My Pride Month Reads and Recs

This week, I came across a fantastic cause — Lambda Literary, which promotes queer literature. Typically, the month of June, bring Pride Month, is HUGE for this organization, as contests and live-events are held. However due to Covid-19, this year will look extremely different, and Lambda is relying on online interest and aid. I posted a link to my Instagram story about how to help support this year (as well as a list of LGBTQIA+-owned bookstores) — and got lots of interest on a list of books to read this month that are Pride themed. 

So here is my list — my favorites, my “currently reading”s, and my TBRs (to be read)… along with some new releases for this summer. My book taste leans towards “light reads”, because I like to use reading as an escape, so believe me… I know this list is NOT exhaustive, and there are many extremely important books to LGBTQIA+ culture, history, and identity that are missing from this list. This is much more for fun rather than education. I’m also an ally, and don’t identify as queer, so I could never ever pretend to be an expert.

But for my friends looking for a place to start, let’s read and have some great conversations. Give me your feedback — let’s all add to the list together! 

If you’re going to purchase any of the below, I’d encourage you to look into independent bookstores (especially those with LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC owners), rather than Amazon. I’ve been buying lots from Bookshop.org (which raises funds for local bookstores — and has specific bookshelves featuring more LGBTQIA+ recos) and AbeBooks (which specializes in Used books).  

What I’ll Be Reading This Pride Month: 

Well this is a lot so… wish me luck…

• • The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennet: “A powerful story that confronts race and sexual identity in the 1960s as two sisters lead very different life paths.” I ordered this from Book of the Month Club (highly recommend if you don’t use it, message me for more info!), and am excited to jump in! 
  • Love Lives Here by Amanda Jette Knox: “An inspirational story of accepting and embracing two trans people in a family–a family who shows what’s possible when you “lead with love.” I hadn’t heard of this one (it’s a new pub), but one of my book clubs chose it for June… plus this will pull double duty for me this month as my monthly non-fiction read
  • Less by Andrew Sean Greer: My friend Merrill Kaye said it’s “A perfect version of Eat Pray Love […] that follows Arthur Less around the world as he tries to forget an old boyfriend.” It won the Pulitzer in 2018, and has been sitting on my shelf. Time to get to it! 
  • Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonn: The (fake) POTUS’ son falls into a relationship with the Prince of England. This one’s a re-read for me, but was chosen by another book club, so I’m really excited to revisit — it was one of my favorite books of last year! 

Read & Loved Them: 

These all have varying degrees of LGBTQIA+ storylines (from main plot, to secondary characters), but are books the I legitimately recommend!! 

• • The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reade: “The novel tells the story of the fictional Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who at the age of 79 decides to give a final interview to an unknown journalist”. This one taught me a lot about different types of relationships, which can bring us different types of love throughout our lives. 
  • The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: This one’s basically the story of William and Kate… if Kate were an American, and with a few added storylines to make it exciting. I love a good chick-lit novel, and this was my entry into the “Royal Chick-Lit” subgenre. I read it once a year at a minimum… highly recommend. 
  • I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson: Another story of twins that grow apart — this one told in alternating timelines and alternating POVs. I read this one a few years ago, and want to get back to it again this year at some point, and listen to the Bad on Paper Podcast episode on it. 
  • Untamed by Glennon Doyle: Nonfiction — “How one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.” Glennon Doyle writes about how accepting love with a woman helped her become a better parent and person. This is one that I bookmarked as I went, and will go back to for years and years! 

Books I Haven’t Read, but Heard Good Things About

I follow a million bookstagrammers, and these are books that come up often, but I haven’t gotten to yet! 

• • When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri: Katie begins the story engaged to a man, and throughout the novel finds sexuality, pleasure, and love where she least expects it. This one does have mixed reviews on Goodreads (so caveat emptor), but the people I know who have read it really enjoyed! 
  • All Adults Here by Emma Straub: I’ve heard this one isn’t much about plot, but is about the small things from childhood that affect our adult lives. Emma, the author, owns Books Are Magic, in Brooklyn, so if you can order from there — added bonus!! 

Coming Out This Summer

Love a new release!! 

• • Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (available May 26th): “A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor.” 
  • Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert (available June 2nd): Two rivals are thrown together when they travel across the country for a fan convention. PRIDE + CON VIBES? We love. 
  • Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (available July 7th): Former playboy hires a date for a big event — I’m guessing this will be the classic “fake dating that turns into true love” troupe, but I’m here for it. Especially since it takes place in London. 

 

The 2019 Films You Didn’t See

Since 2017, I’ve successfully seen 100 newly released movies each year, with huge help from AMC A-List and Moviepass (RIP). Having this goal in mind makes me keen to see everything I can, which means I see a lot of movies that my friends didn’t get to. Rather than stress myself out to choose my top ten, or make awards season predictions, here are 13 movies that many of you probably didn’t see, but that are worth your while! Lots of these will probably come back into theaters if nominated for Oscars, so keep an eye out! 

