#I’ve never seen kill bill but I know the soundtrack by heart
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they don’t make movie soundtracks like this anymore
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Today is the 1 year AO3 anniversary of Slow Show by @mia-ugly. I am beyond grateful that this experience (and it is an experience) has existed in my life for a year and felt it needed commemorating. 🎂
I’m not a creator but I made this playlist for me, so I could take the fic with me, have it with my eyes closed, while driving -- you get it. Today seems like an appropriate day to share it.
It’s a. It’s a lot. Excessive you might even say. Tumblr will only give you the first 100 songs in this, so, Spotify will fulfill you (or overwhelm you). If you hit my username on the playlist, there are separate playlists for each chapter.
This is also on Apple Music, if that’s your jam, just hit me up and I’ll send you the link.
🎉 Happy Slow Show Day!! 🎉
13 pages of track-lists and excerpts below the cut. Godspeed! 💙
Key:
Songs from Mia’s soundtrack
Songs from the Fic
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--Title--
Slow Show – The National
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--Prequel--
Loverman – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Devils – Say Hi
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--Chapter 1--
Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
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bad guy – Billie Eilish
-trash a set and shag your husband
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Something About You (ODESZA Remix) – Hayden James
-what it would take for Avery Fell to let his guard down
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A Little Wicked – Valerie Broussard
-The handkerchief in his hand is now stained purple
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You Light Me Up In the Dark – The Hounds Below
-His hair catches the light like a halo, making him look more of an angel than ever.
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Lazarus – David Bowie
-This could be a problem
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--Chapter 2--
Unsteady – X Ambassadors
-much easier than talking about the way his heartbeat is still racing
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Heart of a Dog – The Kills
-Call me darling again.
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The Twilight Hour - Still Corners
-Looked across the set and thought, Ah fuck me. I’m in love with him.
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God’s Mistake – Tears for Fears
-Avery: He’s closed his eyes again, mouth going flat and still.
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Lounge Act – Nirvana
-Tell her all the terrible things I want to do to her husband
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Transatlanticism – Death Cab for Cutie
-There’s a strange urgency tonight, though, and Crowley can guess why.
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Do I Wanna Know? – Arctic Monkeys
-What could it hurt?
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Clueless – The Marias
-“Better - yeah. ‘S late.”
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Motel – Meg Myers
-The hotel room is another disaster
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--Chapter 3--
Alone in a Room – Asking Alexandria
-“I’m having a moment here!”
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Since You’ve Been Around – Rosie Thomas
-makes Crowley feel like he can breathe again
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Home Again – The Disco Biscuits
-It’s starting to feel like home again
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Every Other Freckle – alt-J
-Perfect. Ridiculous and impossible and perfect.
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Something For the Longing – The Orchids
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As Far As I Can See – Phantogram
-it’s been a really, really long time
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Sinister Kid – The Black Keys
-“Mothering buggering shit-”
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All These Things That I’ve Done – The Killers
-Crowley fists one of his hands against his forehead, shuts his eyes tightly.
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--Chapter 4--
I Like Me Better – Lauv
-I liked the outline of your face under the stagelights
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I Do This for You (ft. Marlene) – Giorgio Moroder
-“Let me see what I can do. About your precious Hamlet.”
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The Longing – Imelda May
-Avery POV: “Look at him like - like - you can’t let him see the way you look at him.”
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Just a Man – Los Lobos
-Avery POV: like he’s being led into battle and not onto a set to do the job he loves
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World In My Eyes – Depeche Mode
-wants to make that bastard purr
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Tired (ft. Gavin James) – Alan Walker
-Let me be a magpie for you
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Blow My Mind – The Benjamin Gate
-Avery: “I know you now.”
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Breathe You in My Dreams – Trixie Whitley
-Crowley’s seen that expression on Avery’s face in his dreams
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Love Me Like That (ft. Carly Rae Jepsen) – The Knocks
-What have I done to - oh. Oh. Right.
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Like Real People Do - Hozier
-“Sure, angel, what- whatever.”
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Clearly – Grace VanderWaal
-Crowley waits for the rest of the night.
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Gwendel – PeelsDeen
-Az sits in the back seat, away from Crowley. Alone.
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Now I’m In It – HAIM
-Avery POV: It’s a look like an open grave, a look like desire tempered with grief…
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Flesh for Fantasy – Billy Idol
-Crowley isn’t lonely for the rest of the night
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--Chapter 5 (Avery POV)--
Smalltown Boy – Rosborough
-1978, Hartlepool
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Bright Horses – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
-1986, Newcastle Upon Tyne
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The Runner – Foals
-1991, Bristol
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Shock To Your System – Tegan and Sara
-Tracy: “Why d’you let them?”
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Cracking Codes – Andrew Bird
-“Forever, of course. I’ll never -”
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Colour me In – Damien Rice
-Their fingers - just touch. Slightly.
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I’m Not in Love – 10cc
-Less to regret by not ever speaking of it.
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--Chapter 6--
Electric Current – Lower Dens
-“I’ll let you know when you find it.”
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Guess I Miss(ed) You – The Daylights
-Keep talking, keep him here a little while longer.
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Reflecting Light – Sam Phillips
-“don’t meet his eyes like that, it looks like it’s a lead-in to a kiss”
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King of Pain – The Police
-a good reminder of the kind of life he’s got to live
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I Wanna Get Better – The Bleachers
-and Avery’s gaze is so gentle it hurts a bit
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Feather – X Ambassadors
-Avery: “Someone has to”
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Darker Side - Jonny Lang
-Avery: “Oh - good Lord.”
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Firestone (Acoustic) – Conrad Sewell
-“Will you show me?”
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Velvet Gloves and Spit - Timber Timbre
-“Anthony - ”
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Wrong – Depeche Mode
-Avery: “I have to go.”
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F**k it I love you – Lana Del Rey
-“Not your fault, angel”
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--Chapter 7--
Somebody to Love – Queen
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Heavenly – Cigarettes After Sex
-“I fucking still.”
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Will Do - TV on the Radio
-“You too. I’ll see you there.”
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Monster – Colours
-No wonder Avery ran off like a thief after a heist
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Swallow My Pride – Ramones
-“I feel fucking ill about it.”
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I Was Wrong - The Oh Hellos
-Avery: “I’m the one who has to apologize, not you.”
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The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret – Queens of the Stone Age
-Avery: “Please don’t tell anyone”
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Wait for Me – Kings of Leon
-Avery: “Right now, I’m just - a bit in pieces.”
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Don’t Stay – X Ambassadors
-“You can - stay or leave or - whatever you like.”
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The Moth - Aimee Mann
-Avery’s eyes meet his, and then it’s like a car accident
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Red Door – Julien Baker
-“I can - I can wait longer.”
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Can’t Pretend - Tom Odell
-“I wasn’t apologizing for that. This morning. I won’t.”
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Come Down to Me – Saving Jane
-Avery: “You were wonderful”
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Secret Smile – Semisonic
-And if sometimes he catches Az watching him between takes
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I Want More - KALEO
-Az laces both of their hands together, stares at them.
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I’m Gonna Do My Thing – Royal Deluxe
-“So don’t tell me what will hurt me. I know what hurts.”
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--Chapter 8--
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
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Remember to Breathe – Sturgil Simpson
-“You can’t sit in the car all night you absolute nightmare”
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Wild Love (Acoustic) – James Bay
-The two of them stare at each other and then both look away awkwardly.
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Seasons – Future Islands
-finally, fucking finally, he’s exactly where he wants to be
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Closer – Tegan and Sara
-Avery: “if you like”
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I Want All of You – The Verve Pipe
-“If you think I can survive this without looking at you -”
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Use Me – Miguel
-whatever he sees in Crowley’s face makes him come to some sort of decision
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So Much Love – Depeche Mode
-Love, he said love
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Don’t Be Scared, I Love You – Bill Ryder-Jones
-I know you, Crowley wants to say, but doesn’t.
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Become My Dream – Silya & The Sailors
-“Even if - anything, angel.”
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I Belong In Your Arms – Chairlift
-For nearly two weeks it goes like this.
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Faster - Matt Nathanson
-“You’re going to fucking kill me, angel -”
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Come Together (feat. Sivu) – LAUREL
-In case you think they don’t wake up together
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The High – Kelela
-Az has pulled a stool over to the edge of the tub
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Just in Time – Valerie June
-Then Az’s hand is on his shoulder, turning him around.
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I Can’t Take It – Tegan and Sara
-Avery: “Don’t rush, just - like this.”
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Like This – Jake Scott
-Avery murmurs and it takes Crowley back to their first kiss
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Terrible Love – The National
-Flinches away from him.
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Help You Out - Emarosa
-And he nods.
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--Chapter 9--
I Remember You – Ramones
-The first person Crowley loved was a liar.
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Brighter Skies - Race Banyon
-As if they were cut with a jigsaw, as if they were meant to fit.
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Not Tonight – Tegan and Sara
-When they reach the edge of the city, his hand slides out of Crowley’s.
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As Sure as I Am – Crowded House
-So Crowley kisses him.
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A Promise – Miriam Makeba
-And for awhile, he believed her.
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Mistaken for Strangers – The National
-They’re only two small words, but they still make Crowley’s teeth ache.
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Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye – Leonard Cohen
-“Good-“ Swallow, speak, leave.
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The Fear – Pulp
-Crowley should have been smarter this time. He really should have been.
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Take Me – Leela James
-“I’d like you to close your blinds.”
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Whenever You Want It – Clare Maguire
-“What do we do now?”
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At My Weakest – James Arthur
-“It will be.”
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Komm zurück - Fotos
-For years and years and years, nothing did.
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Come on Get Higher – Matt Nathanson
-their feet sliding in the tub
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Lay Down – Sarah Proctor
-I want to wake up with you.
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Sort Of - Ingrid Michaelson
-Why is my heart breaking?
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Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
-Just pump that shit straight into his veins.
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What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Ella Fitzgerald
-Avery: “What do you think?”
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We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together – The Velvet Underground
-“You want to grab dinner somewhere?”
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Hiding – IAN SWEET
-Crowley stops walking. Looks at Az in the darkness.
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Romance Dawn – Radkey
-A slice of light cuts through the darkness.
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Crown of Love – Arcade Fire
-Crowley feels like the world has never been darker, and his heart will never stop beating
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Devil’s Backbone – The Civil Wars
-He thought he was ready for this conversation, but at the sight of Az’s face, his throat has gotten too tight to speak.
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Sinners – Lauren Aquilina
-“If this all goes down in flames, if it all falls apart - we can go off together.”
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Please Forgive Me (Song of the Crow) – William Fitzsimmons
-Avery: “It’s over. I’m - I’m so sorry.”
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Start a War – The National
-He twitches and trips and yet somehow manages to walk away without falling over.
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Broken – Daley
-And this soft heartache was somehow the sharpest of them all.
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--Chapter 10 (Avery POV)--
Daily Battles - Thom Yorke & Flea
-He tries to remember these things - but the background is still a chorus of beeping machines. There’s nowhere he can be but here.
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Everybody Wants You - Red Hearse
-Go out and surround himself with people much more interesting and available than Avery. Better people, certainly.
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A Thin Line – Blackchords
-But still - roads not taken, and other fun middle-aged spirals.
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My Own Soul’s Warning - The Killers
-When was the last time someone asked Avery that? When was the last time he asked himself?
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Who Am I - NEEDTOBREATHE
-I miss you. There. It didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.
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Wait for Me - Jack Curley
-What he wants to say is ‘don’t find someone else. Not yet. You and your black leather and your cut-glass profile: you’re gorgeous and God knows other people want you.’
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Coming & Going – Amaal
-“Two ships passing in the night,” he says quietly. Then he takes a swallow of wine, lets it roll down his throat. “If you were here -”
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Iron - Woodkid
-Crowley leaves him there, pressed against the wet brick wall. Crowley leaves him there. Crowley steps between Avery and a camera, and then leaves him.
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The Greatest Bastard - Damien Rice
-He can’t be the person that kicks Crowley into the ashes again. He can’t hurt him like this, and Avery’s going to hurt him - he already has.
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No Right to Love You – Rhys Lewis
-He deserves someone like - like Daniel. Deserves to be loved in the daylight.
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If It’s Hurting You - Robbie Williams
-Time is a tricky business when you’re dying slowly; it skips like a flat stone on a quiet lake.
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Happy For You – Gayle
-But surely - surely he’s allowed just this much. Just one message, just so Crowley knows that - that he’s happy for him. That Avery is so happy.
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I See You (ICU) - Phoebe Bridgers
-When Avery sees Crowley on the red carpet, it feels like the sudden remembrance of a lovely dream.
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Once In My Life - The Decemberists
-Crowley: “I know there’ve been some - hard times. That’s - that is what it is. But for me - it’s been a privilege. A dream. So.” He nods and nods and nods again. “Thank you.”
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Coming Down - Dum Dum Girls
-Tracy: “But I wasn’t. I was hurting you. This whole time, Az.” She shakes her head, wiping frantically at tears that won’t stop falling. “He loves you.”
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I Don’t Know Anything – Little Voice Cast
-He’s afraid of finding out that all this time - he was doing the wrong thing anyway. He’s afraid that Anthony Crowley will never talk to him again.
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Sweet Sour - Band of Skulls
-"And you're fired"
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Heart Attack - Devarrow
-The sun is still rising when Avery gets out of the car, closes the door behind him. Though some of the roads have changed, his feet still know the way down to the docks of his youth. He was never a sailor, but the shoreline is familiar as a childhood sweetheart, as a long lost love.
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Landslide - Robyn Sherwell
-He’s alone, and he’s nearly fifty years old. He could get on a ship, he could throw himself into the sea. There’s no one holding him back anymore.
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All I Can - Sharon van Etten
-And he knows. He knows.
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--Chapter 11--
Salvation - The Strumbellas
- there’s a moment where he swears he sees a young idiot in black standing in the crowd. Red hair gelled up into spikes, black t-shirt full of holes and safety pins. A young man who has no idea how much he’s about to lose.
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Soldier - Fleurie
-And he’s still fucking here.
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Easier – Mansionair
-Then he gets the fuck above ground and he calls Beez (oh great, they’re his emotional-support-asshole now. That’s healthy).
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Deep End – Holly Humberstone
-“I brought you cheese,” Beez says, and Crowley starts crying.
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Falling Short – Lapsley
-For the next few days, he lets his stupid body do what it needs to do to keep himself upright.
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Chariot (Stripped Version) - Gavin DeGraw
-Shit, this was a bad bad idea.
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Quiet Light - The National
-There’s a text from Az later that night, and his name on Crowley’s phone makes him feel like jumping off a cliff.
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All That We Had is Lost - Postiljonen
-He��s not allowed to be in love with that man anymore. Wasn’t ever, really.
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Heal - Tom Odell
-It makes a rather hysterical laugh well out of his throat. Anthony fucking Crowley. You are still alive.
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Let Me Go - HAIM
-Crowley tries to ignore the soft, injured expression on the other man’s face as he turns away.
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A Beginning Song - The Decemberists
-“What’s more frightening than having a choice?”
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The Spark - William Prince
-And he likes to think he would have just burned the world to ashes with the power of his love, would have said fuck everyone, I choose you – but who knows.
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Sharp Scratch - The Slow Show
-So stupid, I know, and I’m - sorry, I still love you and I’m tryin’ to stop and I will I just - needed to tell you that. I’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. Just miss you.
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Beautiful & Brutal – Plested
-Crowley moves without thinking. Falls like a stagelight, glass everywhere. He walks forward and is kissing Az before the door has even been pulled shut.
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Bad Chemistry - Fake Shark
-“I’ve been - thinking about this -” Az says between darts of his tongue against Crowley’s overheated skin.
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All We Do – Oh Wonder
-“But I - I love you. And I can’t - hide. It hurts too much.”
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Broken Strings - James Morrison (ft Nelly Furtado)
-“I wouldn’t survive it. That way it was. I wouldn’t.”
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Stole the Show – Parson James
-But even on their distant shores, Crowley and Az don’t stop looking at each other. It feels like an ending. Maybe it is one. Not a happy ending, but not a bad one either.
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Level Up - Vienna Teng
-excerpt from Anthony Crowley: Out of the shadows, under the spotlight
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The Wire (Alternate Version) – Patrick Droney
-Avery: “I’m rather in - in love with you.”
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Sweet Thing - Van Morrison
-“You can stay at my place. If you like.”
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Falling in Love - Cigarettes After Sex
-“I love you. I’ve missed you, and I love you, and I want you -”
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Stay - Cat Power
-He watches the slow flicker of awareness in Avery’s blue eyes. The curve of his mouth into a shade of smile that Crowley’s never seen before.
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Freedom - George Michael
-“To the world.”
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--Chapter 12--
Banks - NEEDTOBREATHE
-What he wasn’t used to was bringing someone else down with him, and jail would be a bloody blessing compared to seeing Az grey-faced and staring out windows, or that one time Crowley’s pretty sure the man was crying in the bathroom, trying to swallow down the sound so that Crowley didn’t notice (he clenches his hands into fists just thinking about it).
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Black Mambo - Glass Animals
-“It’ll have to be.” Crowley drops to his knees. “There’s a lot of ground to cover.”
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Florets - Grace VanderWaal
-Crowley can let his fingers curl against Az’s palm, can watch him open as a flame, not caring who notices.
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Sight of the Sun - fun.
-That this longing won’t destroy him, and won’t destroy Az either. It’s not a shovel for burying Crowley alive - it’s a spade for planting things.
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Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground
-Az drops his hand onto Crowley’s knee (“What is this song? I rather like it.”).
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Only Everything (Acoustic) – Quinn Lewis
-“It’s nice to have someone make it for you, right? Sometimes,” Crowley says softly, too much love in his throat and in his hands. It’s hard to breathe around it, especially when Avery is looking at him.
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The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
-“You bought a cottage for us.” Crowley is an animal being taught to speak through scraps of meat and electric shocks. “This cottage.”
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Say You’ll Be Mine – Christopher Cross
-Avery: “But if you wanted -” Fuck, there are tears in Avery’s eyes. “If you want. I’d like to call you my husband. I’d like to say ‘let me ask my husband,’ or ‘I brought my husband with me’ or ‘my husband won a BAFTA’.”
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Anthem - Leonard Cohen
-Their broken edges match. And somehow, the light still shines through.
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Precious Love – James Morrison
-When the light catches them both, they shine. And so do you. So do we.
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Good Man (acoustic) - Josh Ritter
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If you made it this far...wow, hi hello. So, this is ours and my musical exposure is limited, if you’ve got a better song for an excerpt, feel free to shoot it over, more than happy for this to be a living changeable thing. 🤡
#slow show#slow show playlist#tumblr html code after read more is some bullshit#it's fic for your ears
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Killing Eve ― 3x04 (Review)
Last episode was... something else for me. Episode 3 will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart because of Villaneve’s kiss and all that, but this episode. It has to be my favorite this season and if they keep up like that... not only will we have a PERFECT season, but it will be impossible for me to pick a favorite episode. I’ve watched it probably close to 10 times already and I’m not going to wait any longer. We have bunch of stuff to discuss! So let’s start!! (This will be a LONG review, so I apologize in advance lol!)
The Titles
It’s so interesting that they chose this season to experiment with episodes. Back in episode 2 we had the very first additional credits sequence which I, personally, liked a lot. However, maybe they didn’t like it as much? Since they didn’t use it anymore. I wonder why they haven’t placed the credits sequence in the premiere instead? It would still be unpredictable gesture, so I’m still wondering about it.
ANYWAYS! By titles, I meant the NAME titles this episode. The past two seasons we were used to having titles that indicate the names of PLACES e.g. RUSSIA, LONDON, TUSCANY ect. They are still doing that, in different way, the letters are smaller now and they use this interesting “blinds” effect that the letters appear and move like blinds would if we opened/closed them? Really nice touch, I must say. It’s something different, something we haven’t really seen before in the show.
Now the names. I’ve read a couple of people saying something like “why the name titles? we obviously know who the person is? so what’s the point of that?!” I found that quite funny lol! I mean, YES, we know exactly who they are but that’s not the reason why they’re using those name titles. Name titles, in this case, are to show us WHO the show is focusing on for the time being. That also means that the normal sequence of events will be disrupted since there won’t be any scenes switching between different characters. For some reason I felt like something like this happened before but then I remembered that something like this was used in another show called Dare Me! That’s why it felt so familliar and Killing Eve is exploring that type of narrative and honestly, I dig it. Yeah, it might get confusing for some people, having to bounce back and forth between the timeline and the events, but it’s perfect for those of us who has a sharp eye for details. It’s for the viewers who analyse and put pieces together. It’s exactly what Eve is doing at the end of the day with all the kills, isn’t it? So thinking about it, makes it all even more fascinating. Damn. I’m REALLY falling for the show... aren’t I?
The titles makes it SOO much easier for me to write these reviews as they basically tell which character they are focusing on right now and that’s what I did in my reviews lmao! I’ll just follow the characters in the episode so I’m sure you guys will be able to catch up with me with no problems!
Niko
So... THE MUSTACHE IS GONE.
I didn’t see it coming. The way they released all those trailers/sneak peeks featuring Niko made it seem like he was finally getting his fresh start and like, I had a feeling we might even get an episode fully focused on him and maybe Eve or something? So, that’s how well they mix things up. My mind, yet again, has been BLOWN.
Before we talk about the elephant in the room, I just want to say that Niko was a good person. I might not have been a huge fan of him, but I felt IT. Speaking of fans, I think it’s normal to NOT like him because he is playing the boring husband type and obviously he stands between Villaneve. But other than that, he IS a good, ordinary person. It’s a fact and Eve knows it. Niko keeps Eve grounded, safe, STABLE. He is all those things she found boring before in season 1 and didn’t appreciate enough I feel, because she was too used to them as all of us are.
He gets to play the part of a normal, ordinary man who got scared when he found out that his wife is chasing an assassin, who soon enough possibly murdered Eve’s colleague and a dear friend. Yet, it didn’t seem to slow Eve down nor did she notice any of the red flags in front of her face that straight up screamed DANGER. I think most of us would’ve reacted to things like that the way Niko did. Yes, we would’ve been a boring man/woman who the viewers hate, because they crave for danger and psychotic obssession filled with hatred and lust and a LOT of craziness. It’s what we crave now, watching the show and WAITING for Villaneve to happen.
This morning I’ve been watching a few of reactions of the episode and I got to explore different perspectives of people reacting to the same thing. I love that. I want to know what other people see in things, you know? And so... one of the people made a point about KE writers killing off whoever they want, probably to surprise the viewers as they probably don’t know how else to drive the story. Meaning that Kenny or Niko didn’t have to die. But that’s the whole point... one thing is to claim that they are doing whatever they want with the show, but another is to actually COME UP with ideas for a decent, I mean.. not even decent, AN AMAZING plot that people would be shocked and amazed by at the same time. You can only go this far without having to touch any of the main characters, you know? There comes a time when you have to make big, serious choices in terms of the story and this season Suzanne is GOING FOR IT. Like I mentioned in my previous post here, the first two seasons were amazing, but it only NOW feels like things are getting real. Suzanne took over and she’s getting shit done. She’s taking this responsibility and making huge important choices that will shift the main plot AND Villaneve in certain direction and so far it’s going sooo smoothly and brilliantly.
I mean, yes, Niko deserves to start over and have a nice life but the moment Villanelle found out about Eve... Niko’s fate was decided for him whether he liked it or not. And having him simply disappear from Eve’s life AND from the show as if nothing... I’d see it as waste of character’s potential. So instead of not having Niko around but have HIM affect the story in such a profound way, I think killing him off was a great idea. This way... his character gains so much more meaning and it helps to drive the main story forward, but most importantly it will change and affect Eve in ways we have never seen before. So, I think I’ve read somewhere that Owen McDonnell (Niko) wanted his character to go out with a bang, and he truly did. Yes, it was a very brutal, shocking death but it was definitely a very strong one.
Now, the soundtracks STRIKE yet again. I’m talking about Niko’s soundtrack, Dear Diary by The Moody Blues is soo well fitting for his character while showing him trying to start over with his life. It carries this... sort of bittersweet feeling, but at the same time it’s so... freeing? And the lyrics speak his story without Niko having to say anything at all.
“ Woke up too late. Wasn't where I should have been
For goodness sake, what's happening to me?”
Yeah, he WOKE UP a bit too late and realized that the life he had wasn’t really for him anymore.
