Thoughts on 5 New TV Shows

1. Calls - Not something that I expected to enjoy as much as I did. I saw the cast list, not knowing anything else about it - but once I started watching it, I was instantly put off by the fact that it's all phone calls, which means you never actually see any of the actors. I have such a hard time with this concept because listening to people talk without any visuals gives me a headache - I can't listen to podcasts, or audiobooks, or talk radio, and it's really hard for me to talk on the phone. I just have to have something for my eyes to focus on. So, for this, I really spent a lot of energy watching the sound waves that flow as the conversations take place throughout each episode and it definitely helps (as in, I didn't get a headache). The imagery becomes really mesmerizing. But, it's really the intensity of each "call" that holds it all together. The way it starts off so intense, but still increases that intensity throughout the series is just really spectacular and quite chilling. It's amazing how such short conversations (they are all less than 20 minutes each, I think) can convey so much. And I really love how the story all comes together in a really unexpected but completely coherent way. It's just put together really well. 

2. Mare of Easttown - There's still one more episode left (that I think airs tomorrow night?), but overall, this mini-series is very solid. I have to admit, though, I was not sold after the first episode. I heard a lot about it before I started watching it, but after the first episode I was sort of left with this feeling of "is that it?". I didn't really connect with any of the characters, and I thought the acting was a bit rough (yes, even Kate Winslet). It all just felt really forced. But then after the second episode, I felt like it found its groove and everyone seemed to be a little bit more comfortable in their roles. They created a really strong character study within this murder mystery story. There's a lot of little intricate details that I really love. I'm still not sold on Winslet in the role - in one scene, she'll give the performance of a lifetime, then the next she'll sound like a cartoon version of a tough detective. Evan Peters makes the show for me. What a snack. It's totally the character and haircut, because I've seen him in multiple things and have never been attracted to him before, but he is yummy in this. I like that they spend each episode convincing you that you *know* who the killer is, and then they drop a bomb at the end of the episode that kills every theory. I'm still going with my gut (which is one of the earlier theories). Ok, now enough of my thoughts on the show - let's discuss *that* moment in episode 5 because I can't just ignore it. ***HUGE SPOILER ALERT*** Was killing off the best character really necessary? I had a feeling something bad was going to happen because I saw a few twitter reactions that were upset and I feel like he's the only person that people would be upset about (or Jean Smart because she's awesome - always and forever). But I was not expecting it to be so sudden. So emotionless. So definitive. I hate it. 

3. The Underground Railroad - I've watched the first two episodes and I'm intrigued. I think the first episode moves a little slow and it feels like every other project about slavery. But, then the end shows the exploration and imagination that is exciting to witness. Then the second episode really takes it to another level. Barry Jenkins is really doing something special here. I liked Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, but not as much as everyone else seems to. But Jenkins is an exciting voice in the industry right now, and I'm interested in seeing what he accomplishes with this. Based on the 2016 novel, it's an alternate history type story that (so far) imagines an actual train that transports slaves towards freedom. I think it's important to continue to tell these stories that exemplify the harrowing history of slavery - I think younger people engage far more with films/tv than they do with books (I'm not saying that's a good thing...). I remember as kid being horrified by Roots, Mississippi Burning and Amistad - and I think I learned a lot more by these projects than by what I was taught in school. I also appreciate that Jenkins is actively trying to avoid the "torture porn" aspect that occurs when depicting slavery. I know it's difficult, but you can show the consequences and aftermath of a violent tragedy without showing the actual violence. I think it all depends on the project and the intent, but in this case, I think the implications are far more effective. Especially with such a strong lead actress - Thuso Mbedu is a star. She conveys everything that's needed for the scene. I think my only criticism of the series so far is the jarring music that plays during the credits. It doesn't fit the series at all. 

4. Halston - I'm only a few episodes in and it's exactly as expected - I can't wait for Ryan Murphy to actually surprise me like he used to, but this is not it. It's exactly what you expect from a Murphy production about a famous fashion designer and his famous friends. Ewan McGregor is satisfying in the role of Halston (admittedly, I don't know much about him which is embarrassing because I work in fashion retail, and am fairly knowledgeable about the topic. But I find myself watching this and going "holy shit, did Halston invent the use of ultrasuede in fashion?", "Did Halston make Kaftans cool?" and, honestly, if I were rich and famous I would wear every single one of his designs). But THE reason to watch this is simple: Krysta Rodriguez as Liza Minnelli is mind-blowing. She's so good - and I feel like Minnelli is such a strong personality that it's really easy to over-do it. But she doesn't. There is something about the performance that is very understated, delicate, but then bursts with energy when she's on stage. It's really beautiful. I can't say that anything else about the show has really stood out, but if you are an acting enthusiast, I highly recommend watching this for this performance alone. 

5. Tell Me Your Secrets - Such a trashy show, but I was highly entertained for the whole thing. I put it on more as background noise while I painted and redecorated my den (turned it into a game/media room), but I found myself fully engaged with the story which I wasn't expecting. The cast definitely elevates it - Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, Hamish Linklater, etc. all keep the story flowing, the tension thriving. I quite like the story arc for each character - all have moments where you root for them fully, but then you are are also left questioning which ones are actually evil people (all of them?). I think it's expected that there is a twist, but the twist in this actually makes sense and is really strong which is unexpected for a series like this. Overall, it's not something I would recommend to everyone - but if you like Lifetime movies/tv shows, then you will probably like this. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Stowaway - I like this movie even though it wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a bit more...sinister, I guess. I kept waiting for something evil to happen; some big twist that changed everything. But instead it's a very quiet, slow-burn story about sacrifice. It's weird because I felt disappointed and a little bored while watching it, but after it was over it stayed with me, and the more I thought about it, the more I like it. I do think that some of the acting is a bit questionable (I like Anna Kendrick in some things, but definitely not dramatic roles), but both Toni Collette and Daniel Dae Kim shine as expected. The biggest fault that I have with the movie is something that I don't usually complain about, but the music is way too overwhelming. It is just so oddly noticeable and it outweighs every scene. I also think that there is this expectation that it should be a bit more "sci-fi" in its story-telling, but instead it's a "drama set in space". Once you wrap your head around that, I think it's a very strong movie. There's a lot of depth and thought put into the moral dilemma that is the heart of the story. 

2. Uncle Frank - I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Written and Directed by Alan Ball (which could go either way for me because Six Feet Under is my favorite show ever, but I absolutely loathe True Blood), featuring a stellar performance from Paul Bettany, I think it encapsulates a relatable tale of self-loathing, guilt, and family dysfunction very well. It also feels very realistically in its time - set in the early 70s, it never feels over-the-top in its styling. There are a lot of small moments that will stay with me - like when his aunt very sweetly said "you're all going to Hell, you know" after finding out that he's gay. It reminded me of when my boyfriend's very religious, very Cuban grandmother came to his gay brother's wedding and we all remarked how well she was handling things, and then she came up to my boyfriend and in the sweetest voice said "I guess I only have one grandson now". It was jarring because she didn't say it in a hateful way, just a matter-of-fact. Anyway, I think a lot of people can relate to this, even if it is a story from almost 50 years ago (how devastating is that to process?). 