Fighting with My Family

Cast Members You’d Know: Florence Pugh (although I didn’t know her when I saw it in January 2019), Vince Vaughn, Dwayne Johnson

The Plot in One Sentence: In a family of wrestling super fans, the daughter tried to do her family proud and make it into the WWE after her brother is cut.

This was my first exposure to Florence Pugh – and I’m 100% in on her. She’s had an amazing 2019, but this movie didn’t get nearly the attention that “Little Women” or “Midsommar” did.

This movie was super fun and was full of good feels, which extended beyond the theme of family to also include self-worth and community. I didn’t expect myself to tear up at a movie about a family of wrestlers… but there I was.

 

The Aftermath

Cast Members You’d Know:  Keira Knightly, Alexander Skarsgard, Jason Clarke

The Plot in One Sentence: Following WWII, a British woman and her military officer husband move in to a German family’s Hamburg home, as the Allied forced search for Nazi sympathizers and war criminals.

From a plot standpoint, this didn’t have tons to offer, but if you want to spend an afternoon watching Kiera Knightly (in one of the prettiest gold dresses since “How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days”) and Alexander Skarsgard make eyes at each other – this was really pretty to look at. Gave me “Atonement” vibes.

 

The Unicorn Store

Cast Members You’d Know:  Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Joan Cusack, Bradley Whitford

The Plot in One Sentence: A failing art student receives some mysterious letters, which lead her to a unicorn store and an opportunity to adopt a unicorn (from Samuel L. Jackson, coincidentally).

This movie is definitely strange, but it’s very fitting to the plot as well as the message of the film. Stunning visuals make you feel like you’ve climbed into an eight-year-old’s daydream … and her parents are Joan Cusak and Bradley Whitford.

 

Someone Great

Cast Members You’d Know: Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, Lakeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson

The Plot in a Sentence: After a bad breakup, a girl’s friends try to cheer her up with tickets to an exclusive underground music festival.

The ultimate girl’s night movie! It’s very similar to “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist”, but updated to include more diverse characters and a more honest characterization of New York. Plus, it’s a soundtrack that I’ll be blasting for summers to come.

 

Yesterday

Cast Members You’d Know:  Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon

The Plot in One Sentence: An aspiring songwriter gets into an accident during a blackout, and wakes up as the only person who remembers The Beatles.

I expected this to be extremely predictable and one-note, and not to say the plot as shocking… but I got more out of it than I thought I would! Plus the appearances by Ed Sheeran and Kate McKinnon are great. And if I need to say it… the music is lovely.

 

Blinded by the Light

Cast Members You’d Know: Can I say nobody? Love to see newcomers!

The Plot in One Sentence: An aspiring poet is exposed the music of Bruce Springsteen, and finds it helps him cope with his racist community, and his very traditional Pakistani father.

I was raised by a gigantic Bruce fan… So I knew this was mandatory viewing for me. But I was really charmed by this film. Very much reminded me of 2016’s “Sing Street” (which is another one that everyone really should see — it’s the breakthrough of Lucy Boynton, whom everyone loves from Bohemian Rhapsody and The Politician). I’m personally a sucker for coming-of-age films, but I think this one is enjoyable for everyone!

 

Brittany Runs a Marathon

Cast Members You’d Know:  Jillian Bell, Michaela Watkins (you’ll recognize her when you see her)

The Plot in One Sentence: A Millennial who is feeling “down on her luck” decides to train for a marathon as a way of losing weight and getting healthier, and finds a community and sense of purpose. 

This had a similar vibe to the Amy Schumer & Rebel Wilson movies we’ve grown accustomed to seeing with our girlfriends over Valentine’s Day weekend, but with a much better message (don’t get me started about how angry “I Feel Pretty” made me). It was funny and touching and real — and worth an afternoon Amazon watch. 

 

The Farewell 

Cast Members You’d Know: Awkwafina

The Plot in One Sentence: A girl returns to China to say goodbye to her dying grandmother, who doesn’t know that she has cancer. 

Many people skipped this one because it is mostly in Mandarin, and therefore requires subtitles for many of us… but I’m here to say it was ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT. This movie was funny and insightful, not only into ethics and morals, but also into Chinese Culture and family dynamics. If nothing else, watch it for Awkwafina. 

 

Parasite

Cast Members You’d Know:  As it’s a foreign film, probably nobody! 

The Plot in One Sentence: I encourage you to go in as blind as possible — so I’m telling you nothing!! 

You’ve surely heard about this one, because we’re now solidly into awards season (it won a Golden Globe!), but probably skipped it because of subtitles. As Bong Joon Ho said in his acceptance speech for the Foreign Language Golden Globe, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,” and, looking back, that’s something I’ve really gained from this year.

