Monthly Recap: May 2020

I don't know what's bothering me the most, that time is flying and it's June already or that there's still seven months before this shitty year ends. Either way, I'm glad May is over because it was a very challenging month for me. I suffered from back pain and struggled with aching joins for a week, not to mention the breast pain I had most of the month and the hay fever that hit me like a truck this year and made me wish I was dead. 

On top of that, I stopped lifting weights — which I absolutely loved and really helped me keep my sanity — and started eating like there's no tomorrow hence gaining weight in the hope of getting my period back — which I lost thanks to my eating disorder — and seeing my body change but most of all not being able to fit in my summer clothes really did wonders for my already precarious mental health. And it sure doesn't help when people around me *cough* my mother *cough* says that instead of buying new clothes I should just lose the weight because my weight was normal already and hence fattening up won't help me at all. Thank god I found a support group on Facebook and did the right thing of staying off Instagram because seeing all those fit people would be very triggering. 

And then, of course, there's a bit of stress caused by the lack of money. I'm still waiting for my March's payoff while others got April too; also the money for independent workers aren't coming that fast — my dad only got 600€ mid-April for the month of March and it's really not much for four people. Luckily we don't have rent to pay and I had some savings to buy groceries. I feel like I shouldn't have talked about this but I just needed to get it off my chest because I try to act like it's not affecting me but it does. 

The good news is that the situation here in Italy is getting better. Fewer and fewer people are getting sick and dying. Although there's plenty of dickheads who think is absolutely okay to gather giving absolutely no fucks about social distancing and wearing masks. And, I finally found a shiny Mewtwo in Pokemon GO which totally made my month because I've been trying to find one since it was released almost a year ago since I really like Mewtwo and the shiny is green which is my favourite colour. 

Anyway, since I felt miserable I thought it'd be appropriate to continue watching Mad Men, the most miserable series I've ever seen, which eventually turned into a binge when on May 14 I learnt that Netflix is removing it on June 9, with 4 seasons left to watch and the prospect of going back to work on the 18th — which didn't happen, by the way. I finally finished it on the 29th and I didn't love it. Don Draper is such a disgusting man, and while I understood his behaviour as I learnt more about his past, I just wouldn't like him. And it's pretty disgusting how some people defended him no matter what — I read a discussion about an episode on Reddit. In that episode, he first forces his wife to drink an orange sherbet when she clearly told him she didn't like it and then he just takes off with the car and leaves her there, miles away from home. Not only, when he goes back looking for her and eventually finds her back at their apartment, he kicks in the apartment's door, he chases her around and then violently tackles her to the floor. Someone actually had the nerve to say the wife's behaviour got under their skin. Also, why all the women fall head over heels for Don will always be a mystery for me. Another thing I didn't love about this is Don's daughter Sally played by Kiernan Shipka. The character is so annoying and I was thoughtfully unimpressed with Shipka's performance. 

I did love two of the main female characters though, Elisabeth Moss's Petty Olsen and Christina Hendricks's Joan Holloway/Harris. They both grow so much throughout the seasons as they meet their fair share of obstacles, and the relationship between them at the end is just beautiful. I also love Ben Feldman's Michael Ginsberg. He was really obnoxious at first but he slowly made his way into my heart so I was devastated when he lost it. And the look in Peggy's eyes when she called 911 to have him committed in a hospital was devastating. 

I also finished Apple's Defending Jacob and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. SPOILERS AHEAD. The series was very engaging and tense, and the acting was good — in addition to his hotness, Evans brings so much strength and vulnerability to the character of Jacob's father Andy. Michelle Dockery does a pretty good job as Jacob's mom Laurie but there was something off about her performance. And Jaeden Martell is great as Jacob — but I'm not sure how I feel about not knowing who the murderer is. Everything points at Jacob, from the crime scene to the murder story he posted online to the "I just got away with murder" look on his face when his case is dismissed and he's declared a free man. And yet the importance they gave the murder gene makes me believe Andy may have something to do with the murder since he has the murder gene and he's always been positive of Jacob's innocence. However, the way he broke down in Mexico should be a hint that Andy didn't have anything to do with it and that Jacob probably did it. I don't know. I've heard that the book's pretty ambiguous too though. 