3. The Woman in the Window - I've said it before, but I don't think Joe Wright will ever do anything as stunning as the first half of Atonement, but I have hope every time I hear of a new project. You seemingly can't go wrong with Amy Adams and Julianne Moore in a Rear Window inspired story with a fittingly Hitchcockian style. But somehow this goes just so wrong. It's somewhere between serious drama and hilariously camp, but I'm not quite sure which one it's supposed to be. It's also extremely Obvious with a capital O. If you didn't figure out every twist within the first 40 minutes, then hopefully it's because you just lost interest in the plot. The biggest surprise for me is that it's Anthony Mackie that she's married to! His voice is featured in the beginning, and I recognized it but I couldn't place it. It's weird that him and Wyatt Russell are in a movie together (two Captain Americas in one movie?? It would have been hilarious if Chris Evans had a quick cameo for shits and giggles). I wasn't that bothered by the movie until the end. I thought it was "fine" until the "reveal" of who the killer is (which is already Obvious) and then they overly explain everything and is just flat out insane - it reminds me of the killer reveal in the first Scream movie, but that was supposed to be camp and hilarious. The tone of this is just wildly inconsistent. But it's beautifully shot, because of course it is. Also, the whole thing could have just been avoided if people had WINDOW COVERINGS. They are like "stop watching our house or I'll call the police!", ummmmm just cover your fucking windows. Just so dumb. 

4. Those Who Wish Me Dead - I think this is a solid little thriller - very much in the same vein as The Client (UGH I LOVE The Client so much - still quote the line "I don't want a laaaawyer, I said I neeeed a laaaawyer" pretty regularly, and no, nobody ever gets it). And I really missed movie star Angelina Jolie. I think the only projects she's done recently are the Maleficent movies, right? And she was excellent in them. I don't know when it became cool to hate her, but I think she's great. She's wonderful in this, but surprisingly takes a backseat to an ass-kicking pregnant woman. Her name is Medina Senghore and I'm pretty sure this is the only thing I've ever seen her in, and HOLY SHIT she is awesome. I absolutely love that she does not fall into the cliche of the innocent victim. Outshining Angelina Jolie seems like an impossible thing to do, but she fucking does it. I also really like the chemistry/comradery between Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult. I would love a spin-off tale featuring these two assassins - like a prequel that shows how they got partnered together. I just really liked this whole thing; there isn't necessarily anything special about it, but it's extremely watchable and interesting with fully engaging characters and tension. Sometimes that's all that's necessary. Also, what a great title. 

5. The Personal History of David Copperfield - I think my expectations were just a little too high for this - I read a few really good things about it (it has a 92% critic score on RT!), but overall I think it's just "ok". It's a satisfying re-telling of David Copperfield, but there's nothing particularly memorable about it. I think they realized that the story is just really...boring (I don't mean that in a mean way, just that it's such a classic story, it's hard to make it feel modern and interesting again), so they do these odd scenes to spruce it up a bit (like the fast-forwarded "to the theater!" scene), but it didn't really work at grabbing my attention. Dev Patel is charming enough and it took me the whole movie to recognize Morfydd Clark (from Saint Maud! What an incredible performance), but the rest of the cast seems wasted to me. I also feel like the way critics described it as "whimsical", "energetic" and "sharp-witted", I thought it was going to be more like the style of the apple+ show Dickinson, which is a brilliant show, and this pales in comparison. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Without Remorse - *spoilers* Truly the epitome of a forgettable, mediocre action thriller. I *think* that I've read this book because the plot seems very familiar, but it could also be that it's just so generic that it feels that way. I like Michael B. Jordan (a whole lot), but I think he's been miscast lately (I hated him in Black Panther - like it genuinely makes me angry to think about). I think he's one of those actors who gained popularity very quickly and they just put him in everything without any regard to if he's actually right for the role. I also, suddenly, really like Jamie Bell. I watched Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool a few days before this movie and I almost fell in love (it was the dancing bit that did it. Help!). But his character is way too obvious as "the bad guy" that you obviously know that he's not "the bad guy", and then Guy Pearce shows up and you're like "obviously he's the bad guy because...duh". It's all just so...unoriginal. And I actually laughed out loud when the one guy in the beginning got hit by the van, and I'm certain that it wasn't supposed to be funny. And I cheered when Volchok dies because fuck that guy (poor Cam Gigandet will never overcome his O.C. fame, for me at least). It's just never a good sign when you're rooting for pretty much everyone to die. There is also no real sense of time, which is always frustrating for me. It would have taken him years to recover from those kinds of bullet wounds, but it seems like he's ready for action within a months time. They were definitely trying to set up a new franchise with this, akin to the Bourne movies, but they did a really poor job. It will likely be among my worst films of 2021. 

2. The Mitchells vs. The Machines - What an unexpected delightful surprise of a movie. It's just wonderful. It's not only just a super cute, family friendly film; it's also genuinely funny with so many visual gags and jokes (the kind where you end up missing the next joke because you're laughing so hard at a previous joke). I'm considering a rewatch, but it is unnecessarily a full two hours long. And, yup, I'm still that person that complains about runtimes, but it will always frustrate me when something should have been shorter and is stretched out. It would have only benefited the story to tell it in a slightly more concise way - and there is definitely some nonsense in this that could have been cut. But that's really the only fault I can find - otherwise it's pretty perfect. My favorite gag is probably the scene where everyone loses their wifi and chaos ensues, but also the furby scene had me crying with laughter. The other hugely positive aspect is that it's a nice step forward in representation, but it never feels forced. I highly recommend it; definitely the best animated movie that I've seen in a long time. It will likely make my Best of 2021 list, but it's obviously super early for that. 

3. The Nest - So I started finally watching the Young Pope show and I hate it but it forced me into a Jude Law spiral (I've been here before like 15 years ago...). He's another one of those actors that is just consistently overlooked, but always good (he does have 2 Oscar nominations under his belt, at least, which is more than some actors of his same caliber). And the show isn't bad, necessarily, but it's just really not my thing. It is really stunningly beautiful, though. Anyway, I was excited about this movie because it's him and Carrie Coon, who is also an incredible actress. They have great chemistry together, the story is really strong, and I love how quiet and subtle it is. It's also a really believable struggle that happens within a marriage - there's this pressure on men to not only "provide" for their family, but to also constantly have "more", causing so many people to live above their means and it's so scary to watch it all fall apart. There are so many moments that will live in my memory forever, and that happens so rarely now. Like the moment when he tells the taxi driver "I had a million dollars once". Can you even imagine having that much money and spending it all just to show off? It reminds me of this woman that I met a few years back when I was telling her about traveling to London and how I was planning a trip to Iceland and she said "I wish I had money to do stuff like that", while wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels matching diamond necklace, earrings and bracelet (the necklace alone cost $15k, yes, you read that right), a Louis Vuitton handbag, and a gigantic diamond engagement ring. Not to mention her hair, nails and tan were all professionally done. I added up how much she was literally worth in that moment and I guestimate that it was about 60k. We were at a very fancy dinner, to be fair, but I highly doubt my worth even broke a thousand. And yet she doesn't have money to travel?? It's just weird what people prioritize. Anyway, sidetracked, but my point is that I feel like this movie is unfortunately very realistic. I also loved Carrie Coon's whole vibe - the way she calls him on his shit - it's just perfect. I did not need to ever see how they bury a horse, but other than that I enjoyed this movie very much. 

