#heath ledger and julia stiles loves of my life

[flodaya]

Ok now I have to know which pair of actors you think had amazing chemistry, either on TV or in movies

this is such a good question, i need your list as well

Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy, the Before trilogy is literally life alterting

Keira Knightley /Matthew Macfadyen, I MEAN the amount of times i watched this pride and prejudice adaptation should land me in a psych ward

Emma Stone/Ryan Gosling, i miss when they would cast the same pair of actors in multiple movies just because their chemistry is so good

Victoria Pedretti/Amelia Eve, i am not usually a horror girlie but their love story is one for the ages

Carrie Fisher/Harrison Ford, no notes

Simone Ashley/Jonathan Bailey, kill me now

Jake Johnson/Zooey Deschanel, their first kiss????????

Heath Ledger/Julia Stiles, literally one of my favorite movies of all time and one of the reasons is their chemistry

there is probably lots more, but these are the ones i could think of now

[theladyofdeath]

Secret admirer elriel!!

A/N: I feel like I don't fulfill enough elriel prompts, which is ridiculous considering how much I love them. Thank you for sending in your prompt! I hope you enjoy. x

I may have to make a part II for this one...

Warnings: language, alcohol

~ Azriel ~

It's Valentine's Day and I'm sitting at home alone, drinking. There was a point when I would have thought such a thing would be pathetic as fuck, but now...

Well, you hit your mid-twenties and you're single long enough, and suddenly drinking at home alone on Valentine's Day doesn't seem so bad. Cassian and Rhys are both out with their girlfriends, leaving me alone in the townhouse we share until sometime tomorrow. So here I am, sitting on the couch in nothing but my underwear. Not that none of us have ever been on the couch in our underwear while the rest of us are home, but it's a little more freeing when you're alone.

I take another shot of whiskey to shut my thoughts up.

10 Things I Hate About You is on the t.v. and Julia Stiles just poured her heart out to Heath Ledger, may he rest in peace, in the middle of a classroom. I turn the station. The Notebook is on, and Noah is building Allie's dream home even though she's already moved on with her life. Imagine loving someone that much.

Imagine.

I take another shot.

My phone vibrates from somewhere in the couch and I'm slightly embarrassed how long it takes me to find it.

Elain's name pops up on my screen. After swiping right, I see her text.

Which awful romcom are you subjecting yourself to this evening?

I chuckle and toss out a lie. Don't do romcoms. Watching Gladiator.

Three little dots pop up and I stare at my phone, awaiting her reply.

I know that's a lie. I'm watching 27 Dresses. Classic.

Too cliche, I reply. At least have a drink with it.

She sends me a picture of a full glass of red wine. I send her one of my half empty bottle of whiskey.

OMG, I can't wait to text you in the morning and see how miserable you are. Drink water.

I send her a middle finger emoji.

She sends me one back.

I grin foolishly to myself. Why aren't you out tonight?

She has options, I know she does. Men follow her around like loyal puppies, fawning over her beauty and bright demeanor.

She doesn't reply for a minute and I suddenly feel like I've pried too much. I take another drink.

My phone eventually vibrates. Thought it was better to stay in. I've spent too many V-days debating all the ways I can sneak out of a restaurant lol

Fair enough. I'd hate to be the guy that bores you that much.

You could never bore me that much.

My thumbs hover over the keypad, wondering how I should respond. It's almost like she's flirting. I take another drink.

Elain and I have been friends for years, since her sisters started dating my roommates, my best friends, my family. We've always just been friends, though. Never anything more. Even though I've always wondered if there could be something more between us.

The fact that she's sitting at home alone on Valentine's Day saddens me. Maybe it's the alcohol. Alcohol always makes me feel more, even though I'm sure it's meant to have the opposite effect.

We'll see about that, I reply, at last, and throw myself off the couch. Even if Elain has vowed to spend the night alone, she should at least know that someone cares about her.

And I do. Care about her.

It takes me about ten minutes to toss on a pair of sweats, a hoodie, my shoes, and grab my wallet. The nice thing about Velaris is I don't have to drive anywhere, and in moments like this where I should never get behind the wheel, I'm grateful for the city life.

There's a floral shop on the corner and not only are flowers the most Valentine's Day-like gift known to humanity, but Elain loves flowers more than anything, so I spend the next half hour walking to the shop and looking around.

The shop is nearly empty, but considering what day it is, that makes sense.

I make it out with half a dozen white roses, two tulips, and a lily. An interesting bouquet, but a bouquet nonetheless.

My phone vibrates the second I'm in the back of my Uber.

Sorry, I ordered takeout and got really into the eggrolls. Didn't mean to leave you on read.

I chuckle, earning a look from my Uber driver in the rearview mirror. Never apologize for the power of eggrolls. Some things we just can't control.

Damn, I'm drunk. The second I hit send, I'm regretting it.

She responds with laughter, though, so I guess I can't complain at my stupidity. I text her back with, Eat one for me. I ate half a box of Cocopuffs for dinner.

Five minutes later, we're stopping in front of Elain's apartment complex. I ask the Uber driver if he has a pen and a piece of paper, to which he gives me an old, crumbled up receipt and a broken pencil.

It works.

Elain texts, Cocopuffs? You're the only man I know that survives off cereal that was made for children.

I reply, Just because you got takeout doesn't mean you can be judgmental about my dietary choices.

I jot down a little note on the back of the receipt before I can think better of it and hurry up to apartment 3b, where I leave the flowers and the note on Elain's welcome mat before I knock on the door and run away, back toward the elevator. I nearly trip as I enter the small, compact room, and nearly fall over once again when the elevator starts moving down.

I didn't stop to see if Elain opened the door.

I feel like I should be nervous, but I'm not. I thank the alcohol coursing through my veins. I can imagine the smile on Elain's face as she opens the door and sees the gift left by her secret admirer. I hope she likes it. I hope it makes her smile. I hope it makes her feel less alone because no matter what she says, I know she's bummed to be at home alone on Valentine's Day.

It's not until I'm back home and back on the couch in my underwear that I realize Elain never texted me back. I can't tell if that's a good thing or not.

I'm thinking not.

Suddenly regretting every decision I've ever made, I take another drink.

[fcktaken]

Favorite movie tag game time! tagged by: @limonadecandy thank you :)

Rules: post 10 of your favorite comfort movies then tag 10 people.

Mmmh I really don't watch a lot of movies so I list the ones I enjoy to re-watch, let's see if I make it to ten ;)

1. A Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn: I remember watching it at my grandmother's, loved how they had a great day and then still went on with their separate lifes in the end. Also she is so pretty and Rome is gorgeous.

2. 10 things I hate about you: the only movie I ever owned on dvd because Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.

3. Clueless: I like the chaos of this story.

4. The Holiday: Jude Law and Kate Winslet, I like looking at them.

5. Any romcom with Reese Witherspoon, bc Reese Witherspoon

6. Höllentour: Tour de France, great images, Erik Zabel getting massages, Intimacy of tdf roommates and a lofi trumpet soundtrack by my boy Till Brönner, back when he still made good music.

And that's it for movies I think! 2 - 5 are really because they are inconsequential entertainment, love it. Also I have a thing for curly blondes...

I'll add what's really comforting for me: my all time favorite go to comfort books!

7. The Immortal Quartet and

8. The Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce: know them almost by heart, I can loose myself in that world like in no other and forget everything while I read.

9. Die Ponys vom Fjord: Horse Girl book set in Norway, girl loves pony but pony is happier elsewhere and they go their separate ways. Full of love for ponies, Norwegian landscape and food, actually nuanced and interesting relationships between the humans, teenager as well as adults.

10. Ovid's Metamorphoses: translated to German but with the original rhythm thingy. For a specific sort of existential crisis, usually in winter, makes me forget everything as well.

I'd love to know about yours @allthingssoulful @hilo @inconjuncts @eljibbity @immoveableobject @fox-and-jester @racewinner @flourbray and of course everyone else who wants to do it :)

[evilovesyou]

Harry's House ⌂

Last night, three hours before the official release of Harry's House, I finally had the peace of mind to listen to it. I can be very particular about listening to new albums — I need to be in the right headspace to receive new information and enjoy something I don't know yet — but it felt important to hear it before it came out officially, somehow. Because at this point I'm 99% sure that's how it was intended.

Without further ado, I will now give you a rundown on the songs from my perspective. Perhaps I will only say things that have been said before, but if I'm lucky, I might have noticed something that hasn't been discussed yet.

Music For a Sushi Restaurant

What a fun start to an album! It's like a soundtrack for a movie about musical theater? Big Heath Ledger serenading Julia Stiles in the stands in 10 Things I Hate About You vibes. He could unironically win Eurovision with this. <3

Late Night Talking

SO. ROMANTIC. Feels like his response to Always You. And he sounds like he's smiling. 🥹

Grapejuice

I think this is my favourite. I've only listened once, but this one made me cry. I was a mess, @chaotic-bells can confirm. My first thought was that he should do asmr. I don't even get those tingly feelings from it, but his whispering in this goes straight to my skull. Ugh. This song. Fuck. He's. SO. IN. LOVE.

As It Was

I obviously had heard this one a bunch before, but I have a thing about listening to albums in order and I'm glad I did it here too. Because right after Grapejuice, this hits kinda different??? It just goes on? Like. It's all about being with someone long-term. I wonder why...

Daylight

The absolute vibes of this song?? Here's my best bet for an original thought: He says something about "life out there" and "bicycles", right? Is that a reference to E.T.? I haven't seen that movie in years but I thought it was kinda funny, especially considering the fandom joke of him being an alien. Is there some Big Gay Thing in E.T.?

When he says "my kitchen" all I can see in front of my mind's eye is him with his little mixing bowl telling a professional chef "get out of my kitchen".

And just. The lyric "You'll be the spoon / Dip you in honey so I could be sticking to you" annihilated me.

Little Freak

He said "Jezebel" and all I could think about was that one Eurovision song and how I'd thought the guy in that was singing "there's a bear"... 🐻🐻

Anyway. I love the lyric "wet dream dangling" and the guitars in this song.

Something about the lyrics and feel of this just reminded me of his relationship with Zayn? I don't think that's what it's actually about. I also know that's #controversial and would take up too much space to explain. I will just leave the thought here.

Matilda

Harry just has this way of writing lyrics that are so evocative?? I had a similar experience listening to She for the first time, where it felt like a series of images flickering in my mind as he was singing. (There's another bit about bikes and flying in here that made me think of E.T. again.)

Using these references and this story to speak about the themes that his chose was so smart! Matilda is just an inherently queer tale, isn't it? It's about being different, finding information you're not supposed to know on your own, being forced into a mould, facing hate, and then overcoming all that and finding your own family. And here we have the second time I cried. When he switches to that falsetto and sings "I knooow" I couldn't contain myself. Because he does know. <3

Cinema

Hearing "darling" out of his mouth... <3

Here I have something to say about how people will take any remotely sexual lyric of Harry's and immediately say it's about a woman. Bells and I talked about this last night. Sorry if this is TMI but I don't "get myself wet" for anything. It just happens. Taking the active action of "getting yourself wet" isn't a thing most women have to do.

(And while we're here let me mention "you lost your head so I'll give you mine" from Complicated Freak. "Giving head" can be used for either gender, but it's generally more common for blowjobs, no? And Watermelon Sugar could be any bodily fluid. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.)

DESPITE ALL THAT!! This song feels innocent? "I just think you're cool / Do you think I'm cool too" ??? That's ADORABLE.

Daydreaming

This song reminds me of something. I think it's an animated movie?? I wrote down Hercules / Emperor's New Groove / Astérix in America vibes???

Keep Driving

It's another one of those very evocative songs. He says something about maple syrup and pancakes for 2 and I can see him in Tim Horton's. This also contains my favourite lyric of the album, which is "sideboob". <3 The concept here just works flawlessly.

