Thoughts on 5 Films

1. 12 Strong - Very typical war film, but such an unbelievable (true) story. I feel like Chris Hemsworth is going to take all of the roles that Marky Mark is now too old for. It's very "Go America Go!", which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel a bit like Propaganda. There's a fairly large supporting cast, but all of them are unmemorable. Even my favorite, Michael Pena! I forgot he was even in the movie until I just looked up the cast (because I couldn't remember anyone else except for Chris). I don't think I like Chris with an American accent. He's not bad at it, but his natural accent definitely helps his screen presence. Without it, he's a bit dull. Also, I love that his real wife was in it - Elsa Pataky. She is stunning. Anyway, there's not much else to say about the movie. It's exactly what your expecting it to be. Nothing particular stands out in any way, except maybe that a modern war battle was fought using horses. That's fascinating (and true!). Also, on a side note, I think stories like this are extremely important right now. There is this whole backlash against masculinity (because people apparently can't tell the difference between "toxic masculinity" and "healthy masculinity"), but this masculine trait to be the "hero" is what drives people to such dangerous activities and it is absolutely necessary.

2. Boy Erased - Another extremely important and heartbreaking story, based on Garrard Conley's memoir about his time in Conversion Therapy. Directed by Joel Edgerton, who did a great job directing his debut, The Gift, I was very intrigued. Overall, I think this film is very good - mostly due to the wonderful acting performances by Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. And a very small, but very memorable scene from Joe Alwyn. I looked him up, because the performance was that good, and now I realize I recognize him as Taylor Swift's boyfriend (and apparently he was in Mary Queen of Scots, but I don't remember him because none of men were memorable). There's a bit of a twist with his character that I wasn't expecting that makes the whole story a bit more complicated - and is commentary on "toxic masculinity", in case you're confused. There is also, obvious commentary, on the role that religion plays in homophobia. I'm interested to read the book, because I feel like the film plays it a little safe. I just don't think it went deep enough. I also think it should have been more than an afterthought to expose the fact that the guy running the center is gay.

3. Booksmart - Honestly, this movie is a big disappointment for me. I was expecting something...so much more, based on all of the incredible reviews and my love of Superbad (it just might be my favorite comedy of all-time). I've been a fan of Olivia Wilde since The O.C., and I think it's super cool that she directed a movie that received so much critical acclaim. I'm glad others enjoyed it, but for me, it just wasn't very funny, or original, and it definitely didn't feel genuine. I was entertained, don't get me wrong, but mostly because of Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever (who is fantastic in Unbelievable. I'm on episode 5 and I am in love with it). Their chemistry is great, and is about the only genuine thing in the movie. The rest of it feels really forced - especially all of the supporting characters. Just really cliched, and the dialogue is cringe-worthy. I fully admit that I just might be too old for this type of movie, maybe this is how high schoolers act (which if true, the human race is in big trouble). The class of '99 is extremely different than the class of '19 (yes, my 20 year reunion was this year. I'm officially an old lady.), but we definitely had better high school movies (10 Things I Hate About You, Can't Hardly Wait, American Pie - absolute classics). Also, it's weird that a movie that epitomizes "woke" culture has teachers that are so predatory. How is that acceptable?

4. Us - I have such mixed feelings about this movie. It's simultaneously absolutely brilliant and ridiculously dumb. But, the originality of it, is what I appreciate most. It takes so much from other horror/suspense films (the biggest inspiration I felt was Invasion of the Body Snatchers), but is truly its own thing. Also, I thought about it for days afterwards, and that is always a good thing. I don't get scared very easily, but every time I closed my eyes I saw the image of Young Adelaide and it was honestly terrifying (kids are fucking creepy). Lupita Nyong'o is fabulous - it's rare for Horror to be recognized come awards time, but she is definitely deserving of some recognition (and Get Out was definitely loved, so their is hope for this). And, I will admit that Elisabeth Moss didn't bother me that much - she actually did a great job. I read a few articles about this movie afterwards to see how people felt about the last act, and it seems people were surprised by the last twist which is shocking to me. I feel like it is very obvious, particularly during the scene where Young Adelaide is at the therapists office. And I watched the film, with full knowledge of the twist. I wonder how my viewing would have been had I not figured it out so quickly? It's just weird to me that avid film viewers found the twist shocking. I sort of question their ability to analyze film, which I know is mean, but....really? You didn't see that coming??? Anyway, I definitely recommend this movie, it's one of my favorites of the year (but I've only seen like 20 movies from 2019. I'm sooooo behind), just go in with the knowledge that it's a bit stupid.

5. Stuber - I was in the mood for something dumb, so this was at the top of the list. Kumail Nanjiani is hilarious, and Dave Bautista proves to be really funny in the Guardians movies. It kind of reminds me of a more old-school type of comedy (like Rush Hour, Lethal Weapon, etc.), and sometimes that's exactly what you're in the mood for. It moves quickly, has a solid plot, funny dialogue, and likeable characters. My favorite scene is with Steve Howey - I don't know why, but I think he is hilarious and this was the perfect part for him (he's also my second favorite actor/character on the American Shameless, behind Lip, of course). I feel like they were setting up for a sequel with the way the film ended, but I don't think this did very well at the box office...? I would watch a sequel though. It's a shame that Karen Gillan didn't have a bigger role (it's also weird that she's in the biggest movies in the world and no-one in America would recognize her). The worst thing this movie has going for it is obviously the title. Who thought that was a good idea?

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Mary Queen of Scots - Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie are probably my two favorite young actresses. They have both done some incredible work and have made really interesting career choices. They both are phenomenal in this otherwise perfectly adequate film. The film is definitely more centered on Mary, but Robbie really shines as Queen Elizabeth I, it was definitely a more challenging role and she really went for it. I love Period Dramas, but I always have a problem discerning between background characters because everyone looks the same. Definitely a big problem in this movie - I couldn't figure out which character was on which side. I also tend to get confused when it comes to British Royalty and then I furiously google who everyone is instead of just focusing on what I'm watching. I also am really skeptical when it comes to how truthful these movies are because honestly so many plot points could be completely made up, and I wouldn't know the difference (like the scene where they beat her gay friend to death - looked it up and it seems to be partly true). Overall, I would recommend this movie (for the acting, alone), but if you're not into this type of movie then this will probably bore you to death.