4. The Midnight Sky - *spoilers* I knew Clooney was in this, but I didn't realize that he directed it, too. I was actually interested by that because I feel like his previous directorial efforts were very much just copies of the Coen brothers, but with this sci-fi drama it seemed like he had to break away from that mold. And he does - it's very quiet and it's beautifully realized, but unfortunately it's....soooo...boring. And it makes me seriously sad to see how old Clooney is now. My best friend in high school was OBSESSED with him back in the 90s. We used to watch episodes of E.R. on repeat and that movie with Michelle Pfeiffer - One Fine Day, which I actually remember liking. I wonder if it holds up? Anyway, he was old then (like waaaay too old for her at the time), but now...it's just...like I feel exhausted just looking at him. But, anyway, back to the movie. I liked most of the bits with the group, but I felt like the timeline was really jumbled - none of it flowed smoothly. The bits with George were just painful to get through - it's obvious that the little girl doesn't exist, and it's obvious that he's projecting his own guilt etc. But, again, some of it is really beautiful and just downright cool for a space movie. I feel like Clooney did something really personal, which is always appreciated. I just wish it had more of an interesting hook that moved quicker. Or at least, had some interesting characters to care about? I don't know...it's just missing something. Felicity Jones, though, delightful as always. 

5. Monster - I jumped on the Kelvin Harrison Jr. train last year and I never looked back. He's so good, and severely underrated. I've been waiting for this movie to be released because it was just sitting on the IMDB page without any updates for what seemed like months. Technically released in 2018 (at Sundance), it's wild to me that it took 3 years for this to see the light of day. I usually follow the "technical" release dates (for the U.S), but I'm going to count this as a 2021 film since there has been no way for a general audience to see it at all until now. Overall, it's not great, but there are things about it that I like. Specifically, I really love how grey the movie is - it's kind of a morality tale, but it has a lot of complicated pieces. Also, the performances definitely elevate it. John David Washington is in it too, and I've been up and down with his performances, but he's strong here. I was actually looking down when he first appeared and I legitimately thought it was Denzel. They just sound identical, it's so crazy to me. I have a mini crush on Kelvin, even though I know he's too young for me (born in the 90s...), but his youth was really drilled into me having Jennifer Hudson, who is my age, play his MOTHER. I also think the ending is wonderfully unexpected. But, as much as I did like in this movie, there are equally things that I didn't like - the VO is absolutely unnecessary and a bit overdone. I also think the story is fantastic, but they just didn't make it as interesting as it should have been. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Most Wanted (FYI: apparently in most places, this movie is called Target Number One) - I watched this movie for Josh Hartnett (obvi); I am really he makes a big comeback. I think I liked this movie, but I watched it a few weeks ago and I am struggling to remember it, so that's never a good sign. The story is a little bit "been there, done that" territory - journalist investigates a cover-up, but I like the way it is told a little bit out of order. But it definitely could have been told within a 90 minute time-frame and it would have been far more intense. The best part of the movie is Antoine Olivier Pilon - he does an incredible job, plus, bonus, he's such a cutie! Especially when he's dancing around to "Respect" (Sadly, he was born in the 90s which means he's too young for me. And before you ask, my love, Taron Egerton was born in 89 so he makes the cut...just barely). Anyway, that's all I got. It reminded me of that Jeremy Renner movie (I think it was called The Messenger?) - not in plot, but just the way if feels dated but it's still a well-told story. 

2. Lost Girls & Love Hotels - I LOVE Alexandra Daddario and I've been bitching for her to do something that doesn't rely on her looks, but sadly this isn't it. I mean, she doesn't run around in a wet t-shirt in this and the role is a lot darker than her previous characters, but she still gets naked (again, not complaining, I just feel like she can do more). Plus, it's really weird that she doesn't show her tits through the whole movie - even noticeably hides them during sex scenes, only for her to show them in the end. It felt like a reward for sitting through this shitty movie, and that is even more objectifying than anything else she's done. This movie is basically Lost in Translation mixed with 50 Shades of Grey, which is certainly not *my* thing, but it's definitely someone's (?). I think this whole movie can be boiled down to the scene at the end where she is tied up for like 5 minutes, and then the line "it doesn't make you special or interesting that you like this" happens - because IRONY. First, she's literally the main character and the film is telling "us" that she's not interesting, but also, if it's not interesting then why the fuck are there so many movies about it? Where are all the movies about women who enjoy sex without violence? The film also never tells us anything else about her. So what exactly is the point? I can't quite find one, and I have no interest in thinking about this movie any further.  

3. Kajillionaire - I don't know why, but I had really high hopes for this movie even though I haven't really loved any of Miranda July's previous movies. She's still someone I root for. And just because I didn't *love* them, doesn't mean that I don't admire them. She's got this quirky original style that seems really authentic (and it's something that I think a lot of people in the industry fake - I'm not naming names...). I've also always been a huge fan of Evan Rachel Wood, so it's really unfortunate that I did not like this movie. It's well-made, has some wonderfully nuanced performances, and has an interesting story - overall another solid 3 star movie. But there is also some things that made it very hard for me to enjoy - the biggest one being Wood's unnaturally low voice. I was also very confused by her age and also how much time passes during the course of the movie. Wood looks young, but certainly not teenager young which is what is implied in the beginning, but then suddenly she seems much older about an hour in. It's just really jarring. But there are also three things that are wonderful - (1) I literally screamed out "holy shit...is that...Debra Winger??!!" because I haven't seen her in ages and I adore her. It's wonderful seeing her onscreen again. (2) I've never seen Gina Rodriguez in anything before and she is DELIGHTFUL. Definitely the best part of the movie. I just instantly fell in love with her. (3) The last scene with the kiss is just stunning. 

4. Godzilla vs. Kong - First, team Kong, always and forever. Second, I've actually never really seen many Godzilla movies aside from the most recent ones. I've only seen bits and pieces, and I've really never had any interest in seeing more. Third, am I missing a Kong movie with Rebecca Hall? It feels like I'm supposed to know who these people are - so I assumed I missed a movie, but afterwards I looked it up and I couldn't find anything. I really liked this whole part of the story - with the young girl bonding with Kong using sign language. I'm slowly teaching myself ASL, so this was a good test for me (I failed. It's actually much harder for me than I expected because I learn by writing things down  - and it's impossible to write down hand movements so it's all based on memorizing and I have a really, really terrible memory. But I'm not giving up. It's just going to take me a long time). Anyway, I think this is definitely one of the better monster movies to come out in recent years - the plot was decent, even though it is pretty obvious as to how it will all play out. The cast is fantastic - Hall, Alexander Skarsgard, Eiza Gonzalez (lover her, even though she didn't have much to do), and Brian Tyree Henry all kept me interested in the story. And most importantly, the destruction and the fight scenes are glorious. 

