emma. 2020

I think if you love austen you'll like this, but it is altogether far too twee and I couldn't handle it. 

the year of our way by Steph Swainston

on the positive side the world building, adult themes (how often do fantasy epics treat with drug addiction?), and characters are great; on the negative side there were too many inscrutable names of people and things, and the writing could be better in places - but this is the author's first, so I'm looking forward to seeing her improve in the sequel. 

everything beautiful is far away (2017)

fairly strange and somewhat boring indie flick, but Julia Garner is a joy. 

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I appreciated that this philosophical soft scifi mystery thriller whodunit simultaneously defies genre boundaries and speaks with a strong and unique voice. 

why are you like this, season 1 (Netflix series)

If you like early broad city or clever irreverant comedy in general, you'll probably love these Australian girls and their queer, sex-positive, philosophical / political hijinks. 

assata: an autobiography (1987)

for whenever the struggle feels too real,come see this tapestry of beauty, strength, and humor <3

Barton Fink (1991)

I love those Coen brothers, and Barton Fink does have a lot of that Coen magic, but this is a lesser work - maybe writers really shouldn't try to write about writing. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

I had a lot of fun reading this scifi horror murder mystery; it was Muir's first, and there are certainly some rough edges, but if you like a strong irreverant female voice and heavy doses of goth scifi mashup, you'll love this book. 

basic instinct (1992)

I don't know why contemporary reviewers panned this early verhoeven thriller - I thought it was fun, over the top, goofy, a wild ride - just ignore the terrible last 5 seconds.

cocktail (1988)

they should call it Longtale. 

concrete cowboy (2021)

Idris Elba and the other actors are amazing, the setting is wonderful, the story drags on a bit and gets a little corny/predictable at times, but overall a touching real life look at an underappreciated slice of North Philly. 

the painter and the thief (2020)

I found this northern European documentary story about art and friendship to be interesting, mostly engaging, and fairly fun - but I could never forget, throughout the whole thing, that there was a totally unacknowledged person in the room, recording every interaction we saw. 

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014)

An entrancing, touching, beautiful tale of life and death in world war 2, which despite being somewhat magical and clearly fictional ends up feeling all the more real. 

badlands (1973)

While it wasn't astounding, I still love me a good early 70s classic, and Malick's direction and camerawork really help this story of love on the run stand out. 

Antebellum (2020)

Despite excellent casting, mostly great acting, interesting narrative devices, and some thought-provoking ideas, I'm sad to report that the plot of this Hulu special just ruins all of the above.

wedding crashers (2005)

obviously not much needs be restated about this dorky, vulgar, often hilarious movie, but there's something different and compelling about the way Wilson and Vaughn use such very emotionally mature language throughout the story (due to being divorce mediators, of course) despite being so dudely in every other way.