2. Kong: Skull Island - Super fun Blockbuster movie. And, man, what a cast! Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston (weird to see them all together in a non-Marvel movie), Toby Kebbell, and the standout performance, John C. Reilly. His comedic timing really makes the movie. I also really love all the of 70s nostalgia feeling throughout. It's done really well, with a bit of grainy images mixed with modern special effects. It also, not so subtlety, gives several nods to "Heart of Darkness" (characters named Marlow and Conrad). The best part of the whole movie is Jackson's Jurassic Park reference with one of his most famous lines "Hold on to your butts!". I laughed so hard at that. There are a few minor issues that I had with this movie - the first, and most important, is that I rooted for all of them to die the second that they started shooting at Kong without provocation. Second, Toby should never do a Southern accent again. Third, it's about 20 minutes too long so it feels really bloated. It would have been so much more fun if they just trimmed a little bit here and there.

3. Mortal Engines - This world building could have been so great - the idea of mobile cities is actually really fantastic, but this movie is just....so boring and lifeless. The main girl (sorry, I'm too lazy to look up her name) is part of the problem. She looks a little like Alexis Bledel, and it's really disappointing that she's not. But then she also looks a little like Elle Fanning, and again, she's not. Instead, she's just there...with no screen presence at all. There's also the guy from Misfits (again, lazy), who is also extremely dull here. But the biggest surprise is Leila George - I did look her up while watching the movie, because she looks so much like Melissa George, and I thought that maybe they were sisters, but apparently they are of no relation (even though they both have the same last name, and are from Australia, and LOOK IDENTICAL. I mean, they just have to be related). Instead, I found out that she is the daughter of Vincent D'Onofrio and Gretta Scacchi (still so weird to see actors I grew up with having ADULT children. It makes me feel so old). And the biggest mind-blowing tidbit I learned about her is that she is dating Sean Penn. Again, Vincent D'Onofrio's DAUGHTER is dating Sean Penn. Hollywood is so weird. All of this information is more interesting than this movie, I promise. I lost the plot after an hour, and suddenly there were these weird skeleton Terminator type monsters and I have no idea why, nor do I care.

4. Fahrenheit 451 - I just don't think this works as a movie - there are just some books that need to be protected in our mind, and this is one of them. I've avoided watching the film version from the 60s for this exact reason, but this cast was just too intriguing - Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon are a winning combination. However, this film is just so dull, and I don't really see how that could have been avoided. I like that they updated the "future" to include virtual reality, digital copies of books, and that there is some really strong commentary on the problems with "PC culture" (being offended by works of art because they depict racism, sexism, etc. - it's all coming to a terrifying conclusion). I think they tried to make the film have a Blade Runner feel, but it feels like a knock-off and not in a good way. There are a few really strong scenes (the VR club scene comes to mind), but overall it feels like a made-for-television movie (which I think it is? This wasn't released into theaters, was it? It's hard to keep track nowadays).

5.  The Snowman - You guys, this is a terrible movie. BUT, not as terrible as I was led to believe. I mean, a 7% on Rotten Tomatoes is definitely an exaggeration. It's hard to watch the movie without thinking of all the "Mr. Policeman" snowman memes and laughing hysterically throughout, but it has a semi-interesting plot, a loaded cast (Fassbender, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rebecca Ferguson, Chloe Sevigny, J.K. Simmons, and Val Kilmer) and an overall mystery that isn't revealed until the end. Granted, the twist is actually terrible, but twists are often terrible in these types of movies. I'm assuming that the book is really good, and that the initial script was strong (otherwise how did it attract all of this talent??). The movie just dragged a lot, some bits were a bit ridiculous, and it's poorly edited. I was also really disturbed by Val Kilmer's performance, but then I looked him up and apparently he had throat cancer so they had to dub all of his dialogue. I'm not going to put any negative energy in his direction - dude's a legend and I hope he's feeling better soon.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Girl in the Spider's Web - Be prepared: the five movies in this post are all incredibly disappointing - for many different reasons. This one, mostly due to my intrigue over the casting of Claire Foy. I was not the biggest fan of Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (it was a good movie, but I found some of the praise a little ridiculous). I like Rooney Mara, but I didn't really believe her in the role. To cast Claire Foy is such a weird choice - it literally could not be more different than the role she is currently most famous for (Queen Elizabeth). She proves to be a very versatile actress, but I still don't believe her in the role - and for the exact same reasons that I didn't like Mara. The original Swedish version of Lisbeth was played by Noomi Rapace and she was very believable. But I think my main problem is that women are supposed to see Lisbeth as a role model, and that is excruciating to think about. Overall, this sequel is pretty dull and definitely not as beautiful to look at as the first (obvi), but there are some nice action sequences and there is some powerful stuff involving the complicated relationship with her sister (when her sister says "for sixteen years, you chose not to save me", I got chills). Otherwise, it just feels pointless.

2. Men in Black: International - From the reviews, I already prepared myself for disappointment with this one. Such a damn shame. Chris Hemsworth has comedic timing as proven in Thor: Ragnarok and Ghostbusters (omg I still think about him in that movie. Just downright hilarious.), but he is no Will Smith. And Tessa Thompson is just simply wonderful, but she is oddly stiff in this role. This movie lands with such a huge thud - it's just so...boring. It's really predictable, and it's not funny - like, AT ALL. I don't think I laughed once. Meanwhile, I still quote the original Men in Black on a regular basis (really, I just did my impression of "Edgar, yer skin is hangin' off yer bones" last week!). There are some cool visuals, and and some cool looking aliens, but otherwise there really isn't much to talk about. Oh, wait, now that I'm thinking about it - I was amused by Pawny, and Kumail Nanjiani does some fabulous voice-work. Pretty much stole the whole damn movie.