5. Wolfwalkers - I'm not quite sure I understand all the buzz about this movie, but it's still really cute and sweet. It's just not anything amazing or Oscar-worthy. I did really love how it's animated - it's so beautiful with the muted colors and it feels classic and timeless. I just think the plot is very paint-by-numbers fairytale - there are no surprises or interesting plot-lines. And I didn't even really feel any connection to the characters. I honestly struggled to pay attention to it. I know I'm in the minority, obviously, but it's just...cute. I don't even really have anything else to say. I can't imagine that I'll remember anything about it a few years from now. 

3 Thoughts on The Oscars

1. The Show - While I usually write up a post on the Oscar nominations, it's been years since I've written about the actual show (I prefer the GGs, as a show, even though their nominations are always wild. The show is usually the more entertaining of the awards shows). But this year, the Oscar presentation was WILD. Some of it was great, some of it was a huge disaster. All of it made for some much needed entertainment. First, this was certainly not the year to try out a "no host" event. I don't feel like it ever works. You need someone to move the show along and comment on how the show is going. Second, I LOVED the whole vibe. It felt so much more intimate and accessible. It's annoying that something like a worldwide pandemic finally caused the producers to think outside the box, but maybe this will finally stir things up a bit. However, can we talk about how insane the covid rules are?? Masks off while the cameras are rolling and on otherwise? Do they think covid is camera shy? If everyone has been vaccinated and tested, then just keep the masks off. Taking them on and off again is absolutely pointless. Third, not showing clips is a huge mistake - I stopped paying attention to the presenters because their speeches about the nominees was so awkward and inauthentic. Fourth, the switching of the category announcements is such an embarrassing debacle. It's assumed that they were trying to give Chadwick a big "moment", and it didn't work out how they expected, but why exactly would they want to end the show that way anyway??? Especially this year, when so many people lost loved ones, wouldn't they want to end on a more uplifting moment? It seemed like they were trying to keep things light - especially since the In Memoriam was the fastest it's ever been. And last, I love Questlove and I thought he did a great job as the DJ. I know a lot of people didn't like the trivia game, but I thought it was at least trying to be fun. I wish the show had more of these moments because that's what people remember. Glenn Close doing the Da Butt dance will go down as one of those memorable Oscar moments that people will still talk about decades from now. I'm concerned that people were surprised to learn this morning that it was scripted. SHE HAD A MICROPHONE IN HER HAND. And it was obvious that it was a skit. People are mind-blowingly dumb sometimes. And the actual funny part was how hard Daniel Kaluuya laughed at her, which wasn't scripted. 

2. The Winners - Speaking of Daniel Kaluuya...excuse me, Academy Award Winner Daniel Kaluuya, as is how he will forever be credited, and that is awesome. I feel like there are so many great younger actors, who are consistently overlooked, and I thought that was going to be the case for him until this year. I don't even care that people are upset about the supposed category fraud. An actual great young actor won an Oscar! Let's celebrate that! I'm not mad about any of the other acting wins (I haven't seen Minari and Frances McDormand and Anthony Hopkins winning acting awards is always going to be acceptable). I've already accepted the fact that Nomadland was going to win Picture and Director, but the only award it should have won was for Cinematography so it's hilarious that Mank won (seriously, what?). My Top 10 from 2020 has changed drastically since January - I think only two movies remain from the original list - and one of them is Sound of Metal. I was really hoping for an upset with either that or Promising Young Woman (which is my favorite movie from 2020). Also, along with everyone else, I was expecting a Chadwick Boseman win, but if there was an upset, I would have been delighted for Riz Ahmed (which was my favorite performance). The Lead Actress category was the most exciting race this year - with 4 of the actresses splitting the rest of the major awards, so I was kind of hoping for Vanessa Kirby to get the last "big" one. I think the biggest "upset" for me, though, is Emma. not winning for Costume. But the worst part of the whole show was that they gave Tyler Perry a Humanitarian award. I have nothing against him, and I'm well aware of the good things that he has done for many people and for the city of Atlanta, but awarding billionaires Humanitarian awards is incredibly tone deaf. And then him talking about giving a homeless woman a pair of shoes they had lying around the production studio, as if that's impressive, is so fucking insulting. It's hard to believe that someone who CAME FROM NOTHING is that out of touch with the world, but clearly he is. He could buy that woman a house and not even notice the difference in his bank account, but instead he brags about giving her a free pair of shows. Fucking despicable. Anyway, as always, I did learn some things during this years wins: (1) Promising Young Woman was shot in a mere 23 days, which is incredible. (2) Thomas Vinterberg directed The Hunt! I should have realized that, but for some reason I didn't. Also, him talking about his daughter's death was a whole gut punch. Really makes Another Round even more emotional to think about. (3) They didn't have an Asian costume designer for Mulan? Instead, they had her spend a month in China to learn about their culture? And people wonder why inclusivity and diversity is so important? 

3. The Fashion - This is going to be incredibly short, because, unfortunately I didn't like any of the dresses. Seriously, not one. I guess Margot Robbie would be my favorite one, but it's also really simple and boring. Also, I love the dress Zendaya was wearing, but not for the occasion. That's something you wear at, like, a beach wedding. I did appreciate the color because aside from her, it was just a sea of red, gold and white blah. The good news is that there weren't really any worst dressed either. I feel like everyone played it pretty safe, which, to me, is always boring. 

Thoughts on 5 New TV Shows

1. The Falcon & The Winter Soldier - So I've only watched the first two episodes so far, and man, are they fucking boring. I'm really hoping it picks up - but it's only six episodes in length so a third of it is already terrible. I wasn't expecting to like it considering how much I hate Bucky (both the character and the actor). But I do really like Anthony Mackie. And I do like Falcon, even though I barely remember his existence in the Avengers movies aside from his big moment at the end of Endgame. I think the ideas behind this are interesting - especially showing how Falcon is treated in the "real" world. I also like the idea of someone else being "appointed" the new Captain America. However, so far, none of it is capturing my full attention. And the therapy scenes are so fucking awful and pandering to the particular Marvel fans that care more about their favorite non-existent "couples" than actual plot. So annoying. 

2. It's a Sin - Such a heartbreaking show. I think Russel T. Davies is most famous for Doctor Who and Torchwood (at least in America), but Queer as Folk was a huge part of my college life. I remember so vividly my roommate and I eagerly awaiting every episode and even scheduling our life around it (you know, back in the day before DVR). We would even record the episodes (on VHS) and watch them multiple times. I feel like this miniseries is almost a prequel of sorts. It creates the same drama, mixed with devastating real-life heartbreak. This series takes place just as the AIDS epidemic started to grow into a full-blown crisis, especially among gay men in the 80s. It does an incredible job at creating this really energetic atmosphere of hope, while still having this underlying sense of doom. The characters are all given time to shine - we see them grow as individuals and as friends, we see them falter and then succeed (and sometimes falter again), and we see this disease destroy everything around them. Just heartbreaking. The main cast all are fairly newcomers (I know Olly Alexander has a strong fan base, but I have never seen him in anything before this), and all are perfect for their roles, but the standout is Lydia West. I can't wait to see her in more projects.