“So many people by the score
Rushing around as senselessly
They don't notice there's people like me”
And we basically see him drive through the town and watch people going with their lives and not really notice him for who he is now, for what he had to go through. Probably none of them had to go through so much trauma and had their lives in danger the way Niko has.
“If they weren't so blind, then surely they'd see
There's a much better way for them to be”
Perfect description for Niko the previous two seasons. Now that he’s “woken up” I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought that way. Again, this show picks the soundtracks for a reason and I’m not sure if in first two seasons the songs described and spoke instead of characters, but this season they are really going for it.
Eve
Oh boy, where do we start?
So... from now on Eve spends her nights at Bitter Pill office. I mean, after being shot by a crazy assassin girlfriend, who, found out where Eve’s living now, it’s more than understandable for her to NOT want to stay in her apartment any longer. But staying in the office is not the best idea either. I mean, she still can go back to her apartment to clean up and all that? Guess not this day. Which happens to be her BIRTHDAY. I was convinced that Villanelle sent her the cake of a bus was only to remind her off their mindblowing kiss, because let’s remember back in 1x04 Villanelle had just murdered Bill and threw a birthday party to Konstantin. And it wasn’t his birthday. Yes, she tried to get on his good side, but I really thought this would be yet another example of Villanelle’s behavior. Turns out.. it IS Eve’s birthday... and my mind is blown yet again. I NEED to know what day is her birthday. Like, seriously?! And.. Niko hasn’t messaged her despite it being her birthday. Like.. you two have huge issues still, but hello? It’s your wife’s birthday... or maybe he forgot? But here is Villanelle not forgetting about Eve’s special day... and the fact that it’s a goddamn bus... WE GET IT, VILLANELLE, YOU’RE A HOPELESS ROMANTIC.
Before the cake arrives, we have a scene of Eve cleaning up in the bathroom, checking out her bruise and then the moment with Bear. Everything made total sense. Eve brushing her teeth, smelling herself, probably aware that she’s in desperate need for a shower, then again smelling her hair until Bear points it out for her. Yes, SMELL is the reoccuring theme in Killing Eve. So that was alright. Everything was going smoothly UNTIL Bear spotted the UNDERWEAR. Now, I did some digging to find a confirmation that it indeed was underwear and not some random piece of clothing or whatever... and in one of the recaps online they did say it was underwear. My question is... WHY? Why did they include THAT specific bit? The fact that Eve needs a shower was established more than ONCE, out loud and through a solo scene in the bathroom. So it got me thinking... and by thinking, I almost immediately got an idea... If it’s still not clear for you, let me remind you just how the last episode ended... with Eve sitting on her bed listening to Villanelle’s recording with her eyes closed. And now... the underwear being spotted and throwin in a bin and all the smell? Okay, I’m so going to say it now. Eve masterbated while listening to Villanelle’s voice. Okay. To me it happened and the underwear bit is a confirmation of that. And if that’s not the case... please let me know because I NEED to know what the hell did that bit mean. But until someone does that... I already know what happened and I’m happy with it.
Now the cake moment. So not only does Villanelle know where Eve’s apartment is but where she works?! This gurl is putting some EFFORT for her girlfriend and on top of that buying a very expensive cake which Eve threw off the rooftop moments later. The reason for that is.. Villanelle. Duh. I was completely mesmerized by that scene. Again, THE SOUNDTRACK. I love, love, LOVE this score that was playing during the scene. It’s probably another new addition to Unloved album, but if anyone has seen it somewhere or has a link, please let me know!! The lyrics do all the work in this scene too...
“Set me free”
It all started in season 1 episode 7 when Villanelle told Agniya that she’s free to go and do whatever she wanted to. She replied with “I don’t want to be free” so she was killed off. Now, Being FREE has been mentioned SEVERAL times this episode. Including the lyrics in the soundtrack AND Sandra Oh talking about Eve trying to FREE herself from the Twelve and basically from the life she has been living before. Such a huge theme for Killing Eve. What does it mean for Eve to be free? Is it the same thing as it is for Villanelle? Again, in the scene with the accountant’s wife, Bertha, Villanelle tells her “You’re free now. You can be whoever you want.” and the other replies only with “But.. I don’t want to be free”. What an iconic parallel. So, for Villanelle, being free is being alone, as it seems. And in this case Eve is desperately clinging to Niko because she, like Bertha, doesn’t want to be free. Or more like.. she THINKS she doesn’t want to be free. So all those small gifts coming from Villanelle including the cake tells Eve that she CAN be set free. And.. as we can see from how the episode eneded.. Eve is now finally FREE.
She opens the box soo carefully, not knowing what to expect from Villanelle and then sees the cake. Immediatelly gets flashbacks to their moment in the bus and how they fought and most importantly, KISSED. And next thing you know... we see how a gush of air blows in her face with the sound of someones BREATH. The sound of it is soo familiar. We know exactly who it is. Villanelle, breathing in Eve’s face. And for a second she closes her eyes. Gives into it... into Villanelle but then something shifts, the struggle within her continues to take over and she grabs the cake once she gets emotional and throws it off the roof. Only to instantly regret it afterwards. The complexity of this scene and of Eve’s character is just.. on one hand she hates feeling like this now that she knows she has feelings for Villanelle, but on the other hand she likes it... she admits it and a part of her just wants to give in. We saw the same thing, only reversed feelings, in previous episode. She finally gave in and kissed Villanelle only to headbutt her right after, once she realized what she did and how WRONG it’s supposed to be. Here, she gives in for a moment.. closes her eyes and then realizes how fucked up that is and what a terrible person and WIFE she must be so she throws it off and THEN the feelings for Villanelle comes back... I just have to say.. I’M LOVING THIS! I hope that at the end of the season Eve WILL fully accept her feelings for Villanelle and become new version of herself, new version of Eve who is FREE. And I can’t wait to see what kind of person will independent Eve be like.
Next. Eve and Jamie. I’ve seen pictures of them in Jamie’s house and I did NOT like that atll. I still have a feeling something might happen between them and god, do I hope I’m wrong. But that scene as they were just chilling in his living room was so great for Eve because she needed someone to have this frank conversation with. She has been focusing on herself lately so much that she didn’t think other people did mistakes or terrible things like she did until Jamie proved her wrong. FINALLY we are getting some information about the dude. Even if it’s not pretty. At least it’s the truth. Eve really needed to hear it and especailly the ‘choices’ part. Someone had to remind her that SHE is in control of her own life and it all depends on the choices she makes at the end of the day.
Speaking of choices, as soon as Eve gets a reply from Niko, she gets hopeful and goes even as far as to meet him. I appreciate that she is putting so much effort in trying to fix things between her and Niko, but at the same time I feel she’s only doing this for herself... meaning, that she doesn’t want to lose the person that keeps her somewhat SANE still and used to ground her. And in the middle of this, she gets so distracted with this thing with Niko, she doesn’t even realize that it’s not actually Niko who’s messaging her and really, I don’t blame her for not realizing it, I, myself, the first time watching didn’t catch the sight of Dasha in the beginning and yeah I was also played like Eve. But this is where I noticed a nice similarity/parallel between Eve and Villanelle. Eve’s all distracted with Niko and desperate to patch things up, she’s not realizing how someone else might be manipulating/using her. DASHA is doing exactly that. And she does the same thing with Villanelle at the same time. Now, Villanelle is all about family this season, whenever she hears about family, suddenly she’s distracted and the same is with power. I mean.. is she really that naive to trust Dasha again? It looks like Villanelle believes everything Dasha tells her, or almost everything. And so Dasha gets to manipulate her into doing what she wants her to do.
Gotta mention the teddy bear Eve found in one of Jamie’s rooms she’s staying at. Literally the previous night Villanelle sent her a teddy bear with recording and even here... at some strangers house she finds a teddy bear. Seems like she can’t get away from Villanelle no matter how much she tries. “What do you want from me?” She’s asking Villanelle because she clearly isn’t leaving her alone.
The last scene with Eve witnessing Niko’s death... all I can say is GIVE SANDRA OH A GODDAMN EMMY ALREADY!!! Her seeing Niko suddenly being stabbed with a fucking pitchfork in the neck forced her to freeze and stare in terror and that chuckle of disbelief that followed afterwards.. as if saying “am I dreaming? Is this really happening? It can’t be” because Kenny JUST died... what are the fucking odds someone just stabbed Niko in front of her eyes?! I would lose my SHIT... and Sandra expressed it so beautifully... her slowly approaching the scene but then has that massive lump in her throat and she can’t breath and next second she’s losing her balance and falling to her knees in complete defeat and just stares at his body... powerless to do anything about it. This scene and the scene where Konstantin tells Villanelle that Eve is alive.. these two scenes HAVE to bring Jodie and Sandra EMMY’S because thats ART of acting and pure talent and I can’t imagine them NOT getting the awards they deserve. And they deserve EVERY single one.
So there is literally NO ONE left for Eve. Bill’s long gone, Kenny as well, now Niko. I think that will be the last straw for Eve. I really don’t know how she will be able to come back from this or.. keep going. She’ll have to do it to avenge the people she loved. But she really has no one except Villanelle now. And I think.. yeah, Villanelle will also only have Eve when she’s done with her “family” and realizes that Konstantin/Dasha were playing her and Eve all over again.
Konstantin
You’re in some DEEP shit, mister.
Question time. Why Konstantin went to visit Irina? What was the point of doing so? Was it only so he could ask about the German car that his wife’s boyfriend owns? Or was it purely on Irina’s part? Because the conversation they had proved once more that Konstantin is NOT fooling anyone. Everybody knows he’s working for himself. Eve pointed it out during Kenny’s funeral, then Villanelle with “You’re full of shit” and now Irina, paralleling Villanelle by saying “you’re full of shit” and walking off. This girl has grown so much and she’s soo mature already and smart and a fucking badass! I missed her. And by putting her father in his place she mentioned ending up “dead” .. you know what that sounds like to me? FORESHADOWING. It is exactly that, isn’t it? For Irina to straight up tell him his future if he doesn’t stop whatever he’s doing. And I guess he won’t stop.. or will he?
So... was it him who stole those 6 millions? I thought it was Sergei... but it kind of seemed like someone set him up. Was it Konstantin? Because when he went to visit Bertha and she mentioned about how her husband worked out who took the money... and Konstantin’s face during that scene... he is literally shitting his pants lol! That makes me believe he had something to do with this and he defintitely has... but what exactly did he do? And now that Bertha knows about the email and some information about it, Konstantin doesnt hesitate to reach out to Villanelle to ask her to get rid of the accountants wife only to save his own arse. Once again.
Next up: Konstantin’s relationship with his DAUGHTERS. Am I the only one who sees that Konstantin is treating Irina AND Villanelle the same way?! They basically have the same dynamic. Both Irina and Villanelle curse at Konstantin, have their small tantrums with him and can put him in his place. And both of them have already done so. And let’s not forget... the producers ALSO call Villanelle and Irina his DAUGHTERS so it’s confirmed. Everybody knows it. And recently I saw a BTS video of this latest episode about Konstantin and hearing Jodie then say “then there’s Konstantin’s REAL daughter” and then there’s dramatic close up on Villanelle LMAO! The jealousy and the way they edited it... damn. Okay, let’s just agree Villanelle is Konstantin’s daughter.
Now, did he visit Geraldine?! Because when we saw Carolyn drive back home, she saw Konstantin walking from the same direction her place is located. And her daughter was home at the time... so did Geraldine lie about Konstantin not visiting her and being there or she didn’t even know when Konstantin sneaked inside? I’m getting really suspicious now.
Villanelle
GO AWAY, HICCUPS
Villanelle? Listening to MUSIC? What did I miss? Back in season 1 she was interested only in national anthems. Now she’s listening to other kind of music?! Music to me is EVERYTHING, it’s a massive escape, it’s something that helps me get through every day and it evokes FEELINGS. It is associated with feelings so much and what does it say about Villanelle? That she has FEELINGS. The layers are slowly being peeled off her as Oksana is coming out and I can’t wait for the next episode. I’ll write another small analysis/discussion about Oksana and Villanell soon as I feel this deserves a separate discussion.Going back to the topic of music, at the end of the episode Villanelle arrives HOME and is wearing headphones indicating that she probably was listening to music on her way there. I’m sensing BIG changes. Villanelle is truly progressing and developing and we are getting to witness it!
Okay. the part we all have been waiting for. THE HICCUPS. The very first time they start is EXACTLY after Konstantin mentions “FAMILY” Villanelle is really invested in her family now and was in previous episode so now knowing that Konstantin found them probaly quickened her breathing and she got nervous/excited. The hiccups are involuntary contractions. You can’t control it. And at the same time they tend to be constant. We have never seen Villanelle have them before. And they only start after she hears “FAMILY”. This reminds me of a scene in 1x02 where Konstantin tells Villanelle Eve’s name for the first time and then suddenly the champagne’s bottle pops. It’s a sign. And the hiccups seemed to stop for a short period of time, right until Bertha approaches Villanelle and tells her that she wants to be a FAMILY and hugs her. Seconds later hiccups come back. The concept of FAMILY must be very foreign to Villanelle. It’s something she never really had and so now learning about her family, something so unknown to her, is affecting her body. And the way I see it... the hiccups are like a constant reminder to her, that yes, she never had family and that she’s finally interested to find that family again. So the hiccups symbolize the LOSS of something she never had. In this case, her family. Because we see her get off the train at the end of the episode and she reaches out to touch her neck. This scene for me has so many different meanings it’s sooo fascinating? And one of the meanings, probably the main one, is that she reaches out to her neck once she realizes that hiccups are finally gone. And that is exactly when she’s back at HOME. Back where her FAMILY is. So it’s like... she’s no longer alone, the void from before has been filled because she found her family now.
Now, the very first time I watched the episode and that last scene.. I was like “shit, did she, by any chance, feel Niko’s pain?!” I mean that’s IMPOSSIBLE. Because Niko has just been stabbed in the neck with pitchfork and yeah it just occured to me. But then... I realized that maybe it’s not Niko’s pain she’s feeling but EVE’S. We see Eve freeze and struggle to breathe and have lump in her throat and that’s when Villanelle stops having her hiccups and she has this MOMENT. Almost the same moment as Eve had when she felt Villanelle’s BREATH on her face.The connection thesr two have... I mean.. VILLANEVE IS ENDGAME, OKAY?!
We got a tiny problem now. Dasha FRAMED Villanelle. It got me thinking.. this is basically a betrayal. And could that mean.. that maybe Dasha did something similar to Villanelle in the past? Like, framed her with some kill? Could it be that huge thing that happened between the two of them? I hope we will find out at some point this season. And I mean.. the way Dasha killed Niko is NOT Villanelle’s style at all. Villanelle had PLENTY of chances to kill Niko herself and she didn’t because she knew well enough that if she hurts Niko, Eve will never forgive her for that. So she didn’t. But Eve doesn’t know that. She wasn’t a part of that conversation Villanelle had with Niko and Gemma. What Eve does know... is Villanelle’s handwriting. The iconic “Sorry Baby” should be a perfect example. Let’s not forget the postcard Villanelle sent to Eve in Amsterdam. Yes, Carolyn took it, but maybe... she’ll give it to Eve once she knows what happened? I mean there is NO way Eve will believe that crappy note is Villanelle’s. Not even her handwriting. Plus... if Villanelle wanted to kill Niko, I don’t think she would’ve done it in front of her eyes. And even if she did... I think she would have wanted Eve to SEE her do it. At the end of the day, Villanelle wants Eve to know about each and every kill she does. And Niko wouldn’t be an exception. She’d leave a PERSONAL note/message for Eve. What did Dasha leave?! “Still Got It”? Really bitch? Is that a note to Eve or Villanelle? If it’s to Villanelle... you just prepared your grave, Dasha. I can only imagine Eve finding out it was Dasha and ending up killing her to avenge her husband. And Villanelle being there to gladly assist her with everything she needs.
Carolyn
Never thought frog sounds could be this relaxing
She’s still dealing with Kenny’s death. In her own way. I mean, I understand Geraldine completely when she confronts her mom and basically tells her that she wants them to talk about Kenny’s death. If I was in her place, I would want to talk about it too. But Carolyn doesn’t seem to operate in that way. Plus, she dropped the line “there are things you don’t tell me, that are for quite different reasons” and she means it about Konstantin. She saw him leave her house. Geraldine said nothing about it. So... is she working with Konstantin now? What’s happening?
The dynamic between Carolyn and Konstantin though. Both of them are double agents and ready to betray one another at any given time despite knowing each other for YEARS. One minute they are working together as they were in season 2, then now Konstantin is doing his own thing, and even maaybe going behind Carolyn’s back with her own DAUGHTER?! I don’t believe this. I don’t think Geraldine knows about him visiting the house.. or does she?!
She comes back home, lies down and turns on frog sounds to relax herself while grabbing a pillow to press against her own face. Makes me wonder if she did it because she kept on repeating that she MISSES Kenny’s smell, but why would that pillow smell like him? So maybe she only wants to run away from the world and shut off by grabbing the pillow? Though for a moment or two I really got worried she might be suffocating herself lol! Careful with grief, Carolyn!
Dasha
The old hag of the hour.
You fucked up, Dasha. BIG TIME. But before we get into the killing, I have to mention the scene where she meets the Lady of the Twelve. That’s what I will call her from now on. So, she’s either a keeper, or someone higher. I don’t think she is one of the Twelve, but she might be very close to them. Probably an assistant or something? Because she obviously has the power to HANDLE the HANDLERS. In this case, Dasha. I mean, I only saw her once and I already have the hotts for this lady, but she’s one of the bad guys and... WHEN DID THAT STOP ME BEFORE? I’m literally in love with a psychotic assassin LOL!
Can I just point out the fact that the Twelve KNOW about VILLANEVE??? Apparently they have spies EVERYWHERE, like Eve said back in season 1 episode 3. “They are completely invisible and they could be literally everywhere”. That explains someone spotted Villanelle going around London, buying expensive ass perfume only to visit and fight with her girlfriend. And the Twelve know it. That’s a HUGE thing. They are treating it like a huge thing and they do not like Villanelle chasing Eve. That makes me think... so why would Konstantin let Villanelle know that Eve is alive if he is also working for the Twelve?! The same is with Carolyn and Eve!! Like?? Who is working for who now and who is betraying who?! I need explanations and QUICK!
Now Dasha proposing she can kill Eve... is this yet another foreshadowing moment? I know, the lady told her NOT to do it, but I have a feeling Dasha will try to hurt Eve at some point... and I hope Eve will be ready for it. As much as I would LOVE for Villanelle to save Eve.. I want Eve to handle Dasha by herself and take her revenge. I want dark!Eve at the end of this season. Am I asking for too much?! She already killed once. Might as well do it twice lol!
So Dasha is supposed to “drive a wedge” between Eve and Villanelle. And when I realized Dasha stole Niko’s phone and was texting Eve to come to him... my first thought was “Okay, so is Dasha really trying to bring Eve and Niko back together?!?” But that is complete NONSENSE! I mean, I don’t think even a professional therapist will be able to bring them back together OR let alone recommend them to try to fix their marriage so how in the HELL would Dasha do it? It didn’t make sense.. but how else can she really fuck up Villaneve? Apprently by getting rid of Niko!! Dasha, sweetie... you ONLY BROUGHT THEM CLOSER BY ELIMINATING THE ONLY OBVIOUS OBSTACLE IN THEIR WAY!!! The hell was she thinking?! Does she really believe Eve will fall for her bullshit? Or does she expect Eve to find out it was HER and that’s when Dasha gets to kill Eve?! I don’t think she’s that smart. Either way... Dasha is done. I can totally see her dying this season, or possibly somehow magically escaping but I doubt it. Eve and Villanelle will deal with this bitch and it will be SOO delicious to watch them get their revenge.
Overall Thoughts
JESUS. This was a LONG ass review. I honestly apologize, but if you reached this point, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You’re all amazing for spending your time reading my nonsense lol! It’s just that this episode had soo many great things worth discussing and so many symbols and meanings that make the show so complex and fascinating and god... I could talk about it for hours. I probably spend around 3-4 hours writing this so yeah, the proof that I have a serious fixation lol!
But like I said.. this episode is my favorite this season. Perfect. I can only imagine how great the next 4 episodes will be. Also, can’t believe we are already halfway into the season. It’s crazy how quick the time flies!
And as always, if you have any thoughts/reactions/predictions you’d like to share don’t be afraid to message me or drop in my askbox!! I’m always up for discussing things like that!!
#ke spoilers#killing eve#villanelle#jodie comer#eve polastri#sandra oh#villaneve#ke s3#ke 3x04#ke review*#ke*#ke 3x04 review#this shit is LONG™#creation
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91✨November19,2020
The Sally To My Jack😻🦁🧠🥰💘
We hadn’t seen each other, in close to 5 years.
However, neither of us could forget that night.
We kept in periodic flirtatious contact throughout the years.
I drove all the way to Philly, to spend the evening with this Lion. I had met only one time prior. (Tinder gem)
We meet at his apartment and he looked so handsome in his grey button up and green pants.
I words my new green tie die dress and he said he loved it.
We hugged and walked into his apartment building. He lived on the first floor and his place was so cute! And super well decorated with solid musical art.
We walked 3 blocks to the restaurant he made us a reservation at, and he realized he had forgotten the wine he got us. So we walk back to the apartment to grab it.
We get back to the restaurant, and I realize I fucking forgot my mask on his sofa. He runs inside to tell the hostess and she was cool about it.
We walk back to his apartment again and he wasn’t pissed. He just laughed at me.
Finally we sit down in the restaurant and I quickly realized how curly swanky and hipster this joint was.
No menus, just a chalk board of their 3 course meal options. I don’t remember what we got, but everything was super delicious!
We shared bites of our dishes. And he poured us some wine.
There was no awkwardness between us whatsoever.
We talked about his Pink Floyd preferences and he told me he had the Wall in f vinyl but Dark Side was his favorite.
I forgave him, then asked if I could buy the lyric poster that sneakily resided inside the pocket of that vinyl.
He said “that’s so specific, you can definitely just have it”
I died with excitement
We wind up being the only 2 people in the restaurant and both of us immediately feel guilty, so we ask for the check.
He insisted on paying for all of it, and right then and there, my heart puked. Luckily nobody noticed. The bill was more expensive than I thought.
We walk back to his apartment and I had to pee so bad.
While I was peeing, he grabbed the wall album, and had it ready by the time I got out.
I immediately gush about the fact that he remembered and sat Indian style next to his record collection
He played Motion city soundtrack first because I told him I only knew 2 songs and that was not enough.
I loved it especially my favorite jam by them (Everything is Alright)
Then he gives me a watermelon while claw and asks if I wanna go to the building’s roof top
I say yes, then tell him that I desperately needed a cigarette.
He was hyped because he thought I didn’t smoke anymore and he also wanted to smoke.
We go up 3 flights of steps and onto this amazing roof top that over looked all of Philly
We talk more and make up stories about the people in the apartments across the street that we could clearly see from the roof.
We finish our claws and head back inside.
I feel obligated to let him know that I couldn’t leave yet because I was tired and tipsy.
He says ever so sweetly“ I assumed you would just crash here tonight”
Then we dance around to The Blurry face album and reminisce about our first date 5 years ago, when he first showed me Twenty One Pilots
He vividly remembered that night too, which made me feel less weird
After Ride, he asked if I ever saw the move “It’s Such a Beautiful Day”. I hadn’t, so we get cozy and watch it.
It was brutally beautiful
After that, he suggested V for Vendetta since I still hadn’t seen it. It was my Pop pops all time favorite movie. But I felt ready to watch it finally because I was with him.
He turned out the lights and we leaned on each other and held hands for a while.
It was fucking amazing...so far.
I passed out on his shoulder half way through and then apologized.
He suggested that we watch it tomorrow when we wake up. And I was shocked because I thought maybe he wasn’t feelin it, with me.
He says pick a side and pointed to his bed. And I crawled into the corner near the wall and window. I quietly prayed for him to make a move.
He spooned me, then I grabbed his hand, and we both passed out.
Around 3 am, I woke up to pee and get a drink of water.
I get back in bed, turned away from him and he pulled me in tighter and I turned around and smirked.
Just as I smiled, he grabbed my face and kissed me.
I couldn’t help but to arch my back further into his lap and wiggle.
After a few minutes of intense kissing, his hand was rubbing my pussy over my tights and panties.
I turn around and finally face him, while we still made out like animals.