My point: GO SEE PARASITE. It will be nominated for multiple Oscars, and it’s a beautiful film. It’s a wonderful view into South Korean culture, family values, and class struggles — and has an element of emotional whiplash that will leave you yelling. 

 

Abominable

Cast Members You’d Know: Should call this one “Voices You’ll Recognize” — and the answer is Sarah Paulson

The Plot in One Sentence: A girl in China finds a Yeti on her roof, and sets off on a journey to return him to his home on Mt. Everest. 

I’m truly DEVASTATED that this hasn’t been getting recognized in the awards show circuit, because it was so much more than a kid’s movie. It touches on the role of grief in Asian cultures, as well as the role of community and friendship. I went into this movie expecting to see a cute kids’ movie — and left feeling extremely touched. 

 

Let it Snow

Cast Members You’d Know:  Netflix darlings like Kiernan Shipka and Jacob Batalon, plus some favorites like Joan Cusack and D’Arcy Carden

The Plot in One Sentence: A snowstorm in suburban Chicago complicates plans on Christmas Eve, testing relationships and throwing together lovers. 

I’m a huge sucker for coming-of-age movies, so knew I would really appreciate this one. Nothing groundbreaking plot-wise, but if you enjoy watching teenagers fall in love to a great soundtrack, it’s worth putting on during a snowstorm or freezing February Sunday. 

 

Klaus

Cast Members You’d Know (aka Voices you’ll recognize):  Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, Joan Cusak, J.K. Simmons, Norm MacDonald, Will Sasso

The Plot in One Sentence: The spoiled son of the Postmaster General must serve in a remote town, and befriends a toy maker. 

This movie was like a combined Santa Claus is coming to town and Emperor’s New Groove. It’s definitely designed for kids, but has a great “love thy neighbor” type of message for adults. Everyone told me it was sweet, but I didn’t expect the last line to cause me to absolutely WEEP. 

 

Dolemite is My Name

Cast Members You’d Know:  Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, Snoop Dog

The Plot in One Sentence: This one’s a bio-pic about Rudy Ray Moore, who’s character, Dolemite, broke through in black comedy cinema. 

If you love Eddie Murphy, this is a must see! He is back to his peak comedy, and gives this character life that I don’t think anybody else would be able to. This is a story and character that I knew nothing about, and made me laugh out loud for the entire film. 

 

Friday Forwards, Vol. 1 (8.24.18)

Well folks, we’re in the clear and mercury is out of retrograde. I’m not someone who is 100% bought into astrology (I mirror Grace’s sentiments, pretty much exactly), but it is good to feel a positive spin on everyone’s minds this week!

 

Two articles I loved this week about Myers Briggs (if you haven’t taken a MB quiz, check out this one) & how it can impact friendships:

• What Kind of Friend Are You? I consider myself in between two MB profiles: ENFJ and INFJ. And when reading this article, I related to the “type of friend” that fall into both of these profiles. I have different roles in different friend groups — in my high school group I’m a strong planner/coordinator, however in my dorm friend group I’m a bit more passive, because we’re all really Type A and there are often too many cooks in the kitchen. This article really hit on those aspects, and some of the relationship building assets that I think I bring to all of my friend groups!
• What Kind of Friendship Do You Need? Although I’m in between two profiles, most of the time I consider myself an INFJ… and the description in this article is scary accurate. Group vacations can be hard for me, because I sometimes just need a few minutes to myself. I’ve had flat out panic attacks because of too much together time with my best friends (no idea why this happens, I’ve just accepted that it’s part of my personality and I need to troubleshoot for it). My ‘sneak away tactic’ that I’ve found works for me: do the dishes or straighten up the AirBnB. Doesn’t completely close me off to the conversation if I want to jump back in (because OF COURSE I also have crippling FOMO), but also allows me to take a few minutes of (semi) quiet. It’s great to have some friends who understand this and don’t get upset when I need my space.

Although I’m not prioritizing dating right now, I found this article about A ‘One’ vs ‘The One’ interesting. My friends’ relationships don’t all fit into the “normal” track we imagined as kids (or were shown by Hollywood) – some want marriage but not kids, some want kids but not marriage, some are just happy being with a person who loves them right now no matter what the future might hold. This year (inspired by The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) I have been working not to judge peoples’ relationships, or try to understand/explain them other than their own terms. They’re allowed to set their own definitions and have their own trajectories.

But on the other hand – I’m a sucker for a great rom-com, and it seems like Netflix is bringing them back! Last Friday (maaayyybeeee during work hours, but I was just doing timesheets!) I watched To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix and fell in love. This movie wasn’t about fixing the main character’s love interest – it was about opening up and not being afraid to feel things, which made it different than lots of other teen rom-coms out there. This article wrote: “Is it delusional to think that women [Rom Com] leads in the future can be more like Lara Jean, more concerned with figuring out her own feelings than fixing whatever’s standing in the way of her boyfriend’s emotional growth?” I agreed with this article, “This movie made me want to have a crush even though in my experience crushes are 99 percent pure hell.”

