I saw “You Can See Everything” on Friday and I can’t stop thinking about it. Any Magpies willing to go deep on this subject with me? I thought the movie was brilliant and vibrantly original — unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Nathan Fielder layers shifting mirrors and reflectors and performances on top of one another in order to destabilize any sense of reality. He makes you work for the truth. I love the large-format close-ups of eyes and faces: look at this and judge for yourself, he’s saying. Read these faces. And yet: at multiple points in the movie, you must strain to remember what the antecedent is — why are we listening to Amanda Seyfried’s perspective on Elizabeth Holmes? Oh wait. And why does it matter whether she’s making money off of the movie? Oh wait. There is even a question at the end of whether what we’re hearing from Nathan’s recollection of his conversation with Elizabeth while in jail is accurate — he revises the script in real-time, and Amanda implies he might be omitting details to protect Elizabeth because he’s grown to care for her. There’s a feeling of dangling wires, of modifiers with ambiguous source text. It’s a teeter-totter of rocks balancing on top of one another. The entire movie seems to point out the complex and possibly mythical pursuit of truth when humans and their imperfect memories, minds, and hearts are its only conduits.
The two fulcra I keep examining: first, the Abott and Costello scene, and second, the moment where she tells Nathan she’s not making any money off the movie. My read on the A&C scene is that Elizabeth is so focused on figuring out what he’s testing her for that she ultimately panics and decides to feign confusion/lack of comprehension, which seems to be her go-to feint when she is interrogated. I do not think it’s feasible that she could miss the central mechanic of that joke — which, as Nathan underscores, is the canonical example of performed comedy. Similarly, I do not think it’s possible that she has no idea why her statement “this machine can run any test you want” would mislead. She appears to get herself into these sticky corners and consider “what do you mean, I don’t get it?” as a suitable escape. So I think that scene reveals a pattern of self-excusing by performed imperception versus her implied obtuseness (the movie theater audience audibly gasped at this scene/interaction!) or “different way of seeing the world.” The second situation, where Elizabeth claims “I’m not making any money off this movie” was another red flag for me: we find she does in fact know there was some financial recompense sorted out, so why would she bluff this if not to simply underscore her own guileless determination to clear her own name? This leads to the central question of why they wanted to film the movie in the first place, especially during such a tender and complex time, with only one month as a family unit (with a newborn baby!) available to her? She was already going to jail, so…? The conceit of “clearing her name” felt more or less dead on arrival. But is she trying to curry public favor as they head into a new business undertaking? Or was it a last-ditch way to make money for her family (as she and multiple family members repeatedly underscore that Hollywood and its actors have built a “cottage industry” around her notoriety)?
What did you make of the title? The line itself is lifted from a conversation with Elizabeth, where she insists she’s not hiding anything from Nathan, but — why the rhetorical emphasis there? Was he saying “here’s everything we have, you judge for yourself?” Was he implying that even while “seeing everything,” there is too much submerged to really make clear sense of it? Was he commenting on what you can see but not hear? (As there are several crucial scenes where audio is cut or performed or repeated from memory?)
Please share your thoughts. Landon and I went straight from the theater to a two hour long dinner during which we examined the movie exhaustively and still I’d like to know more —
What else are we watching and reading?!
P.S. Being at the theater reminded me of how un-chic theater carpets are. LOL. (More things I find un-chic here, like baby carrots and social insularity.) I do love the AMC theater we go to, though — really comfortable, new, clean, reclining seats and it feels like no one else is around you. We like that we can reserve our seats in advance, too. But dang do I hate the AMC ads — both the one with Nicole Kidman and that strangely over-done one about the laser technology of the theaters? It’s honestly worse than AI slop. Someone went too far with a thesaurus. Also, I think they should have workshopped the name of their loyalty program a bit more: does anyone want to belong to a program called “Stubs”?)
Shopping Break.
+This tartan skirt just launched and is flying. Perfect for Christmas eve.
+I have and love this snowflake intarsia cardi. Other knits in this vein: this and this! The design gives me the coziest feeling — it’s meant for sitting by a fire with a book and a cup of tea while it slowly snows outside.
+Ack! All my new office enhancements are now on sale, including my beloved ivory rug (luxe, plush — and now 40% off!), my desk (also 40% off), and my ASMR-euphoria-inducing mechanical keyboard (20% off in cart)! This is my elegant new mouse pad (embossed with my initials!) and you can also get it on sale depending on spend. A handsome gift for an office! I’m currently eyeing these charming wall charm intaglios for my office…even more designs here. Aren’t they chic?!
+I have been throwing this cozy reversible jacket on over my athletic wear / athleisure every morning for drop off. Deeply cozy. I love the length — not quite midi but long enough to cover a substantial amount of leg!
+Fellow petites: Pistola just restocked its entire petite denim line. I have such good luck with this denim brand. I find all the styles run TTS and just fit. Loving these dark-wash wide-legs and of course these are old faithful for me (I own in three colors). Use code JS15.
+Adorable tassel necklace for under $50!
+I had a misprint yesterday: the code for 25% off at B&B is CYBER25. This is seven days in advance of its public advertisement on the site! Sorry for the misdirect — happy shopping!
+This drapey wool coat caught my attention. Love the shape and silhouette — and how CHIC in the plaid?
+Our favorite iPhone cases are 30% off — I have this in the cashmere color, but this leopard is also fun.
+CUTEST, most joyful winter sweater for a little girl.
+These satin holiday shoes!
+Konges Slojd is the cutest Scandi brand for kids and you can get a discount depending on spend here. Use it for a doll stroller, the cutest jacket in all of Kindergarten, or these adorable earmuffs.
+How fab is this tartan gilet?
+Got Landon this handsome, rugged fleece-lined jacket!
+These rattan ornaments!
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