And then there's What We Do in the Shadows Season 2 that keeps making me laugh every week with a new fantastic episode. If I were to pick my favourite of the month I'd go with Colin's Promotion. Is it the best one? Probably not. But I love Colin Robinson so I was really nice having an episode focusing on him. Jackie Dayton though... what a character! 

And I also watched a few episodes of Rick and Morty, Arrested Development and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and re-started watching The Handmaid's Tale which brought back the reason why I only watched the first nine episodes — it is such a great series but so tough to watch. And, I can't believe I almost forgot to mention it, but I guess that says a lot about the series, I also watched Netflix's The Eddy, which was co-produced by Damien Chazelle and revolves around a jazz club in Paris. I really loved the music and some of the performances — especially Joanna Kulig's —, but the story wasn't that compelling and it took me almost a week to watch the 8 episodes.

Of course, I watched Harry Styles's Watermelon Sugar music video so many times I lost count — and probably that little dignity I had left. And just in case you still haven't seen it

YOU'RE WELCOME!

And I finally finished reading Tolstoy's War and Peace which turned out to be such a dreadful read. If you want to read Russian literature, please go with Dostoevsky as his work is much better.

So, as you can imagine, there wasn't a lot of time left to watch movies and in fact, I only watched 13 in May. Actually, that's not as bad as I thought. Anyway, some were on my watchlist since the dawn of times so I'm pretty proud of myself. 

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Plot: Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are two lifelong friends who share an apartment and have never seriously contemplated having sex with each other. They have a problem though, they both have terrible jobs and cannot make ends meet. After attending their high school reunion, and upon learning that the popular athlete (Brandon Routh) is now a porn actor, Zac and Miri decide to make a porno, which will star both actors and them both.

I don't know how many times Margaret from Cinematic Corner talked about this film either on her blog, Twitter or Letterboxd so I finally gave it a chance and I'm glad I did because this is such a sweet and funny film. Sure, it's vulgar and the ending is predictable, but it's very enjoyable. Also, Justin Long, who plays Routh's gay boyfriend, is terrific in here. He's in the film for a couple of minutes only but he just kills it. When he says, "Fucking movies". Damn, that will never not be funny lol
Rating: 3,5

The Way Back (2020)

Plot: Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) is a former high school basketball star whose life turned out much differently than expected as he's now a newly divorced construction worker with a drinking problem. He's given a second chance when he's asked to coach the struggling basketball team of his former school. 

I should have gone with the Ed Harris and Colin Farrell film of the same title because, while heavier than this — judging from its plot —, it would at least have those two great actors. Instead, I went for this boring, uncompelling basketball film whose characters, including the leading one, have no depth whatsoever and therefore I couldn't care less about them. The only redeeming aspect is Affleck's performance which successfully manages to distract you from the terrible writing.

Rating: 2

Kodachrome (2017)

Plot: Matt Ryder (Jason Sudeikis) reluctantly agrees to drive his estranged, dying father (Ed Harris), a world-famous photographer, from New York to Parsons, Kansas to develop old rolls of Kodachrome before the photo lab closes its doors for good. Accompanying them is Ben's nurse, Zooey (Elizabeth Olsen).

I don't know for how long I put off this film despite the positive reviews I kept reading. Anyway, I regret waiting so long because this was such a sweet and heartwarming father-and-son comedy-drama. Sure, the plot is fairly predictable but that doesn't prevent it from being throughout compelling and engaging. The cast too is amazing. Sudeikis, the reason why I put this off, really shines in this unusual serious role, Ed Harris is obviously mesmerizing as the dying father, and Elizabeth Olsen gives such a solid and charming performance.

Rating: 3,5

Marriage Story (2019) - Review | Rewatch

I didn't think it was even possible but I loved it even more this time around. And I cried more too, obviously. 

Swallow (2019)

Plot: Hunter (Haley Bennett) seems to have it all — she is married to a young, rich and successful man, Richie (Austin Stowell), and lives in a lavish villa in New York. However, her life is completely controlled by her husband and his family. When she gets pregnant, as she keeps failing to meet the family's expectations, she picks up a very dangerous habit, swallowing the most random objects, from a harmless marble to sharp objects and batteries.

