Movie-going: A Most Violent Year

Squished somewhere in the middle of a jam-packed weekend, I corralled a few folks into watching A Most Violent Year. The movie itself was pretty solid -- good story, great performances, sumptuous (ten-point word alert) color palette, maybe a touch too slow. But I'm not here to talk cinema (clearly). My big takeaway? CHASTAIN'S COSTUMES. Would you take a look at them.

And these are just the promo stills you find online! J-Chas kills it. I've never been partial to an 80s silhouette (I could still leave some of her shoulder pads behind, tbh), but Chastain looked so insanely glamorous, frame after frame, that I might have to reconsider my position. I find myself hankering for shiny bangs and a white, full-length coat. Totally practical for a Montreal metro-rider with combination skin.

 

Better add to the list: at least one push-up bra with a good work ethic. Holy boobies!

Maybe I'll start by wearing some power-red lipstick during daylight hours, then see where the look takes me.

A Most Violent Year just started playing at the Forum. Tomorrow happens to be Cheapy Tuesday. Get your behind to the movie theatre and give this one a shot. You might leave with some wardrobe inspiration (plus or minus a crush on Oscar Isaac) (did you know he speaks Spanish!) (I digress).

Happy Monday, lovelies!

TGIF

How about, instead of a true-to-form actual post wherein I explore and express deep personal thoughts (HAHAHA), I offer a mini round-up of tidbits you might find innerestin'. Just some things I've been looking at, or listening to, or have generally lassoed my adhd attention span for longer than ten minutes.

Also, full disclosure, I'm reheating some pizza right now. We basically have until those heavenly leftover slices are edible via oven regeneration, then I quit this bitch so I can stuff my face. Game on!

READING Noggin by John Corey Whaley. There's a whole story about how the author and Josh became buddies, and it's a really good story but kinda long and, mostly, not mine to tell. The long and short of it ends with me borrowing a copy of the dude's first book and thoroughly enjoying the read. Noggin is his latest and is proving equally good.

WATCHING Am I the last person to start Bob's Burgers? (Considering the show is in its fifth season, I'm sure the answer YES MOSTLY LIKELY.) Still trying to figure out my favorite character. Louise -- too obvious? The mom? BOB? Time will tell.

WATCHING PT. TWO A Most Violent Year is out in Montreal. I want to go to there this weekend.

LISTENING Erika (hey girl!) recently turned me onto Invisibilia. Let's be clear: I am not a podcast person (see: abovementioned struggle to maintain long-term attention). I followed Serial borderline-religiously, who didn't, but that was largely the grand sum of my podcasting. But Invisibilia! It's good! The episodes I've followed have been interesting, creepy, a wee bit science-y (so you get to feel smart on top of smug for listening to a podcast to begin with), and ultra NPR-ish as far as human interest stories go. As was suggested to me, start with The Secret History of Thoughts and see where it takes you.

Pizza time, byeee!

Play it as it lays

Did everyone else know there's a Joan Didion doc in the making? I just found out!

If the squirrels (who are seemingly undergoing UFC training outside) cared to look through the window, they would have witnessed Unbridled Excitement of a caliber so compelling that I just contributed to Kickstarter for the first time. (Click the linky bit right there for more information about the project.) 

At the very least, invest the next six minutes into watching the trailer above. Or go read The Year Of Magical Thinking and have a deep cry while you question human fragility and loss. Your move, stranger!

Love is Strange

We watched Love is Strange last week. It was a thing of beauty.

The story is very simple: The two main characters get married, and soon thereafter need to find a new home. Money is very tight (Alfred Molina's character loses his job; from what I understood, Jon Lithgow receives a meager senior pension), so friends/family help by taking them into their homes. Separately.

In theory, this movie could have veered cheesy, or beat you over the head with melancholy. In reality, it was beautiful and subtle and touching. The one-two punch of story and performance showed a gentle, honest relationship between two people who know each other (and love each other) in that way unique to couples who've been side-by-side for a long time. You see friendship, understanding, aggravation, affection. You see two men who are pulled apart by circumstance, but whose love is far too strong to be shattered. (The movie offers a nice lesson in patience, too.)

Watch the trailer. See the movie!! You'll only find things to love about it. (I already want to see it again.)

Photos c/o IMDB

Trailer c/o Youtube

21 // Shoot Me

I just watched the greatest thing.

The Netflix powers-that-be (Canada Edition) have blessed us with a documentary I've been itching to see for a long while. "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" follows its namesake as she performs, tells stories, deals with health issues, and basically emanates high voltage bad-assery. The woman takes no shit, people! Not one shit from anybody!

Going into it, I had a general idea about the late Elaine Stritch's legacy. I figured she was a tough cookie, even if said figuring was largely based on her role in 30 Rock. And yet, the film left me thrilled and stunned and even a little weepy. I wish I could have known her. Scratch that -- I wish I would have known of her fifteen years ago, when I was just starting high school. Stritch was ambitious, outspoken, headstrong, self-aware, intelligent... ok, I'll stop gushing. My quiet, impressionable 12-year old self could have used a dose of this lady's influence. Heck, I'll just start now.

I'd link back to the trailer, but (surprise!) I still don't know how to do that properly. So be a good kid and google it for yourself. You can thank me later.

Anyway, here's a parting shot from Elaine.

“This is a time in my life where I’m gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.”

(Good lord, the woman is a quote machine. The movie alone is filled with so many gems.)

Goodnight! :*

13 // The Fault In Our Stars

Ashley and I watched The Fault In Our Stars tonight. (Pretty darn late to the party, sorry.)

Predictably, and despite my concerted effort at self-control, I was a tear factory. You can imagine... Sold-out Cheapy Tuesday theatre + audience mostly filled with ladies = two hour long sniffle symphony.

I should have learned my lesson when I (quite accidentally) took the novel to Mexico last year. Naively, I picked the book blind, thinking it would be a light, fun read. Which it kinda almost was, minus all the crying.

Anyway, go see it for yourself. The movie's got heart and jokes and a very cute leading fella.

05 // The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

Quelle Saturday.

It's only 6:30pm, but my body is telling me midnight. Maybe it's all the food, coffee, and booze churning in my system, combined with walking around in the sun all afternoon.

Josh stepped out to rent some movies. (How many people still rent movies, anyway? How many people still have access to a real-life video store?) I'm home, solo, to do what one does when he/she is alone: change into home clothes (today's selection is a Kanye West muscle tee Sam bought for me to wear to his concert), then get sucked into the internet forever.

Like a lot of people, I enjoy watching movie trailers. In fact, it's one of my favorite e-things to do (after jumping into the Intagram rabbit hole). Anyway, I'm very happy to report that I watched the trailer for The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby. And it looks GOOD.

(I haven't figured out how to insert links using the Blogger app, but it's on my to-do list. For now, a quick Google search will bring you to the right place. Or just copy/paste this https://movies.yahoo.com/video/disappearance-eleanor-rigby-trailer-1-174241927.html into your browser.)

So far, everything about it seems up my proverbial alley. Bittersweet romance that spans over time. Multi-perspective storytelling. Double feature. James McAvoy and Bill Hader. Can't wait.