Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Deadpool 2 - A little bit disappointing. Certainly not as funny as the first one, but I knew that it would have been a difficult task anyway. *spoiler* I DO NOT like that they killed Vanessa. First, such a cliche; second, I love Morena Baccarin (and she's married to Ben McKenzie so I *should* hate her, but I don't. Seeeee...it's possible). I do, however, love the addition of Zazie Beetz as Domino, and I think it's hilarious that her superpower is luck (and it was definitely "cinematic"). I also love Josh Brolin, as Cable. He's just always so perfect. Actually, I can't really fault anything specific in the movie - the cast is great, it has some funny moments, the plot is full of heart (like the first one), and the action is really fun. I think I just expected better - I expected to be crying with laughter like I did the first one. I am a bit confused by the end-credits sequence - if he went back in time, does that mean the whole movie doesn't actually happen? Also, I kept hearing about Deadpool going back in time and killing Hitler, but that wasn't in the version I watched. Are there different cuts? Hmmmmm....

2. Overboard - Better than I expected, and actually not terrible. I thought the gender swapping was a dumb idea, but it worked. Anna Faris does the same character from her tv show, Mom, but she does it so well (she deserves the same amount of awards as Allison Janney). The best aspect of it, though, is the casting of several Hispanic actors and having them ACTUALLY SPEAK SPANISH. The film brilliantly embraces different cultures and languages and does it so effortlessly - it feels authentic. It's kind of a big deal, but the film wasn't good enough for it to gain such positive attention. It's unfortunate that they couldn't also get "single mom with 3 kids and no money" correct (poor people don't live in gorgeous houses in the suburbs with fresh flowers on their table). Why didn't they refer to original for figuring out what "poor" looks like? Very disappointing. However, there were a few great moments - mostly the ones that nod to the original - the Arturo and Caterina story is continued and utilized at the end (side note - is it Caterina? I googled it for spelling and some people seem to think it's Catalina). Yet, the end still felt fresh (and it's really funny when he hesitates and then tries to negotiate). I love the scene where Anna Faris wears the denim jacket with her hair up (direct nod to Goldie). I also laughed at the line "Have a garlic knot, it makes everything a little bit better" - TRUE STORY. Garlic knots are pure bliss.

3. Tully - First, I don't have kids. I can not relate to what this woman is dealing with at any level at all. But I do want to say, this movie definitely makes me not want to have kids EVER. I'm already susceptible to being super depressed, I think I would end up exactly like her. The main reason is that I've realized that I absolutely need at least 7 hours of sleep every night. I can function on 3 hours just fine, but I notice that anything less then 7, the depression sets in. So, the idea of a Night Nurse sounds brilliant! Does this actually exist? I understand not wanting to have someone else take care of your baby - but this way you get sleep and then you can be a better mother during the day. Anyway, that's the concept of the movie - only that *spoiler* she doesn't actually exist. Tully is just a figment of her imagination; a younger version of herself. It's quite obvious from the beginning, so I'm a bit concerned about people talking about how great the twist is. While watching it I wrote in my notes - about 15 minutes after Tully's introduction - "she doesn't exist, does she?". It's still wonderful even if it's not "a twist". It's a beautifully written story about a woman who is trying to cope, and "Tully" helps her do that. I think a lot of mothers will be able to relate to this story. Charlize Theron is fantastic and I adore Mackenzie Davis - she is perfectly cast here.

4. Rampage - This is a seriously terrible movie. I don't even know where to begin - the concept, the plot, the acting, it's all TERRIBLE. I will be highly surprised if it doesn't end up as my worst film of the year. The plot is so dumb, but the weird part is - it doesn't have to be. It could have been, at least, cliched & average. Instead, there are villains who accidentally (?) create gigantic, killer animals and then call them into a major city (where they are residing - essentially killing themselves) for absolutely NO REASON. It's just silly. However, it's an action-packed, city-destroying, brainless, blockbuster. If I was a 14 year old boy, I would probably enjoy the Hell out of it.

5. Tomb Raider - I know I watched the original Angelina Jolie version, however I don't remember it at all, but I do believe that it is terrible. I thought that maybe this would be a good idea - maybe they would get it right this time? Casting Alicia Vikander, was certainly a step in the right direction (although, I'm a big fan of Jolie - so that wasn't a dig at her). I think Vikander serves the story well - it felt grittier, a bit more realistic, and down-to-earth. She kept me invested - even though I could have done without the origin story. This is the problem I find with most reboots. Filmmakers should understand that audiences already know the story, why not skip ahead? Or condense it down to just the first 20 minutes. This is ultimately the reason that this movie fails. It's actually a 3 star movie (which is much higher than I was expecting), it just doesn't get to the actual "tomb-raiding" until the end, and by then, we are bored. Imagine if we got this fantastic female action-hero solving puzzles, finding ancient artifacts, killing evil men, saving the world, etc., for the whole film? We would want to see more. Instead, we're left disappointed and certainly not wanting a sequel.