I already knew I wasn't normal but this film gave me further proof of that as I actually thought she was going to eat her fetus. Anyway, the film, although difficult to watch, is so compelling and engaging from start to finish, it is visually stunning, and benefits from Haley Bennett's terrific performance, an intimate portrait of a troubled woman who just wants to get control over her life.

Rating: 3,5

Look Who's Back (2015) - Review

The Willoughbys (2020)

Plot: There's nothing Mr. (voiced by Martin Short) and Mrs. (voiced by Jane Krakowski) Willoughby despise more than children. Unfortunately, they have four but do their best to neglect them. Upon realising they would be better off living on their own, the Willoughby children hatch a plan to send their parents on what hopefully will be a one-way trip. Things get an unexpected turn when a fun nanny (voiced by Maya Rudolph) shows up to take care of them.

As most Netflix originals, this animated flick too is quite forgettable. It's not terrible but it doesn't bring anything new to the table, the narrative lacks that something to make the story engaging and there are some pacing issues now and then. However, as silly and predictable as it is, it is quite fun, specifically thanks to the voice cast.

Rating: 3

Capone (2020)

Plot: After spending 10 years in prison for tax evasion, deprived of his power, money and sick with syphilis, Al Capone (Tom Hardy) returns to his home in Florida where he becomes haunted by his violent past.

I had no interest whatsoever in watching this film but all the reviews saying how Hardy's was one of the best/worst unintentionally funny performances ever made me watch it. And they were right. His performance is downright hilarious. Whether he was him talking, giving blank stares, "smoking" a carrot, or shitty himself as he was in the frame above, I just couldn't stop laughing. And Linda Cardellini smacking him hard was just priceless. Also, it still baffles me that this wasn't a dick statue.

Rating: 1

The Seventh Seal (1957) - Review

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Plot: Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is an unemployed 23-year-old who is having fun playing the bass in a garage rock band and dating a 17-year-old girl, Knives (Ellen Wong). His life gets complicated when he meets and falls for Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) as not only he has to find the courage to break-up with Knives who absolutely adores him but, as it turns out, must defeat Ramona's seven ex-lovers in battles to the death in order to be with her. 

I knew absolutely nothing about this film other than it's Edgar Wright's and stars Michael Cera. And the latter is the reason I never watched it before. That said, I had very high expectations because of Wright and I was kinda disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate the film — the idea, the characters, it's all very interesting, and Kieran Culkin is amazing. Plus, there's Chris Evans, although he's one of the evil exes — but I don't know, something was off about it and I lost interest towards the end. 

Rating: 3

Pulp Fiction (1994) - Review | Rewatch

The Bélier Family [La Famille Bélier] (2014)

Plot: The Béliers would be a very ordinary family if it wasn't for the fact that both parents, Rodolphe (François Damiens) and Gigi (Karin Viard), and their son, Quentin (Luca Gelberg), are deaf, leaving their daughter, Paula (Louane Emera), the only able to hear and talk. As it soon turns out, Paula has a very beautiful voice too and with the help of her choir teacher (Eric Elmosnino) she begins practising to get into a vocal elite choir in Paris but she faces a dilemma as her parents, who heavily rely on her ears and mouth, take the news badly.

This is a film I've been meaning to watch for six years, since I first saw the trailer on TV. I didn't remember much about it but I was expecting the film to be good. Unfortunately, it was a letdown. It's not terrible but it isn't good either. I kept waiting for the story to take an interesting, surprising turn but it never happened, the characters aren't as developed as they should have been, some scenes and characters interactions are absolutely pointless, and it all felt insignificant. The acting was pretty good though and so is the singing.

Rating: 2

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Plot: After five-six year of marriage, John (Brad Pitt) and Jane (Angelina Jolie) Smith are bored with their quiet domestic life and are seeing a marriage counsellor to make the passion come back. What they don't know is that they both are assassins working for two rival agencies. When they are both assigned to eliminate Benjamin "Tank" Danz (Adam Brody), they discover the truth and try to take each other out.

This is another of those films that I've been meaning to watch for years, probably more than a decade, but it's not like I was missing a lot. It's a very average action flick with decent action sequences and a more-or-less engaging story. Pitt and Jolie have wonderful chemistry though — it doesn't surprise me they fell in love on set,  and it breaks my heart that they split up — and that Fight Club homage was really nice as Brody's character rocks a t-shirt with the Fight Club logo.

Rating: 2,5