Satellite

The beginning of this song gave me absolute goosebumps, and then he somehow makes the whole song spin??? I had my eyes closed and physically got dizzy and a little disoriented with it. That was so cool!

Boyfriends

My very first thought was that the harmonies in this song would sound great if OT5 sang it together.

It feels like this song is a direct line between him and us fans, kind of? Like he's reciprocating the parasocial relationship we have with him... In the way that Louis' dlibyh is a little bit like you have a friend that you can call upon for advice and he's there. Telling you that your boyfriend ain't shit and you deserve better.

Love Of My Life

The expectations for this were big. Love Of My Life by Queen is one of my favourite songs, ever.

The screams at the beginning?? (Around 7 seconds in.) Bells hadn't even noticed them but I heard it and my brain cinema immediately played the slow motion video of Harry and Louis hugging LOL

He said "baby" and my heart melted. He also said "you don't know what's lost til you find it" which reminded me of that Plato quote from the Symposium where he talks about how humans were originally one creature with two heads and four arms and legs and Zeus was so afraid of their power that he split them into to two, forever doomed to be searching for "their other half"...

"And when one of them meets with his other half, the actual half of himself, whether he be a lover of youth or a lover of another sort, the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy, and one will not be out of the other's sight, as I may say, even for a moment…"

That being said, this song feels almost incomplete? Like he's telling one perspective of a story that has two, like there's a response, another person who lives like him, a second part that's somewhere out there... (I expect to hear it on LT2.)

———

All in all: This album is really fun? Like sonically, it feels like something I would listen to when cooking or something that would be on during a dinner party? The kind of music you can have on in the background as you dance around your house, but also the kind of music you might listen to before you go to sleep.

So there we have it. My thoughts and feelings about Harry's House after listening to it for the very first time. I know most of you have talked about it extensively already, but if anyone wants to chat about it, I'm here and new to the party. 🥰 I'm gonna listen to it again now.

[safflowerseason]

My Seven Comfort Movies

Thanks for the tag, @thebookofmaev​! You’ll see we have some overlap ☺️ (anyone else who wants to do this, consider yourself tagged.)

In no particular order..

10 Things I Hate About You: I rewatched this movie recently and couldn’t believe I had gone a few years without seeing it because it is literally perfect. (personal trivia: I have either lived in or visited a decent number of the neighborhoods and sites in the Seattle/Tacoma region where they filmed various external scenes). The chemistry between Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles is soooo good. The scene where Patrick and Kat go paintballing and make out all over the place and then their conversation on the porch about prom seamlessly segues into them fighting again? INJECT THIS CONTENT INTO MY VEINS. I love how this is also a movie about sisters, in addition to being the perfect romantic comedy, and also the way the movie allows for Kat to be ACTUALLY ANGRY and still also love getting dressed up and going to the prom was (and frankly still is) revolutionary. 

You’ve Got Mail: Why do I love this movie so much? Joe Fox is basically a sociopath in the final half hour and the climax is a little rushed and its version of New York doesn’t really exist anymore and also only ever existed for very privileged white people anyway. Fox Books gobbles up an independent bookstore and it is basically framed as an inevitable good thing and is not even the main conflict of the story. AND YET! The way Tom Hanks looks at Meg Ryan when he tells her that the only thing they would ever fight about is what movie to rent on a Saturday night. “Who fights about that?” “Well, some people…not us.” *screams* It is frankly a crime that Tom Hanks was in this piece of neoliberal propaganda because he makes it feel wonderful and romantic and not actually like a horror movie. Kathleen Kelly’s apartment is also my dream apartment. 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding: The simplicity of this movie is its strength. It’s just a perfect little gem of a movie about a woman trying to take control of her life while learning about the strength of her family’s love. Plus she finds the perfect soulmate who is willing to do literally anything to be with her. A+ forever. 

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This is the “easiest” film in the trilogy to watch because none of the battle scenes are too intensive and its scope is objectively much narrower than the other two films. It is bittersweet and heartwrenching, yet also poignant, uplifting, and sweetly funny. The music and cinematography are especially outstanding. Just a great movie to watch when the world feels dark and like nothing will ever get better. Honestly the right film for these times. 

Pride and Prejudice (2005): This is a gorgeous and soothing two hour adapation of a classic piece of literature and it is the perfect thing to put on when you are feeling fragile and want to feel transported to another time with rustic scenery and golden lighting. The music is especially exquisite. It doesn’t need to be anything else. (Also, the “American” ending is bad and the film rightly ends with Mr. Bennet laughing in his study. The main reason I am sad this movie is not a six-hour television miniseries is because we get less of the supporting cast.) 

The Sound of Music: The above gif explains everything you need to know about why this movie is one of the best films of all time. I watched it twice over the Christmas holidays—that’s how much of a comfort it is to me. Also, the most underrated musical arrangement in this film is the moody, minor-key version of My Favorite Things that the children sing before Maria returns. 

Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope. This movie is a perfect unit unto itself. If it were the only Star Wars movie ever made, we might be better off as a society. What is so great about this film is how absolutely NOT SERIOUSLY it is taking itself, unlike every other Star Wars film produced since. It’s just another bonkers science fiction move from the seventies. But somehow it all works! It is more than the sum of its parts! Bonus: Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher’s unintentional but absolutely scene-stealing chemistry, probably fueled by their offscreen affair. You know George Lucas is standing behind the camera going “oh shit, what is happening here.”

[slapshot-to-the-heart]

Four Times Nathan Proposed and One Time He Meant it

Hi! This is my humble contribution to @nolypats and @hockeyboysiguess campaign for Nathan MacKinnon for Hockey Boy of the Month. Please see their blogs for more info, also just because they’re amazing writers. This is my first time trying a 4+1, I thought it would be nice to put something out before the next chapter of Flatbush & Atlantic. It was genuinely so much fun writing this, so please let me know what you think!

Wine pairing: Rotari rosé. @hockeyboysiguess and I have started to pair all of our writings with their own wine, bearing in mind that neither of us knows anything about wine. It’s all about the VIBES. 

4 times Nathan proposed and 1 time he meant it

The first time (February)

Jordan knocked on the door, a glass dish balanced precariously on her hip. She and Nathan tried to have a standing date night every week, something that wasn’t grabbing lunch when they were both free or meeting for coffee before she had to head to work and he went to practice. That was, unless there was a game. Or a roadie. Or a team event. So needless to say, the two had been a little strapped for “couple time” recently, and they were both feeling it. She had an article due the next day, a co-write about the use of illegal dark money in a recently-elected congressman’s campaign. Nathan had a long practice that morning and wasn’t feeling too up to anything that would require him to move too far from his couch. 

He opened the door, giving her a quick kiss. “I pulled up a few movies I thought you might be into, but didn’t want to pick anything until you got here.”

“You’re so considerate, I think I’m going to swoon,” Jordan said.

Nathan shrugged. “I’ll catch you if you fall.” Deep down, he really was a romantic, though the boys would chirp him endlessly if they knew. 

Jordan padded into the kitchen, setting the dish onto the counter and opening up the cabinet right above the toaster oven, grabbing two plates. Even apart from date night, it wasn’t uncommon for them to eat in; partly due to the fact that there were few things in this world Nathan loved more than being able to fly under the radar, something that was a little bit difficult to do when you wore the A for the Colorado Avalanche, but partly because in his own way, it was letting Jordan into his life. “What movies were you looking at?”

“Depends what you’re feeling,” Nathan replied. “We’ve got...Star Wars, Captain Marvel, and 10 Things I Hate About You.”

Her ears perked up. “The one with Heath Ledger?”

“That’s the one. Sound good to you?” 

Jordan had always had a penchant for movies of the late-90s and early 2000s, especially if they were romcoms, and especially if said romcoms starred Julia Stiles. As a little girl, there was definitely more than once where she had herself entirely convinced that her life would turn out exactly like The Prince and Me. Minus, of course, the fact that the beginning of Paige and Edvard’s entire relationship was built on lies. Mainly, she was just really into crowns and big poofy dresses as a little girl. “Sounds good to me!” She said brightly. “You want a brownie?”

Nate craned his neck to look at her in the kitchen, looking expectantly at him with one hand holding a spatula. “You made brownies?”

Jordan giggled. “I did. I take it that’s a yes?”

“That’s a definitely, please, my God give me one right this second or I might combust.” She slid the plate onto the side table a minute later, grabbing two napkins. “Are these normal brownies?” Nathan asked, picking one up and inspecting it with a semi-confused look on his face. 

“They’re triple-layer, it’s an old recipe for slutty brownies from when I was in college. Bottom’s cookie dough, then Oreos, then fudge brownie on top of that.”

Nate raised an eyebrow. “Slutty brownies?”

Jordan swatted at his shoulder. “I know it’s a weird name, just give them a chance. I know you’ve been feeling a little down with the losing streak, and thought you could use a pick-me-up. They were my go-to for breakups, always seemed to help the girls feel better, so I thought it might work for you too.”

He wouldn’t admit it, but Nathan’s heart skipped a beat with Jordan’s words. “Guess I’ll have to see,” he said, taking a bite out the corner. His face melted. “This is...literally the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Seriously, it’s so good. So good. Oh my God, marry me.”

Jordan flushed, turning to take a sip of water so he wouldn’t see. “I’m glad you like them.”

The second time (May)

It was 11:38 on a Friday night, and Jordan and Nathan were at a bar. To be precise, Jordan, Nathan, and pretty much the whole team were at a bar, plus what seemed like the entire population of Denver. Springtime meant playoff season for the NHL, and winning a series meant going out. Jordan normally had to pass whenever the team decided to hit up a bar or club after a win; as much as she would have liked to go, she was a journalist who kept a 9-5 job, which meant that she had to at least get some modicum of sleep if she was going to be able to function in the newsroom without an injection of caffeine straight into her veins. But it was the weekend, and she’d be damned if she was going to miss out on this. 

For the most part, the fans weren’t making a fuss; there was the occasional picture taken or pat on the back for winning the conference semifinals for the first time in twenty years, but nothing out of hand. Sipping her Dark & Stormy, she looked fondly over at Nate, who was having what looked to be a very animated conversation with Burky. Already two and a half drinks in, Nathan was starting to act a little tipsy; while he was normally more reserved about public displays of affection, he kissed Jordan more than one as the night went on. Not like she was complaining. Picking up a refill from the bar, she scooted back into the booth next to Nate. He planted a messy kiss on her cheek. “Where’d you go, Jo?”

Jordan rolled her eyes. “Unlike some of us, I can’t just snap my fingers and have alcohol appear at will. I had to actually go to the bar for another drink,” she teased. 

Nathan threw his head back laughing. “‘S’pose you’ve got a point there, babe.” He slung one arm over her shoulders. Jordan unconsciously leaned into his touch. “What’d you think of the game?” She wasn’t able to make it to every game, but was lucky that she could get down to the Pepsi Center more often than not. The Avalanche had beaten the Flames in 6, after dropping the first two games in Calgary and being pegged as another likely sweep, they had come back to win the next four and the series. 

“Just trying to stroke your own ego, eh, MacKinnon?”

“Picking up some Canadian slang, eh, Murphy?”

She tilted her head. “Maybe, maybe not. But the game was amazing. You know that. You did amazing, Nate.” In the 3-1 win, Nathan had scored two points, an assist and an absolute beauty of a power-play goal that just barely squeaked into the top left corner above Rittich’s shoulder. 

“Sure, maybe I do know,” Nathan admitted, “but it’s one thing hearing it from fans and the media and even my teammates. It’s another hearing it from you.” Jordan loved Nathan, but he wasn’t always the best at expressing his feelings out loud. She was the first one to say “I love you, to introduce him to her parents, to take just about any step forward in their relationship. It was something he was getting better at, slowly but surely, and it meant the world to Jordan that he was trying so hard. Maybe it was the liquor, or the atmosphere, or the excitement of the night, but it meant just as much to her to hear it as it probably did for him to say it. 

