I don't say this a lot, because I don't really know much about animation, but wow - the animation is incredible. The way that it moves, the 3-D effect, and how it seems like there is a camera panning, is mind-blowing. I feel like this is a game-changer, as far as animation is concerned. I also loved the voice actors, and how ridiculous the story gets (Spider-Pig...lol), but ultimately it is a very typical superhero story. I read many reviews that call it the "best" Spider-Man movie, and that is so wrong (I know, I know, opinions can never be right or wrong...but sometimes...they can be, you know?). I've also read many reviews that call it the "best" superhero movie, and, um, seriously? Hyperbole, much? It's such a trendy thing to say that something is the "best" of its genre, but honestly, I will never take anyone seriously that uses such hyperbole in a serious way. I know I use hyperbole quite often, but it's been a long time since I've said a modern film was the "best" of its genre (I think I'm combining this frustration with the more recent reviews of Us, which I haven't seen, but a review that was highlighted in the commercial called it the "best horror movie of all-time". I repeat "all-time". That's just fucking hilarious, right there.). Anyway, this is a super-cute superhero story with phenomenal artistic achievement. I highly recommend it.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Crazy Rich Asians - There are parts of this movie that I enjoyed, but there are also parts of this movie that I almost fell asleep to. I'll start with the good. First, Henry Golding is super hot. Second, Gemma Chan is super stunning (she's also incredible in the tv show Humans). Third, Michelle Yeoh is a super goddess. In short, I loved most of the cast. It's also a super cute rom-com. This is a good thing, if that's your thing. However, it does hit all the cliches of a rom-com (even a montage of the main character trying on a million different dresses!). So, for me, it's kind of dull and mind-numbingly predictable. Also, as with most rom-coms, the male lead is basically an asshole. I have big problems with his character - he doesn't tell her that he's wealthy (I can see not disclosing it in the first few dates, because he probably doesn't want to be used for his money, but they are in a full-blown relationship). It doesn't really make sense, because he probably lives in a very expensive loft style apartment in NYC. Has she never seen his home? Wouldn't you be upset that someone basically lied about his entire lifestyle? Also, people who are from extremely wealthy families, but don't think of it as "their" money are THE WORST. Imagine growing up so privileged that you NEVER having to worry about money, and then pretending like you don't have it? It's such an insult. What an entitled asshole. Then he brings her to his home, and to these extremely fancy parties, completely unprepared. Shouldn't he warn her about the dress code? Or I don't know, maybe buy her a dress, so she doesn't show up in something inappropriate? I just feel like this guy treats her like garbage, but no-one else seems to think so. I also think the main actress is boring (I don't know her name and I don't feel like looking it up). And I don't get Awkwafina. She's really annoying in this movie. I think she's supposed to be like the quirky best friend or something, but it's grating. I wanted to hit the mute button every time she appeared.

2. Eighth Grade - Super cute, coming-of-age story about an awkward young girl just trying to be "normal". It definitely opened up my eyes a little bit on what teens are going through these days. I hate to sound like an old fart, but social media is killing the next generation. I'm so happy it didn't exist when I was in high school (I think in my senior year we had AOL Instant Message. OMG I just had such a flashback of using AIM to talk to my friends). I think a lot of anxiety issues that teens face today is all related to social media. Every single teenager is self-conscious. It's completely normal. But things like Youtube and Instagram show teenagers living "their best life" and it's all completely fake. Kids are seeing this as the truth, instead of just communicating IN PERSON to their peers about how hard it is to be a teenager. Everyone is just trying to get noticed, but that's practically impossible on the internet. They also address how fast technology is moving and how different it is for kids even just 4 years apart. Things just didn't move that fast when I was a kid. It's also really depressing that Active Shooter Drills are a normal occurrence for kids. I was a senior in high school when Columbine happened. We had a lot of false alarms and threats at our school during the month after Columbine, and no-one knew what to do, so I guess it's needed, but it's just so sad to think about. The only part that I really connected to is when she goes to the mall to meet a group of (possible) friends. I definitely hung out at the mall (actually, I hung out at the mall that is featured in the movie - The Palisades Center. It wasn't the closest mall, but it was the biggest). Elsie Fisher is a joy to watch. I laughed out loud at her giving the popular girls the finger guns. She's just perfectly cast in this movie, and really carries the whole thing.

