Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Pet Sematary - Even though I had a habit of calling my cat "Church - the Pet Sematary cat" (full quote) when she would get real bitchy - she would just suddenly turn pure evil and it was the first cat that I had that would change her personality so dramatically within seconds (her real name was Trouble and I miss her dearly), I don't really have much recollection of the original movie (nor have I read the novel). The story is just too dumb for it to actually be scary. There are a few creepy moments that are done well, but it's not a movie that would keep me up at night. The cast did what they could - especially the little girl. And I did like the ending - I don't remember if the original ended that way, but I really appreciated that it didn't have a typical "final girl" type of ending. Other than that, I can't say that I will remember anything about it in a few months time.

2. The Seagull - I was actually really surprised by the dismal reception to this movie - it's based on the classic Checkov play, starring Annette Benning and Saoirse Ronan! How can that be anything less than amazing? Well, surprise! It kind of sucks. There's just something really lacking - the only one who seems to be giving it her all is Benning. Everyone else is just walking and talking through the motions, without any actual emotion. I forgot about how ridiculous (and hilarious) the character of Irina is, but Benning is just perfect in the role. Corey Stoll was really miscast though. I mean, just zero chemistry with the rest of the cast. Also, I didn't really find anything visually stimulating about it the film, either. It's very cut and dry. I would love to see a more modernized film version of this play (something in the style of 10 Things I Hate About You).

3. If Beale Street Could Talk - Realizing now that I'm not really a fan of any movies in this post. I hate when that happens, because I would so much rather write about good movies than bad ones. Not that this movie is bad. Far from it. I just didn't really connect to it. I did really like most of the cast. Stephan James is excellent (and he's great on the show Homecoming), plus the supporting cast of Regina King, Brian Tyree Henry, Finn Wittrock, and very brief appearances by Diego Luna and Pedro Pascal (he isn't even credited...isn't that weird?). But, the main girl is really, really dull. There is something just really off about the performance - she is supposed to be reserved, but it doesn't feel genuine at all. I could see someone like Aja Naomi King really ace this part. And I think if I liked the main actress more, I would have had a stronger connection with the movie. There are some really beautiful scenes and the music is stunning. But, again, it's not something I will remember in a few months time. There is one scene, though, that is wonderful - the pregnancy announcement with both families - just really strong performances and some shocking dialogue.

4. Mile 22 - So. much. gunfire. I watched this a few weeks ago and I can't even tell you what it's about, I just remember constant gunfire. I also remember falling asleep for 10 minutes and waking up to...yup...you guessed it, more gunfire. I admit, I only watched if because of Marky Mark (I will watch anything with Marky Mark), but was pleasantly surprised by Lauren Cohan. She was always the best part of The Walking Dead and I'm so glad that she escaped from that garbage of a show (that I still watch because I am a masochist, apparently). I wish she chose a better project to showcase how awesome she is. Also, I just looked up her name (my brain just isn't working right) only to discover that apparently their is a sequel being made to this movie. But....why? Did it do well at the box office? Because I don't remember anyone talking about it.

5. Her Smell - I saw this movie on a few "Best of 2019" lists, which is the only reason I forced myself to watch it. And all I have to say is...what in the actual fuck? How can anyone find anything other than mediocrity within this movie. And, Elizabeth Moss is fucking terrible. Like, cringe-worthy terrible. I know I might be biased because I've never liked her, but I did just recently give her positive criticism for her work in Us. So, I'm not always stuck in my ways. I do recognize when an actor surprises me. I actually LOVE when it happens (like with Adam Driver in the Star Wars movie. I don't remember which one...they are all blending together at this point). Also, this character is awful. It reminded me of Courtney Love (and I fucking loathe Courtney Love). You're not meant to root for her, so ultimately this is just an exercise in narcissism and selfishness. And then to top it off, we have to sit through an entire rendition of Moss singing "Heaven". THE ENTIRE SONG. A few lines would have sufficed, but nope, prepare to be tortured. It's also way to long at 134 minutes (which for some reason my brain registered as being an hour and a half. When I realized my error, I was super pissed). There is no way this story needs to be over 2 hours long. There is one highlight in the movie and that is the love of my life, Amber Heard. Looking stunning with the Cleopatra-esque hair and makeup. Also, on a random side-note: Is this how Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne met? I don't really follow celebrity gossip (anymore), but that picture of them carrying the sex swing into their house made me die laughing. I love celebrities who just live their lives and don't give a fuck.