I grab his already stiff dick, and begin to stroke it.
A few minutes later, I got up and worshipped that cock with my mouth, like I’ve been dying to do for years.
He moaned and I got so fucking wet.
He couldn’t take it anymore, so he goes to rip off my tights.
He couldn’t get them off fast enough, and we both start laughing
Once he got them off of me, his head was buried between my legs and my eyes rolled to the back of my head.
After a few minutes of teasing me, I begged him to put that cock inside of me.
He ripped his shirt off, and pounded me so fucking gooooooood!
He choked me, spanked me, and bit my lip.
It was fucking sensational!!!!!
After we both came, we casually went back to spooning and holding hands.
I woke up around 8 and had to pee again. This time I used his toothpaste to finger brush my teeth; because cotton mouth and morning breath
I crawled back into bed, hoping I wouldn’t disturb him.
He put his arm over me again.
Then round 2 happened so sweetly
It was even better than round one, because he railed me from behind. It was beyond perfect
After round 2, we both sleep till 1pm.
Neither of us wanted to leave his bed, so he suggested we watch the rest of v for Vendetta.
Both of watched the last hour and change of the movie, naked under the covers.
We tickled each other’s arms and held hands.
After the movie, I finally understood exactly why it was my pop pop’s favorite.
I gushed about it and thanked him for showing me
He thanked me for watching both movies with him
I didn’t wanna overstay my welcome, so I asked him if he wanted to smoke before I took my journey home before it got dark outside.
We sat on his front stoop and both of us expressed how glad we were to make the night before happen.
We went back inside and I put my tights and panties back on while we talked about concerts coming back.
We both agreed to kill ourselves from his rooftop, if they didn’t by summer
Then I said “ you could have a concert here in this studio”
He laughed and said I was right.
He grabs his acoustic guitar, hanging from his wall, and starts Serenading me.
Time stood still and my heart was melted into a puddle.
He played and sang 5 songs for me.
All of them I loved
2 of them, I actually knew
Needless to say I was smitten as fuck before we parted ways
Before I left, he thanked me multiple times for coming and made it a point to let me know how much fun he had.
Clearly the feels were mutual and I squeezed him tightly for a sec.
Then he pulled me in even tighter and we slow danced for a minute.
I kissed him a few more times and both our our hearts were in sync
It was close to 4pm when I finally left, and I didn’t wanna leave at all.
He told me I didn’t have to, but I’m an insecure bitch and thought he was only trying to be nice.
So he walked me out, I had my new poster in my hand, looked down at it one more time and sighed with overwhelming gratitude, and thanked him again.
We kissed one more time and I left Philly absolutely in love again.
He’s literally everything and more that I ever need.
A Leo
Showed me twenty one pilots
Sad and cynical like me
And an empath!!!!
Dear god my heart is in real trouble now.
I will NEVER GET OVER THIS DATE
#me#write#writer#writing#writers of tumblr#words#letters#thoughts#feelings#Leo’s#love#lust#long time coming#second date#perfect date#he’s amazing#holy shit
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Satisfied?
We examine what Letterboxd reviews of Hamilton reveal about the musical’s cultural currency in 2020.
In this absolutely insane year, when our love of movies feels helpless in the face of pandemic-induced economic collapse, some extremely good decisions are being made on behalf of audiences. Studio Ghibli on streaming platforms. Virtual screenings to support art house cinemas. Free streaming of many important films about Black experience. And: Disney+ releasing the filmed version of Hamilton: An American Musical—recorded at the Richard Rodgers Theater in 2016 with most of its original Broadway cast—a year ahead of schedule, on Independence Day weekend.
“Superlative pop art,” writes Wesley of the filmed musical. “Hamilton wears its influences and themes on its sleeve, and it’s all the better for it. Lin-Manuel Miranda and his team employ an unlikely cocktail of not only hip-hop and showtunes, but also jazz (‘What’d I Miss?’), British-Invasion pop-rock (‘You’ll Be Back’), folk music (‘Dear Theodosia’) and Shakespeare (‘Take a Break’) in service of developing an impressively vast array of themes. This is a testament to the power of writing, an immigrant narrative, a cautionary tale about ambition, a tragic family drama, and a reevaluation of who decides the narrative of history.”
2016 may only be a half-decade ago, but it feels like an eon in American political years. With theaters dark and America’s long record of racism under urgent scrutiny, the complex smash-hit lands back in the spotlight at an interesting time. Is Hamilton “the most offensive cultural artefact of the last decade”, as Lee writes? Or “timeless and wholly of the moment”, as Tom suggests? The answer, according to a deep read of your Letterboxd reviews, is “all of the above”.
First things first: why now?
Sophie has a theory:
“Disney executive: Hey we’re losing a lot of money because our parks are closed. How do we start making money again?
Other Disney executive: It might be nice, it might be nice… to get Hamilton on our side.”
Sure, business. Still, it’s historically unprecedented that a Broadway show of this caliber (a record-setting sixteen Tony nominations, eleven wins, plus a Grammy and a Pulitzer) would be filmed and released to the public while it’s still, in a Covid-free universe, capable of filling theaters every night. Will people stay away when Broadway reopens because they’re all Disney+’d out?
No chance, reckons Erika. “I’d still kill to see Hamilton live with any cast… I get why producers are afraid that these videos might hurt ticket sales, but I’m fucking ready to buy a ticket and fly to NY one day just to see as many shows as I can after watching this.”
Not every musical fan has the resources to travel, often waiting years for a touring version to come near their hometown. And even if you do live in a town with Hamilton, the ticket price is beyond many; a daily lottery the only way some of us get to go. So Holly-Beth speaks for many when she writes: “I entered the Hamilton lottery every day for almost two years but I never got to be in the room where it happens… however, this 4K recording of the original cast will do very nicely for now! Finally getting to see the context and performances after obsessing over the music for years was so, so satisfying.”
“Finally” is a common theme. Sydnie writes, “I love this musical with every fiber of my body and it was an extraordinary experience finally getting to watch it in Australia”. Flogic: “To finally be able to put the intended visuals to a soundtrack that I’ve had on repeat for such a long time: goosebumps for 160 minutes.” Newt Potter: “Now I fully understand people’s love for this masterpiece of a musical!”
I’ve got a small query for you.
Where’s the motherfucking swearing? Unsurprisingly, Disney+ comes with some limitations. For Hamilton, it’s the loss of a perfectly placed F-word.
“I know Disney is ‘too pure’ to let a couple of ‘fucks’ slip by,” writes Fernando, “but come on, it’s kind of distracting having the sound go out completely when they sing the very satisfying ‘Southern Motherfucking Democratic Republicans!’ line.”
Will agrees: “Disney cutting ‘motherfucking’ from ‘Washington on Your Side’ felt like sacrilege akin to Mickey Mouse taking an eyebrow pencil to the Mona Lisa.”
Nevertheless, sings Allison:
“Even tho Disney stripped the story of its f***s,
Don’t think for a moment that it sucks.”
(Yes, she has a vegan alert for Hamilton.)
Does it throw away its shot?
The crew filmed two regular shows in front of live audiences, with additional audience-less sessions for a dolly, crane and Steadicam to capture specific numbers. The vast majority of you are satisfied. “It’s the most engaging and expertly crafted life filming I’ve seen since Stop Making Sense,” writes ArtPig. “The film does an incredible job of placing you right in the action. It feels like the best seat you could get in the theater. You can see the sweat and spit.”
“Translates perfectly onto the small screen,” agrees Ollie. “There’s a level of intimacy that feels hard to replicate in any other filmed production. We see those close ups, the passion and gusto behind every actor’s performance.”
“Shockingly cinematic for something filmed on such a small stage,” is Technerd’s succinct summary, while Paul praises director Thomas Kail: “He knows when to back away along with moving nearer when appropriate, and the choices always serve to govern the power and stamina of the performances.”
Though cast members’ voices were recorded on individual audio tracks, Noah had a few quibbles with the sound quality. “Some of the audio capture is off in the recording, sometimes voices being too soft or too loud. It’s not immersion breaking, but it is noticeable enough to irk me a little in pivotal moments. Some of the shot composition doesn’t fully work either. Of course nothing is going to be as good as seeing it in person.”
Robert, recalling another recent cinematic escapade of musical theater, lets his poetry do the talking:
“This will do for now until the true movie’s made,
Though if Hooper directs, there’ll be an angry tirade.”
I think your pants look hot.
Hamilton fans have their cast favorites, but something about being able to see Jonathan Groff’s spittle and Leslie Odom Jr’s scowls in 4K has you losing it all over again. Several specific shout-outs we enjoyed:
“Daveed Diggs the Legend! Go watch Blindspotting (2018), it’s one of the best movies ever!” —Kyle
“It’s hard to believe anyone will ever top Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr. I already loved him from the original cast recording, but seeing his full performance in all its glory was just godly.” —Erika
“Thankful that it was made possible for me to view with such clarity the phenomenon that is Renée Elise Goldsberry and spectacular Phillipa Soo.” —Thea
“Daveed Diggs was electrifying and Jonathan Groff was absolutely hilarious. If they interacted together the stage would’ve combusted from the sheer will of their talent.” —Nick
This is not a game.
On one hand, the release of Hamilton is sweet relief for music theater nerds riding out the pandemic. A generation of kids knows every word by heart, rapping (this version of) American history like it’s no thing. On the other, the Obama-era musical already feels behind-the-times, even for many Hamilton lovers, and the filmed version has brought that into sharp focus.
“I listened to the OG cast album about 50 times when it came out, the production is about as good as I’d always hoped,” writes Josh. “Since then however there’s been a very important and broader reckoning with the failures of neoliberalism and the Obama years ([from] which this has to be the most emblematic piece of art) and for me personally a drifting further to the left that has resulted in a very different relationship with the material. So my feelings today are a bit more complicated.”
“Hamilton is extremely non-committal about its politics,” writes Sting. “It doesn’t examine much of what Hamilton dictated besides ‘he wants complete financial control of the country’ (which would sound like a fucking supervillain in any other context, including reality).”
That lack of political commitment, reckons Morgan, is what helped Hamilton as a musical become so popular: “It’s fun. It’s catchy. It interweaves trendy and socially relevant artistic tools to infer a subversive subtext, while simultaneously sanitizing and, at times, flat out fabricating the historical narrative and downplaying the brutality of the true origin story, for the sake of appeasing those in power. Classic Bill Shakespeare stuff.”
History has its eyes on you.
Much criticism lies with the fundamental storytelling decision to make a modern ruckus about America’s Founding Fathers, the men (including Alexander Hamilton) who in the late eighteenth century united the thirteen colonies and co-wrote the Constitution. Undisputed titans of history, they also have blood on their hands, and HoneyRose writes that the musical “glorifies these men, and paints them as self-sacrificing heroes, and honestly normalizes and validates slavery, as well as the behavior of slave owners.”
Stevie, who saw the Broadway production as well as the filmed version, confesses: “I’ve tried (I’ve really tried) to understand what makes people lose their minds over this but I’m still completely baffled by the hype… These were horrible men and a romanticism of them through song and dance just seems entirely misguided.”
Sean is not convinced that Hamilton is a hagiography. “I can’t imagine anyone watching all of this and thinking it paints a portrait of the Founding Fathers as anything other than childish, greedy, venal and self-aggrandizing.” Wesley agrees: “I don’t think Hamilton is trying to be a history lesson, so much as a lesson about how we think about history. It’s a compelling human story told in a revolutionary way.”
That “revolutionary way” is the musical’s central conceit: that of a cast-of-color playing the white founding fathers as they bumble towards independence. Journalist Jamelle Bouie, who regards the musical as “fun, exciting, innovative and, at points, genuinely moving,” wrestles with the “celebratory narrative in which the Framers are men to admire without reservation. Through its casting, it invites audiences of color to take ownership of that narrative, as if they should want to take ownership of a narrative that white-washes the history of the revolution under the guise of inclusion.”
It’s complicated for Matt, too: “It’s widely agreed upon that the show encapsulates the Obama era better than anything, how it coddles white liberals with a post-racial vision of history in a superficial sense, overlooking the insidious and oppressive systems that they benefit from (hearing the audience clap to ‘Immigrants, we get the job done’ unsettled me). Of course hopefully its legacy will be that it opened up more Broadway roles for POC. But I really think that the show doesn’t make Broadway more appealing and accessible to POC, it just makes hip hop more accessible to white people, a launching pad of course to listening to Watsky or something.
“No hate though to anyone that’s completely in love with this, it’s definitely worth seeing despite any hang ups.”
I wanna build something that’s gonna outlive me.
The story doesn’t end, just because the music does. Kai_Kenn has a suggestion: “I have been a part of discussions that dissect the culture that created Hamilton, as well as the culture that Hamilton created, and whether or not Hamilton appropriately addresses the modern issues [that] the cult following proposes it does.
“This is an ongoing discussion that I am trying to be an active listener in and, if you consider yourself to be a conscientious consumer of art, you should too.”
Noah is on board with that: “Reflecting on the past and focusing on the future are not two mutually exclusive actions. Both are a must, regardless of who you are or what you do. A five-star experience in a four-and-a-half-star film. I think that’s just fine.”
Related content
Want to see more of the key cast? Watch Daveed Diggs in ‘Blindspotting’; Renée Elise Goldsberry in ‘Waves’, Jonathan Groff repeat his role as Kristoff in ‘Frozen 2’, Lin-Manuel Miranda in ‘Mary Poppins Returns’, Leslie Odom Jr. in ‘Harriet’, Phillipa Soo in the forthcoming ‘Broken Hearts Gallery’, Christopher Jackson in the forthcoming ‘In The Heights’, Jasmine Cephas Jones in ‘The Photograph’, Okiereriete Onaodowan in ‘A Quiet Place II’ and Anthony Ramos in ‘Monsters and Men’ and ‘A Star is Born’.
Ways to support the Black Lives Matter movement
Official Black Lives Matter’s Resources
Teenagers that have ‘Hamilton’ stuff on their bedroom walls
Films where they mention ‘Hamilton’
#hamilton#hamilton an american musical#disney#disney plus#disney+#lin manuel miranda#leslie odom jr#daveed diggs#founding fathers#constitution#broadway#richard rodgers theatre#jonathan groff#letterboxd#renee elise goldsberry#phillipa soo#christopher jackson#musical theater edit#musical theatre#anthony ramos
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Cottagecore Films (pt. 9)
Classic Disney Edition - Original Princess Trio!
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
starring Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Pinto Colvig, Roy Atwell, Otis Harlan, Billy Gilbert, Scotty Matraw, Eddie Collins, Harry Stockwell
A young and beautiful princess, Snow White, grows up under the threatening watch of her stepmother, the Evil Queen. One day, the Queen’s Magic Mirror tells her that she is no longer the fairest in the land, but that Snow White is. Enraged and jealous, the Queen orders her huntsman to kill Snow White, but at the last moment, he is unable to strike. Snow White flees into the woods, and soon arrives at the cozy home of the local dwarves. When the dwarves return from work, they are terrified to discover that someone has been in their house. However, when they meet Snow White, they are immediately taken by her kindness and allow her to stay. The group celebrates with dinner and a small party, but their bliss doesn’t last for long. When the dwarves leave again for work in the morning, Snow White encounters a mysterious old woman--unbeknownst to her, it’s the Evil Queen in disguise--selling apples, who cons her way into the dwarves’ home and gives Snow White a poison apple. When the dwarves find her, they believe her to be dead, and place her in a gold and glass coffin. It seems that all is lost, but true love has other plans.
I’ve seen this movie many times, and as a kid I actually really disliked it. I thought Snow White was a passive and boring character, but on this watch-through I was surprised by how poorly I interpreted her previously. Snow White is a 14 year old girl, but packs such bravery as could rival any Prince Charming. She’s still very clearly a child though, with her innocence, positivity, and unjaded outlook. She puts others’ needs before her own constantly and always finds the good in everyone. She’s still naive though, which is clear from her open interaction with the old woman/Evil Queen, despite knowing that her life was in danger if the Queen found her. After she escapes death by the huntsman’s blade, she runs panicked through the forest, with everything mutating into horrors around her, just as a young, frightened girl would. She’s immediately comforted by the animals afterward, which is reflective of how readily young people can bounce back from trauma. The Evil Queen was also a lot darker than I recall. I was terrified of her as a kid, but I’m still terrified as an adult for an entirely new set of reasons. What kind of woman tries to kill a child over beauty, then celebrates that she’ll be buried alive after eating the poison apple? That kind of coldness and brutality is absolutely horrifying, even now. She may be the most dangerous and genuinely evil Disney villain in history, and she was the very first. 7/10
Cinderella (1950)
starring Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Lucille Bliss, Rhoda Williams, James MacDonald
When Cinderella’s father passes away, she’s left with her vain, greedy, and cruel stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. She works as their scullery maid every day, until an urgent message from the King arrives. The castle will host a ball for the prince to meet an eligible maiden, and she quickly organizes the chateau and dons the dress her animal friends made for her, hoping to at least attend the ball. However, just as they are about to leave, the stepsisters destroy her dress, dashing her dreams. As she weeps, her fairy godmother appears, dressing her magnificently and creating a splendid carriage for her. She arrives at the ball, catching the undivided attention of the prince (unbeknownst to her), with whom she spends the rest of the night dancing. She nearly loses track of time as the clock tolls midnight; as she flees the castle, she drops her glass slipper, and narrowly escapes the king’s guards. The next day, the Grand Duke visits every maiden in the kingdom, trying the slipper on every one in hope of finding who it belongs to. At long last, he reaches Cinderella’s home, but the slipper breaks due to the interference of Lady Tremaine. As if by destiny, Cinderella has the other slipper, and she lives happily ever after with her Prince Charming.
There’s a reason why this is the classic Disney movie. It’s full of charm and elegance, and it’s impossible to not empathize with Cinderella. Although it’s not as apparent by the unrealistic standards we set for modern-day female characters, Cinderella is actually an incredibly rounded character, and deserves more credit than she gets. She’s a strongly but subtly witty and sassy young woman, yet is never lacking in infallible patience and kindness. She makes a variety of sly remarks to her animal friends about her situation, only to provide some levity and not become depressed and traumatized, as many of us would in her situation, but she is never harsh or cruel. She sees the world for what it is and for what it could be, and never loses hope that things will turn out well for her one day. This film has possibly the most romantic lyrical soundtrack, with “So This is Love” and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” outshining almost any Disney love song to date. When you hear these songs, you fall a little in love too. This film has an impeccable focus on true love, but despite its fantasy setting it feels more real and attainable than it does on the surface. Cinderella doesn’t even know she’s dancing with the prince, but she knows she’s in love, and that’s all that matters. (Also it took me literally years of watching this movie to finally pick up that she didn’t know he was the prince, oops.) Love doesn’t have contingencies, and that’s a beautiful thing. 9/10
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
starring Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen
At the infant Princess Aurora’s christening, three fairies--Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather--arrive to bless her with three magical gifts. Flora bestows upon her incredible beauty, and Fauna gifts her with a beautiful voice. Before Merryweather can share her gift, the diabolical fairy Maleficent appears, insulted that she was unwanted by the court. She curses the child to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die before her 16th birthday. Merryweather uses her gift to amend the curse so that Aurora will only fall into a deep sleep, to be awakened by true love’s kiss. To prevent this from happening, the three fairies hide her in the woods, where they will remain as peasants until her 16th birthday passes. On her birthday, Aurora meets a handsome stranger, whom she falls in love with. When she returns home to share the news with the fairies, they break the news that not only is she already betrothed, but that they will to the castle that very evening. Before the sun sets, however, Maleficent tricks Aurora into pricking her finger, and she falls into the deathlike slumber. The stranger in the woods, who in actuality is Prince Phillip and Aurora’s betrothed, arrives at the cottage to meet her, where he is captured by Maleficent. She takes him to the Forbidden Mountain, but he quickly breaks out and battles with Maleficent as a fearsome dragon. Felling her, he rushes to Aurora’s side. With true love’s kiss, the curse is lifted, and the entire kingdom awakens.
As the third film in the Disney Princess lineage, Sleeping Beauty shows a remarkable evolution of design and artistic prowess. Snow White and Cinderella are both stunning, but the artists in this film take the backgrounds to a new, fantastical, and ethereal realm. This world is sewn together with magic, and it really comes through in the art. The music is also far more enchanting and romantic as a whole. The instrumental scores are breathtaking and truly immerse the audience in the magic of this world. There were certainly fewer lyrical numbers in this movie, but “Once Upon a Dream” is such a wonderful love song that walks the audience through Aurora’s youthful naivety and its evolution into realistic love. In my opinion, it’s nearly incomparable to the rest of Disney’s musical repertoire as well. Without question, Prince Phillip is Disney’s greatest and most heroic prince. He’s brave, steadfast, and honorable, and shows he will go to any length for the woman he loves. What other prince fights against a demonic dragon to save someone he just met the day before? That’s right, none. There may be more well-rounded princes, especially as we get toward his more modern counterparts, but very few have shown that they are willing to risk their lives or livelihood for the wellbeing of a loved one. With Aurora, on the other hand, I think Disney could have done better. She’s actually a rather shallow character; all we know about her is that she is beautiful, melodious, and imaginative, but we don’t know anything real about her personality. We don’t know what makes her feel good or bad about anything. We briefly see her response when her dreams are dashed, but even that isn’t as thoroughly expounded upon as other princesses are. The film also doesn’t give enough credit to the distress the huge reveal of her royal lineage causes. In other films, the princesses have real, gut-wrenching reactions to serious situations that are thrown their way, but Aurora isn’t given that depth. This may be one of my favorite movies, but it doesn’t quite hold up to many other Disney films. Also Maleficent is the best villain of all, and no I won’t take any criticisms. 7/10
Part One // Part Two // Part Three // Part Four // Part Five // Part Six // Part Seven // Part Eight
#cottagecore#forestcore#gardencore#cozycore#grandmacore#disney#disney movies#disney princesses#film#film review#movie#movie review#activities#mine
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round up // MAY 20
When the going gets rough, I find I keep coming back to two kinds of movies: Romantic comedies and action adventures. For whatever reason, those are my comfort food, even if I’m watching someone get their heart broken or fight for their lives.
Hopefully you’re finding small ways to make your days brighter with books, movies, music, and shows that either help you fight or forget some of the darkness around us for a time. These were a few that made my month brighter, including a number of rom coms and action flicks.
May Crowd-Pleasers
SNL at Home
I almost cried for joy when I learned SNL would finish out its season even though it wouldn’t be in Studio 8H—it felt like a glimmer of a lot of joys we’ve lost in the last few months. While the At Home episodes have an odd rhythm compared to the usual broadcast (that live audience makes a difference, especially during “Weekend Update”), I still laughed every week. A few highlights:
“Bailey at the Movies”
“Dreams”
“Grocery Store”
“MasterClass Quarantine Edition” + “Another MasterClass Qurantine Edition”
“RBG Workout”
Watch those skits, then enjoy an infographic-heavy review of the season from Vulture.
Extraction (2020)
Is this a groundbreaking action movie? Heck no, but watching Chris Hemsworth fight to save a kid with a supporting appearance from David Harbour made for a great Sunday evening. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 6/10
The Wedding Singer (1998)
Somehow I’ve never gotten around to this rom com, perhaps because Adam Sandler’s sense of humor usually isn’t my cup of tea. But here he replaces the gross out jokes with a sweet chemistry with Drew Barrymore. I liked it so much I gave 50 First Dates a shot, but, uh, I only recommend movies I finish. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 6.5/10
Baby Boom (1987)
Another not-innovative genre entry, but a satisfying one. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10
Action Movies set in 1700s America: The Last of the Mohicans (1992) + The Patriot (2000)
Sometimes I don’t want a complicated villain—sometimes I just want Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius Malfoy) to be so evil I want Mel Gibson to take him down with a tomahawk. The Last of the Mohicans: Crowd - 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10 // The Patriot - Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8.5/10
Taylor Swift City of Lover concert (2020)
I’ve seen Ms. Swift live twice and have loved the stadium tour spectacle. But an intimate show heavy on acoustic performance reminds me how well her songwriting holds up no matter the production
Prop Culture (2020)
I know, I know: Disney+ original series are well executed, long-form advertising. But can you find better-executed advertising than Jason Schwartzman chatting about the Mary Poppins snow globe at a piano with Richard Sherman, the character he played in Saving Mr. Banks? These staged treasure hunts for Disney movie props may be a bit self-important, but they’re also a dose of nostalgia and lessons about the technical side of filmmaking.
