January 2020
M O V I E S
Uncut Gems (2019)
Do you want to feel stressed out for about 2 hours? Do you want a movie to be confused about for the next week? Well do I have a movie for you. Uncut Gems, starring Adam Sandler, is so wildly nauseous I wasn't sure how to walk out of the movie theater.
Uncut Gems starts in a mining field, where a rare piece of gemstone was unearthed. That specific stone, found its way to our main character, who gloats his possession, putting it into an auction. A famous basketball player visits his jewelry store, drawn to the gemstone. He is willing to pay anything to get the stone, believing it gave him good luck. An auction. Las Vegas. Betting. Colonoscopy. What's happening? I'm still not really sure.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 2 h 15 min
Genre: Anxiety (crime, drama, thriller)
Directed by: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Diamonds are overrated
The Apartment (1960)
Want to watch an old classic that doesn't objectify women and tackle hard hitting topics with a comfortable and light matter? Let me introduce to you, The Apartment. Regular 9 to 5 working class man falls in love with elevator girl, but never felt like me can succeed in love. So he builds his reputation at his work by allowing his superiors to use his apartment to have affairs. All that changed when he finds that his highest level boss is smitten with his beloved elevator girl.
Will he sacrifice his love for his raise? Or will he step down to be with his love? The whole movie is also lighthearted and fun; even when it reaches a heavy topic, the movie doesn't show it in an offensive light. It's a feel good movie that has a great ending, do not worry.
Overall:
Rating: Who knows (I think maybe PG-13?)
Length: 2 h 05 min
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Rent in New York in the 60s was 80 dollars a month?!
Kramer vs Kramer (1979)
In the light of Marriage Story being highly popular, it was very interesting to watch this movie. In short, I think this movie is better. And Dustin Hoffman is a tiny man. (He's 5' 6" ya'll)
This movie starts with very young Meryl Streep demanding a divorce and leaving Hoffman. Hoffman is then stuck with his young son, who he had been so busy with his work, had not been a great father. With no other choice, he learns what it means to be a parent.
Then it turns into a courtroom battle for the custody of the son. Streep had always been a great mother until she ran away. Hoffman learned how to become a great dad. Who will win? Who does the son want to live with? Will anybody ever be happy again?
Overall:
Rating: PG
Length: 1 h 45 min
Genre: Drama
Directed by: Robert Benton
French Toast
1917 (2019)
Here's one of 2 Sam Mendes movies of this month. Why? I have no idea how this happened.
This thrilling movie about World War 1 is a single take adventure of two soldiers sent on a mission to stop a battalion from entering a German trap. With the motivation of one of the men's brother is in said battalion, they journey across no man's land with only a backpack on their back and a gun.
I loved this movie very much. Unlike a lot a lot of other war movies, the antagonist isn't the germans, but the rough landscape and stray soldiers that happen to be german. The incredible camera work that tracks the story with one continuous take (seemingly) is fascinatingly unique and only draws the audience's interest just that much more.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 1 h 59 min
Genre: Drama, War
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Benedict Cumberbatch had like a good 2 minutes of screen-time. That's all I need.
Road to Perdition (2002)
Tom Hanks' family gets murdered. What does he do? Go kill them all of course.
After his son witnessing the fact that he was a part of the mob, this gives motivation for the bad guy to go murder the rest of his family. Our protagonist is enraged, and travels around town to end those who were involved. He bonds with his son, teaching him how to be his getaway car (which, I mean, the kid's a better driver than me). When it was all done, they hope that life would return to normal.
I kinda got tired of this movie (it really isn't my favorite genre). But if you like a good revenge story, here you go. Honestly, don't take my opinion too seriously. I thought it was good, but I did not emotionally connect with such theme of a movie.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 1 h 57 min
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Woody got himself some real guns
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Here's another gang movie (sigh). For someone who didn't like the Godfather to the level of it being a "cinematic masterpiece", don't trust me too much on this.
FBI agent (young Johnny Depp) infiltrates the mafia just to help the FBI keep tabs on their everyday doings. However, the longer he stays with the mafia, the more he realizes how much he resonates with mafia life. His wife starts to notice his distancing, becoming more and more afraid of his behaviors. Will he betray the men he had bonded so tightly with while being with the mafia, for the good and safety of New York City?
This movie was decent (lol I'm SORRY my mind just hears white noise when they starts talking names upon names. I'm terrible with names). But yes, it was watchable, moderately interesting. I got through it alright. If you like mafia movies, this is a good one.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 2 h 07 min
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Directed by: Mike Newell
I do like a gang movie: Infernal Affairs which got an American remake called The Departed.
Galaxy Quest (1999)
This movie is a GEM I tell you. The cast of a"Star Trek" like show stumbles upon some mega fans at their own convention, hoping that they will be able to save them from the evils of their world. To the cast's surprise, these super-fans are aliens who had viewed their show as ancient religious documentaries, creating a perfect and working replica of the spacecraft seen on the show. Will this crew of confused actors be able to save these alien people?
I can not stress how much I loved this stupid movie. For someone who is meh on Star Trek, I loved to see all the tropes of the space crew exaggerated to no end. There were so many funny moments, paired with heartfelt ones that kept me going, laughing and crying all the way. It's absolutely brilliant. Please, I of beg you, watch this movie.
