Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Miss Juneteenth - This quickly became one of my most anticipated movies after watching Nicole Beharie give a performance of a lifetime in Monsterland - I'm still so sad that she received absolutely zero recognition for it (but I think that happens when a series is overall mediocre, which is what Monsterland ended up being). I was so happy that she received at least a little buzz for this movie, and I was pretty confident that she deserved it. I am happy to report that I loved this movie and her performance. It feels really genuine and heartwarming, without being cheesy. I love the way the mother/daughter relationship is portrayed with love but also with a very typical tension that exists between mothers and teenage daughters. I'm not a big fan of the whole pageant thing (in real life, not necessarily in the film), but when it's about a scholarship, I get the appeal (and there's usually a commitment to volunteering and service work that goes along with winning pageants, too, so I guess...they are ok? There are worse things in the world to focus on, I guess). I like how it plays into this story, though. How this mother projects her own "failure" onto her daughter, and also questions the reality of this "failure" (as in, it's not a failure at all. It reminds me of the quote from Little Fires Everywhere, "You didn't make good choices, you had good choices". I'm sure that quote existed before Little Fires Everywhere, but the impact it had on that show is unforgettable). *spoiler ahead* I knew the daughter was not going to win, because that's not the type of movie that this is. I also knew she was going to do the dance, and I was HERE FOR IT. I love that she combined the poem with it - just absolutely stunning. And Nicole's reaction is perfect - a combination of being proud and frustrated at the same time. She is the real deal. I can't wait to see more from her. 

2. How to Build a Girl - Worst movie I've seen in a long time. I don't usually update my annual "Worst of" list, but this would have definitely been on it. I like Beanie Feldstein (a lot), and she gives this movie her all, but this character and story is just so unlikeable (and I think we're supposed to like her, for the most part...). Her accent sounds fine (to me, an American), but it just doesn't fit her at all, so I found it really distracting. And she's surprisingly convincing as a 16 year old, even though she's a decade older, but I think that's because I've only seen her in teenage roles (Lady Bird, Booksmart). I would love to see her in an actual adult role soon. Anyway, it's really the story that I have a problem with - the whole concept is that "a nice girl gets nowhere, but a bitch can make a comeback". Unfortunately, there is some truth to that sentiment - it is definitely more popular to write snark and make fun of things than it is to celebrate something, but there should be a balance. Criticism is essential (I get annoyed by people who are like "only talk about what you love", "stop being negative" - that's just dumb), but I do think sometimes it turns unnecessarily mean (I'm guilty of it myself, but I certainly don't do it for popularity...obvi...there are like 5 people who read this blog). The movie just takes this idea to an extreme and it's all really cringey. And it feels dated (it takes place in the 90s, but it should still feel fresh for an audience in the present day). And I don't understand why she dresses like a magicians assistant? Is she supposed to be fashionable? Or quirky? I don't get it. 

3. I Care a Lot - *slight spoilers* This is the most divisive movie I've seen in a while - people I trust with movies have rated it either 1/2 a star or 4 stars and there doesn't seem to be any middle ground. I am the middle ground - I think it's an average 3 star movie that could have easily been 2 1/2 stars if not for some spectacular supporting performances and a well-done ending. I've said it before - so this won't be shocking, but I think Rosamund Pike is one of the worst actresses that is consistently over-praised. It's a very unpopular opinion, I know, but I stand by it. But, Dianne Wiest is spectacular (and delivers one of the best lines with such perfection "have at it, you little crock of cunt" - she deserves an Oscar for that alone), Chris Messina steals every scene, and Eiza Gonzalez is so fucking gorgeous it hurts. I also like the story - I'm not sure why it seems so controversial. Bad people doing bad things isn't exactly new territory. It's interesting the way it twists & turns into a story of karma (potentially) paying off. I'm not the sort of viewer who needs to root for a character to enjoy the story. And there is definitely nobody to root for in this story. I do have a problem with several critics describing the main character as "ambitious", though. That's just dangerous language to use for a criminal - you wouldn't call a bank robber "ambitious", right? I think my biggest problem with the movie isn't that the main character is ruthless, but that she's dumb - and actually, everyone in it is dumb. None of it is believable in any way. I know the American legal system is fucked, but it would take way more than one little hearing to just have this woman's entire life taken away from her. And, as if I couldn't hate Pike enough already, her thanking America's broken legal system in her Golden Globes speech, as if this story could happen in real life is kind of funny (and also if she thinks that and is thankful for it because it allowed her to win an award for a movie, I will kindly tell her to get fucked.). Also, it's the Russian mob for Christ's sake - I'm pretty sure she would have been dead within the first few minutes of them finding her. The fact that they don't kill her before pushing her car into a lake is just dumb. It's all just dumb, but entertainingly so. 