This Drake Bell TikTok
If you get this, you get this.
Silverado (1985)
My weird New Year’s resolution? To watch Westerns, a genre I’ve basically skipped until now. Silverado feels like a throwback to classic Westerns with a modern sensibility and more laughs. Plus, baby Kevin Costner and Jeff Goldblum in a fur coat! Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7.5/10
Chromatica by Lada Gaga (2020)
Turns out I’m not just a fan of the A Star Is Born/duets with Tony Bennet/Joanne Lady Gaga. I’ve always been cooler on her electronic-dance-club Top 40 hits than her recent guitar-and-vocal stylings, but I can’t stop listening to album-long jam sesh. It’s old Gaga meets 2020 beats meets Depeche Mode/Flock of Seagulls/Madonna/New Order of the ‘80s.
The Heat (2013)
Two of my favorite funny ladies teaming up was—not surprisingly—a win. No one delivers a kooky insult like Melissa McCarthy. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10
May Critic Picks
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, and more try to keep Hollywood and their careers afloat despite a bizarre series of kidnappings, line flubs, and tap dances. Of course the Coen Brothers have a dry, wacky take on the Hollywood studio era. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10
Jane Eyre (2006)
Confession: I have not read Jane Eyre. But my mom did, and since she enjoyed the book so much, I figured a happy medium would be to watch this BBC miniseries with her commentary about what they changed from the Brontë classic.
Daisy Jones & the Six (2019)
The highest compliment I can give a book is staying up way too late to finish it, which is what I did with this buzzy Taylor Jenkins Reid book. It’s a barely-fictional oral history of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll in the ‘70s, and somehow it’s not crass or gratuitous about any of them. Most impressive is that Jenkins Reid keeps her characters well-defined even though it’s not written in a traditional novel format. My favorite parts of this story are the deep dive into the creative process and the exploration of how we remember the past. Here’s hoping the Sam Claflin/Riley Keough-led, Reese Witherspoon-produced, (500) Days of Summer team-written Amazon series can do this book justice—I need this soundtrack!
The Plot Thickens podcast (2020)
A Turner Classic Movies podcast hosted by Ben Mankiewicz about film history is a specific—and predictable—Venn diagram of my interests.
Alfred Hitchcock Double Feature: Psycho (1960) + The Birds (1963)
The story about Psycho goes that my grandmother ran out of the movie theatre screaming during the shower scene. Now that I’ve finally watched it, I know why. This horror drama is still terrifying today even if you know what’s going to happen. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 10/10
The story about The Birds goes that my mother was terrified as a little girl after walking into a room where it was on TV, and now she still won’t watch it. The Oscar-winning visual effects have aged so much I didn’t find it scary, but I was still sucked in by the eerie plot. That said, I did have a frightening dream last night involving Tippi Hedren, so it may be more effective than I realized. Give me just a sec while I schedule some Hitchcock-focused family therapy. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Spend two hours with the two nicest bank robbers you’ll ever meet! A winsome Paul Newman and a laconic Robert Redford make their escape on the scenic trails of the Southwest, and gosh darn it, if they aren’t just a barrel of fun. I enjoyed this Western so much I recommended it in a piece I wrote for Round Trip, too. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10
Katharine Hepburn Double Feature: Alice Adams (1935) + Woman of the Year (1942)
Saying you love Katharine Hepburn is like saying you love sunshine and flowers—of course you do! In Alice Adams, she’s an optimistic Cinderella with a down-on-their-luck family who falls for a high class fella (Fred MacMurray). In Woman of the Year, she’s a high-brow journalist who falls for sports columnist Spencer Tracy in their first of nine films together. She earned Oscar nominations for both, but I dare you not to fall in love with her after watching just one. Alice Adams - Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8/10 // Woman of the Year - Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10
Also in May…
When you’re not allowed to travel, you get creative! For Round Trip this month, I recommended 13 movies about travel that will make you feel like you took the vacation COVID-19 made you cancel (including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). And if that’s not enough, why don’t you recreate your trip? I turned my apartment into Paris, and here’s why you might want to do the same.
Kyla and I didn’t go far back in time for most of our Gilmore Girls pop culture references on SO IT’S A SHOW? We covered three movies (or two, depending on how you see it) from the 2000s with connections to this year’s Oscars, 8 Mile and then Kill Bill. We also looked into the famous architect Stanford White and a movie he was featured in, 1981’s Ragtime, which had more connections to today’s culture than we expected.
I made another attempt at Jim Jarmusch for ZekeFilm with Broken Flowers. I still don’t get Jim Jarmusch.
My movie count in quarantine is up to 156. You can see them all on Letterboxd.
Photo credits: SNL, Taylor Swift, TikTok, Lady Gaga, Daisy Jones & the Six, The Plot Thickens. All others IMDb.com.
#SNL at Home#The Wedding Singer#Baby Boom#The Patriot#The Last of the Mohicans#Taylor Swift#City of Lover#Prop Culture#Drake Bell#Totally Kyle#The Amanda Show#Silverado#Chromatica#Lady Gaga#Hail Caesar!#Jane Eyre#Daisy Jones & the Six#The Plot Thickens#TCM#Psycho#The Birds#Alfred Hitchcock#Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids#Alice Adams#Woman of the Year#Katharine Hepburn#The Heat
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Be More Notes: my very long ramblings on BMC as I finally listen to the whole thing
Ok! I’m finally doing it! Now that the cast album is out I’m going to really give all of Be More Chill a listen, try to put the things that annoy me about the show aside, and give it a fair chance. And have decided to do running commentary here for the nobody who gives a shit lol. Going in I wanna say I’ve heard 4 full songs and random bits of other songs from the original soundtrack. And I’ll be listening now to the OBC album plus watching a b**tlg, I’m not totally sure when it took place I just know Will Roland is in it so at the very least New York. Keep in mind whatever I think of this show, if I end up hating it, if you like it you’re right. My opinion in no way invalidated anybody else’s or is above anyone else’s in my eyes, frankly I don’t enjoy not liking things, it just means I don’t get to come to the party and that’s not fun. So I might be poking fun at the show sometimes but if this speaks to you, that is fucking awesome! Also I’m old now and I guess no longer the target audience for stuff like this.
Spoilers for those who haven’t watched the show and don’t want to know stage stuff because I’ll be commenting on that. This ended up being really long, eh.
More Than Survive
-ok this song I’ve heard before, and it both turned me off the show and also made me respect the hell out of it, because much like I give a salute to Black Mirror having the balls to make pig sex their pilot, I salute a musical that starts with jerking off
-So far like Roland a little more than the previous guy. From what I’ve gathered from clips, while that dude is hella talented and cute as a button I kind of buy Roland as a terrified, desperate, frustrated high school kid more
-Man I really do dig the hell out of the score and there is no denying this is catchy but some of these lyrics are so cringe
-WHY IS A TEEN IN 2019 REFERENCING JOE PESCI?!
-Ok I love the idea of a short bully calling somebody “tall ass”
-I do like Jeremy’s body language better in this one. Also does he vocally remind anyone else of Max from Goofy Movie? Maybe this song just reminds me of “After Today” for no reason.
-“super pimp” “mac daddy game”....OK! I’m going to try not to list every time I cringe. I just have questions
-You don’t want to be Clooney...high school child in 2019 is Clooney really your reference for cool? Sorry I just struggle with this stuff because I keep hearing how this show is so in touch with kids these days but I just see:
-lol Michael came on and people went apseshit in the audience. All my nitpicks aside I bet this room probably has some great energy.
-..Michael the clerk at 7/11 doesn’t pour your slushie, it’s self serve. Are you trying to seem cool to Jeremy right now?
-Aah the boyfriend backpacks. I know of this ship
-Yeah Christine brings the flutes!!! I was a flute player, we never get love
-HAHA when Christine is doing her weird ass dance, in the recording I’m watching somebody right in front of the person recording just went “I don’t get this show”. Like me too darlin, but you got 2 hours left so suck it up
-Oh but sir, check the playbill. The story is indeed about you
-in summation this song kind of encapsulates everything I feel about this show, good performances and catchy as fuck and musically interesting and a lot of me asking “why”.
Play Rehearsal
-Well Christine is adorable
-wow wait what? wtf was that weird self harm comment??? Are we just gonna skip that???
-Ok I was a band kid in HS so I guess I don’t get this level of extra. Band rehearsal is just tuning and then fucking around until somebody makes you play Bach
-...is Christine ok???
-Ok I think at least for now I may hate her. But I like that Jeremy likes her, likes her passion and such. I approve of her conceptually! I just don’t wanna be around her
-I thought play rehearsal was gay, Rich?! WHAT YOU DOIN AT PLAY REHEARSAL RICH?!
-...I mean I’ve seen Romeo and Juliet as a zombie wasteland movie, I would watch Midsummer zombies
More Than Survive Reprise
-”least I didn’t have a breakdown and have to go the nurse” Ok fair, I can relate to that high school experience
-this set is kind of working for me, basic but fun and the floor is neat
-I know high school bullies are a thing I guess? But I always just saw them in movies? Now Middle School bullies were legit and terrible and I got the shit kicked out of me, but by HS I feel like everybody was too into their own shit to care much about anyone else?? Maybe that was just my school
-Will Roland’s body language is real good in this show
The Squip Song
-Oh! Surprise Rich lisp. Creative way to show how this thing alters you
-..ok now we know about Rich’s dick size. I mean hon your short, maybe your penis is just proportionate?
-DO I DETECT SOME THEREMIN IN THIS ORCHESTRATION?! Gimme all the theremin!
-Ok so the squip made him be an asshole? Does he secretly want to be buddies with Jeremy?
-Ok what the fuck are the people in the background doing here?!?
-I know people ship Michael and Jeremy but I feel like Rich kinda wants to jump that tall ass??
Two Player Game
-Ok the little sign for the game that came up was cute
-These guys are kinda cute, even if I wish they’d tone down Michael’s “I’M QUIRKY!! YOU GET IT?!?” shtick
-That is accurate! Y’all will be cool in college and I don’t see that brought up often
-This is the first time I’ve found the choreography fun
-...why is this dad allergic to pants??
-ah. Depression=no pants. And now I get why Jeremy’s so desperate not to stay as he is. Well points for making it not just about the girl
-awww Michael is his bae
-bro I’ve heard Loser Geek Whatever, you’re tellin lies right now to your buddy
-LOL! WTF IS THIS WINDOWS SCREENSAVER OF A VIDEO GAME?!?
-oh wow dancin went off the rails here at the end
Squip Enters
-Mountain Dew? Well, better than Surge I guess.
-Ok the Ecto Cooler line legit made me laugh. And I guess I could come down on the show for making Michael psyched about a drink that came out before he was born, but I have a pretty intense Crystal Pepsi obsession and that shit came out when I was maybe 4? So I get it Michael, you go enjoy your liquid ghosts
-well that squip thing doesn’t look fun
-Oooooh Ok Keanu is like factory setting, alright I’ll accept this. Though I will say this show would be 35% better if he was dressed like Keanu from Bill and Ted
Be More Chill Prt 1
-Hey stop shitting on Jeremy. I think I kinda like him
-wow Keanu, I didn’t think you’d be so mean
-I mean everyone chanting “everything about you sucks” is just how peeps with anxiety feel constantly. Eminem shirt ain’t gonna fix that
-”Jerry-me” ok Will Roland is kind of making this work for me.
-Him repeating everything the squip said is a fun little sequence. Like I dig this conceptually, scifi musicals are rare and can be neat
- Lol the hate who they hate thing is pretty accurate
Do You Wanna Ride?
-hey Jeremy what about Christiiiiine
Be More Chill Part 2
-the beginning of this song broke me a little. Hey! I’m feelin a thing!
-this song is pretty fun! It works!
-though the cast of like 10 people that just keep putting on different wigs make it feel like a high school play or a starkid production
Sync Up
-ok so now I know I’m watching previews? Because sync up isn’t here
-I do think this song is a really good addition. I mean it’s not like a stand out fantastic song but it does a good job getting across the themes and drives home the whole “everybody has problems” thing too which I like
-Ok..dairy line was weird.
A Guy I Could Kinda Be Into
-Ok the weird girl fighting stuff about Jake is unpleasant and sort of unnecessary
-a squip gives you a deep voice and the ability to kinda do accents. Cool
-ooo this is catchy, this is gonna make the spotify playlist
-the goofy background hearts are cute. I still don’t know why she’s into Jake or why she’s friends with Jeremy or if they should be together since legit the only thing she thinks they have in common is theater which he doesn’t care about..but this song is still cute
-lol squips understand friend zone
Upgrade
-DID THIS SHOW JUST KILL EMINEM?!
-How did the squip know that?! Does Eminem have a squip?? I mean it kinda makes sense..
-Don’t you see Jerbear?! The key to popularity is in this girl’s vagina! Happy they cut the “I’ll tenderly guide you just take me inside you” thing, little creepy
-Why did Jake make a kicking motion to illustrate cricket? I’m like 85% sure Jake doesn’t know what cricket is...
-the “feel all the feels” like is a little goofy but I really like the rewrite for this song, showing some depth of character. Good job, show! And I’m seeing some chemistry between these two, but I don’t know if I’m meant to?
-Oh no! The whole “you looked at me” thing from Brooke was so sweet and sad. And the player two thing. Yeah this OG version of this song can go fuck off, the rewrite is a really good tune. I’ll admit the original maybe built up the horror a little, the squip sounds more threatening coming in at the end but I like where there going making this about everyone and not just Jeremy
Loser Geek Whatever
-Squip blocked Michael?? You’re a dick, Keanu Reeves
-I didn’t love this song when I first heard the single but hearing the version on the album and the stripped down piano version, I really really like it. Gives me some of those old geek feels from back in the day
-sort of surprise by how little is happening on stage though? I sort of assumed something was happening as the song built? But nope, just Will rocking his wee heart out
-LOL! What is Squip’s new outfit???
Halloween
-Ah, it’s this show Big Fun. This is a lot catchier than Big Fun though
-I went to exactly one of these kinds of parties in HS, just replace Halloween with punks after a rock show and add a lot more drugs. I didn’t hide in a bathroom but I did hide next to the stairs until my mom came and got me. Memories!! You know what this show is succeeding I suppose, it’s making me have HS feels
-...is Jake dressed as Thomas Jefferson?
-Jenna you’re too cute for that costume. You should get to wear something sexy too! Unless you just dig clowns in which case enjoy yourself hon
-Ooooooh Prince, I get it
-this is not this show’s fault at all but I struggle with dancing in shows. I mean the title of my blog is The Girl Who Used to Hate Musicals because I did, and while I love them now extended dancing sequences still take me out of a show real fast. I know I’m in the minority here
-...what the fuck is that weird fuzzy thing with the big teeth
-Hot damn! Go Rich! Dancin fool
Do You Wanna Hang?
-I don’t like any part of this plot line...
-Ok! Didn’t realized she was dressed like a “sexy baby” so the diaper line sort of horrified me. I mean it still does! I just understand it now
Michael in the Bathroom
-hey the bathtub! Ok I know enough to know what happens now
-Jeremy why you gotta be so mean
-I mean what is there to say, great song. I wondered if they’d change anything for the new recording and I dig the arrangement, especially the stripped down acoustic guitar and piano parts!! Also as a lady who maybe once or twice since discovering this song has gotten tipsy and sung it karaoke-like, appreciate the slower and the higher. It’s not a lot, just a bit, but makes it less of a struggle to match. Thanks bro!
A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into (Reprise)
-Finally! They’re both giant doofs but I see some connection! And I mean my roommate and I have noises we always make at each other like a call and response, so I gets it
-He asked it! So proud. Rejected but proud of the boy, and rejected for good reasons
The Smartphone Hour
-Heard part of this song before. Really like this Jenna more than original Jenna, her performance was a little much for me
-This is one of those songs where I really do feel like I’m watching a HS original production..but a good one? Maybe cause I haven’t seen something like this on Broadway, but that’s a good thing. Always good to see new kinds of things on Broadway
-lol what is the middle of this song?! I feel like I’m suddenly watching a cheer squad or like a John Waters inspired musical, which from what little I know of Joe Iconis I think he’d be cool with that comparison
The Pants Song
-Jeremy don’t be mean to your dad!
-Yipes is this the Break in a Glove or Dead Gay Son of BMC??
-....yeah it totally is
-”Do you love him??” Has Jeremy’s dad finally given up on finding a girl in Jeremy’s room?
-Ok ok I’m gettin the ship
The Pitiful Children
-So squip just looks like this now, I thought maybe he was just being fancy for Halloween
-Hot damn Jenna! Why were we savin that voice?!
-I feel like I’m missing something with these weird hand motions the squip is always, do they actually mean something?
-goosestepping...alright. Oh no Jeremy did the hand motions, I think that means a thing
The Play
-Jeremy is being so creepy but he means well? I guess?
-lol using the play to spread the squips is pretty clever
-wtf red mountain dew? Really? You know what fuck it, discontinued drinks for the win. Maybe my saved bottles of Crystal Pepsi will stop an apocalypse one day!
-Michael’s entrance was cute, and hey he just happens to have code red. I wish ecto cooler was what shut it off.
-The glitching voice is crazy when Jeremy is fighting Michael and I love the way Jeremy is sort of bobbing up and down in fighting stance like a video game character, Fun touch
-squip is making Jeremy go all Idle Hands!
-I prefer the recording version of the guys making up, the whole “I just wanted to be liked” “I just wanted to be seen” thing
-the squip has to be so extra even in death
Voices in My Head
-hey lispy Rich is back! And bi now I guess?
-Oh is that why people think Michael/Jeremy are a thing? The squip blocked Rich’s bi thoughts from him and it blocked Michael from Jeremy’s vision? I mean it would be an interesting story, I’d take it.
-This might be my favorite song and I don’t really know why, I don’t super love that Jeremy still gets Christine in the end but I just love how this song sounds
-I’ve never heard a character wearing pants get an applause?
-improved lyrics in the Broadway version, and since it got more into the popular kids as people you can kinda see why they’d still stay friend with Jeremy
-”I’ll throw you a rope home slice if you need some dope advice” like is this parody? What is this?? Well..still my fav song despite this line. A line they liked so much it’s the one original popular kid line they kept in the new version???
-don’t know if I see much future for these two, but Jeremy’s reaction to the kiss was cute
-”Of the voices in my head the loudest one is mine” is my favorite line of the show
-lol Rich’s little sneak hug. I feel like Rich always wanted to be friends with Jeremy? Or had a crush on him and that’s why his squip made him beat Jeremy up? Is this pairing a thing?
Final thoughts: This was so stupid long, nobody read this but that’s ok! It was fun to take notes anyway. Listening to it all, I liked it more than I thought I would, especially with the lyric changes. I don’t know if I would like it as much if it wasn’t Will Roland, the dude just really made this character likable when he could very easily not be. Some of the lines still bug me, there’s still a lot of cringe here but there’s also a lot of good stuff. This show introduced me to Joe Iconis and I’m slowly falling in love with him from his other work and CANNOT WAIT for Broadway Bounty Hunter because that sounds so like my jam. Overall I do get why people like this show, especially younger people because you can relate to the characters but maybe you want something a little peppier than DEH.
I don’t think this is a soundtrack I’m going to ever listen to all the way through, but I’m for sure grabbing a handful of songs and sticking them on my musical play list. And when this thing goes on tour and ends up in LA, I think it would probably be worth checking out if I can, looks like a fun watch. Though with all the young fans and internet fans if they’re smart they’re gonna record this bitch.
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Top 10 Films of 2018 (So Far)
Since I quite like continuing old traditions, I wanted to do a post rounding up what I consider to be the ten best films of 2018 so far. This list includes a few films that came out in 2017 in the US, since they were only released here in the UK this year.
Have you seen any of the films I cover below? Have I piqued your interest in a title you might not have heard before? Let me know, and do share your favourites too!
1. Annihilation, dir. Alex Garland
This was my most anticipated film of the year, and my hype for it was more than rewarded. This is a marvellously rich and transporting science fiction film that isn’t afraid of taking the viewer to some very weird places. However, Annihilation doesn’t simply rely on its strangeness to succeed - it is also firmly rooted in its characters and themes, which has made it incredibly rewarding to return to. Natalie Portman is fantastic as Lena, and Annihilation is a brilliant showcase for her - Lena is a complex and frequently self-destructive character, riddled by guilt and regrets that shape the pulsating, luminescent world of the mysterious ‘Shimmer’ that she has to venture into. The Shimmer might seem like an environmental phenomenon at first, but it’s really more psychological, being a space that adapts according to the people who enter into it. This film overflows with fascinating and thought-provoking ideas, and it was entirely worth the hike I made over to Brooklyn to catch one of the final showings at the theatre (since Annihilation was denied a theatrical release in the UK, I made a point of seeing it while I was on holiday in New York). I think it will go down as one of the great science fiction films, and it belongs in the same conversations as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris.
2. Beast, dir. Michael Pearce
This little British film - shot mostly on location in Jersey by a first-time director - was easily the biggest (and best) surprise I’ve had so far at the cinema this year. I literally had no idea this film existed until a day or so before I watched it, and that made the experience of viewing it even more wonderful. Moll (Jessie Buckley) is an isolated young woman who is stifled by her controlling family and quiet life on a remote island, as well as a secret sin that bubbles away underneath the surface. Her life is predictable - safe, repetitive and dull - until she meets Pascal, a mysterious local man who she finds she has an affinity with. However, there is a murderer haunting the island, taking the lives of young girls in the night. Who’s to blame, and what impact will the killings have on Moll and Pascal’s swiftly escalating romance? While that is a synopsis more than a review, I felt it necessary to explain the premise to try and compel you to seek this one out. Beast is raw, woozy and utterly absorbing - the love story between Moll and Pascal is one of the most passionate and gripping you’ll ever see on screen, and their chemistry is simply sensational. There’s a real gothic, fairy-tale edge to the story which appealed perfectly to my (admittedly rather niche) tastes. This is a real hidden treasure of a film - do yourself a favour and make it your mission to watch it.
3. Lady Bird, dir. Greta Gerwig
This film was so, so relatable, despite my not really having experienced an adolescence anything like “Lady Bird’s”. While the details of her life are very different from mine, I think anyone can relate to the sweeping brushstrokes - the tensions that can arise between parents and children, the thirst for freedom and independence that builds the closer you get to the final days of school, and the feelings of love and loyalty that are always there even when they’re unspoken. Greta Gerwig captures all of this and so much more with marvellous delicacy, balancing little moments that add colour and spark with more serious scenes so deftly that it’s amazing to think that this is her first feature. Lady Bird is a very specific and very beautiful film, and it’s special precisely because it feels universal even as it feels small and personal to its director.
4. Eighth Grade, dir. Bo Burnham
This is the perfect double bill with Lady Bird, and the people who have dubbed this film “Lady Bird Jr” are right on the money. Elsie Fisher has a real star turn as the heroine Kayla, who is a very special child - she’s kind, sensitive and thoughtful, which basically means she’s my kind of superhero. But even as she is a good and sweet person, she is also going through all of the trials you’d expect a 13 year old to be facing in 2018, as she wrestles with acne, confusing feelings about super-dreamy boys, and the escalating anxiety that comes with a comment-free Instagram post. Like Lady Bird, this film succeeds in being both very specific and highly universal - the only social media I had to deal with as a teen were MySpace and Bebo, and I found that seeing Kayla wrestle with a whole kaleidoscope of feeds, devices and platforms made her strong grip on her integrity as a funny and deeply warm-hearted individual all the more remarkable. Bo Burnham, as with Gerwig, made a pretty incredible film here - in particular you should watch out for the father/daughter dynamic, which is my favourite part. Eighth Grade is funny and generous, and the perfect medicine if you’re feeling demoralised by the state of the world right now.
5. The Breadwinner, dir. Nora Twomey
The Breadwinner is a really lovely animated film telling the story of Parvana, a young girl living with her family under the Taliban. When her father is taken off to prison, Parvana sees no other choice but to dress as a boy to provide for her mother and siblings. But how long will her disguise last? The story here was what really gripped me - it’s very simple, in both the telling and the themes, but it is truly beautiful in that simplicity. The emotions are very raw, and this film goes to some shockingly dark places at times - while I think it can be watched with children as long as they are mature enough for some challenging themes and upsetting moments, it’s likely to speak most strongly to adult audiences with a fuller appreciation for the context in which the film is set. It’s a great and moving alternative to more mainstream animated efforts, and is well worth your time.