Overall:
Rating: PG
Length: 1 h 42 min
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Directed by: Dean Parisot
"Look, I got one job on this lousy ship, it's stupid, and I'm gonna do it, ok?"
A N I M A T E D M O V I E S
I Lost My Body (2019) French
Do you ever want to feel like a severed hand? Have you ever wanted to build an igloo for a person you love?
Here's a boy who fell in love with a voice. After destroying his bike attempting to deliver a pizza, he apologizes to her, but after waiting for the rain to stop, eventually falls in love with the voice over the intercom. He tracks her down, and finds a job at a wood working shop to be close to her. But then, it's as if his life falls apart.
This movie makes you feel something for a HAND. Like a severed hand that moves on its own. Like wow, how does that happen? With the story fragmented between past and future, the story slowly reveals itself as the hand craws its way back to its body.
Overall:
Rating: R
Length: 2 h 15 min
Genre: Anxiety (crime, drama, thriller)
Directed by: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Diamonds are overrated
Weathering With You (2019) Japanese
From the studio that gave you Your Name, comes this beautiful masterpiece. The animation is gorgeous and stunning, with one hell of a concept to keep you following the characters.
After stepping though a gate, girl finds out she can call the rain away. She encounters a boy, in dire need of some money. Together, they create a rain clearing business. However, the girl's destiny was a morbid one, as she finds out the history of weather shamans who ascend to the heavens in hopes of regulating the fierce storms. With every use of her powers, she fades away more and more. With all things considered, Japan may never see a clear day again.
The visuals in this animated movie is absolutely stunning. The story for me was not the most flavorful. I felt like things that were not too important were played out long and complicated, but when things mattered, it came to the main character too easy.
Overall:
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1 h 52 min
Genre: Drama, Family
Directed by: Makoto Shinkai
Tokyo Sucks
A N I M E
Given (2019)
Can I just say... I have been truly broken from wounds of my past by watching this incredible anime. I regret nothing.
After a boy comes to his school, carrying a fancy guitar and begging for him to teach him how to play, he grows curious. Soon, he was introducing the boy to his band, slowly instructing him on guitar skills. He then finds out about his voice. Now with a vocalist in their band, they decide to prepare for a gig, intending to perform a new song, lyrics written and hopefully sung by their newest, least experienced guitarist member. There's heartbreak. There's new love. There's no other anime you should think about right now.
(Being super personal but...) the main character experienced something similar to what I have and this story really helped me resonate with my emotions towards what I personally had a hard time dealing with. This anime will always stay near and dear to my heart.
Overall:
Rating: I'd say PG
Length: 11 episodes
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
Studio: Lerche (Hikaru Yamaguchi)
Stream "Fuyunohanashi" (A winter story) because it's a sad banger.
B O O K S
Renegades- Renegades #1 (2017)
After super powered humans (called prodigies) destroyed society, those powerful enough created a new government system to keep the world safe. They were a superhero agency called the Renegades. Those prodigies against this new system, called the Anarchists, plan to bring them down.
A girl who had been hiding in the shadows of the anarchists, decide to use her anonymity to infiltrate the Renegades. She befriends a unit within the Renegades, helping them on missions and newest establishments in this wanna be government. She learns what their core values are, how they operate to maintain a safe community. The question is, will her loyalty to the Anarchists waver? Will she betray her new friends?
Overall:
Level: Young Adult
Length: 556 pages
Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama
Written by: Marissa Meyer
I want her as a friend. She can cure my insomnia. My hero.
Vengeful- Villains #2 (2018)
Victoria Schwab has done it again. Following the events of Vicious, this book introduces more EOs to the scene. Just read the first book before you read this one.
Victor gets pulled back to life. But not correctly. He keeps dying. So he travels around the country, in search of a cure; more specifically, an ExtraOrdinary who has the power to cure him. In the mean time, Eli, who cannot be killed, is in prison, being tested like a lab rat, for his extra ordinary power of regeneration. New threats arise: A woman who can decay anything she touches who plans on ruling the city, with an army of EOs behind her. It's only a matter of time before the time of EOs come to an end.
Overall:
Level: Adult
Length: 462 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Written by: V.E. Schwab
Dol will never die
The Song Of Achilles (2011)
Best for last? Haha you bet.
The Song of Achilles follows Patroclus as he is exiled from his home and meets Achilles. It is the same Achilles story told in the most majestic way possible. You learn and grow invested in their friendship the blooms into something more. you see their struggles through the hellish Trojan war, hoping that they will come out the other end of the war and find happiness. You learn about human flaws, about heartbreak, about what it means to be madly in love.
I got the audio book (my one free credit from my one month free trial on audible) for this so that I can listen to it whenever I want. It's thAT GOOD. You may say that you know the gist of the story already, but no, this book is not just the story, but the experience.
The true meaning of Achilles heel isn't his heel, it's Patroclus y'all. Fight me.
Overall:
Level: Adult
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Historical, Mythology, Romance
Directed by: Madeline Miller
Get yourself a man who greets his hubby when coming back from battle with "My Achilles".