We had some time off during the holiday season and you would think I took that time to watch a bunch of things that have been on my watchlist but you would be wrong. I just watched more Rick and Morty. And The French Dispatch. I’m okay with that. Oh and these things.
Watched
M3GAN (2022). The classic tale of the terrors of trusting AI and too much screen time. Addy really, really wanted to see this and I am the type of mom who clocks off work a little early to take her kid to see a killer robot so we saw it. It was exactly as fun as expected and they just announced there will be a sequel so we will be there.
Glass Onion (2022) – Netflix. Glass Onion is another Knives Out movie except it’s nothing at all like Knives Out except it has Benoit Blanc in it. It is funny and it is a whodunnit but don’t go into this expecting Knives Out. I will watch every one of these they do but this was not Knives Out. How else can I say this…Knives Out was one of the last movies I saw in the before times and I was like “you know what, if Knives Out and The Gentlemen were the last theater experiences I have, so be it. I’m at peace with it.” but if Glass Onion was the last movie I saw in the theater I’d be like “give me a hazmat suit, I’m going back in.” That said, I love Janelle Monae.
Triangle of Sadness (2022). Right, okay so I love arthouse films. See how I said films. I like things that are not mainstream and I will see them in whatever capacity. The theater-to-couch pipeline is short these days so I was able to see Triangle on my couch and goddamn man I was so glad I was on my couch. The trailer made it seem like a dark comedy about rich people getting screwed over on a luxury yacht. And it is that but then it’s like 3 movies and most of them are about how terrible the rich class is and I get it but at least be funny.
The Menu (2022). Now, this is a funny movie about the terribleness of the rich class. It is extremely dark and twisted but I am into that kind of thing so if you are into that kind of thing and have HBO Max, stream it. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and I appreciate that. Also, it’s beautifully shot like it’s really a documentary about a fine dining restaurant.
Banshees of Insherin (2022). This is not about rich people, it’s about friendship and the Irish Countryside and at first I was like, this is not a thing I am into, and then I was very much into it and I see why it’s getting the award recognition. That said, it is extremely arthouse and I don’t recommend it for casual viewing. I’m not saying you need a study guide, I’m saying it’s subtle entertainment.
Fleishman Is In Trouble (Limited Series) – Hulu. I read this book (audiobook) a few years ago and liked it and when I saw they were making a series, I was like oh okay I’m into this because Claire Danes and Jesse Eisenberg and ADAM BRODY and Lizzie Caplan. Give it to me. And it is fantastic. It’s a coming of (middle) age story about divorce and friends and finding your way. But also being Jewish on the Upper East Side of Manhattan so don’t expect a drop of melanin.
Southside (S3) – HBOMax . FULL OF MELANIN. I did a hard binge on a Sunday and y’all know I love everything Bashir Salahuddin does (see also: Sherman’s Showcase) so this was very, very up my alley.
Confess, Fletch (2022). Jon Hamm plays a retired investigative journalist that is part private eye, part murder suspect. Roy Wood Jr is the detective trying to solve the murder Jon is in the way of. This is a funny movie. It’s not like pee your pants LMAO funny, it’s smart funny with a little LOL funny. It’s streaming on Showtime and if you looking for a casual low stakes movie, give it a go.
House Party (2023). This was like if you fed an AI machine 1000 hours of TikTok and then told it to write House Party to the tune of early 2000s music.
The Circle (S5) – Netflix. Yes.
Reading
Grave Reservations by Cherie Preist. Leda is a little bit psychic and runs a travel agency. She stops a cop from getting on a plane and he’s like “oh hey you’re a little psychic why don’t you help me on a case” and quirkiness ensues. She was almost too plucky for me but it was fine. I won’t be reading another in the series.
UH UH
The Last of Us – HBO. Everyone says this is a great show (an adaptation of a video game) from E1 but it is about zombies and zombies is a thing I do not do. I’m still mad at the marketing for I Am Legend.
Inside Man (Limited Series) – Netflix. Stanley Tucci is a murderer on death row that people come to for help with their case and David Tenant is a clergyman who has gotten into some trouble and somehow those stories connect except I’ll never find out how because I watched an episode and absolutely hated it. Because why would this situation ever happen? There’s not that much suspension of disbelief.
Watchlist
- Poker Face (S1) Peacock. Jan 26
- Infinity Pool (2023). Jan 27 but mostly when it comes to my couch.
- Send Help (S1). This is a series that aired on AllBlk (this is a streaming service) about a first generation Hatian-American trying to make it in Hollywood. It stars Issa’s brother from Insecure. I’m not paying for AllBlk but I might just pay $12 to Amazon to watch it.
- Shotgun Wedding (2023). This looks like a less funny version of The Lost City but it’s rated R and will be on Prime Video so yay couch watching. Jan 27.
- Shrinking (S1) Apple+. Jan 27.
- You People (2023) Netflix. I am conflicted on this but I know we’ll be watching it. It’s Julia Louis-Drefus, Eddie Murphy, Loren Londen, Nia Long, Jonah Hill. Yes to all of them. But it’s just another version of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and also it’s Kenya Barris. Whenever I write something I’m like, “man this feels like everything else I’ve ever written”. And I don’t think Kenya Barris thinks that ever. Jan 27.
Best Thing On the Internet
This is actually terrible…y funny but Nelly was at this Australian concert on somebody’s drugs. Someone on Instagram said he was “high as eggs”. But then Spice Adams had to do his take on the video.
Are you watching anything? Looking forward to anything? Do tell.
I’m excited about the return of Snowfall…not sure if I’m watch it live and wait for next week’s episode excited tho.