3 Thoughts on Bombshell

1. The Acting - I had high expectations for this movie, specifically with the acting, since that's what seems to be getting the most attention. While Charlize is, as expected, terrific as Megyn Kelly, the rest of the acting is inconsistent. It's like everyone was in different version of the same movie. Some went full-on immersive character study, and some just stayed themselves with a change of hair and makeup. It was very distracting. But man, Charlize Theron absolutely killed it. It was hard to remember that it's not Megyn Kelly on-screen. Charlize embodied her look, her voice, her mannerisms. It was perfect. Nicole Kidman, on the other-hand, just stayed Nicole Kidman playing Gretchen Carlson. She didn't really look like her, her voice stayed the same, and she remained her cold, distant, Nicole Kidman self. This makes it seem like I'm not a fan, but I actually really love Nicole Kidman. It just didn't match what Charlize was doing. Then you have Margot Robbie, who I'm not sure if she played a real person, or a mash-up of a few people, was also very good, but also a pointless character. And John Lithgow was just John Lithgow but fatter. I feel like it's up to a director to decide the acting style for the film, and ensure everyone follows through. Instead, this whole movie feels like a jumbled mess.

2. The Story - The story is important, however, I don't think it's going to get the audience that it's targeting. It felt like they were trying to teach us a "lesson", but anyone willingly watching this movie, already knows the lesson. So, instead, it felt condescending and pointless. I think timing is a big problem - it's just too soon for this story to be made into a film. We haven't reflected, we haven't seen the full outcome and the lasting effect that it will have on journalism, politics, the entertainment industry, etc,. Why are we in such a hurry to tell (i.e commodify) stories that just happened? I also felt like the way that certain characters spoke directly into the camera is awkward, and again, condescending. It is told in the same style as The Big Short and Vice (actually a little too similar, in my opinion - it felt more like theft than "inspiration") and as a whole, it just didn't work for me. 

3. The Better Version - I literally just watched this whole story a few months ago with the mini-series The Loudest Voice, and it was 100% better. It wasn't preachy, or boring, and it had nuance. I think it was largely ignored, but Russell Crowe did recently get the Golden Globe for it - and he deserved it (although no-one deserves anything over Sam Rockwell, EVER). It wasn't spectacular or anything, but at least it had better overall acting, editing, and pace. If the story interests you, I would definitely recommend this version. 

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

The Good 

- Another year of me struggling to come to terms with what the Academy deems award-worthy. I don't think this year is as bad as last year, but I am still having trouble finding the "good". The biggest (and most predictable) "good" nomination is for Joaquin Phoenix (my thoughts on Joker will be up soon...). Undoubtedly one of the best working actors today - this is his fourth nomination and he will deserve the win.

- There was a lot I liked about Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood - the acting, in particular. I'm also happy to see Quentin getting the screenwriting and directing nod.

- Charlize Theron is incredible in Bombshell (more thoughts to come...).

- I haven't seen Little Women - and to be honest, I don't want to see Little Women (*groans* do I have to?), but Saoirse Ronan is a favorite of mine, so I was happy to see her name on the list of nominees.

The Bad

- The love for The Irishman. I understand the acting nominations (because duh...) and Martin Scorsese (again duh...), but all of the technical nominations blow my mind. Like, how does it get Production Design and Costume Design over a film like Rocketman? It doesn't make a bit of sense. And the Visual Effects were the worst and most distracting part of the movie.