Fall Movie Preview: 17 Films That I'm Excited About

1. Peppermint (9.7) - FINALLY Jennifer Garner is back! She hasn't actually gone away, but I'm so sick of her doing cutesy, side-roles. This seems like the perfect role for her - a woman seeking revenge for the murder of her husband and daughter. I can't wait for Jen to kick some murderous ass.

2. A Simple Favor (9.14) - I'm intrigued by Blake Lively. She's given some strong performances (The Town, The Shallows). Her and Anna Kendrick in a "Hitchcockian comic thriller" directed by Paul Feig definitely has my interest.

3. Hold the Dark (9.28) - While I wasn't as obsessed with Green Room as everyone else, I still found it interesting. Jeremy Saulnier is definitely perfecting the slow-burn genre, so I'm interested in his next project. Also, I really liked Riley Keough in Logan Lucky. I want to see more of her.

4. A Star is Born (10.5) - I thought this movie was a joke when it was first announced. Then when I realized it was real, I thought "oh Bradley, WHAT are you thinking?!". Then the trailer came out and now it's all I can think about. It's going to be a HUGE movie. Like Oscar nominated and everything. I should never doubt my Bradley.

5. First Man (10.12) - And speaking of Oscars...Can you imagine being 33 years old and having your first 3 feature films nominated for Oscars? I'm already assuming this will be because it has Oscar written all over it. Also, I didn't know Chazelle wrote the screenplay for 10 Cloverfield Lane! What a talented guy.

6. Bad Times at the El Royale (10.12) - This movie looks like a lot of fun. I'm a big fan of Drew Goddard. I like the vibe of the trailer, and the cast is ridiculous.

7. The Hate U Give (10.19) - I'm a big believer in films as a highlighter for social injustices - films can change the world. Police brutality and racial tensions (and to be blunt - unarmed black people being shot by police) is a huge issue in our country right now, and I'm not sure how to get through to people who claim "all lives matter" (fucking duh!), but a film can't hurt.

8. Halloween (10.19) - Does this really need an explanation? I can't believe the first Halloween came out 40 years ago.

9. Suspiria (11.2) - I know this makes me a terrible cinephile, but I've never seen the original Suspiria. I should probably watch it before this remake. I kind of only want to see this because so many film geeks are upset by it. Oh and Tilda Swinton.

10. Bohemian Rhapsody (11.2) - How great is the casting of Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury? I can't wait to see how awesome he is. It's weird that they still list Bryan Singer as the director. I assume that he had most of it finished before he got fired?

11. Boy Erased (11.2) - The cast is great - Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crow and Joel Edgerton. Directed by Edgerton based on the memoirs of Garrard Conley - a boy sent to a gay conversion therapy camp. It's going to be a hard watch, but another necessary story.

12. The Girl in the Spider's Web (11.9) - I wasn't a big fan of Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, so I'm ok with him stepping away from the series. I'm also interested in Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander because that is such a "what the fuck" casting, but I have a feeling she is going to kill it.

13. Widows (11.16) - Steve McQueen is doing a heist movie?? Um, ok. I'll obviously watch it.

14. Robin Hood (11.21) - I'm not a big fan of the many reincarnations of Robin Hood, but Taron Egerton is so hot, so I will watch this. *shrugs shoulders*

15. Ralph Breaks the Internet (11.21) - Wreck-It Ralph was super cute, so I'll watch the sequel (although I'm really waiting for a sequel to Big Hero 6). The whole Disney princess thing was a great marketing tool.

16. Green Book (11.21) - All I needed was that image of Mahershala Ali and Viggo Morensen in that old-fashioned green car from the 60s. It's just perfect.

17. The Favourite (11.23) - First, Yorgos Lanthimos. Second, it stars Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone AND Olivia Colman. That's like the Holy Trinity of actresses.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Shape of Water - Shockingly, this movie doesn't come close to my Top 10 of 2017. And it's not just because ***spoiler*** the monster horrifically eats a cat (someone should have warned me!). It's just sooooo derivative. You can call it "inspired by" if you want, but that doesn't change the fact that it basically takes parts of Creature from the Black Lagoon, E.T., The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast and made a very beautiful, but very unoriginal film. Also, while again, it's very beautiful, it reminded me of the film Amelie which I haven't seen in probably a decade, but that was the clear vibe that I got from the whimsical set design, cinematography, and adult fairytale storyline. It felt very French. This apparently isn't a coincidence - as the director of Amelie is suing Guillermo del Toro for copying parts of his films (I had no idea while watching it. Afterward, I googled "The Shape of Water Amelie" and was satisfied that I wasn't crazy in my comparison). I'm not really a fan of Sally Hawkins - she's not terrible, but I think she's very overrated. I'm also aggravated by her because while watching an awards show, my boyfriend pointed to her and said "wow who's that? She's like your twin", which I DID NOT take as a compliment. She's so pale and skinny and awkward and...oh wait...FINE I guess she's my twin. UGH. ANYWAY. Michael Shannon has done this role before (many times), but he's just so damn great at it. I could have watched a two hour movie that just revolved around his character alone and it probably would have made my Top 10. 