3. Debris - I was really hopeful with this - it stars one of my favorite actors, Jonathan Tucker (for real, I've been a fan since Sleepers) and it has sort of a Fringe vibe (which is one of my favorite sci-fi shows). The concept is really intriguing and Tucker is great, but unfortunately the rest of the show falls flat. I think I'm 5 episodes in, but pretty much by the middle of the second episode I lost interest. They try to build this "bigger" mystery within each episode (kind of like...no wait...exactly like Fringe did), but none of it is working. And I don't really like that the main two characters (Tucker and Riann Steele) don't really trust each other because it takes away from their chemistry  - maybe if this whole concept started later in the season it would have worked, but instead, I'm already taking sides (Tucker, always & forever). I'm not ruling it out completely, yet, but I was able to break away from the similar themed Manifest, and I'm so happy that I did because it's on like season 4, I think, and the ads look horrendous. It's been easier for me to give up on shows, so this better step up, or I'm done. 

4. Genius: Aretha - I realize that this is the third season of Genius, so it's not exactly new - but since it's an anthology, I'm going to treat it as its own thing. I also read that there was a "boycott" of it because the family didn't approve, but I couldn't really figure out why? I watched this for Cynthia Erivo. I'm a big fan, and I was hoping that this would be a huge success for her so that she could get the Emmy that she deserves (and would only be missing that Oscar for an EGOT). She was so great in The Outsiders (and I can't believe I forgot about this performance during the Emmy awards - and apparently everyone did. She definitely deserved some recognition. It's one of those cases where the show is so mediocre that the performances sadly get ignored). Unfortunately, this show is so much worse than mediocre - it's downright awful. It largely focuses on Aretha's relationship to her father, played by Courtney B. Vance, which I think was a mistake - one or two episodes would have been sufficient, instead it's the ENTIRE series. Honestly, it felt like it was more about him than her at some points. I did learn some interesting things about Aretha since I never really knew anything about her personal life (like that she had a baby at 12!!), but the series focuses on really odd things that are not really interesting and then keeps repeating these things. Also, while Erivo and Vance are fine, the rest of the cast is embarrassingly bad. And the opening credits are laughable. And I don't understand why they ended the series with her performing at the Grammys as if that was the defining moment of her career? What a load of BS. 

5. Behind Her Eyes - There's no way in a million years that I would guess the twist for this mini-series - if I was expecting a twist, that is. I was expecting it to be "shocking", but I was not expecting a full-out what the fuck is happening ending. I had a feeling it was going to go into "supernatural" territory (groan), but I never expected this. I haven't decided yet if I absolutely hate it or if it's kind of genius? As for the rest of the show, I was definitely invested in the entire thing - which I find increasingly harder for me. I really like Eve Hewson in this - it's just a perfect role for her because she has this very mesmerizing energy to her. I also think that Simona Brown did a wonderful job at being the soul of the show. I think the male lead could have been someone with a stronger presence since it is extremely necessary for this man to be charming. He's just sort of blah, but the women around him did a great job as selling him as a catch, so to speak. I'm surprised that they are limiting this to one season (as of right now) because the idea could keep going, although it may not be as interesting now that we know what's going on. But, I sort of really want to see how it continues especially with the young son being suspicious of his mom's actions. Could be really interesting. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things - I was really in the mood for something cute and light, and this hit the spot just right. I really like both main actors - Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen (from The Path, which is an interesting show with an excellent cast). It's another time-loop tale, which seems really popular right now for obvious reasons. It's clearly made for a YA audience, but I think there is a nice amount of depth and details to keep it accessible to everyone. Also, the whole map idea is super cute and kind of inspiring - they basically set out to find all the "perfect things" that happen throughout the day that they are stuck in. It's a sweet reminder to find try to find the good in everything and enjoy every moment. *spoilers ahead* There's also some deeper moments, though, with her not wanting to "escape" the time-loop since her mother is dying - so essentially staying in the time-loop keeps her mother alive, and him having the opposite feelings because the day that he is stuck in, his mom is missing from, therefore he never gets to see her. It's an interesting aspect of the whole time-loop plot that I don't think is ever really addressed. It's obviously cheesy and a little immature, but overall I liked it. 

2. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - I can't say that I'm the biggest fan of this character - I find him more annoying than anything, but the first movie had some funny moments (I don't actually remember anything from it, but I do remember having fun watching it). A sequel is completely unnecessary, but I don't think we'll ever learn how to just let stuff go. There are two things that I saw consistently talked about when others referenced this movie - first, obviously, the Rudy Giuliani scene. I don't really understand why it got so hyped up - you can tell that it is deeply edited. However, how the fuck did Giuliani and his team fall for this? It's so fucking scary how dumb our politicians are. And that these are people that some Americans actually trust. Second, people really talked up the woman who plays Borat's daughter, Maria Bakalova, so much so, that she is nominated for a fucking Oscar for this ludicrous performance. I'm a big fan of comedy getting recognized for Oscars, but this performance isn't special in any way. And in no world does this woman look 15 years old, so I don't believe that anyone bought into any of these shenanigans. I'm convinced at least 75% of it is fake. Anyway, there are two things that should have been talked about more - and that is, first, Judy - a woman who decided to combat hate with love, whether she knew she was being pranked or not, her response is to be kind in a deeply unkind world and I love her so much. And second, the Tom Hanks moment is the funniest part of the whole movie. Otherwise, this movie is completely forgettable. 

3. Boss Level - You guys....it's ANOTHER time-loop movie! Fucking Hell. I had never heard of this movie, but it has Naomi Watts and Frank Grillo it it and it's directed by Joe Carnahan so that seemed like something I would like. It's not, unfortunately. It's not exactly bad, but it's just not as fun as it should be. I like the videogame vibe, and the concept is good - he actually dies at the end of the day, and then starts the same day again, trying to avoid a barrage of assassination attempts. Plus, there is actually some humor which is unexpected - I don't know why, but watching Grillo attempt some comedy is surprisingly great. It just becomes repetitive (obviously) and unnecessarily complicated (I completely lost the plot about 1/2 way in). And it also has Mel Gibson saying the line "let's not make this about race...it's a sword", which I think is supposed to be ironically funny but it is not. Plus, Naomi Watts isn't in it as much I was expecting for an A-list actress and her part could have easily been played by literally anyone, which is just a waste of her talent. 