Jo published a list of her favorite podcasts this week, some of which are also faves of mine – high recommend The Daily (I totally also talk along with Michael’s sign on and off every day), My Favorite Murder, and Call Your Girlfriend. Another one I would add to Jo’s list: Skimm’d From the Couch on which the founders of The Skimm interview other queens of media & business. I’ve actually stopped reading The Skimm, because I think it can sometimes feel condescending, but Carly and Danielle are excellent interviewers, and I always wonder how they come up such amazing questions (I guess another example of curiosity being an indication of success!). Although the purpose of The Skimm is to scratch the surface of what you need to know, this podcast digs deep into what makes successful women tick.

On a related note, I really related to this article about speech gender bias’ out there. Women are criticized for using the word “like,” but men can get away with obnoxious phrases like “How we doin’ today gents?” and “That bar had a ton of Betty’s last night” (both things I actually heard this week and one of which included a fist bump). Or my favorite: referring to women as “females”. “Like” may be a sound filler, but there are worse (more offensive & condescending) things that could be coming out of our mouths.

I loooooooooooooooved these looks from Blake Lively this week and can’t wait for A Simple Favor to come out. I read the book and it’s VERY full of twists and turns (some of which are absolutely crazy).

How sweet was this tweet from VMA winner Camila Cabello to “baby” Camila Cabello (6 years ago)?

Movies I Saw This Week

Crazy Rich Asians: I went in expecting to spend two hours just being enamoured by the characters “being rich” (and was excited to — nothing wrong with some, excuse the phrase, “luxury porn”). Instead I found it delightful, funny, and endearing (but beware: different than the book). There’s already been a creative team assembled for a sequel, so

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (Netflix): As I mentioned (in probably far too much detail) above, I’m obsessed this this movie.

Juliet, Naked: Rose Byrne is lovely and relatable (not for finding random friendship with a superstar, but for fearing she hasn’t taken enough chances on life)

BlackkKlansman: It was cringe-y in how much this relates to modern day. The Grand Wizard of the KKK makes reference to “making America great again” and ”America First.” The footage shown at the end of the movie is haunting, and will stick with you. Take it with a grain of salt though – Spike Lee took a lot of creative liberties with historical fact, and some characters with excellent potential were very underdeveloped. And was I really supposed to believe that in a police department dealing with its first black detective, there’s only one racist “bad cop”?

Books:

American Marriage: This book is slooowwwww, but not in the worst way! I found that I was never desperate to be reading it, but when I did sit down to read I poured through 100 pages at once. It’s thought provoking, timeless, and relatable.

2017: My Year of 100(+!) Movies

It looked rough for a while but, somehow, I made it! My friend Merrill Kaye came up with the idea for herself at the beginning of the year, and I decided to join in… which led to a LOT of movies with MK (often featuring Sweetgreen, or our favorite place on the Upper East Side, Thai@Lex).

It’s super interesting to see how my movie viewing was spread out this year — you can definitely see evidence of my trip to Australia in March, but there’s also a lull in May too. I’ll have to pay better attention in 2018 to whether movies are just slow that month, or if I probably had something else going on!

January – 8 movies

1. Jackie  (1/2)
2. Hidden Figures (1/4)
3. Hacksaw Ridge (1/7)
4. 20th Century Woman (1/6)
5. Singin’ in the Rain (1/15)
6. Lion (1/21)
7. The Founder (1/22)
8. Split (1/28)

February – 5 movies

9. La La Land (2/4)
10. Gold (2/8)
11. 50 Shades Darker (2/11)
12. Lego Batman (2/12)
13. Fist Fight (2/19)

March – 4 movies

14. Get Out (3/1)
15. Before I Fall (3/3)
16. Table 19 (3/4)
17. Beauty and The Beast (3/26)

April – 7 movies

18. Power Rangers (4/2)
19. The Zookeeper’s Wife (4/8)
20. Gifted (4/9)
21. Going in Style (4/15)
22. Colossal (4/20)
23. The Promise (4/23)
24. The Circle (4/30)

May – 3 movies

25. Unforgettable (5/3)
26. Snatched (5/18)
27. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (5/23)

June – 8 movies

28. Wonder Woman (6/3)
29. Everything, Everything (6/17)
30. Rough Night (6/18)
31. All Eyes on Me (6/22)
32. The Book of Henry (6/24)
33. The Big Sick (6/28)
34. Baywatch (6/29)
35. The House (6/30)

July – 10 movies

36. The Little Hours (7/1)
37. The Beguiled (7/2)
38. Despicable Me 3 (7/3)
39. Captain Underpants (7/4)
40. Spiderman: Homecoming (7/14)
41. Landline (7/22)
42. Baby Driver (7/23)
43. Girls Trip (7/27)
44. The Emoji Movie (7/28)
45. Dunkirk (7/30)