2. Unsane - You guys what the Hell happened to Steven Soderbergh retiring??? Did I imagine that? I mean, I'm glad he's still going because I tend to love his films. Unsane is no different. It is currently in my Top 10 of this year (but if it's still there by the end of the year, it will be a sad year for movies). There's a lot to unpack in this movie - the entitlement of men, the American Healthcare system (or lack thereof), how we, as a society, treat patients with mental health problems, the lack of protection for women being stalked/abused, etc. Everything is very black & white, with little subtlety, but maybe that's necessary? The ending is a very typical over-the-top, unbelievable mess with several plot holes, but overall, I really connected with the story. It helps to have such a fantastic actress carrying the film - Claire Foy is just absolutely stunning. She keeps your attention through the whole movie, and really sells the plot - even the dumb parts. Also, I had NO IDEA this film was shot on an iPhone. That's insane! Or...unsane? Side-note: Is this Matt Damon's new thing? To just show up in movies without warning? It's kind of weird.

3. The Glass Castle - Very forgettable film, which is sad because it could be incredible. The potential for greatness is all there. Two of the best actresses working right now - Naomi Watts and Brie Larson (Larson doesn't have the quantity that Watts has, but she is in two of my favorite films of the last decade - Room and Short Term 12), and an incredibly nuanced story based on the memoir of Jeannette Walls - a book that was recommended to me years ago, but I didn't make the connection until after I started watching the movie. The film is super melodramatic and predictable, and the ending is terrible - so I hope the book is better (it's still on my list). ***spoiler ahead*** I'm a big fan of forgiveness as a form of catharsis, but the fact that she "forgives" her father, which is implied by her visiting him on his deathbed, is horrifying. Ultimately, a big part of the story (that is kind of swept under the rug) is that her father was molested by his mother, but then as an adult he leaves his kids in her care for several days. WHAT?! Why would you ever do that? Only out of desperation...right? But then we also find out that they were never really desperate because they had access to money THE WHOLE TIME. How could you ever forgive your parents for that? Putting you in danger, causing you the mental and physical anguish of being poor, just for the adventure. Because...it's FUN TO BE POOR. Okay..now that I'm actually thinking about it, this film makes me downright angry. I don't even want to think about it anymore. I will just say two more things - Woody Harrelson is fantastic. I love when he actually tries (not hating, but sometimes he's clearly there for a paycheck). And who is the Emma Stone lookalike? I honestly did a double-take.

4. The Florida Project - Speaking of being poor...wow. This film gets it so right where most films fail so miserably. So often the words "poor" and "poverty" are thrown around in movies and then they depict a very romanticized middle-class life. Even if it's lower middle-class, it's still not poor (Lady Bird is a perfect example of this). This is a depiction of a young mother truly living in poverty. It's the "wrong kind of poor", meaning it's more realistic in its depiction of drug-use, prostitution, and terrible parenting. There's also no redemption. Or hope. I wasn't expecting to like this movie because I hated Tangerine. Like, really, really hated. This film has a lot of similarities (loud, rude, terrible people being loud, rude and terrible), but it has some redeeming qualities - the acting for one, and the clear advantage for me, is that I can connect with it. I also just really love the juxtaposition of these children living in poverty right outside of Disney World. It's tragic and beautiful. It's a stunningly realistic view of Florida. I don't understand why ANYONE willingly goes there. I think this movie will stay with me for a while, simply because I will always wonder what happened to Moonee. Does she break the cycle?

5. Wonder Wheel - Woody Allen has fallen back into the depths of mediocrity again. He hasn't reached his genius level since Midnight in Paris (Blue Jasmine was only good because of Cate Blanchett). This movie is one of his worst recent films. The cast is just...off. If you told me 20 years ago that Justin Timberlake and Kate Winslet would be in a Woody Allen film, I would have laughed hysterically. They are just not right for Allen's dialogue, plus Justin trying to do a NY accent is painfully hilarious. Also, Juno Temple is the worst (she was also terrible in Unsane). The film felt very stagey, and inauthentic. I get what Allen was trying to do - but in the end it's a typical 'women are jealous and crazy, men are cheating liars' territory (even though she is the cheater), with a little bit of 'women are incapable of aging gracefully' thrown in. Is it weird that I've never been to Coney Island? I've never even had the urge to go. I equate it with the Jersey shore (and I hate the Jersey shore, although everyone around me tells me of these mystical parts of the shore that I will like - but I've yet to experience these places). On a side-note, all 5 of the films in this post are female-driven stories - a total coincidence, but also probably a first? The best thing about this is how incredibly different these films are, and how unique these characters are. It's wonderful.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Call Me by Your Name - What a disappointment. I don't have any idea what everyone was praising this movie for. It's a really boring love story about an entitled boy and an even more entitled man (both are complete assholes and I have no idea why anyone roots for them to be happy???). Yes, Timothee Chalamet is good (not even close to the best performance of last year), and Yes, Michael Stuhlbarg is a treasure. That doesn't make this a good movie. Armie Hammer is adorable and that little dance that he does just about stole my heart, but again, this does not make this a good movie. Romance is not necessarily my favorite Drama sub-genre, but a great story is always welcome. This story felt very disingenuous. I never felt like they actually liked each other until *suddenly* they are in love/lust. Their interactions from the very beginning don't seem like real people talking to each other - they are very argumentative for no apparent reason and the scenes are cut really short. Also, I would never root for a relationship about an adult taking advantage of an impressionable teen who is at a critical moment of discovering himself. It's all just a really boring. That last shot, though, is perfect.