4. Yes Day - And speaking of wasting talent...what the fuck is Jennifer Garner doing? I don't understand her career choices AT ALL. After Alias, I remember reading an interview with her saying that she has no interest in doing anything in the action genre, which I understood - Alias was a grueling shoot and it lasted for years. I bet she was exhausted after all that. She started taking bit parts and wife roles, which was frustrating, but whatever. Then she knocked it out of the park in 13 Going on 30 - seriously, one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time - and she is just superbly sweet in it. But then she went back to bit parts and wife roles. And then, out of nowhere, did an action film. And after all that waiting, the action film she decided on was one of the most mediocre movies I've ever seen (Peppermint). It's just so disappointing, but I continue to support her. I think she should be doing stronger projects, but I'll just have to settle for whatever makes her happy. This movie is cute. It looks like it was probably a lot of fun to shoot, and they all have really great chemistry as a family unit. I laughed really hard at one part (the father and youngest daughter singing along to that Saints Row song. I died.), but most of it is just...cute. The concept is ridiculous - the parents let their kids have a day where they can ask to do anything and the parents have to say "yes". Sounds like some fucking spoiled, rotten, wealthy, entitled garbage to me, but, again, whatever. It's also wildly unrealistic that they do all of these things in the span of like 16 hours - Magic Mountain is a whole day long process with the long-ass lines, etc. I really like the girl that plays the older daughter, Jenna Ortega; she plays Ellie on the second season of You, and is, by far, the best part of the series. She definitely has "it". 

5. A Rainy Day in New York - How did a Woody Allen film with a cast of Timothee Chamalet (I'm too exhausted to look up how to spell his name...I feel like that's close enough?), Elle Fanning, and Selena Gomez get released so quietly? And I don't understand why everyone went so hard after Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Scarlett Johannson for working with Allen, but these three extremely popular actors from a younger (and supposedly more woke) generation are getting a pass? Where's the outrage? Anyway...Woody Allen has done some incredible movies but he's also had some really bad ones - and this is really, really bad. It's completely miscast - some actors excel with Allen's dialogue, but Chamalet (?) and Fanning struggle (and I'm a HUGE fan of Elle Fanning so I'm going to pretend this whole movie didn't happen). I *think* Chamalet (?) is trying to do a Woody Allen impression - and seem like quirky and neurotic, and it is really quite...something to watch. The love story doesn't really work either - I certainly don't root for them to stay together; nor do I root for him to end up with his ex-girlfriend's...sister? Like, what the fuck? It's also incredibly disappointing for a director who is practically synonymous with NYC to make a film about NYC feel so inauthentic. The whole thing is just a mess, and definitely among Allen's worst films. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Peninsula - Train to Busan is my favorite film of 2016 (and I can't believe that was 5 years ago, but I still feel like I *just* watched it). This is a huge disappointment. The actual title of the movie - Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula is a really weird flex. A movie can't "present" another movie. And it's clear that they realized they made a bad movie and that attaching it to its predecessor will still force people to watch it even after the bad reviews (i.e ME. I'm such a sucker). Where Train to Busan is concise and thrilling, this is dull, slow, and filled with pointless scenes. It moves more into The Walking Dead territory (a show that I hate, but yes, I'm still watching it) - by having the "humans are scarier than the zombies" trope - they've formed gangs and capture other humans for sport and entertainment. But it doesn't really have anything to say that hasn't already been said. And the CGI with the car scenes is overwhelmingly bad. It's just not engaging at all. The characters are really stereotyped and predictable too. It doesn't even feel like it's in the same universe as Train to Busan. 

2. Stardust - It's crazy that they couldn't get the rights to David Bowie's music and they still decided to go forward with this biopic. The film follows Bowie during his first (and mostly disastrous) trip to the United States. It's also "unauthorized" and highly criticized by Bowie's family (I always forget that Duncan Jones is Bowie's son, so it always feels like new information, and then I go..."no wait...I knew that already"). As awful as this film is - there are a few things that I appreciate. First, this is the type of biopic that I like - one that focuses on an important part of someone's life instead of trying to tell the "whole" story. And, since they couldn't get anyone "official" to help with the story - most of it is probably highly dramatized or completely imagined (I find this an interesting concept). Second, I had no idea who Johnny Flynn is and, at first, was really put off by his interpretation of Bowie. However, as the film goes on, he starts to win me over. I looked him up and was surprised to find out that he's the guy from Emma. - so it's clear that he has range. And I appreciate that he sang the songs himself (even though they aren't Bowie songs). Otherwise, though, this is a really bad movie. There's no passion, no heart, no imagination. It's the opposite of everything Bowie would have wanted. And just when I thought it couldn't get worse - it ended in that laughable freeze-frame. Wow. 

3. Zack Snyder's Justice League - Ok, so when this whole "Snyder cut" thing started to come around, I was really confused. I think I missed a step with what happened with the 2017 Justice League. I thought he left as director because of his very tragic family issue, but that the film was still very much "his". And I thought that's why it was so jumbled - because he couldn't let it go and there were "too many cooks in the kitchen" as they say. Plus, Snyder is always so criticized - I think I got swayed by all the hate he receives, so I automatically blamed him (and it's so ironic that Whedon was always someone I thought could do no wrong. I think it's time to admit I was definitely wrong on that one). But I also think Snyder gets a lot of hate because some of his fans are...a bit over-the-top. Anyway, I'm happy that they were successful in giving Zack the resources to release his version. But, I'm also disappointed in the result. While it was miles better than the first version, it's still just...an okay movie. It's more cohesive and the characters are given a little bit more to do, but I was still bored. And it's nice that Cyborg and The Flash are given a backstory and a purpose, but maybe they were originally cut because the acting is so questionable (partly because the dialogue is clunky, but also because they were both miscast)? I'm also stunned that people claim that the FOUR HOUR movie goes by quickly - do you not feel time??? Because I felt every single minute of it. I just kept thinking "when is it going to get good?" "I've already seen this before", "yes, it looks better, but it's still the same movie", "why am I watching this again?", "ok...how much more is left? 3 hours??? Fuck my life", etc. I made it to the 2 hour mark and decided to break it up into 2 parts so that I didn't hate myself as much. I think part of why I had such a hard time with it is because I rarely rewatch movies - it feels pointless and like a waste of time when there is SO MUCH NEW TO WATCH. For me to rewatch something, it has to be something I really love and brings me joy (or star Taron Egerton - because I really love him and he brings me joy). So this just felt like torture. A solid 3 star torture. 

4. Relic - I really like Emily Mortimer. She's just a really consistently strong under-rated actress. I actually questioned for a minute into in this if she was actually Australian - the accent just fits her so well. I also like Bella Heathcote (although I've always confused her with Bella Thorne and Bella Hadid - I've got them straightened out now: Heathcote is the one that can act, Thorne is the OnlyFans girl, and Hadid is the model who married one of the One Direction boys. NAILED IT. Oh wait...there's a different Hadid. I'm so old.). Anyway, this movie is ok - nothing special. I always get bored with these types of movies, anyway, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised by my indifference towards it. Old people (and kids) are super creepy - we get it. I hope when I get old someone just puts me in a nice home with a very large tv that I can stare at all day (and maybe a few cats that I can cuddle with?). The atmosphere is superbly creepy, but overall I don't think it offers anything new. I did like the end, though (although I hope it's not setting up for sequels - just leave it alone). 