3. Beautiful Boy - I was not expecting this movie to be as bad as it is. I remember some early awards talk that ended really quickly after it was released to mediocre reviews. But, I was still expecting...mediocre. This movie is just plain bad. The different timelines are really confusing. I didn't even realize it was supposed to take place in the 90s until half-way through the movie. I thought they were just using 90s music for effect (you know, because people who listen to Nirvana are depressed. LOL). The thing that did it was the huge computer he had in his dorm room (Although, I should have realized it when he could walk to the gate at the airport). I don't sympathize with the main character. This is what I call "entitled white boy addiction". It's addiction, nonetheless. But, he has people that care about him, and money, which most people don't. He has choices. He might make bad ones, but he still has the luxury of making those choices. I don't understand why Timothee Chalamet became such a big thing so quickly. He's....not good. There are times when he pauses and I think it's supposed to be for effect, but it could also be because he's trying to remember his lines. He also always looks like he's 14, which is a big part of why the timeline is so hard to follow. There's just no emotional resonance or depth at all to this movie. It's repetitive - which is surely on purpose, to show the repetitive cycle of addiction, but it's really boring to watch. For the whole film, I just kept thinking "let Maura Tierney have her scene", so when she jumped in the SUV to chase after him, I got really excited. She didn't even have any dialogue, but it's still the most resonating part of the movie. I just adore her.

4. The House - Ugh, I'm so behind on my movie-watching. I'm still trying to catch up on 2017! Usually a comedy with Amy Poehler is at the top of my list, but this got pretty terrible reviews, so it got moved down the list. And rightfully so. It's not good. There are some funny parts (like Amy trying to shit talk), but overall it's just dumb. It's weird that they keep talking about how they are terrible parents because they can't afford to send their daughter to college, but, like, most people can't afford college. So, that's a terrible message. There are single moms and dads out there working 3 jobs to pay for college, and sometimes still can't afford it. Doesn't make them bad parents. And, OH YEAH, I have an idea, why not make your kid get a fucking job and pay for their own college (like MOST college students. I worked 2 jobs and had an internship while I went to school full-time). There's a great supporting cast in this movie that are all severely under-used - Michaela Watkins, Andrea Savage, Allison Tolman, etc. And...Jeremy Renner! I did laugh out loud when he appeared. How random! I had no idea he was in this, and I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a surprise, so oops...sorry if I spoiled it for you. You know a movie is bad if it has gag reels. That used to be a fun surprise at the end of a movie, but now I feel like it's used a saving grace for a bad movie. It's as if the filmmakers are apologizing for making such a terrible movie by giving you something that's actually fun to watch.

5. Ralph Breaks the Internet - The first one was so super, sugary sweet. It was almost sickening, but I still enjoyed it. This sequel is still super, sugary sweet, but it's not quite as good. It's not very memorable - other than the whole Disney princess thing that was heavily advertised. The whole scene is just absolutely brilliant. I'm sure if I watched it again, I would see a lot of little inside jokes that I missed. But, I would never willingly watch this again. It's a heartwarming story of friendship and accepting change, which is great for kids. But for adults, it's just so irritating. Most of the jokes are very timely, which makes me think that it's going to feel very dated in just a few years. The animation is fantastic, though. All of the racing scenes in that GTA type video game are just stunning. I also had no idea that was Gal Gadot's voice. I thought for sure that it was Priyanka Chopra. Like, so sure that I would have bet money on it. They sound identical.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Bad Times at the El Royale - I was expecting something a little bit more...wild. I liked a lot of it - the characters are interesting with a little bit of mystery to them, the pace moves really quickly, and the acting (for the most part) is really strong. I'm a big fan of Drew Goddard - he's written some episodes of my favorite tv shows (Buffy, Alias, Lost) and I thought Cabin in the Woods was awesome. However, I think he still needs to find his own style - this film felt very similar to Cabin in the Woods (same pace, character introductions, surprise ending), but it also felt like it was trying to be edgy like Tarantino-esque, and I think that's why it just didn't quite work for me. I'm not fully on board with Chris Hemsworth (I totally forgot he was in Cabin in the Woods - he was about the only thing that I didn't like in that movie. I didn't feel like the main cast had any charisma). I think Hemsworth has definitely proved me wrong in a few movies (the Ghostbusters reboot, the most recent Thor movie and the most recent Avengers movie), but sometimes his acting is just cringe-worthy. He's definitely not edgy, so he is completely miscast for this movie. I also think that once his character appears, the film suddenly becomes really uninteresting.

2. Venom - Ok, so I sort of liked this movie??? It's actually kind of funny, which I wasn't expecting. Tom Hardy really gives it his all. He handles the cheesiness of the dialogue and plot really well and makes it totally watchable. I realize that saying something is "watchable" isn't exactly a compliment, but I had super low expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised and entertained while watching this movie. It did bother me that he is consistently greasy and dirty for the whole entire movie. It was hard to look at him without cringing. But otherwise, I think the movie is fun. It reminded me of a movie that should have come out in the late 90s (complete with the Eminem rap at the end - FOR REAL - I thought it was a parody, but nope!). There are plot-holes galore, and just plain dumb writing (I'm supposed to believe that a place that high-tech doesn't have video surveillance of every inch of their building??), but I think it's the type of movie that you're just supposed to have fun with and not take too seriously. I would totally watch a sequel.