6. Phantom Thread, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
This was a delightfully twisted film with an absorbingly complicated and twisty relationship at its centre. Vicky Krieps is an absolute marvel as Alma, and it’s wonderful to see how she battles to bring the fragile and austere designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) to heel. It’s also a beautiful film with rather fabulous fashions - if you love couture, particularly from the ‘50s, this will be a real treat. I also appreciated the many allusions to classic cinema - there are strong shades of Hitchcock’s Rebecca, as well as the underrated David Lean film The Passionate Friends. Check this out if you like your romantic dramas weird and entirely unpredictable.
7. Revenge, dir. Coralie Fargeat
Revenge is angry, sun-soaked and batshit insane - and it is pretty great for all of those reasons. It follows Jennifer, the teenage mistress of a sleazy married man. After a horrifying assault Jennifer returns, phoenix-like, to wreak her revenge upon her attackers. This movie was very much inspired by exploitation flicks, with their penchant for showing scantily clad (and frequently bloody) women wielding shotguns to hunt down the brutes who did them wrong. However, first-time director Coralie Fargeat takes every one of those tropes and owns them, ramping up the blood and giving the action a propulsive energy that keeps you gripped even as you know exactly where things are going. The soundtrack here is also one to look out for - it’s all pulsating synths that do a great job of building the suspense and tension from the get-go.
8. Lean on Pete, dir. Andrew Haigh
This is a very painful film in many ways, but it’s only painful because it does such a great job of earning your emotional investment. The lead of this film is Charley, a sensitive and quiet teenage boy who becomes attached to an ailing race horse as he seeks to escape his troubled home-life. When he finds himself in crisis, Charley takes the horse and they head off on a journey across the American heartland. Charlie Plummer is extraordinary as the lead here - Charley is the kind of character that makes you want to reach through the screen so you can offer him a hug of reassurance and support. The photography of the American countryside is exquisite, and means this film really deserves to be seen on the big screen - the breadth of the landscape gives all of the emotional drama some (richly deserved, in my view) extra punch.
9. You Were Never Really Here, dir. Lynne Ramsay
This is a very weird film (you’re probably noticing a theme at this point) but it’s completely absorbing. It’s very much actor-led, and the film rests on the shoulders of Joaquin Phoenix’s gripping and unpredictable performance - in some scenes he’s muttering in deference to his mother like a modern-day Norman Bates, while in others he’s portrayed almost as a lost boy in an overgrown body, disorientated by his environment and engaging in acts of extreme violence as if in a sort of trance. The narrative is fuzzy and unfocused, but I didn’t find that mattered much since I was too busy following every evolution of Phoenix’s face.
10. Thoroughbreds, dir. Cory Finley
Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy make fantastic foils to one another as two appallingly privileged teenagers whose obscene wealth is only matched by their resounding lack of morals. This is a film that plays with your loyalties, trying to wrong-foot you at every turn - it’s frequently difficult to figure out what’s genuine here, and while that did sometimes leave me feeling a bit emotionally detached that’s usually the point. This film is more of an intellectual puzzle than a lean, mean, emotion-extracting machine (see: Lean on Pete), and it succeeds brilliantly on that level. The simplicity of the story means the fun lies in picking apart lines and expressions, so go in prepared for some close viewing.
#annihilation#films#cinema#movies#list#movie recs#beast#lady bird#lean on pete#the breadwinner#phantom thread#Eighth Grade#you were never really here#thoroughbreds
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Ok so I saw Hamilton today (4-4-18) on broadway and here’s like a lil review of how amazing it was
•Alexander Hamilton- I was going through so much shock that i was actually there I don’t remember much but the placements of all the characters during the “me? I _____ him” was spot on
•Aaron Burr Sir- The guy playing burr made burr so sarcastic it was great
•My Shot- This is probably my least favorite song but like the bros™️ were hitting the table with cups and their fists and it was so cool
•The Story of Tonight -Very low key bros being bros drinkin
•The Schuyler Sisters- The “and Peggy” was so like hey what about me it was great. Also those girls are phenomenal like wish I was half as talented
•Farmer Refuted-I’m pretty sure thayne Jasperson was the og Samuel seabury and he’s on point like Hamilton was all up in his face and he just pushed ham away and moved his box in front of him
•You’ll Be Back- Ok so king George was a great singer but he sang kinda annoyingly and I thought that really portrayed king George
•right hand man- G-wash was so great honestly and the ensemble in this song was so awesome and on point
•A winters ball- Reliable with the LADIES
•helpless- Lexi Lawson is very different from Phillipa soo but she’s so talented and absolutely killed it also Hercules as the flower girl was the best creative decision ever
•satisfied- Um ok so like actually shook Mandy fricking Gonzales is so talented like at the part at the end she not only killed it, she stabbed it 27 times and drop kicked it to mars like it was a mouth drop open and they redid everything from helpless perfectly 11/10 one of the best parts
•the story of tonight reprise- Drunk Lauren’s is the best
•wait for it- Ok home slices you know how much I went off on how good satisfied was well, this was 100 times better. Burr was better than Leslie Odom by a lot he was the best in the show
•stay alive-There were British soldiers in the background it was cool also Charles Lee was funny cuz he’s a general WEEEE
•10 duel commandments-Laurens, who has just shot someone: fuck ya I just shot that bitch fuck him.
Me: I’m so proud of you
•meet me inside- Ham: im not your son
G-wash: that sound fake but ok
•that would be enough-Again, Lexi Lawson slayed as eliza like she was pregnant and still killing it
•guns and ships- Lafayette was mega fast like I know all the words to that song and I could barely understand what he was saying but he was still great
•history has its eyes on you- G-wash gave ham a sword and when he put it in the holder it made such a nice noise
•Yorktown- I love big group numbers like this the choreography was on point. Right before herc entered they were waving redcoats and he burst through them and it was awesome
•what comes next-King George went im so blue and all the lights turned blue I just really like that part
•dear theodosia-This is my favorite song on the soundtrack and I wish they did a bit more with it onstage cuz they kinda just stood and sat and that was it
•the part where Laurens dies that I can’t remember the name of- Ok this was so sad but herc and Lafayette were up on the top part with the same letter that eliza was reading to ham and I didn’t know that they did that and it made the scene a lot more sad
•non stop- Ham is so extra I love it. They had chairs to represent ham, john jay and Madison and they all faced backwards and when John jay got sick after writing five they flipped his chair around and they took away Madison’s chair when he only did 29 and Hamilton was sitting in the third chair and I just really liked the way they did that. Also when ham goes to burr in the middle of the night there’s a light that makes it look like burr is standing in a doorway and I just really liked that lil detail also non stop is the song that got me and my friend that i went with into Hamilton so it has a special place in my heart
•intermission- Umm pretty boring actually, 15 minutes of random dudes coming on and off stage making sure everything is ok, no singing or dancing 0/10 but here’s a photo of me at intermission
•what’d I miss- Ok so at the start of this, ensemble came out from different places and one of them came from the orchestra hole and I thought that was hilarious also this is 10x better on stage than it is on the soundtrack the ensemble was all on point doin their thing
•cabinet battle one- There was a mic drop and that’s all I wanted from this song and I got it
•take a break- Ok so Philip was great in this he was so nervous doing his poem and eliza was beatboxing like the true queen she is. And the beginning part made great use of the circle thing on the stage like ham was facing back when Philip and Eliza sang and then it circled him to the front and Philip and eliza to face the back I loved it
•say no to this- Spoiler, Hamilton didn’t say no. Also James Reynolds had a southern accent and I thought it was so funny
•the room where it happens- I said it once I’ll say it again burr was phenomenal like his lil dance was awesome this song blew me the fuck away
•Schuyler defeated- Idk what to say about this one except for I liked that Philip and eliza were on the balcony thing off to stage left
•cabinet battle 2- I love that these are rap battle but also epic rap battles of history is literally this cuz it’s a musical about history also when Madison said France it was so small it made it more funny
•Washington on your side- When they go OH the lights went big on the floor it was cool. Also “look at the bill of rights, which I wrote” I always thought Jefferson said which I wrote so since I started listening to Hamilton, I’ve had three tests/quizzes with a question on who wrote the constitution and the bill of rights and I always put Jefferson cuz of this line and I always got it wrong so fuck you hamilton
•one last time- I cried, g-wash was so good at the end of this song I can’t I want to hear him sing this every day
•I know him- When the lady whispered in his ear he was like what cuz like john Adams? That’s short bitch?
•the adams administration- Ham drops a stack of papers from the balcony and it hits the ground on a big beat and it was soo cool
•we know- Hamilton spills his soul out and Jefferson burr and Madison are like :o
•hurricane- I never really liked this song too much but The ham dude did it so amazing and the lighting looked like water and hurricanish
•the Reynolds pamphlet- Ok king George is in this and it’s the funniest thing ever cuz he’s all like I told you that you guys would suck and look! A very upper person had an affair
•burn- I’ve seen bootlegs of this song so many times but there’s nothing like seeing it onstage cuz it goes black at the end and all you can see is the fire from her lantern it’s beautiful
•blow us all away- I love Philips character cuz he’s such a kid and he’s great and talks a little fast
•stay alive reprise- I cried real hard during this, 11/10 death, would cry about again
•its quiet uptown- So sad lots of crying from the big tough looking guy sitting next to me. I really like how angelica narrates it I think that’s cute
•election of 1800- Ham: sad cuz of sons death
Everyone, chanting: choose you Bitch we’re incapable of doing it ourselves
But Jefferson did an I win dance when he was endorsed and burr was like wtf bro guess i gotta kill you now
•your obedient servant- When Hamilton writes a letter to burr it was 5 pages long and they had a different person deliver each page and the last girl had two and was doing a little dance to deliver them it was great
•best of wives best of women- Look at ham writing his note to next of kin, love your wife more she’s Lexi Lawson for Christ’s sake
•the world was wide enough- I cried even tho I knew he was gonna die. Hams part where there was no music was so dramatic and g-wash came on and hams Mom and Laurens/Philip it was so sad I loved it
•who lives who dies who tells your story
Thinking about this is gonna make me cry again but Hamilton was not in this number at all and I thought that was great cuz he’s dead but honestly fabulous way to end the show I’m shoooook
All in all it was a beautiful show, much more than I could have ever asked for. We had terrible seats but that’s ok cuz it’s Hamilton. The lighting and dancing and blocking was phenomenal I never really notice anything like that when I see shows but it was so good I talked about the lighting for 5 minutes straight and I don’t know jack shit about lighting
#hamilton#alexander hamilton#aaron burr#eliza schuyler#eliza hamilton#angelica schuyler#peggy schuyler#maria reynolds#james madison#thomas jefferson#hercules muligan#john laurens#philip hamilton#george washington
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The 100 (questions that is....not band or TV show)
1. If you were on a 2 hour road trip and could only listen to one song on repeat until the trip was over what song would it be?
idk it would depend. Could be Neck Deep - In Bloom but also if you go with Dream Theater - A Change Of Seasons thats only like 4 plays :)
2. If heaven or hell didn’t exist and wasn’t a reward would you still make an effort in being a good person?
Atheists believe in good.
3. What’s your poison? Vices etc.
JD
4. What’s your favorite thing about your hometown?
the football team lol.
5. Are you a better friend to your friends than they are to you?
It's a mutual thing that we don't really talk lol. I'm a horrible friend to most people but one did say I was angel, which was a compliment cause she’s religious even though I’m not
6. Have you ever ran a red light?
I can't drive, but I ignore traffic signs when walking. They're more of a suggestion than a rule especially in Glasgow.
7. Who is the most influential person in your life?
I influence myself; fuck all y'all.
8. Give me a hot take. What’s the unpopular opinion you stand by?
Love Island is pish
9. What would the ten year old you think about you now?
10yr old me wanted to be an astronaught so idk lol probably disappointed
10. What’s your favorite city to visit/live in?
Town lol I don't do visits
11. Tell me the story of your first kiss.
She asked me out and I was kinda dithering but then just as she was walking away I shouted yes at her like a fucking lunatic and she turned around like "....oh." Then we snogged :P
12. What was your yearbook quote (if you didn’t have one what would it be)?
The romans didnt invent a great civilisations by having meetings. They did it by killing all those who opposed them.
13. What’s a non-sexual turn on for you?
Millie's Cookies <33333
14. Who’s your favorite non-animated movie character?
The wee old dear from Last Train To Busan <3
15. You fall into $10K and you have to spend it on yourself and not bills, what do you buy?
Gig tickets, alcohol and stuff off my list
16. Have you picked names for your children yet?
one
17. Do you have any talents?
I'm very good at singing badly
18. Which would you prefer: Netflix and Chill or iTunes and Chill?
Netflix or iTunes themselves. I ain't got no chill. And no-ones interrupting me if I'm listening to music/watching something
19. Fill in the blank: I want to ____ your _____.
_hug_, _soul_
20. Is once a cheater always a cheater true?
idk people can change but I'd say the relationship is forever ruined. Someone that cheated on me might not cheat again, but I wouldn't trust them anymore.
21. In one word, What was the reason your last relationship failed?
complacency
22. What’s something therapeutic you do when you’re stressed?
listen to music
23. What was your favorite non-Pixar Disney Film?
Big Hero 6
24. Ruin a first date in 5 words or less.
"I like country music" :P
25. Drums or Flats?
I thought this was about music or highheels but google says its about chicken. And I prefer boneless!
26. Do you remember your last dream? What about?
No idea, I don't remember them much I'm just greatful for whatever sleep I can get.
27. Do you want your kids to go to church, synagogue, temple, mosque? why?
Never! I don't want to fill their heads with nonsense and a life of trying to conform to outdated arbitrary rules just so they have a good afterlife.
28. If Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, and Liam Neeson get into a bar brawl who wins?
The press?
29. Looking back would you have lost your virginity sooner than you did or later?
Sooner. The lateness was not for lack of trying
30. Do you have a favorite book?
Not really but it used to be either Reaper Man or The Hitch-hikers Guide To The Galaxy
31. Fuck Marry Kill?
Do I get to pick my own???????
Fuck - "Main Course"
Marry - hahahaha no
Kill - your hopes and dreams
32. Is college worth it? Why?
Yes because its good to know things and worth it to get a better job so you're not working beside me :)
33. Favorite Cartoon growing up.
idk I can't really remember what I watched.
34. What’s your favorite social media besides tumblr?
I'm on Facebook more but that's just to play games mostly
35. Does your first crush still look good?
I don't talk to her anymore but her pictures aren't too bad
36. Do you think starting a gofundme is begging or helpful?
Depends on the reason, like I've seen one just for a sesh which is fucking stupid, but like Americans do them for medical bills or some legit reasons.
37. Sesame Street or Barney?
Sesame Street! Cookie Monster<3
38. What you’re favorite R&B Album of all time?
I hate them all.
39. What movie(s) do you know all the lines to by heart?
I can quote bits of films but probably not the whole film
40. Would you date someone you met on here?
idk like I prefer this as a more anonymous space to share things and rant about people who actually know me. If I'm doing this right no-one I meet on here should figure out who I am :) But yes I'd date y'all cause you're all wonderful peoples
41. Would you rather be too hot or too cold?
Too cold, it's Scotland you know?
42. Would you date yourself?
I dont think I could put up with my own shit. And if it was like really my personality in a female form we'd be far too fucking shy to speak to each other.
43. Apple or Android?
Android, Apple is a cult
44. What is the first song that you can remember learning the lyrics to?
Daydream Believer for my aunties wedding
45. What are 3 of your favorite Michael Jackson songs?
I genuinely do not like any of them but Alien Ant Farm covered Smooth Criminal if that counts?
46. Fill in the blanks: it’s not cheating if ___ ____ ____.
you haven't actually kissed or slept with the other person and you're only sharing inappropriate messages on facebook and they've already said they're not a homewrecker... sorry, too specific?
47. Could you put your dreams on hold to support your bf/gf pursuing theirs?
my dreams have been crushed so it would depend on what theirs were
48. What’s is the title to your autobiography?
The Life And Times Of A Fucknut
49. Is there someone you’re trying not to call or text right now?
YES! SO MUCH. I want to message her all the time but she hasn't messaged me and i dont want to appear desperate even though I am so I'm not gonna message first although I check every 5mins if shes messaged me
50. What is your favorite emoji or emoji combination?
:P or ;)
51. Do you have any deal breakers in relationships?
cheating lol.
52. Are you Tre or Doughboy?
I had no idea so I googled it and Wikipedia says "Tre is highly intelligent but has a volatile temper and lacks respect" which is so me :) Idk who doughboy is lol
53. Favorite movie?
Don't really have one tbh. I have too many I want to watch to bother re-watching something i've seen.
54. How long do you talk to someone before you expect a relationship?
when you talk to someone its the start of a relationship in the loosest sense of the word because friendship is still the relationship between two people
55. Ruin a first date in 5 words or less.
repeat questions would ruin a date cause it proves you're not listening
56. How old are you and how old do you feel?
I'm 29 but I feel the same as i always have
57. Tag your favorite tumblr blog.
@evilsupplyco
58. Your house is burning down and your family is safe what is the one material item you’d grab?
my phone'd already be in my pocket so laptop?
59. How long until you introduce your bf/gf to your family?
theyve met
60. Fill in the blank: All you need in this life of sin is you and your ____.
Nope. All you need in this life of sin is you. No and your anything
61. Kobe, Jordan, or Lebron?
neither
62. What is your favorite Drake lyric?
I hate everything he has ever said
63. Where did you meet the last person you fell in love with?
I don't fall in love, I believe I only fall in lust/infatuation/obsession.
64. Do you know your love language?
I joined a shitty website to find the answer. Apparently it's physical touch and then words of affirmation.
65. Take a Myers Briggs Personality Test: what are your results?
No. I fail at these. The questions are never things that i would do so i feel like im unintentionally lying and it never sounds like me
66. How do you feel about Quentin Taurentino films?
Violence and blood what could be better?
67. Fill in the blank: Get you someone who will ______.
_worship you as the amazing and beautiful bad ass bitch that you are <-- actual drunken advice from me
68. What’s your favorite movie soundtrack?
Spiderman 2 i actually had the album
69. What’s your favorite fragrance on the opposite sex?
i dont care what they smell like as long as its not fags
70. Is there any magazine, blog, or publication you read weekly?
Nope
71. Will you abstain from sex or go to marriage counseling?
Why are these my only options? But I'm not going to counselling, if they have issues then they should just tell me :)
72. There’s two kinds of people in the world: Those who pour ketchup on their fries, and the ones who put it on the side to dip. Which one are you?
The one who doesn't order ketchup at all.
73. Rough sex or slow sex?
Both. Either. Any lol
73. Have you ever slept with a stranger?
Nope. Not that I have anything against it I've just never had the opportunity
74. What’s your dream music collaboration? Produced by who (Dead or Alive)?
idk but probably produced by rick rubin cause that guy does eeeeeverything lol
75. What song will you probably conceive your kids to?
Music would just be a distraction
76. Do you have a scripture or quote you live by?
Nope
77. Finish this sentence: If men had birth control _____.
itd be free
78. How long should sex last?
As long as both partners need
79. What music do you listen to when you de-stress?
Just whatevers next on the playlist
80. How soon should you text someone after getting their number?
The next time you want to tell them something but they arent there beside you?
81. How do you feel about the 80/20 rule?
Living in lol but its more like erm 20/80?
82. Is sex a determinate in a relationship?
Yeah. Why would you get with someone if you're not at least somewhat attracted to them?
83. Is it wrong to move in with someone or “shack up” before marriage?
Nope
81. Send me a never have I ever.
Never have I ever enjoyed beer
82. What is your favorite video game of all time?
Spyro The Dragon
83. Who is your favorite book/movie character?
"SQUEAK" said the Death Of Rats
84. Can you define love as best as you can?
Nope
85. Does size matter?
I hope not, women like taller guys lol.
86. What is your favorite thing about the person you like? Physically? Personality?
idk
87. Five Year plan? Go!
Don't get fired, save money, get an actual house, buy stuff off my list?
88. If someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?
idk i dont understand me so why you asking me?
89. Do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? Do you identify yourself by the things you do?
I don't tend to think of myself at all really... and why would I identify myself?
90. What does emotionally available mean to you?
Someone who is not emotionally closed off?
91. Could you go into business with your ex?
Hahahahahahahah no
92. What is the last song you sang aloud?
I'd Rather Drown
ineverletpeopleinandihaveyoutoremindmewhy
93. If someone liked you right now, would you want them to tell you?
They do. They told me. It sucks cause it changes nothing except igniting that small bit of hope id given up on...
94. How do you prefer to obtain your music Streaming, Downloads, or Physical?
Physical albums for artists I like, even though it just goes straight into the laptop anyway i still like having albums
95. Name an artist you like that your friends probably don’t listen to.
What friends? But erm Archangels Revenge. I doubt the ex members listen to them as much as I do lol
96. Tag someone that’s probably her baby father.
this makes no sense?
97. Post a selfie you really like.
nope
98. Do you watch anime? What is your favorite?
Death Note or The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya so far, but ive got a lot on my list
99. What’s the zodiac sign of the last person you dated?
Aquarius
100. Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
I know that he is not either.
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Thor: Ragnarok Review
First time doing this kind of thing, but I really felt like it after watching the movie today.
Spoilers under the “Read More” thing
Let’s talk about this movie, which is easily the best movie in the entire Thor trilogy. It really doesn’t feel like a super hero movie, the comedy stands out a lot but it doesn’t get to ruin the mood of the scene, at all.
Pros:
- The opening of the movie with the Surtur fight was great and it set the mood of the entire movie in less than 5 minutes. Getting to see Muspelheim for the first time in the MCU was great, although I wish the scene was a bit longer;
- The Soundtrack of the entire movie is gold;
- Skurge’s scene as Thor got back to Asgard was pretty funny;
- The play about Loki’s “death” was incredible, they even redid the OST from Thor: The Dark World and that made me laugh so badly;
- Benedict Cumberbath’s Dr Strange was great, didn’t stand out as I thought he would but that’s fine. Interesting to see how his magic skills improved during the time between his own movie and this one;
- Odin is a major dick to all his children but at the same time his demise was still touching and seeing him acknowledging Loki as his son was great.;
- Hela’s entrance was incredible and terrifying at the same time. Loved seeing the cosmic rays like the comics.;
- Never thought about a fight happening in the Bifrost beam thing, that was really cool;
- Sakaar is really different from the comics and I’m kinda ok with it;
- Valkyrie’s introduction was one of the best things in the movie. Tessa Thompson’s version of the character was one of the best things in the movie;
- This was probably one of my faves Stan Lee’s cameos so far, did the Watchers left him in Sakaar or he got lost and ended up there?
- I love Grandmaster so much, Jeff Goldblum was amazing as the character and doesn’t even make me care that they replaced the Red King with him;
- Korg was just so, good. I loved how he was adapted and I really want to see more of him in the future. Really glad Miek is mute so we won’t get a World War Hulk adaptation;
- Hulk finally got his own personality aside from being a mindless beast as seen in the previous Avengers;
- Poor Bruce Banner tho, not getting out for 2 years seems pretty rough and when he finally turns back, he has to wears Tony’s tight pants;
- Loki reacting to the Thor vs Hulk fight was amazing;
- I love Heimdall and I’m so glad he had more screentime, even tho he deserves much more;
- Cate Blanchett’s portray of Hela was incredible, seeing her murder all the Asgardian soldiers was awesome;
- Thor trying to bond with both Hulk and Banner was precious and he got all protective whenever Banner got stressed;
- Devil’s Anus
- Loki vs Valkyrie was incredible, the flashback to her original trauma was a really nice touch;
- Thor’s story about how Loki tried to murder him when they were 8 was so good;
- “we’re not doing the ‘get help” “GET HELP MY BROTHER IS DYING”;
- Thor seeing through Loki’s tricks was such a nice touch on their development;
- “I see you’re desperate for leadership” “wow, thanks man”;
- The whole sequence until they get to the giant wormhole is gold;
- Asgard looks so cool, I’ve always thought it was some sort of planet but it’s really just a huge af city with endless water in space;
- Skurge’s character arc was pretty good, seeing his hesitation in killing a civilian was nice but it could be worked better;
- Heimdall fighting with that huge sword is always good;
- Fenris is just so cute it was so sad seeing him getting beaten up;
- Seeing Bruce not transforming midair and hitting the ground for the first time since 2008 was amazing;
- The final fight was just, epic. Don’t think there are more words that can describe it;
- Thor’s lightning/thunder powers are awesome;
- Valkyrie just walking as Grandmaster’s ship were shooting fireworks was so extra and amazing;
- I felt so relieved when they used Surtur again because I thought he was like “hey I’m the new Batroc the Leaper now”;
- Thor losing an eye was really cool but he looks weird af with an eyepatch;
- Listening to the theme from the first movie as Thor turns into the official king of Asgard gave such a good feeling, it really felt like a conclusion to his character arc;
- I guess Loki is a good guy now? At least until Thanos shows up, which I guess happens at the end of the movie (?).