2. Only the Brave - Better than I thought, but still a little bit of a cliched "based on a true tale of heroic men" story. It's the type of movie that you would expect Marky Mark to star in, but the cast is actually great (for the record, I love Marky Mark, but I'm tired of him in these types of roles). Josh Brolin is an incredible underrated actor - he can do it all, from big blockbusters to indies to biopics, and he is brilliant in all of them. Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, James Badge Dale, Jennifer Connelly, Andie MacDowell, and Jeff Bridges - you really can't go wrong with that cast. So this film tells the story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots - a group of 20 firefighters who battled the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, in which 19 of them died (*sorry for the spoiler, but it's a pretty famous story). I think they did a good job with development of characters and relationships - they created a good  amount of tension, but also camaraderie among them. They also did a great job with the drama between Brolin and Connelly's characters (as husband and wife) - there is very realistic fighting between them, but there is a still a deep love between them (and the fight is based on something big, not just bickering and drama for drama's sake). I really love how they edited the end credits with the real people, though. I think that will be the most memorable part of the movie.

3. Blockers - Cute, funny, semi-original, fully satisfying comedy. I laughed out-loud several times - my favorite scene is definitely The Notebook scene. I've mentioned my love for Leslie Mann many times before, but this movie just continued to solidify that love. She is one of the funniest actresses around, but still so charming and sweet (and GORGEOUS). I also really loved the girl who played Sam, and I figured out why! She's the wonderfully talented Pamela Adlon's daughter!! I can't wait to see more from her. John Cena definitely steals the spotlight, though - he has all of the really gross-out humor scenes that are (unfortunately) the most memorable scenes. He does it with an awkward, endearing ease. All of the characters are given moments and allowed to shine, which is great. The premise is a little wacky to me (my mom was never, ever invested in my personal life when I was a teenager. I think she always just assumed that I knew what I was doing and it was none of her business...). Also can they not say "Cock Blockers"? Because the title Blockers is odd, but it makes sense with the picture of the rooster in front of it. It's a weird, but brilliant way to circumvent the standards for film titles.

4. A Bad Moms Christmas - I liked Bad Moms for many reasons, and I was also frustrated by it for many reasons. Yet, overall, my memory of it is that it's a cute movie in which 3 talented women get to shine (actually 4 including Christina Applegate, but she wasn't in this one! How disappointing!). This one is...not so cute. It's also not funny. It's about these really entitled, wealthy people who I guess we are supposed to feel bad for because their Christmas doesn't go exactly as planned? I thought the first one had a good message about teaching your kids to be independent and grateful. This one didn't really have a message. Did Christine Baranski's character learn to not be a racist bitch? No...not really? So, what's the point then? Anyway, the only good thing about this movie is the end credits. Super cute. Oh, and Jay Hernandez.

5. Ready Player One - I haven't read the book (added it to the list!), so I didn't really have any of the expectations that people seemed to have. I know it's Spielberg and therefore, expectations are automatically high, but that hasn't been the case for me in....years. I honestly thought I would be bored to death, so I'm happy to report that I had so much fun with this movie! I mean, I guess as much fun as one can have with a movie set during a global apocalypse. Is it 90s Spielberg? Not even close. However, it felt closer to it than any movie of the last decade. I think many people are disappointed because it has so much potential to be more than it is - it's a 3 1/2 star film that could have easily been 5 stars. If they developed the characters a bit more, had a few more moments of wittier dialogue, edited the ending down, etc. it could have been perfect. But, it is what it is, and I enjoyed the Hell out of it. Partly because of the incredible cast - Olivia Cooke and Tye Sheridan are perfect. Partly because it felt like it was made with love and affection for pop culture. But mostly because it's just a solid, straight-forward summer blockbuster type flick.

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

The Good 

- Could this be the year that The Americans finally has some presence at the Emmy awards? While it's received some nominations in the past, it's never been nominated for Series (which is shocking). I think it might pull an upset and win this year! I'm really pulling for Keri Russell (especially since her main competition was NOT nominated...). Although I didn't realize that Tatiana Maslany was still in the running - It seems like Orphan Black ended years ago!

