What have you been watching lately? I always love this time of year because so many movies come out in advance of the upcoming awards shows (Oscars, Golden Globes, etc.). We’ve been working our way through a list of at least a dozen promising films/shows. Some sporadic thoughts below.
KLAUS. (Streaming on Netflix.) This children’s movie actually came out in 2019 but I heard nothing about it, and I have no idea why, as it is one of the most charming, moving, entertaining children’s movies I’ve seen in a long time. We watched it with my children (3 and 5, for context), and they belly-laughed their way through it. Klaus offers the “backstory” behind Santa Clause, but without competing for or obscuring any of the narratives with which we have all grown up. I was fidgety at first, wondering whether the film would lead to awkward conversations or contradictions about what our children know about Santa, but instead, it enriched the Santa narrative in beautiful, human ways. It is also a tale of community, kindness, and giving — gorgeous messages for the season. The animation is superb and I’ll take any movie that includes an animated character of Norm MacDonald being…Norm MacDonald (rest in peace, Norm!). The cast is fabulous, too — Rashida Jones!
EMILY THE CRIMINAL. (Streaming on Netflix.) Aubrey Plaza is having a moment right now between this fast-paced criminal thriller and the second season of White Lotus. She is exceptional in this movie, which tells the story of a woman saddled with student loan debt and a criminal record. Unable to land a solid job because of these issues, she becomes a “dummy shopper” and walks down a dark criminal path into the world of credit card fraud. The movie is obviously engaging with some intense social commentary, but the telling is nuanced and complicated by the protagonist’s decisions. There were parts of the movie where I was literally white-knuckling it, I was gripping Mr. Magpie’s hand so hard. It is intense, thrilling, quick-paced. The movie’s crowning glory, though, is its unbelievably tight editing. Too many movies are too long these days. At just around 90 minutes, this movie packs it all in and trims out all the extraneous bits. As an example, there are some characters and relationships that are not well-fleshed out and that more or less “yadda yadda yadda” over details, but in a smart way — knowing more about them would add nothing to the movie. As a result, you have a film that moves with serpentine speed and precision. Excellent.
PINOCCHIO. (Streaming on Netflix.) I must preface this review by saying I absolutely love Guillermo del Toro and enjoyed watching him pluck at all his hallmark motifs and themes: children put in harm’s way, the paranormal, the Catholic faith, relationships between parents and children, “the underworlds.” He shines in these contexts, and there is a lot of meat on the bone in this re-telling of the classic children’s tale. The animation is incredible (stop motion). However. The movie just didn’t hit the chord I was expecting — it felt slightly off-kilter, unbalanced. I felt as though it swung between too-twee/too-saccharine and too-macabre. I kept waiting for heart-warming resonance, and it never arrived — it felt as though it was always swinging a bit too far in one direction. Some of the moments are cloyingly sweet and others are too-depressing for a PG film. I can’t put my finger on it, but something did not line up. Worth a watch for the cinema of it all, and for the masterfulness of the re-telling/re-imagining, but not my cup of tea.
SLOW HORSES. (Streaming on Apple TV.). This is a television series, not film, but I am loving it. We’re maybe four episodes in. This series tells the story of a “back-office” of cast-off British intelligence agents still trying to make it back up to “the big leagues.” Intrigue unfolds and you learn that there is more to the story of these “second tier” (“slow horses”) agents. Gary Oldman stars as the washed-up head of the office, and he is brilliant.
GLASS ONION. (Streaming on Netflix.). The sequel to “Knives Out” and a total romp. We loved it! Funny, twisty-turny, satirical — I straight-up LOVED this franchise’s reprise of the light-weight murder mystery as a genre. We had lots of theories brewing about “whodunit” and ended up fairly close to the mark, but the ending was still really fun with some elements I’d not anticipated. A great cast, a fabulous set. Just fun. I will say that this movie was about 30 or 40 minutes too long — I wish more movies were “Emily the Criminal” length!
EMILY IN PARIS. (Streaming on Netflix.) The third season launched a week ago and I have been watching it in bits and pieces whenever I have some downtime or can’t sleep. This series is so ridiculous and frivolous, but it has just enough surprising “real talk” in it to keep it from floating off into the ether.
Still on our list — additions and/or votes of cancellation welcome:
MATILDA
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
THE FABELMANS
EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
TAR
Post-Scripts.
+What was the best movie you watched this year? I was obsessed with “Nope.” You can read some thoughts on it here. I hope it garners some Oscar buzz. Totally blew me away.
+What was the best book you read this year? Honestly, I didn’t read anything that sent me. Hoping for better in 2023. Currently reading this, but here is a good list of books to check out if you’re in a drought, and this is what I was reading last winter.
+What were your favorite wardrobe additions this year? I got a lot of mileage out of this ivory sweater, these kick flare jeans, and these sherpa loafers.
Shopping Break.
+Net-A-Porter is having an epic sale and I am currently eyeing this Lug Von Siga and this Doen for summer. PSA that the dress I ended up wearing on NYE (we ended up going out!!) is currently 50% off — worth buying now and saving for next new year because it is a STATEMENT and I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Fits TTS, maybe a tad big.
+I shared this pullover last week and you guys LOVED it — found it on sale for 30% off here.
+When I lived in France, I would splurge on the expensive body soap from the department store in the middle of Lyon whose name now evades me (ah, time!). It was by the brand Roger et Gallet, and I remember I loved it so much that I bought several sleeves of the soap home. I just rediscovered it on Amazon! All of the soaps are richly milled and elegantly perfumed in unisex scents. I’ve now added their hand soap and cream to my cart!
+A good price for a tufted ottoman.
+20% off and free shipping on this fabulous scalloped rug.
+Select colors of these cashmere crewneck sweaters are under $70. These are SUCH a good buy. Easy to layer with and such a chic outfit with your favorite jeans and flats/sneaks.
+I’m testing a bunch of new beauty products at the moment, including this Estee Lauder advanced night repair serum (have heard good things), this cult-following exfoliator from Biologique Recherche, and this tinted moisturizer.
+Did you grow up with a breadbox in your home? My mother had one that had a sliding metal panel in the front. The basic idea is you keep it in there to prevent it from molding — needs to be a dry/non-humid device. I love this French-style wooden one and might put it in our pantry. We go through a lot of sandwich bread and baguette in our home…
+This breton stripe pullover is fun.
+This one-piece swimsuit is on high sellout risk — only a few left here and here, though fully stocked at SEA itself. Seems to be THE suit for the season ahead. Note that SEA is currently offering an extra 15% off sale!
+If you’re going to wear the above suit, I have to implore you to buy these — they work with swimsuits and even in water! I used them last summer for a lot of pool days.
+Into this saucy sweater.
+Love a dramatic top like this. YES!