- (Probably the best thing was that Heimdall didn’t die because I was really scared it would happen)
Cons:
- Although I loved seeing Muspelheim, I wish we had a bigger glimpse at the other realms;
- The lack of flashbacks kinda bothered me; wish they showed Hela being banished to Hel or something as Odin told them about it. but instead we just got people talking about it and those panels Odin covered up;
- Also how no one in Asgard knows who she is? Did Odin brainwash them all?
- Kinda sad how the whole “Hela is your sister” thing throws away the chance of Angela appearing on the MCU;
- Skurge’s character arc was good but it could be better;
- Banner could have had more screentime, especially since he’s sold as one of the movie’s main character;
- Valkyrie change of heart was too quick, Loki induced a flashback and that was enough for her? (I think she might have some suicidal tendencies too);
- The Warriors Three deserved better, so did Sif;
- I’m really glad we now have a confirmation Beta Ray Bill exists in the MCU but like, where is he? how he’ll know he’s worthy of everyone’s love now??
Jokes aside, this was the best Thor movie so far. Focusing on the comedy was a really risky move and I’m really glad it payed off. I’ve seen some people complaining about the CGI but I didn’t have any problems with it.
The cast was amazing and all the people who worked on this movie gave their best on making it such a great movie. If I had to rate it I’d give it 9.5/10. I really recommend seeing it in 3D because the visuals look really well with it.
#thor ragnarok spoilers#hulk#valkyrie#loki#hela#grandmaster#taika waititi#chris hemsworth#tessa thompson#mark ruffalo#tom hiddleston#jeff goldblum#korg#almost forgot#thor
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My Top 20 Films of 2017 - Part Two
Ok, so about ten minutes ago I finished watching my last 2017 film of the year. For my FULL list - all 127 films watched in order of preference - jump on over to my Letterboxd page: https://letterboxd.com/matt_bro/list/films-of-the-year-2017/
Alright, top 10:
10. Logan
In a time when a lot of people still bemoan the existence of so many comic book movies (occasionally, with a point) this has been a stellar year for them. Marvel’s triple whammy of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Spiderman Homecoming and Thor Ragnarok were all excellent, heartfelt, fun knockouts and Wonder Woman was a terrific showcase for both Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins (not to mention hugely important in its own right). Only Justice League really fell back on old tired habits and resulted in a bizarre mashup of tone and purpose and featured the single most damning piece of CGI buffoonery ever conceived in Henry Cavill’s ‘we’ll fix it in post’ deleted moustache. That really is one for the ages.
But I could never have foreseen the power and beauty of something like Logan, a near-perfect capper to a spinoff trilogy that began with the God-awful Wolverine Origins. It’s strengths come from it’s convictions – this isn’t an episodic story servicing a franchise, this is a true stand alone character piece, focusing on the rarest of things – an actual ending to a beloved, previously untouchable, immortal superhero. Played out as a tragic western with claws, the film beautifully champions the importance of family and love, seen (at last) through the eyes of those that never dreamed they would experience it, let alone fight for it. With some fantastic action set pieces to boot too, this one really has its cake and its eat and is also a real sight to behold – I saw it for a second time in it’s gorgeous black and white ‘Logan Noir’ cut and every frame is a revelation. Huge props to Patrick Stewart too, delivering a devastating performance of a character is has also lived with for the past SEVENTEEN years.
9. Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
This film is a heartbreaker. My God. Definitely the most surprising cinema-going experience I had this year. I went with a friend of mine and by the time the credits were rolling, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house – best encapsulated by a burly scouser sat behind us who was openly saying “Fuck me, didn’t expect that for a Sunday afternoon. Jesus! How bloody brilliant was that!? Got any tissues?’.
Focusing on the later years of Hollywood starlet Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening on Oscar sweeping form), it finds her semi-washed up and treading the boards in London where she meets and falls for Peter Gallagher (Jamie Bell – never better than this) another actor, half her age. The tenderness and straight forwardness of their pairing is so refreshing, never making an issue or point about the older woman/younger man dynamic unless directly challenged by other characters (including Gloria’s bratty sister Joy) or themselves. The most effective emotional beats of this film aren’t signposted and drawn out for Oscar clip schmaltzyness but instead hit you in a sudden burst of passionate regret; hurtful words said in anger or defence – truly proving that the most harmful things you can say to someone you love are all too easy to let slip out before you’ve had a chance to think about what you’re saying. But the damage is done.
The film-making here is exceptional too. What could have been a rather dry biopic is given such momentum through brilliantly executed scene transitions and a flashback-enhanced narrative that keeps us embroiled in the present day scenes of Gloria succumbing to cancer whilst we watch their initial courtships and brutal arguments from the months and years leading up to it. The supporting cast that includes Julie Walters, back as Bell’s mother and Stephen Graham as his brother are brilliant but this is Bening/Bell’s movie and they knock it out of the park.
8. Baby Driver
My big birthday blowout screening of the year, following last year’s Aliens 30th anniversary showing, Baby Driver did not let me down. All the usual energy, narrative foreshadowing and tightly controlled construction you’ve come to expect from an Edgar Wright flick blown out onto a much bigger and more confident scale. The genius pairing of getaway driver crime heist flick and vehicular musical allows for some hugely inventive set pieces, from the opening police chase set to Bellbottoms by the John Spencer Blues Explosion to the car-on-car parking lot duel with Queen’s Brighton Rock echoing through the tunnels.
Ansel Elgort delivers a breakout turn and everyone from Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx and Kevin somebody-or-other are having a ball playing bad. The romance with waitress Lily James initially feels a little under cooked but it all plays into the escapist fairytale of the action and seeing them dance together in a laundromat whilst sharing headphones is one of this year’s purest joys.
7. Get Out
Where It soaked up much of the straight spooky horror acclaim this year, Get Out walked a much more tantalising and complex line between thriller, social drama, satire, comedy and horror – and pulled it all off effortlessly. Jordan Peele has long had grand cinematic aspirations as evidenced in some of the larger scale sketches in his fantastic show Key and Peele but this clearly represents everything he wanted to say and do in a debut feature. I think the odds of so perfectly nailing your voice and intentions in your very first film is astronomical but damn, he must be proud, not only of the film itself but the cultural reach, impact and resonance it has had with audiences.
Daniel Kaluuya is excellent as the everyman battling his own (rational) fears and paranoia before his instincts slowly become the domineering voice in the back of his head. Trust in oneself is the saving grace here and it’s great to see an array of other ‘traditional’ characters for this genre twist the knife and reveal their true colours. The “Rose, where are my keys” turning point is perhaps the tightest I’ve gripped the arm of my chair all year. And the eventual climax is one of the best examples of subverting expected genre tropes. Brilliant.
6. Raw
Speaking of confident debuts, Julia Ducournau’s is equally astounding. Not for the faint hearted, this queasy, cannibalistic coming of age tale is a near perfect slice of fucked up fever dream. It follows a young vegetarian attending veterinary college who is forced to eat rabbit meat in a sick hazing ritual – one that her fellow student and older sister has clearly already experienced. Slowly but surely, a triggering of her animalistic appetite grows, coinciding both with her own first steps into a sexual awakening as well as a growing sense of unease that something isn’t right in her family to begin with.
The plot takes some nutty turns, not least in the last few minutes, but everything works; from the gorgeous imagery to the tonal juggling to the assured performances. This would make an excellent entry in an ‘arthouse does horror subgenre’ triple bill, doing for cannibals what A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night does for vampires and The Witch does for... witches.
5. Jackie
This is a breathtaking biopic - interested less in the broad strokes of history and what we think we know about the aftermath of one of the most infamous events of the 20th century and more in the nuanced, private, personal moments of grief in the public eye. Natalie Portman is astounding as Jackie Kennedy, nailing everything from the look to the voice to the affectations, and its the dreamlike, woozy way that the film unfolds that really draws you in and positions you in the eye of a hurricane. The JFK assassination was a monumental cultural milestone but this story asks you to put yourself in the shoes of a woman who was unavoidably trapped at ground zero - and largely all alone with her memories and emotions, despite the surrounding pressures of aides, the press and the American people.
This is supremely confident filmmaking, incredibly affecting and features another stand out score from Mica Under the Skin Levi.
4. 20th Century Women
The second film on my list for both Annette Bening and Greta Gerwig, this is a wonderful story about the strengths and flaws found in both the family we’re given and the family we choose. With an anecdotal, episodic structure, it is less focused on plot and more on the individual moments that the characters in our lives provide us with; how they affect our own life story and evoke memories of a certain time and place.
It’s highly emotional, with touching asides and rambling voiceovers telling us numerous stories whilst keeping a sense of an anchor through the relationship between Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) and his mother Dorothea (Bening). The supporting cast is uniformly great, from Elle Fanning as the girl next door to Billy Crudup as a lonely tenant/handyman, this one really hit me hard. The late 70s period details, along with the soundtrack, and the sun bleached cinematography recalls the joy of discovering yourself through questionable music, bad decisions and rebellious behaviour. Check it out.
3. A Ghost Story
I doubt any other film this year left quite a long lasting impression as this one did. I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterwards and became rather obsessed with pretty much everything it accomplishes. It’s a fairly straight forward tale of a couple (Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara) whose relationship begins to feel the strain as they quietly realise they might want different things in life. We’re not privy to many more details, positioned as a voyeur which will continue as things unfold but before long, Affleck is killed in a simple car accident outside his home and seemingly rises from death to haunt his old home, dressed entirely in the hospital bed sheet his corpse was covered in. It’s a genius depiction of the traditional ghost - simultaneously off-putting, amusing, whimsical and ridiculous - and it’s also rooted in logic too. As the ghost continues to watch his Mara grieve for him (mesmerisingly encapsulated in an unbroken take of a depressed Mara eating an entire pie that her neighbour brought round), he (and us) slowly begin to notice time... breaking.
The way the passing of time is visualised here is beautifully simple - rather than the long slow fades that normally indicate transitions, here it is as sudden as the ghost turning around to look over his shoulder, through a series of hard cuts or sometimes, no cuts at all. That feeling of time literally slipping away is brutal and the ghost can do nothing but wander about, seemingly helpless to how fast things change. One moment, Mara packs up and leaves, the next a new family of three have apparently been living there for months. Ultimately, the film becomes a meditation on the importance we embue in places, not so much people. The house is the anchor - the core - of what the ghost latches on to and if you’ve ever had the feeling of wondering who lived in your home before you and who will be there after you’ve gone, this film will dig deep into your mind.
I found this to be a brilliantly low-fi way to tell a huge thematic story and the use of music throughout - including one central track in particular - only adds to it. If you can get past the pie-eating without thinking ‘da hell is this’, you’re in for a treat.
2. Dunkirk
I’m almost scared to put this so high. I’ve no doubt in my mind that it’s a five star film and it’s certainly the most visceral, immediate cinema going experience I’ve perhaps ever had (I caught it at the BFI IMAX, opening night, at a late showing and it truly does fill your entire periphery vision) but a part of me wonders if it will hold up on second viewing - i.e. if seeing it anywhere other than the IMAX will diminish it. Well, I’m sure it won’t be the same but I’m also convinced it won’t matter either because this is clockwork precision film making of the highest order; an exercise in narrative structure as well as simply being the most accurate representation of the event in question as there possibly could be.
Some people have complained that this film does a disservice to its characters but I disagree. The power of this story is that it’s the tale of the everyman - how all of these people, no matter the extent of their involvement or the merits of their bravery, became heroes. I don’t need to see the ‘movie’ version of this - where characters chat about their backstories or show photos of loved ones or do every other cliche around. I KNOW all that is going on within the frame but I don’t need to see it. What we’re seeing is the immediacy of these events, which heightens the terror and the hopelessness felt by everyone on that beach or in those boats or in those planes. The land/sea/sky split is impeccably done and the devotion to practical battle scenes is stunning. The aerial dogfights - in full IMAX - practically made me feel like I was strapped to a wing. But even looking past the spectacle, the performances DO bring out the heart of the characters we’re presented with. From Cillian Murphy’s PTSD riddled soldier to the steely determination of Mark Rylance to the rather genius casting of Harry Styles - the exact kind of kid who would have been swept up in this war - everyone is all in and they all blew me away. Especially Tom Hardy, in perhaps his most restricted role yet (it’s like Bane meets Locke), who garners the biggest cheers.
And Hans Zimmer’s epic score can make me sweat just thinking about it. A perfect compliment to the tightening framework and increasing stakes of the action.
1. La La Land
Where do I even begin with this? Full spoilers ahead, I couldn’t help myself.
Clearly, this isn’t a film for everyone. And I get that. Some people think it’s fine but kinda hate musicals. Others get frustrated with the character’s choices. Others would have preferred it to actually remain a musical throughout. I understand all of these criticisms but for me, it does perfectly what it sets out to do.
First of all, I personally love the musical numbers - from the jaw dropping opening of Another Day of Sun to the kinetic, glamourous rush of Someone in the Crowd to the heartfelt yearning of City of Stars. I think they’re great tunes, wonderfully performed and exceptionally shot. I think of the long one-shot takes of the first, the swimming pool splashdown of the second and the little smack on the shoulder of the third. They’re rooted in feeling, in character and in the tradition of Hollywood. They wear their influences on their sleeve but never feel like a parody. And to me, the sudden shift away from being a flat out musical at the end of the first act is not a misstep but entirely organic - this is the rare love story that has its head in the clouds (romantic dating montages, dreamlike dancing through the stars) as well as being brutally honest about what we want, how we get them and the sacrifices these things cost.
The movie starts out as this fantastical anti-meet-cute before morphing into a romantic fable full of wonderment but the moment the characters get together, it switches gears and becomes more grounded in reality. The music largely stops and the real world catches up. Arguments are had, compromises are made, promises are broken. This is the harsh truth of getting what you want at the cost of losing what you’ve perhaps always wanted. The tension between Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) becomes uncomfortable - he’s lying to himself about doing what he must to achieve his real dream, even despite Mia’s support and she is battling her own demons in chasing hers. It’s only when the film brings them to their lowest points does it slowly turn back into being something more magical. Sebastian returns to Mia with the news of a new audition, which results in the most raw song/anecdote of the film ‘Audition (The Fools Who Dream), and just as we’re swept into the happy ending we were promised from decades of these movies, the pair realise they have to do their own thing. “We’ll just have to wait and see”...
The film’s extended epilogue is where it really doubles down on this idea. As we’re treated to a return of the ‘full blown musical’, we see the true Hollywood version of this entire story, played out in dreamlike fast forward. Sebastian leaping off his piano to kiss Mia the second he meets her, the villainous J.K. Simmons snapping his fingers and stepping aside, Sebastian giving a standing ovation at Mia’s one woman show that he missed entirely before, the two of them travelling to Paris and crafting a life together that Mia actually did alone. On the surface, it’s a joyous, colourful, happy finale but the final curtain reminds you that it’s all been... a daydream. The road not travelled. So while the film ends with them both achieving their own desires, they’ve lost one another. This is the all-too-often-true cost of creative pursuit and fulfilment and it’s so rare to see it held aloft in the final reel of an Oscar winning movie that appears to be the exact opposite on the surface.
It’s daring, brave and imaginative and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe I’m too soppy and maybe I’ve just ruined the entire plot for you (I definitely have) but I just couldn’t see anything topping this the moment I saw it. And I guess I was right. Damien Chazelle is a wizard and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
#top 10#Films of 2017#2017#logan#film stars don't die in liverpool#baby driver#get out#raw#jackie#20th century women#a ghost story#dunkirk#la la land
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I'm not a huge horror movie fan, but I would love to see a Skimmons Zombieland AU! Something funny/scary, with maybe one of the avengers doing the bill murray cameo thing?
Happy Halloween! I mean…happy first of October.
Thanks for the movie suggestion! I figured it would be a perfect way to kick off my 31 Days of Horror Movie Ficlets (I need a better title I guess?)
Check it out below the cut or all ficlets will also be posted on AO3! {x}
Movie: Zombieland
Soundtrack: “Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs
“So, Daisy Johnson,” Jemma intones in a serious voice, asclose to the newscasters that she remembers from when the news was actuallyrunning, “you finally made it to California. What’s the first thing you’regoing to do?”
“Well…” Daisy draws the word out, as though contemplating heroptions, “probably sleep for twenty-four hours straight.”
Just to punctuate her point, she takes a running leap andjumps onto the king-sized bed in middle of the room and, of course, it feelslike heaven. She even bounces just a little, sighing contentedly as she sinksdown onto the mattress. And is that…ugh yes…a down comforter. “Jemma, you have to come feel this,” Daisy sighs,patting the space on the bed beside her. “I don’t know if I’ve ever feltanything so amazing.”
Jemma smirks but she climbs into bed beside Daisy. “I’m sureyou’ll say the same thing when you finally take a shower.”
Daisy’s eyes grow wide. “A shower,” she breathes. “Do youthink the water still works? Do you think it’s still hot?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Jemma says. “Look at this place. Imean compared to the other places we’ve seen, it looks practically perfect.”
Daisy had thought the same thing when they’d finally settledon this house. Or, well, house might not be the right word to describe it.Mansion is far more fitting, given the three stories and the basement levelthat Coulson and Ace are currently exploring. She feels a little nervous being separatedfrom Ace, seeing as they haven’t been apart since this whole apocalypse andzombie drama started but she trusts Coulson enough to hope that Ace is safewith him in this large, perfect, unexplored house.
“I mean…it’s a little weird, right?” Daisy says, frowningslightly as she studies Jemma. “Maybe it’s just not as bad over here.”
Jemma doesn’t say anything but Daisy can see the skepticismin her face. They’ve driven halfway across the country and they’ve seen enoughdeath and destruction to know that it’s bad everywhere. Honestly, Daisy hadn’teven realized that there were other people still in the world until she’d runinto Coulson and then, days later, Jemma. She’d never intended to join up witha group; there were too many unknown factors when you added other people intothe equation and her priority was Ace and trying to get him to California andhis aunt’s house. She’d promised Mike that she would look after him. Butsomething about Coulson and Jemma…it had seemed easier to let her guard downaround them. With Coulson, Daisy had just desperately wanted someone else totake charge for a little while, to look after them and do the protecting. Andwith Jemma…well.
With Jemma, her thoughts are definitely not zombie apocalypserelated.
“Maybe we should investigate the shower situation,” Daisysays, though she makes no move to leave the bed.
Jemma nods. “Maybe we should.” She doesn’t move either.
Daisy smiles. “Maybe in a minute,” she relents. “I’m just sofreaking comfortable.”
“It has been a long time since we slept in a bed, hasn’t it?”Jemma says with a sigh of longing. “Not that I haven’t been enjoying thebackseat of the car.”
“I mean forget sleeping in a bed,” Daisy says, “how long hasit been since you had a real, nice shower? Or had clean clothes? Or actual hotfood?”
Jemma rubs her stomach, groaning. “Don’t talk about food.”But there’s still so much of the house they haven’t explored so thepossibilities…her stomach rumbles at the idea.
“Maybe Coulson can finally find his Twinkies.” Daisy grins.
“I’m sure he’s searching for them right now,” Jemma says.
“He can have the Twinkies,” Daisy says, “but I call dibs onthis bed.”
Jemma gives her a playful shove. “Excuse you. We found thisroom together.”
Daisy lifts an eyebrow. “Looks like there’s room for two,”she says.
Okay so she’s feeling bold here in this bedroom, in an actualhouse, where she doesn’t feel like she has to be afraid for her life at thisexact moment.
Jemma smiles at her. “So it would seem,” she says. After apause, she adds, “I’m glad that our paths crossed. You know…safety in numbersand all that.”
Daisy nods. “Oh, of course.” But she’s smiling and so isJemma and maybe it’s not so terrible after all, to be here after the world hasended on a really comfortable bed in a giant house with Jemma here beside her. “Youknow, I’m-”
The sound of floorboards creaking immediately causes Daisy tofall silent. She and Jemma both sit up in unison, looking toward the openbedroom door. Her heart is already hammering in her chest and she immediatelymisses the way she had felt just seconds before: safe and content and a littlelike she was falling in love with the woman lying beside her.
Now none of that stuff really matters, seeing as there’s apossibility they’re about to die a horrible zombie related death.
It could be nothing, of course. Could just be Coulson or Ace.But Ace is never quiet, at least, not quiet enough to sneak down the hallway.
Daisy slips off the bed and Jemma follows suit, both of themreaching for their weapons of choice: Jemma, the gun she always keeps withinreach; Daisy, the baseball bat she’d left leaning against the wall.
They step into the hallway just as the zombie rounds thecorner and they both scream in surprise, though the noise is quickly drownedout by the firing of Jemma’s gun. The bullet catches the zombie in the chestand it stumbles backward, snarling.
“Double tap!” Daisy says, hefting her bat in case Jemma needsbackup. “Don’t forget.”
Jemma rolls her eyes at her before leveling her gun at thezombie and pulling the trigger. The bullet lands neatly between the eyes andthe zombie drops to the ground.
“Nice shooting.” They whirl around toward the unfamiliarvoice. “I thought I’d cleared-”
Further words are silenced by another crack of the gun andthe thud of another body hitting the floor. The groan that escapes thisparticular zombie sounds more human than zombie-like and Daisy is pretty sureshe’s never heard a zombie talk before and…
“Oh my god…” Daisy furrows her brow as she steps closer tothe figure on the ground. “Is that Tony Stark?”
Jemma’s eyes go wide and she looks down at the gun in herhands, a guilty look crossing her face. “Did I just kill Tony Stark?”
Carefully, Daisy nudges the body with the edge of herbaseball bat. Nothing. “I…I think you might have.”
“Oh my god.” Jemma presses a hand to her mouth, standingbeside Daisy and studying the body. “Where did he come from? Why is he dressed…likea zombie? That’s zombie makeup, right?”
Daisy’s eyes grow wide. “This must be Tony Stark’s house!”She grins. “We must be in Tony Stark’s house! Holy shit! No wonder everythingis so nice.”
“I think you’re missing the point here.” Jemma points back toTony Stark, former billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist. “I shot TonyStark.”
Daisy pats Jemma on the shoulder. “He could have been azombie,” she points out. “You were just trying to save our lives. From TonyStark! Holy shit!” She grabs Jemma’s hand, tugging her back in the direction ofthe staircase. “Let’s tell Coulson. He’s going to get a kick out of this.”
Jemma rolls her eyes but allows Daisy to drag her down thestairs. She feels bad for the whole Tony Stark snafu but she definitely doesn’tregret any of the things that have brought her to this moment, with her hand inDaisy’s, facing down the end of the world with her, and a former schoolteacher, and an eight-year-old boy.
Honestly, Jemma figures, there are worst ways to spend theend of the world.
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March Book Review: Hunted
Hunted
By: Meagan Spooner
Release Date: March 14, 2017
*Beware: Spoilers Ahead!*
Official Synopsis:
Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood.
She knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.
But Yeva’s grown up far from her father’s old lodge, raised to be part of the city’s highest caste of aristocrats. Still, she’s never forgotten the feel of a bow in her hands, and she’s spent a lifetime longing for the freedom of the hunt.
So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronesses…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman.
But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.
Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts the strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures Yeva’s heard about only in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin—or salvation.
Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?
My Synopsis:
Beauty used to live for the hunt, for the feel of the forest in her bones, in her soul. She used to know the forest’s secrets almost as well as her father, the only hunter who had ever been close to learning the truth of the woods.
Although Yeva left the forest and her nickname behind a long time ago, she yearns for her days in the wilderness. There she can truly be herself, the hunter more comfortable tracking her prey with a bow in her hand than playing the role of an aristocrat or agreeing to marry a man she barely knows.
When her father’s fortune is lost, Yeva gets her wish to return to the forest of her childhood. But her joy may have come at the cost of her father’s sanity, and when he goes missing, it’s up to Yeva to hunt down the creature of her father’s stories, the one he’d claimed was hunting him in his final days.