- Other shows that seem like their seasons were more than a year ago - GLOW and Better Things (both would have been included in my Best of TV post but I didn't realize they qualified for this year). GLOW was great - fun, heartwarming, easy to binge, and well-written. I'm happy that Betty Gilpin was recognized. Better Things is one of my favorite shows! The second season was even better than the first, and that final episode with the dance number made my heart soar. Pamela Adlon deserves every award ever.

- YAY for Netflix! 112 nominations! That's so crazy. I'm a big fan of whatever Netflix does.

- I wasn't in love with season 2 of Atlanta as much as I was with the first season, but two episodes really stood out (and no, it wasn't "Teddy Perkins" for me). "Woods" and "FUBU" are just about perfect. Brian Tyree Henry is so good in "Woods", I almost cried. How were these episodes not nominated for writing??? (although "FUBU" was nominated for directing, which is well-deserved). I'm also happy that Zazie Beets was nominated - she's my favorite on the show.

-Yay for Darren Criss!! He's so good as Andrew Cunanan. I think he might actually win?? His competition isn't very strong - although awards shows do love to shower Benedict Cumberbatch with awards. UGH.

- Of course I'm happy for The Crown, Westworld, This is Us, Stranger Things, but those were all 'expected' nominations.

The Bad 

- I'm sorry, The Sinner was a "good" show (not great, and not award-worthy), but Jessica Biel is one of the worst actresses of my generation. She wasn't awful here, but a freakin' Emmy nomination??? For real?

- Why the fuck would Ozark show up on any awards show list? That show had some great moments, but overall is very mediocre compared to the competition. I'm ok with Bateman getting a nomination (although I would have chosen J.K. Simmons in Counterpart over him), but the show received TWO, I repeat TWO, directing nominations. FOR WHAT EXACTLY? I don't understand.

- I know everyone suddenly hates Modern Family now, but I don't. It's still consistently funny and that's hard to do after so many seasons. After 8 consecutive nominations and 5 wins, it's finally fallen and it makes me sad.

- How SNL is receiving so much love is beyond me. I haven't enjoyed it since the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler days. I don't know anyone who watches it. When I told my boyfriend that Kenan Thompson was nominated for an Emmy, he replied "The guy from Kenan and Kel?" Because that's how he's still known, even though he's been on SNL for 15 years.

The Snubbed 

- How is Killing Eve not nominated? Even more shocking - Jodie Comer isn't nominated??? I thought I was reading it wrong when I went through the list. I assumed she would be as Lead Actress in a Drama, but then when her name was missing, I thought maybe she submitted herself as Supporting Actress in a Drama, then I figured maybe the show decided to call themselves a "mini-series" or something. But her name is NOWHERE on the nomination list. It's the best performance of the year. HANDS DOWN.

- I'v recently watched the show Counterpart (which is why you haven't seen me rave about it before bc now I will be going on and on about it for months). It's soooooo good. And it's J.K. Simmons in two versions of the same person! I know it's not really on anyone's radar, so I wasn't expecting nominations, but the question is why? There are just too many shows. And too many good ones. If this show came out even just 5 years ago, it would be all anyone talked about.

- Nothing for Brooklyn Nine-Nine? I know the competition is tough but take away the nominations for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (which I like) and give them to Brooklyn Nine-Nine  - it is far superior.

- While Netflix dominated, the one show I expected to show up more was Mindhunter! I thought Holt McCallany would definitely be nominated, along with some writing or directing nods? (But sure, let's nominate Ozark lol).

- Alison Brie is what made GLOW great. What a fuck up. Seriously.

- I know no-one talks about it, but I would have loved for Dan Levy to get a nomination for Schitt's Creek. It's my favorite comedic performance of last year (and yes, that includes Andre Braugher from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, who is usually my favorite).

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Annihilation - I don't know...I'm a bit disappointed. It was just hyped so much, and overall I wasn't impressed. It has some really beautiful moments and the cast is great, but the story is predictable and it felt very repetitive. After watching it, I thought that maybe it would be one of those films that stuck with me; that maybe after thinking on it, it would improve. That's not the case, at all. It's spectacularly unmemorable. I watched it over a month ago now, and I'm struggling to remember it enough to write about it. There was a tense scene with a bear....maybe? I do remember how beautiful every scene looked - so colorful, dense, and detailed. And I also remember how great the cast is, especially Tessa Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh because they are awesome. I'm super curious about the book, though. I know someone who thinks the book is awesome and someone else who calls the book "the worst book I've ever read" (and I trust both of them). I'm adding it to my reading list. I've been reading a lot more this year, which is why I've had even less time for movies. I realized at the end of 2017 that I only read 4 books and that is disgraceful! So this year I have a goal of at least 25 (I'm on #13 right now so right on track!).