3. A Simple Favor - Such a fun little movie! First, Blake Lively is just wonderful. I've always been a fan. I think she was quickly written off as a Mischa Barton type actress, but everyone who thought that was clearly WRONG. Clearly, she didn't do her best work on Gossip Girl (I loved GG, but some of the acting was iffy). But she has been consistently strong in smaller roles (The Town was a big eye-opener for me). She's also stunningly beautiful, and in this movie, she is a fashion Goddess. The costumer designer should be nominated for an Oscar because those outfits are a dream. I can't stop thinking about her power suit when she shows up at the cemetery. My jaw actually fell open. Anyway, back to the movie. One of my co-workers described it to me as having a similar style to Death Becomes Her (which is one of my all-time favorite movies), and I think that's a pretty accurate description. It's fun, but in a campy not-believable-at-all way, and dark, but never takes itself too seriously. I miss movies like this - I feel like it was a very popular style of "chick flick" from the 90s, that has all but disappeared lately. There are a lot of twists and turns, and while it's ultimately absolutely ridiculous, it's fun trying to guess where the story is going.

4. I Feel Pretty - Well, I knew that this movie was going to be a load of crap, and it's...."meh". Not completely crap. But it's very similar to 13 Going on 30, and that movie is absolutely wonderful, so when you compare the two, it's an interesting contrast in how to take a dumb idea and do something amazing with it, compared to something really dull. I don't really connect with Schumer's character (or Schumer in real life). First, I would never go to a Soul Cycle class (that is literally my worst nightmare), and I've never watched a Youtube tutorial in my life. Also, I think the whole weight thing is really exaggerated because she's not even that big - she's like a size 10 (I'm guessing), and almost every retailer goes up to a 14. Sometimes I think people use their looks as an excuse as to why they are single or friendless, but in most cases I think it's probably because they are SUPER annoying. That's probably the meanest thing I've ever written, but the truth hurts sometimes. Also, if you really felt like someone didn't want to be with you or be your friend because of your weight or your looks, then why on Earth would you want them to be in your life anyway? I do think this movie has something interesting to say about the power of having self-confidence. I'm always amazed at how little self-confidence most women I know have. I get told often that I have confidence, and I get asked a lot of advice. I don't really know what advice to give. I like myself. I have plenty of flaws that I try to overcome, but overall I know that I'm a good person, and that's all I can do, you know? Anyway, this movie isn't terrible. It's got some heart, and it's trying to give a positive message to women who are self-conscious. But the biggest and most glaring plot-hole is that she doesn't question why she can fit into the same size clothes if she thinks she's thin? Like, wouldn't all of her clothes fall off of her? SO DUMB. On a side-note, Michelle Williams does her Marilyn Monroe voice and it is HILARIOUS.

5. Fyre - This is the Netflix one - I'm not sure if the Hulu one has the same name. But HOLY MOLY this story is batshit insane. I don't understand how everyone involved isn't in jail? Why did only one guy go down for this massive fuck-up? Specifically, Ja Rule? His defense is literally saying "at least we didn't kill anyone". I mean, I'm just speechless. I have so many questions. 1. Who has the rights to all of this video footage? And why would you release it? Like, did Ja Rule give consent to all of this? 2. What the fuck is an "influencer"? 3. Don't these professional Models have agents? And why did these agents allow this to happen? Aren't there contracts involved? I truly just don't understand. 4. What kind of idiot pays this much money for something that sounds so sketchy? And they even fell for the cashless bracelet scam too? 5. How pissed would you be if you were one of these idiots that got scammed, and you watched this documentary and the people behind it described the event as "selling a pipe-dream to your average loser"? 6. Why would anyone want to be Pablo Escobar? Is that something people aspire to? I have so many more questions, but I'll stop for now. I do think that the documentary was very interesting, and well-told, but I would have loved to see more from the actual event and from the people (or as I will forever refer to them as, idiots) who went to the festival.

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

The Good: 

-Uhhh...I'm struggling here. While I haven't seen a majority of the nominated films, I have seen some pretty wonderful films and performances that were left out. In general, though, there are some strong people in many of the categories - Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress categories are just FILLED to the brim with talent (p.s - the words "first time Oscar nominee for Directing, Spike Lee" absolutely boggles my mind. How is that even possible?).

-First Man for the technical awards (Visual Effects and the sound categories)

-Roma for Cinematography

The Bad: 

-The entire Best Picture category. I probably shouldn't even be writing this post since I've only seen 2 of the nominated films - Black Panther and Roma. While both of those movies are good, I've definitely seen 8 films from 2018 that are better.