3. They Shall Not Grow Old - Not necessarily a disappointment, because I don't really like Documentaries, but the idea that Peter Jackson directed and he restored all of this original WWI footage is very intriguing. Reviews called it "ground-breaking", which was even more intriguing. It is amazing to see this footage so vividly, but ultimately it's just like EVERY other War Documentary. If you've never watched this type of film before, then this might be something to seek out. But I've seen sooooo many - my grandfather used to make me sit for hours watching them with him. Although, I always thought they were about WWII, but as a kid I probably wouldn't know the difference. I just remember being fascinated that this was something that actually happened. How do we, as humankind, ever think war is the only option? I also never understood why my grandfather was so obsessed with watching them, after having lived through it. But then again, my step-father is obsessed with watching footage of 9/11 (he is a WTC survivor). I guess it must be therapeutic in some way.

4. Billionaire Boys Club - How do you fuck up a movie with Taron Egerton and Ansel Egort? I remember this film circulating at least a decade ago (I believe with Ryan Phillippe attached. Or maybe Ryan Gosling. Definitely one of the Ryans). I never saw the original, and I never really heard the story. I'm surprised it hasn't been turned into one of those popular true crime series because it's a fascinating story, but this movie is just really bad. Ryan Murphy could have made this story into something really fantastic (and maybe he will!). This film kind of downplays their horrible crimes (they fucking murdered people!) and makes them seem like innocent "in over their heads" good boys. Are we supposed to feel bad for them? It's cute the studio pretended it flopped because of the Kevin Spacey controversy, but in reality they hid this movie as much as they could because it's TERRIBLE. These actors are LUCKY that no-one saw it. I adore Taron so I refuse to criticize him, but his American accent is....uneven. I just don't think role is right for him, in general. It's boring and cliched - there's no nuance. I will forgive him and Ansel for participating in this garbage (I mean, in theory this seems like a great project). Also, this is the first time I've ever seen Suki Waterhouse in something (aside from being arm candy to Bradley Cooper), and oooof this is a rough first impression.

5. The First Purge - I've enjoyed all of the Purge movies to some degree (the second one is my favorite - if I remember correctly. The Anarchy one with Frank Grillo and that really rad car). So, I wasn't expecting this to be as terrible as it is. I guess the origin story is the biggest question that needs to be answered, but I probably would have preferred to never have that answer. Probably because the answer is too dumb, and over-simplified (**spoiler** it's a government conspiracy to kill the poor people to solve over-population). It starts as an "experiment" and takes place on Staten Island. I feel bad for Staten Island because it's like the laughing stock of the tri-state area (even New Jersians make fun of it). I actually live really close to the island, but I've never been - it's probably not as bad as people say. According to this movie, it is the epicenter of gangs and violence - i.e the perfect place to make murder legal! I admit that I got really excited when I saw Melonie Diaz because she is such an under-rated actress and then I got really upset because I think she only has like one line in the entire movie!? How does this happen? How does an extremely talented actress like this get shafted, while someone like Suki Waterhouse is getting roles? It just doesn't make any sense. Anyway, I also don't understand why Marissa Tomei would agree to be in this? LOL. Anyway, this is just a really terrible movie. The others at least have a little bit of psychological horror, but this is just hollow. There's some commentary on racism that is relevant to today's political discourse, but the movie is too dull for any of it to be taken seriously.

4 Thoughts on The Emmys

1. The Host - OH WAIT...there was no host. What a terrible concept. I didn't read about this being a host-less event, so I'm not really sure why they decided to go that route, but it just makes no sense. You need someone to make the show move along and ENTERTAIN. There are only two reasons that people watch award shows: one, because they LOVE movies/television/pop culture and actually care about who wins, and/or two, because they love the host and want to be entertained. If one of those is missing, then there goes at least a third of the audience. This flat-lined from the second Homer Simpson appeared (oh Fox, never change).

2. The Winners & Losers - I don't have much to say about the winners - lots of talented people. I recently watched the first season of Fleabag and it's great (wouldn't have been my pick for so many awards, but it's still definitely deserving). I am, however, SUPER ecstatic about Jodie Comer (obvi!) and for Michelle Williams for Fosse/Verdon. I don't think Game of Thrones is the Best Drama of last year (or any year that it's been on), but I was expecting the win and I've come to terms with it. It's a good show, and it's very successful in a lot of ways. An Emmy send-off is appropriate. The only wins that really pissed me off were for Julia Garner for Ozark because she is the worst actress, in my opinion, and this will only make her appear in more things and I really just need for her to go away. And Ozark for directing. I mean, really Ozark shouldn't have even been nominated for anything considering the shows that are more worthy. It's even more absurd for it to win, but in both cases, I think it was a split vote with Game of Thrones (with multiple nominations within both categories), so it had to go to either Ozark or Killing Eve and voters clearly made the wrong choice.

3. The Show - The whole show was just a boring disaster. The presenters were boring, which made not having a host even worse. And don't get me started on Thomas Lennon as the "Emmy Commentator" - what the fuck were those random facts he was spewing out? Half of them didn't even make sense and none of them were interesting. The speeches were really, really boring. I know Michelle Williams is getting a lot of praise, but it was a super weird speech, to me. She basically makes a case for being difficult on-set (like see I was difficult, but people listened and now I have an award so you should listen to difficult women because they know what they are doing). That's just plain weird, right?! But at least she gave a memorable speech and I guess that's all people can hope for nowadays. I couldn't even tell you what anyone else even said. The whole show just felt like a really long ad for Fox tv shows (and FX and FXX).