Half an hour and several drinks later, the last few people left were trickling out. Most had carpooled to the bar, leaving their cars back at the arena to get the next day. Jordan would have ordered Nate an Uber and then just hitched a ride with someone else back towards her apartment west of downtown, but Nate was pretty far gone. And he was a cute drunk, all things considered, but she was on her way to sobering up and felt an obligation to at least get him in bed safe. Their car pulled up, Nathan clumsily ducking in ahead of her as she shut the door behind him, buckling first his seat belt then her own. They walked through his front door fifteen minutes later, Jordan dropping him off in his bedroom to get undressed before grabbing a glass of water and a bottle of Advil. Nathan was in his boxers when she walked in, struggling to pull a t-shirt over his head. Jordan laughed, walking to his side of the bed before gently tugging it, handing him the water and two Advil. “If you take it now, it’ll help with the hangover later.” Kissing his forehead gently, she turned to leave.

“Where are you going, Jo?”

She stopped at the door. “Home?”

“I want you to stay.” 

She sighed gently, smiling at him. “Okay, I’ll spend the night.” 

“No,” Nathan interrupted, grabbing her wrist lightly as she turned to grab one of his old World Cup shirts to sleep in. “Forever. I want you to stay forever.”

The third time (August)

It was the middle of August, and Jordan and Nathan were in Canada. He had invited her earlier in the summer to visit for a few weeks, and as soon as she got the time off approved, she booked her flight. Getting to Springhill wasn’t the easiest — she flew to Toronto, had a layover, flew to Halifax, then got picked up by Nate for the two hour drive to his hometown. He had flown out in June, about a month after the Avs lost to the Kings in the conference finals, so the couple hadn’t seen each other in nearly two months. Jordan wasn’t about to complain about a few more hours. His parents had been so generous letting her stay for two weeks, and hadn’t batted an eye when Nathan had moved her into his old room. “Just don’t wake us up,” his mom had said, causing Nathan’s cheeks to turn scarlet. 

Jordan had met them a few times before; they had flown out for the All-Star game the previous January and had gotten together during the team Moms’ and Dads’ trips. And if she was around when Nathan was FaceTiming them, she always popped in for a few minutes to say hi. But she still hadn’t quite expected the ceaseless hospitality she had been offered over the past week. Maybe Canadians really were just that nice. 

Halfway through Jordan’s trip, they decided to throw a barbeque. And by they, that meant it was Nate’s idea and he roped them all into helping. Jordan had already been introduced to a few of his old friends, they had gone out for drinks to the one bar in town on her second night, but she was excited to meet everyone else. His dad Graham was keeping an eye on the grill, Nathan had filled the cooler with drinks, and Jordan was helping his mom carry out the fruit bowl and salad to the backyard. Nathan ran up to his room to change right as people started trickling in, and came back to a yard full of family and friends. He craned his neck, trying to figure out where Jordan had wandered off too, before his sister pointed to where she sat with a few of his cousins. 

Nathan opened his mouth, about to ask her something, when Jordan quietly brought a finger up to her lips. “She’s sleeping,” she whispered, gesturing to her arms, where a tiny baby was nestled, eyes firmly shut. 

He remembered that his cousin Rachel had had a baby not too long ago, but didn’t realize she’d be old enough to travel yet. “Is this Natalie?” he asked quietly, sitting in the chair next to Jordan. Rachel nodded. For a few moments, Nathan was lost in the scene, lost in how damn perfect Jordan looked with a baby in her arms. They had spoken about those sorts of things — future things — enough to know that marriage and kids were something they both wanted, but this was the first time it had hit him, like really hit him, that that could be them down the line. Over by the fire pit, his mom watched, a soft smile on her face.

Nathan stood in the kitchen with his mom a few hours later, drying off dishes from the party. Handing a plate to him, Kathy shot a curious glance at her son, as if a thought had just popped into her mind that hadn’t been there before. Nate looked back at her, confused. “What is it, mom?

Kathy nodded out the window, where Jordan was laughing at a joke his dad had just made, balancing the last round of dirty plates to bring in on her arm. “When are you going to put a ring on it, Nathan?

Nathan wasn’t particularly prone to blushing, but he had been doing a lot of it lately. “I—uh—” His mom rested a hand on his shoulder with a knowing smile. “Okay, I’ll admit that I’ve been thinking about it.”

Kathy was beaming. “I knew it. When?”

“When am I going to propose?” She nodded. He shrugged. “I don’t know when it’s going to happen, Mom, but it’s going to. I’m going to marry that girl.”

The fourth time (November)

Jordan grimaced, breathing in sharply as she braced her elbows on her desk. Elisa, her friend who worked in the cubicle beside her, looked over, a concerned expression on her face. “You good, hun?” 

Jordan nodded mechanically, opening a drawer and pulling out a bottle of ibuprofen, swallowing three with a gulp of water. “Yeah, I should be fine. I should be starting my period in the next day or two, so I’m pretty sure it’s just cramps.”

“Are they usually this bad though?” Elisa had always been a worrier.

She shook her head. “No, not since I went on birth control a few years ago, but who knows. The ibuprofen will help, and it’s probably normal anyways. I’m sure it’ll go away.”

It didn’t go away. Two hours later, when Elisa was finishing up the last paragraph of her analysis of the Broncos’ new coaching hire, Jordan suddenly shot up from her desk, running at breakneck speed towards the women’s bathroom with a queasy look on her face. Elisa followed, bursting through the door to the unmistakable sharpness of vomit. She knelt down next to Jordan, pulling her hair back with the spare scrunchie she kept on her wrist. “Jordan? Are you okay?”

Jordan shook her head. “I feel awful, El.”

Eliss touched the back of her hand to Jordan’s forehead. “You’re warm. Have the cramps gotten better.”

“Worse,” Jordan admitted, wiping at the beads of sweat that had started to accumulate on her forehead. 

Elisa pulled out her phone from her back pocket. “I’m calling an ambulance. I don’t think this is cramps, Jo.” 

Jordan didn’t have the strength to argue, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to anyways. The ambulance arrived ten minutes later, carting Jordan off to Denver Health Medical Center. “Any chance you could be pregnant?” one EMT asked. 

“I could be, but I shouldn’t. I’m on birth control and my boyfriend always uses protection,” Jordan said weakly. The EMT made a scribble on her paper. She barely registered pulling into the hospital, nurses pulling her into the ER, or a doctor wheeling in an ultrasound machine. She was conscious enough to recite her name, date of birth, and insurance number before being taken into the operating room, and then a mask was placed over her nose and her world went dark.

The first thing Jordan did when she woke up was check the clock in her room. It was 3; from what little she remembered, she had been taken to the hospital sometime a little after noon. “Oh, thank God,” she heard from her left side. She recognized that voice. It was Nathan’s voice. He grabbed her hand — the one that didn’t have an IV drip in it — and kissed it quickly, smoothing back the pieces of her hair that had come out of the hair tie. “Elisa called during practice, and she told me what happened, but she didn’t even know what happened, and then I left and drove over here, but then—”

Jordan laughed softly, feeling a dull pain in her lower abdomen. “It’s fine, Nate, I’m fine. What happened, anyways? I don’t remember anything after I went into surgery, I have no idea what it was even for.”

“You had appendicitis, your appendix was about two seconds away from bursting.”

Jordan let out a low whistle. “Glad that didn’t happen. Hey,” she added as an afterthought, “I thought visiting hours here didn’t start until 4?” Jordan had visited a college friend of hers who had had a baby a few weeks prior, and could have sworn that she wasn’t let in until later. 

Nate smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, they do. I couldn’t even figure out what room you were in at first. They wouldn’t tell me anything, so I told them I was your fiancé.”

“Oh, did you now?”

Nathan rubbed his thumb over her finger. Her ring finger. “I mean, it’s pretty much true. All I’ve got left to do now is ask you.”

“And get the ring,” Jordan added. 

“Nope.”

+1 (January) 

Family skates had quickly grown to be one of Jordan’s favorite parts of the season. She had loved the first one, but had felt just a tiny bit out of place; her and Nathan had only been dating for a little over six months, and it seemed like almost everyone else had known each other for years. But she’d forged some amazing friendships with other WAGs over the past year, trading babysitting duties for pies and meeting to watch the game while the boys were on a road trip, sharing new Spotify playlists and learning how to support each other along the way. The team had become her second family, even though her parents only lived an hour and a half away. 

Jordan had been a competitive figure skater throughout high school and into college, so she was no stranger to the ice. She obviously couldn’t get out nearly as often as she had before, but her skates still fit and she could still land a triple salchow after warming up. She and Nate had been skating around for an hour or so, taking a break after some “friendly competition” where Josty had made the mistake of challenging Jordan to a race around the rink. She beat him by two seconds. 

Jordan unscrewed the top of her water bottle, taking a few grateful sips before putting it back in her bag. “Babe!” Nate called from a few rows away, where some of the younger kids were gathered next to what looked like pastels. “Want to face paint?” 

She smiled, raising her eyes playfully as she popped on her blade guards and walked over towards the bench. “You sure about that one, MacKinnon? I’m not much of an artist.”

He nodded enthusiastically. “It’s okay, I bet you’ll be great!” He was so sweet for believing in her. 

“Alright,” Jordan said, straddling the bench and picking up the box. “What would his highness like for the design? Bear in mind you’re working with a beginner here.”

“Butterfly!” He chirped excitedly. “There’s been a whole bird and insect theme going on here,” he pointed at the kids’ cheeks, covered in bees, ladybugs, and one demonic-looking...crow? Was it a crow? Did they even get crows at this time of year? “and I wouldn’t want to break the trend.”

“We couldn’t have that,” Jordan agreed. Ten minutes later Nathan had a very blue, barely-acceptable-looking butterfly on his right cheek, but he was beaming like the sun as soon as he pulled up his camera to look at it. “I love it, Jo. Thank you,” Nate said, giving her a quick kiss. 

Activities wrapped up not too long after, and Jordan and Nathan walked out of the rink hand-in-hand towards his car. They had moved in together two months earlier, and Jordan had been more than happy to move out of her tiny studio into Nate’s giant apartment, where you could see the Rockies from the rooftop on clear days. Plus, his building allowed dogs. As Nathan drove home, one hand on the steering wheel and the other tangled with hers by the center console, Jordan looked over at him, with the little blue butterfly on his cheek, and she suddenly felt so unbelievably happy. So unbelievably full. It went without saying that she loved Nate. She loved him like she had never loved anyone before, and never would again. 

At the same time, Nate’s heart was beating faster than it ever had in his life. He wasn’t scared, he wasn’t surprised, but he had just realized something. He already knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Jordan. Nathan had realized that months ago. And he hadn’t been lying at the hospital, he had already bought the ring. But Nathan wanted everything to be perfect when he proposed; it couldn’t be rainy outside, because what if she wanted pictures? It couldn’t be too soon after her older brother’s wedding, because then she might think that was the reason why. It couldn’t be in the summer, because then he’d go back to Nova Scotia for the summer and his mom might scalp him for leaving his fiancée in another country. But, Nathan realized as they pulled into the underground lot, there never was going to be a perfect time. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he wanted to be Jordan’s husband. There shouldn’t be anything stopping him. There wasn’t anything stopping him. 

“I’m going to run to the bathroom,” Nate said as Jordan slipped off her shoes. She nodded. Nathan went up the stairs, but past the bathroom. He walked into their bedroom, into his closet, to the shoebox that had his old atom league medals. He grabbed the velvet box, opening it and taking one last look before taking a deep breath and putting it in his pocket. 

“You want to watch SVU reruns?” Jordan asked as he ambled back into the living room. 