-Incredibles 2 is one of the worst animated films I've ever seen

-I have not seen Bohemian Rhapsody or Green Book, but I've read some of the criticism of both. I've also heard from many people that they loved both movies. So....*shrugs shoulders*


The Snubbed: 

-OH SO MANY. The most egregious one is First Man for Best Picture, Cinematography, and Supporting Actress for Claire Foy (who should have been in the running for Best Actress for Unsane as well)

-There were so many insanely great female performances last year - Charlize Theron for Tully, Emily Blunt for A Quiet Place, Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy in Thoroughbreds, Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Kindergarten Teacher, Rachel McAdams in Game Night, Toni Collette for Hereditary, the list goes on, and you will never convince me that Melissa McCarthy gave a better performance than any of them (I have not seen Can You Ever Forgive Me, but there is just no way.).

-I didn't think he would win, but I really wanted to see my Bradley Cooper get a Directing nomination. Ditto for John Krasinski.

-The more I think about Tully, the more I love it - surely it deserves some screenwriting love?

4 Thoughts on the Golden Globes

1. The Hosts - I've become more and more a fan of Andy Samberg ever since I started watching the hilarious Brooklyn Nine-Nine (although he isn't the funniest one on that show - clearly that's Andre Braugher). I don't really think he's the best option for hosting an awards show because he just isn't funny enough and he doesn't have the stage presence. And as much as I LOVE Sandra Oh, I don't really think she's the best option either. Oh seemed extremely nervous, but she's just such a lovely person so I have nothing negative to say about her. What she has accomplished in her career is such a stunning achievement. Their hosting gig was....fine. There was nothing really memorable about it. It was cute. Which I guess in this current culture is the best we can ask for.

2. The Show - Overall, the show was super boring and it felt really, really long. There seemed to be no particular order to which the awards were announced either, which really bothered me. They went from male television performances and then they gave out best television drama without announcing television drama actress first. Then they went on to movies before finishing the tv awards. It made no sense! The presenters were mostly dull - who would have thought the funniest ones would be Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell (and why didn't they mention that they were both in one of the best coming-of-age movies of the past decade when they were listing their commonalities?). I think the only time I laughed during the whole show was Harrison Ford saying "nobody told me I have to follow Jeff Bridges" (which may be the first time in all of history that I've laughed at something Harrison Ford said!). I love that they added the Carol Burnett award for television. Burnett is such a legend. I saw her live show a few years ago, and it is such a memorable experience.

3. The Winners - Ok, first, the nominations themselves are a joke. Jodie Comer not being nominated is an actual crime. The Globes are known for spotlighting "new" shows as a way to be edgy (I guess), and sometimes that's a good thing (they basically put The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on the map). However, what in the actual fuck is Bodyguard? I've never heard of it, and there is no way that this extremely handsome man is better than Matthew Rhys' performance in The Americans. My blood was absolutely boiling and then this very handsome man began talking and I forgot what I was mad about (I'm such a sucker for accents). I actually have The Kominsky Method on my list of shows to watch (I heard it was good, and I love Alan Arkin), so I'm not that upset over it winning the big awards (I mean, the actual best comedy on television is never going to win it anyway). I was obviously happy that The Americans won because it is one of the best shows of that past decade, but if we were to judge it just based on its final season it would come up short against Killing Eve. I just finished watching Escape at Dannemora yesterday morning, and while some episodes were way better than others, Patricia Arquette absolutely deserves that award. But I'm glad that The Assassination of Gianni Versace won the big one - that's a show that I still think about regularly. The way the story was constructed is just so fascinating, and Criss gives the performance of a lifetime (and he's still so young so I would be surprised and in awe if he ever tops it). As far as the film awards go, I am still far behind on my movie watching, but I have read the criticism of both Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book, and if it's true (I obviously won't know until I watch both), they definitely don't deserve any type of recognition. I do think it's a bit of bullshit that nobody addressed Bryan Singer - like maybe take this time to acknowledge male entitlement and victims of abuse? I was surprised that Glenn Close won (I squealed when she gave a little nod to Michael Douglas. Best moment of the night?!) because I thought for sure they would give it Lady Gaga. Ditto for Cooper in the Directing category. I didn't thing either would translate to an Oscar win, but now an Oscar win is even more distant. Also, are A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody not considered Musicals? What would constitute a Musical then? I feel like if the story is based around music and has several musical numbers, then it should go in that category?