4. Nomadland - Honestly, I had a feeling that I wouldn't connect with this, but I was hoping that I was wrong. It just looked so slow and painful, and someone described it as having "a Terrence Malick vibe", so that instantly put me off to it. Unfortunately it's exactly as I expected. It's very well-made, with some lovely shots, and a moving performance from Frances McDormand. But, it's also a very unmemorable, slow-moving character study of someone that I found little connection to. And to be even more harsh - to me, it feels elitist and exploitative. While this woman has a devastating story to tell (the loss of her husband as well as a financial downfall), it's a story, and to use real people living like this (most of the supporting actors are "real" nomads) to tell a romanticized tale of "van life", just feels wrong to me. Also, this woman has several people who try to help her, including family members, and she declines - which is a privilege that most of these people don't have. There are obviously people who happily choose to live off the land, but, again, it's just not something I connect to (sorry, I need stuff - electricity, heat, PLUMBING. I mean, really, who wants to see Frances McDormand shit in a bucket?). But on a positive note, I have an extreme hatred of the desert so it's hard for me to see the beauty in it, but this movie does have some really breathtaking cinematography. And there are these really small moments where Frances McDormand has these flutters of giddiness that are just pure joy to watch. 

5. Black Bear - FUCKING YES!!! I love this movie so much. I went into it completely blind and I highly suggest you do too, so if you haven't seen it - please stop reading. During the beginning of this movie, I was convince that I was going to full-force hate it - the plot is just such a dumb love triangle between really annoying and unlikeable characters. The notes that I was taking just went into full rant mode on how I hate cliched jealous female characters and I'm so tired of these stories, but then the story just escalates so quickly and I could not for the life of me figure out where the story was going to go next - and I have to say that it completely shocked me. In such a good way. And if you love filmmaking, then you will absolutely love this. I'm still not going to spoil it just in case you're still reading this and you shouldn't be. I'll just say that the story is very trippy and circular in narrative, and can be interpreted in many ways, which is wonderful. Also, I'm still willing to give Aubrey Plaza another chance - even though I think she plays the same character (i.e herself) in every project (and yes, I've seen Legion and I think she's terrible in it). But I feel like she's growing, and this is a great project for her to show her range - it's still not great (and I think this could have been even better with a stronger lead), but I can see the improvement and I love that. Also, if you told me that Christopher Abbott would be in two of my favorite films from 2020 (this and Possessor), I would not believe you. I'm highly interested in his next career move. 

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 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 Films

1. One Night in Miami... - I really like this idea of reimagining/fictionalizing history when making films about certain real-life people or famous events (a few movies that have done this very successfully recently: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood... and Rocketman). It makes the story far more interesting than showing something that I can essentially read off of Wikipedia. I thought that this whole premise was fiction, but after looking into it, it seems that this meeting of these four icons actually did happen. What was discussed isn't really known, so this is where the story takes creative license to imagine how this night went down. First, I am such a big fan of Regina King - going back to the 90s, but I really was so impressed with her performance in Southland (as I was with everyone's performance - that show is criminally underrated). I'm so happy that she is thriving and taking her turn behind the camera, but it just took so damn long to get her to this point. She does a great job of keeping the story moving, which I think is sometimes a difficult feat with films that are previously staged plays featuring a ton of dialogue. It helps that the dialogue is wonderful - not only filled with poetic beats, but also with challenging ideas of how one can use their power to influence change. I also LOVE Aldis Hodge (anyone else watch City on a Hill? It is extremely "my shit" and I love it. Hoping it gets another season). And now I love Kingsley Ben-Adir. But, I just really don't like Leslie Odom Jr. I really tried with this, but there is just something about the way he acts - like, you can tell that he's "acting" every moment. And his voice just gets under my skin (yes, I felt this way in Hamilton and yes, I listened to Sam Cooke perform "A Change is Gonna Come" right after I watched this and it is stunning. Yet, I barely made it through Odom Jr.'s rendition). He is getting a lot of praise for this movie so I guess, once again, I am on my own with this (*shrugs*). Overall, I think this movie is very successful - mostly wonderful performances, interesting dialogue and ideas presented, and it feels fresh. 