2. American Made - I wasn't really expecting too much from this movie. Just Tom Cruise charming his way out of some drug smuggling situations. I'm a big fan of the Netflix show Narcos (oooooh Narcos! How did I forget about this show when I was writing my previous post about the best shows from this past season??? It should totally be on there.), and they briefly mention this American pilot who smuggled drugs for Escobar. It's a crazy interesting story, but this movie doesn't really capture anything interesting. It also gets really repetitive towards the end. Cruise is perfect for the role, but I think they seriously underutilized the supporting actors (did Lola Kirke even have any lines?). They spent too much time trying to make us like this guy (which was obvious the second they cast Cruise in the role), but to me, it just made the whole thing boring. We get it, it's Tom Cruise - we already like him, just get on with the story!

3. Phantom Thread - Interesting story about toxic relationships, which is not what I thought this movie was about. I guess I didn't really know what this movie was about because I never saw the trailer - I only knew that Daniel Day Lewis is in it and it's directed by PTA (sold!). I appreciate certain aspects of the movie - the biggest is PTA's directing/writing style. The story is layered, subtle, and unexpected. It can be interpreted several ways. I've read a few articles about the film's "meaning" out of curiosity, and it's fascinating how contradictory everyone's interpretations are. Is it a film about toxic masculinity? The fragility of the male ego? Is it a film about feminism? The struggle for women to take up more space in a "man's world"? Is it a love story? I don't have the answers for you. For me, it's a film about a narcissistic asshole and this stubborn woman who thinks she can change him. They are both abusive in their own way and they need each-other. And I think that can be true of many modern relationships (I wouldn't call that "love" though). While the themes are all fascinating, my problem with the movie is that it is booooooorrrrriiiiing. And, man, those dresses are ugly.

4. The Disaster Artist - NOPE. I don't get it. I didn't think I would, considering that I haven't seen The Room, but from what I've read and seen about it and of Tommy Wiseau, I could tell it wasn't going to be my thing. The Disaster Artist is a well-made film, don't get me wrong, and James Franco is superb, but I just can't get into a story about an arrogant, self-absorbed, delusional, obnoxious asshole treating people like garbage in order to "follow his dream" and then everyone having a big laugh about it. It's actually fucking disgusting. There's a big difference between not caring what people think about you, and being so self-involved that you think it's ok to ruin the experience that other people are having. I'm talking specifically about the scene in the diner where they start loudly reciting their lines - the fucking nerve - people are trying to enjoy a meal with their friends/family, shut the fuck up! Tommy's point is that you shouldn't care if people are looking at you and judging you (true), but that doesn't give you permission to be rude. Anyway, even though the whole movie pissed me off, James Franco deserved the Oscar nomination (and maybe even the win) - the controversy hurt his chances, which is a necessary result BUT then Gary Oldman won, um....so....that's awkward.

5. Red Sparrow - Not nearly as bad as I was expecting - I actually kind of liked it? I think people were expecting something more action-packed and fun - and in that way, it would definitely be disappointing. But I liked that it is dark (like really fucking dark), and it's more about the harrowing abuse that these Red Sparrows had to suffer in order to serve their country. It's really interesting to think about in the context of other famous Russian spy characters (Elizabeth from The Americans comes to mind - because she is fucking ruthless and I LOVE it, but a character like this probably suffered the realities depicted in this movie). I don't think Jennifer Lawrence was right for this role - first, that accent was ROUGH - she was focused on the accent so much that her face did not move for the entirety of the movie; second, she seems so much older than she is, so when Joely Richardson is her mother and Matthias Shoenaerts is her uncle - it seems weird. The ending was twisty, but all sort of obvious (and I don't think it would actually make sense if I watched it again and put the pieces together). I do think it's an interesting concept, and an interesting start to something, it just never quite gets there, though.

Best Films of 2017 ***Updated***

It's that time of year again! Time for me to update my Best Films list, now that I've actually seen a majority of the movies that I wanted to see from last year. Like I predicted, my top 6 did not change. There are still a few movies that I didn't get the chance to see yet (the big one is last year's Oscar winning best picture, The Shape of Water), but a lot of the movies that I expected to add to my list didn't make the cut anyway (*ahem* Call Me by Your Name. What a snooze-fest). Anyway, here it is: 

1. Dunkirk
2. mother!
3. Baby Driver
4. Logan
5. Blade Runner 2049
6. Get Out
7. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
8. Colossal 
9. Lady Bird 
10. I, Tonya 
10.5. Wind River 

The 10 Best TV Shows of the 2017-2018 Season

1. Killing Eve - It's only been on for one season (with only 8 episodes), but I am declaring this the best show currently on television (now that The Americans is officially over). I know that's a bit hasty, and I've been hasty - and wrong- before, like with Mr. Robot (phenomenal first season, mediocre second season, slightly better third season - and noticeably missing from my list because of this decline in quality). Killing Eve is a really special show though, because I honestly have no idea what the show is even about - I'm talking "big picture". The last episode is so far from the first episode, and getting there was just so much fun. It's daring in its storylines, it has very bold, very dark humor, and moments so unexpected that I actually rewound a few scenes and watched again. The music is also superb. I've been a fan of Sandra Oh - I still watch Grey's Anatomy and she is sorely missed, but it's really Jodie Comer who steals the show. If she doesn't get an Emmy for this performance, I will be shocked. The show is part Alias, part Luther, but with more humor and more violence.