4. The Fashion - How gorgeous did Saoirse Ronan look, you guys?!! Just absolutely stunning. Hands down best dress of the evening. I also loved Keri Russel's sparkly number. And that bright yellow dress on Rachel Brosnahan is beautiful - I feel like women of our coloring (pale with dark brown hair) are told not to wear yellow, but I always think it looks so striking. Darren Criss' blazer was so beautiful. I love that he is a straight man who likes to have fun with his outfits. It wasn't too over the top, but still just different enough to stand out. I have to admit that the worst dress was worn by one of my favorite people, Amber Heard. She looked like she was going to an 80s prom costume party - the dress combined with all that layered gold jewelry was just so tacky. And OH GOD another favorite of mine, Kate Mara, I don't know what she was thinking.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Bird Box - I think if this was given a "normal" release, it would not have been successful at all. But a horror/thriller with Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich, released in your home during the Holidays, available to watch at your own convenience? Consider it the buzziest movie of the year. Also, it was incorrectly given comparisons to A Quiet Place, which helped it tremendously. As you may know, I'm a HUGE Sandi B. fan. Like, ginormous. I will stick up for anything she does, so it's weird that I don't have to stick up for this, because critics were so surprisingly kind to it. There's nothing really wrong with the movie, per-say. But it's very mediocre. I can see an argument for originality, but then someone said that it's basically the same plot as The Happening, and that just threw everything out the window. There are two aspects that are great (other than Sandi, obvi) - one is the supporting cast - Sarah Paulson, BD Wong, Jacki Weaver, etc. all fantastic. Second, I think it is interest to show this woman as not very motherly - she takes care of the children out of survival and necessity, but she is never emotional with them because it's not in her nature. It's a refreshing take on a female character that is not often seen. It's a shame that they had to give the movie this absolutely bullshit ending, because it ruins everything.

2. Peppermint - What a waste. We finally get Jennifer Garner back to kicking bad guy ass, and this is the best we could do?? First, it's incredibly racist. Second, the plot is really dumb (when did she steal the money? After she escaped from being admitted into a mental facility, she went to work and stole money? Also, 50 grand would not get you very far) and predictable (of course he's the bad guy!). Third, it could have been interesting - like if they actually showed how she survived and trained for her revenge plan for 5 years, but instead they cut that whole part out and it's just suddenly she's a badass. It's touted as the female Taken (from the same director), but in Taken we are already under the impression that Neeson's character is someone you don't want to fuck with. This woman is just a normal middle-class mom. How did she get all these skills and training? That's the part that I want to see. Otherwise it just feels like a really bad action movie from the 90s. But, the highlight is obviously Garner. I hope she continues to do roles like this because she is one of the rare actresses that can believably be "girl next door" adorable in one scene and vengeful killer in the next. I will continue to watch everything she does (and hope for an Alias reunion....one day...).

3. Roma - This is another win for the new Netflix model of releasing films. It would have taken me months to see this - I never get to the theater anymore, and it's even more rare for me to see independent films (which makes me sad, but it is what it is). I didn't love this film as much as many did, but I can understand why it is so well loved. I just didn't connect with the story, but I always have love for stories that intertwine the history of a particular place with a personal story (it's like a Mexican version of Midnight's Children). There is so much happening in the background of the story, that I have no knowledge of (my knowledge of Mexican history is completely lacking even though I lived in Southern Cali and went to Mexico many times as a kid), but I never really felt like the story was being propelled forward in any way - it was just very "slice of life" story-telling. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it just didn't "wow" me. Although, there are also some stunning shots - I mean, that first shot with the reflection in the water, is just sublime. I could watch that for hours on end.

4. Downsizing - Was this on everyone's Worst of 2017 list? Because it definitely should have been. I'm not sure why Matt Damon keeps picking the "white savior" roles, but someone needs to stop him. The concept for this movie is absolutely brilliant - it's so original, ambitious, fun, and thought-provoking, but what the movie turns it into is surprisingly dull garbage. If the intent is to "teach" the audience a lesson (I'm not sure it needed one other than being grateful for what you have), then it should have been a tale about human loneliness, choosing wealth over living a full life, or even the dangerous impact of over-population and climate control. Instead it was a story about "saving" the poor people. Damon's character is surprised that they exist in the "small" world for some reason. Which is just plain dumb (how did he think he would live with all this wealth - who did he think would be doing all the grunt work? It's like the time someone told me that he wished it was illegal for people to work on Sundays because he wants to be able to go to Brunch. When I asked who would serve him Brunch if working was illegal, he looked at me dumbfounded.). Other than being just plain stupid, the story got really boring - like, painfully boring. And overall, just an embarrassment for all involved.