4. The Fashion - This was the only success of the whole night! I don't think anyone looked like they belonged on the top of a wedding cake! There were still some questionable choices, like anyone wearing that God-awful red and pink combo (seriously?! There were like 5 people wearing this! This is always a fashion "no".) and whichever Kardashian was wearing the latex turtleneck. But, there were also some gorgeous gowns - my favorite is a tie between Michelle William's paisley embroidered Louis Vuitton number and Kristen Bell's beaded Dior dress (that would look so good on me! Someone buy it for me please!). I also thought Emilia Clarke looked stunning.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Rocketman - I absolutely LOVED it. I watched it 10 days ago, and I have thought about it every second of every day for the past 10 days. It just might be my favorite Biopic of all-time (big words, I know but I'm not a big fan of the genre - Milk was at the top of the list previously). First, I think it's genius to have the tagline "Based on a true fantasy", because that sets the tone from the beginning. It's a musical fantasy that utilizes Elton John's songs to tell his life story. Second, it's a bit weird to do a Biopic about a musical legend that's still...alive, but this movie gives a great case for how to make it work - getting John involved, it seemed so personal, so genuine, and so...real (even though it is a fantasy! The line that's straddled is so perfectly balanced). Third, the whole thing just made me incredibly happy - even in its darkest moments (maybe it's knowing that John doesn't, in fact, die of an overdose or by suicide helps). Fourth, it's just so beautifully choreographed - there are so many moments of sheer beauty. The scene that will stick with me forever is the suicide-hospital-Dodger Stadium scene. It's incredible. And Last, Taron Egerton, as Elton John, is the best casting decision of the fucking century. I remember watching Sing and hearing Egerton sing "I'm Still Standing" and thinking "wow! he sounds like Elton John, but also like his own version". That's exactly how I felt for this whole movie. He sounds just close enough to John, without sounding like parody. He also acted his ass off. It's Oscar-worthy material (and as much as it pains me to say, is my favorite performance this year replacing my precious James McAvoy in Glass). And, as I've mentioned probably a dozen times, Taron is fucking HOT as fuck. Even in the Elton John getup.

2. The Meg - I don't care, I will always be excited by a movie that has Jason Statham fighting a giant shark. I wish this was as fun as it was advertised, but it was actually a little bit boring. I don't really think it got interesting until the last 30 minutes (major shark attack carnage), but by that point I was already over it. Rainn Wilson as a billionaire is actually perfect casting. Everyone else (aside from Statham) was pretty forgettable (and I was hoping for their immediate deaths). Ruby Rose is really disappointing in this - she is almost robotic (I thought that maybe that was going to be some kind of big twist or something). She looked like a wet robot for the whole movie. I don't really have that much else to say. Watch Piranha instead.

3. Halloween (2018) - I don't know if I've ever written about my love for the original Halloween. I guess I just assume that it's a given. I should start with the fact that I was never really a Horror movie fan. I was never not not a fan, but there is definitely a Horror genre cult that I'm not a part of. I just enjoy good movies, in general, and sometimes it happens to be a horror movie. Typically, I only enjoy serial killer type horror movies (as opposed to supernatural). I didn't see the original Halloween until after I watched Scream (so '97-ish. I was 16-ish.). It was because I loved Scream so, so, so much that I began to seek out older horror films. Scream was really the first big horror movie that gave me nightmares (although when I was a kid, I had nightmares over Firestarter and from Tales from the Crypt). Scream also came out around the time I really started getting into films. So I loved watching Halloween and realizing how many filmmakers were influenced by it. Then, purely because of my age and my love for Josh Hartnett, I was obsessed with Halloween H20 (I mean, they even got Janet Leigh to cameo!). It's still probably my favorite of the sequels. Anyway, I was excited for this "official" sequel. I think it's weird to ignore all previous sequels, but hey, I guess anything goes nowadays. As a sequel, it's really strong. I'm excited for more. Jamie Lee Curtis is a fucking legend and I'm so proud to be named after her (there are conflicting stories about how I was named, but I always go with this one because it's cooler). But how on Earth did I not know that she's been married to Christopher Guest for the past 30 years??? Judy Greer as her daughter is fantastic casting (because I always love Judy Greer. More Judy Greer in movies please). Overall, the plot is just stupid - I mean, wouldn't she just get an actual safe room instead of booby trapping her house with those stupid metal bars? And she certainly would have gotten rid of those stupid closet doors! It's also not scary, like, at all, but it's fun to watch and sometimes that goes a long way.

4. Searching - Actually sort of brilliant. I didn't really recognize the brilliance behind it while watching it, but it's really stuck with me. The first 10 minutes almost made me burst into tears - Jesus Christ. But then, it turns into this really great story about a father trying to connect to his teenage daughter and realizing that he knows nothing about her. It's fascinating to think that a 16 year old has had their entire life documented online. Like from literal birth. It's a very simple story of a missing girl, but there is so much depth and accuracy in its story-telling within the age of social media. There are a few issues I have with the plot - *slight spoilers ahead* - like how they didn't look into the brother's texts or facetime messages earlier. However, the ending completely shocked me. It's all spelled out within the movie, but it's so subtle that when the ending is revealed I was just blown away by it. I would love to watch it again to make sure it holds up, but on first impressions, I think it does. Which is great! I hate when a big twist happens and you just know if you watch it again, the twist doesn't make any sense. John Cho does a really great job - my heart was just breaking for him through the whole movie. I highly recommend this movie.

5. Mary Poppins Returns - Just not my thing. However, I'm not really sure who the audience is exactly because I can't imagine kids enjoying this at all. It's just so boring and it feels really dated. And I'm about to say something really controversial, but I don't like Lin-Manuel Miranda. I don't really know much from him, and I know Hamilton is supposed to be the BEST MUSICAL EVER, but I never had any interest in watching it (honestly, looks horrendous to me). He's in this movie a whole lot, so it was really hard for me to watch. His voice just irks me. I tried to focus on Emily Blunt, because she's a queen. Imagine getting the call to play one of the most iconic characters of all time? Such an honor, but also incredibly stressful, I imagine. She did a wonderful job embodying the character, but also giving it her own touch. I loved the Dick Van Dyke cameo, I wished they got Julie Andrews. That would have been so lovely. The movie just didn't feel special enough. And I wanted to fast-forward through every song because, damn, those songs are rough.