August – 14 movies

46. Detroit (8/1)
47. Brigsby Bear (8/9)
48. Atomic Blonde (8/10)
49. Kidnap (8/11)
50. The Dark Tower (8/12)
51. The Glass Castle (8/13)
52. Ingrid Goes West (8/17)
53. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (8/18)
54. Wind River (8/19)
55. The Only Living Boy in New York (8/20)
56. Step (8/24)
57. Patti Cakes (8/27)
58. Logan Lucky (8/27)
59. Polina (8/27)

September – 10 movies

60. Leap (9/4)
61. It (9/9)
62. Home Again (9/9)
63. Year by the Sea (9/10)
64. Mother! (9/19)
65. American Assassin (9/21)
66. Lego Ninjago Movie (9/23)
67. Stronger (9/24)
68. Brad’s Status (9/26)
69. Battle of the Sexes (9/30)

October – 10 movies

70. Flatliners (10/2)
71. American Made (10/4)
72. Kingsman II (The Golden CIrcle) (10/7)
73. Happy Death Day (10/18)
74. Only the Brave (10/21)
75. The Mountain Between Us (10/21)
76. Victoria and Abdul (10/22)
77. Goodbye Christopher Robin (10/22)
78. Bad Moms Christmas (10/25)
79. Professor Marsdon and the Wonder Women (10/29)
80. Little Shop of Horrors (10/29)

November – 10 movies

81. The Room (11/3)
82. Thank You For Your Service (11/4)
83. Lady Bird (11/5)
84. The Florida Project (11/8)
85. Murder on the Orient Express (11/11)
86. Thor: Ragnarok (11/13)
87. Last Flag Flying (11/16)
88. Justice League (11/18)
89. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (11/19)
90. Wonder (11/19)

December – 12 movies

91. Daddy’s Home 2 (12/1)
92. Coco (12/2)
93. Darkest Hour (12/3)
94. Call Me By Your Name (12/7)
95. The Star (12/12)
96. The Shape of Water (12/12)
97. The Disaster Artist (12/16)
98. Downsizing (12/23)
99. The Greatest Showman (12/24)
100. Pitch Perfect 3 (12/26)
101. All the Money in the World (12/28)
102. I, Tonya (12/29)

The Best Of the Movies NOT on a “Best Of” List

As of a few days ago, I reached my goal of seeing 100 movies in 2017! I plan to keep on going (many more awards nominees to see!), but as I look through my list of favorite movies of the year, there are quite a few that most people (who didn’t spend 200 hrs at the movies) haven’t heard a lot about. Right now the internet is flooded with year-end roundups that all contain the same few movies — but I wanted to share some that I loved that aren’t on those “Best Of” lists, both comedies and dramas. 

So here’s my first post about my experience (I hope to churn out more this week) — my Top 14 Movies You HAVEN’T Heard About This Year. These aren’t necessarily my favorite of the year (although some of them are) — they’re just films I feel deserve some extra attention as awards season sweeps over us. Save this, for when you’ve made it through the list of Oscar nominees, or when you’re stuck on a long flight and looking for something new!

MORE HAPPY THAN SAD

1. Brigsby Bear
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Claire Danes, Matt Walsh, and (Love of My Life) Andy Samberg
   • Quick Summary: This one’s difficult to explain without spoiling, but Mooney plays a young adult man who’s pulled out of the world he knows, and must learn to adjust. In an adorable and hilarious way.
   • My Take: This film had me awwww-ing and laughing at the same time. It reminded me of my high school Friday nights, watching goofy movies with my friends (coincidentially — Kyle Mooney wrote this movie with his 8th grade buddies). The humor fits right in with the SNL-era humor of The Lonely Island, and Kyle Mooney’s touches make this movie one of my most memorable of the year.
2. Power Rangers
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Becky G, a guy who looks like he could be Zac Efron’s younger brother… and a great secondary cast including Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, and Bill Hader
   • Quick Summary: Save the World? You know the deal with the Power Rangers
   • My Take: I loved the Power Rangers growing up, so went to see this film primarily for the nostalgia factor… and walked out raving about it. Only one or two of my friends ACTUALLY took my advice and saw it, and they loved it too. This movie was a progressive look at what it’s like to be a teenager today, set to an awesome soundtrack (does anybody NOT get pumped up by Kanye’s “Power”? And the version of Stand By Me used in this movie is hauntingly beautiful). It’s Marvel meets The Breakfast Club.
3. The Little Hours
   • Cast Members You’d Know: TOO MANY TO NAME. Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Molly Shannon, Nick Offerman, John C Reilly, Fred Armisen
   • Quick Summary: Nuns, witches, lords, and priests. And a donkey.
   • My Take: I would call this a modern day Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with a little more focus on the female perspective. Dumb jokes, general debauchery, completely hilarious.
4. Table 19
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Anna Kendrick, Lisa Kudrow, Craig Robinson
   • Quick Summary: Eloise (Kendrick) was set to be maid-of-honor at her best friend’s wedding… until she and the bride’s brother broke up. She is pushed to the spillover table and meets a host of “randoms” who essentially just help her get through the day.
   • My Take: The plot is rather uncomplicated, but as a person so is entering her “Wedding Years” of attending dozens of my friends’ weddings, the quirky characters and awkward interactions were really fun. It’s not unpredictable, but is a fun few hours of character development.
5. Ingrid Goes West
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, (others you’ll recognize, but I want to keep this short)
   • Quick Summary: Ingrid (Plaza) becomes obsessed with an Instagrammer/Blogger named Taylor, and tried to “real life” befriend her. Essentially through stalking.
   • My Take: As a person who follows WAY too many people on Instagram and reads WAY too many blogs every day, this movie really hit home. Because YES I do respond to their Instagram stories (as if they ever read my messages). And YES I do talk about them (with people who read the same bloggers as I do) as if I actually know them. Even if you’re not into bloggers like me — anybody with an Instagram account can relate to this movie, and the ridiculousness of the social media-lites it focuses on.
6. Leap
   • Cast Members You’d Know: (Voice of) Mel Brooks, Kate McKinnon, Maddie Zeigler, Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nat Wolff
   • Quick Summary: Two friends, Felicie and Victor, escape their orphanage, and must make a life for themselves on the streets. Felicie yearns to be a ballerina, and tricks her way into an academy in the Paris Opera under another girl’s identity.
   • My Take: Yes, this was a cheesy “You can accomplish anything if you’re willing to take the leap!” message. But the illustration was impressive and, as a former dancer, I was just completely sucked in and inspired.

