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.

Thoughts on 9* New Shows to Watch

1. Maniac - I just finished this series yesterday so I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. There are things that I really loved, but there was also so much of it that felt really cheesy and terrible. Overall, I would say it's just "okay". Emma Stone is just absolutely stunning. Her performance in the second episode alone is worth watching just to see how versatile she has become. The rest of the cast is...not good. Jonah Hill is not terrible, but, and I say this as a huge fan, Justin Theroux pretty much ruins the whole thing for me. I don't think it was his fault; I think he was directed to act that way because every other actor in his scenes did the same not-realistic-in-any-way style acting (even Sally Field!). The whole series did feel like a really, really long and drawn out episode of Black Mirror, but to Black Mirror's credit - the ending is usually worth it. This ending was horrible! *spoiler ahead* There was no point to it...was there? I spent the whole series trying to figure out how these two people were connected "in the real world" (and I thought I figured it out around episode 5), only to find out that they aren't. What a load of crap. I guess now that I'm writing it all down, I really didn't like it at all. Just Emma Stone.

2. The Kids are Alright - Very cute family comedy. Too much of the pilot episode was shown in the ads, so at first it's a little disappointing, but it picks up in the second episode. The cast work really well together, and it feels like a natural family dynamic. I love Michael Cudlitz - it's almost hard to recognize him because this role is very different than what I'm used to seeing him in, but it's also sort of the same (he does the strict, "don't mess with me" character perfectly - as he did in SouthLAnd). I don't know if the show is going to last very long because I don't ever hear anyone talking about it. Also, it's very hard to find it because when you say "The Kids are Alright" into the remote, it brings up the move The Kids are All Right. It's super annoying.

3. Manifest - What a stupid fucking show. I need to stop watching it, but I'm already sucked it! It's next-level bad. It suffers from bad dialogue, convenient story-telling, expected endings, plot holes, absolutely no nuance or depth, and terrible acting (except for the sister - I had to look up her name because I've never seen her before - Melissa Roxburgh. She has great screen presence.). I think it's going to end up being something about the Bermuda Triangle, but who knows? Every episode just gets dumber and dumber. It's super weird that they diverted the plane to Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY (which is where I grew up!). That airport used to be this tiny little military airport and now it's expanded so much. So weird to see it featured on a television show.

4. The Little Drummer Girl - I'm half-way through the mini-series, and it is THE definition of slow-burn story-telling. I hope it's worth it because it's really fucking boring to sit through. I think I had really high expectations because it's Park Chan-wook! Directing a televisions series! Why isn't EVERYONE talking about it? That's like a HUGE deal. That's why I think there will be a huge pay-off in the end - a reason that makes the whole thing worth watching. It's been compared to The Night Manager which I didn't like, so that's not really a great sign. Michael Shannon is usually wonderful, but he has a really thick (Israeli?) accent and I can barely understand what he's saying which is obviously detrimental. The girl who plays Charlie (the main character) reminds me of a grown-up version of Sally Draper (which is a good thing...I think?).

5. Mr. Inbetween - Not going to lie, I was really happy that this show is only 6 episodes and they are only ½ hour long episodes. I just have too much to watch, but I got through the first season of this really quickly. The plot has been done before, but there is something about this show that is really likeable. Like the scene where he tells his daughter that Santa isn’t real and Jesus probably isn’t, but unicorns are. There’s some super cute scenes where you don’t think about how horrible the main character is. It does a nice job of the “inbetween” aspect. I really liked the last episode and I’m happy that there is going to be a second season.

6. Escape at Dannemora - I think I've watched 2 episodes so far (maybe 3) and I'm not blown away by it. It's another really, really slow moving show. I feel like everything that happened so far could have been condensed into one really terrific episode. Instead, it's all dragged out for dramatic effect, and it just doesn't work. The acting is terrific, though. I didn't even recognize Patricia Arquette, she really embraces every aspect of the role. Benicio del Toro always sort of reminds me of Brad Pitt. I don't know why; it just feels like they took the same acting class. He always does these little subtle things that add depth or nuance to a character (like the fake smoking thing, that was a nice touch and a lesser actor wouldn't have made that work). I think the biggest reason that this show isn't working for me is that it's just too soon. This event, like, JUST happened. We, as a society, haven't been able to really dissect it or reflect on it yet.

7. The Romanoffs - I watched the first episode so far, and it felt like a movie. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's going to be hard for me to fit in the time to watch it if every episode is an hour and a half. I do like that each episode is with different characters and different actors. That's a cool idea to do about the infamous Romanoff family since there is so much confusion and mystery about who is actually part of the family. The first episode was ok - it's a story that's been told many times - racist, entitled white woman suddenly becomes less racist once she is saved by a non-white person. I did like the twist about the Faberge egg (and it made the ending delicious). I'm intrigued about the rest of the series, I'm just having trouble fitting it into my very busy tv schedule.