Fall TV Preview: 6 New Shows to Watch

1. Unbelievable - This already premiered on Netflix a few days ago to rave reviews. I want to see it for two reasons, and two reasons only: Merritt Wever and Toni Collette. Just about two of the most interesting actresses around. I've also read great things about Kaitlyn Dever (I haven't seen Booksmart yet, but I recognize her from Justified and a few other bit parts). It's a very relevant (and true) story, but it doesn't really feel like anything I haven't already seen before so I'm interested to see this added "twist" that I've read about.

2. Batwoman - I've watched all of the CW DC shows (although I never got around to Black Lightning, is it any good?). The only one I completely gave up on was Legends of Tomorrow (which wasn't terrible, I just had too many shows to watch and it wasn't doing anything for me). I love Ruby Rose, but I feel like she's already above this show (like these shows should be saved for more newcomers in my opinion). She was a standout among a slew of fabulous actresses in Orange is the New Black. It's just an odd casting decision, in my opinion. But I guess we'll see!

3. Dublin Murders - I think this already came out in the UK because I remember seeing tweets about it months ago. I was intrigued just by the sheer amount of talk about it. It reminds me of The Killing which was hard to watch at points (because of the subject matter and the dreariness of it), but it's a show that has stuck with me far more than I ever expected.

4. Treadstone - I'm a big, big fan of the Bourne films. This is a wonderful idea, but I'm hesitant that it's on the USA network because that tends to be a network for fun summer shows - not serious dramas (yes, I think of Suits as a fun summer show, and yes, they've had ONE exception: Mr. Robot). The commercials have seemed a little expected and a little cheesy, but I'm still going to watch.

5. Watchmen - I literally could not be more excited. I've been trying to stay mostly in the dark, so I have no idea who is in the cast or where they are starting the story from. I don't need to know. I'm just hoping that it's as beautiful as the movie.

6. His Dark Materials - James McAvoy in another television series?! Dreams really do come true. Also, another fave of mine - Ruth Wilson. I don't know the story. I'm not sure if I saw The Golden Compass, but my initial gut is that I haven't. I've never really been a fan of the Science Fantasy genre, but....James McAvoy!

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot - Gus Van Sant has made some of my favorite films (Good Will Hunting, Milk), so I was really looking forward to this - especially since it stars Joaquin Phoenix. I didn't actually know what the movie was about (the director, star and title were enough to peak my interest), so I was pleasantly surprised that it's a Biographical film about the life of John Callahan (based on his book). Callahan's cartoons are hilariously inappropriate (my kind of humor!). Phoenix does a superb job, as usual, but the standout is (not) surprisingly Jonah Hill. I honestly didn't even recognize him until about 20 minutes into the movie and when I finally did I exclaimed out-loud "HOLY SHIT THAT'S JONAH HILL!" (I knew he was in the movie, but totally forgot when I went to watch it). It's a very typical "hippie-dippy" kind of character, but it's just so unexpected to cast Hill in that role. Overall, it's a forgettable movie which is a shame because it has a great cast, great characters and a great story arc, but it's missing something. I think it needed to decide what it wanted to be - whether it was this feel-good motivational story, or this eccentric tale of an eccentric man. It just played it too safe in my opinion.

2. High Life - My first Claire Denis film, and guess what? I absolutely hated it. It's just a mess of a movie, really. The plot is really dumb, the Sci-Fi aspect doesn't hold up at all, it's extremely slow moving and not in a good slow-burn sort of way, and worst of all - the critics just ate this shit up. The reviews I read are laughable (words like "masterpiece" are being thrown around so carelessly nowadays). The only positive thing I have to say about this movie, is that it is visually beautiful. There are a few shots that are stunning (one shot in the beginning actually made me gasp). However, this doesn't forgive the rest of the film for being complete and utter crap. I will also say that the acting is decent (that's a given with the cast involved - except Andre 3000. What the fuck is he doing in this movie?). The story would be good if they just focused on the main story instead of this weird psycho-sexual story they keep trying to enforce. I felt like that was thrown in to make it interesting, or dark, or something but it fails miserably.

3. BlacKkKlansman - Really great story - based on real events - that obviously resonates in today's climate. I don't think John David Washington really looks like his father (Denzel), but he sounds exactly like him and it is freaky! I became a big fan after that interview he did in which he praises his mother's achievements after being asked about his famous dad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4wOu4_XVMA). It's just so wonderful. I think Spike Lee did a great job in showing the similarities among the "opposite sides", and really made a strong statement in dedicating the film to Heather Heyer. I read that he received a lot of criticism among black activists for dedicating a film about racism and hatred to a white girl, but I think it works in relation to the movie. If you didn't receive that message, that both sides are inciting violence, then you weren't watching closely enough. Lee's point is that we need to start listening to each other, and inviting conversation instead of assuming things based on race (or occupation - as the main character is constantly being criticized for being a police officer, as if he is a "traitor" to his race). I appreciate that Lee is trying to create a dialogue that brings us together instead of creating a larger gap. I don't think the film is very memorable (compared to Lee's previous work - like Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing), but overall I enjoyed it. I'll concede that Adam Driver is getting stronger as an actor. I also really thought that was Steve Buscemi for a good half-hour, until I realized it was his brother. The only huge mistake that Lee made was casting Topher Grace as David Duke. I just can't take Topher seriously, ever, and this is a very serious role (one of the most dangerous men still inciting violence in our country).

4. Aquaman - Not good, but certainly not a bad movie. It's well made for what it is. Aquaman is probably my least favorite DC superhero, and having Jason Momoa in the role certainly doesn't help. I know a lot of women who love him, but I've never been into the muscle-y type men. However, I do LOVE Amber Heard (super huge girl-crush alert, and she looks soooo good with the red hair), and Nicole Kidman is such an unexpected choice. And then, to top it off - Patrick Wilson! What a great cast. Kidman's opening scene is probably the best scene in the whole movie. I loved watching her kick ass. The rest of the movie is just so-so. It does exactly what it sets out to do, so I can't really fault it. It's a very predictable superhero tale, although I was confused about the timeline (is is supposed to be before Justice League? I don't really remember that movie. I probably blacked it out.). I wish the visuals were better - I heard that this was "colorful" compared to other DC movies, but I found it incredibly bland visually. Some color would have been nice, especially for underwater scenes.