2. Schitt's Creek - I just adore this show - and it just keeps getting better. The beginning was a little rough because these characters were so vapid and arrogant, but they've grown so much and now I just want to hug them. David and Patrick are probably my favorite couple on television right now - and that serenade of "Simply the Best" was just so sweet. I love that it came full circle with David singing it to Patrick a few episodes later. I love that the show is created by Eugene Levy and his son (Dan Levy), because the show feels really personal. Plus, Catherine O'Hara is glorious.

3. The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale - FUCKING YES I LOVE NETFLIX SO MUCH. The Soup was one of the few shows that I could put on that would always make me laugh and I miss it so much. This is about as close as you can get and I love it. I binged most of the first season in one day and my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much.

4. The Expanse - Honestly, my heart sank when it was announced that SyFy cancelled this series. It has so much story left to tell! The third season has been its best yet, in terms of storytelling and characters - but also just in terms of beautiful shots (and very, very gory shots). These worlds, and wars, between the different planets, "The Belters", and the people caught in the middle of it all is so detailed and believable. I was going to wait to read the books until after the series was finished, but I just couldn't wait. So I read "Caliban's War", and am happy to report that the series definitely does the books justice. The books are written very well, and are very easy to read. The third season was also able to attract some superb talent - Elizabeth Mitchell, David Strathairn, on top of an already superb cast.

5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine - The funniest show on television at the moment. I was resistant to watching it because I'm not really a fan of Andy Samberg, but he's great in this. The other cast members, though, are sheer perfection. Andre Braugher kills me with every episode. I don't think dry wit has ever been done better and he should have like at least 5 Emmys for it. Terry Crews is HILARIOUS. The show gets lauded for its diversity, which is great (it is NYC - so if it wasn't diverse, it wouldn't be very realistic), but I think the reason it works so well is because it doesn't feel forced. I read an interview with Stephanie Beatriz and she talked about her audition for the show and how she heard that Melissa Fumero was cast on the show so she assumed that she didn't get the part because there is no way they would hire two Latina women. It's not really surprising, but it made me sad that we still live in a world where someone's race is a factor in getting a job.

6. The Goldbergs - I recently binge-watched this show, and boy, am I glad that I did. It just made my day so much better to sit and watch such a sweet, funny, wholesome show. I love everything about it. I love that they play with the timeline of the 80s. I mean, none of the storylines make any kind of linear sense, but that kind of sets the tone for the series. I love that each episode is based on some part of Adam Goldberg's childhood and the little clips at the end almost make me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME. I love that they spend an entire episode being annoyed at their "Smother" but then end the episode realizing how incredibly lucky they are. These kids seriously had the best childhood EVER. And finally, I LOVE Barry Goldberg. One of my favorite characters in television history. Seriously.

7. Mindhunter - I already wrote down my thoughts on this show here: https://michelle-alwaysacritic.blogspot.com/2017/11/thoughts-on-5-new-tv-shows.html . It's definitely among the best of the season, and I'm hoping that it won't be overlooked for awards season because it feels like it came out a lifetime ago. (also, how funny is it that out of the 5 shows in my post, only 1 is still airing. Actually I don't think Ghosted was officially cancelled yet, but I'm sure it will be any day now. I used to be good at picking tv shows! What happened?!)

8. The Crown - The first season of The Crown was great, but the second season was just spectacular. I'm a little sad that Claire Foy will not continue in the role because she is just perfect, BUT Olivia Colman is one of my favorite actresses ever, so I can't complain. They did a really good job of casting Matt Smith, because I can't fucking stand him but he somehow works (we're not supposed to like Phillip...right?! I mean, we're not supposed to "like" any of them, but he is just the worst). Also, I literally screamed out loud when Michael C. Hall showed up as JFK. What an odd casting choice!

9. The Americans - I'm so sad that this show is over, but also glad that it's ending on a high note (and it never really dropped in quality. All six season were fantastic - although I would say season 5 is my least favorite). I still have three more episodes left to watch because I've been savoring it. I know the final episode is going to devastate me. There is just no possibility for any sort of "happy" ending. It's unfathomable that Keri Russell hasn't won ALL of the awards for her portrayal of this character. I'm hoping that this year will be her year (but she's up against some tough competitors - Jodie Comer, specifically). The most brilliant thing the show has done, aside from having an FBI agent living across the street, is turning Paige into her mother. I never expected that they would go down that route, but they did and it's perfect.