His mouth opened and closed like a fish. “Uh—can I say something?”

Jordan looked over. “Yeah, go ahead? We can totally watch something else if you’re not feeling Law & Order, I think I saw Chopped on the Food Network, or Jurassic Park is halfway through…” She trailed off. 

Nathan shoved his hands in his pockets, turning the ring box over and over. He bit his lip. “You know how much you mean to me, right?” Jordan nodded slowly. “When I met you, I wasn’t looking for anything. I had just had my heart broken by someone who I thought would be my forever, but then you came into my life and suddenly...suddenly, it all made sense. I thought I knew love, I thought I knew what it was to be in love, but I didn’t, really. Not until you. You bring me down to earth, Jordan, when I’m too far in my head. I know you’re on my team even when we’re losing, even when it seems like nothing in my life is going right I know you’ll always be there to pick me up when I fall. And I don’t ever want to take that for granted. You challenge me in the best way, you always push me to be a better partner, a better teammate, and a better man. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for you.” Jordan was tearing up, starting to figure out where his whole speech was going and hoping beyond hope that she was right.

“I know I’m not always physically here, but I promise to always be there for you, Jordan. I’ll hold you when you’re crying, I’ll buy your favorite chips when we’re out, I’ll pay the utility bills because I know you’re terrible with remembering dates. It was eight months in when I realized you were the one.” Nathan bent down on one knee. One of Jordan’s hands was over her mouth, the remote having long since been abandoned on the couch. “I can’t wait to see where we go, Jordan. I can’t wait to get a nice house with a big backyard, go down to the animal shelter saying we’re only going to adopt one dog but come back with three. I can’t wait for the day you tell me you’re pregnant, and we get to hold our child for the first time and I get to see you be a mother. I can’t wait for us to start our lives together. I can’t wait for you to be Jordan MacKinnon.” He opened up the ring box. “Will you marry me?”

Jordan fell on her knees, hands on both sides of Nathan’s face. “Yes.”

[beensobleu]

[sergeantbuckybarnes]

twenty questions

tagged by: @steverrogers thank you, becky!💙

1: what do you prefer to be called name-wise?

just stefanie, or steff for short. i don’t have any nicknames.

2: when is your birthday?

june 30th

3: where do you live?

spain

4: three things you are doing right now?

trying to get my next bucky’s imagine finish, eating chocolate, listening to music

5: four fandoms that have peaked your interest?

marvel, stranger things, teen wolf (that’s the reason i came back to tumblr) and big time rush, they were my first fandom ever

6: how has the pandemic been treating you?

it started fine at first...the everything went like shit. that’s it.

7: a song you can’t stop listening to right now?

i don’t really have one atm.

8: recommend a movie.

10 things i hate about you. and yeah, i’m very annoying with this move but it’s one of my favorites and it’s fuckin amazing?? the soundtrack, the script, and the cast?? julia stiles and heath ledger!! do you even need more reasons. 100% recommended.

9: how old are you?

23

10: school, university, occupation, other?

i don’t know the technical name in english, but i’m studying to get my degree to work on tv shows and movies productions. 

11: do you prefer heat or cold?

i know a lot of people prefer cold, but i prefer heat. it’s okay if it’s could inside of your house because you can get buried in blankets and yes i love that, but when i’m outside and i’m feeling like i’m freezing and i just can’t get more layers on? heat is also has its cons because there’s a limit of layers you can take off, but i’ll take heat every time.

12: name one fact others may not know about you.

i have never broken a single bone of my body.

13: are you shy?

hell yeah. also i get very nervous when i have to talk to people i don’t know, when i get to meet them and i get comfortable with them then everything is great. also, talking to people i don’t know by chat or messages it’s another thing, i think it helps me not having them face to face. nevertheless, i always think i’m going to bother them.

14: preferred pronouns?

she/her

15: biggest pet peeves?

people who judges others by their cover and don’t give them a chance to prove themselves or to get to meet them.

16: what is your favorite “dere” type?

i don’t know what it is.

17: rate your life from 1-10.

although i think i’m not at my best right know, i’ll say 6.

18: what’s your main blog?

this is my main.

19: list your side blogs and what they’re used for.

i don't have side blogs.

20: Is there something people need to know about you before becoming friends?

i’m bad at keeping conversations, like i wanna keep taking to you but there’s a point where i don’t know what to say to keep the conversation going. but seriously i love meeting new people. but that’s my default mode.

i’m tagging: @steveswhitewolf @spideypeter @sebastianstvn @samrhodey (feel free to ignore this)

[mtvswatches]

10 Things I Hate About You

Obligatory soundtrack 

1) The late 90s/early 00s were filled with contemporary adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays - Julia Stiles starred in three of those, coincidentally - but, in my opinion, none has been more iconic than 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s been over 20 years since the movie was released, and it’s certainly become a teen/rom-com classic. It’s definitely a feel-good movie, and even though it obviously had great source material to work with, it did so in such a unique and fun way. And it was kind of woke for its time, too.

Disclaimer: I am a bit afraid this whole review will turn into me taking screenshots of the movie and just writing “iconic.” You’ve been fairly warned.

Anyway, let’s get into it!

3) I really love how they managed the “show, don’t tell” technique with Kat’s introduction. Her first scene really shows who she is – a jaded, kind of rebellious teenager, who marches to the beat of her own drum. Or to the beat of Joan Jett’s drum…

She’s shown as the opposite of the other girls, but it doesn’t feel like a criticism of the other girls' more cheerful, sunny disposition. We very quickly learn what she is like, but we have yet to find out why.

4) The next characters we meet are Cameron and the school’s guidance counselor. Cameron is the new student and the guidance counselor is just…

I love her. And Allison Janney proves how talented an actress she is by making the token counselor character both memorable and unique.

5) We also meet Patrick Verona, the resident Bad Boy who had “exposed himself” in the cafeteria. Oh, Heath Ledger, you are truly missed!

6) Michael Eckman  shows Cameron around and he basically delivers the token “school cliques scene”, and since I’m not American, I’ve always wondered if this is a real thing in schools? Like, are there really so many cliques that are so visually different from one another? Each group dressing in a particular style and hanging out at a specific spot? Anyhow, the cliques here are the beautiful people (or rather, the assholes), the coffee kids (?), the white Rastas (or white stoners), the cowboys (?), and the yuppies.

7) Michael’s tour gets cut short when Cameron spots Bianca, and he’s instantly infatuated with her. I’ve always found it hard to root for Cameron at first because I’m not really a fan of insta-love, and he ends up doing A LOT of shady things for a girl who he doesn’t know AT ALL. But more on that later. In fact, the movie kind of makes a point of how ridiculous it is for Cameron to be in instant-love with Bianca by having her deliver this little lecture on love:

BIANCA: Yeah, but see, there's a difference between like and love. Because I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack.

CHASTITY: But I love my Skechers.

BIANCA: That's because you don't have a Prada backpack.

Bianca clearly grows a lot over the course of the movie, but it’s clear that Cameron was in love with her appearance and not her brains or personality, which makes his quest to sweep her off her feet misguided at best.

8) And then Michael presents the main plot point…

The question then is, how is Cameron going to get the girl? It’s his quest to get a date with Bianca that creates a domino effect that brings all the characters together. 

9) See what I mean? ICONIC!

And can I say that I just love Kat? Not only is she smart, but also, she didn’t take any bullshit from anyone, especially not males. She was a feminist before being a feminist was cool. And she does grow a lot. 

10) Okay, two things, A) I love Mr. Morgan, and B) foreshadowing? Sort of?

11) Iconic.

12) Michael seems to have a lot of preconceptions about Bianca – and most of them were kind of accurate, at least at the start of the film. She was kind of vapid and shallow and self-absorbed. For someone who believes that Bianca is not only completely out of Cameron’s league but also not worthy, he does get very involved in trying to get Bianca to date Cameron.

13) This is one of my favorite lines in the movie, probably because it sounds a lot like Buffyspeak…

14) This is so random…

And the movie does have a lot of these little moments of slapstick comedy that almost seem to belong to a different type of movie, but for some reason, they work?

15) And this reminds me of the Veronica Mars of yore, the one I used to love…

16) We meet Cat and Bianca’s dad, and he is very overbearing at first, but he truly grows on you once you understand where all his rules are coming from. And of course, he establishes The Rule, which sets off the movie’s shenanigans – Bianca cannot date unless Kate does.

17) Bianca does prove a lot of Michael’s preconceptions right during her interaction with Cameron, who asks her out on a date, and even though he has been tutoring her she can’t remember his name and after he reminds her of it, she calls him “Curtis.” Bianca very clearly sees in Cameron the solution to her dating problem, and she very obviously manipulates him when it’s clear she’s not interested in dating him. She’ll get him to do the dirty work, and then let Joey rip the rewards. On the one hand, this is wrong. On the other hand, Cameron sort of had it coming? He was only interested in Bianca because of her looks, and he was about to manipulate Kat with total disregard for her feelings, so...

18) So Michael and Cameron set out to find a match for scary Kat. And what do you know…?

They figure the only way to convince Patrick to date Kat is by paying him, except they don’t have any money. So they turn to Joey, who gladly agrees to invest if it means this will get her Bianca.

19) Patrick and Joey strike a deal, and let me tell you, this deal never made any sense to me? Like, after some bargaining Joey agrees to pay Patrick 50 dollars? And I might be daft but how would Patrick be making a profit here? If he took her out, he’d be spending most of that on the date, making the whole thing pointless if he’s not making a profit? And Joey was supposed to be loaded, so why not offer more than that, to begin with?

20) I really love how Patrick assumed all he’d need to do was say hello and Kat would be at his feet, and she gloriously turned him down and put him in his place. He tries again the next day and he gets turns down, again. And I can’t blame her, he was acting like an entitled douchebag and assuming she’d want to jump his bones only because he was hot and asking her to go out, like that’s all it’d take.

21) And Joey gets a little bit of what’s coming to him…

22) This leads to Kat getting into an argument with her dad, making a lot of valid points…

WALTER: Is this about Sarah Lawrence? Are you punishing me because I want you to stay close to home? KAT: Aren't you punishing me because Mom left? WALTER: You think you could leave her out of this? KAT: Fine. Then stop making my decisions for me. WALTER: I'm your father. That's my right. KAT: So what I want doesn't matter. WALTER: You're 18. You don't know what you want. And you won't know what you want till you're 45, and even if you get it, you'll be too old to use it. KAT: I want to go to an east coast school! I want you to trust me to make my own choices... and I want you to stop trying to control my life just because you can't control yours!

I can see both sides of this argument, though. He wasn’t punishing her because her mom left, I think he was just afraid they’ll get hurt again and that’s why he was so overprotective. And Kat had just crashed her car on purpose, so I really don’t understand how she managed to turn the whole thing against her father?

23) Patrick renegotiates the terms of his agreement with Joey, demanding a 100 bucks per date. He can’t have had getting something for Kat as his goal at this point, but I think he was just trying to screw Joey over as much as possible, which kudos to him.

24) Michael and Cameron approach Patrick and inform him that they’re actually the masterminds behind this date-Kat plan, and they agree to help him woo her. And I get that Kat was not the most agreeable person to begin with, but it’s still very disheartening to see that literally no one considered her feelings in this whole thing? Like, all of them were so proud they were playing Joey, but she was the one getting played the worst? And Bianca even allows Cameron to go inside Kat’s room and go through all her private things? Everyone was an asshole in this movie, is all I’m saying.

25)

26) And then…

Probably in spite of herself, he managed to get through her shell a little bit.

27) Bianca finally begs her sister to go to the party so that she can go, and what do you know? Kat does have a heart after all, and she agrees to show.