- The love for Marriage Story. It's a good movie with good performances. That's it. It's hard to believe that I live in a world where Scarlett Johansson earned two Academy Award nominations in the same year.

- The lack of representation. Usually, I don't go there for award shows. I don't think it's their fault that most of the nominees are white males. It all comes down to opportunity - and while it's getting better, it's not something that's going to happen overnight. The saying "two steps forward, one step back" exists for a reason. However, I do think it's odd that Little Women is so highly regarded and reviewed - earning Best Picture, screenplay, and acting nominations without nominating the director. It's happened before though (remember Argo? It won Best Picture without a directing nomination). Actually - it happened this year with Gerwig's own husband, Noah Baumbach. Marriage Story received a screenplay, acting nominations, and a Best Picture without getting Director. I think it comes down to people just being fed up with the industry and the consistent lack of representation, but it's not going to be fixed on an awards show level.

The Snubbed 

- Well, you probably already know what I'm going to say, but it still has to be said. Taron Egerton put his heart and soul into Rocketman and it's baffling that he didn't get a nomination. The last time I was burned this bad by the Academy was when Leo didn't get nominated for Titanic. I truly believe that this was the toughest category this year - and it sucks that a performance can be overlooked simply because of timing. If the release dates for this and Bohemian Rhapsody were flipped, surely Taron would have been the front-runner, and I don't think Rami would be in the conversation this year (I feel bad that people are trashing him now, but I trashed him as soon as I saw the movie. It's not a good performance. I do however think he's incredible on Mr. Robot and I'm hopeful that it's not just a fluke). Also, Rocketman was released in the beginning half of the year, which usually solidifies being ignored. Taron worked hard to keep it in the conversation and he should be proud of himself (and being nominated for a SAG, BAFTA, and winning the Golden Globe ain't too shabby).

- The rest of the nominations for Rocketman. I watched one of the Rocketman screening interviews (actually I watched many), but an interviewer asked Taron if he was tired of being asked all the same questions and talking about the movie for literally 6 months and he said that he felt a responsibility to do it because of all of the talent behind the camera that he didn't want to be forgotten. He's the face of the movie, but he wanted Rocketman to stay in the conversation for them (and duh..for himself, too, obviously). The costume design is probably the most egregious snub - the fact that they didn't just copy Elton John's wardrobe (which would have been the easier route) and instead were "inspired" by them, really made it all the more interesting.

- The song "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)" from Wild Rose is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard all year. I mean, I would even nominate that over "I'm Gonna Love Me Again" from Rocketman (they literally nominated the only thing I didn't like from the movie. LOL. I listen to the soundtrack pretty regularly and it's the only song I skip).

- It was obviously a long-shot, but it's a damn shame that James McAvoy hasn't been in ANY of the conversations. Glass is not a good movie, but his performance is incredible. I'm sorry, but Adam Driver could never do that.

- My two favorite female performances this year are Lupita Nyong'o and Sienna Miller (someone else who was completely ignored). It's pretty guaranteed that Renee Zellweger is winning and I just...don't understand. I haven't seen Judy yet, but from the trailer, it doesn't look good and it seems like she is just doing a really bad impersonation.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. 6 Underground - This is extremely "my shit". I swear sometimes Michael Bay makes movies just to make me smile. This movie is just bat-shit insane and I loved every minute of it (as you can see from my previous post of my Best Films of 2019 post. For the record, I highly doubt it will be on my list once I've seen everything I want to see). There are two (minor) issues I have with the movie - one, I'm not the biggest Ryan Reynolds fan (he's wonderful in Deadpool and I think I liked him once before but I can't remember what movie). I would have loved this movie even more if it starred someone I enjoyed more. And two, *spoiler, but who cares, it's a Michael Bay movie*, my favorite actor in the whole movie fuckin' dies in the first action sequence. There's a huge success with the actresses in the movie, though. I didn't think I could possibly love Melanie Laurent any more than I already do, but the fact that she even agreed to be in a Michael Bay movie, and she seemed like she was having the time of her life - I'm officially head over heels. And Adria Arjona is absolutely fucking stunning. As a group, the 6 actors all work really well together. I would love to watch endless sequels.