5. Widows - There's nothing wrong with this movie, but considering it's directed by Steve McQueen, I was incredibly disappointed. It just feels like Lifetime female revenge territory, so I wasn't surprised that it was co-written by Gillian Flynn (of Gone Girl fame - don't even get me started on that atrocity). Stunning cast, which is probably the only reason my interest was held - Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Michelle Rodriguez, Carrie Coon, and my favorite up-and-coming super-star, Elizabeth Debicki (who basically steals the whole movie). As with every McQueen movie, there is an absolutely STUNNING shot (the one that got me was the rap scene - the circular tracking is just sublime). I also was surprised by two different plot points (no, not the obvious "twist" - if that surprised you, then you weren't paying attention). The movie is far too long, and far too dull for my liking. Also, I think there were too many storylines at play, so all of the supporting characters weren't fleshed out enough - or could have been cut altogether without effecting the main story at all.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Avengers: Endgame - I've been up and down with the Marvel movies, and honestly, I think I'm just exhausted by all of them. I didn't even see this in the theater because I just couldn't gather that much energy to sit there for 3 hours to watch something that could have probably been condensed into the previous movie. I appreciate that they had a clear timeline for the story to play out and a plan for the evolution of these characters, it's revolutionary for film in general - to create, what, 20 movies? All connected and relevant to each other. History has been made. But as far as the actual movie goes...I'm not really the biggest fan. Everything was very expected - of course they were able to wipe everything away that happened in the previous movie (the snap) because it wouldn't be a very uplifting superhero story if they didn't. There were a lot of moments that made me groan, mostly the scenes that were added as fan service - like the one where all the female superheros take the spotlight (am I supposed to feel empowered that they were given a total of 3 seconds of screen-time together?LOL). I think the worst part for me was that this type of movie is made for someone with a good memory, and my memory sucks. I have no idea what happened 4 movies ago (honestly, I can barely remember what happened in this - and I watched it like 2 weeks ago). I probably would have enjoyed all the nostalgic bits of time travel if I remembered all the things I'm supposed to be nostalgic about. And, this may make me seem really cold, but I'm not emotionally attached enough to any of these characters to care if they actually die. At this point, I'm expecting it - I mean, fucking finally, right?!

2. Stronger - I thought I was going to cry, but I was able to hold strong. I think it's weird that two movies were already made about an event that happened just 6 years ago. This movie is very different than the Marky Mark one because it focuses on just one of the survivors (and his surrounding support system). Jake Gyllenhaal is definitely one of the best actors of his generation (which is my generation). There are no other actors in their 30s that have accomplished what he has, and the fact that he doesn't have at least 3 Oscars is unfathomable. He's only been nominated once! I count at least ten performances (including this one) that should have been nominated. Fuckin' TEN. That's insane! His Boston accent is spot-on in this, and the emotional depth of this performance is astounding. Tatiana Maslany is also really great (as expected if you've seen Orphan Black). I hope she has a huge career and that's she's not forgotten about. This story is really great, because it puts the focus on our need for "heroes" and what constitutes someone as a hero. He's seen as a hero, but all he did was simply survive. He was suddenly thrown in the spotlight, and expected to perform. It's quite tragic, really. It's amazing that he is able to keep his sense of humor and sarcasm, even during the worst situations. It's sad that they aren't a couple anymore (yes, I looked it up). I was rooting for them, and I don't root for many couples.

3. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum - I really enjoyed the first two and expected to love the third, especially with the strong reviews. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this one. I felt like the first two created a really strong world that lives within "our" world, but this felt like they went too far to live in any sort of realism. Also, I loved the scene with Halle Berry, but she hasn't been strong in anything since...Gothika? Has it really been that long? I really used to love her, and would even site her as one of my favorite actresses..but that was over 15 years ago. She was terrible in this - just so bland, and she seemed like she was reading off of cue cards. I just wish the scene was done with a different actress, because then I could say that it was truly great. The rest of the movie was exactly as expected- wonderfully crafted and choreographed fight scenes. It's a little disappointing that they still left the story open, room for a fourth movie. I'm over it. Enough is Enough. Also, a minor criticism, but as an animal lover - a big part of why this movie is so special - his fight to revenge the death of his dog, I despise the horse scene. Horses do not belong in NYC - and animal activists have been actively fighting against this for decades. It's tone deaf to have John Wick galloping through the city streets on a horse, I don't care how cool he looks.

4. Long Shot - Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron are definitely an odd pairing - and not because of looks. Because he's a stoner comedian actor and she's an Oscar nominated actress. I think it's definitely a societal problem when a super hot actress pairs up with a "normal" looking funny guy, and everyone goes "really...him?" (I've been guilty of it myself - see: January Jones and Jason Sudeikis - really, him???). It's insulting on many, often contradictory, levels. For one, to assume that a beautiful woman, like Charlize Theron, only cares about materialistic things (therefore, the man she dates must either be hot or rich, or both) is completely misogynistic. On a completely opposite spectrum - in order to look like Charlize Theron, it takes a lot of effort - from the designer clothes, to the constant skin care routine, etc. that women have to endure, and then they end up with "normal" guys, like Seth Rogen, who literally do nothing aside from getting out of bed and maybe showering. It's not really that far out of line to think that maybe she deserves better? I'm just throwing out some thoughts in my head, but it's all sort of fascinating to think about this pairing. Anyway, the movie isn't as deep as the thoughts in my head, as it doesn't really need to be. It's a dumb comedy, that's actually pretty funny. Rogen always makes me laugh, but I wasn't expecting the spot-on comedic timing from Theron. She's actually hilarious and it felt genuine - like she wasn't even trying too hard to be that funny. Which just makes me love her even more. 

