As the fingers of winter dig deeper into our brittle bones we settle into that most coveted of spaces, our couches. So grab your hot chocolates, hot toddys or what have you and curl up with some media and consume!
TV:
Star Wars the Bad Bunch - Some things don’t change all that much and for that there is a small comfort. It sounds harsh to say, but luckily it’s not completely true. For starters, Omega looks to have aged up. She’s also settled into a nice groove with the group. When the new season opened, I felt at home with these starkly drawn recognizable characters. Omega is still too smart and too ambitious for her own good. Everyone else just has to keep up. Three episodes in and the series is showing us more of the group’s understanding of the depths of the Empire’s reach and its indifference to humanity. Tech gets an episode all to himself in Spoils of War and shines once again in Episode 4’ Faster. I for one am all for getting a much deeper dive into Tech and I hope each character gets this much love this season. There also seems to be something dark coming for a side character. This show is just solid writing with good looking animation. Same as it ever was. Tune in Wednesdays to soak even deeper into George Lucas’ sandpit.
The Last of Us - Man oh man is this show just hitting it completely out of the park. There’s no warming up here, no couple of episodes to get through before it gets good. This show is just straight chocolate cake. I have all those same feels as I did when watching the first season of Game of Thrones or The first season of true detective. Pedro Pascal’s face says more than a full page of dialogue. His posture lets you know everything that he just cannot bring himself to say. Bella Ramsey is the perfect counterpart. Her acting is so spare and subtle. As Ellie she is constantly feeling out Joel, testing him, pushing him, just far enough. With another actor this would easily translate into an annoying kid, but Ramsey handles it all with such assuredness that she is slowly growing on us, just as she is on Joel. I am so enthralled by everything in this show and I cannot wait till next Sunday evening.
Note: Episode three. Whoo boy! I was not prepared for all of those feels. I knew going in it was going to be emotional, but the love story that was built in this hour of tv is so deeply moving that it just fills any sort of hole you may have in your heart about humankind. I think here, it’s super important to note that this is a gay love story, but it’s something simpler. It’s simply a love story. The gay part doesn’t matter in the sense that we are seeing all the intimate and new and scary things that go along with falling in love. It’s the same with everyone, gay or not.
MOVIES:
The Whale - This was an amazing and intimate character portrait. I felt like this movie could have been a play and then I noticed in the credits that it was adapted from a play. All the things people are saying about Brendan Fraser are true. He imbues his character, Charlie, with a deep deep regret. The film does a great job of conveying Charlie’s struggles with addiction. Also, the makeup and body suit design is astonishing. Sadie Sink, his daughter, whom many will recognize from Stranger Things, is sharply drawn and nearly unlikeable. Her issues are clear from the beginning so we understand her when she lashes out, but it still hurts. See this movie. Bring some tissues.
Paddington 2 - Paddington 2 was quite simply a joy to watch. Perfect for kids, parents and grumbly grandpas. Paddington is filled with so much wonder and innocence and goodness that it’s just fun to watch him navigate the world. When he ends up in jail it’s just plain fun to watch him win over the “hardened criminals”. His adventure throughout the movie is ridiculous and the supporting cast is all perfect, especially Hugh Grant who seems to be having the most fun of all. If you’re ever feeling down about the world, watch Paddington 2. It will give you hope. It will also make you wish bear cubs could talk. Note: I’ve never seen the first Paddington and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I just bought into the fact that this bear lives with the family and that everyone thought it was perfectly normal.
The Pale Blue Eye - while I enjoyed this movie I don’t think it’s for everyone. It’s slow moving and sort of lumbering. This pace helps the moments of horror stand out, but it can be rigorous for some. Note: this is not a horror movie, it’s more of a detective movie. I loved the two lead performances, Christian Bale is great as usual, but the real standout for me is Harry Melling as Edgar All Poe, before he was famous. His character is awkwardly assured. Somehow comfortable in his own skin, despite looking anything but. His sunken eyes, slightly too close to each other, hold a yearning and a deep curiosity. His Poe moves through the film like a preternaturally intelligent child who can’t help but let you know they’re much smarter than they look. Both leads dance around each other beautifully, searching for a connection, searching for truth and then finally, finding something much deeper. A good movie for a dark rainy night or a cold snowy overcast day. Get some hot chocolate or hot toddy and settle in.
Rewatch: Wheelman - I rewatched this getaway driver movie recently and loved it just as much as I did on first watch. You probably missed this Frank Grillo led neo noir-car-chase movie released on Netflix back in 2017. It’s a throwback to films like Escape from New York, Predator or the underrated Showdown in Little Tokyo (Shame on you for not knowing one of Brandon Lee’s early films!) It does away with the camp of some of those movies and replaces it with an urgent impending doom. Which is perfect for a driver movie. My earlier mention of Escape from New York is foreshadowing for this comparison: Frank Grillo is this generation’s Kurt Russell. He’s all dark sweaty swagger, greasy hair and a perfectly trimmed 5 ‘o'clock shadow. And that makes him perfect in this role as he tosses out more “fucks!” than high school kids arguing on a school bus. The plot is super simple: a getaway driver finds himself embroiled in a botched robbery and must escape. 90 percent of this movie happens in the car, as any good getaway driver movie should, and Grillo makes every moment count. He’s frustrated, stressed, suspicious and just about out of time. Get yourself some popcorn, an ice cold brewski and buckle up!
MUSIC:
Warpaint - Radiate Like This - Oh man this album just movies and grooves me. From the light opening chimes of Champion to the sparse and softly sexy Send Nudes this album is perfect for warming yourself up under some blankies with your favorite person. Sans a S.O.? Put on this album, reach out to that person you’ve been thirsting for and see if it just might inspire some sexy sexting.
Gina Chavez - La Que Manda (the One Who’s in Charge) - At barely 17 minutes this could barely be considered an EP, but Chavez packs each of these 5 songs with all kinds of flavor and emotion. The title track opens with an urgent wailing accompanied by equally punchy drum beats. This track is a perfect opener and will get even your grandma’s cranky hips shaking.The closing track Bienamada (Beloved) does what every great artist should do, leaves ‘em wanting more. Clear some space around you to shimmy and shake and put this album on repeat.