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Ahh, today was nice, even though it was busy (lots of cleaning!). I picked up a frozen pizza along with my regular groceries, and I ate it in front of the tv while watching movies this evening. One of the most luxurious things I've done in a while. Felt good!
Anyway! I watched these:
+ Respect (2021): Biographical drama about the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. She's played by Jennifer Hudson, who is exceptionally beautiful in this movie. It's a very long film (2.5 hours), but when I think of it, I'm not sure if there's anything I would cut; in spite of the length, it doesn't outstay its welcome. Also, I loved the costuming.
I wouldn't describe this as a feel-good movie, though it ends on a positive note with the 1972 recording/release of her gospel album. There were a lot of difficult/abusive/generally unpleasant points in her life, and the film doesn't minimize that.
+ The French Dispatch (2021): This Wes Anderson film was extremely Wes Anderson-y. I've liked some of his work, but found this one a bit much. The film is broadly about journalism; essentially it's a selection of newspaper articles about a fictional French city, all expressed as short films. Very meta, very arty, very stylised, with lots of black-and-white in between Anderson's usual bright colours.
Overall, I enjoyed the visuals, but found the narrative(s) to not be that compelling, and the stylised wittiness that I usually don't mind in Anderson's stuff didn't work for me here. I'm glad that I did get around to giving it a go, but I don't think I'll be adding it to the to-rewatch list.
Anyway! I watched these:
+ Respect (2021): Biographical drama about the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. She's played by Jennifer Hudson, who is exceptionally beautiful in this movie. It's a very long film (2.5 hours), but when I think of it, I'm not sure if there's anything I would cut; in spite of the length, it doesn't outstay its welcome. Also, I loved the costuming.
I wouldn't describe this as a feel-good movie, though it ends on a positive note with the 1972 recording/release of her gospel album. There were a lot of difficult/abusive/generally unpleasant points in her life, and the film doesn't minimize that.
+ The French Dispatch (2021): This Wes Anderson film was extremely Wes Anderson-y. I've liked some of his work, but found this one a bit much. The film is broadly about journalism; essentially it's a selection of newspaper articles about a fictional French city, all expressed as short films. Very meta, very arty, very stylised, with lots of black-and-white in between Anderson's usual bright colours.
Overall, I enjoyed the visuals, but found the narrative(s) to not be that compelling, and the stylised wittiness that I usually don't mind in Anderson's stuff didn't work for me here. I'm glad that I did get around to giving it a go, but I don't think I'll be adding it to the to-rewatch list.
Yuu. Fic writer & book lover. M/Canada.