28) Which leads to…

29) Kat seems very happy to see Patrick at her door, although she quickly puts the bitch rest-face back on and pretends his keeping his word and coming to get her did not affect her at all…

30) So, now that she got to the party and gets to hang out with Joey, Bianca demands her sister do not address her in public, and I’m like, wtf?! Kat then begs her to listen, and again, Bianca shrugs her off and tells her to go off and “enjoy her adolescence”, which pisses Kat off and probably hurts her, too. So she decides to enjoy her adolescence the way everyone seems to do, getting trashed and embarrassing themselves.

31) Further evidence that Bianca was, indeed, an asshole… Cameron is the reason she got to go out at all – after he pulled off this elaborate plan to get her sister a date – and she manipulated him by feigning to be interested in him, and now…

But karma is a bitch because Joey might be the most popular boy in school – god knows why! – but he’s as dull as dishwater, and she quickly finds herself regretting her decision to brush Cameron off in favor of Joey.

32) Meanwhile, Kat is truly enjoying her adolescence…

And thank god Patrick was there to catch her because if he hadn’t, I don’t think anyone would’ve helped her.

33) I really love Patrick’s pep talk to Cameron…

CAMERON: It's off, okay? The whole thing's off. PATRICK: What are you talking about? CAMERON: She never wanted me. She wanted Joey the whole time. PATRICK: Cameron, do you like the girl? CAMERON: Yeah. PATRICK: And is she worth all this trouble? CAMERON: I thought she was, but, you know, l... PATRICK: Well, she is or she isn't. See, first of all, Joey is not half the man you are. Secondly, don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want.

34) And Patrick taking care of drunk Kat is the sweetest thing ever…

35) Of course, now that Bianca no longer wants to hang out with Joey and her friend leaves her high and dry, she asks Cameron for a ride home.

36) On the way home, Kat actually opens up to Patrick, a lot. She admits she’d love to play in a band, and that her father wants her to be someone she’s not – her sister. Patrick admits that he doesn’t really get what everyone sees in Bianca, and Kat delivers what’s probably the greatest compliment you could get from her…

She puts herself out there… and gets shut down. Of course, Patrick was probably feeling remorse about the way he’d gotten to know this girl and the way he’d been playing her because now that he’d gotten to know her a little bit better, he could see that behind that badass façade she was extremely vulnerable and sensitive. Kat feels rejected and humiliated, and who can blame her? He’d been relentlessly pursuing her, and now that she’d opened up to him and offered to kiss him, he’d turned her down…

Anyway, Patrick’s behavior, later on, makes no sense after the way he acted here, but more on that further below.

37) Cameron finally confronts Bianca about her manipulative behavior, and to her credit, she is honest and owns up to being selfish when he calls her on it. And I guess she finally sees he’s worth it…

38)

39) This exchange is so silly and hilarious?

Like, Cameron’s answer seems silly, but what type of answer was Patrick expecting? Where could she have possibly kissed him? On the knees?

40) Kat is clearly not yet over the rejection…

41) See what I mean about the jokes in this movie?

And they just look over and go on talking, as if she hadn’t just nailed her teacher on the ass with an arrow...

42) Joey goes to Patrick yet again and offers 200 dollars to get him to take Kat to the prom. Patrick tells him he’s sick of this game, and Joey ups the ante and offers him 300 dollars, which Patrick somewhat begrudgingly takes. I just would really like to know if it was at this point that he thought he’d used this dirty money to buy something for Kate. Otherwise, he was still being a jerk...

43) This scene just gives me butterflies, okay?

And as charming as he is, Kat is still not over the humiliation of putting herself out there and being rejected.

44) Cameron returns the favor and gives Patrick some very good advice, the reason for that glorious scene later on…

CAMERON: Look, you embarrassed the girl. Sacrifice yourself on the altar of dignity and even the score.

This gets Patrick thinking…

45) And I’m just going to add the video here because this whole scene is just rom-com perfection and bless Heath Ledger again, okay? And why didn’t we get more of him singing in everything he did? His voice just makes me feel things, okay?

Seriously, how do you say no to that boy asking you to let him love you? You don’t say no, that’s how.

Same, Kat. Hard same.

46) Kat goes into detention and distracts the coach while Patrick attempts to escape out the window, and then…

And the teacher is looking directly at her tits? And while the distraction tactic worked, how was she not sent to the principal’s office? Patrick was sent to the principal’s office for “exposing himself” with a bratwurst while joking with the cafeteria lady, and Kat is literally exposing herself and she walks scot-free? Hmm.

47) Patrick and Kat have another heart to heart, and to be honest, it always melts this cold heart of mine…

PATRICK: So, what's your excuse? KAT: For? PATRICK: For acting the way we do? KAT: I don't like to do what people expect. Why should I live up to other people's expectations instead of my own? PATRICK: So, you disappoint 'em from the start and then you're covered, right? KAT: Something like that. PATRICK: Then you screwed up. KAT: How? PATRICK: You never disappointed me.

Same, Kat. SAME.

48) #SWOON

49) And this is the part that doesn’t make sense to me. They’ve just had this perfect date, and they’re growing closer, and they’ve kissed, and he clearly likes her. And the reason he didn’t kiss her after the party was that he was feeling guilty about the way he’d gotten her to go out with him and fall for him – through deception and manipulation. And now that they’re much closer and into each other, he tries very hard to get her to go to prom with him, pushing her in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable, and like, why? They’re clearly not the type of people who go to proms, so why not take Joey’s money and screw the deal? Why did he have to keep his promise? Why not be honest with Kat? Why not tell her, I like you a lot and this idiot is paying me to date you even though I’m honored to do that for free so why don’t we team up and scam him? I know the answer is “conflict”, but it’s always pissed me off.

50) Seriously, though, Cameron. Why?

51) In true teen-rom fashion, everyone needs to be paired up, right?

52) See what I mean about the jokes?

53) Loved the Dawson’s Creek reference…

Believe it or not, a lot of people thought DC was scandalous at the time. And DC was so naïve compared to its predecessors The OC or Gossip Girl…

54) Kat finally opens up to Bianca and explains why she has so many issues and why she doesn’t want to conform to high school’s social rules and expectations and stereotypical idea of “normalcy.” She’d had a less than stellar dating experience back when she was way too young and far too vulnerable with none other than Joey, who had slept with her and dumped her right after. Oh yeah, and it all happened right after her mom had left them. In an attempt to prevent the same thing from happening to her little sister, she had agreed to their dad’s rules, effectively preventing Bianca from experiencing anything on her own. It’s kind of a case of the pot calling the kettle black, considering she’d complained about the very same thing to her father.

55) Kat finally realizes she’s been unfair to her sister and decides to go to prom, to their father’s dismay. Kat even swallows her pride and actually apologizes to Patrick for questioning his motives to ask her to the prom, and he has the nerve to forgive her. Dude, you do have ulterior motives, and the girl you like is actually apologizing even though she’s done nothing wrong and you’re blatantly lying, and he doesn’t even bat an eyelash when he tells her “You’re forgiven.” I mean, I love Patrick, but still… not cool.

56) Bless Walter.

57) I guess they’re a thing, because why not?

58) And this is, among many other reasons, why I can’t hold anything against Patrick Veronica…

He got her favorite band to play in the prom.

59) Chastity is such a bitch for no reason? Like, she and Bianca were close friends, and then, all of a sudden, they aren’t? And she’s so mean to Bianca!

60) And leave it to Joey to ruin everything…

61) And I truly love that Bianca is the one to put him in his place…

62) See? He’s a good guy, he was just trying to protect his daughters the only way he knew how…

WALTER: Bianca did what? KAT: What's the matter, upset that I rubbed off on her? WALTER: No, impressed. Fathers don't like to admit it when their daughters are capable of running their own lives. It means we've become spectators. Bianca still lets me play a few innings. You've had me on the bench for years. And when you go to Sarah Lawrence I won't even be able to watch the game. KAT: When I go? WALTER: Oh, boy. Don't tell me you changed your mind. I already sent 'em a cheque

63) And I also have to include the video for this scene because it’s just… *chef’s kiss*… Julia Stiles absolutely nails this one, and it never fails to bring me to tears…

Same, Patrick. Same.

64) And while the fact that he doesn’t immediately run after her always has me screaming, he does make up for all of it…

KAT: A Fender Strat? Is it for me? PATRICK: Yeah, I thought you could use it, you know, when you start your band. Besides, I had some extra cash, you know. Some asshole paid me to take out this really great girl. KAT: Is that right? PATRICK: Yeah, but I screwed up. I, um... I fell for her. KAT: Really? PATRICK: It's not every day you find a girl who'll flash someone to get you out of detention. KAT: Oh, God. You can't just buy me a guitar every time you screw up, you know. PATRICK: Yeah, I know. But there's always drums and bass and maybe even one day a tambourine. KAT: And don't just think you can...

65) This movie is hardly a masterpiece, but it doesn’t intend to be either, and not every movie needs to be. It’s a feel-good movie, and it delivers on so many levels. It’s funny, it’s tropey, it’s cute, it’s romantic, it has a great soundtrack, and you just feel a whole lot better after watching it. It’s the 90s at its best, and that’s why it became a classic.

What I love the most, though, is Kat’s character development. We see this girl who is a badass and super smart, takes no bullshit, holds everyone accountable for their shitty behavior, and has a great wit. But she is not without flaws. She’s closed off because she has been hurt before, both by her mother and her first love. She holds everyone at bay because it’s easier that way. Throughout the movie, however, she shows empathy and a lot of vulnerability. And she soon finds out that she had been missing out on a lot of things by shielding her emotions. She’d missed out on having a good relationship with her sister and on finding love again. What is truly admiring about Kat, though, is that when she’s hurt the most and she has every reason to close herself off again, she does the exact opposite. She opens herself up not only in front of the guy she’s in love with but everyone. The shrew cries and bares her soul for the world to see. Regardless of the happy ending, I think that in itself s truly inspiring, don’t you? 

66) Bonus: bloopers!

67)  Hope you enjoyed my recap, and, as usual, if you’ve got this far, thank you for reading! If you enjoy my recaps and my blog, please consider supporting it on ko-fi. Thanks!

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #443

Top Ten American High School Movies

So this week the kids are going back to school after their summer break, which is always a moment fraught with emotion (for us, not for them, they love school). However it’s even more of an angst-fest than usual this year, because notwithstanding ongoing and genuine concerns over just how safe school is and will remain, there’s also the fact that they’ve been at home all the time since March. This is probably the single greatest period of time all four of us has been in the house together. It’s madness, but it’s also glorious. Weirdly, I’m finding myself getting nostalgic for the beginning of lockdown; there’s a part of me that’ll miss organising their lessons every night and imposing a rough-hewn sense of order and schedule to the working day, the pair of them sat at the kitchen table doing printed-off worksheets or playing educational games from the BBC or wherever. As well as spending time together there was also a frisson of newness, a sense of shared learning and the feeling that, even if my work had dried up in lockdown and we were stuck at home, everyone was in the same boat so it didn’t really matter. We felt relatively safe in our little bubble, every wary step outside an adventure. They drew a mountain of pictures. I still didn’t finish my book. We bought a big monitor so it was easier for my wife to work from home. Good times, unless you turned on the news.

Anyway, they’re going back, notwithstanding further catastrophic spikes in infection rates. Everything’s going to keep being different, but in a different way. I’ll have to get used to dealing with pick-ups and drop-offs and I’ll probably always be worrying about what – and who – they’ve touched. But hopefully we’ll get used to it, hopefully no one will get sick, and it’s unquestionably beneficial for them to be in school with their teachers and friends and all that jazz.

