Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Synchronic - Oh, hey, I've finally learned Jamie Dornan's name! I've always just referred to him as "the hot guy from The Fall", even though he was in a much more famous film franchise. And the funny reason I learned his name is because of that whole quarantine "Imagine" video debacle. There was an article that was about how Jamie Dornan understand the backlash to the video and I was like "who the fuck is Jamie Dornan?". And it really delighted me that he said his "friend" Kristen Wiig asked him to do it, because that's such an unlikely duo, but now I realize they did a movie together (that new Barb and Star movie). Anyway, starting off a bit sidetracked, but my point is that he's super hot. There are a ton of hot actors, but I often think "if I saw them randomly in the street would I even notice them?" and most of the time the answer is no, but if Jamie walked past me I would definitely do a double-take. And if he spoke to me with that sexy Irish accent, I might pass out. He actually does an American accent really well - but it definitely brings his hotness factor down a whole point. So...wait...what am I even talking about? OH YEAH...Synchronic. I like the concept behind this movie, but it's executed very poorly. I think I might have been swayed by reviews that called it "thrilling", "twisted and trippy", etc. because it's not...at all. Aside from the sci-fi concept, it's closer to a Drama than any other genre. I do like Anthony Mackie quite a bit, though. He has such a strong screen presence - just pure charisma. And him and Jamie have some great chemistry together. It's not a bad movie - I rate it 3 stars, but I just had higher expectations for it.

2. Bliss - Another movie with a great sci-fi concept let down by rest of the film. And my expectations for this were through the roof with Mike Cahill behind it. He's made two of my favorite movies of the last decade (I Origins and Another Earth - both brilliant sci-fi ideas and great movies). I think the biggest reason I didn't connect with this is because of the cast - I love both Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek, but together they have zero chemistry and they just don't fit into this story. I don't know why exactly, but I think if it had different actors I might have enjoyed it more. However, maybe not because I honestly don't think I understood what was going on for most of it. I like the VR concept, but if they believe they are in a simulation, and they can do anything without consequence, then why exactly are they tripping people at a roller skating rink? And why are they living on the street? Why not rob a bank so you don't have to live like that? Like, what's the point? And Salma's gypsy character is kind of offensive...right? Or am I crazy? I also think that it's supposed to be interpreted as an allegory for mental illness and drug addiction - but it never really goes deep enough to have an real impact. I don't know, maybe I need to watch it again to really get what it's trying to say, but I have no interest. 

3. Judas and the Black Messiah - First, it's so weird that this movie is a 2021 release, but it's still qualifying for 2020 awards (I think this was originally done to include more movies since a lot of films weren't released when they should have been, but 2020 had plenty of films to reward so this kind of backfired). I will be including it as a 2021 movie and it will likely make my "Best of" list (although it's super early for that). Second, I love Daniel Kaluuya so fucking much. He's just so good in everything. He should have received so much more attention for Queen & Slim (and I recently learned that he co-wrote some episodes of Skins. I fucking loved Skins). He is outstanding in this. He really gives life to these really powerful, poetic speeches. I could listen to him talk all day. I understand why people are upset that they are considering this a "supporting performance", but technically it is - there really is no "lead" in this movie and it honestly gives him a better shot at winning, so cool your jets people. The other supporting actors are all strong - LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, and especially Dominique Fishback (she was clearly the best part of Project Power. I just knew she had "it"). Third, the set and costume design are on point. But, fourth, as intriguing (and horrifying) as this story is, there is something missing from making it the masterpiece that it should be. I also found the Hoover makeup so terribly distracting. And the age thing bothers me a little bit - I think there should have been more of an emphasis on how incredibly young Fred Hampton was. He was only 21 when he was assassinated and Daniel is a whole decade older than that (and he seems even older...I thought he was my age until I looked it up). It's just such an incredible travesty that has been swept under the rug of American history - more stories like this need to be brought to our attention (and it's up to us to seek out these stories and dig deeper). 

4. Freaky - Super fun horror comedy. The whole body swapping thing has been done, literally, to death, and it's just so ridiculous. Yet, I saw the trailer for this and I laughed and laughed. But I've always found Vince Vaughn hilarious, so I guess it's not surprising that I found this as funny as I did. And he shines in this when he turns into a teenage girl - it's all done really well and not in a creepy way either (which it easily could have gone that way). Kathryn Newton does really well in the serial killer role - not so much with the high school plain Jane character (I mean...LOOK AT HER), but when she slips that red leather jacket on, she just owns it and it's really fun to see the transformation. There are some genuinely funny moments, but hardly any real scares. I don't rely on movies like this to actually offer up great horror moments, but it would have been cool if it did. It does feature some really gruesome kills, though. I don't want to oversell it - it's extremely ridiculous and cheesy, and the supporting actors (her friends) are...not good. But overall, I had some fun with it. 