2. The Peanut Butter Falcon - Absolutely adorable movie (and another one that made it to my Best of list, but probably won't be there for long). I really hope it's time everyone forgives Shia? I think he's redeemed himself. I've adored him for many years (since he was in one of my all-time favorite indie movies A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. He's incredible in it.). He's one of those actors that has such an interesting presence on-screen. And it seems completely natural. The movie is a really cute story about a young man with Down Syndrome who is stuck in a retirement facility because he's part of "the system" (and the system sucks), who dreams of going to wrestling school to be trained by his favorite wrestler. He escapes the facility and the adventure begins. I really liked Dakota Johnson in this, which is great because I want to like her (she was just so awful in those 50 Shades movies). She seems sweet. There is really great chemistry between her and Shia. It's just one of those movies that you'll smile all the way through.

3. Ad Astra - This is a two-parter for me. The first part is practically sublime. I was in awe. Then, as the second part begins, it quickly turns into the most boring, mind-numbing, repetitive, predictable garbage. I mean, it's harsh to call it garbage, because it's still extraordinary to look at, but the story is just...UGH. It reminds me a little bit of the tv show The First with Sean Penn (anyone else watch that? no? such a shame, it was pretty good) because it deals more with the psychology of space travel instead of the science of it, and the pace of it is pretty similar. Overall, I did like the movie - it's a solid 3 star movie, but it just starts off so, so, great and then quickly goes nowhere. I will say, though, Brad Pitt, at 56, can get it. He looks just as good as he did in Se7en and that came out 25 fucking years ago! That scene when he has that white long sleeve t-shirt on, I almost died. I don't know why guys wear anything other than a white t-shirt, honestly. Between this and Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, it would seem my crush on Brad is back in full-force.

4. Brittany Runs a Marathon - Cute, inspirational story about getting your shit together. I think anyone can relate - even if you can't relate directly to the weight part, it's about getting healthy and taking control of your life. I'm not going to pretend that I can relate to her particular weight issue because I am in the opposite category - as in I'm under-weight. I fully admit that it's far more acceptable in our society to be too thin (even if it's just as unhealthy), however, I don't think I've ever gone through a day of human interaction without someone mentioning my weight to me ("oh my god you're so skinny!", "do you eat?", "you need to eat something", "ugh I wish I could eat what you're eating", "you're only eating a salad? no wonder you're so skinny", and my personal favorite is from my mother "what if you get Cancer? you won't be able to handle chemo unless you have some fat on you"). It's exhausting. Anyway, I think this movie will stick with me for a little while - and hopefully motivate my lazy ass to take care of myself. Also, the "Debbie does" joke made me laugh out loud. I'm still laughing just thinking about it. Jillian Bell is a delight.

5. It: Chapter Two - Quite possibly the longest movie of my life. It's also extremely terrible. After an hour and a half, I thought to myself, "well, this is really bad, but it will be over soon", only to realize that I still had another hour and 20 minutes!! I LOST MY SHIT. What? Who had the terrible idea to make this movie almost 3 HOURS LONG? I can't believe I'm complaining about a movie starring James McAvoy being too long, but even he couldn't save this atrocity. I honestly can't even say one nice thing about it. The plot is ridiculous, it's not even close to being scary, the themes are cliche, the dialogue is extremely cheesy and overall it's just a terrible, terrible movie (how many times can I write "terrible" in one paragraph?). I didn't really enjoy the first one, but I didn't think it was terrible (5, apparently). It was just kind of dull and not as great as everyone made it out to be. This movie, though, is complete garbage. I'm done even thinking about it. I'm officially wiping it from my memory.

