Monthly Recap: September 2019

There went another month, yet another month spent doing not much, both in terms of life and films/blogging.

I did see a few beautiful places in my town (Cascatelle, Ponte Romano) that I didn't even know existed up until a couple of months ago, and this weird thing keeps happening to me when I get texts from a person — I can't help but smile. It must be some sort of flu, right? *joking* — but other than that nothing new to report because I have the dullest and uneventful life a 25-year-old could have. 

To spice things up a little, I went off coffee for a week. That sure was something! Honestly though, it went pretty well, way better than expected and, if I have to be completely honest, I was more energetic and awake than I've ever been. I did take naps though so they might be the reason why. 

In terms of blogging, I did the usual Thursday Movie Picks posts, posted a review and joined Mettel Ray's wonderful TV Alphabet blogathon because, just in case you didn't know, I watch more series than movies now and on September I binge-watched Netflix's new series Unbelievable and HBO's Barry, which is one of the greatest, funniest series ever and has the best character ever, Noho Hank — I cannot thank Margaret from Cinematic Corner enough for this suggestion. And yesterday I also started rewatching Breaking Bad because the film is dropping on October 11. As if I don't have enough stuff to watch already.

I also read Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter to "gather some intel" about the Tate murders before watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Unfortunately, I had to work the only day my cinema was giving the movie in English so I missed it. But at least the book was great. Such interesting and compelling read. 

What I'm really trying to say here is that I didn't watch a lot of films, only eight. A new low for me lol

The Hustle (2019)

Plot: Penny (Rebel Wilson) is a small-time Australian con-artist who tricks men into giving her money. Josephine (Anne Hathaway) is a sophisticated British con-artist who cons the richest men in the world. The two cross paths when Penny travels to the French Riviera. After mentoring Penny for a while with the purpose of getting rid of her, Josephine finds herself competing with Penny to con a young American entrepreneur (Alex Sharp). 

While it's not the smartest comedy out there as many of the jokes and gags are silly and juvenile — it's not like I was expecting any different from Rebel Wilson —, the film is quite funny and entertaining, and, although I was not a fan of the ending — sure, finally a man who doesn't underestimate women but at the same time it feels like it's saying that men are smarter than women — the story takes some interesting twists and turns. I also liked how Rebel Wilson balanced Hathaway's seriousness. Anne's British accent is beyond obnoxious though.

Rating: 3

Beetlejuice (1988)

Plot: Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) are a normal couple... until they die and find themselves trapped in their house as ghosts. When the Deetzes (Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) and their teen daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder), move in, Adam and Barbara attempt to scare them away but without success. Lydia eventually discovers them in the attic and tries to help them but things get serious only when a malicious spirit, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), enters the picture.

Being the only film on my Netflix downloads when I was internetless, I decided to rewatch it as I hadn't seen it since I was a kid. Saying that it was a disappointment is a bit of an understatement. The dinner scene is hilarious — I could watch it on repeat all day long and not get tired of it —, Michael Keaton is awesome as Beetlejuice and young Alec Baldwin is hot, but I just found the film kind of flat and dull.

Rating: 3

Perfect Strangers (2016) - Review

"How many couples would split up if they looked at each other's phones?"

Before Sunrise (1995) - Review | Rewatch

Before Sunset (2004) - Review | Rewatch

Before Midnight (2013) - Review | Rewatch

Duck Butter (2018) 

Plot: Nima (Alia Shawkat) is a struggling actor; Sergio (Laia Costa) is a singer and artist. The two women meet at the bar when Sergio was performing and, after spending the night together and Nima getting fired from her acting gig, they decide to spend 24 hours together, having sex every hour to really get to know each other.

I'm really into indies and experimental films but Duck Butter, unfortunately, was a rather disappointing one. While the concept is very interesting and the cameos by the Duplass brothers and Kumal Nanjiani at the beginning are fun, the film just isn't compelling. We spend an hour and a half with Nima and Sergio and we barely get to know them — the first comes across just as a heartless, emotionless person, while the latter as a needy and crazy woman. Neither the acting nor direction is interesting.

Rating: 2

A Bigger Splash (2016)

Plot: Famous rock star Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) and her boyfriend, filmmaker Paul De Smedt (Matthias Schoenaerts), are vacationing and recovering on the Italian island of Pantelleria. Their peaceful and quiet stay is disrupted when Marianne's former lover and old friend, Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes), arrives with his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson). 

Although I wasn't a fan of Luca Guadagnino's Call Me By Your Name, I did love his take on Suspiria and since both Suspiria and A Bigger Splash stars Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson I finally gave this one a chance. I had quite high expectations but unfortunately, the film didn't meet them. The story is weak and uncompelling for the most, the characters aren't much better and the film is atrociously paced. The majority of the film is just beyond boring and the cast, although the actors give strong performances — not Dakota Johnson, she is bad as usual —, can't save the film.

Rating: 1 ½