5. Saint Maud - I assumed this wasn't really going to be something I connected with - indie horror with religious themes that every film critic is drooling over. Usually I find these movies disappointing, but I was really intrigued by this. It has a fairly simple story of obsession and devotion - with faith, with redemption, with other people, etc., but it has a stunning lead performance along with an exceptionally suspenseful pace, and some genuinely disturbing scenes. I was blown away by Morfydd Clark - just the perfect amount of innocence and danger to her performance. Jennifer Ehle is also a strong supporting role in this - balances out the real life scenario in a very genuine way. She's kind of playing along, but also curious about this young nurse's real nature. And when "God" started talking to her in that creepy fucking voice, both my kitties woke up from a dead sleep and stared at the tv. It was really fucking freaky. It's all very unsettling and I adored the way it ended. It's not something that's going to give me nightmares or anything, but it's a really solid psychological thriller. 

Thoughts on 5 New (to Me) TV Shows

1. Dickinson - I love this show so much, you guys. It totally took me by surprise - I was expecting more of a typical period piece about Emily Dickinson. But it's so much more than that! It's funny, sarcastic, original, sweet, and is filled with unexpected dance interludes (I will never get over the house party scene with everyone twerking in period costumes from the mid-1800s. One of the best scenes I've ever seen. Totally mesmerizing and HILARIOUS). I've never really given Hailee Steinfeld much attention. I feel like she's usually over-praised for mostly mediocre performances. But she fits this role really, really well. However, the supporting cast is just divine - especially Ella Hunt and Anna Baryshnikov (who has the more subtle but funny dialogue). I've only watched the first season so far because I'm trying to savor it. 

2. The Morning Show - I'm a little mixed with my thoughts on this show - overall, I don't think I liked it. But there is some really great stuff within it, so let's talk about that first! I'm a big Billy Crudup fan and he is glorious in this - just devours everyone else around him. I also think Bel Powley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw absolutely steal the show from the big three cast members. And as for those big three - both Jen Aniston and Steve Carell have some really strong scenes that they carry effectively. I like the discussion that it opens up about the "me too" movement - the people left in the wake of these accusations that have to deal with the fallout, their roles and responsibilities in ensuring their work environment is safe for all employees, their own guilt in letting toxic environments exist, etc. I also think the final three episodes of season one are brilliant. Okay...now the bad. The biggest reason that I couldn't really get into this show is because of Reese Witherspoon - both the actress and the character she portrays are just so frustrating. I've actually liked her in a few things recently like Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere (she does entitled white woman very well), but most of the time I can't stand her acting. She tends to squint her eyes in very obvious ways. Angry? *squints eyes* Skeptical? *squints eyes* Confused? *squints eyes*. If you took a drink every time she squints her eyes in this you would die of alcohol poisoning (with just one episode!). I also HATE her character with a fucking passion. The whole "real woman" angle is just always so grating because it's so meaningless (what exactly is the alternative to a "real" woman?). And she's supposed to be "messy" and "be the narrative real women are living" because apparently "real" women are messes? Fuck off with that nonsense. And I find it really hard to believe that a young audience would connect with this character; she's still a privileged white woman in her mid-40s (I'm pretty much describing myself - and I definitely don't think young people connect with me). So basically, what I'm saying is that she really ruins the whole show for me since she's a huge part of the series. Also, every episode leading up to the last three really drags everything out for an unnecessary length of time. 

3. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - I kept procrastinating watching this show for no real reason other than it seemed...annoying? I'm a fan of The Gilmore Girls (although not as big of a fan as some of the hardcore fans) - it's such a well-written show, with some really great colorful characters, so I knew that I would probably like this, but it still seemed to irk me in some way. But, I'm really glad to say that I was so wrong. I loved it from the very first second I hit 'play'. It's really witty, sarcastic, rebellious, but also very lovely and sweet. And I just love Mrs. Maisel so frickin' much. I could probably write a whole essay about how amazing this character is, but I will just simply say that she's just perfect. There's many reasons I love this show but I think the two others that I want to point out is (1) the not so subtle shunning of gender roles  and (2) the fact that it's about a Jewish family, which is so weirdly rare. I had no idea how comforting it would feel (the only other show that I can think of that features a Jewish family prominently is The Goldbergs, yet it took 57 episodes for them to acknowledge that the family is Jewish - isn't that crazy? Mrs. Maisel does it in its first episode). I don't think this show is for everyone, but if it's something that you've been contemplating watching - I highly recommend it. It's just pure joy. 