4 Thoughts on The Golden Globes

1. The Host - I enjoy Ricky Gervais - always have, always will. It was a little awkward how terrible the audience reacted to his jokes. I mean, you had to know what he was going to do. And he really didn't go as far as he has in the past. It's a horrible feeling when people are too scared to laugh at JOKES in fear of not seeming "woke" enough for this modern world. I get that not everyone has the same taste in comedy, so you may just not find him funny - but some of the reactions were so overdone - like they were absolutely horrified by what he was saying. Big shout out to the few celebrities that were able to laugh at themselves (Leo and Scorsese come to mind). I love that he kept joking that it was his "last time" hosting - he's been saying that since the first time. And that the In Memoriam segment wasn't "diverse enough", so they nixed it. LOL. But, the best part of the whole thing is that he called out everyone on their contradictory behavior "you're in no position to lecture anyone". TRUTH.

2. The Show - One of the better awards shows over the last few years - it moved pretty quickly, felt like a party, had some surprising moments, and some even more surprising wins (there is no way anyone predicted more than 50% of those wins. Just no way.). I enjoy both Ellen Degeneres and Tom Hanks, so it was nice to see them receive Lifetime Achievement awards. I thought Kate McKinnon really did a fabulous job at introducing Ellen - it was so absolutely sincere and it really sparks the whole representation on-screen debate. It is important to see yourself on screen - especially when you are young and feeling alone. I loved that Charlize introduced Tom Hanks because That Thing You Do! is one of my all-time favorites and I feel like it's a forgotten gem of a movie. Hanks is a legend - I can instantly rattle off my favorite movie from any celebrity, with the exception of Tom Hanks - there's just too many (my instinct is A League of Their Own, but that's just such a tough call). As for the rest of the winner's speeches, I'm not a big fan of bringing politics into your speeches, but I do understand sometimes the need to - when you have such a big platform you should use it for things that matter, but I also think that movies, tv, dumb awards shows, etc., are the only thing we have to distract us from this garbage world we currently live in. Maybe people need the escape and don't want to be reminded of the outside world, if only for a measly 3 hours? I do love that they saved my favorite person for last, to present the final award. I didn't even realize Sandy B was there!

3. The Winners - Sorry, but I just have to gush about Taron Egerton winning. In the long-run, I don't think the Golden Globes really mean anything (they lost credit about a decade ago). However, the race for Best Actor is tight this year, so it actually mattered who won this particular race - in regards to who will get Oscar nominations (and I do think the Oscars matter. It's obviously the ultimate goal of an actor to have "Oscar Nominated" or even better "Oscar Winner" in front of their name). It's not a lock for Egerton, yet, but he has a much better chance at cinching the nomination now that he won this. And he deserves it. Not only is his performance in Rocketman absolutely brilliant, he's been severely under-rated from the Kingsman movies and Eddie the Eagle. I will never forget sitting in the theater watching the first Kingsman, and after a few minutes in, my friend looked over at me with this "uh-oh, Michelle's in love" look and we both burst out laughing. It's true - Eggsy has a very similar story arc to my soulmate Ryan Atwood (yes, of The O.C), and it is totally my type. After the second Kingsman came out, I was even more invested and decided to watch an interview with Egerton - and at first, I was honestly, severely disappointed - he's not even close to Eggsy's "chav" character, he's like, really well-spoken (with a completely different, but still hot, accent) and went to Drama school, and HE CAN SING. I was shocked, but I also had this realization that he's not just a pretty face - he can actually act. So now I love him for a completely different reason - he's passionate about what he's doing, he's extremely talented, and um...he's really hot. It was probably the first time I've ever rooted against Leo DiCaprio winning an award (I would have still been happy if he won - Leo fangirl forever), but it was really satisfying watching the kid from Kingsman on that stage. And, as dumb as it is, if the kid from Kingsman gets an Oscar nomination - I might cry. As for the other winners, all are fabulous - I have no complaints. If Jodie Comer has to lose an award, it's only acceptable if she loses it to Olivia Colman. I also LOVE that 1917 really threw a wrench into everyone's predictions. I haven't seen it, but for some reason I just find it hilarious that it won two of the biggest awards.