8. Single Parents - Super cute. It's a show that has gotten infinitely better with every episode so far, which is a great sign. At first, I was just like "meh", but now I actually look forward to each episode as something that is guaranteed to make me smile. The cast have great chemistry together, and I love how the relationships have already started to evolve - it all feels really natural. Also, the kids don't annoy me! They are in it just the right amount (and the twin girls are actually hilarious). It's definitely weird seeing Leighton Meester as an adult  - especially during the episode where she was forced to hang out with the "mean" moms because it brought back all of the Gossip Girls memories, but she is surprisingly wonderful.

9. A Million Little Things - I wasn't really on board with this show at first. It's just really over-dramatic, sappy, and also extremely predictable (of course the cheating wife is pregnant!). There was just no subtlety or character development during the first few episodes, but now it's starting to grow on me, though. I think they just tried to tell too much story in the beginning instead of focusing on the characters, but it seems like they course corrected because now I really like almost all of the characters. They do a great job at getting you to relate to each of them, even if they do questionable things. The story-lines have still been a little predictable, but I'm interested in where it's all going to go. Also, a side-note, the one younger daughter looks like she's a Michalka sister but she's not related at all (at least from the info on IMDB) which is crazy to me because she even sounds like them when she sings! She could easily be their younger sister.


*This list has only 9 instead of the intended 12 because I have yet to watch Homecoming, Wanderlust, and The First. 12 new shows was incredibly ambitious...what was I thinking??  

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. You Were Never Really Here - Why has it taken Lynne Ramsay 7 years to make her next film? We Need to Talk about Kevin is one of those movies that really stuck with me. I don't think I was too impressed with it when I originally saw it, but ultimately its unsettling images are unforgettable. I feel like that is the most important aspect of creating films/telling stories - making something memorable. I felt underwhelmed by You Were Never Really Here, but I have a strong inkling that I will be praising it as "unforgettable" 7 years from now, so I guess I would call that a success. I don't really have any fair negative criticism of the film - there are some stunning shots, Joaquin Phoenix continues to be one of the strongest working actor of his generation, and the story turns in unexpected ways. I just didn't really connect with it, or care about what was happening in any way. It's certainly not the "Taxi Driver for the new century" as it is touted as (I mean, come on, seriously?!?). I think it will still land in my Top 10 for this year (it's at #7 currently), but I don't know how I will feel about it a month from now...or 7 years from now.

2. A Wrinkle in Time - Nope, never read the book and I heard absolutely awful things about the movie but I was still intrigued. I wouldn't say it's absolutely awful...but it's pretty close. I can't even imagine kids enjoying it because it's sooooo boring. It isn't even pretty to look at because it's so over-saturated with color that it almost looks like an animated film (a poorly animated film at that). And are we supposed to be impressed with Oprah's bedazzled eyebrows that is literally stick-on jewels adhered to her forehead that a child could do? The costume and makeup design is just really next-level terrible. It was really hard to pay attention to (it's a kids movie, obviously she's going to find her dad - so what's the point?), and the dialogue was too sugary sweet for my taste. If this were an original idea, I might give it some extra consideration for imagination, but to adapt this story into something so dull is just unacceptable. The acting is also pretty terrible all around.

3. The Beguiled - I've written about Sofia Coppola before - I want to like her, but unfortunately I never end up liking her films (Marie Antoinette is the exception and I didn't hate The Virgin Suicides. Every other one of her films I've hated - yup, including Lost in Translation). I didn't exactly hate this movie, but I don't really understand the point of remaking this story. It's not a good story, or relevant in any way. It's a very inherently anti-feminist story. It's a story about women and girls who suddenly find their lives interesting because a man has entered their living space. He pretty much becomes the center of their world - opening themselves up to jealousy, narcissism, and manipulation (and they suddenly care about their appearance?). It's all just so offensive. Also ***spoiler*** are we supposed to feel satisfied because they unnecessarily kill him? There are seven of them against a man who just had his leg cut off - uhhhh, they should be able to subdue him without killing him. It could have been interesting if they updated it to actually make it a feminist story, but as it is, it's just so dated. The cast is exceptional, though. And Colin Farrell is the perfect charming soldier - I'm glad he got to keep his accent.

4. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - Aw man, this was just terrible. I wasn't expecting it to be good. None of the Jurassic sequels were any good. But I liked that Jurassic World rebooted the series and brought it back to life in such a fun way. As soon as I read the plot for this movie, I knew it was ridiculous (They are saving dinosaurs from an erupting volcano? Really? A volcano? Okay...), but I still had hope that it was going to be fun. Especially because they heavily advertised Jeff Goldblum's involvement. He's literally in it for maybe 3 minutes total, so that's their first and biggest mistake. The second mistake is keeping Bryce Dallas Howard as the main star. I can't stand her (as an actress. As a person, I'm sure she's delightful just like her dad). She was the worst part of the first one, and of course, continues the streak with this one. Also, did I mention that the plot is RIDICULOUS. I mean, they outrun a volcano! I'm not even sure how they think bringing them to a different island that would have zero human involvement would exactly save them? An island would have limited resources and the dinosaurs would run out of food and die anyway. But whatever. Then the "bad guys" bring some of the dinosaurs to this mansion to sell them (seems smart), and then of course they escape and wreak havoc (and stomp on the roof that somehow doesn't collapse - what they hell kind of glass roof would hold a freakin' dinosaur??). The only good thing about the movie was the (several) times the T-Rex saves the day. I think it's hilarious that they keep that going in every movie. Right place, right time Mr. T-Rex. The ending was pretty interesting though, with the whole actual, literal "Jurassic World".

5. Terminal - I heard nothing about this movie when it was released (was it even released??). I almost forgot about it! I really wanted to see it because it seemed like a really atmospheric noir film with Margot Robbie (sold!). I wish I could say that I loved it, but unfortunately it is kind of a disaster. There's actually some really great stuff mixed in, but overall it is just a big mess. The biggest "what the fuck" is Mike Myers' involvement. He's dressed up in this weird makeup - as if he's doing a character from one of the Austin Powers movies. Are we not supposed to recognize that it's him? Are we not supposed to guess that eventually it will be revealed that he doesn't look like that? Then they set up "it's only a movie" by talking about how movies don't have to make sense (?), which I guess explains why most of the movie takes place in a 50s style middle America type diner but everyone has British accents. Where does the movie take place? When does it take place? None of it makes sense, but it seems like the creators wanted it that way. It definitely pulls inspiration from Blade Runner and Pulp Fiction but not in a good way. Then, the ending - oh, man, the ending. The last 15 minutes are pure garbage. There are multiple "twists", all of them are stupid. Robbie does her best. I can see why she took the role - if the movie worked it would have been a great platform for her.

Holiday Movie Preview: 4 Films that I'm Excited About

1. Mary Poppins Returns (12.19) - To be completely honest, I don't think I've ever watched Mary Poppins in one sitting. I've definitely seen the whole movie, just not all at once. It was just never really my thing. I certainly wasn't excited when they announced a sequel. However, as soon as they announced Emily Blunt in the role I AM HERE FOR IT. She can do it all. I am pretty sure this will be the biggest movie of the year.

2. Bird Box (12/21) - Sandra Bullock!! In a post-apocalyptic thriller about surviving monsters who kill you as soon as you see them? OKAY!

3. On the Basis of Sex (12/25) - I always appreciate when they make biopics about people who are still alive. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an absolute legend and should have had several movies made about her already. She's fought for equality for all and has impacted the lives of millions - and she's still going! I think Felicity Jones will do a good job of showcasing her uncompromising strength. She'll likely get an Oscar nomination for it.

4. Vice (12/25) - I read about Christian Bale taking on the role of Dick Cheney, but I didn't realize the movie is directed by Adam McKay (he made The Big Short, which was an incredibly well-made film - probably one of the best of the past decade). I saw the trailer before First Man, and I was blown away. I'm so excited for it! Not only is Bale unrecognizable (for real, HOLY SHIT), but Sam Rockwell as W. made me laugh out loud. He's perfect. If you haven't seen the trailer, I suggest you watch it (I mean, it's not like it's spoilers or anything. We already know what happens...).

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. A Quiet Place - I really wanted to see this in theaters, but I read so much about how sound and the use of silence is really important, and I thought that a theater audience might ruin the experience for me (I've had many terrible theater experiences lately - surprisingly everyone was really respectful in First Man which also relied on the use of sound.). Anyway, I decided it would be best to wait for home viewing and I'm glad I did. I was able to immerse myself in it more than I think I would have in a theater. It's really quite a beautiful movie about family, love, loss, and sacrifice. John Krasinski is on a major high right now (I knew after watching Brief Interviews with Hideous Men that John was much more than Jim Halpert; that he was on his way to a very interesting career.). There are so many things I love about this movie - the unique (and intense) concept, the gorgeous crane shots used while walking through the woods, and Emily Blunt's stunning performance - showcasing the fucking strength of a mother. The gender politics are pretty interesting, because it's very traditional yet modern. I think some saw it as problematic, but I think it's realistic. I think if a sort of apocalypse type situation happened we would rely on our genetic strengths of men being the "hunters" and women being the "caretakers". But I think this film shows that ultimately we all need to work together to protect our family (or the human race, if that were the case). I like this type of horror film because it feels very realistic, even with the sci-fi twist. It's interesting that it's produced by Michael Bay - I love to put together pieces of movie deals that probably went down (i.e Bay totally said "sure I'll finance your weird, practically silent movie, but your going to be in my shitty Benghazi movie". Bay is also a producer on the new Jack Ryan series, so obvi they like working together). The only problem that I have with the movie is the convenient ending (wouldn't the world's scientists have already experimented with sound to ward off these alien things?). Also, when he's in his basement testing the radios all 4 of my cats looked right at the television so I'm pretty sure aliens with super-sensitive hearing would hear the buzzing of the radio waves.