4. You - UGH THIS SHOW. I was harassed into watching this by a co-worker who also has become like a little sister to me (she actually doesn't work with me anymore and has moved to Florida, which is devastating because I'm terrible at keeping in touch with people, but I am really going to try this time because she's one of the best humans I've ever encountered). She's about 15 years younger than me and we have very different tastes, but she kept insisting that this very terrible show is "SO GOOD". It's definitely not. Yet, it's one of those trainwreck type shows that I just can't look away from. I watched the first 5 episodes in one sitting (which is super rare for me - 3 episodes is usually my max unless they are 30 minute episodes). So, in case you don't know what the show is about, it's about an obsessive stalker, but the show is told through his perspective. It's actually a good concept to see how manipulators think - usually they have convinced themselves that they are the good ones and that is exactly the case here. He truly believes that he's helping the woman that he's become obsessed with. I think I would actually like it if it had better actors, better dialogue, and if it just wasn't so trashy. Penn Badgley was always the worst part of Gossip Girl (and I was always a big fan of that trashy show. Although, I really want to watch it again because there is no way in Hell the reveal of "Gossip Girl" works logically). I wish he played this character with a little more charm because he just seems so skeevy from the beginning - it's hard to believe that any woman would fall for that. Also, none of the plot would work if this stupid girl had window coverings on her first level NYC apartment. I actually looked into it because it's just that dumb - she undresses, masturbates, has sex all in front of an uncovered window. The creator's response to people asking about this very questionable plot device is that "she's too poor and that she's on a quiet street" which is absolute bullshit. She shops for a bed and questions if she should get a Queen or King size - so she has enough money to buy window coverings and even if she didn't, she surely can afford a sheet to tack up? Or tape some fucking newspaper to your windows! There is just no excuse. And it's NYC - there are no quiet streets. So basically, they needed a convenient way for this guy to stalk her so they were like "oh hey let's just have him watch her from right outside her window". It's just so dumb. Plus, as mentioned, the dialogue is so cringey - "they say girls with daddy issues are really good in bed" might be the worst line I've heard in a while. It's all absurdly terrible, but I am totally going to keep watching it. Fuck my life. 

5. The Alienist - I've only watched a few episodes so far and it's not really grabbing me - it reminds me a lot of Ripper Street (which is a show that I liked but I started to get bored by it probably around the third season, so it became more of a chore to watch). However, the cast in this is really, really great - Luke Evans, Daniel Bruhl and Dakota Fanning are all terrific. It's also very gruesome and I like the little details in every episode - it forces you to pay attention. I hope that it picks up a little bit, though. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Malcolm & Marie - *some slight spoilers* Ok...where to begin? First, I should start off by saying that overall, I like this movie. There are some beautiful shots - although, I'm really over the black & white trend that's started up over the past few years (it just instantly feels pretentious), there's a lot of interesting discussions, and I felt compelled to care about these characters. However, it's drowning in ideas, it doesn't feel authentic to me at all, and I think the acting is a bit iffy in parts. I also don't think these two have any chemistry (which I blame on the acting). Their fight is all over the place with no clear direction or purpose other than making me hope they break up because they clearly don't even like each other, let alone love each other. I don't know much about Sam Levinson and I haven't watched Euphoria (yet), but I was always under the impression that it gets fairly positive reviews, so the underlying hate towards critics and film writers seems unwarranted. And turning it into a discussion of race seems borderline offensive coming from a director who is not only white and male, but also benefiting from nepotism (he's literally the epitome of privileged). Like, what exactly is he complaining about? That people don't see his work as authentic? But...it's not. It also doesn't have to be? Although, I think this whole discussion is absolutely fascinating and I agree that boxing someone in because of their identity is a huge mistake, but it also doesn't protect you from criticism (and if you can't handle criticism then the whole part about learning and growing through other perspectives becomes a moot point). There's also a stubbornness to the dialogue - like when the characters talk about the male gaze while Zendaya is laying in her underwear with no bra on (she's not exactly sexualized, but she is far less clothed than her male counterpart for most of the movie). And, I don't think it's inauthentic because a white guy wrote this - I think it's inauthentic because there are so many small moments that don't feel real at all. An example: Zendaya wearing her slinky dress and stockings for waaaaay too long. Fancy clothes come off the second I step in the door (and I think most women would agree with me). And she pees outside. LOL. No woman would WILLINGLY pee outside. Also, the fact that they fight for this long and are so mean to each other. I would just leave. I would rather sleep in my car then stay with someone who says the things that they say (but they are rich - so...go stay in a hotel? Why are you subjecting yourself to this?). As for the actors - I want to like Zendaya. Actually, I want to love her. She's so awful in the Spider-Man movies, though so it's hard. She's not terrible here - and she's actually great in some scenes (the "thank you" speech at the end is wonderful), but she's so stiff for most of the movie. I think part of it is honestly, the makeup - the eye makeup is so thick she has trouble showing any emotion in her eyes because she's squinting so much. Once she's "undressed" she gets stronger. But the part that killed me is the part where she does her "crazy with a knife" scene because it showcases the worst acting I've seen in a while, and then it's revealed that she's "acting". Well, girl, you just made it abundantly clear as to why you didn't get the role because that shit was laughable. John David Washington is a little bit better than he was in Tenet (thank God), but definitely nothing memorable or notable about his performance. And, as far as the age difference that sparked debate - someone in their mid-20s dating someone in their mid-30s is not problematic. For fuck's sake, I'm exhausted. 