5. Wild Mountain Thyme - I don't think I've ever seen a funnier trailer for a movie. I saw it trending on twitter - so I watched it and then thought it must be a parody (which is why it was trending, but no...it was trending because people were like "holy shit, this is a real movie!"). Widely criticized for the depiction of Irish people and the awful accents, my favorite comment is "this movie to Irish people is what Cats is to actual cats". Then it was released, and the dialogue changed to talk about a ridiculous twist - and boy, let me tell you, it is damn-near the craziest thing I've ever seen for a movie like this. And I'm going to spoil it for you - so if you really care, stop reading this, but honestly, it's so dumb and hilarious that you won't even believe it's real. OK...here goes: He thinks he's a bee. Really. You read that correctly. The whole movie leads you to question his "big secret" and the reveal is that HE THINKS HE'S A BEE. Oh, man, I'm laughing all over again just thinking about it. Anyway, as for the rest of this movie, it's all really bad. I think it would have been better if it was about people in their late teens/early 20s because none of this feels like actual adult interactions. I'm also not sure that I really understand the plot - why was he not going to inherit the farm? Just because he wasn't married? And how much time has gone by between scenes? Because sometimes they act like they haven't seen each other in ages, but they were just in the previous scene together (and they are neighbors...). I do like the intent behind the "twist", that people hide from their true identities and often imagine themselves living a different reality, but the execution of this idea is WILD. Also, this is the least sexy Jamie Dornan has ever been - and you'd think it would be the opposite with his Irish accent and lovely grey streak. I'm not sure I'll ever look at him the same after this bee fiasco. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Ammonite - This feels like the Hollywood version of Portrait of a Lady on Fire - queer historical romance, but in English and with more well-known actors. I wasn't the biggest fan of that movie - I know, I know, bad cinephile! I acknowledge that it is a good film, but it's just not something that I connect to and I feel the same way about this. It's just really, really boring. It's most disappointing because Francis Lee's God's Own Country is an unforgettable film, so I was expecting more of the same. I think it's extremely weird that people had a meltdown at the age difference in Malcolm & Marie, but I heard nothing about this? A 20 year age gap is definitely more questionable (to each their own and all that, but when there is a whole adult gap between people, the power structure within the relationship is significant and can be an issue). Anyway, the acting is strong (because OF COURSE IT IS - two of the best actresses from their respective generations), and there are some lovely shots. I'm also impressed at how far they went with the sex scene. 

2. Cherry - *spoilers* This is just, flat-out, a terrible movie. It's really unfortunate. It's kind of crazy because I watched the movie and then a few days later I saw a trailer for it and I was like "ooooh what's this..it looks great..." only to realize it was for this movie. But just like the trailer - it has so many elements that should make it great. So...let's get into it. First, I adore Tom Holland (really, really adore), but I think he's miscast here. I think it's great that he's branching out, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. But I will say, he does such a good American accent and his voice is so soothing, which is important to me (seriously, accents and vocals are weirdly important for me to enjoy films/tv). Second, it's about one of my least favorite cliches - an entitled white boy drug addict. Now, I know it can be argued that his drug addiction is a coping mechanism for PTSD as a war veteran (which is NOT what I define as "entitled white boy drug addict" and is actually a far more interesting, but also mildly overdone topic), but he's a druggie before he joins the Army and the only reason he joins is because his girlfriend breaks up with him so she can go to college and become her own person (poor guy...). AND he has parents who are barely mentioned (probably because he'll lose the audience sympathy card), that BUY HIM A HOUSE. Sorry, but I don't feel any sympathy for him. Like, none whatsoever (and I just hummed "Cold Hearted" in my head - "C-c-c-c-cold-hearted...oh ah ah. C-c-c-cold-hearted...ssssnake"). Third, I would love to root for the love story here, because it starts off really sweat ("I think I adore you", so cute!), but then it just moves so quickly and they don't really give any reasons as to why exactly he's so smitten - she's cute and sweet, but it would have been great if she was given some depth (and that bow around her neck is less than subtle...). Fourth, those war scenes are rough. Just cliche after cliche ("I've got you" - I honestly, almost laughed out loud). Fifth, that asshole shot...is...a choice (WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?? Whose idea was that and why didn't anyone talk them out of it?). Sixth, the bank robbing scenes are just really unbelievable and full of other less than subtle anti-capitalism dialogue and imagery ("Capitalist One" and "Bank Fucks America" are the bank names. Seriously). Seventh (I think? I may have lost count), those breaking the 4th wall moments are especially jarring and unnecessary - we already know what is going through his head because the entire movie is Obvious. Okay...I think I'm done now. It's a shame that this is based on a true and probably incredible story - to turn this story into this is just catastrophic. 

3. Promising Young Woman - *also spoilers* I thought that I was going to be disappointed by this - sometimes when things reach a certain critical level, I feel like expectations get too high and then are sadly not met. So I sort of prepared for that with this. I'm so happy to say that I absolutely freaking loved it with all my heart. It's dark but also very funny, and there are so many moments of pure genius. Carey Mulligan is the best she's ever been - and I actually think this is the first role that I really felt like she became a different person. She also felt like a very real person - someone that I (and many women) can connect to. I don't always feel it's necessary for women to direct stories about women, but I think it's interesting how obvious it is that a woman directed this. Most of it is felt in the details - like her multi-colored nail polish. But I think the biggest "detail" is the casting of the male characters. There's this misconception that women should have some sort of instinctual talent in knowing if men are assholes and this movie challenges that idea by having the "nice guys" as not just the traditional movie "nice guys", but guys who are most famous for roles that everyone (men and women) would describe as "harmless". Adam Brody, best known as Seth Cohen from The O.C. (one of the greatest shows ever. Period.), Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who will never overcome his "McLovin" nickname, and Max Greenfield, otherwise known as Schmidt from New Girl are exactly the type of guys women are told to date if they don't want to be treated like shit (I assume Bo Burnham falls into this category as well, but I'm not really familiar with him). The point is that if we can't even trust the "harmless" guys, then who exactly can we trust? And I think it's a direct rebuttal on the "not all men" attitude, because OF COURSE it's NOT ALL MEN, but...um...*whispers* it actually kind of is? This is highlighted again towards the end when she confronts Burnham's character with his past and he replies "you've never done anything you're ashamed of?", which is very telling (as if being ashamed of a mistake is the same as watching someone being raped and not doing anything about it). The complicity aspect is a great angle, too, because I don't think people like to think about their own involvement. And the film includes women in this, which is very important. But the aspect of the film I love the most is that it isn't this woman going full psychopath and assaulting/murdering sexual assaulters (which I know is what some people were expecting and were very disappointed...that this woman isn't a murderer...sorry?). Instead, she's forcing people to take responsibility for their actions, confront their own ugly realities, and maybe become the people they think they are? I find it sort of hopeful, honestly. And that's rare for movies like this. I will say that the only real fault in the film is the ending - the convenience of it all felt really inauthentic compared to the rest of the movie. But, it's also sort of cheeky and sarcastic - so I don't exactly hate it, but it's just not as perfect as everything that comes before it. 

4. The Informer - Predictably terrible - but I had to watch a movie with Ana de Armas and Joel Kinnaman! This is just really dull and I couldn't even follow the plot. I knew what was happening overall, but the character motivations are non-existent. It's a movie that I should like because the plot is right up my alley (It's basically The Departed, which is still in my Top 5 movies of all time). And obviously Joel and Ana are wonderful (and Ana's hair is GLORIOUS), unfortunately the movie also has Common and Rosamund Pike - and they are both awful (not as awful as the girl who plays opposite of Common - wow...that accent...). I don't really have anything else to say, which really tells you everything you need to know. 