Leaving her sisters under the care of her eager fiancé, Yeva enters the forest in search of the Beast, but what she discovers is more than she could’ve imagined: an endless winter, a ruined castle, a hidden world of fairy tales come to life, and a man under a terrible curse. A curse that could give Yeva everything she’s ever wanted—or lead to her destruction.
When the magic is cleared, will both be left standing, or will Beauty kill the Beast?
My Thoughts:
Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorite fairy tales. The first movie I ever saw in theaters was the Disney animated version of the film, and although I don’t remember it myself, my mother likes to tell the story of how I, eagerly awaiting the movie and clearly not understanding previews, repeatedly complained, “That’s not Beauty and the Beast” until the film finally started. She also likes to tell how I rather loudly exclaimed, “They wuv each other!” when Belle and the human Beast finally kissed.
Needless to say, Beauty and the Beast was a story that held a special place in my heart from the very beginning, and it remains there to this day. And while I never get tired of watching the animated film or listening to the soundtrack, I’m a reader at heart, so I’m always on the search for a good Beauty and the Beast-related tale. Yes, there’s the original tale, but that’s only so long, and it doesn’t provide that much excitement, so I’ve greedily searched for any and all retellings.
Some people greatly dislike retellings, but I think they’re a great way to explore a fairy tale, a folk tale, or some aspect of mythology in a different context. Retellings can update the story, flesh out the characters, and generally make the story more relevant for current readers. I’ve read a lot of great retellings of Beauty and the Beast over the years, and I’ve loved how different authors can take the same basic story and create such unique and exciting worlds and characters all their own. I’ve encountered a version of Belle who is part cat, a version of the Beast who seems to promise happily ever after until his protective nature forces the heroine to fight for her freedom, and a version of the story tightly twisted with the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. I’ve even fallen in love with a Belle that falls in love with another Beast entirely: Rumpelstiltskin.
But no matter how many times or ways I explored the old French tale, I wanted more. Of course, when I heard Disney was making a live-action remake, I was beyond excited. Every mention of the film had me stifling squeals of delight, and while I was a tad bit afraid Disney would ruin my beloved tale, I should’ve known better.
But this isn’t a review of the movie, although I will say if you haven’t seen it, go. Now. Go see it now. I don’t care what other plans you had, cancel them. This movie is worth every accolade and more.
This is a review of Hunted, one of the newest—and easily one of my favorite—retellings of Beauty and the Beast. I don’t know if the publication of this book was planned to be so close to the release of the new movie, but it was perfect timing for me. As soon as I’d seen the movie, I was in need of more, and Hunted was there to fill the hole with a strong heroine, wonderful world-building, and a healthy dose of Russian folklore to create an entirely new take on this story.
I loved Yeva (AKA Beauty) from the very beginning. It’s quite clear that she doesn’t feel truly comfortable being part of the baroness’s inner circle, and I like that she’s able to make the best of an irritating situation by taking the unwanted window seat, which gives her a view of the forest. Yeva immediately fits the bill for being a ‘funny girl,’ because although she is polite enough, it’s clear that she’s clueless about social dynamics. She has no idea Solmir, the man likely to the baron’s heir, has his eye on her, and I’m glad that it’s firmly established that Yeva’s motives are quite different from the other aristocrats. She isn’t looking to catch a husband, she’s only hoping for opportunities to be herself, whether that means predicting a winter storm to free her from her sewing circle a little early or having dinner discussions about the best way to skin a deer.
But despite Yeva not quite fitting into high society, she’s still quite accomplished in her own way. She’s a skilled hunter, she’s good with dogs, and while she may not be a proficient cook, she knows her way around the kitchen. I love that Yeva is skilled in these areas because these are the things that let her be with those she loved. Her father taught her to hunt, and they’d bonded over their time spend together I the forest. Yeva loved learning from her father and hearing the fairy tales he would tell her, and she grows to be the favorite daughter as a result. Yeva’s relationship with the family dogs grew out of her hunting trips with her father, where the dogs would help them track and flush out prey. Although Pelei and Doe-Eyes are part of the family, they both see Yeva as their favorite, particularly Doe-Eyes. Yeva’s relationship with Doe-Eyes is sweet, and they look after one another not matter what. And finally, it’s working in the kitchen, building the fire and seasoning the bread, that gives Yeva a chance to be with her sisters.
I love the relationship between Yeva and her two older sisters. The sisters in the original story were arrogant and prideful, and they jealously hated Beauty for her sweetness and her good looks. Asenka and Lena could not be more unlike those original sisters. They’re both sweet, loving, and very protective of their littlest sister. They know Yeva is their father’s favorite, but they don’t mind, and they trust one another with their hopes and dreams like sisters should. Asenka in particular is also boundlessly selfless, always putting her sisters’ happiness above her own. It breaks my heart to see her giving up her hope of marrying Solmir when he instead asks for Yeva’s hand, but Asenka would rather have her own heart broken than see her sister suffer. The sisterly love between Yeva, Asenka, and Lena is incredibly heartwarming and so realistically portrayed, and I love that the bond between them grows even tighter when the family is forced to move to their father’s old hunting lodge. The three girls don’t let their misfortune tear them apart; instead they step up and work to make the best of things, knowing that all they have left is each other, and that’s all they really need.
Once they’re back at the hunting lodge, Yeva begins to show more of her true self rather than the façade she had to put up for the people in town. She finds solace in the woods and her hunting, and her desire to provide for her family shows through in ways it never could when she part of the baroness’s court. Her sisters’ protectiveness really shows here, too, as they worry about Yeva being out in the woods by herself, and although they try to find ways to keep her at home, Asenka and Lena know that the forest is where Yeva is truly herself.
Although we see Yeva hunting, it’s not until her father fails to come back from one of his own hunting trips that we really see Yeva’s ferocity. Ignoring her sisters’ pleas to stay, Yeva takes off into the woods, focused only on finding her father and bringing him home. She runs herself ragged following the trail, her worry for her father far greater than her concern for herself. And when she finds her father dead, seemingly at the paws of an impossibly large creature, what little concern Yeva does have for herself flies out the window; all Yeva can think about it revenge, even if it costs her own life to get it. Yeva is far more bloodthirsty than most versions of Beauty, but it perfectly suits her character. She’s a hunter who loves her family more than anything, and when faced with the monster who viciously killed and mutilated her beloved father, of course she’s going to want to take it down.
Anger makes people reckless, though, so it’s really no surprise that Yeva’s plan to kill the Beast doesn’t quite work out. Instead of killing him, Yeva finds herself his prisoner, chained in a cold, dark cell with no chance of being rescued. No chance, that is, until she begins to make friends with a man she believes is also a captive, a man who listens to her stories and tries to make her more comfortable. I love this little twist here; we know that the man Yeva is befriending is actually the Beast himself, and so it’s interesting to see how she begins to open up to him knowing that he will never help her escape. It’s also interesting to see the Beast slowly begin to warm up to Yeva. He gives her what she asks for—to an extent—and he begins to treat her less like a prisoner and more like a friend. When she gets sick, he even moves her to a room in the castle and gives her back her bow and tools so she can make arrows to pass the time. It’s different to see ‘Beauty’ getting along with the Beast so early in the story, but it’s a dishonest relationship, and when Yeva betrays the Beast’s trust and discovers his true identity, that relationship rapidly deteriorates.
It's during this initial portion of Yeva’s captivity that Russian folklore beings to be woven into the otherwise largely-familiar story. I’ve recently been reading more stories involving Russian folktales or reading the folktales themselves, so I was rather excited to recognize many of the stories Yeva shared with the Beast. In the context of the story, the tales had been told to Yeva by her father, and repeating them makes her feel closer to him and also gives her something to focus on besides her situation. But of course, these stories have a larger purpose, and I love getting to see the aspects of these different tales incorporated into Yeva’s journey. For example, the Beast keeps waiting for someone—specifically, a guy—to come and rescue Yeva so that the Beast can use that man to break the curse. Instead, he discovers that it’s Yeva herself that’s a hunter, proving just like Vasilisa that girls can be clever and cunning and capable, even more so than men sometimes. It’s a well-executed blending of fairy tales from different cultures, and I’ve never read a Russian-influenced retelling of Beauty and the Beast, so I was pleasantly surprised to see aspects of Yeva’s story pop up in the narrative.
Once he realizes that Yeva is the hunter he’s been looking for, the Beast begins training Yeva to hunt a different type of prey. The story begins to pick up at this point, with Yeva and the Beast interacting more and more and really feeling each other out. Yeva’s still determined to kill the Beast and avenge her father, but she knows she has to wait for the right opportunity to strike. If she fails to kill the Beast, he’ll kill her and then her family, and Yeva would rather bide her time as a captive than see her sisters hurt. The Beast, on the other hand, starts to become less and less animalistic. Sure, he still hunts like a wolf, and he lashes out like a wild animal, but he begins to speak more, and his treatment of Yeva becomes more friend-like once again. There’s still a lot of animosity between the two, but there are also some moments of genuine kindness and gratitude. I absolutely love that the Beast gives Yeva unrestricted access to his library, which, although far smaller and more personal than the grand library of the Disney films, is still a precious gift. The fact that a love of reading is perhaps the only common thread between all the different versions of Beauty I’ve encountered truly warms my heart. It shows that people of all types, with drastically different backgrounds and interests and dreams, can love books. Stories have the power to change people, as Yeva’s stories have already shown, reaching into not just the mind and the heart, but reaching into the very soul of a person and making them better.
In addition to furthering the relationship between Yeva and the Beast, this training section also greatly expands the world of the story. Yeva explores what’s left of the Beast’s castle, and although she doesn’t find an enchanted rose, she does find clues to the Beast’s past and what happened to him. But it’s really outside the castle that Yeva learns the most. With the Beast’s help, Yeva learns to see the wood hidden within the wood, a world full of magic and fairy tale creatures, including the one that Yeva must hunt to break the Beast’s curse. This is another nice twist, as it opens up an enchanted world that had really been missed up to that point. Without any of the cursed staff that I’m so familiar with around to constantly provide a reminder of the curse, it’s easier to forget that magic really exists in Yeva’s world. Frankly, I like that there isn’t anyone else in the castle, as it allows for more focus on Yeva and the Beast both individually and in their interactions with one another, and this reminder of magic is more subtle and more powerful. It fulfills the sense of wonder that Yeva has always possessed, and it helps her realize that her father hadn’t been crazy, just able to see more than the average person.
It’s worth pointing out that the descriptions of the castle and both the normal and enchanted woods are written quite thoroughly and very straightforward, just as a hunter like Yeva would see them. It’s a much more down-to-earth view of the world, which is exactly what I would expect from Yeva, and it really strengthens her characterization.
As Yeva’s hunting and training skills grow, she knows her chance to kill the Beast is growing closer and closer, and she finally decides the time is right. She sneaks up to the Beast’s room one night, prepared to kill him while he’s sleeping. She’s not prepared, however, to see the Beast as a human, sleeping peacefully and muttering her name, but that’s not enough to stop her from stabbing him in the throat.
And so the Beast dies.
But he doesn’t stay dead. This scene kills me, with the Beast heartbreakingly explaining that he, too, is a prisoner, unable to die and escape his curse. And upon truly understanding the Beast’s plight and seeing his true kindness, Yeva realizes that he didn’t kill her father, and that’s there no way to avenge him.
Heartbroken by her father’s death all over again, Yeva leaves the Beast to return to her sisters. But she finds almost a year has passed and that the hunting lodge stands empty. Yeva eventually tracks her sisters back to their home in town, and their reunion is as heartwarming as the Beast’s quick reversion to the wolf is tragic. I like seeing Yeva back with her family, but it’s clear that, just as in the beginning, it isn’t where she belongs. It doesn’t take long for Yeva to realize that she must return and rescue the Beast, that despite all the initial terribleness, his castle was the only place she doesn’t feel lonely. They’ve both done horrible things to one another, but they’ve both changed, and now while Yeva is free, the Beast is still a prisoner. Yeva plans to leave, only to be stopped by her sisters, who beg her to stay long enough for Asenka’s wedding—to Solmir! —and Yeva agrees.
Unfortunately, that means that by the time Yeva returns to the Beast’s castle, he’s gone. All Yeva finds is the book he was reading the night she stabbed him, the book that gives Yeva the final clue to the Beast’s curse. For inside the book is the lineage of the royal family, including a young prince named Eovan. And marking the page is a feather, not of a guinea fowl as Yeva had originally assumed, but of the Firebird. Yeva realizes that the Beast is the Ivan of her father’s fairy tales, the one who had snatched a single feather from the tail of the Firebird and who had, in his quest to find the rest of the creature, had made friends with a large, magical wolf. The wolf had helped Ivan wiggle out of all consequences—including death—and get everything he’d ever wanted. It was the Firebird who had cursed Eovan and the wolf to become the Beast, one creature with two natures, and so it’s the Firebird that Yeva must kill to break the curse.
The Firebird has been Yeva’s most beloved creature from all her father’s stories, but for Prince Eovan, she sets out to find and kill the bird. She manages to travel as far north as she can go, passing several tests along the way, and eventually finds the Firebird in a cave. Seeing the Firebird, the thing she’s wanted to find her entire life, Yeva almost forgets her mission, but at the last moment, she realizes that the Firebird is now everything she’s always wanted because it’s what will save her Beast. Yeva nocks an arrow and sends it flying straight at the Firebird’s chest.
And the Firebird simply disappears, leaving Yeva trapped in the cave. She manages to start a fire using her bow and her book of fairy tales, but there’s no way out, and Yeva, unbowed up to this point, is just about to give up hope when the Beast arrives. He breaks through the ice wall trapping Yeva, and Yeva is elated…until she realizes that the Beast’s human side is gone, leaving her to face a large, angry wolf ready to pounce. All Yeva can think to do is pull out the Firebird feather, and that stops the Beast long enough for Yeva to begin a story. Yeva tells the Beast his story, hoping to remind him of who he truly is, but she manages instead to realize that Eovan’s true curse was always longing, always wanting more.
And then Yeva realizes that she’s just like Eovan. She was never truly happy just being at home with her family and friends, she wasn’t happy getting to hunt every day, she wasn’t happy with the things and people she already had. Like Eovan, Yeva wanted the Firebird more than anything, but unlike Eovan, she wasn’t cursed to be a beast until the Firebird returned.
The story is enough to bring the Beast back to his human side, but it’s not enough to break the curse. Yeva couldn’t kill the Firebird, and she’s heartbroken that she failed the man with whom she’s fallen in love. But that’s when they both discover the true nature of the curse—that Eovan was cursed to be a Beast until what he wanted most in the entire world came back to him. For so long, that had been the Firebird, but once he met Yeva, she became his true desire, and her return breaks the curse. I love this twist, both because of the fairy tale love and because it’s so realistic. Who hasn’t experienced that feeling of wanting more—more adventure, more happiness, more life? And so many people have felt that longing for something only to realize that what they’d truly been longing for has shifted, usually to something right in front of them, something they’ve had all along. The Beast’s curse belongs to all of us, we’re just punished in different ways for it.
But even centuries-long curses can’t stand up to true love, and Yeva and Eovan find all they want is one another. I can’t tell you how much I love the open-endedness and sheer happiness of the epilogue. I love that Yeva and Eovan leave themselves free to follow their hearts and their longings, never tied to one place for too long, but always together. It’s the perfect plan—or lack thereof—for two people who have never been satisfied with anything or anyone except each other, and it’s full of countless possibilities for them to do as they wish. No matter what they choose, they’ll find magic and love in one another, Beauty and the Beast together at last.
Hunted is a magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast that manages to stand out from the rest. Yeva is a strong and compelling heroine, the paradox of the Beast is wonderfully portrayed, and the true nature of the curse is one we can all relate to. The inclusion of Russian folklore in the world-building and the plot provides a unique twist and another layer of enchantment to the story. Anyone who’s fallen in love—or back in love—with this classic fairy tale because of the new Disney adaptation will love the blend of the familiar and the unexpected in this new take on the story, and everyone will love Yeva as a fierce, capable heroine hoping to find a bit of magic in her world. So get out there and pick up Hunted—just make sure there’s nothing big and hairy lurking behind you as you go.
Stray Thoughts & Observations:
I absolutely love this cover. I love the green standing out against the snow, and that tagline is everything.
I felt so bad for Yeva’s father. He was just trying to give his girls the world, and instead lost everything.
I liked the Beast’s chapters. They’re quick, but they provide a good look into the Beast’s thoughts and how they change as he interacts with Beauty.
I’m so glad that Radak didn’t turn out to be a jerk and that he loved Lena enough to want to marry her despite her being poor.
Yeva’s journey to find the Firebird was very myth-like storytelling. It was a bit abstract but still managed to hit all the high points and got Yeva to her goal in a timely fashion.
She’s his Firebird! It’s so cheesy, but so perfect.
Favorite Quotes:
She moves like an animal in a woman’s body. She moves like beauty.
The lust was rising in her, the wild hiss of revenge bubbling up to replace the hunter’s cold reason.
Her father had always told her that no matter the predicament, a hunter should never lie to himself. Only by understanding the problem can one see past it.
In every fairy tale there were rules. Even the monsters could not break them. And where, except in fairy tales, did there exist talking bears?
But wishing is for men. Wanting is what brought us here. Desire and greed are human traits. We are the Beast. And yet…I wish.
Spring had not come to the wood, but it was coming to the Beast’s heart. And at the same time, she hardened her own.
And as if by the same magic that had transformed the Beast, she became nothing more than a little girl who’d lost her father.
…It was the want that screamed to the sky that she’d give everything, all of herself and all she’d ever be, to live one moment of that other life, the one she could not explain, not even to herself.
“But you can be happy about a thing and sad about it at the same time. Feeling one thing in your heart doesn’t stop you from feeling another.”
“He never hurt me. Well, he did once, but to be fair, I had shot him with an arrow and was about to kill him with an axe.”
But if her experience with the Firebird had taught her anything, it was that even here, at the edge of the world, life wasn’t a story.
The prince’s curse wasn’t arrogance or cruelty, as it was so often in fairy tales. His curse was wanting, always wanting. And so was Yeva’s.
In a rush, she blurted, “I would give up a thousand happy endings, just to go back with you to your valley and live as we did. I’d give up every fairy tale I’ve ever known just to hear you say my name again.”
My longing for something else, beyond, into magic and dreams and the things everyone seemed to leave behind as children. For something I knew I could never find. It’s the waiting that brought me here, to her. To another soul as empty as mine, and yet not empty at all, because it’s so full of everything I thought only I ever felt. Her soul against mine feels like music, like heartbeat, like magic. Like beauty.
#hunted#beauty and the beast#meagan spooner#retelling#fairy tale#russian folk tales#vasilisa#the firebird and princess vasilisa#firebird#vasilisa the beautiful#tsarevitch ivan#gray wolf#ivan and the wolf#family#curses#enchantment#magic#book review#young adult#fantasy#disney#beauty#the beast#sisters#sisterly love#hunting#cover love#march 2017 release#yeva#mythology
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Pop Picks – March 28, 2019
March 28, 2019
What I’m listening to:
There is a lovely piece played in a scene from A Place Called Home that I tracked down. It’s Erik Satie’s 3 Gymnopédies: Gymnopédie No. 1, played by the wonderful pianist Klára Körmendi. Satie composed this piece in 1888 and it was considered avant-garde and anti-Romantic. It’s minimalism and bit of dissonance sound fresh and contemporary to my ears and while not a huge Classical music fan, I’ve fallen in love with the Körmendi playlist on Spotify. When you need an alternative to hours of Cardi B.
What I’m reading:
Just finished Esi Edugyan’s 2018 novel Washington Black. Starting on a slave plantation in Barbados, it is a picaresque novel that has elements of Jules Verne, Moby Dick, Frankenstein, and Colson Whitehead’s Underground Railroad. Yes, it strains credulity and there are moments of “huh?”, but I loved it (disclosure: I was in the minority among my fellow book club members) and the first third is a searing depiction of slavery. It’s audacious, sprawling (from Barbados to the Arctic to London to Africa), and the writing, especially about nature, luminous.
What I’m watching:
A soap opera. Yes, I’d like to pretend it’s something else, but we are 31 episodes into the Australian drama A Place Called Home and we are so, so addicted. Like “It’s AM, but can’t we watch just one more episode?” addicted. Despite all the secrets, cliff hangers, intrigue, and “did that just happen?” moments, the core ingredients of any good soap opera, APCH has superb acting, real heft in terms of subject matter (including homophobia, anti-Semitism, sexual assault, and class), touches of our beloved Downton Abbey, and great cars. Beware. If you start, you won’t stop.
Archive
February 11, 2019
What I’m listening to:
Raphael Saadiq has been around for quite a while, as a musician, writer, and producer. He’s new to me and I love his old school R&B sound. Like Leon Bridges, he brings a contemporary freshness to the genre, sounding like a young Stevie Wonder (listen to “You’re The One That I Like”). Rock and Roll may be largely dead, but R&B persists – maybe because the former was derivative of the latter and never as good (and I say that as a Rock and Roll fan). I’m embarrassed to only have discovered Saadiq so late in his career, but it’s a delight to have done so.
What I’m reading:
Just finished Marilynne Robinson’s Home, part of her trilogy that includes the Pulitzer Prize winning first novel, Gilead, and the book after Home, Lila. Robinson is often described as a Christian writer, but not in a conventional sense. In this case, she gives us a modern version of the prodigal son and tells the story of what comes after he is welcomed back home. It’s not pretty. Robinson is a self-described Calvinist, thus character begets fate in Robinson’s world view and redemption is at best a question. There is something of Faulkner in her work (I am much taken with his famous “The past is never past” quote after a week in the deep South), her style is masterful, and like Faulkner, she builds with these three novels a whole universe in the small town of Gilead. Start with Gilead to better enjoy Home.
What I’m watching:
Sex Education was the most fun series we’ve seen in ages and we binged watched it on Netflix. A British homage to John Hughes films like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Pretty in Pink, it feels like a mash up of American and British high schools. Focusing on the relationship of Maeve, the smart bad girl, and Otis, the virginal and awkward son of a sex therapist (played with brilliance by Gillian Anderson), it is laugh aloud funny and also evolves into more substance and depth (the abortion episode is genius). The sex scenes are somehow raunchy and charming and inoffensive at the same time and while ostensibly about teenagers (it feels like it is explaining contemporary teens to adults in many ways), the adults are compelling in their good and bad ways. It has been renewed for a second season, which is a gift.
January 3, 2019
What I’m listening to:
My listening choices usually refer to music, but this time I’m going with Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast on genius and the song Hallelujah. It tells the story of Leonard Cohen’s much-covered song Hallelujah and uses it as a lens on kinds of genius and creativity. Along the way, he brings in Picasso and Cézanne, Elvis Costello, and more. Gladwell is a good storyteller and if you love pop music, as I do, and Hallelujah, as I do (and you should), you’ll enjoy this podcast. We tend to celebrate the genius who seems inspired in the moment, creating new work like lightning strikes, but this podcast has me appreciating incremental creativity in a new way. It’s compelling and fun at the same time.
What I’m reading:
Just read Clay Christensen’s new book, The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty. This was an advance copy, so soon available. Clay is an old friend and a huge influence on how we have grown SNHU and our approach to innovation. This book is so compelling, because we know attempts at development have so often been a failure and it is often puzzling to understand why some countries with desperate poverty and huge challenges somehow come to thrive (think S. Korea, Singapore, 19th C. America), while others languish. Clay offers a fresh way of thinking about development through the lens of his research on innovation and it is compelling. I bet this book gets a lot of attention, as most of his work does. I also suspect that many in the development community will hate it, as it calls into question the approach and enormous investments we have made in an attempt to lift countries out of poverty. A provocative read and, as always, Clay is a good storyteller.
What I’m watching:
Just watched Leave No Trace and should have guessed that it was directed by Debra Granik. She did Winter’s Bone, the extraordinary movie that launched Jennifer Lawrence’s career. Similarly, this movie features an amazing young actor, Thomasin McKenzie, and visits lives lived on the margins. In this case, a veteran suffering PTSD, and his 13-year-old daughter. The movie is patient, is visually lush, and justly earned 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (I have a rule to never watch anything under 82%). Everything in this film is under control and beautifully understated (aside from the visuals) – confident acting, confident directing, and so humane. I love the lack of flashbacks, the lack of sensationalism – the movie trusts the viewer, rare in this age of bombast. A lovely film.