2. Herself - *spoilers* Okay, this movie got me. For some reason, I totally expected this to be a cheesier, lighter take on this woman starting a new life after leaving her abusive partner. And some of it is a bit cheesy, but it's also one of the few movies that address the BIGGEST issue people (especially with children) have with leaving abusive relationships - A PLACE TO LIVE. Most stories gloss over this - like in Sleeping with the Enemy - a film in which she changes her whole identity, but somehow passed a background check to rent a GIGANTIC home in the suburbs (or did she buy it? I can't remember now, but that would be even worse). And even more recently with The Invisible Man remake - this man just lets this strange woman live in his home with his teenage daughter (sorry, nice to think this would happen, but there is no way a parent would let someone who is escaping an abusive man live in their home, putting their own child at risk). But this movie shows a closer reality - she has to get help from the government so she's put on a list for housing, but is forced to live in a hotel room with her two children indefinitely. Plus, she has to fight for custody of her children, and prove him to be unfit otherwise he might end up with partial custody or even full custody if she can't prove that she can shelter them properly. It's such a backwards cycle - and it gives the answer to the ignorant question of "why doesn't she just leave?". Because the reality is that maybe it's better to just stay so you have a roof over your children's head and you don't have to leave your children alone with a violent asshole? I also like that the catalyst for her leaving is that her daughter witnesses the abuse. Because, ultimately, that's the moment you know that you have to make a decision - continue to let your children witness abuse or leave not knowing if you'll be able to care for them. This story just gets so much right - but then it does turn into a bit of a melodramatic story of this woman "starting over", and she decides to take things into her own hands by building her own "tiny home". She gets a lot of help along the way, specifically from a woman whom she works for (that her deceased mother used to work for, as well) - who very generously gives her a loan, along with land for her to build her house. She also gets assistance from some local people to help her with the construction - which is really heartwarming (and made me remember how fulfilling it was to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity - such a fantastic organization). I think I should have seen the end coming, but I was definitely expecting more of a happy one. I wish they gave a little more information about the repercussions of what he did (she's no longer on the housing list, and has used up her loan money...what's next?), but I also like that it doesn't give a satisfying ending (because that's more realistic). But the part that really got me is the scene at the end with her abuser's mother - more for personal reasons, because I was really, really close to my paternal grandmother and she still believed her son was good until the day she died (you can't argue with a mother's love). I really love this movie (probably in my top 10 of 2020), so I looked up the director's previous work - and...was so disappointed (The Iron Lady...eek). 

3. Babyteeth - I read some really great praise for this movie (some putting it on their best of 2020 lists, but it's very clearly a 2019 release...even by UK standards?), and I can see why - but there is something about it that I just didn't connect with. I even read a few reviews in which people seemed to get really emotional with it, but I just didn't get that effect at all. In fact, I remained fairly emotionless for its entirety, which is surprising considering the subject matter (it's about a girl with a terminal illness falling in love/lust with a drug dealing weirdo). I do think it has a really strong story and idea, along with a fantastic cast - I adore Ben Mendelsohn and I love him even more when he's not playing a bad guy (which is very rare). Essie Davis is wonderful. And I've never seen Toby Wallace in anything but he is captivating - this performance kind of reminded me of young Leo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries. I think the main girl was the weak link among the cast (I don't feel like looking up her name, but she's also the weakest link in Little Women). I also just think the age difference is tough to overcome (and actually unnecessary. He could have been her age and the story would have been just as strong and would have avoided the distraction of being problematic). I know consent laws vary by country (and state by state in America and it's super confusing), but there is a line and this sits right on that line. But, I get that it's not really about that (which is why it shouldn't have been part of the story?) and it's more about her happiness in that moment and in the moments leading to her death, and also about her parent's resignation in fighting against her happiness. It's devastating to think about parents of terminally ill children having to let go of the "parenting" and just letting their child live without precautions in the little time they have. Again, I can see why people had such a connection with it, and I do think it's a film that I will think about for a while, but there's just something about it that left me cold. 

4. Tenet - So, things I knew about this movie before watching it: (1) it doesn't make sense and is hard to follow and (2) the sound design is awful. I disagree with both of these things. I didn't find it hard to follow at all. BUT, I went into it with a hyper focus because I was expecting to be confused. So, I think that helped. I also figured that the story was going to be told backwards at some point because that's what all of the marketing hinted at, and playing with time is kind of Nolan's "thing" (and sidenote: shocking revelation ahead - I fell asleep at Nolan's other "backwards" movie, Memento and I've never rewatched it so I always list it last in my Nolan rankings, which is as follows: Dunkirk, Interstellar, Batman Begins, Inception, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Tenet, The Dark Knight Rises, Insomnia, Memento). It's like taking the movie and folding it in half and both parts are the same (I'm sure there is a word for that, but I can't think of it? Symmetrical?). There are a few scenes in which I didn't fully understand the importance, but I can't tell if it's just over-inflated or the scenes are, in fact, important (I'll probably never rewatch, so it will remain a mystery to me). I also think there is one scene that completely gives away what is about to happen so much so that I actually sighed out loud. Why did it have to be done with that much obvious effect? As far as the sound goes, I think if I saw it in a theater, I might have been frustrated by the sound, but at home I could adjust the volume as needed and I had no problem hearing it. That being said, that shouldn't have to happen, but I get why Nolan finds this exercise fascinating. He's been consistently criticized for sound design in several movies - favoring background noise over dialogue, with his argument being that every part of a film tells a story not just the dialogue. I actually loved the sound design in Dunkirk, and I never had a hard time understanding any of his previous films (most I've seen in a theater) so I don't really know if I would have been upset with the sound in this, or if I would have just went with it. Anyway, one thing I am upset about is John David Washington's dead expression through the whole damn movie. I thought he was very good in BlacKkKlansmen, so I wasn't expecting to be so disappointed in his acting, but he is just terrible in this - and he has ZERO chemistry with the other actors especially Elizabeth Debicki - the person that he is inexplicably risking it all for. And Kenneth Branagh is really hard to watch sometimes - he just seems so fucking full of himself (which fits this part), but he just never seems natural in any role unless it's Shakespeare. 