5. Another Round - I enjoyed this movie a lot. For a story about four middle-aged men stuck in a rut, it's surprisingly original. I feel like it's a very real, honest discussion about alcohol as they embark on a social experiment to see how daily consumption effects their lives. And it's super rare for stories to admit that sometimes it does...make things better. Everyone has a different relationship with alcohol, but there is something to be said for controlled consumption (for some people). There are a lot of people who are considered "the greatest" of their field (whether its artists, writers, musicians, inventors, etc.) who have admitted that alcohol helps them succeed. I think the problem happens when it is no longer controlled and if you are someone who doesn't have self-discipline or if you have addictive tendencies, then this is when it becomes harmful to you and most likely everyone around you. Anyway, this movie is really sweet but also heartbreaking, has some very thoughtful and complicated dialogue, and Mads is wonderful (of course). However, the last 5 minutes is just a breathtaking piece of cinema - I think the directing nomination is for these 5 minutes alone. The camera-work, Mads dancing along to the perfect song, and the pure emotion being expressed - I could have watched it for hours. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Supernova - I honestly can not think of two straight men who make a better couple than Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci?. They are just perfect together. Firth is so good in movies like this - it is really reminiscent of his performance in A Single Man, which is one of my favorite performances of all-time (and also the subject matter is sort of similar). This performance is heavy and emotional, but never over-dramatic. But it's Tucci that really stands out, for me. The scene in which Firth reads the speech that he wrote, how he sits there and quietly shakes - it just broke my heart. Dementia is just the worst - and I've said this before, but I feel exactly the way Tucci's character does. I would want to die before the dementia fully set in. Anyway, I like this movie a lot, but I would have preferred some more scenes between our main couple over all of the shots of them driving. I understand that the location they are in is very beautiful (apparently the Lake District in England - I looked it up because it felt like a third main character), but it just became too repetitive - just shot after shot of the RV driving down a tiny road. I also wish the ending had a stronger impact. I am surprised that this movie didn't receive more attention, though, because it seems like something that critics would love. 

2. The United States Vs. Billie Holiday - I know I shouldn't be surprised that the Golden Globes gave an award for this performance, but it's still sort of stunning. If she gets the Oscar, I may just be done with award shows for a while (probably not though, I'm an award show addict). I think Andra Day was obviously a great casting choice, and from what I've read, she really gave it her all and really immersed herself in becoming Billie Holiday. However, the movie is an absolute mess. It's far too long, repetitive, the editing is so atrocious (what are those awkward black & white scenes that are shoehorned in??), and the dialogue is so...stale? It felt like I knew what everyone was going to say before they said it. Day does a wonderful job with the songs & performances, but when it comes to the actual acting part...I'm not so sure. But I think most of that is a dialogue and director issue - especially since Day is new to acting; I think it is definitely someone else's fault that most of it feels really inauthentic. It's always disappointing when a biopic offers absolutely nothing of value (neither educational or entertaining). I admittedly don't know much about Billie Holiday - so I should, in theory, be fascinated by this whole story because it is such an incredible story - and I would happily watch a different movie about her (maybe someone will make a good one? Or has there already been? I feel like I may have read about Diana Ross playing Holiday at some point? Will look into it). This film severely lacks depth and direction, and overall is everything I hate about biopics. 

3. Antebellum - I'm not really sure how I feel about this movie. I read some truly scathing reviews for it that I can nod my head in agreement with, but I watched this 10 days ago and something about it has stuck with me. So, it's not a complete failure, for me. I think part of that is that I didn't know anything about the movie - I really thought I was watching a movie about the horrors of slavery. So, when the modern day twist happens, I perked up with an appreciation for something different. But then, something about it just doesn't work. I think partly because the whole thing feels exploitative, partly a little too heavy-handed, and ultimately, because Get Out does the same thing in a much more interesting way. It fails in balancing being a provocative social commentary and a horror film. The idea is there, though, and it could have been great if it chose one direction or the other. The cast is great - Janelle Monae, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, and one of my favorite young actresses - Kiersey Clemons. I will say that I absolutely hated her friends - especially the one played by Gabourey Sidibe. I don't understand why she was so obnoxiously rude to everyone? Is it supposed to be funny? But even though I hated them, I wish they showed more of what was happening on the "outside". Maybe that's what was missing? On a slightly spoilery side note - I don't understand the appeal of Civil War reenactments. Acknowledging history is important, but this tradition is weird and unnecessary. 

4. The White Tiger - I like this movie - it's like a combination of The Great Gatsby and Slumdog Millionaire, and it works really well. I wasn't the biggest fan of Slumdog Millionaire, as I felt that it was really contrived and inauthentic. This, however, feels a little more real to me. I went to India a little over 4 years ago and I think the best way to describe it is overwhelming. It's pure sensory overload. And, as this film shows, the class distinction is palpable. I was there for a very extravagant wedding thrown by a wealthy family. We had a driver to bring us anywhere we wanted to go, and while it was overall a lovely experience, it also felt very strange to just have someone waiting at our beck and call. This movie follows the story of a driver trying to break through his life circumstance and find success (a very typical "rags to riches" story). So much of it is done so well, but perhaps my favorite part is the scenes with Priyanka Chopra (and not just because I love her and she is gorgeous. I seriously sat through all of Quantico for her. And the other hot people on that show, of course). The way this character thinks that she's being helpful and empathetic by calling out the unfairness of the situation, and the mistreatment of the workers, but in reality she's just as condescending and entitled - it's fascinating to watch (and very smart commentary on people who think they are "woke"). The first hour is really exciting, layered, gorgeous, and darkly funny. Unfortunately, the second hour doesn't live up to the beginning - it's not bad or anything, it just goes nowhere and starts to feel repetitive until the very end. Adarsh Gourav is perfect in the leading role - as someone who you really want to root for. He has a very sinister charm to him that is very engaging. 

5. Coming 2 America - This is exactly what I was expecting - which wasn't much. I giggled at a few jokes, I groaned at a few jokes, and I cried with laughter at two jokes: (1) the soldiers working out with the shake weights. I can't stop thinking about it. It's just so funny. And (2) "Zamunda, Wakanda, Connecticut" (this one was just more of the way he said it). I know people are upset about the transgender joke "they can turn a penis into a vagina now...that's science!", but in terms of trans jokes...that's not really that bad?? I get that people feel like there are just certain things that we, as an advanced society, should not joke about, but it's just not realistic. There's always going to be trans jokes, just like there will always be rape jokes, and they'll probably never be funny. Although, I also thought joking about 9/11 is something only an insane person would attempt but Kumail Nanjiani proved me wrong in The Big Sick. I don't know what my point is or if I even have one - I guess, I just don't see the point in getting so offended over jokes; it seems exhausting. Anyway, I expected some non PC jokes in this, and for the most part, I thought it was pretty tame. I loved the guest stars - especially the musical acts (I won't spoil it). But, after a while (I'm not sure the exact pinpoint) it got really, really boring. Still a solid 3 star movie, though.