December 4, 2018
What I’m listening to:
Spending a week in New Zealand, we had endless laughs listening to the Kiwi band, Flight of the Conchords. Lots of comedic bands are funny, but the music is only okay or worse. These guys are funny – hysterical really – and the music is great. They have an uncanny ability to parody almost any style. In both New Zealand and Australia, we found a wry sense of humor that was just delightful and no better captured than with this duo. You don’t have to be in New Zealand to enjoy them.
What I’m reading:
I don’t often reread. For two reasons: A) I have so many books on my “still to be read” pile that it seems daunting to also rereadbooks I loved before, and B) it’s because I loved them once that I’m a little afraid to read them again. That said, I was recently asked to list my favorite book of all time and I answered Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. But I don’t really know if that’s still true (and it’s an impossible question anyway – favorite book? On what day? In what mood?), so I’m rereading it and it feels like being with an old friend. It has one of my very favorite scenes ever: the card game between Levin and Kitty that leads to the proposal and his joyous walking the streets all night.
What I’m watching:
Blindspotting is billed as a buddy-comedy. Wow does that undersell it and the drama is often gripping. I loved Daveed Diggs in Hamilton, didn’t like his character in Black-ish, and think he is transcendent in this film he co-wrote with Rafael Casal, his co-star. The film is a love song to Oakland in many ways, but also a gut-wrenching indictment of police brutality, systemic racism and bias, and gentrification. The film has the freshness and raw visceral impact of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. A great soundtrack, genre mixing, and energy make it one of my favorite movies of 2018.
October 15, 2018
What I’m listening to:
We had the opportunity to see our favorite band, The National, live in Dallas two weeks ago. Just after watching Mistaken for Strangers, the documentary sort of about the band. So we’ve spent a lot of time going back into their earlier work, listening to songs we don’t know well, and reaffirming that their musicality, smarts, and sound are both original and astoundingly good. They did not disappoint in concert and it is a good thing their tour ended, as we might just spend all of our time and money following them around. Matt Berninger is a genius and his lead vocals kill me (and because they are in my range, I can actually sing along!). Their arrangements are profoundly good and go right to whatever brain/heart wiring that pulls one in and doesn’t let them go.
What I’m reading:
Who is Richard Powers and why have I only discovered him now, with his 12th book? Overstory is profoundly good, a book that is essential and powerful and makes me look at my everyday world in new ways. In short, a dizzying example of how powerful can be narrative in the hands of a master storyteller. I hesitate to say it’s the best environmental novel I’ve ever read (it is), because that would put this book in a category. It is surely about the natural world, but it is as much about we humans. It’s monumental and elegiac and wondrous at all once. Cancel your day’s schedule and read it now. Then plant a tree. A lot of them.
What I’m watching:
Bo Burnham wrote and directed Eighth Grade and Elsie Fisher is nothing less than amazing as its star (what’s with these new child actors; see Florida Project). It’s funny and painful and touching. It’s also the single best film treatment that I have seen of what it means to grow up in a social media shaped world. It’s a reminder that growing up is hard. Maybe harder now in a world of relentless, layered digital pressure to curate perfect lives that are far removed from the natural messy worlds and selves we actually inhabit. It’s a well-deserved 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and I wonder who dinged it for the missing 2%.
September 7, 2018
What I’m listening to:
With a cover pointing back to the Beastie Boys’ 1986 Licensed to Ill, Eminem’s quietly released Kamikaze is not my usual taste, but I’ve always admired him for his “all out there” willingness to be personal, to call people out, and his sheer genius with language. I thought Daveed Diggs could rap fast, but Eminem is supersonic at moments, and still finds room for melody. Love that he includes Joyner Lucas, whose “I’m Not Racist” gets added to the growing list of simply amazing music videos commenting on race in America. There are endless reasons why I am the least likely Eminem fan, but when no one is around to make fun of me, I’ll put it on again.
What I’m reading:
Lesley Blume’s Everyone Behaves Badly, which is the story behind Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and his time in 1920s Paris (oh, what a time – see Midnight in Paris if you haven’t already). Of course, Blume disabuses my romantic ideas of that time and place and everyone is sort of (or profoundly so) a jerk, especially…no spoiler here…Hemingway. That said, it is a compelling read and coming off the Henry James inspired prose of Mrs. Osmond, it made me appreciate more how groundbreaking was Hemingway’s modern prose style. Like his contemporary Picasso, he reinvented the art and it can be easy to forget, these decades later, how profound was the change and its impact. And it has bullfights.
What I’m watching:
Chloé Zhao’s The Rider is just exceptional. It’s filmed on the Pine Ridge Reservation, which provides a stunning landscape, and it feels like a classic western reinvented for our times. The main characters are played by the real-life people who inspired this narrative (but feels like a documentary) film. Brady Jandreau, playing himself really, owns the screen. It’s about manhood, honor codes, loss, and resilience – rendered in sensitive, nuanced, and heartfelt ways. It feels like it could be about large swaths of America today. Really powerful.
August 16, 2018
What I’m listening to:
In my Spotify Daily Mix was Percy Sledge’s When A Man Loves A Woman, one of the world’s greatest love songs. Go online and read the story of how the song was discovered and recorded. There are competing accounts, but Sledge said he improvised it after a bad breakup. It has that kind of aching spontaneity. It is another hit from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, one of the GREAT music hotbeds, along with Detroit, Nashville, and Memphis. Our February Board meeting is in Alabama and I may finally have to do the pilgrimage road trip to Muscle Shoals and then Memphis, dropping in for Sunday services at the church where Rev. Al Green still preaches and sings. If the music is all like this, I will be saved.
What I’m reading:
John Banville’s Mrs. Osmond, his homage to literary idol Henry James and an imagined sequel to James’ 1881 masterpiece Portrait of a Lady. Go online and read the first paragraph of Chapter 25. He is…profoundly good. Makes me want to never write again, since anything I attempt will feel like some other, lowly activity in comparison to his mastery of language, image, syntax. This is slow reading, every sentence to be savored.
What I’m watching:
I’ve always respected Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but we just watched the documentary RGB. It is over-the-top great and she is now one of my heroes. A superwoman in many ways and the documentary is really well done. There are lots of scenes of her speaking to crowds and the way young women, especially law students, look at her is touching. And you can’t help but fall in love with her now late husband Marty. See this movie and be reminded of how important is the Law.
July 23, 2018
What I’m listening to:
Spotify’s Summer Acoustic playlist has been on repeat quite a lot. What a fun way to listen to artists new to me, including The Paper Kites, Hollow Coves, and Fleet Foxes, as well as old favorites like Leon Bridges and Jose Gonzalez. Pretty chill when dialing back to a summer pace, dining on the screen porch or reading a book.
What I’m reading:
Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy. Founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson tells of the racial injustice (and the war on the poor our judicial system perpetuates as well) that he discovered as a young graduate from Harvard Law School and his fight to address it. It is in turn heartbreaking, enraging, and inspiring. It is also about mercy and empathy and justice that reads like a novel. Brilliant.
What I’m watching:
Fauda. We watched season one of this Israeli thriller. It was much discussed in Israel because while it focuses on an ex-special agent who comes out of retirement to track down a Palestinian terrorist, it was willing to reveal the complexity, richness, and emotions of Palestinian lives. And the occasional brutality of the Israelis. Pretty controversial stuff in Israel. Lior Raz plays Doron, the main character, and is compelling and tough and often hard to like. He’s a mess. As is the world in which he has to operate. We really liked it, and also felt guilty because while it may have been brave in its treatment of Palestinians within the Israeli context, it falls back into some tired tropes and ultimately falls short on this front.
June 11, 2018
What I’m listening to:
Like everyone else, I’m listening to Pusha T drop the mic on Drake. Okay, not really, but do I get some points for even knowing that? We all walk around with songs that immediately bring us back to a time or a place. Songs are time machines. We are coming up on Father’s Day. My own dad passed away on Father’s Day back in 1994 and I remembering dutifully getting through the wake and funeral and being strong throughout. Then, sitting alone in our kitchen, Don Henley’s The End of the Innocence came on and I lost it. When you lose a parent for the first time (most of us have two after all) we lose our innocence and in that passage, we suddenly feel adult in a new way (no matter how old we are), a longing for our own childhood, and a need to forgive and be forgiven. Listen to the lyrics and you’ll understand. As Wordsworth reminds us in In Memoriam, there are seasons to our grief and, all these years later, this song no longer hits me in the gut, but does transport me back with loving memories of my father. I’ll play it Father’s Day.
What I’m reading:
The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin. I am not a reader of fantasy or sci-fi, though I understand they can be powerful vehicles for addressing the very real challenges of the world in which we actually live. I’m not sure I know of a more vivid and gripping illustration of that fact than N. K. Jemisin’s Hugo Award winning novel The Fifth Season, first in her Broken Earth trilogy. It is astounding. It is the fantasy parallel to The Underground Railroad, my favorite recent read, a depiction of subjugation, power, casual violence, and a broken world in which our hero(s) struggle, suffer mightily, and still, somehow, give us hope. It is a tour de force book. How can someone be this good a writer? The first 30 pages pained me (always with this genre, one must learn a new, constructed world, and all of its operating physics and systems of order), and then I could not put it down. I panicked as I neared the end, not wanting to finish the book, and quickly ordered the Obelisk Gate, the second novel in the trilogy, and I can tell you now that I’ll be spending some goodly portion of my weekend in Jemisin’s other world.
What I’m watching:
The NBA Finals and perhaps the best basketball player of this generation. I’ve come to deeply respect LeBron James as a person, a force for social good, and now as an extraordinary player at the peak of his powers. His superhuman play during the NBA playoffs now ranks with the all-time greats, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, MJ, Kobe, and the demi-god that was Bill Russell. That his Cavs lost in a 4-game sweep is no surprise. It was a mediocre team being carried on the wide shoulders of James (and matched against one of the greatest teams ever, the Warriors, and the Harry Potter of basketball, Steph Curry) and, in some strange way, his greatness is amplified by the contrast with the rest of his team. It was a great run.
May 24, 2018
What I’m listening to:
I’ve always liked Alicia Keys and admired her social activism, but I am hooked on her last album Here. This feels like an album finally commensurate with her anger, activism, hope, and grit. More R&B and Hip Hop than is typical for her, I think this album moves into an echelon inhabited by a Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On or Beyonce’s Formation. Social activism and outrage rarely make great novels, but they often fuel great popular music. Here is a terrific example.
What I’m reading:
Colson Whitehead’s Underground Railroad may be close to a flawless novel. Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer, it chronicles the lives of two runaway slaves, Cora and Caeser, as they try to escape the hell of plantation life in Georgia. It is an often searing novel and Cora is one of the great heroes of American literature. I would make this mandatory reading in every high school in America, especially in light of the absurd revisionist narratives of “happy and well cared for” slaves. This is a genuinely great novel, one of the best I’ve read, the magical realism and conflating of time periods lifts it to another realm of social commentary, relevance, and a blazing indictment of America’s Original Sin, for which we remain unabsolved.
What I’m watching:
I thought I knew about The Pentagon Papers, but The Post, a real-life political thriller from Steven Spielberg taught me a lot, features some of our greatest actors, and is so timely given the assault on our democratic institutions and with a presidency out of control. It is a reminder that a free and fearless press is a powerful part of our democracy, always among the first targets of despots everywhere. The story revolves around the legendary Post owner and D.C. doyenne, Katharine Graham. I had the opportunity to see her son, Don Graham, right after he saw the film, and he raved about Meryl Streep’s portrayal of his mother. Liked it a lot more than I expected.
April 27, 2018
What I’m listening to:
I mentioned John Prine in a recent post and then on the heels of that mention, he has released a new album, The Tree of Forgiveness, his first new album in ten years. Prine is beloved by other singer songwriters and often praised by the inscrutable God that is Bob Dylan. Indeed, Prine was frequently said to be the “next Bob Dylan” in the early part of his career, though he instead carved out his own respectable career and voice, if never with the dizzying success of Dylan. The new album reflects a man in his 70s, a cancer survivor, who reflects on life and its end, but with the good humor and empathy that are hallmarks of Prine’s music. “When I Get To Heaven” is a rollicking, fun vision of what comes next and a pure delight. A charming, warm, and often terrific album.
What I’m reading:
I recently read Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, on many people’s Top Ten lists for last year and for good reason. It is sprawling, multi-generational, and based in the world of Japanese occupied Korea and then in the Korean immigrant’s world of Oaska, so our key characters become “tweeners,” accepted in neither world. It’s often unspeakably sad, and yet there is resiliency and love. There is also intimacy, despite the time and geographic span of the novel. It’s breathtakingly good and like all good novels, transporting.
What I’m watching:
I adore Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth, and while I’m not sure his Shape of Water is better, it is a worthy follow up to the earlier masterpiece (and more of a commercial success). Lots of critics dislike the film, but I’m okay with a simple retelling of a Beauty and the Beast love story, as predictable as it might be. The acting is terrific, it is visually stunning, and there are layers of pain as well as social and political commentary (the setting is the US during the Cold War) and, no real spoiler here, the real monsters are humans, the military officer who sees over the captured aquatic creature. It is hauntingly beautiful and its depiction of hatred to those who are different or “other” is painfully resonant with the time in which we live. Put this on your “must see” list.
March 18, 2018
What I’m listening to:
Sitting on a plane for hours (and many more to go; geez, Australia is far away) is a great opportunity to listen to new music and to revisit old favorites. This time, it is Lucy Dacus and her album Historians, the new sophomore release from a 22-year old indie artist that writes with relatable, real-life lyrics. Just on a second listen and while she insists this isn’t a break up record (as we know, 50% of all great songs are break up songs), it is full of loss and pain. Worth the listen so far. For the way back machine, it’s John Prine and In Spite of Ourselves (that title track is one of the great love songs of all time), a collection of duets with some of his “favorite girl singers” as he once described them. I have a crush on Iris Dement (for a really righteously angry song try her Wasteland of the Free), but there is also EmmyLou Harris, the incomparable Dolores Keane, and Lucinda Williams. Very different albums, both wonderful.
What I’m reading:
Jane Mayer’s New Yorker piece on Christopher Steele presents little that is new, but she pulls it together in a terrific and coherent whole that is illuminating and troubling at the same time. Not only for what is happening, but for the complicity of the far right in trying to discredit that which should be setting off alarm bells everywhere. Bob Mueller may be the most important defender of the democracy at this time. A must read.
What I’m watching:
Homeland is killing it this season and is prescient, hauntingly so. Russian election interference, a Bannon-style hate radio demagogue, alienated and gun toting militia types, and a president out of control. It’s fabulous, even if it feels awfully close to the evening news.
March 8, 2018
What I’m listening to:
We have a family challenge to compile our Top 100 songs. It is painful. Only 100? No more than three songs by one artist? Wait, why is M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” on my list? Should it just be The Clash from whom she samples? Can I admit to guilty pleasure songs? Hey, it’s my list and I can put anything I want on it. So I’m listening to the list while I work and the song playing right now is Tom Petty’s “The Wild One, Forever,” a B-side single that was never a hit and that remains my favorite Petty song. Also, “Evangeline” by Los Lobos. It evokes a night many years ago, with friends at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA, when everyone danced well past 1AM in a hot, sweaty, packed club and the band was a revelation. Maybe the best music night of our lives and a reminder that one’s 100 Favorite Songs list is as much about what you were doing and where you were in your life when those songs were playing as it is about the music. It’s not a list. It’s a soundtrack for this journey.
What I’m reading:
Patricia Lockwood’s Priestdaddy was in the NY Times top ten books of 2017 list and it is easy to see why. Lockwood brings remarkable and often surprising imagery, metaphor, and language to her prose memoir and it actually threw me off at first. It then all became clear when someone told me she is a poet. The book is laugh aloud funny, which masks (or makes safer anyway) some pretty dark territory. Anyone who grew up Catholic, whether lapsed or not, will resonate with her story. She can’t resist a bawdy anecdote and her family provides some of the most memorable characters possible, especially her father, her sister, and her mother, who I came to adore. Best thing I’ve read in ages.
What I’m watching:
The Florida Project, a profoundly good movie on so many levels. Start with the central character, six-year old (at the time of the filming) Brooklynn Prince, who owns – I mean really owns – the screen. This is pure acting genius and at that age? Astounding. Almost as astounding is Bria Vinaite, who plays her mother. She was discovered on Instagram and had never acted before this role, which she did with just three weeks of acting lessons. She is utterly convincing and the tension between the child’s absolute wonder and joy in the world with her mother’s struggle to provide, to be a mother, is heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. Willem Dafoe rightly received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role. This is a terrific movie.
February 12, 2018
What I’m listening to:
So, I have a lot of friends of age (I know you’re thinking 40s, but I just turned 60) who are frozen in whatever era of music they enjoyed in college or maybe even in their thirties. There are lots of times when I reach back into the catalog, since music is one of those really powerful and transporting senses that can take you through time (smell is the other one, though often underappreciated for that power). Hell, I just bought a turntable and now spending time in vintage vinyl shops. But I’m trying to take a lesson from Pat, who revels in new music and can as easily talk about North African rap music and the latest National album as Meet the Beatles, her first ever album. So, I’ve been listening to Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy winning Damn. While it may not be the first thing I’ll reach for on a winter night in Maine, by the fire, I was taken with it. It’s layered, political, and weirdly sensitive and misogynist at the same time, and it feels fresh and authentic and smart at the same time, with music that often pulled me from what I was doing. In short, everything music should do. I’m not a bit cooler for listening to Damn, but when I followed it with Steely Dan, I felt like I was listening to Lawrence Welk. A good sign, I think.
What I’m reading:
I am reading Walter Isaacson’s new biography of Leonardo da Vinci. I’m not usually a reader of biographies, but I’ve always been taken with Leonardo. Isaacson does not disappoint (does he ever?), and his subject is at once more human and accessible and more awe-inspiring in Isaacson’s capable hands. Gay, left-handed, vegetarian, incapable of finishing things, a wonderful conversationalist, kind, and perhaps the most relentlessly curious human being who has ever lived. Like his biographies of Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein, Isaacson’s project here is to show that genius lives at the intersection of science and art, of rationality and creativity. Highly recommend it.
What I’m watching:
We watched the This Is Us post-Super Bowl episode, the one where Jack finally buys the farm. I really want to hate this show. It is melodramatic and manipulative, with characters that mostly never change or grow, and it hooks me every damn time we watch it. The episode last Sunday was a tear jerker, a double whammy intended to render into a blubbering, tissue-crumbling pathetic mess anyone who has lost a parent or who is a parent. Sterling K. Brown, Ron Cephas Jones, the surprising Mandy Moore, and Milo Ventimiglia are hard not to love and last season’s episode that had only Brown and Cephas going to Memphis was the show at its best (they are by far the two best actors). Last week was the show at its best worst. In other words, I want to hate it, but I love it. If you haven’t seen it, don’t binge watch it. You’ll need therapy and insulin.
January 15, 2018
What I’m listening to:
Drive-By Truckers. Chris Stapleton has me on an unusual (for me) country theme and I discovered these guys to my great delight. They’ve been around, with some 11 albums, but the newest one is fascinating. It’s a deep dive into Southern alienation and the white working-class world often associated with our current president. I admire the willingness to lay bare, in kick ass rock songs, the complexities and pain at work among people we too quickly place into overly simple categories. These guys are brave, bold, and thoughtful as hell, while producing songs I didn’t expect to like, but that I keep playing. And they are coming to NH.
What I’m reading:
A textual analog to Drive-By Truckers by Chris Stapleton in many ways is Tony Horowitz’s 1998 Pulitzer Prize winning Confederates in the Attic. Ostensibly about the Civil War and the South’s ongoing attachment to it, it is prescient and speaks eloquently to the times in which we live (where every southern state but Virginia voted for President Trump). Often hilarious, it too surfaces complexities and nuance that escape a more recent, and widely acclaimed, book like Hillbilly Elegy. As a Civil War fan, it was also astonishing in many instances, especially when it blows apart long-held “truths” about the war, such as the degree to which Sherman burned down the south (he did not). Like D-B Truckers, Horowitz loves the South and the people he encounters, even as he grapples with its myths of victimhood and exceptionalism (and racism, which may be no more than the racism in the north, but of a different kind). Everyone should read this book and I’m embarrassed I’m so late to it.
What I’m watching:
David Letterman has a new Netflix show called “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” and we watched the first episode, in which Letterman interviewed Barack Obama. It was extraordinary (if you don’t have Netflix, get it just to watch this show); not only because we were reminded of Obama’s smarts, grace, and humanity (and humor), but because we saw a side of Letterman we didn’t know existed. His personal reflections on Selma were raw and powerful, almost painful. He will do five more episodes with “extraordinary individuals” and if they are anything like the first, this might be the very best work of his career and one of the best things on television.
December 22, 2017
What I’m reading:
Just finished Sunjeev Sahota’s Year of the Runaways, a painful inside look at the plight of illegal Indian immigrant workers in Britain. It was shortlisted for 2015 Man Booker Prize and its transporting, often to a dark and painful universe, and it is impossible not to think about the American version of this story and the terrible way we treat the undocumented in our own country, especially now.
What I’m watching:
Season II of The Crown is even better than Season I. Elizabeth’s character is becoming more three-dimensional, the modern world is catching up with tradition-bound Britain, and Cold War politics offer more context and tension than we saw in Season I. Claire Foy, in her last season, is just terrific – one arched eye brow can send a message.
What I’m listening to:
A lot of Christmas music, but needing a break from the schmaltz, I’ve discovered Over the Rhine and their Christmas album, Snow Angels. God, these guys are good.
November 14, 2017
What I’m watching:
Guiltily, I watch the Patriots play every weekend, often building my schedule and plans around seeing the game. Why the guilt? I don’t know how morally defensible is football anymore, as we now know the severe damage it does to the players. We can’t pretend it’s all okay anymore. Is this our version of late decadent Rome, watching mostly young Black men take a terrible toll on each other for our mere entertainment?
What I’m reading:
Recently finished J.G. Ballard’s 2000 novel Super-Cannes, a powerful depiction of a corporate-tech ex-pat community taken over by a kind of psychopathology, in which all social norms and responsibilities are surrendered to residents of the new world community. Kept thinking about Silicon Valley when reading it. Pretty dark, dystopian view of the modern world and centered around a mass killing, troublingly prescient.
What I’m listening to:
Was never really a Lorde fan, only knowing her catchy (and smarter than you might first guess) pop hit “Royals” from her debut album. But her new album, Melodrama, is terrific and it doesn’t feel quite right to call this “pop.” There is something way more substantial going on with Lorde and I can see why many critics put this album at the top of their Best in 2017 list. Count me in as a huge fan.
November 3, 2017
What I’m reading:
Just finished Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere, her breathtakingly good second novel. How is someone so young so wise? Her writing is near perfection and I read the book in two days, setting my alarm for 4:30AM so I could finish it before work.
What I’m watching:
We just binge watched season two of Stranger Things and it was worth it just to watch Millie Bobbie Brown, the transcendent young actor who plays Eleven. The series is a delightful mash up of every great eighties horror genre you can imagine and while pretty dark, an absolute joy to watch.
What I’m listening to:
I’m not a lover of country music (to say the least), but I love Chris Stapleton. His “The Last Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morning” is heartbreakingly good and reminds me of the old school country that played in my house as a kid. He has a new album and I can’t wait, but his From A Room: Volume 1 is on repeat for now.
September 26, 2017
What I’m reading:
Just finished George Saunder’s Lincoln in the Bardo. It took me a while to accept its cadence and sheer weirdness, but loved it in the end. A painful meditation on loss and grief, and a genuinely beautiful exploration of the intersection of life and death, the difficulty of letting go of what was, good and bad, and what never came to be.
What I’m watching:
HBO’s The Deuce. Times Square and the beginning of the porn industry in the 1970s, the setting made me wonder if this was really something I’d want to see. But David Simon is the writer and I’d read a menu if he wrote it. It does not disappoint so far and there is nothing prurient about it.
What I’m listening to:
The National’s new album Sleep Well Beast. I love this band. The opening piano notes of the first song, “Nobody Else Will Be There,” seize me & I’m reminded that no one else in music today matches their arrangement & musicianship. I’m adding “Born to Beg,” “Slow Show,” “I Need My Girl,” and “Runaway” to my list of favorite love songs.
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