2. The Dig - I think it's weird that this movie is getting such positive reviews. It's ok. Well-made, interesting, great acting, but also...it's sort of blah? Not something I will remember a few months from now. There are a few intense scenes mixed in with some smaller stories that are interesting, but as a whole I was pretty bored for most of it. It's nice to see Carey Mulligan back in the spotlight again - I don't think I've seen her in anything in a few years, but with this and the much more popular, Promising Young Woman, she's clearly still an acting force. I like her, but she just always has this "I'm about to cry" look on her face that really gets under my skin. She's...fine here. But, I HAD NO IDEA that Lily James is in this!! I actually screamed out loud when she appeared (God, I'm such a loser...), but she's just so cute! And probably has the most interesting storyline in the movie. I don't really have much else to say, which I think is always a problem. The fact that it's a true story is kind of interesting, I guess? 

3. The Tax Collector - Wow...I was not expecting this to be as terrible as it is. First, he may be a shitty human being, but Shia almost always picks good projects (barring Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and if you say the Transformer movies, please know that I hate you). And overall, I would definitely call myself a David Ayer fan. Fury, Harsh Times, End of Watch - all great, plus he wrote the first Fast & Furious movie, Training Day, and one of my favorite movies - S.W.A.T (very underrated Colin Farrell movie). I feel like he has a very signature style that you can immediately go - "oh is this David Ayer?", which I think is a compliment of the highest order. But this movie. Oh. This movie. There was a point where I found myself with both hands rubbing my temples wondering if I was going to be able to make it through the whole thing. The only good thing I can say is that it doesn't hold back when it comes to the violence and bloodshed. But, the plot is so dumb and it all could have been easily avoided, so all of the violence and bloodshed is absolutely pointless. I think my breaking point is when the main guy (too lazy to look him up) *MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD* gives his bloody, dead wife a bath and then gets INTO THE BATH WITH HER. And I'm dumbfounded as to why Shia would get a real-life gigantic chest tattoo, for the authenticity of this character, only to be featured shirtless for literally 5 seconds, mostly covered in blood, in terrible lighting right before he dies. So, not only is he shitty, he's also fucking dumb. And these two guys don't really seem that scary? Especially compared to the people around them. It's all just really, really bad. 

4. Run - This is a solid little psychological horror movie. You can tell where it's going rather quickly, but I think that's done on purpose - it's not really meant to shock you, but is still disturbing to watch this girl discover just how evil her mother is. It's not realistic in ANY way, but still a satisfyingly creepy idea. There are some parts that I questioned the particular plot point - like her using the old fashion needle for diabetes (or maybe this still exists? My best friend in high school had severe diabetes and had one of those box things attached to her. She was part of the initial trials for it, but that was 20 years ago so I think that is the "norm" with diabetes treatment now? I could be wrong). This combined with her use of 411 on the land-line telephone made me think that this was supposed to be set in the 90s (which would have made it much more realistic). But then she also mentions not having an iPhone, so clearly it's meant to take place closer to present day. The fact that she is an intelligent girl, with a strong education (even if it's home-schooled), she would have questioned all of this waaaay before this story begins. And does 411 even exist anymore??? And when it did exist you could just write the number down and call it yourself - it only charged you if you had them place the call for you (I think? But again...it's been 20 years since I even heard of 411 being used). Anyway, I'm getting down to the nitty-gritty, but my point is that there's a lot of "turn your brain off" and enjoy it kind of story-telling. Sarah Paulson is so good in this role; she's really good at being creepy (and also adorably sweet, which is a tough combination to perfect). With all its predictableness, I still somehow did not see the little twist at the end (in retrospect, I totally should have). Also, it's hilarious that this was originally supposed to be released on Mother's Day (on purpose). That's great marketing - too bad it didn't work out that way.