5. Sylvie's Love - This is a really cute, unexpected love story. I love Tessa Thompson, but I was even more intrigued when I saw Aja Naomi King listed in the opening credits! She deserves so much more attention and praise than she receives (and she's so gorgeous!). Rounded out with a wonderful supporting cast of Jemima Kirke, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Eva Longoria, all in unexpected roles - it's all just glorious. Oh and there's some men in there too, but they are mostly dull and inconsequential (except Lance Riddick, of course!). The story is kind of like La La Land in that it's about finding your love - aka your passion, which might put you on a different path than the person that you love. It seems really light-hearted, but there is a lot to unpack within the story. There's a lot of underlying discussion of race, class, and gender equality. I appreciate that they didn't make her husband a complete asshole - he isn't always shown in the best light, but ultimately he did love her and he did do the right thing for her. He felt more like a real person that the typical controlling "villain" type character. I also like that she's so passionate about her career that she understands the importance of having the love of her life follow his (although, I think the secret she hides from him is really shitty). Of course my favorite part is when she explains to her husband (who is not the man she's in love with) "I can't be the woman of your dreams while also being the woman in mine" (or something to that effect, I didn't write it down, but damn that notion has stuck in my head since I've watched it). Oh wait, my actual favorite part is when Mama Goldberg tells her dirty joke "when are your ears going to get cold?!" and then the way she keeps repeating the punchline - it's just comedic gold. The movie could have easily been 30 minutes shorter without losing anything, but overall, I really enjoyed this. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The High Note - This is the worst case of "convenient storytelling" that I've seen in a while, but there is still something very likeable about it. I'm a big, big fan of Kelvin Harrison Jr. (and the more I think about Waves the more I love it) and, guess what?! HE CAN SING! *swoons dramatically* I also have a soft spot for Dakota Johnson - she was THE WORST in the 50 Shades movies, but I think she was supposed to be like that? I don't know, she's not the greatest actress, but she's adorable and she won me over in The Peanut Butter Falcon. She is very charming in this - and maybe this is the type of role that she should stick to? She's got this great flirtatious energy to her - it's coy but not in an annoying way. Tracee Ellis Ross rounds out the main cast - I haven't seen her in much, but I used to watch Girlfriends waaaay back in the day. It's important to note that these two actresses come from very famous families (Johnson's mom is Melanie Griffith, but even more iconic - her grandmother is TIPPI HEDREN; Ross is the daughter of a living legend, Ms. Diana Ross). This is kind of part of the story - and probably why it all seems so obvious. It's weird that they try to hide the twist, even though it's RIGHT THERE in your face. Like I said though, I weirdly enjoyed it. The cast seem very natural in their roles, it's really sweet, and I screamed out loud when it shows that her father lives on Catalina Island - one of my absolute favorite places in the world! It used to be one of my dreams to live there (population of less than 5k, there is a 25 year waiting list to bring a car to the island so people drive around in golf carts, and it's just fucking beautiful). 