5. Robin Hood (2018) - Completely unnecessary, but I will watch literally anything with Taron Egerton. Literally ANYTHING. I actually don't think I've ever watched a Robin Hood movie aside from the animated one with the fox that I watched when I was a child. I don't even know how many there are, but there is only so much you can do with the story. I think a modern version - should be just that - modern. This just feels redundant and boring - even as it's announced in the beginning that you need to forget "what you think you know", as if this movie is going to tell you something completely different (*spoiler* it doesn't). The only thing that shocked me was that the super hot guy from The Fall shows up so I had the privilege of oggling not one, but TWO super hot guys for two hours. I was also pretty surprised at Jamie Foxx's over-acting. He's usually consistently strong, but he's definitely the worst actor in this. They did do a sort of twisty ending (that I think is pretty predictable, but I still appreciated it), but other than that I think it's pretty dull. If it didn't have two hot guys to stare at, I probably would have fallen asleep or gotten up to clean and kept it as background noise.

Thoughts on 5 New Shows

I know that I'm behind on pretty much all entertainment, but I've been able to catch up a little bit this summer. Here are my thoughts on some new shows (and by 'new', I mean shows that have only been on for one season so far). 

1. Homecoming - Absolutely blew me away. My expectations were pretty high - considering how much I loved the first season of Mr. Robot and I adore Julia Roberts. It's stylized just like Mr. Robot - the quick editing, the anxiety inducing music, the character introduction and development, etc. and in my personal opinion, this style is groundbreaking for television. I hate to call Julia Roberts under-rated, but I think people rate her more for her "celebrity" than for her acting, but she is a fantastic actress - consistently great. I love Sam Esmail - he's relatively young (compared to his counterparts), but he has a really strong vision and voice. He's also from Jersey! (I've now succumbed to the fact that I can no longer call myself a New Yorker, so I have to support my Jersey people). He's also creating a very talented support system (similar to JJ Abrams - who still uses actors from his Felicity days). I love seeing Bobby Cannavale (he was also in Mr. Robot) and Jeremy Allen White (he's my favorite character, Lip, on Shameless along with Esmail's wife, Emmy Rossum). I hope he's in more of Esmail's stuff (or in just more in general, he's great). Anyway, if you liked the first season of Mr. Robot you will like this, guaranteed. But I hope it doesn't go the way of the rest of Mr. Robot because that show went down fast (it should have been a mini-series or maybe just 2 seasons max). 

2. Narcos: Mexico - I don't have the fondest memories of Mexico from when I was a kid (we lived very close the Mexican border), and this is set during the same time (early 80s), so I have to sort of disconnect a little bit from the story. But, overall it's a very good show. I prefer the regular Narcos, over this, but I do love Michael Pena so much - I will watch anything he is in. I stopped myself from looking up what happens to his character (it's all based on true stuff) and I'm glad that I stayed mostly in the dark. It blows my mind that during the regular Narcos I was convinced that Dermot Mulroney was the narrator (but he wasn't) and then I thought for sure that it was him again in this (and it's not! You can look up who it is, but it might spoil it a little bit because that's what I did, and then I figured out how the story will play out). Oh and speaking of Dermot, he's briefly in Homecoming in scenes with Julia Roberts and it made me so happy (big fan of My Best Friend's Wedding. BIG FAN.). I'm really interested in how season two will play out (trying realllllly hard not to look it up...). 

3. The Boys - So. Dark. But. So. Much. Fun. I love Karl Urban - and this is the perfect role for him. I wasn't so sure about the rest of the cast (mostly newcomers...and Chase Crawford lol), but they all grew on me. It's a great plot - turning the whole superhero phenomenon on its ass and making them "the bad guys" is really brilliant. There are some really inappropriate moments that I find HILARIOUS (the dolphin scene is going to go down in History as one of the funniest inappropriate scenes of all-time). There's a lot of modern "woke" tropes used, but also flipped on its ass - like the "Me Too" movement, the responsibility of the media and journalism, and abuse of power. There is a really good camaraderie among "the boys" - they don't really like each other, but they rely on each other. Also, the best part of the whole thing??? ELISABETH freakin' SHOE. I can't even explain to you how much I love her. I had Adventures in Babysitting on VHS and I used to watch it over and over and over again. At the time, I thought I wanted to be Chris, but when I grew up I realized that I had a super huge crush on her (probably my first crush, at least that I can remember). Anyway, I'm so happy that she's in this. It's nice to see her in something substantial (and I still have a super huge crush on her). 

4. Russian Doll - I wasn't really looking forward to watching this - I kind of hate the whole repetitive storyline (I was never a fan of Groundhog Day. SUE ME!). But! This show is absolutely wonderful. It's so funny, and weird, and unexpected, and dark, and hopeful. I just loved watching every second - even the repetitive stuff. It's so nice to see Natasha Lyonne starring in something (I know she's in Orange is the New Black - and she is awesome in it, but there are like 40 other actors on that show). Slums of Beverly Hills had a profound effect on me when I was a teenager. Lyonne is wonderful and hilarious in this show (but I wouldn't really call it Emmy worthy, I think Lyonne is just like this in real life. I feel like this part was written with her in mind? I'm not sure, but that's my theory. Otherwise, it's some brilliant casting decision.). The show has a really interesting and surprising narrative that I don't think anyone will expect. Plus, the episodes are really short so it's very easy to binge. 