FOR A TOUCH OF DRAMA*

1. Last Flag Flying
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Steve Carrell, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburn
   • Quick Summary (Stolen from Google, because it was great): Thirty years after serving together in the Vietnam War, Larry “Doc” Shepherd, Sal Nealon and the Rev. Richard Mueller reunite for a different type of mission: to bury Doc’s son, a young Marine killed in Iraq.
   • My Take: I was honestly shocked not to see this movie among Golden Globe nominees — likely due to a lack of campaigning on the studio’s part, I have to assume. All three stars are phenomenal, and this movie had a perfect combination of dark comedy along with deeply moving drama. Fair warning: I cried for pretty much 10 full minutes at the end of this one. BUT it comes with a huge payoff… this was definitely in my Top 10 Favorites of the year (no exclusions)
2. Goodbye Christopher Robin
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Margot Robbie, Domhnall Gleeson
   • Quick Summary: The true story behind the world of Winnie the Pooh (including the real Christopher Robin)
   • My Take: Another movie that I went into for the nostalgia factor, and felt was way worth it. Great back story that was more touching than I knew I was walking into, and definitely eked a few tears.
3. The Promise
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac
   • Quick Summary: A love triangle set in the war-torn ending of the Ottoman Empire (specifically a half Turk, half Armenian town)
   • My Take: I have a real love for films that tell real stories that I know nothing about. I saw this film mostly because I have a few Armenian coworkers, and I knew little about Armenian history (particularly the Armenian genocide, which Turkey still denies to this day). But I was swept up in the epic-ness of this film. It’s not only historically driven, but also a wonderful plot and love story, set to an excellent score. Definitely would recommend for an history buffs or even romantics.
4. Step
   • Quick Summary: A documentary following the Senior year of a high school step team in inner-city Baltimore, the members of whom are striving to be the first in their families to attend college.
   • My take: I promise that not all of the dramas on my list made me cry — but this one really did. This documentary was very real and raw, and came about in a time of tension in America. I cheered and cried with these girls as they went through hardships I’ll probably never really be able to understand as a person who grew up in a very secure home with college essentially promised to me. And GREAT NEWS — it’s already available on Hulu!
5. Detroit
   • Cast Members You’d Know: John Boyega, Will Poulter (the kid from We’re The Millers), John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie
   • Quick Summary: A cinematic re-telling of the 1967 riots in Detroit, specifically the seize of the Algiers Hotel (the occupants of which were primarily black). This movie depicts a time of massive struggle between races, and between police and civilians.
   • My Take: Let me be clear — I’m not recommending this movie for pleasure or for entertainment. This movie was absolutely punishing to sit through and I hope to never subject myself to it again (I watched this one mostly from behind my sweatshirt). However, it was also extremely powerful and emotional. This is another piece of history that I knew little about, and feel like this movie left a huge impression on me. If you can stomach a lot of violence, give it a go, but be prepared to learn about a very dark time in American history.
6. Wind River
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner
   • Quick Summary: FBI agent Jane Banner (Olsen) enlists the help of local wildlife officer Cory Lambert (Renner) to solve the murder of an American Indian woman found barefoot in the middle of a Reservation, miles from any shelter.
   • My Take: Another movie I wouldn’t have been surprised to see included in the awards circuit this year. I really appreciated the movie’s mission to draw attention to a story and statistics not often told — the difficulty of being an American Indian (this Refinery29 article is a great deep dive). Trigger warning: fairly graphic scenes of sexual abuse.
7. Polina (or Polina, danser sa vie)
   • Quick Summary: We follow the journey of Polina, a young girl in Russia, as she studies classical ballet, and eventually turning to contemporary ballet.
   • My Take: This one’s for all the fellow dancers out there. The music and choreography were absolutely exceptional, and the ups and downs as Polina searches for her place  were something that will tug at any dancer (or fan on the arts)’s heartstrings. I may have never yearned to be a professional dancer, but this film absolutely sucked me in and made me feel emotionally attached to the world of professional artists. So beautiful, I cried for the last few minutes of the movie, and a good amount of the credits. Prepare for subtitles though — the entire movie alternates between French and Russian.
8. Stronger
   • Cast Members You’d Know: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany
   • Quick Summary: The story of a man who lost both legs above the knee, as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
   • My Take: Another true story brought to light on the silver screen. Emotional and touching, without actually being a tear-jerker, with excellent performance from Gyllenhall and Maslany. This movie breaks up the dramatic moments with some real Southie (South Boston) humor — lovingly poking fun at Boston in the same way Silver Linings Playbook poked fun at my dear Philadelphia.