So! School. I don’t wanna get maudlin or angsty about it, so I’m looking at schools through a prism of fun. And what’s more fun than a vaguely fantastical simulacrum of school life, filtered through a gauze of foreign motifs? American high school movies have been a mainstay of cinema all my life, and the tropes and trappings of their school life are almost as familiar as my own schooling. The same but different, the world of lockers in the corridor, gym class, jocks and nerds, cheerleaders, kids in cars, spelling bees and science fairs, all felt like a wish-fulfilment dream of a better, more grown-up school life. To turn the TV on for a second, the likes of Grange Hill paled in comparison to Saved by the Bell as far as I was concerned. Like Hogwarts, an American school was a cool school, a school you’d wish to go to, but that you knew didn’t really exist. I’m sure real high school life is not very much like it is in Clueless, for instance.

But – hey! – that’s all fine. Hospitals aren’t much like Grey’s Anatomy either, and I bet space is bugger all like Star Trek.

Anyway. Here are my favourite American high school movies. Enjoy.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999): using the weight of Shakespeare helps give the story strength and heft, but it succeeds in having one of those glorious teen casts of future greats. Perfectly pitched comedy as we unravel some teen archetypes, and at least one moment of stand-our brauvora spectacle as Heath Ledger serenades Julia Stiles. One of those scenes where you watch an unknown become a movie star in real time.

Clueless (1995): another teen film smartly utilising the classics, this gives us an even more stylised world in which to unpick those stereotypes, as seemingly vapid but good-natured Cher looks beyond her preconceptions. Gentle satire gives way to a cute romance, and in Dan Hedaya it boasts the best teen movie dad of all time.

Heathers (1988): a very dark but very funny look at high school life, as the supposed “it crowd” of glamorous girls and studly boys are, well, murdered by put upon outsiders. A satire on American exceptionalism but also a peek into the mindset of fundamentalism as their campaign continues to escalate to frightening extremes.

Brick (2005): using the tropes and trappings of a high school to present an alternative version of a classic mystery noir, this is less about examining existing stereotypes and cultures than twisting them to serve its plot and style. Invents its own teen slang, Clueless-style, but does so with a thirties gangster vibe, and expertly meshes these two worlds in a way that seems obvious.

The Faculty (1998): “the teachers are evil” is a common high school trope, here rendered literal by its funky millennial take on Invasion of the Body-Snatchers. As the school is taken over, a bunch of kids from – yep – different social sub-groups band together, put enmities aside, to basically kill their teachers. Fun horror comedy that, if you were a teen in 1998, felt smartly relevant.

The Breakfast Club (1985): John Hughes films are often considered teen-movie landmarks, even if they’ve often not aged well. Breakfast is probably the best at dealing specifically with high school, as its disparate heroes (again, each representing a different archetype) reveal depths beneath their surface personae. Angsty and on-the-nose but well-acted and with plenty of charm.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017): Spider-Man is the best teen hero (sorry, Robin) because he’s navigating a traditional teenage high school life as well as being a superhero. No film has handled that better than Homecoming, where he deals with his secret identity, a date with his dream girl, and how being a superhero impacts his education.

Back to the Future (1985): I did consider whether this qualifies as a proper high school movie, but I think the school setting is actually pivotal; it juxtaposes the 1980s high school with its 1950s version, and is able to show how much has changed but the teenagers stay basically the same. And, of course, the climactic dance is the cornerstone of the plot. Finally, BTTF is one of the best-written films of all time and a masterpiece, only this low on the list because it’s not quite as high school-y as other films.

Carrie (1976): high school as horror film, obviously, but whilst there’s plenty of terror to be mined from Carrie’s powers and her mum’s fire-and-brimstone fundamentalism, it’s the petty cruelty and viciousness of school that feels darkest and yet most real. Carrie is horrendously bullied for stepping outside of her lane, and that is very high school.

Grease (1978): certainly not the best or most realistic examination of fifties high school life, but iconic enough to deserve its place. The lines between the various sub-groups are broadly drawn, as are the teachers (mostly fools), and the central struggle of the plot – tough guy, nice girl – is timeworn. But, of course, it’s carried off in oodles of style and some classic songs.

Incidentally, there were a few films that I excluded because whilst I think they’re excellent films about teenagers – Rebel Without a Cause, say – they’re not really about high school life. And, of course, I was focussing on American high schools, so no Harry Potter. Just in case you were wondering. And sadly I couldn’t find out how to stick Teen Titans Go! To the Movies in there somewhere.

[douxreviews]

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Review

"Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want."

I hate that English teachers don't use this movie as a catalyst to fire people up about Shakespeare.

In this day and age, to enjoy a movie set in an American high school there a certain elements that you begrudgingly come to expect. You must make peace with the unoriginality, and only then can you see what else it has to offer. That is the case with 10 Things I Hate About You, and what it has to offer is spectacular acting and an ability to poke fun at itself. Besides can you really ever go wrong with Shakespeare??

Yep, that's right. 10 Things is (very loosely) based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Kat is even tapped to write a Shakespearean sonnet as a school assignment... go figure.

I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair.

I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare.

I hate your big dumb combat boots, and the way you read my mind.

I hate you so much it makes me sick. It even makes me rhyme.

I hate the way you're always right. I hate it when you lie.

I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it when you're not around, and the fact that you didn't call.

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

The girl clearly has a future as a poet, no? Julia Stiles does a remarkable job going from the girl who will kick your ass for a stray look to a girl who will admit she still has feelings for a guy that did her wrong. Her lines are delivered flawlessly and she gives attitude to match whatever the scene calls for. This role could have easily been the downfall of the movie as she has to be believable as a hardened bad ass, convincingly play hurt and betrayed and finally let her guard down to warn her sister about the sinister blowhard Joey Donner. It was all there and all pulled off with incredible fineness. Her backing into Joey's car is my favorite scene, and afterwards he actually refers to her as a shrew.

Her love interest, played by the late Heath Ledger, was fairly well done. Patrick hit all the right leading-man-in-a-teenaged-romantic-comedy notes. Bad boy with a heart of gold? Check. Embarrassing and grandiose display of public affection? Check. Carefree scene of romantic flirting where one or both characters get dirty? Check, and paintball makes for some very colorful dirt! He was likable and beautiful and stood up quite nicely next to Kat's wit as well as being an almost mentor to Cameron.

Bianca is Kat's sister and Larisa Olenik plays her amazingly well. She is materialistic, air-headed and hilarious. She pulls out some brain power when it really counts, but all of her best moments for me came from her utter cluelessness. She made me laugh out loud throughout the whole movie.

Cameron wore many hats. He is head-over-heels in puppy love for Bianca, the nice guy, the new kid in school and the audiences eyes and ears. We learn with him the whose who of Padua High and the happenings of our characters and his new BFF Michael is our tour director. Like Bianca, Cameron is a little too naive for his own good and Joseph Gordon-Levitt sparkles on screen in every scene he is in. When he is vulnerable I want to give him a hug, when he stands up for or to Bianca I cheer him on, and if this nice guy had finished last I might have thrown something at the television.

Quotes/Shrewy bits and pieces

10 Things I Hate About You sounds a lot like Taming of the Shrew.

Bianca: "There's a difference between like and love. See, I like my sketchers, but I love my Prada backpack." Chastity: "But I love my sketchers." Bianca: "That's because you don't have a Prada backpack." This right here is a solid life lesson, folks!

Chastity: "I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?" Bianca: "I think you can in Europe."

Ms. Perky: "People perceive you as somewhat..." Kat: "Tempestuous?" Ms. Perky: "'Heinous bitch' is the term used most often."

Cameron: "I burn. I pine. I perish." This is a direct quote from Taming of the Shrew.

Walter Stratford: "Hello, Katarina. Make anyone cry today?" Kat: "Sadly, no, but it's only 4:30."

Cameron: "She kissed me." Patrick: "Where?" Cameron: "In the car."

Michael: "The shit hath hitith the fan... ith."

Walter Stratford: "Alright, wait a minute. No drinking, no drugs, no kissing, no tattoos, no piercings, no ritual animal slaughters of any kind. Oh, God, I'm giving them ideas."

Cameron: "You know just because you're beautiful, doesn't mean you can treat people like they don't matter."

Kat: "You don't always have to be who they want you to be, you know."

There are so many quotable quotes. This post would be much too long, so I will cut it off here. Let me know below if I didn't include your favorite!

Laure Mack

[tabloidtoc]

In Touch, April 8

Cover: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will name their baby girl after Princess Diana 

Page 1: Contents 

Page 2: Who Wore It Better? Elsa Hosk vs. Danielle Campbell, Adriana Lima vs. Dree Hemingway, Morgan Stewart vs. Jasmine Tookes 

Page 4: Down-and-out Tori Spelling rents $13K-a-month house 

Page 5: Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in movie poster for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood don’t look like themselves, Lucy Hale goes brunette, Ben Affleck admits the reaction to his back too hasn’t been positive, Chrissy Teigen tells an onliner that after kids you don’t want to see her in a bikini, there are 432 minutes left of Games of Thrones 

Page 6: Crib of the Week -- Bruce Willis’ Brentwood mansion, find love with Vinny Guadagnino and “Pauly D” DelVecchio, Jenny McCarthy slams Barbara Walters 

Page 8: Stars who give out spoilers -- Sylvester Stallone, Mark Ruffalo, Sophie Turner, Rachel McAdams, Will Smith, Tom Holland, Kate Middleton stealing Lisa Vanderpump’s style 

Page 9: Man Candy of the Week -- Anthony Joshua, Winner of the Week -- Call Me By Your Name fans will be getting a sequel written by Andre Aciman, Loser of the Week -- Ramona Singer forced to aologize after claiming Bethenny Frankel’s late boyfriend Dennis Shields was on drugs before he died 

Page 10: Oh Baby -- Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian with kids Reign and Saint and Chicago and Penelope and great-grandmother Mary Jo Campbell 

Page 11: Hilary Duff and daughter Banks, Jamie Lynn Spears and Jamie Watson’s daughter Ivey, Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker’s son Forrest turns 1, Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley’s daughter Adalaide turns 7, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Jen Harley’s daughter Ariana turns 1, Paula Patton and Robin Thicke’s son Julian turns 9 

Page 12: Up Close -- Ben Affleck and kids Samuel and Seraphina 

Page 13: Jennifer Lopez, Prince Charles shirtless with wife Camilla, Amy Poehler 

Page 14: Hairy Situations -- Ellen DeGeneres and Olivia Wilde cut Jason Sudeikis’ hair, Channing Tatum goes blond, Nicole Richie, Gilles Marini gets a trim 

Page 16: Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers, Busy Philipps and Lisa Rinna, Queer Eye’s Tan France and Jonathan Van Ness and Antoni Porowski and Karamo Brown 

Page 18: Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, Rami Malek filming Mr. Robot, Clueless reunion with Alicia Silverstone and Donald Faison and Breckin Meyer and Paul Rudd 

Page 20: Pregnant Amy Schumer on Seth Meyers, Heidi Pratt and Kristin Cavallari, Lupita Nyong’o 

Page 22: The Bachelorette alum Becca Kufrin and fiance Garrett Yrigoyen at Chippendales, Lucy Hale and Zane Holtz filming Katy Keene, Reese Witherspoon and son Tennessee 

Page 24: Willow Smith, Miley Cyrus, Donnie Wahlberg filming Blue Bloods 

Page 25: Ariana Grande 

Page 26: Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph 

Page 28: Kids’ Choice Awards -- Will Smith gets slimed, Chris Pratt gets slimed, Adam Sandler gets slimed, DJ Khaled gets slimed, Frankie Grande 

Page 29: Candace Cameron Bure and Andrea Barber and Jodie Sweetin, David Dobrik and Josh Peck and Kiernan Shipka, Taylen Biggs, Jojo Siwa, Jennifer Hudson, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo 

Page 30: Cover Story -- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s moving tribute to Princess Diana

Page 34: College Admissions Scandal -- Lori Loughlin’s daughter who lost sponsorships is blaming her parents and others of making her life hell and thinks everyone is just jealous 