4. The Fashion - My jaw dropped to the floor when Saoirse Ronan appeared on the red carpet - just absolutely stunning. But my favorite dress was worn by Laura Dern - that is a "me" dress and I would literally wear that to work (I have a similar one that I dress down with a moto jacket and booties). I also really liked Kaitlyn Dever's graphic floral number. The worst dresses were pretty obvious - the big bow disaster that JLo was wearing and that big green balloon dress that Jodie Comer wore. Man, how do you look in the mirror and think that those looks are flattering? It blows my mind.

20 Books I've Read in 2019

1. The Gunners, Rebecca Kauffman - A really interesting novel about a group of childhood friends - one of the friends breaks off from the group and then years later commits suicide. The group reunites for her funeral - and the story slowly reveals what happened to this girl. They each feel responsible for different reasons, and have hid their guilt for years. It was a book that I couldn't put down because the mystery was building and building with such great detail. And the characters were really fleshed out - faults and all.

2. Sometimes I Lie, Alice Feeney - Holy shit, you guys. I haven't been surprised by an ending like this in a while. It's so twisty and turny, and you think you know exactly how it's going to end but it defies expectations. I guarantee that you will not guess the end - and not because it's ridiculous, but because you can't trust the person telling the story. That's all I'm going to say. And if you're not a book person, then just wait for the mini-series (I read Sarah Michelle Geller is attached, which is perfect casting).

3. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury - A revisit for me, but it's been a really long time since I've read it so it was a wonderful revisit. I have such a greater appreciation for sci-fi, than I did when I first read Bradbury stories so I am planning to revisit most of his work over the next few years.

4. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls - So much better than the movie. This book was recommended to me years ago, but it was so much easier to just watch the movie but that's a big regret. I wish I went into this book not knowing how it was going to end. It's also uncanny how many of her stories are so similar to my mom's childhood stories (for instance: my mom has 3rd degree burn scars across her stomach from trying to drain pasta when she was way too young to be doing such a task).

5. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen - Highly recommend if you're a Bruce fan (and if you're not, we probably wouldn't be friends). Bruce is one of the best story-tellers in the world. I was lucky enough to see his Broadway show (after a grueling wait-list debacle), and it was so wonderful just to sit and hear him tell stories about his life. I felt like I could hear him as I read each chapter of this book and it was delightful.

6. Sherlock Holmes: Volume 1, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - I've never read a Sherlock Holmes story before, so I thought I would start from the beginning. I'm a big fan of the many visual iterations (although I think Elementary is my favorite. However, it was recently pointed out to me that House is also a Sherlock Holmes iteration and my mind was blown). I'm excited to read more.

7. The Good Father, Noah Hawley - My favorite book that I read in 2018 was Before the Fall by Hawley, and guess what? My favorite book that I read in 2019 was this one. He's just an incredible writer. And this story cuts deep. Just like Before the Fall, I can easily see this being made into a mini-series.

8. The Great Believers, Rebecca Makkai - Centered during the AIDS crisis during the late 80s, this book is a wonderful story about living with loss. It jumps back and forth in time, and is told from two different character perspectives, which keeps it interesting.

9. Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey - I'm fascinated by people who enjoy nature. It's not really for me, although I wish it was. I do love being alone, though. It would be an amazing experience to just go into the middle of the desert and be one with the Earth. But, I need stuff. Like music, tv, internet, etc. I just do. I like Abbey's passion for preserving natural spaces, and his disdain for what the future looks like.

10. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe - I try really hard to incorporate art and narratives that I'm not familiar with, something that is a little bit hard for me to relate to. This couldn't be further from my world view - a novel about pre-colonial Nigeria. It's wonderfully written, and poetic. Not necessarily my favorite among what I've read this year, but I understand why it's considered a "classic of world literature".