5. Greenland - *spoilers* It seems like an impossible task to make a disaster movie without falling into the typical clichés of these movies, but somehow this does it, and it does it well. I was skeptical, especially considering that it stars Gerard Butler (and I love Gerard Butler, but he hasn't made an actual good movie...just fun ones - a case can be made for 300 and RocknRolla being actually good and fun). I think the reason this works so well is because it's fairly low-key. Aside from the exploding plane and the scene where they outrun molten rocks (LOL), the rest of it feels like it could happen. Also, the whole diabetes medicine plot feels forced - first, isn't it weird that I watched two movies in a row that have this as a plot point? (and this one has the box thingy I was referring to with Run) Second, if they aren't taking anyone with a chronic illness then this family would have never been on the list to begin with. If such a list exists, I'm sure it is highly curated and researched. Third, the kid would die anyway, right? They only have a month's worth of insulin and the bunker probably doesn't have a high supply of it if they aren't accepting people with such an illness. But if you just ignore all that, and go with the "chaos" of it all, it seems very realistic. And I really like how they showed most people trying to be helpful and selfless, including people who are helping the people on "the list" even though they themselves are not on "the list". They show the awful people too, but I think that's true to life (you'll see both the best and the worst of humanity in situations like this). I also love the emotion behind it - I actually had to hold back tears...TWICE. I was definitely not expecting that. And, I just love Morena Baccarin (and am extremely jealous of her. She's married to my soulmate Ryan Atwood! So very jealous). Overall, it's really intense, harrowing, and compelling. On a side-note, if there ever is a planet-killing comet hurdling towards Earth, I would definitely NOT want to be on this list. I would just hunker down with the kitties and wait for the end. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Locked Down - I'm not sure if anyone is really in the right headspace to watch a "lockdown heist" movie at the moment, but it's Doug Liman and Chiwetel Ejiofor...so....okay? I think these are just the kind of movies we are going to be swimming in for the next few years, so we are just going to have to go with it. I never really had the full "lockdown" experience - I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but the company I work for found a "loophole" so-to-speak by reclassifying my store as a "distribution center" and therefore deemed "essential", so me and five of my employees still went to the store anywhere from 2-5 days a week during the lockdown to fulfill online orders (which on one hand was absolutely ludicrous - our store sells nothing essential. We sell over-priced yoga pants and bohemian dresses along with home decor, to call us essential and put our health and safety on the line made me SO ANGRY, but also, it was a genius way to still sell through the inventory levels that would have just sat in the stores for months AND because they found a way to still make money, they (so far) have not cut jobs. I also had to spend the other days not in the store on Zoom calls doing unnecessary training and meetings just to justify a reason to keep paying us in full). Anyway, sidetracked, but my point is that I still left my house and interacted with people the whole time so I can't relate to what others have gone through during this time. I did relate to her layoff speech though, because I had to do about a million furlough speeches (all temporary, luckily), but it's still emotionally draining telling someone that they don't have job security (and ugh..the worst one was when I had to call one of my managers whose father just died a few days before (not of Covid) to tell her that her furlough was extended and she answered the phone like "Michelle...please don't do the speech. I'm emotionally drained. Just tell me if I have a job"). Okay...back to the movie! The characters in this movie are in a tough situations since they are on the verge of a divorce, but stuck living together because of the lockdown. It's an interesting idea, but ultimately it goes nowhere. I was severely bored for the entire beginning (although Chiwetel shirtless is a nice distraction...), they don't even discuss a "heist" until an HOUR into the movie, so don't watch it with the expectations that it's like an Ocean's Eleven thrill-ride type movie. It's definitely a relationship drama for two-thirds of the story. And, Anne Hathaway is fucking grating when it comes to relationship dramas. I'm pretty sure she thought her "I started smoking again" speech was going to be her Oscar clip. Then, the heist is all done out of pure convenience, not because they outsmart anyone or have any type of skill whatsoever. And there's this whole really dumb "joke" about Edgar Allan Poe being his fake name on his ID, but wouldn't you just call yourself Ed Poe to not make it obvious (this sentence only makes sense if you've seen it). Also, I wonder if they do the whole replica thing for the art that is displayed at Harrods too? I went there when I was in London, mostly out of curiosity, but I was surprised at how busy it was and how careless everyone seemed around valuable paintings and sculptures. It's definitely not museum level care - so maybe it's all fakes that are displayed? Interesting. Anyway, this isn't a bad movie. I just think it could have been much better. 