5.  The Kindergarten Teacher - Another stunning performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal. This is a film that is right up my alley - it's so interesting to watch when you don't quite know where the story is going or how dark it will get. It never quite crosses the line, but it's clear that it could, and it would be just as believable. It does still get pretty fucked up - this woman becomes obsessed with her student (a kindergartner) because she believes that he's a prodigy of poetry. She lets this obsession consume her - and her actions become less and less ethical. It's a tough watch because she's never malicious - I think she truly wants to do what is best but she just doesn't see that it's not her business or responsibility to make these decisions for a child that isn't her own. When I was in my early 20s I worked as a teacher's aide at a pre-school for children with disabilities. It was incredibly emotional work. First, the obvious, these kids had many varying challenges. Second, most of them were not getting what they needed from their home life (not always on purpose - mostly because parents have to work and therefore don't have the time to invest in their children's lives). Third, we only had our minimum amount of time with them and then we were forced to "let go", which practically forces one to have a "this isn't my problem" attitude. I, like all teachers and aids whether they admit it or not, had a "favorite". His name was Jacob and he referred to me as "Ishelle". I saw his potential, that he just needed to feel important, and that he could overcome his learning disabilities with some extra attention that he would likely not get (he was also part of "the system" of Foster Care). It absolutely broke my heart that I had to say good-bye to him when the school year was over. Anyway, teachers are amazing humans (I realized quickly that I was not strong enough for such work). Obviously the one in this story goes too far, but I can still understand her intent.

25 Books I've Read in 2018

So I gave myself a New Year's resolution of reading more books this past year - a goal of 25. This still seemed low, but after realizing I only read 4 books in 2017, I wanted to make sure that I had an achievable goal. I think it was a good way to remind myself how much I love to read - and now it's become second-nature to pick up a book and read a little before bed or during downtime. These are the 25 books that I read this past year - and a little sentence or two on what I thought of each (in no particular order). 

1. Never Let me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro - Far more interesting than the movie. I honestly don't really remember the movie, I just remember that it was an incredibly interesting plot but very, very boring. The book is not boring at all - it explores the psychology of the characters a bit more. I really liked the style of the writing - the characters were very layered and believable, but there is something also a little disturbing and tense about the tone. I've added Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day to my 2019 reading list.

2. Wonder When You'll Miss Me, Amanda Davis - This has been on my bookshelf for a decade. I loved it, although I wish that I read it as a teenager or young adult. It's about exploring your identity, and not letting a tragedy define you - definitely topics that could have helped me as a teenager.

3. The Nix, Nathan Hill - I've seen this on many lists of "great" books of the last decade, and I wouldn't go that far, but I did enjoy it very much. There's a lot to love; the characters are well-written, the plot is very intricate and detailed, and it deals with a lot of present day issues (obsessive gaming, the "me too" movement, political strife).

4. Unqualified, Anna Faris - Not great. Faris admittedly is not a writer. I was hoping that her loveliness and natural humor would show through, but it falls very flat. Her advice is often disturbing, and I think she still needs to work through some of her own shit before advising others (which again, she admits and is why her book is titled "unqualified").

5. The Immortalists, Chloe Benjamin - Really wonderful book about family, destiny, and living life to your fullest. It turns in so many unexpected ways, and fully embraces its characters - flaws and all. I wasn't a huge fan of how it ended, but I'm not sure it would have made sense any other way.

6. Under the Skin, Michel Faber - I loved this movie, and I was a little bit nervous about reading the book because I thought for some reason that it would ruin the movie for me. But it's soooo different from the movie in the most wonderful of ways. It's darker, and funnier, and somehow weirder. I highly recommend it for anyone who is into feminist sci-fi (which is 95% of sci-fi, in case you're confused).

7. The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock's Shower, Robert Graysmith - I don't really read a lot of True Crime, but with the added tidbits about Hitchcock and the making of Psycho, this was really interesting. It was a little slow-moving for my taste, and I thought there was going to be more of a "connection", so I was left feeling disappointed.

8. What Alice Forgot, Liane Moriarty - I could picture this as a Lifetime movie (I'm sure it's already in the process of being made). I enjoyed it but it's a little bit elitist - privileged woman falls and suddenly can't remember who she is, and guess what? She discovers that she's an elitist, privileged bitch. This is her journey into remembering how she got that way and how she can change her life (or if she even wants to change her life).

9. My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem - I've read a lot about Gloria Steinem, but not much of her own writing. I enjoyed reading about Steinem's lectures, the people that she met that influenced her, the reflections on her similarities to her father, etc. She's a legend.

10. The Illustrated Man, Ray Bradbury - Obviously wonderful. This was a first read for me (I've read most of Bradbury's work before, but it was 20 years ago). It's so interesting to see how much Bradbury has influenced the wave of current story-tellers. I felt like every short story has been adapted for screen in some way (even in the most subtle ways). It's like when you watch a Dramatic film and it all hearkens back to Shakespeare (or Greek mythology).