10. American Crime Story - Not as good as season 1 (The People v. O.J. Simpson), but I don't think anyone expected it to be. I also don't think people expected Darren Criss to be so fucking creepy! I'm really impressed with his performance - it's charming, psychotic, vulnerable, funny, and dark, all at once. It's no coincidence that my two favorite performances this year are from former Glee actors - it's no denying those kids are talented. I just hope Lea Michele gets something as challenging to show her range. I'm also surprised that Penelope Cruz was the weak link of the show - her accent mixed with the weird lisp that Donatella has is hard to imitate (realistically), so maybe focus on other aspects of her personality? I just couldn't get past how difficult it seemed for Cruz to pronounce every word. I think the coolest part of the show was that it told the story backwards - it really kept my interest and added a new layer with every episode.

3 Thoughts on Avengers: Infinity War

**Spoilers**

1. "Oh, we're using our made up names. Um...I'm Spider-Man, then" - Even after all of the mostly positive reviews, I honestly thought this movie was going to be an absolute mess. There's just too many characters. Just look at that poster! There are more than a dozen characters featured! But I admit, they did a fantastic job making it all cohesive. I think it works so much because they put the right characters together. They obviously had to break everyone up and tell separate storylines, and that's where I thought it would feel too jumbled and rushed. But the characters really make it work. I love all the character introductions to each other, the little jabs at each other, the slight distrust among them. Also, it was necessary for a few characters to be missing - but cutting out Hawkeye? Really? That hurts.

2. "Only if I die" - If you told me that Thor was the highlight of an Avengers movie, I would laugh in your face. And yet, here we are. This movie definitely helps make Thor: Ragnarok fit into the universe - it felt so different than the previous Thor movies, but definitely in the same atmosphere as the Guardians movies. So, it's fitting that their storylines converge. And it's also WONDERFUL. Chris Hemsworth has come a loooong way. I actually liked Thor in this. His lines didn't come across as cheesy as the previous efforts and (again) he looks a million times better with short hair (as ALL men do). The only thing I didn't like is that they turned Star-Lord into a complete dick. He was always a bit of a dick, but a lovable one. The way he gets all jealous and territorial, though, is really unnecessary. It doesn't help that he is also responsible for killing off half the universe. LOL.

3. "I don't feel so good" - So Marvel has been teasing us with death since the beginning. It was all leading to this. I expected someone big to die; someone that I actually care about. I managed to stay away from spoilers but I knew that Hawkeye was not featured in any promotion for the film, but his death was already teased in Age of Ultron and it didn't happen so I figured they wouldn't try that again. I also saw a ton of people saying that they were sad (some literally cried. Can you even imagine?) over the death(s) in this movie, which led me to believe it would be Captain America and/or Bucky (good fucking riddance..right?). I also saw the "I don't feel so good" memes but I didn't even realize they were Avengers related (I am so out of the loop with where memes come from, I thought it was just something else I didn't understand). The scene in which Iron Man is presumably killed is quite shocking. When it happened I honestly did get a bit choked up for a millisecond and then thought "wow they actually had the balls to kill Iron Man??! No fucking way! Go Marvel". Then OF COURSE it doesn't happen. Everything is completely wiped out by Doctor Strange saving him and then saying "it's the only way". MEANING it's the only way for all of humanity to survive. MEANING that all of the deaths in the end aren't really true. MEANING the whole movie is a waste of my fucking time. It's all going to be undone in the next one, so really what's the point? And why are people so upset about it? They aren't going to really kill off that many characters - they are making too much money on them. Let's be real.

Summer TV Preview: 4 New Shows to Watch

1. Take Two (ABC) - HELLO RACHEL BILSON!! It was a complete joke that her last show, Hart of Dixie lasted so long (76 episodes! Really? That's insane.). I just adore her so much that I will always support her new efforts (I think I lasted a full 7 episodes of Dixie). I don't really know anything about this show other than it's her and Eddie Cibrian and they solve crimes together (I think?).

2. American Woman (Paramount) - I still quote Clueless on a daily basis. Alicia Silverstone is a goddess, and I've missed her so much. The plot synopsis is that a "single woman struggles to raise her two daughters on her own", which is already a strong premise. I am interested in Paramount as a television network (they took over for Spike). I really liked their mini-series Waco (extremely problematic, but also very cinematic) that aired earlier this year.

3. Castle Rock (Hulu) - Stephen King. J.J. Abrams. Do I need to say anything else??? That's not even considering the cast: Sissy Spacek, Jane Levy, Terry O'Quinn. This is my most anticipated show of the summer.

4. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (Amazon) - I think I've said this before, but I've actually read several of the Jack Ryan stories. My grandmother was a huge Tom Clancy fan, so I would read at least one every summer. I enjoyed them. I enjoyed the movies that have been made based on the character (for the most part). I'm really excited for the tv show for one reason, though: John Krasinski.