11. Atonement, Ian McEwan - I've said this many times, but the first half of Atonement is one of my favorite movies ever. I just have such a hard time with the second half. I didn't find that as much with the book. I felt really invested for the whole thing. I like the way it's told from different perspectives. Also, I obviously pictured James McAvoy looking super hot, the entire time I read the book so that's always a plus.

12. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro - I really like how Ishiguro writes - he gets into the mind of the characters really well, and explains their motivation in a believable and realistic way. This isn't my favorite story (told from the perspective of the Head Butler - it reminds me of Downton Abby - a show I still haven't finished because it is a snoozefest), but it was still an enjoyable read. I had no idea it was made into a movie, that I am totally going to watch now.

13. Someday, Someday, Maybe, Lauren Graham - Really hopeful and cute. I like the way Graham writes. It's not pretentious in any way. It feels like a story that I would have really enjoyed reading when I was a teenager/young adult. Probably a little too cheesy for me to take seriously as an adult, but not everything is made for me to enjoy.

14. The Girl, Michelle Morgan - I'm fascinated by the legacy of Marilyn Monroe. She really started the whole "celebrity" thing, and I'm not exactly sure that's a good thing, but it's still really fascinating to see how it was all orchestrated. And how brilliant this woman was.

15. Goodbye, Darkness, William Manchester - A memoir about the Pacific War, something that I'm not as familiar with in regards to WWII (always more fascinated with the Nazi part), but this is really engaging and terrifying.

16. 11/22/63, Stephen King - King is one of those authors that is so well-known, it's instinctual to feel like you've read every story because it's all been made for movies/television. But, honestly, I think the only King novel that I read is Misery. I'm not sure why I chose this as my reintroduction, especially since it's not a horror story which is what he is known for. I watched the miniseries, and I wasn't really impressed. The book is great, though. I can't wait to read more King this year (I had It on my list next, but man, that sequel was so hard to sit through. I think I need some time before I can immerse myself in that story again).

17. What Maisie Knew, Henry James - I really loved this movie, so I added this book to my reading list years ago. Holy fuck, it's intense. Written in 1897, it's incredibly dense and just an overall tough read. It took me a very long time to get through it (and it's only like 100 pages long). If I didn't watch the movie, I'm not sure I would have even understood the book.

18. Into the Water, Paula Hawkins - Really great suspense novel, there's a mystery there that goes back for decades, but the focus is on one event. It kept me guessing (I guessed part of it right), and it had a very satisfying conclusion.

19. The Verdun Affair, Nick Dybek - Not my favorite - it's basically a romance novel about a love triangle during WWI. It's kind of boring, and predictable. It's not really my thing, unless it's told really, really well (like Atonement, for example).

20. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho - Another one that's just not really my thing. It's part magical, part allegory, part fantasy sci-fi, and I think it's supposed to be inspirational, but it just bored me to death.

Best and Worst Films of 2019

Best:

1. Rocketman
2. Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
3. Good Boys
4. Us
5. Marriage Story
6. The Peanut Butter Falcon
7. American Woman
8. 6 Underground
9. Midsommar
10. El Camino

It was really hard to do a list this year because almost every movie I've seen this year is a solid 3 star movie (out of 5). Rocketman is the only 4 star movie I saw (so far) this year (and Once Upon a Time is 3 1/2). So, I've ranked the rest, but they are all sort of interchangeable number-wise. There is still plenty of films I have yet to see that I expect to alter this list - Joker, Parasite, The Lighthouse, Pain and Glory, Uncut Gems, The Farewell, etc. As usual, check back in July for an updated list!

Worst: 

1. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
2. Dark Phoenix
3. Shazam!
4. Under the Silver Lake
5. High Life
6. Greta 
7. It: Chapter 2
8. The King
9. Captain Marvel
10. The Upside