 

*I promise I don’t typically cry at the movies — the ones in which I did just happened to really move me this year!

 

What’s Making Me Happy This Week (1/15)

Written on the way home from Benihana, because when your best friend is in town, you do spontaneous hibatchi

This week has been ridiculously busy, with work holiday and going away parties, and my friend Jenny coming into town this weekend! But I’ve still had time to get some reading done, watch the winter premier of a few (OK, one) of the shows I actually keep up with, AND go to see one of my favorite movies in theaters. Which brings me to…

WHAT’S MAKING ME HAPPY THIS WEEK: Fathom Events.

Often times the previews for Fathom events are for cultural events, like the Bolshoi Ballet, or Metropolitan Opera. But I’ve just recently started noticing the other things that they broadcast in theaters, such as classic movies and Broadway shows. A few months ago I went to see The King and I, and this weekend Jenny and I saw Singin’ in the Rain — and both are two of my FAVORITE movies. As soon as the music swelled at the beginning of the King and I, I swooned. And to see Singin’ in the Rain with a live audience, who clapped together after every number and guffawed over Debbie Reynolds was a very cool experience. Next up: Dirty Dancing (another personal fave — can you tell I love dancing and musicals?).

What ‘classic’ movie do you wish they would bring back to the big screen?

 

 

What’s Making Me Happy This Week (1/8)

Written while watching the Golden Globes 2017, fangirling over La La Land*

One of my favorite podcasts, Pop Culture Happy Hour, has a segment every week in which they discuss a piece of pop culture that is, as the title would suggest, making them happy that week. I’ve realized over the course of 2016 that pop culture – or more specifically, entertainment – is one of my passions. I’ve read more books and seen more movies (52!) in 2016 than in my entire life, so my goal in 2017 is to do a better job of documenting them. So as I learn to be more observant about elements of entertainment that are new to me, I want to document my favorites throughout 2017 here, to share with my friends, and also to look back on at the end of the year. And if you have suggestions, reading this — feel free to let me know!

WHAT IS MAKING ME HAPPY THIS WEEK: Hidden Figures (not related to “Hidden Fences”, which was brought up multiple times on tonight’s Golden Globes…)This movie made me think about how many untold stories must be out there! Anybody have suggestions for some great buried historical stories that I can read up on?

It reminded me so much of Argo because of it’s periodic feel, and suspense during the high moments of the film, despite the fact that it’s based on historical facts. While I knew that no harm could fall to John Glenn (whose mission in 1998 is probably the first major news event I remember seeing happen live), I was on the edge of my seat. Also — many praise emojis for that phenomenal cast and fantastic soundtrack additions by Pharrell Williams. Note to self (and all power ladies out there): put your name on everything, and get your credit where credit is due.

Honorable Mentions (aka other things I’ve seen and read lately):

• The Sun is Also a Star (Book): I literally read this book in two days… both of which were workdays… when I worked at least 10 hours. I honestly just couldn’t put it down once I got home. It all centers around two characters who have a chance encounter in New York, and takes place over the span of one day. The book really points out the importance of random meetings, and makes you want to know the story of every person you meet on the street.
• 20th Century Women (Movie): Funny with a variety of delightful characters. These characters are a true family, with romantic feelings for each other, without the movie really focusing on romance. Plus — a fantastic soundtrack.
• Jackie (Movie): Portland was extremely believable as Jackie and really morphed into the role perfectly (accent, composure, and facial expression), however I found this film rather boring. However, I’m not one of those people who really idolized Jackie O, so don’t take my word for it. I was pleasantly surprised by how much the movie focused on just Jackie. Obviously, she is the titular character, but I expected a good amount of focus on JFK, which only has one or two lines that weren’t directly lifted off of exact speeches.