2. Pieces of a Woman - *spoilers* I knew very little about this movie before watching it - just that it was getting a lot of positive reviews and that Vanessa Kirby is great (and that they pulled all of the award consideration marketing for Shia - even cropped him from the posters!). From the very first moment, I was in awe. I haven't had a movie fully sweep my attention...in a long time. It's a very triggering topic for a lot of people, but a topic that has recently gained attention due to several famous women opening up about their own experiences with having miscarriages, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths. I never really understood why this life-altering, devastating event that happens to thousands of women every year, is kept to such a hush-hush whisper. The biggest problem with this is that so many (most?) of these women suffer in silence because of this weird tradition/superstition of not telling anyone you're pregnant until after your first trimester (which is when most women suffer miscarriages). So, once it happens, it's almost easier to just go about your life as if nothing happened, but trauma needs to be felt otherwise you don't heal. I try to stay out of this particular topic because I've never been pregnant, and therefore can never know what these women go through. But it seems like people are finally opening up about this, and it seems like a positive step to help women feel like they aren't alone. This movie focuses on the tragedy of having your baby die right after giving birth - and it is just absolutely devastating. It has been noted by some that the first 24 minutes is let down by the rest of the film - and I agree with that, to an extent. But first, let's talk about those first 24 minutes because they are glorious. It's a 24 minute single-shot scene of a childbirth that ends in complete and utter heartbreak. It's a rare time in which I was so focused on the story in front of me, that I actually didn't even notice the technical masterpiece of the scene. As I looked at reviews that mentioned the single-shot, my mind was blown - I actually questioned its existence (like, there's no way that was a single-shot, so I replayed it and was blown away again). As many have also noted - Vanessa Kirby is stunning (I actually looked up to see if she had children because I fully believed she must have been through this before). I think the reason that its so effecting is because it focuses on the actual trauma of just giving birth - even if the baby ended up fine, it's still soooo stressful. I'm not sure why anyone would choose to do this at home (why take the risk? with all of the medical advances we have now, it just doesn't make sense to me, but again, I've never been pregnant or have had to make these kinds of decisions - so what do I know? I do know that if I got pregnant I would absolutely beg for a C-section and, like, an induced coma for a week after the birth. Do they do that?). Anyway, as for the rest of the movie - I agree with some that it doesn't feel as raw and intimate as this first scene, and instead turns a bit melodramatic. However, I still feel like it does a great job of showing the aftermath of tragedy - of having people tip-toe around you, judging your reaction or non-reaction, deciding for you how you should feel. And, it does a satisfying job of showing how relationships are effected. I think it fails in its attempt to show a male perspective - while it's absolutely necessary to show his frustration, it also almost excuses his actions (he suffered a tragedy too, but it's still not to the same extent). His character turns into an abusive, cheating, just all around scummy human, so the audience is forced to think it's probably better off that he didn't become a father? And speaking of human scum - I say this with a heavy heart because I've always been a big supporter of Shia, but what a fucking disappointment. While, I've always admitted he was a shitty person, he's also an incredibly talented actor (two things can be true at the same time), but this is the final straw. I was hopeful that he turned his life around and learned from his abusive past, especially with how personal Honey Boy was, but it seems he's just really an asshole. I truly hope he has someone in his life who is guiding him to seek help (he's still so young - and I will always have hope that people can turn their life around - look at Marky Mark!, but he still has to acknowledge the pain that he has caused and suffer the consequences). Anyway, overall I love this movie - it will stay with me forever and that is always a welcome result. 

3. Like a Boss - I watched this for Rose Byrne, but I also thought I would give one more chance to Tiffany Haddish since people seem to love her (I did not like her in Girls Trip or The Kitchen), even though the movie itself looked awful. I'm disappointed to say that it is, indeed, awful. Like, really, really terrible. And I just don't think Haddish is funny. To each their own, I guess. The first 10 minutes are just so cringeworthy - and if women ever actually talk like this I would just leave the conversation instantly. So many vagina jokes - and none of them are funny. And the plot doesn't really even make sense - they are shamed by their friends as being the "unsuccessful" ones but...they OWN their own business and live in a house that is bigger than most people dream of. The only positive aspect of the movie is the discourse on makeup - it never really goes as deep as it should, but it's still an interesting discussion. When asked "who" they do their makeup for, one says "myself" and the other says "each other", but it's important that neither of them say "for men". From my experience most men say they prefer women without makeup, yet makeup is a billion dollar industry because women, myself include, don't wear makeup for men. It's to look how WE want to look. Also, if men had any idea how much makeup it takes to look "natural" they would be stunned (and yes, I realize that I'm talking in very heteronormative scenarios). Also, Salma Hayek is a goddess (her scene in From Dusk till Dawn will live in my mind for eternity - I think, at 15 years old, it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen at that point). She looks terrible in this movie - that wig does her no favors, but in real life - she is still absolutely stunning. And I'll never forget when someone asked her how she stays looking so young and she spent the whole time talking about her neck routine - and how it doesn't matter how young your face looks if your neck looks old, so she does these intense neck moisturizing and massaging techniques. And it's totally true (mostly for women) sometimes I think someone is very young, but I look at their neck and realize the truth! So I now consistently moisturize my neck. Side-tracked once again, but this movie sucks. As expected. 