2. Ocean's 8 - While it's an enjoyable movie, I was incredibly disappointed. There is just so much potential that is untapped. Sandra Bullock has been one of my favorite people since Speed. I just ADORE her. And Ocean's 11 is one of my all-time favorite re-watchable movies. The combination is just pure genius. Add in one of the greatest actresses of her generation - Cate Blanchett, and my head just explodes with the possibilities. Maybe it's my high expectations or the fact that I can think of 100 different ways to make this movie fantastic, but ultimately I found this movie just so dull. I think I'm a little bothered by the fact that they are stealing from a museum - a place that is not only educational and inspiring, but also completely innocent. The reason you root for Danny Ocean and his crew is because he's stealing from a sleazy, asshole casino billionaire. I was also not really impressed with anyone else in the cast - none of them stand out at all (I think I'm alone in this thought though because I read rave reviews about Awkwafina - but she had like 5 lines, maybe? and I remember exactly zero of them). And GROOOAN James Corden. Probably the least funny popular comedian alive (or maybe that's Kevin Hart?). Who thought that was a good casting decision? UGH.

3. Ant-Man and the Wasp - Wow, you guys. This is terrible. I wasn't expecting it to be terrible at all. I thought it was supposed to be good or at least Marvel mediocre. It's at the bottom of the barrel for Marvel movies. Yup, right down there alongside Thor. The plot is messy and predictable. There are too many bad guys so it felt really unfocused. The timeline doesn't make sense because it says "present day" which would mean after Infinity War, but it's clearly happening at the same time as Infinity War which is in the past. The girl who played Ghost is a terrible actress. Actually everyone seemed pretty terrible. They lost the chemistry that the first one had; every interaction felt very forced. The whole thing was just unexpectedly painful. At least Evangeline Lilly's hair is better in this one. And the ending is pretty shocking even if you know it's coming. I think because it's so boring, I started to forget what I was watching and lost the bigger picture of it - and then the ending happened and I gasped out-loud. I'm pretty excited to see where the story goes and I'm really looking forward to Captain Marvel.

4. Incredibles 2 - I don't remember the first one (it was 14 years ago! How do people remember things from that long ago?). And when I say I don't remember, I really, truly mean it. Not a single thing. I guess maybe I should have watched it again before watching this one, but who has that kind of time? So because I don't remember the first one, I was really surprised at the voice casting - Holly Hunter....really? For a voice role? How weird is that? Anyway, I absolutely hated this sequel. It's really boring and predictable. The jokes land with a thud. And it's sexist. Not in an obvious way, of course. Because the general story is all about "feminism", but the undertones are really filled with sexist bullshit. The "bad guy" basically hand-picks her because she is easier to manipulate (because female) and half of the plot is about how the father actually has to take care of HIS OWN CHILDREN as if that's a burden for him. The only positive thing I can say is that I love that both Jonathon Banks and Bob Odenkirk are voices because what a weird Better Call Saul connection.

5. Hereditary - The trailer scared the crap out of me. The movie not so much. The ridiculous ending really ruins it. It's a very "what the fuck" ending, but not in a good way. The first hour of the movie isn't even a horror movie, it's a psychological drama. The catalyst for the story is really unexpected (and thankfully not given away in the trailer), it's a scene that I will likely never forget. I'm actually cringing just thinking about it. But then after it happens, absolutely nothing makes sense. And even worse, nothing feels real. Toni Collette is brilliant though. I would be okay with her getting tons of award nominations for this performance. Her scream face is just THE BEST. Alex Wolff is also really great - I recognized him from In Treatment (pretty weird to have Gabriel Byrne as his father again, especially because they look nothing alike), but he's also been in more recent films like Patriots Day and the new Jumanji movie. Pretty interesting career so far. Anyway, it's not a terrible movie, but it's just not my thing.

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.