Babies (2010)

This is the cutest most wonderful short little documentary about four different babies from four different countries; it has almost no plot and no dialogue and if you just want a relaxing time watching some adorable babies well it doesn’t get any better than this. 

The Master (2012)

The acting, characters, soundtrack and cinematography are all special and wonderful in this very different, intense character drama - but it does feel a little long by the time the end rolls around. 

Amatka by Karin Tidbeck

This vaguely sci-fi/horror mystery book is very special in that it doesn’t lead with the sci-fi stuff, you just follow along and sort of get it as you go - if you like Kazuo Ishiguro, you’ll like this a lot. 

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)

perfectly fun and innocuous little indie romcom, marked by good acting + delivery (kat denning’s voice especially) and funny characters, slightly marred by a sort of sloppily shot ending but I guess for what it’s worth who cares. 

Constance by Matthew FitzSimmons

A classic whodunnit recast in a sci-fi cloning and brain upload kind of world, a deeply enjoyable and easy read if a tad predictable. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

I for one think that 80s star trek fits perfectly into my whole theory that we should be watching more decades-old media (rather than contemporary) for our mental health, and in general it’s an interestingly philosophical and entertaining romp. 

L.A. Confidential (1997)

I think if you like hard boiled police procedural thrillers full of white dudes you’ll like this one, but it falls short of greatness due to its inconsistent, meandering pace.  

how high we go in the dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

This slightly sci-fi novel of interleaving stories is entirely too melodramatic, maudlin and death obsessed, because it doesn’t earn any of it - the characters are all shallow copies of each other with very little depth or voice. 

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

It’s as if each marvel movie is created by a movie studio actually existing in the cinematic universe of the previous marvel movie, leading to an exponential increase in overall marvel-ness with each subsequent movie. 

my own private idaho (1991)

seems like a really cool special movie; tried twice but so far can’t get through it. 

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

This short and unique book is a fiercely contemporary prose poem sent to us from soulful depths, and the only other thing i’ll add is that the whimsical lightness of the first half makes a perfect counterpoint to part two. 

Molly’s Game (2017)

This fast-paced sports / crime / gambling tale is based on a true story and balances a lot of themes at once: strong women, personal integrity, daddy issues - it’s quite a lot to fit into one movie and it does it well. 

Sea State by Tabitha Lasley

This was a unique hybrid book, part romantic memoir and part oil rig worker documentary, and altho the writing is sometimes a little clumsy, the two parts don’t always cohere fully, and the romantic parts are fairly sentimental and maudlin - despite all that - I still found it a fun quick and interesting read, and I applaud the effort. 

rosemary’s baby (1968)

Incredibly effective supernatural thriller manages it all with superb acting, dialogue, writing and directing, and essentially no special effects at all. 

Old Enough (Netflix series)

The kids are super cute as they walk about their lil 3 year old errands but it was impossible for me to forget that there are multiple cameramen following them close behind, everywhere they go - rendering the entire concept of little kids running their first errands on their own utterly meaningless.

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

If you’re looking for a fun easy sci-fi action romp then this will fit the bill splendidly - it’s also screaming “movie adaptation” the whole way through.