002: January 2nd, 2024

A Covid movie report!

It's 5:00 AM on the dot, and I did not wake up to an alarm. I'm writing now with one eye closed because the lights in my office are too bright for the hour, and I'm making a mental note that if I'm going to continue writing after dark (before light??) I need to find a lamp for my desk to make the vibes less harsh. 

This morning, I am awake at an hour I usually do not experience. 

We have some lovely friends sleeping in the room next to me, so I don't have my typical morning selection of Brian Eno's Music for Airports playing. I don't know that I've ever experienced the soft hum of the road outside my office window quite like this. The cars are gently buzzing by, and no one seems to be in their usual hurry. No one is honking, and no one is bothered with rushing. Presumably, wherever these people are going, they're getting there early. It's a pleasant kind of white noise. 

Today, I thought I might give you a list. Over the break (which should have been reserved for Christmas jubilation), I came down with COVID. Because of this, we couldn't go home to spend time with our families. While shipwrecked on the couch with my flu-like symptoms and too much time on my hands, I entertained myself with a smorgasbord of movies and TV shows. 

Here's a non-comprehensive list of the things I watched and how they made me feel.

A Murder at the End of the World

I wanted to see The Iron Claw and planned to do so the day I tested positive. I dealt with this the only way a sane person would: by spending a reasonable amount of time developing a crush on the third lead from The Iron Claw that I had never heard of before: Harris Dickinson. Harris Dickinson as Bill in A Murder at the End of the World doesn't disappoint in that regard. He is infinitely crushable. As is Emma Corrin's Darby Hart. The appeal of this one doesn't just end with the fact that there's a crush for everybody in the cast; the plot is also outstanding. It's one part hacking, one part romance, one part true crime, one part meeting a hot stranger on an internet sleuthing website, and technically two parts whodunnit. It's a tight 7 episodes. If any of these things appeal to you, you'll love it. 

Triangle of Sadness

I want to remind you that I generally like everything I watch. I didn't like Triangle of Sadness. Though it won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, it was not for me. Woody Harrelson is brilliant in it as a drunken communist cruise ship captain– a role he was born to play. It did deliver on making me feel sad.

Blade Runner 2049

I hit only my favorite parts on this rewatch, which is most of the film, skipping only the part where Wallace kills the newborn replicant. I cried watching the memory designer make the birthday cake again. This movie only gets better as I rewatch it, and it remains secure in it’s position as my favorite. 

A Good Person

Watching this was not my best call for being sick and sad at Christmas, but I did finish it. Florence Pugh is brilliant, and she and Morgan Freeman play characters who are so hurt and angry that it's hard to watch at times. I had to take a break halfway through for a nap.  

Leave The World Behind

It's as bad as everyone says it is.

Oblivion 

Oblivion is a joy of a sci-fi movie. It's one of my best friend's favorite movies (hi Bruce!), and this was the first time I'd ever watched it. I don't want to spoil this 10-year-old movie for you, but if you've found yourself watching a Tom Cruise action film and thought THIS NEEDS MORE TOM CRUISE, you will love Oblivion. It also has a lot of heart and a lot of visuals that are very pleasing.

Barbie

Just as delightful on my third watch as it was on my first. Different jokes popped. The speech about being a woman hits harder because you know you're in for it. Kate McKinnon's weird Barbie was the star of my rewatch this time, as was Ncuti Gatwa's Ken.

Little Women 

*WARNING THIS REVIEW WILL HAVE SPOILERS*

I requested that Tucker watch Little Women with me right after I had begun to feel better. He had never seen it but he knew that Beth dies. He was surprised that Jo refused Laurie's hand in marriage, and was temporarily crushed when this happened. He looked at me across the room and said, "That sucks." He was bummed until I gave him my "Amy is a heroine of this story too!" speech and made a compelling argument for Amy + Laurie's betrothal. He ended up liking the movie, which made me very happy. I need to comfort watch Little Women more often. 

The Christmas movies are all honorable mentions, and have risen to the top as my favorite Christmas watches.

The Holiday

Made me feel like moving to a cottage in Surrey. 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey's Version) 

Made me feel like the Cindy Lou Who of my own Grinch-mas. 

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Made me feel complete elation about being alive. Always hits perfectly. The king of Christmas movies. 

I watched a few more and they either weren't memorable, or I didn't finish them.

Once I got out of COVID jail, I did indeed see The Iron Claw. It was exceptional. All heart, hair, and brotherhood. In a random turn, I saw it with 11 friends. Most of us sobbed our way through the end of the movie. Zac Efron is a revelation and completely disappears into his performance of Kevin Von Erich. The cast is brilliant in a particular way that vibrates off the screen. The film is something else. I can't say enough wonderful things about it. Go see it, and if you've already seen it, I suggest you watch this.

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