*Note: because I saw La La Land in 2016, I’ve decided it can’t officially be featured in this post. However, I am THRILLED with it’s sweep of the Golden Globes tonight.

Happiness Project, 2016

Guilty little secret about me: I sometimes turn to Lauren Conrad’s suggestions for reading materials. One of the reading lists on her site suggested a book called “The Happiness Project” in which the author, Gretchen, aims to find a happier life throughout the course of one year by focusing in on one topic or resolution per month. Some of these focus areas include saving money, being a better parent, finding God, being a better friend.

Although Gretchen, at the time she wrote the book, was in a different life stage than I am in now (she being happily married, twice published, and mother of two) I’m finding nuggets of inspiration throughout the book:

“In a virtuous circle, being happy energizes you and at the same time, having more energy makes it easier for you to engage in activities – like socializing and exercise – that boost happiness” – Chapter 1 (January): Boost Energy

This small statement hit me – I need to stop treating sleep like something that I should feel proud that I’m able to abate. Getting less sleep than the person next to me isn’t a badge of courage. It just makes for a less productive and less happy day.

“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself” – Chapter 6 (June): Make Time for Friends

The first half of this statement is something that I’ve believed in for a long time (one of my earliest memories is being in “double time out” because I snuck out of my first punishment to give my sister some toys to play with during her time out) however the second part of this sentence got to me. I spend a lot of time spinning my wheels, trying to guess what other people want to do, see, eat, etc. Maybe to make them happy, I need to go with what would make me happy sometimes. It’s ok to have preferences and suggestions sometimes and actually may make my friends and family happier – just because I’m happy.

I could include more quotes like these, but for now I’ll leave it there.

I’ve decided to start a similar project for myself – how lucky for me that I stumbled upon this book in January! I’ve always disliked New Year’s Resolutions, but this can be a way for me to observe the things that are sucking up my time and money, and see how my happiness increases when I make small self-improvements. While I may not feel the need just yet to revamp my entire life like Gretchen has (I’m sure there will come a time when I’ll find it refreshing), I do think there are little experiments that I could do to make small changes in my life. Some of my ideas include: going a month without buying a new article of clothing or shoes, a “dry” month (of alcohol), a month where I bring my lunch to work at least four days a week.

I’ll track my progress via this blog, if only as a reminder to myself of thoughts or productive actions taken as a result of these miniature self-experiments. Although I expect only my mom is reading this (Hi Brenda!), any suggestions as to other projects I can spend a month on or resolutions of your own?

#SNL40

I don’t remember exactly when I started watching SNL, but I know that it was a cornerstone to my growing up. It was discussed at 8th grade lunches, and before the first bell of high school. It was the focus of countless sleepovers, quoted thousands of times. It was the reason I started paying attention to politics, the news, and part of my drive to be involved in journalism.

I won’t ever forget watching Lazy Sunday for the first time on my best friend’s couch, or watching the SNL “Best Of” DVDs in her basement. Watching with my dad on Sunday mornings was a ritual, as was watching in my mom’s bed on Saturday nights before falling asleep. I am a Phi Mu because they recreated SNL on Skit Day, and couldn’t even begin to count the number of people who I’ve watched SNL with, or talked about it with on a Sunday or Monday morning.

Tonight I laughed, cried, sang, screamed and flat out “fan-girled” through the 40th Anniversary. I may have watched alone in a room, but I was sharing everything along with about a dozen of my friends who were texting me along the way. SNL brings together talented weirdos and makes them into inspirational heroes, giving America laughs. Not every week is a hit, but SNL is an important institution to New York and America, and a constant presence in my life. Thank you to Lorne and the cast that feels like my actual friends for the memories, inspiration, and all of the feels. Here’s to 40 more.

Words into Action

Having only spent 3 days at home over the holidays, I decided to go home this weekend to relax, spend time with my parents, and have a few lazy days. Luckily for me a few of my friends are home and were free to grab a quick drink on Saturday night at a new bar in Holland. Catching up with my friends I find is always a great time, especially when I can focus on one or two of them at a time. My friend Erica, as she told me on Saturday, is working on applications to graduate programs in the area. She was telling Jordan and I about her applications, and the essays causing her to think.

She brought up one application that asked the question What outrages you, and what are you doing about it? We went around the table discussing possible answers, and realized that we were seeing a trend. The first part of the question was rather simple: we could come up with plenty of things in life that annoyed and even outraged us: disrespectful people, feeling trapped by our young ages, etc. But the second part of the question was extremely difficult. What are we doing to combat the wrongs we see in our lives?

This question got me thinking about taking action, rather than being passive. As I’m getting more independent and thinking more about the things that are important to me, this is something I need to be thinking about day to day.