2. Ava - It's always fascinating to me when a cast this good creates a movie this spectacularly mediocre. It's not exactly new territory, but Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, Geena Davis (!!) and John Malkovich - I was all in! However, it's all bad. The plot, the action sequences, the dialogue, the weird family drama thrown in, the gambling subplot, the fact that this woman could not physically fight all of these men (I'm pretty sure if this character was male, the actor would have had to get completely ripped for this role, but we're supposed to believe this woman, who has sticks for arms, can beat the shit out of men twice her size? OH OKAY). It's all just exhausting. And you know what else is exhausting? Colin Farrell with that mustache. I think he's had it for the past 3 or 4 movies he's been in, and I don't like it. I'm used to being attracted to him, but I can't get behind the mustache. Farrell and Chastain are both great, they have great chemistry together - and their fight scenes are more believable. But there is some really terrible acting performances in this. Specifically, Common and Jess Weixler - just so awful. But the worst part of the whole movie is when Colin is first introduced with this girl by his side (Diana Silvers), and I thought it was supposed to be his wife - and I got really annoyed because she's like 24 years old and Colin is my age (I think a few years older? Early 40s). BUT THEN, I realized that she's actually supposed to be his fucking daughter!! And somehow that's even worse? He's playing someone with a 24 year old daughter?! I'm not even used to guys my age having teenage daughters and now I have to deal with this? Just fucking kill me. 

3. The Little Things - Ok...so this isn't as bad as everyone is saying. It's a fine 90s type crime/thriller with two decent performances (Washington & Leto). Kind of like Kiss the Girls, The Bone Collector, etc. That's not a bad thing, either, because I miss movies like this. I just think people expected more action/suspense instead of the slow-burn story that is presented. It absolutely could have been about 30 minutes shorter, but I was invested through the whole things, so for me, I think it's a successful movie. I don't think Leto's performance is award worthy (all signs point to him getting an Oscar nod for this, and that is just fucking crazy), but I'm also not sure where all the hate towards him comes from? He's a solid actor in EVERY project and his performance in Requiem for a Dream is one of my favorites of all-time (and I assumed he had an Oscar nomination for that...but apparently not...???). I get that he's a fuckin' weirdo cult leader in real life, but I think we can all admit that most celebrities are fuckin' weirdos. Why do some get picked on? Especially when it turns into criticizing performances that are not actually bad? I don't thing Denzel has ever disappointed me, and he's the same here - he's one of the few actors who you can always just always count on. But, we really need to do something about Rami Malek, you guys. I was fully on the Malek train with Mr. Robot - rooting full-force for that Emmy win, but that's the only thing I had ever seen him in and I still maintain that the performance is brilliant for that role. Unfortunately, Malek is just really cold and robotic in every role since. He's got this really blank look on his face with this monotonous tone in his voice, and it is just completely baffling that HE HAS AN OSCAR. As for the story - it's fairly obvious as to how its all going to play out up until the moment that tries to subvert everything. It also tries to justify not holding figures of authority (like detectives) accountable for their actions, which is not cool (even actions that are mistakes, and ones that are "necessary" to prevent future crimes still need to be addressed and held accountable). *spoiler ahead* The ending is really rough - and I knew the red barrette was going to be a big factor in the end, but I like how they still left it open for interpretation (just because he didn't find it doesn't mean it's not him...right?). 

4. Palmer - Another solid 3 star movie - although I think this will stick with me for a little while because I really liked the subtlety and quietness of it all. I do think it's a bit melodramatic in some parts and most of it is unrealistic (this kid would have been taken away long before this story starts), but I like the ideas it presents about forgiveness, personal responsibility, rebuilding your life, and it has a really sweet and simplified way of addressing toxic masculinity. I'm a big Justin Timberlake fan (for real.), but I always prefer him more as an entertainer over acting. However, I just don't think he's been right for the roles that he has had. This role suits him really well - it feels like something he's more passionate about and brings him back to his southern roots. I still wish he would focus his energy on other things, but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with this. I also happened to watch this movie on Justin's 40th birthday and almost had a meltdown - I just have so many memories from being 20/21 years old that I associate with Justin (I was an intern at Jive Records in 2002 in the Marketing dept., and GUESS WHO was releasing his first solo album...) and it feels like it was just a few years ago. NOT 20!. Anyway, the kid in this movie is super adorable and I feel like his story is handled with a lot of thoughtfulness and care. And his answer to when Palmer (Timberlake) asks him to think about the fact that there are no boys in the princess club that he wants to join - he asks "what does that tell you?" and the kid says "that I can be the first!". My heart just burst. The worst part of the movie is Juno Temple, who is in a completely different film altogether - one that is loud, cliched, and obvious (and her scenes are part of the "melodramatic parts" that I referred to earlier). I have no idea why she gets so many roles. 