Page 35: Felicity Huffman’s daughter Sophia is mortified by the scandal and loves school and feels she didn’t do anything wrong 

Page 36: Jessica Simpson’s baby joy over daughter Birdie Mae Johnson 

Page 38: Gwen Stefani tells Blake Shelton she can’t marry him until she gets her marriage to Gavin Rossdale annulled by the Catholic Church 

Page 40: Lady Gaga’s hot new romance with Jeremy Renner 

Page 41: The truth behind Wendy Williams’ relapse, Selena Gomez dating a mystery man, Star Sightings -- Annalynne McCord, Cuba Gooding Jr.,Agnez Mo, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Casey Madden and Theresa Travis, Blind Item 

Page 42: Jennifer Lopez wants a cheating clause in her prenup with Alex Rodriguez, Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber fighting because he won’t wear his wedding ring 

Page 46: Julianne Hough on her marriage and big career news 

Page 48: Their Best Summer Bodies -- Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Hurley, Julianne Hough, Halle Berry

Page 50: Fashion Radar -- Ashley Graham is a bold beauty 

Page 54: Beauty -- Add flair to hair -- Dakota Fanning, Lupita Nyong’o, Kendall Jenner 

Page 55: Jenna Ortega, Camila Mendes, Alexa Chung 

Page 56: Did I Really Do That? Eva Green, Drake Bell, Lauren Ash 

Page 58: Sneak Preview -- Keeping Up With the Kardashians 

Page 60: What Team Are You On? Chad Johnson 

Page 61: Blast from the Past -- The cast of 10 Things I Hate About You on its 20th anniversary -- Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union, Andrew Keegan, David Krumholtz, Susan May Pratt 

Page 62: Animal Overload 

Page 63: My cat looks like Kirsten Dunst 

Page 64: My Night at Home -- Heather McDonald, Guess Whose Podcast -- Alec Baldwin, Anna Faris, Macaulay Culkin, Amy Schumer, Dax Shepard, Topher Grace 

Page 66: Double Take -- Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union 

Page 68: Horoscope -- Aries Sterling K. Brown 

Page 70: Top 10 Hottest Williams -- Billy Eichner, Will Yun Lee, Billy Campbell, Billy Magnussen, Bill Skarsgard, Prince William, Will Chalker, Will Smith, William Levy, Liam Hemsworth 

Page 72: Last Laughs

[randomrichards]

THE BEST MOVIE MOMENTS OF 2018:

HONORABLE MENTION:

The Opening/Closing Credits from BUDDIES

I’m putting this as honorable mention because this is an older movie recently rereleased.

The first film about the AIDS Crisis, Buddies strikes at the heart with its opening credits with a typed list of AIDS victim up to 1985. Set to a mournful score by Jeffrey Olmstead, the never ending list of lives cut short puts you in tears.

Alex Honnold faces Boulder Problem in FREE SOLO

Most thrillers can only wish they could be as gripping as in the moment when Alex Honnold maneuver’s his way through the most challenging section of El Capitan Wall without rope in this Documentary.

Ray Offers Wisdom from Mid90s

“If you looked in anybody else’s closet, you wouldn’t trade your shit for their shit.”

Ray (Na-kel Smith) and his friends may not be the best role models for the impressionable Stevie (Sunny Suljic), but in this moment, Ray teaches him a lesson in perspective.

Glenn Close’s performance in THE WIFE

I’m not referring to any moment. Just Glenn Close’s acting. She speaks more volumes with her face than most actresses could with dialogue.

10)        The Beach Scene from ROMA

Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) is an extraordinary woman. Sure, her life hanging towels and cleaning dog poo doesn’t seem like anything special. But like many lower working-class people, she endures. Boy does she endure a lot of shit in this movie. Not only does her deadbeat boyfriend ditch her to practice martial arts, but her baby is born dead. Despite all this, she not only continues her work, but she shares a close bond with the family. She showcases this bond and her strength when a fun day at the beach goes horribly wrong.

When Paco (Carlos Peralta) and Sofi (Daniela Demesa) swim too far out, Cleo walks into the ocean to save them despite not knowing how to swim. We watch in dread as she faces severe waves to find the kids, the camera always close to her.

This scene also contains a beautiful scene of the family hugging Cleo when she tears up over losing her baby. Seeing them all huddled together in front of a bright white sun captures the heart.

9)         “A Place Called Slaughter Race” from RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

Admit it, it’s fun to take pot shots at Disney Tropes. Hell, even Disney gets in on the fun. And boy do they seize on every moment to mock Princess tropes when Vanellope Von Shweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman) encounters the Disney Princesses. Of course, it helps that Director Rich Moore and Head of Story Jim Reardon creates some of the best episodes of the Simpsons. Though there are many hilarious moments[1], none can hold the candle to Vanellope’s “I Want” song.

As she reflects over a puddle, Vanellope sings about her longing to be in the gritty game “Slaughter Race.” Seeing this little girl perform this lighthearted musical number over a background of riots and dumpster fires is comedy gold. Nearly every element of this number elevates the comedy, from singing shark (with cats and dogs in its mouth) to the creative lyrics (“Am I a baby pigeon spreading wings to soar?/ Is that a metaphor?/Hey, there’s a dollar store”). And the number still finds time to emphasize Vanellope’s fear of hurting Ralph (John. C Reilly).

Kudos to Alan Menken for mocking the trope he (and the late Howard Ashman) introduced to Disney. Just as deserving of Kudos is Silverman, who faced to task of singing in Vanellope’s high pitched voice.

8)         Charlie Loses Her Head from HEREDITARY

With her unusual hobbies, connection to her late grandmother and that clicking sound, you’d assume Annie’s (Toni Collette) daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro) would be the centre of the whole film.[2] Boy, were we in for a surprise.

Spoilers!

When Charlie suffers a peanut allergy reaction, Peter (Alex Wolfe) races her home. On his drive, he sees a mysterious figure in the middle of the dark road. In his attempt to dodge it, he doesn’t see Charlie hanging out the window. Seeing her head slam right into a pole leaves us as traumatized as Peter is. To see them kill off a main character so early in the film is downright shocking. With this death, predictability goes right out the window and we are left uncertain of what direction this film will go.

7)         Neil Armstrong Soars in the X-15 Rocket Plane in FIRST MAN

It’s funny how the most exciting scene in this film isn’t the moon landing. Don’t get me wrong, the scene’s still breathtaking in its realism, but it’s surprising how thrilling the opening scene.

Damien Chazelle hits the ground running with Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) soaring the atmosphere in an X-15 Rocket Plane. He soars higher and higher into the skies until he flies out of earth’s surface and gets stuck in space

Albeit, you know he will be back on earth in time for the moon landing. And yet, I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering how he’s going to get back to earth. Most of it is thanks to the visual effects, which contains some of the most believable since 2001: A Space Odyssey. The effects leave CGI in the dust with practical effects that look so real, you’d think Gosling was actually flying into space.

6)         The Ferris Wheel Scene from LOVE, SIMON

High School Movies are home to many unforgettable romantic scenes. There’s Samantha (Molly Ringwald) and Jake (Michael Schoeffling) standing over a birthday cake in Sixteen Candles. There’s Patrick (Heath Ledger) singing to Katarina (Julia Stiles) on the bleachers in 10 Things I hate About You. And who can forget Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) blaring Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” outside Diane Court’s (Ione Skye) in Say Anything. Be ready to include the closing scene of Simon (Nick Robinson) waiting on the Ferris wheel for online pen pal Blue from Love, Simon.

After being outed by a student, infuriating his friends for deceiving them in his attempt to stay closeted and abandoned by Blue, Simon makes a plea to meet with Blue face to face on the Ferris Wheel at a carnival. As he rides on the Ferris Wheel, he, fellow classmates and the audience wait in anticipation for Simon’s happy ending.

5)         The Book Heist from AMERICAN ANIMALS

When Spencer Reinhard (Barry Keoghan) and Warren Lipka (Evan Peters) plotted to steal extremely valuable books from the Transylvania University library in Kentucky, they thought they had the perfect heist. With the help of their friends Erick Borsuk (Jared Abrahamson) and Chas Allen (Blake Jenner), they thought they pull off a heist as smooth as Oceans 11.[3]

But reality hits them like a sledge hammer when they try to pull off the heist. Unlike their dreams, Librarian Betty Jean Gooch (Ann Dowd) doesn’t get knocked out with one taser jolt. It also isn’t easy to lug a six-foot book down a flight of stairs. Then there’s the fact the basement has no exit. That’s just a few of many problems they never consider. From then on, we witness them pay a huge price for their hubris and lack of real-world understanding.

Only youths as smart as they are to come up with such a stupid plan.

4)         The Mutant Bear from ANNIHILATION

Biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) and her team find themselves in a quite a bind. After entering the Shimmer, physicist Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson) has barely survived an attack from a mutant alligator and Anthropologist Cassie Sheppard (Tuva Novotny) has been attacked by a bear. Now paramedic Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez) has gone mad and has tied up Lena, Radek and Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh). But when they hear Sheppard’s cries for help, they will soon find Anya is the least of their worries.

Their journey delivers many grotesque, nightmare inducing visuals (especially the slithering intestines.) But the most memorable moment in this film was the image of the helpless crew trapped in a cabin with a mutant bear. Bears are scary enough on their own, but a faceless one is pants spitting meeting. And then you hear it imitate Sheppard’s screams and suddenly you need a new pair of pants.

3)         The Great Snap from AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

The whole Marvel Cinematic Universe had been leading up to this moment. The fact that nearly every character had a moment to shine in this one movie demonstrates the astounding direction of the Russo Brothers. But despite all the epic fight scenes, everyone agrees that this film’s greatest scene is the heroes moment of defeat.

Despite every effort made to stop in, despite outnumbering Thanos and despite Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) sacrificing Vision (Paul Bettany) to destroy the mind stone, Thanos still got all the infinity stones. And with a single snap, Thanos succeeds in wiping out half the universe’s population. One by one, we watch many of our heroes vanish into dust while others watch in helpless horror. But none are more heartbreaking that the moment when Spider-Man (Tom Holland) falls into Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) arms, crying “I don’t want to go.” All because some characters couldn’t make the sacrifice needed

Yes, we knew he was going to succeed in the end.[4] And yes, you know most of the heroes won’t stay gone.[5] And yes, their return will likely involve the surviving heroes sacrificing themselves.[6] But the ending still feels powerful despite this knowledge.

It all concludes with Thanos sitting near a cottage, content in his triumph. If the MCU ended here, it would have been a perfect ending. But I’m still curious to see how this will go.

2)         The Closing Close-Up in CAPERNAUM

The closing image of Zain’s (Zain Al Rafeea) face will haunt you beyond the closing credits. Throughout the film, we’ve seen this kid struggle through hell on the streets of Lebanon, trying to protect his sister from their resentful parents and helping an Ethiopian Migrant Worker take care of her son. But when he’s sent to prison for assaulting a pimp who bought his sister, he decides to sue his parents for the crime of bringing him into this miserable world. Writer/director Nadine Labaki never looks away for a second to the brutality of Zain’s world and how it brings out the worst in Zain.

When the film freezes to the image of Zain smiling for a Passport photo, your heart breaks for him as Khaled Mouzanar’s haunting score plays out.

1)         Tish and Fonny’s Walk Through the Park in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

No other opening scene has done a better job of putting its audience under its spell than when loving couple Tish (Kiki Layne) and Alfonzo “Fonny” Hunt (Stephan James) stroll through a park holding hands.

There’s beauty in every element of this scene, from Nicholas Britell’s romantic score to the warm looks in the character’s eyes. But what really sells it is James Laxton’s lush cinematography. The colours pop through the yellows and blues on the couple’s clothes and the green of the grass. You are as in love with this couple as they are for each other.