4. I Used to Go Here - I really wish Gillian Jacobs would take on something more challenging, but she's really good at this immature, "I make terrible choices", early-to-mid-30s woman. In this, she plays a writer who just published her first book to less than desirable results. She accepts a speaking gig at her alma mater, not because she wants to engage with the dialogue around her book, but because she has a crush on the professor. I think it's supposed to be a cute, let's reminisce about college hijinks, type tale, but it's all very dull and unrealistic. It just gets too ridiculous to be taken seriously. The audience has no choice but to root against her because she consistently makes terrible choices and then to top it all off she sleeps with one of the students - this is awful for two reasons: (1) while he's technically legal, he's very obviously vulnerable and she takes advantage of that and at 35 years old she SHOULD KNOW BETTER and (2) she's considering taking a teaching job at his college so that's not cool or ethical at all. There is also a character named "Bradley Cooper" (why??) who tells her "you were my number one jerk-off", and she doesn't immediately leave (and I think we're supposed to think it's funny?). It reminded me that a few months ago, I had someone on Twitter DM me to tell me that I was his "first twitter crush" and referred to a picture of myself that I posted over 7 years ago. Like, dude, I know what that means and ew. Also, thanks for making me feel a million years old. I know he wasn't trying to be gross - and just genuinely trying to give a compliment, but my God men are just terrible at communicating with women. ANYWAY, this movie feels pointless - I don't really feel like she grows, or changes, in a genuine way - it's more like 'I keep fucking up because I'm terrible so I'm going to prove to everyone that I'm not terrible' (even though everything leading up to this has proven the opposite). 

5. Evil Eye - WHHHYYYY are these Amazon/Blumhouse movies so mediocre? So far the three that I've seen share one thing: a very strong concept that goes nowhere and feels amateur. It's hard to distinguish between Feature Films and Made for TV Movies these days, and I think that's where the problem is. I went into these movies expecting a certain quality, but if I had the mindset of watching a Lifetime type movie, my expectations would be levelled (and I probably wouldn't watch to begin with). This movie tackles a very interesting subject - reincarnation, but it's too silly to be taken seriously. This woman becomes convinced that her daughter's new boyfriend is actually a man who tried to kill her 30 years earlier. I like certain things about it - the way it shows this young woman balancing her mother's traditional Indian culture and beliefs, while also living in America, is very well done and it felt very realistic. Sarita Choudhury is a fantastic actress and she really pushes to make this movie better than it is. And I think it does a respectable job of depicting PTSD - and how sometimes people who suffer from it also develop a sort of intuition to avoid future traumatic events. But, there's also a lot to criticize. Like, the incredibly dumb ending (which could have been better with a very simple revision). Also, it's never interesting to watch two people talk on the phone...over and over again. Finally, I adored Sunita Mani on GLOW and I think she's super adorable, but this is a terrible performance - especially in the phone scenes. It's so awkward watching her try to make those scenes work. This one is definitely the worst of the three, and apparently there is five more? And I somehow still want to watch the rest of them? What is wrong with me? 

3 Thoughts on Wonder Woman 1984

1. I Renounce My Wish - So, big news...I saw this movie in a theater! I haven't been since February 2020 (the last movie I saw in a theater was The Rhythm Section - eek!), but I can't say that I've really been actively seeing movies in a theater for...years. In 2019 I saw ONE movie in the theater. 2018 - maybe a dozen. I can't blame Covid for that. Instead, I blame people. The theater experience has been miserable, and I feel like every year it just gets worse and worse with audience entitlement to be loud and act obnoxiously (I've written about this in the past). However, when I realized just how much my theater attendance had declined, I became a little upset that I let other people ruin something that I used to enjoy, so I went into 2020 with the goal of going to the movies more. And with that I said two things OUT LOUD: "I wish I could see movies in a theater by myself...that would be ideal" and "I wish all film & television productions would just take a break for like a year, so that I can catch up on stuff". It's fitting that this movie is about the consequences of making selfish wishes - and the only way to save the world is to "renounce" the wish, and, man, if that could happen in real life that would be great because I RENOUNCE MY FUCKING WISH. The theaters by me have been open since August, I believe, but the thought of going to one and having to wear a mask the whole time, and worrying about others not wearing a mask, and sitting too close, etc. I had no interest in going. BUT, I got my wish of seeing this gigantic blockbuster movie in a private theater (it was a very thoughtful Christmas present), and while I'm thankful that I can enjoy such luxuries, I would obviously rather the world go back to normal.  