5. Mulan (2020) - Completely forgettable movie - but I admit, the animated version is also pretty forgettable for me. It came out when I was 17, though, so I think at that point I thought that I was a little "too cool" for Disney. I've never had any inclination to re-watch it, either. And I definitely couldn't tell you any songs from it. But I was kind of interested to see how I would fare with this live version compared to the Disney live action movies that I am actually attached to (like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast - both of which I didn't like). I thought maybe not having any connection to it...might actually help my enjoyment? But I was wrong. Although, I do like the story - it's a classic story of female empowerment and family loyalty. And I think some of it is really cinematically beautiful. However, it's hard to hide behind the many controversies surrounding the movie - (the star, Liu Yifei, made some controversial political statements, some scenes were filmed in a place where there are concentration camps, etc.) Plus, many Chinese critics called it "hollow" representation of their culture. Personally, I can't really speak to any of that, but it did feel more offensive than it should have. Especially at the end when she "lets her hair down" and fights as a girl (with makeup? in the middle of a battle...really?). Also, I don't remember Mulan having special powers in the animated version? So...the only way she can win in a battle with men is because....of magic? Fuck that. 

Thoughts on 5 New TV Shows

1. The Queen's Gambit - Ummmmm....I don't get it?? It's a good show. Well-made. Wonderful lead performance from the always great Anya Taylor-Joy. But, how is it so universally adored? When it came out - literally, EVERYONE I know talked about it. Of all ages and backgrounds (I'm lucky in that I work with a very diverse group of people so I get a lot of varying opinions all in one place). I thought the praise was so weird because it doesn't look like something that is universal, instead it looked...pretentious - I mean, it's about Chess. I don't have anything against Chess, but it's just not my thing. It seems this show revived a lot of love for the game, but for me, it still seems like a very boring game (and I love games - but mostly card games). I found this series the same - very boring. And it's soooo repetitive and predictable. There are a few really great scenes, and again, Anya is great. Plus, it just has like a "cool" retro vibe to it, and I think that has a lot to do with people mistaking it for greatness. 

2. WandaVision - I was not looking forward to watching this - I'm very over Marvel, but I'm still somehow invested in watching this next phase (how did they manage that? I think it's this feeling of not wanting to be left out of what everyone is talking about. It's not like I ever join the conversation, but it's just a nice feeling to have). This surprised me, though. It's super cute with the way it goes through the decades by utilizing popular sitcoms from those decades. It's different and strange, and surprisingly original. Elizabeth Olsen SHINES in every decade - she is just wonderful. By the third episode, I was fully excited by what was next only to be severely disappointed by the fourth episode. It feels so unnecessary to explain what's going on so...quickly? I prefer to keep guessing, I guess. But instead, we were all forced to watch this episode of exposition and explanation, and now I've sort of lost interest in it all. Hopefully, the next episode will fix things. 

3. Defending Jacob - I guess this isn't exactly "new" new, but it's new to me (and it just came out last year. TV is just moving too quickly). I like the story of this, but it's not exactly original. I kind of assumed how it would end (and I was right). There's still some good stuff - Jaeden Martell is a good little actor. Chris Evans is better than usual (although his Boston accent comes and goes as it pleases, which could have been done on purpose since it seems thicker when he is talking to certain people, but I don't believe that Evans is that good of an actor to plan that out. Sorry, not sorry. Also, I totally forgot that he's FROM Boston, so my initial impressed reaction to his accent is revoked). There's also some bad stuff - specifically all of the scenes in which Evans is being interrogated. They are just really boring scenes, but also there is NO light. It's all side lit by "natural" light through the windows, but it takes place in an official building - there would be lights on in the room! Did they think it made the scenes more mysterious or suspenseful (let's make the room dark to symbolize how "dark" this story is. Fucking idiots). The story is also really dragged out to a frustrating degree - it could have been 2 episodes shorter by cutting a lot of the repetitive melodrama. I do want to read the book now, though, so that's a plus! Although, it's taken me a whole month to read 200 pages of The Goldfinch (it's great, but I just find it so hard to focus on reading at the moment). 

4. The Great North - There's only been two episodes, so far, but it's really cute. From the creators of Bob's Burgers so I had high hopes (which doesn't always work out - I tried watching that Central Park show and I made it through two episodes. The singing. I can't take the singing. It's all so bad.). This has a cute premise and some great voice actors - Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Will Forte etc. There has also been some great visual gags and laugh out loud jokes - which is very reminiscent of Bob's Burgers. My favorite is the Pittsburgh Steelers joke. I laughed for like 5 minutes. I'm excited for more!