5. Good Omens - This wasn't even on my list of things to watch, but everyone seemed to be talking about it, and David Tennant is always a reason to watch a show. Also, I'm like really late to the Neil Gaiman party. I didn't realize how many stories he has written (that were turned into movies that I love), I recently read "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" (it's beautiful) as my first introduction into his writing. I have "American Gods" on my list next (I like the show, but I don't love it...). Anyway, his stories have a lot of religious themes, but not in a preachy way - more like a mythological, fantasy way and I am definitely here for it. Good Omens is really good, but it's not as great as some were making it out to be. The banter between Tennant and Michael Sheen is really fun, but I did get a little bored during some episodes. I also felt like it became a little repetitive - like, get on with the story please. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. All the Money in the World - Not a movie that I will necessarily remember 5 years from now, but I was entertained while watching it. I remember all of the controversy surrounding it (Kevin Spacey being replaced & Michelle Williams not getting the same pay as Marky Mark for reshoots), but I don't remember hearing anything about the actual movie (which is a huge problem with film critics today). This story is incredibly interesting, especially because only very few know what actually happened, so we just have to trust their version of events even though there are so many rumors of the events happening differently. The Getty family is is one of those Untouchable One-Percenters (just like The Kennedys or The Waltons - they have some super sketchy dark history, but none have been held accountable - and the truth will likely never come out). It's weird to me that Balthazar Getty (from Brothers & Sisters) is one of the Gettys (I only learned that like a year ago). Anyway, I liked this movie - the acting is great, the story is obviously intriguing, but I do think the editing could have been a little tighter. They only touched lightly on the fact that The Getty kidnapping could have been a setup - and I think that is the far more interesting version. I'm now interested in watching the mini-series that came out last year, because I think they tell the other version of events.

2. The 15:17 to Paris - Honestly, this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I know that seems dramatic, but I would put it up there with Movie 43 and The Happening. This is a great lesson on how essential actors are to a film. I think people have this misconception that anyone can be an actor, but it does actually take a talent that not many people have. Also, they stayed true to the story - including the dialogue that occurred leading up to the event - and this is another lesson on why writers are so important, even for something that is a true story. You still need a writer to make it...interesting. The dialogue between these guys was so lifeless and it almost seems like a parody of how "dude bros" talk. It's absolutely crazy to me that an established director (Clint Eastwood for fuck sake!!) would watch the footage of this and think that he actually made a watchable film. The third lesson that one can take away from this movie is that not everyone deserves to have a film made about them. These guys are heroes - nobody can question that. It's fact. But their lives leading up to this point isn't very interesting. And the actual event lasted mere minutes, so stretching it all just feels bloated. In order for this to be an interesting film - there needed to be layers, different perspectives, actual actors, better dialogue - so pretty much change the whole thing or...go back in time and just don't make it.

3. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile - Lifetime movie material. I think that a lot of Netflix originals have a Lifetime movie vibe, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's just different from a movie that should be released in a theater (not like I even go to the theater anymore, but still...my point stands). I'm a big fan of Zac Efron, and he got mostly rave reviews for this, but I would rather see him in comedies. He's not great at the dramatic stuff, in my opinion. I can see why he was cast though - charming little fucker. I think the film got a lot of flack for "idolizing" a serial killer, but Ted Bundy was also a charming little fucker, so it's historically accurate. It's how he was able to get away with murdering women for so long - and I think it's essential for young women to watch stories like this. I'm always a bit skeptical of men that are too charming (in real life, actors are different - like James McAvoy is charming with a Capital C, but he is paid to be that way). I feel like I can see the hate in their heart and it is terrifying. Luckily, I don't think we have to worry (as much) about serial killers, like they did back then. I recently read the late Michelle McNamara's book about the Golden State Killer and it was chilling to realize how prominent serial killers were back in the 70s (thank God for modern science!). I don't know much about Ted Bundy, but did he really escape from jail....TWICE?! What the fuck were they doing back then? The supporting cast is great - Lily Collins, John Malkovich, the woman from Westworld, and one of my favorite young actresses - Kaya Scodelario, rocking a wig only she could make work. I think that it could have been a much darker story - it felt very light for a movie about a serial killer. I did appreciate that it didn't go into too much of the horrific way he murdered women - it was a told from a different perspective (mostly from his long-time girlfriend - someone who didn't know how evil he was).

4. Suspiria - I have not seen the original (I'm a bad cinephile! And I don't give a fuck...). This version didn't really make me want to seek out the original. Although, it did hold my interest. It's weird and beautiful and dark, and that combination always makes great visual storytelling. I just think the "weird" becomes a little bit too much, and it's just overwhelming to keep up with the "what lies beneath" story. There is a scene that will stay with me forever (the scene). It's like nothing I've ever seen before (like if you take the scene from Hereditary and multiply it by a hundred). I actually had to look away from the screen, and that's not something I have to do very often. I'm not a big fan of Thom Yorke (I actually hate Radiohead. I was an outcast among my friends in high school for this stance, but his voice just gives me an instant headache), so the music really bothered me. I had a few other issues with this movie - I hate the old age makeup - Tilda Swinton can pull off a lot, but this is just ridiculous. I also think Dakota Johnson is not the greatest actress (I haven't written her off completely just yet, but she needs to step it up!). The editing is really where this film falters though, if it was just a little bit tighter and more concise - I would have been able to put up with the "weirdness" of it all. Instead, I got bored real quick.

5. Vice - I was one of those people that absolutely LOVED The Big Short. I understood the criticism of it, but it totally worked for me (I also adored Moneyball). I liked this movie - not as much as I was hoping to, but it still totally worked for me. This is the kind of editing that I can get behind - it's quick, it's concise, every scene feels important to the story. The acting is obviously brilliant - you can't get better than Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Sam Rockwell - three of the strongest working actors today. The story would be great if it weren't true, but man, does the truth fucking hurt. It's a great time to tell this story (even though it feels like it happened yesterday) because it's very relevant to what is happening with the presidency now. We have a Dick Cheney multiplied by ten as our sitting president and that should terrify everyone (but he still has supporters! which terrifies me even more). Cheney was a complicated man - I always thought it was interesting that he has a gay daughter, but is a strict republican. The whole family is a big oxymoron - such strong female figures who are also republicans. Conservative feminists fascinate me (although do they even consider themselves feminists? I don't think they like to use that word, even though I'm sure they believe in equal rights and equal pay for women. So what do they call themselves?). Anyway, Lynne Cheney is a fascinating woman (and LOL at her saying "we wear our bras!", did that actually happen? It made me laugh for like an hour). It's really sad that Liz Cheney chose her political career over supporting her sister (and really questions what she actually thinks vs her just playing to her "base". What a bunch of fucking liars, the lot of them. Democrats, Republicans, doesn't really matter - all a bunch of fucking liars just playing to their "base").