2. Chaos Reigns - I don't really know how to describe this movie other than completely chaotic. Like, it's just chaos from beginning to end. The plot, the dialogue, the action, the CGI, the villain(s) - it's just one big ball of chaos. Some of it's decent, some of it's confusing, but most of it could have been done better. And I sort of expected that? I enjoyed the first one (way more than I even expected to), but, critically speaking, it had a lot of issues, mostly with consistency - some of it looked terrible and some of it looked great. When that happens - it's clear to me that it's a director issue. And not that Patty Jenkins is a bad director (hardly), but she's still so new and she's learning, especially with big blockbusters like this. The problem is that everyone overlooked the problems in the first one, so...why would she bother fixing them with the sequel? And now, she's suddenly being held to a higher standard. I don't think this sequel is a bad movie - it's just...a lot. And it's very inconsistent. Gadot and Pine do a fine job, and have lovely chemistry, but Pedro Pascal felt like he was in a different movie. I'm LOVING the adoration I see for him (between this and The Mandalorian, it feels like he is everywhere now and it is well-deserved), but I didn't love his performance here. Kristen Wiig is great until she turns full-blown Cheetah (please stop making cat/human hybrids in movies - my eyes still haven't recovered from Cats). I also feel like it should have been a lot more fun with the play off of 80s nostalgia. Maybe it's passed its prime, and has already been done to death (we've moved on to 90s nostalgia - Clueless remake imminent), but I still think it could have been done better. 

3. The Response - I'm not sure why the response to this became such a big deal seemingly overnight. From what I could gather, the critics that got to see it early gave it fairly good reviews - which left a lot of people disappointed in the results. And then people started to gang up on these critics for pandering to the studios (and possibly getting paid to review favorably). The whole point of studios releasing to critics early is to build "hype" for a movie, so obviously this happens to a degree, but I fully believe that most critics stand by what they write. And I think a lot of critics were probably just super happy to be watching a blockbuster movie after months and months of delays (and a worldwide pandemic happening) and they let that effect their thoughts. This is what happens when you let anyone with an opinion and a keyboard write movie reviews. Honestly, "professional" critics are a thing of the past. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing - it became such an elitist, self-aggrandizing profession and personally, I would rather read reviews from my twitter buddies who put their own personal thoughts into movies (like myself). However, there is now a shit-ton of people writing about film, who actually know nothing about filmmaking. You can't hold them to the same standards, anymore. And if they felt joy and hope while watching this and decided to write in their reviews, what's the big deal? Anyway, there is also a whole weird focus (mostly by men) who are "disturbed" by the body swapping plot and actually have the audacity to complain about consent - first, maybe do some research on power dynamics within heterosexual sex and then...um...shut your face. Second, the whole plot point is obviously a play on the very questionable plots within 80s movies (I mean, there was a movie in which a guy falls in love with a fucking mannequin for fuck's sake). It's called commentary and it's supposed to be a little "icky" you dumb fucks. Everyone got one thing right, though, and that is that this would be forgotten within days. That's definitely a result of releasing films on-demand - the shelf life for discussion is two days max. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Soul - Completely unexpected story. I was prepared to watch a kids animated movie, I was not prepared for a visual translation of a Death Cab for Cutie song. I thought it was about a musician trying to make his way - maybe a life-lesson about "working hard while enjoying what you're doing", might have been tossed in for good measure, but...it's actually about the human soul. I'm not sure why Pixar feels the need to try to explain complex concepts like "the soul" to children, but it feels like a spiritual sequel to Inside Out (which is a movie that I liked, but hated how audiences interpreted it as a study of depression). And, boy, does this movie have some thoughts. On the after-life, human existence, the meaning of life - it's all in there in a really jumbly, not completely coherent way. And then it all boils down to the lesson of "enjoy the little things in life", which ultimately has nothing to do with "the soul", but a great lesson for kids to learn, nonetheless. I can see why people are connecting to it, but it's not something that really connected with me. The animation is great, though. And the voice acting is all on-point. And a cat is heavily featured (obviously my favorite part!). 

2. Blackbird - The cast had me intrigued - Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, and Mia Wasikowska. That's some talent, right there. The plot is pretty simple - this woman is dying, and decides to end her life on her own terms, so she throws a "goodbye" weekend gathering with her family. I like that it feels very genuine, and the actors all have great chemistry together, but the characters are a bit one-note and full of cliches (one sister is uptight and controlled, the other is a typical "mess"). I also think it lacks emotional resonance. The only part that kept me interested is the odd introduction of this other woman, who is obviously close to the family, but there is also a mystery about her (it becomes obvious as to what this mystery is pretty quickly). And I know it shouldn't matter, but I think showing this family as wealthy makes them so unrelatable. It's never really spoken about, but the house that this story takes place in makes it very obvious that this family is very privileged. My thoughts kept wandering to this stunning greenhouse that they have - I would love to just live in that greenhouse (side-note: I've become a bit obsessed with plants over the past few years - I was always so hesitant to have plants because of the cats. But, I started with one to see how it went, and now I have over 25 house plants and I grow my own herbs too! I have to do a bit of research first to make sure they are safe for cats - and also accept the fact that the cats will ruin some of them. The new kittens have destroyed 3 plants so far and broke my favorite pot. UGH.). Anyway, the acting is sufficient, but I think I expect more from these three - although I was surprised by Kate Winslet because it doesn't really look like her - it's not like she does much to change her appearance just the glasses and her hair pulled back combined with that preppy wardrobe - it took me a second to realize that was her (her voice gives it away - even with the American accent, her voice is so distinguished). 

3. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - It still disturbs me that I spent 4 years in college studying Drama, and was never tasked with studying August Wilson (or read any of his plays). Isn't that weird? Maybe I will correct that this year. It immediately felt like Fences - which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't really like Fences (I can see why the play is so vital, but it didn't work on-screen for me). There's a LOT of dialogue - and the dialogue moves with such a fast pace, and twists and turns in really unexpected ways, but it's also hard to focus on. I don't want to criticize it for that, necessarily, because the dialogue is what keeps it so lively and challenging (but, again, I think it would be really satisfying to watch as a live performance, it doesn't work for me here). The performances, though, are spectacular. Viola Davis is a force of nature in this - her mannerisms, her swagger - she just embodies this woman so well. Chadwick is also wonderful - his smile and energy is infectious. The ending is also a highlight - first, the "surprise" hits really unexpectedly and delivers just the right amount of confusion mixed with satisfaction. Second, the final shot of the white band recording the song is just heartbreaking, and a solid reflection of the point of it all. I hope that makes sense. I didn't know it was based on real people, and a real struggle that is so often fought within the music industry, which is exactly the point it's making. Overall, I think it's successful - and I think I'll remember it more than I remember Fences, even if I didn't love it. But more importantly, I read a few reviews by black critics who really connected with it, and that's what's important. People seem to forget that just because something isn't made for you, doesn't mean it doesn't hold value. 

4. Fighting with my Family - How super-freakin'-cute is this movie?! It's really unexpected. It's never even been on my radar, until I saw a picture of Florence Pugh from this movie, and didn't know where it was from. Once I looked into it, I realize that I failed to connect that that's Florence in this movie about wrestling starring The Rock. Then, I was even more surprised to see its RT score of 92%. I repeat...92%. And I have to admit, it totally deserves it! It has a great story, a really strong central performance from Pugh, really funny dialogue, and a hot guy! WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? I laughed more than a few times (my favorite: "you should see his cock...sorry...penis...you should see his penis" - oh man, that line delivery is pure gold). AND The Rock is in it for only a few minutes - but he is hilarious ("please, sir, can I have some more advice?" I died.). I think the fact that it's about wrestling will turn a lot of people off (and I'm sure a lot of people are pumped by it, too - wrestling, amazingly, still has a shit-load of fans. I actually know of someone who writes for WWE (a past co-worker's husband - and yes, I just put parenthesis inside of parenthesis. I do what I want.) - isn't' that crazy? He writes those batshit crazy storylines and fans just eat it up.), but the story is universal and can be applied to literally any sport or talent. It's about being yourself - finding that voice that no-one else in the world has but you. It's also about not judging others, and making assumptions, working as a team, etc., and it's all just lovely. And the hot guy is Jack Lowden - I've seen him in other things and he never really stood out, but he's adorable in this. And then I made a huge mistake of googling him only to learn that he's Scottish (and possibly dating Saoirse Ronan? Good for him!). It's all over for me; soon I'll be saying "Taron, who?" (kidding...Taron is irreplaceable). 

5. Possessor - I can't imagine that it's easy to be a filmmaker living in the literal footsteps of David Cronenberg (I mean, obviously, opportunity-wise, it's much easier for him, but like critically-speaking and pressure-wise, those are some mighty footsteps). Brandon's first feature film, Antiviral, is something that still lives vividly in my mind, and I remember being really surprised by it. With this, I think it's safe to say that Brandon is clearly making a name for himself as an incredible filmmaker. Possessor is fascinating and hypnotic from beginning to end - disturbing, beautiful, stylish, gory, and slightly nightmare inducing (the scene with the skin mask is just really unsettling - I'm hoping I don't have nightmares from it, but I can't be sure. Just seeing it on the poster totally creeps me out. Also, when the kid turns to her and says "pull me out" - ugh...I get chills just thinking about it.). Andrea Riseborough is a favorite of mine (and definitely not talked about enough. She's so good - every.single.time), but I think Christopher Abbott is the stand-out performance here. He's been in so much - most memorably, The Sinner, but he really proves himself here. He reminds me of the guy who plays Jon Snow (you know, the guy who can't act at all) combined with the guy from The Expanse. Like if you showed me a picture of the three of them together I might not be able to tell the difference between them. Anyway, I absolutely love this movie - will most definitely be one of my favorites from 2020.