5. Lupin - This show is spectacular - on par with Killing Eve, for me and that's saying A LOT. I never even heard of it, but it was recommended to me on Twitter when I asked about some new shows to watch. I saw Omar Sy in the cast and immediately put it at the top of my list. It's just so much fun and it moves really quickly, which makes it very easy to binge watch (I watched the first episode right before bed, then watched the other four episodes the next morning). And, as expected, Omar Sy is DELIGHTFUL. He should get an Emmy for his smile alone. His smile is just infectious. The story is a basic crime caper mystery built around the famous "gentleman thief" Lupin, but the way they tell it feels fresh and exciting. On a side note: when did Netflix decide to auto dub foreign language projects? I didn't know the series was in French, I just thought there was something wrong with the sound synching at first. I kept restarting it, like an idiot. I had to go to the settings and change it to "original language" and add the English subtitles. Does it do that for everything now? Because that fucking sucks. 

Golden Globe Nominations: The Good, The Bad, and The Snubbed

I haven't done a whole post on Golden Globe nominations in like 10 years because the Globes are usually pretty ridiculous in who they nominate, but this year they are downright outrageous so I have to write it all down otherwise my head might explode (plus, I'm super bored). So here goes: 

The Good: 

- There is actually a LOT of good, so let's start there. My favorite film acting performances are nominated - Riz Ahmed and Vanessa Kirby. Viola Davis & Chadwick Boseman are also incredible. Anya Taylor-Joy is a delight in Emma

- Palm Springs is cute and probably the only movie in the Musical/Comedy category that deserves to be there 

- I haven't seen Nomadland or Promising Young Woman, but I have really high hopes and I'm happy to see the nominations 

- The tv nominations are much better - with a surprising, but most welcome, love for The Great (and Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning) 

- The expected nominations for Schitt's Creek and The Crown 

- Glad to see Small Axe in the Television categories (it's not a movie)

- The Limited Series categories are the strongest overall (Your Honor, Small Axe, The Undoing, Normal People - all excellent) 

The Bad: 

- I'm more upset about what is nominated than by what was snubbed. There are always going to be snubs with awards, and usually it just means that there are so many great performances and projects. But when you nominate utter crap - it just takes away from the achievement of others and this year is a doozy

- I know that the Globes love Ryan Murphy but nominations for The Prom, Hollywood and Ratched (which I liked) are ridiculous. The Prom is one of the worst movies I've seen in a while - and James Corden??? Seriously? How does playing a gay character in the most cliched way possible garner any kind of award nomination? 

- Hamilton is NOT a film. Period. The only award it should be nominated for is for whatever category at the Emmys that nominates itself is (it's like a special broadcast category but I can't remember the technical name for it)

- It's weird that a lot of film people claimed to have never heard of Music before its nomination. It's weird because there is a TON of controversary around it so "film people" should be following it? Isn't that their job? I've been following it - and it's really disheartening. Sia always seemed like someone with a good heart, but her lack of respect for the autistic community during this project is really disappointing and harmful (look it up!). I haven't seen a ton of reviews for it, but probably not a good idea to nominate a movie that an entire community has denounced. 

- I expected nominations for Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7, but still...UGH. 

- Bill Murray nominated for being Bill Murray, Fuck right off 

- Nominations for Emily in Paris? Really? I haven't seen it, but I've seen many people make fun of it - because it's supposedly terrible. It's advertised as a younger Sex and the City type show, so that's me never watching it

- I LOVE The Crown. I've loved it from Day 1. But, I think Emma Corrin's performance as Diana is so awful. She has one look for every emotion and it's laughable how often she uses it. 

-Why are there only 4 nominations for Television Supporting Actress? Especially when that category isn't divided by genre? Could they really not find a 5th nominee? There's 5 in Mrs. America alone. 

The Snubbed: 

- OH SO MANY. The biggest one for me is that there is nothing for The Devil All the Time? Like, not one? There are so many great performances RIGHT THERE. 

- I would have loved for Rachel Brosnahan to sneak in a nomination for I'm Your Woman

- Kornel Mundruczo directed the Hell out of Pieces of a Woman 

- I wasn't a huge fan of Da 5 Bloods, but Delroy Lindo definitely deserved a nomination (and I think he was expected to get one?) 

- My favorite television performance is Nicole Beharie in Monsterland and it's sadly been completely ignored

- Lovecraft Country deserved some acting nominations

- How do you nominate Normal People and Daisy Edgar-Jones but not Paul Mescal? I thought it was weird when he was nominated for the Emmy and she wasn't. They should be nominated as a pair, I think. Wouldn't that be an interesting concept? 

- I can't keep track of what is actually eligible as far as television goes but what about Billions? Dead to Me? What We Do in the Shadows?