Then the film cuts to Tish visiting Fonny in prison, this time the yellow is the prison, the blue is Fonny’s jumpsuit and the green is on Tish’ outfit. From then one, we know why their love is worth fighting for.

[1] Mostly at the expense of Ariel (Jodi Benson)

[2] Especially when she appears so prominently in the advertisements.

[3] As indicated by a fantasy sequence.

[4] Since we know this was going to be a two parter.

[5] Especially when there are already planned sequels to Black Panther, Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. After all the money Marvel’s got from Black Panther? They’re not going to give up that meal ticket.

[6] What with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans retiring their characters.

[usaevents]

10 Top Valentine Days Films For The Romantic Couch Potato

 "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love!" -- Cole Porter

Hollywood does it better Yes, there is something about the formulaic Rom Com plot line that draws us in and makes us wish our lives were as predictable as a Meg Ryan (in her better days) film. Yet with so many variations of basically the same ending, which journey down the path of 'happily ever after' is the best?

1. Love Actually

Hardly a surprise really. Great story, great cast. Has the power to restore your faith in love, actually (sorry, couldn't help it).

2. 10 Things I Hate About You

How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways...

This modern day teen movie spin of a Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew' is a 10 out of 10 for cast, (who, male or female, can resist Heath Ledger in leather boots?), plot, and Shakespearian references. See below for Kat's (Julia Stiles) own version of a Shakespearean sonnet in iambic pentameter:

valentines day quotes

I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair.

I hate the way you drive my car.

I hate it when you stare.

I hate your big dumb combat boots, and the way you read my mind.

I hate you so much it makes me sick; it even makes me rhyme.

I hate the way you're always right.

I hate it when you lie.

I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it when you're not around, and the fact that you didn't call.

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

3. When Harry Met Sally

Love comes in many shapes and forms, but in the case of Harry and Sally, we learn that pear shaped encounters can indeed transform into friendship, & even eventually into romantic love. Clever dialogue, brilliant characters, and relevant questions of love and friendship make this film the much loved classic it still is.

Realist or cynical? Here's Harry Burns' take on relationships: Harry: Right now everything is great, everyone is happy, everyone is in love and that's wonderful. But you gotta know that sooner or later you're gonna be screaming at each other about who's gonna get this dish. This eight dollar dish will cost you a thousand dollars in phone calls to the legal firm of That's Mine, This Is Yours. Marie: Harry. Harry: Please, Jess, Marie. Do me a favor, for your own good, put your name in your books right now before they get mixed up and you won't know whose is whose. Because someday, believe it or not, you'll go 15 rounds over who's gonna get this coffee table. This stupid, wagon wheel, Roy Rogers, garage sale coffee table. Jess: I thought you liked it? Harry: I was being nice!

4. High Fidelity

Rob's (John Cusack) current girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle) has left him for Ian (a pony-tailed Tim Robbins), their spiritual neighbour who specializes in conflict resolution. Rob wallows in self-pity and insecurity and analyses the top five major breakups of his life to glean some pattern on why his relationships are doomed to end in failure.

Why we love it:

We can relate to it: Simply put, Rob is an insecure self-centered jerk who, because of his insecurity, ends up hurting those around him.

Valentines Day Wishes

From cult pop favourite from bands like The Velvet Underground to mainstream bands like Green Day, there is plenty to keep the music enthusiasts in check and thoroughly satisfied.

The acting is superb: Cusack is incredibly charismatic and pulls off the first-person narrative without being boring. Jack Black and Todd Louiso provide a lot of comic relief when it's needed.

And finally, it's probably one of the few romantic comedies a man will actually enjoy watching with you.

5. Punch Drunk Love

Could it really be possible: Adam Sandler in an art film? The movie ends up being genuinely romantic while deviating completely from the very stale paradigm for romantic comedies of the last decade. An absolute must see.

6. My Sassy Girl

A sweet Midwestern guy (Bradford) with his life planned out for himself is wooed, groomed, and ultimately dumped by a complicated, elusive girl (Cuthbert). My Sassy Girl is a South Korean, successful to the proportions of Titanic across Asia. It is partially based on the true story told in a series of love letters written by Kim Ho-sik, a man who posted them online.

Like the best Korean films, "My Sassy Girl" is a genre-bending exercise that throws in elements of the teen comedy, the traditional melodramatic romance, and even some genre parody and mixes them into a unique cinematic experience that defies categorization. The film's original Korean title, Yeopgi, which means 'novelty-seeking', is in reference to the youth craze that was started by Kim Ho-sik's original Internet postings about his eccentric girlfriend. Though the English title for this film doesn't mean quite the same thing, it certainly does tell you what to expect.

7. Some Like It Hot

For those who haven't seen it, "Some Like It Hot" (1959) is one of the greatest comedies ever! In a story of increasingly wild absurdity, it follows the antics of two idiot musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who, after witnessing the St Valentine's Day Massacre, struggle to escape the gangsters (including a severely unsmiling George Raft) by dressing up in drag and joining an all-girl band. Comic complications aplenty ensue when Tony Curtis - now a pouting girlie - strives to express his lust for Marilyn, while Jack Lemmon - equally high-voiced and simpering - is being pursued by an amorous Joe E Brown, who has one of the funniest - and most radical - final punch-lines in screen comedy.

8. Pretty Woman

Even prostitutes do it...

If you think about it, this film is about as far removed from reality as a glossy Vogue magazine. And judging by the films success, that's exactly what we want to see. Any dark hues of harsh reality were bleached out, synthesized and made sleek, much like Vivian's blonde wig in the beginning of the film. The illusion is flimsy, but we just don't care. We want to see the transformation, at whatever cost (pardon the pun). At one point, Julia Robert's character Vivian, speaks for Disney (and audiences) when she tells Edward: "I want the fairy tale." So do we Julia, so do we...

9. The Wedding Singer

A sentimental and sweet crowd-pleaser that captures the magic and warmth of falling in love. Though it may be predictable and retreads some familiar territory, there are enough hooks in the story to make it something we can't help but laugh at. And although there is absolutely no reason for the film to be set in the 1980's, why not squeeze in a few more cheap laughs (if only to distract us from the relatively boring plotline) with some Culture Club and mullets?

10. 50 First Dates

"Imagine having to win over the girl of your dreams... every friggin' day".

Okay, so "50 First Dates" is mostly silly, but they do a good job with it. Honolulu veterinarian Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) falls for Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), only to find out that, due to an accident, her memory only lasts one day, so she won't remember him the next day! How will Henry cope with this? The movie gravitates between goofy and sensitive, but never gets mind-numbing; Adam Sandler always has something up his sleeve, and he and Barrymore have a great time with the material. As is often the case in Adam Sandler's movies, one of the characters is an embarrassment to everyone else (in this case, it's Rob Schneider as Henry's whacked-out friend Ula). Great fun.

Perhaps the only thing left to be said here is the surprising popularity of Adam Sandler, appearing three times in the top 10 list with 'Punch Drunk Love', 'The Wedding Singer' and '50 First Dates'. Have fun with these Romantic Comedies on Valentines Day.

[sapphic-snafu]

watching 10 things i hate about you for the first time

initial reactions in the form of texts I sent to @pansexual-link-larkin and also things i shouted at my roommate @jennyneutron  

also yes i know i’m like a dozen years late to this game ok 

let’s go

joseph gordon-levitt speaks fluent french 

watching him learn it is hilarious

i miss heath ledger so so much 

“is that a peach fruit roll-up?” lol my life

i’m dying

this blue polo guy is running the whole show

i love him

who carries their books in saddle bags like honestly aesthetic or die

i love heath ledger so so much 

can i have him back please

i think i’ve always loved heath ledger

and i like her too, julia stiles is gorgeous 

“i happen to like being adored, thank you!” it’s me

is their mom dead or are they divorced 

either way they’re handling it differently and badly

wow she’s gorgeous 

HEATH LEDGER YOUR ACCENT IS SHOWING

OH SHIT

IT’S PAULO FROM PRINCESS DIARIES

SHIT I GAVE UP CURSING FOR LENT

his last name is verona

that is hilarious

JOSEPH IS SO PURE AND PRECIOUS AND SHE DOES NOT DESERVE HIM

the west coast is a wild place

what the heck there’s a car in that rock are we just gonna yup we’re gonna ignore it

heath is so good 

wow the west coast is legit like a different country 

oh late 90s you freakshow

HEATH LEDGER’S SMILE SLAYS ME

I AM SLAIN

LISTEN 

I AM GAY 

BUT I AM STRAIGHTER

THAN THE ROAD TO HEAVEN 

FOR HEATH LEDGER

AND JUSTIN TRUDEAU 

LOOK AT THAT FACE

HOW CAN SHE RESIST

lord

I CAN’T EVEN RESIST AND I AM A LESBIAN

CARING HEATH LEDGER

HEATH LEDGER GIVING ADVICE

IS SO 

SO GOOD

[sobbing] heath ledger is heath deadger

“don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t deserve what you want” 

that is some good fucking advice i will remember forever

god i suck at lent

YOUR EYES HAVE A LITTLE GREEN IN THEM

I C O N I C

THAT’S WHERE THAT COMES FROM 

this is so good i’m having a great time

listen heath ledger’s character has seen some shit to talk like that when somebody faints

this is such a good movie

wow

aww he doesn’t want her kissing him to be a drunken mistake

he really likes her

who answers yes when they’re asked if they’ve always been selfish

what’s this thing about sailing 

is that a west coast thing

is joseph gordon-levitt even old enough to drive in this movie

AAAAWWW KISSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSS AWAWAWWWWW THAT IS THEIR FIRST KISS

that was each of their respective first kisses

these idiots quoting shakespeare at each other i see you subtle hints

MICHAEL IS SO CUTE 

also the teacher is 100% me

OH MY GOD

OH  MY GOD HEATH LEDGER IS SINGING

HEATH LEDGER IS DANCING

[screaming for several minutes until my roommate hushes me]

HEATH LEDGER DANCING AWAY FROM COPS IS MY EVERYTHING

wait what are they doing are they 

are they pedaling that boat right now what is happening

that’s not how you play paintball literally does the west coast even exist

aww that’s cute they’re bonding through violence

YOU KISS HER RIGHT NOW

that can’t taste good she’s covered in paint

uh oh i knew it couldn’t last

you joke but my dad is literally like this

AAAAWWWW BUT THEY’RE GOING TO PROM AFTER ALL 

wow a live band that is so extra what is this back to the future 2

YAS QUEEN YOU PUNCH THAT FUCKBOI NAZI RIGHT IN THE NOSE 

THRICE THAT’S MY GIRL

AND IN THE BALLS

DON’T LET HIM PROCREATE

uh oh shitteth hath hitteth the faneth

aww she’s so sad 

the DAD WROTE A CHECK 

she’s not reading her poem in iambic pentameter but ok

wait 

she’s crying 

is she okay wow that is unnerving

hE BOUGHT HER A GUITAR 

WITH THE MONEY

HE USED THE MONEY TO BUY HER A GUITAR

THAT IS SO SWEET

FOR HER BAND

OH MY GOOODNESS

but he can’t just buy her off-- oh wait she’s saying that nvm

AND THEY ALL DO JUST FINE

this was so good

i want to watch it again

and i have to read the taming of the shrew

[amidcla]

i happened to be tagged by my #1 literati source, my dood @bisexualtaylorswift ... thanks ily

- relationship status: single

- favorite color: gray

- lipstick or chapstick: hmmMMmmMMmM chapstick but specifically smith’s cuz yes i’m tHAt person

- last movie: 10 things i hate about you (that movie is my love i watch it regularly thanks julia stiles and heath ledger for ruining my life)

- last song: we didn’t start the fire by billy joel lmao

- top 3 tv shows: friends, stranger things, bones

- top 3 ships: spideychelle, literati, b&b

i tag @untuochables @daisyridlay  @leanmeanquirkmachine