11. Leviathan Wakes, James S. A. Corey - I love The Expanse t.v. show so much. It's just a really fun sci-fi show with great characters and a lot of depth to its story. I was going to wait until the series was over to start reading the books but I'm too impatient. I was really interested to see how they adapted it. The book is very similar to season one - but I think I prefer the show better because I think the characters are a bit more fun.

12. The Nest, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney - Another elitist story about privileged people and this one involves money! I do like all of the characters and the family dynamic, but it's hard to feel bad for rich people (or people arguing about a family "nest").

13. Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann - Another True Crime book, but this one is really, really interesting. I knew nothing about the Osage murders, and I don't think the average person does. But it's an embarrassing stain in American history (we have many). This book explores not only the murders, but the Osage family line, the birth of the FBI, and the details still being discovered about the murders that are still being covered up.

14. The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller - First, I'm soooo angry that I didn't do this first. I always thought that someone should do an updated, "easier" version of The Iliad. I spent many months in high school translating it from the original Latin to see the differences that I discovered compared to the boring old men (sorry, but true) that did the original translations. Second, I'm glad that a woman did it because she could see the beauty and subtlety in the love stories and make them more obvious so others can grasp it. Third, I can't wait to read Circe. 

15. I've Got You Under my Skin, Mary Higgins Clark - I used to love Mary Higgins Clark when I was a teenager. I thought I would give it a shot to see if it was something that still interest me, but unfortunately it was not good. It was very predictable and honestly, I can't even remember what it's about (I read it in the beginning of 2018). I still think she's great - and influential to so many stories about strong women surviving trauma and/or solving crimes, but my tastes have evolved.

16. The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury - Again, obviously wonderful. I read this when I was a teenager, and I loved it, but I love it even more now. I have a deeper appreciation for sci-fi now.

17. Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy, Lindsay Moran - I've always been interested in spy stories, and at one time dreamt of being recruited. This definitely makes me happy that I never was. I enjoyed reading her story, but it saddens me that Moran quit because she started to question the actions of our government after 9/11. I feel like we needed people like her to stay.

18. The Silent Wife, A.S.A Harrison - Very predictable, but I did like how the story split between the two perspectives. It's another Lifetime movie quality book. I actually think I read that Nicole Kidman was attached to the script which is surprising, but maybe they can make the movie a little bit more nuanced.

19. Before the Fall, Noah Hawley - My favorite book that I've read this year (aside from the Bradbury ones - because that's kind of a given). Hawley is a great story-teller. I can see this as a mini-series, so I'm a bit disappointed that he's looking into adapting it into a film instead. I think that's a big mistake because there is sooooo much story to tell between all the different characters. Each character could have their own episode. Anyway, I genuinely enjoyed reading every second of it, and I bought The Good Father to read this coming year.

20. The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club, Laurie Notaro - Funny, cute, another one that I wish I read when I was younger. It's a bit too contrived and one-note, with her being such a "mess", but overall I thought it was enjoyable to read.

21. Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan - If I didn't watch the series, I don't think I would have any idea what was going on. It's interesting to see how it was adapted, because a lot of it doesn't make sense - and it's hard to follow, but the series is pretty good (a little slow, and some questionable acting, but the plot is solid).

22. Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham - I adore Lauren Graham - not so much from Gilmore Girls, but from Parenthood. I did love GG, but not as much as most fans. I wish this book was more about her life, and not her life on the set of GG, but she's still a great writer. I think her personality shines through, and that's something that's hard to do.

23. The Moth Presents: All These Wonders, Catherine Burns - Really cool idea. I've never heard about The Moth before, but I'm intrigued. I would love to go to a show. I like that it's just very natural story-telling. It's easy reading, and some of the stories will stick with me for life. I absolutely hated the second to last story though (it actually made me sick to my stomach and ruined the whole experience for me, but I'm trying to get over it).

24. Unexpected Gifts, Katie McAndrews-McNeill - The author is my ex-boss and I absolutely adore her. This is the story of what happened to her life and the choices she made after her sister died. She's always given me great advice, and seems to truly enjoy every single moment of her life (like she's a genuinely happy person - it's incredible. She's also extremely privileged - but she acknowledges this all the time). I loved reading her story, but I'm a bit biased.

25. The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman - This was definitely a great introduction to Gaiman's writing (I've never read any of his work before, but I have American Gods on my list for next year - the book and the series). This is a beautiful, poetic story - it's a modern day mythological tale (and I love mythologies) about how children perceive their surroundings.

Best and Worst Films of 2018

Best:

1. First Man 
2. A Quiet Place
3. Thoroughbreds 
4. Unsane 
5. Tully
6. Game Night
7. You Were Never Really Here

This is probably my worst year yet, in terms of movie viewing. There are too many wonderful tv shows to keep up with (my favorite this year: Counterpart and Killing Eve). I couldn't even come up with 10 (the next on the list is Bird Box, but that doesn't belong anywhere near a Top 10 List so I stopped at 7.). I think this list will look quite different when I update in July. 

