The Favourite dir. Yorgos Lanthimos (2018)
This was a fun movie about two adversaries jockeying for power and then, holy shit, what, it’s not that at all. But I loved it, it’s the kind of thing I want to read but who has the time, who? You might say it’s my… favorite.
Creed II dir. Steven Caple Jr. (2018)
Another movie of adversaries. Adonis Creed is the same man, out to prove something, and so is his rival as the son of the man who was humiliated by Rocky in Rocky IV. However, this man is far more fucked up, and his emotional arc is the stronger of the two.
If Beale Street Could Talk dir. Barry Jenkins (2018)
The injustice in this movie is the quiet, seething kind. The movie shows people trying to live within the rules and shot down at every opportunity. But their love, their connections to each other, provides the hope that allows them to survive. The movie never crescendos the way one might expect, much like Jenkins’s last movie. It just continues, like the best stories, like life.
A Private War dir. Matthew Heineman (2018)
Journalists of war exhibit a certain bravery to tread into war and tell the story of those who must suffer it. This telling of the life of Marie Colvin shows that need we all have, I think, to do the thing that we know we shouldn’t. We shouldn’t imperil ourselves. We shouldn’t tell the stories of those who we ignore, because then we must face our willful ignorance.
The Spectacular Now dir. James Ponsoldt (2013)
A romantic comedy with some edge, something I think has become more prevalent recently. Sadly, we have a dude with an alcohol problem, and a girl who he uses to get over himself. I only cheer for her to tell him to fuck off.
Shazam! dir. Peter Safran (2019)
Not what I expected. The movie leans into family-friendly and focuses on levity, taking its time with building the hero out of the boy. In truth, it’s a frustrating journey, but perhaps that’s what it is to watch children struggle to find their place in the world.
Avengers: Endgame dir. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (2019)
I’ve only watched it once, but something felt… off. Or I guess, felt too perfect. It was too buttoned up, too many solutions. The part I was most fascinated with was the fallout of the previous movie’s actions, living with that kind of loss. And they touch on it, with some characters driven by it. But the world remains. Maybe that’s how it is? The world will always remain.
Bob’s Burgers – “Brunchsquatch” (2017)
Beefsquatch! Gene is the kid I wish I was, entertaining and outgoing. Also, I’ve never had brunch, but as I understand it the boozy orange juice is the highlight, yeah?
Bob’s Burgers – “The Silence of the Louise” (2017)
Mysteries can be a real hoot. Solving them, finding clues, you know. And mysteries in primetime cartoons are the hootest.
Bob’s Burgers – “Sit Me Baby One More Time”
(2017)
I traveled all around in March and April and ate an embarrassing amount of expensive food for free. And let me tell you, good as it was, it’s never worth the price. Some burgers may be better than others but, at the end of the day, you’re just eating a plop of ground-up cow muscle.
The Simpsons – “Holidays of Future Passed” (2011)
I’ve been doing a ton (ton!) of research on The Simpsons for some upcoming projects. Part of the research is watching every single one of its 650+ episodes. This episode, one of the many that skip ahead to see the family in future times, was pleasant, but didn’t quite hit the jokes-per-minute average that the old episodes achieved. It was interesting to skip ahead and see where they’ve gone.
Star Trek: Discovery – "The Vulcan Hello” (2017)
Oh no. I’m one of those fans who is going to complain about changes, like the klingons’ radical physical and cultural alterations. I understand the old Star Trek is dead, long live Star Trek, but it’s a hurdle just the same. I hope to watch the rest of this series sometime soon and get a better sense of it. As you know, Star Trek is never good right out of the gate.
Luther – Series 5 (2019)
Luther, man, what are you doing? These last couple of series have seen Luther make some real questionable choices, perhaps showing the fallout of all the decisions he’s made in previous series. Like with Shazam! up above, it’s difficult to see characters fuck up so bad and for so long. But, always a but, I understand that sometimes shit happens, and you respond as best as you can.