Movies

Sister Midnight

Holy fuck. For the first 46 minutes I thought, "Why did critics call this movie unpredictable, have they never seen an A24 film?" Then I made it to minute 47. Radhika Apte's portrayal is indescribable- unpolished yet shining, deftly performed, enthralling. The movie paces itself comfortably without becoming monotonous. Despite being teased by complex symbolism as it whizzed over my head, the themes of this film, as always, are accessible across cultures, and the writing dazzled even when filtered through my bootlegged english subtitles. I was appreciative to find one reviewer who explored the connections between Uma, our title character, and Kali, a Hindu goddess associated with time, death, and divine femininity. This story is one of rounded character; a fully-formed punk rock feminist ballad which invites its audience to laugh in the face of absuridty. It had to be my first five star review.

Lost in Starlight

This movie was fun to watch! I intially put it on because I thought it was dubbed, and I wanted something I could look away from while knitting. By the time I realized the film was, in fact, mostly subbed, I was too engrossed to care about my needles. The animation is stunning- colorful, busy scenes of the not-so-distant future parallel themes of eco-capitalism, CyberPunk's lesser known little sister. The writing keeps up with the quality of animation, a respite from that familiar failing in our current media climate. Though the central figures' relationship may fall into some romantic cliches, the textured plot which entrenches them keeps their story interesting and adds depth to their characterization. And who doesn't like a romance that's a little smooth around the edges every now and then, anyways?

I Saw the TV Glow

This movie is inarguably masterful, though I cannot say I enjoyed it. It is a captivating film which grips you from start to finish- slow, even pacing builds a misery and suspence which refuses to relieve itself even in its final moments. Consequently, watching this movie felt like a punishment. For trans viewers like myself, it likely unearths the ice-cold grip of an isolation formed in childhood, the isolation from oneself, and reminds us the fate of those who can't or won't grow bigger than such prisons. For viewers unaccostemed to trans experience, this film may fall flat as a thriller. For those inbetween, it may strike a chord that demands to be explored, or deepen sympathies for a life they haven't lived. None of this matters, however, for this work seems not to have been created with a viewer in mind, but out of the writer's sacred and unadultered need to understand their own feelings by way of organzing them into coherent art. It deserves some sort of award, and I will never watch it again.

Doctor Who - Series 1

Rating:

A nostalgic rewatch of my 11-year-old self's first tv obsession, and a reminder of the early dawn of streaming services and binge-watching. Though it's not quite the masterpiece I once thought it to be, it's still fun to remember. I think the future seasons will be a bit better as the series gains its footing in a modern context. The pacing is slower than most modern shows, which I would think of positively, if not for how boring the show can be. The bad guys are often flat and plainly evil with little redeeming qualities, and The Doctor sure doesn't act his age. All the same, I am enjoying myself.

Disney's Fastpass: A Complicated History

Rating:

Well-researched, engaging, and unafraid to share his opinion, Kevin Perjurer is always one to avoid the failings of excessive journalstic objectivity- without letting his analyses distort the facts. In this feature-length documentary, Perjurer explores the history of the Disney Parks' ride ticketing system from the point of view of an engineer, statistician, anthropologist, CEO, and consumer. He follows the journey of Fastpass+ from its conception, coaxing viewers though the complicated research, red tape, and employee turnover that shaped it while painting the picture of a corporation determined to find the path of least resistance to record-breaking profit. I always appreciate this historian's balanced approach to documentarianism, and have a good time engaging with his work.

Music

Rattlin' Bones

Rating:

I recently heard this song for the first time during a flash event at my favorite tattoo shop. Whoever was blowing nasty on that horn really distracted me from the elbow part of the tattoo. Remembered the chorus well enough look it up two days later, which is saying something. Great song.

Mixtapes

Cuntry Folk

Rating:

This playlist reflects my heart.

The Big Rock Candy Mountains - Harry McClintock, Bona Fide Bluegrass and Mountain Music

Cornbread and Butterbeans - Carolina Chocolate Drops, Genuine Negro Jig

Poor Folks Town - Miss Dolly, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs

Solidarity Forever - Pete Seeger, If I Had a Hammer: Songs of Hope and Struggle

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore - John Prine, John Prine

Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker, Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)

All The Gold In California - Brother Marshall and the Choir of Fire, All The Gold In California

Old Number Seven - The Devil Makes Three, The Devil Makes Three

Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die - Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson American Outlaw

Snakes and Waterfalls - Nick Shoulders, Lonely Like Me

I Can't Be Satisfied - Muddy Waters, Hard Again

Midnight Train - Rattlesnake Milk, Chicken Fried Snake

Me More Cowboy Than You (Demo) - The Brudi Brothers, Me More Cowboy Than You

They'll Never Keep Us Down - Hazel Dickens, Hard Hitting Songs for Hard Hit People