WATCHING
Power of the Dog - verrrrrry slow start, but! Cumberbatch is amazing, and it really picks up to reveal a conniving plot. Loved how my feelings towards the characters flipped from beginning to end.
Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood - loved this. The setup is different enough that it’s not overly saccharine. Tom Hanks is great.
Nocturnal Animals – Jake G. Wasn’t expecting how vile it is (the fictional story)
The Guilty – Jake G again. Meh, a lesser ‘Phone Booth’
Pen15 - LOLS
When Harry Met Santa – so this is technically an advert, that’s a bit ambling at the start, but it’s a lovely, weird short film. From the Norwegian Postal service.
Little Simz – I Love You, I Hate You – The Film – I just love her so much. Directed by Sam Pilling
Happiest Season – Wrote a ‘proper review’ about this for Its not that boring.
Velvet Buzzsaw – Dorian Gray vibes, quite silly but fun. I really didn’t like Zawe Ashton – I don’t think you’re supposed to, but I find her irritating and don’t rate her. Meow
True Story - Kevin Hart. Very good – did not expect it to be
Succession S3
Curb S11
The Unforgivable - Sandra Bullock
Little Women (new one)
Landscapers - Brilliant. Great acting (Olivia Coleman and David Thewlis) and a refreshing, surreal take on what could have been a very standard.
Encounter - Riz is reliably great, and I did enjoy this but I guessed what was happening very early in the story and so it felt like more needed to happen. It was a very steady watch.
I am… (C4 Series) These are all so great. Great performances all round, and so well observed.
Don’t Look Up – So disappointed. I didn’t find it funny… Jennifer Lawrence was the best thing about the film. It was also good to see Leo play a different kind of role. Jonah Hill was not good, but then I don’t think his part was well written. There’s too much going on, and yet nothing seems to happen (apart from the inevitable comet). UGH. What happened Adam McKay!?
To Die For - 90s Nicole KidmanRatatouille (and various other wholesome films for lazy Christmas watching)
The Secret Life of Pets 2 – I loved this!
READING
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason – Got through this so quickly. I loved it, and after I’d finished reading it I was very reflective and felt full of gratitude. It’s one of those books you can read over and over.
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers – So far so good. I wouldn’t have chosen this, but was recommended. it has a clear ‘plot’ which is something most of the books I’ve been reading recently don’t have, so it’s a nice change.
On “Succession,” Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke – Great article/interview with the actor playing Kendal Roy. I would watch a film about him…
Birds Aren’t Real, or Are They? Inside a Gen Z Conspiracy Theory. New York Times piece on Peter McIndoe, the 23-year-old creator of the viral Birds Aren’t Real movement – a parody social movement that pokes fun at misinformation.
Worms magazine - A magazine about reading and writing – I love the branding and ethos behind Worms. ‘If you’re reading this, you are a worm. We’re all worms, and in the end, we’re going to be eaten by them. As a (book)worm, you will fertilize your mind with glorious words…’ I’ve ordered issue #4
Another Little Simz piece from Port Magazine – Really well written by Natty Kasambala. Lots of gems from Little Simz - I really liked this quote: “Poems can easily be raps; raps can easily be stories; stories can easily be films, like they’re all linked and intertwined.” which speaks to her multidisciplinary as an artist.
The Milky Bar Adult, by Dave Dye – The true story of why so many adverts are so meh/shite. (An account of making an advert) so close to the bone you if you work in advertising you have to laugh/cry
52 things I learned in 2021 – for some reason the one fact that I can still remember is that most people draw dead butterflies
https://www.ithoughtaboutthatalot.com/ – 24 essays written by 24 anonymous writers. One of the essays is about sobriety, which has prompted me to do some writing around my pregnancy and how I’m feeling. ‘Trapped in a leisure-less generation’ was another essay that stood out, and made me think about my mom, who cares for everyone, all the time, every day.
Genre Is Disappearing. What Comes Next? by Amanda Petrusich for The New Yorker
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett – An essay on friendship. Can’t remember where I came across this, but really enjoyed it. Beautiful writing. (Will now read one of her books, I’m very behind I know)
LOOKING
Bricks have never looked so sexy…
Nicky Hamilton Photography – I came across the image ‘Mothers Milk’ in Little Black Book. So surreal and powerful. His work is beautiful, focusing on his models/characters mental state, each photograph telling an emotional narrative. Love his cinematic otherworldly lighting. Love love love.
https://jeen-yuhs.com/ – The Kanye Netflix doc has a website, which is nicely designed. I liked the merch page. Reminded me of a photograph from the book ‘The Impossible Image’ - Which I’ve just checked was published 22 years ago…Jehzus!
https://virgilabloh.com/free-game/ – RIP to a design legend, and all round amazing guy. This free resource he created says a lot about the type of person Virgil Abloh was – sharing knowledge and helping others. A very useful and beautifully designed site (what else).
Pollinator Pathmaker – a tool that lets you input the size of your garden and then designs a bee haven for your space.
LISTENING
This soulful Christmas playlist from Love Will Save The Day
The Meters, Struttin’ (new record purchase)
All my favourite records: Alabama Shakes – Sound and Colour, Brittany Howard – Jamie, The Miseducation of Lauren Hill, Tyler – Flower Boy, The Slim Shady LP, Little Ann…
6 Music's Festive Takeover Arlo Parks was full of great tracks – need to revisit
https://theshfl.com/ – Playlists NOT from an algorithm (found via Web Curios)
OTHER STUFF
Tyler the Creator has made a great, interesting, stylish, and different ad for his luggage collection. Love this film. He’s built a really nice brand – kind of like an ugly/more daring Wes Anderson world. https://golflefleur.com/
https://happytaxpayer.com/ – This is a website created to show the people of Finland what their taxes go towards. Designed in the style of Netlfix home screen, with the aim of people feeling positive towards paying tax. Someone needs to do one for the UK, I imagine it would be more complicated/depressing.