Worst: 

1. Rampage
2. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
3. The Cloverfield Paradox
4. A Wrinkle in Time
5. Incredibles 2 
6. Peppermint 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. First Reformed - I'm not sure I get it? I have no interest in watching it again, but I think there is supposed to be some sort of "message" that I just didn't get. And I mean something bigger than just a priest questioning his faith, which is the core of the film. Critics have hailed the film as "an epiphany", "spectacular", and "mesmerizing", so there has to be more to it. Aside from my high expectations, I enjoyed Hawke's performance, and the dialogue was really fantastic (my favorite line: "Wisdom is holding two contradictory truths in our mind simultaneously".), I even liked the weird and unexpected ending. Overall though, it's not a movie that I expect will stick with me and I am left disappointed in what could have been.

2. Rough Night - Ugh. I expected to hate this, and I did. For many, many, many reasons. I'm not sure where to begin - the paper-thin personalities each woman has, the fact that they laugh and have a grand old time after they accidentally kill someone, Scarlett Johansson's predictably terrible performance, the constant cliches- like how her best friend is jealous of her having another female friend, the idea the women in their 30s are still susceptible to peer pressure, or just the sheer stupidity of every single plot point. It's all terrible and pointless. It's clearly trying to be the next Bridesmaids (which had similar cliches, but it was done 100 times better), by trying to do the whole "women can do raunchy" thing, but it fails miserably. I didn't laugh once. NOT ONCE. Jillian Bell was great in 21 Jump Street, but she's not ready for such a big role. Actually, I think the cast was a big problem, they did not have the camaraderie that this group should have - and again, none of them were funny. But I bet if you replaced all of them with the cast of Bridesmaids, I would have laughed hysterically.

3. Battle of the Sexes - I admit, I don't really know much about Billie Jean King. I just know the name as a feminist icon, but I'm not really one to follow sports icons so I never really paid attention to how influential she was in the feminist movement of the 1970s. After watching this, I became incredibly intrigued by Bobby Riggs' story - I'm glad they showed how his "personality" influenced people. It's clear that he doesn't really believe the things he says, and that he is just trying to exploit the feminist movement for his own gain - and even crazier, him and King were actually friends! I always try to point this out when some popular person says something ridiculous (AHEM Kanye *cough*) because they clearly just want attention and if you get all "offended" and "outraged" you are just feeding right into what they want. There's an interesting theory that Riggs actually threw the match so that King would win because he placed a large bet on her - and honestly, I believe it. It's kind of hilarious that women felt like this would "prove" something - a women in her 20s beating a man in his 50s at Tennis? How is that proving we are equal? I think King's real progress, and work towards equality was all the behind the scenes stuff - the part where she boycotts, and argues her worth. This is a fairly straight-forward biopic that could have focused more on her battle with her sexuality and her public persona. Or how she influenced people in other fields to join the feminist movement. But instead we get to watch a re-enactment of the tennis match that lasted for what felt like FOREVER. Tennis is extremely boring, so I'm not sure how anyone thought it was a good idea to drag that out (it's not for dramatic effect, because we already know the freakin' ending!). The cast is impeccable though.

4. Mission: Impossible - Fallout - Not as good as I was expecting based on all of the reviews, but a satisfying movie nonetheless. I think Ghost Protocol was a lot better. At least there was an extremely memorable scene (the Burj Khalifa scene will live in my brain forever). This one reminds me of the previous one (Rogue Nation), in that I enjoyed it while watching it, but I will hardly remember anything about it. I think it's supposed to be surprising with all the "twists", but nothing happened that I didn't expect. I'm not a fan of Henry Cavill - he is such a snoozefest, especially when he shares the screen with Tom Cruise. The bathroom fight was pretty great, though. The choreography that goes into those scenes are just amazing. I do like that they left in the scene where Tom hurts himself. I can't believe that he still does all of his own stunts - even the crazy ones. The last scene with the helicopters was really fun to watch, but I totally expected him to jump from the one helicopter into the other one, and then I fully expected to read that he actually did it in real life. What a crazy man.

5. Suburbicon - Wow, this is a bad movie. It's saved by the caliber of its cast, and the talent behind the screen, but it's just not good. First, I like that Clooney is inspired by the Coen brothers, but he really needs to step away and find his own groove, because now it feels like a parody. Second, the story is actually really great and the ending is wonderful, so why did this feel so painful and boring to watch? Third, maybe have the really interesting racial tension that is exploding in the background be the main story? There's just so many ways this story could have been told, but it fails in every aspect. Fourth, again, I LOVED the ending and that little boy is a great actor.