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!
TV: Bad Sisters, The Bureau (hard to find bc it’s French, it’s very very intense but the acting is incredible, it’s not new but I just watched it), Abbott Elementary, The Bear
Books: We All Want Impossible Things, The Latecomer, Grace (by Cody Keenan), The Light We Carry (Michelle Obama’s latest book, I really needed to hear all of the lessons she shared), One Italian Summer
Podcasts: A Thing or Two, The Dave Chang Show
Clothing: AYR’s The Early Mornings Tee – a long sleeve tee/sweatshirt hybrid that I love and wear all the time
Thank you for these! Lusting after one of those Ayr tees now!
xx
Hi! I’m with you on Pinocchio; I wanted to like it more than I did. I kept wanting it to be darker than it was? Or maybe I thought the film portended to be darker than it actually is? Pan’s Labyrinth strikes such a beautiful balance of darkness and light; this one didn’t do it for me.
My favorite movie I watched this year was The Lost Daughter (Netflix), based on the Elena Ferrante book. My favorite show was My Brilliant Friend, based on the Elena Ferrante series 🙂 and also Pachinko on Apple TV +!
Oh! And the best novel I read in 2022 was James Baldwin’s Another Country. Couldn’t recommend it more highly. Reminded me a bit of The Sun Also Rises, but, with all due respect to Ernest, I thought it was much better and deeper.
Thank you so much for sharing!!
PS – I really need to get with the program on Elena Ferrante!!
I love those books (the four Neapolitan novels) so much that I envy you for not having yet read them. In my experience (and also in speaking to others), you have to commit to reading My Brilliant Friend. The first 150 pages or so (I know that’s a lot to ask) can be hard to get into – but I promise it’s worth it!!!
!! Love this note and encouragement — thank you for the nudge!
I just read Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and wow… I was completely transported. I couldn’t put it down! I’m not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination but I really enjoyed how the author takes the reader inside that world and how she layered it with the story of family and friendship. Also loved the many references to art and poetry.
OK, SOOO intrigued by the Zevin book! I just added it to the top slot in my TBR list. Thanks!
xx
I’d like to recommend the movie that was my favorite as a child – “Fly Away Home,” with Anna Paquin and Jeff Daniels. It’s a children’s movie from the 90s about a young girl who finds abandoned goose eggs near her house. When they hatch, they imprint on her, and she develops a special bond. She and her dad then build ultralight planes to teach the geese how to fly south for the winter, which they can’t do naturally without a goose mom. The music is searing (incredible score from Mark Isham and Mary Chapin Carpenter) and the cinematography is beautiful.
I’m not great at assessing the age appropriateness of movies, so tread with caution, but I LOVED this film and it still remains very special to me as an adult!
Oh gosh I hadn’t thought about that movie in awhile but also recall loving it! Thanks for the reminder. We’ve been watching some of those old classics — “Babe,” “Homeward Bound,” etc, with the kids and I think this would be perfect!
xx
I’ve read a ton this year (best feeling!) and recent highlights were Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow & The Marriage Portrait. Would love to hear your thoughts on either/both… not sure if you’ve read them.
Those are both at the top of my list — really hoping I get to more reading this year and will absolutely share thoughts!
xx
TV: Mo, Somebody Somewhere, All Creatures Great and Small, Stanley Tucci in Italy
Books: Mad Honey, Lessons in Chemistry, love all books by Kelly Corrigan, Anna the Biography, These Precious Days,
Podcasts: Forever 35, Everything is fine. (warning they often use profanity so if that bothers you, not your show), A Think or Two with Claire and Erica, Kelly Corrigan Wonders, The Daily, Stay Tuned with Preet,Breaking Beauty, Pop Fashion, Beck and Call
Oo thank you for all of these! I’d forgotten about “Somebody Somewhere” but I really enjoyed that show, and “These Precious Days” was one of my favorite reads this year — I’d forgotten! That feels like years ago I read it!
xx
Matilda was an incredible small screen adaptation of the broadway musical. I’m a Roald Dahl devotee and was skeptical that they could improve on the Mara Wilson version from my youth- but they knocked it out of the park. My kids and husband were spellbound.
Oo this has me excited! Thanks for sharing!
I loved Emily the Criminal also! My favorite book this year was Chemistry Lessons (one of the most moving and relatable portrayals of marriage and partnership I’ve ever read, with This Is How It Always Is being another beautiful marriage/family story). I also read Kindred by Octavia Butler for the first time ever and was blown away! It was a breathless page turner. Saw very few movies this year but enjoyed Glass Onion as well. My best wardrobe addition was finally investing in a good trench with a hood for rainy spring days. Such an upgrade for my walk from car to campus office with just an umbrella!
OK, I need to read “Chemistry Lessons” next. Thanks for convincing me! Kindred is also on my list.
Bravo on the good trench — I’m actually sharing a post this week about how small improvements on specific areas of frustration in our daily lives can be MAGICAL. I feel like your trench filled a need!
xx
Loved Triangle of Sadness. I wasn’t sure going into it but loved how it evolved and ended.
Sharon! We watched it over the weekend and I am going back and forth on what to think about it. On the one hand, I found it wildly clever, snarky, imaginative — some of the scenes were nothing short of EPIC cinema, and the social commentary biting, incisive. But I don’t know that I fully follow the logic — was it that we’ll always devolve to the worst/most base versions of ourselves under pressure? Please share your interpretation…
xx
I would be so interested to hear your thoughts on White Lotus! My husband and I just finished and didn’t love it as much as the rest of the world seemed to, but we also keep talking about it. Maybe that’s the mark of a quality show?
Ah! Can’t believe I forgot to mention this — feels like we finished it eons ago as it was before the holidays officially came? So, I thought the first two thirds of the second season were incredible. Better than the first season. The show does such a good job of building friction. Every single scene puts everyone a bit more on edge / in an even more precarious situation. It’s like a teetering house of cards. But (spoiler alert if you’ve not watched) I found the ending a terrible letdown. It felt over-simplistic and deus-ex-machina-esque relative to the complexity and nuance of the narrative prior. Like, I wanted another moment of crossed/mixed identity where the wrong person gets killed in the heat of passion or the dead of night (similar to end of season 1), and I thought it was going to happen around Albie/Lucia/Aubrey Plaza’s foursome. I thought something was going to get crossed and someone was accidentally going to kill the wrong person (e.g., Albie thinks he’s killing Lucia’s pimp but actually kills the wife of Aubrey Plaza). Something like that would have made more sense because of all the white knighting going on. But instead, most of the characters end up off the hook? I was so unsatisfied. I feel like it was a really blunt, obtuse ending to a razor-sharp plot/narrative/set of characters.
Anyhow, it was still gripping and we tore through the entire season hungrily. I will eagerly watch season 3.
xx
As a new reader, I enjoy your blog very much. Thank you!
Have you read any Kate Atkinson or Kate Quinn? I would highly recommend anything by the first and just finished the new Kate Quinn, Diamond Eye, The Huntress is also excellent.
I just finished The Rose Code on audio and it sent me down an internet rabbit hole researching Bletchley Park and looking at pictures of a youthful Prince Philip! And now I want to re-watch The Imitation Game about Alan Turing. Such fascinating history.
Hi Susan! Welcome, and thank you! I’m so glad we’ve found each other. I’ve read neither Atkinson nor Quinn but appreciate the recs and have added to my list!
xx