I didn’t post an update last week—mostly because I forgot, but also
because I’m making an effort to not read and watch as much as I have in the
past. I’m still averaging a book a week—which
was my goal all along this year—but I have to remind myself sometimes that
reading is a hobby, not an obligation.
And as for the movies? It’s not
that I want to consciously watch less, but that there aren’t as many appealing options
for me right now. Mediocre movies have
their place (a rainy Friday night when there’s absolutely nothing else to
watch), but I don’t need to pay for them on their opening weekend.
Anyway, here’s what I read and watched the past two weeks.
Books
The Disaster Artist by Greg
Sestero and Tom Bissell: A-. The
Room is one of my favorite bad movies because it’s just baffling to think
that an incoherent mess like this was finished in the first place. The
Disaster Artist, which will itself get a film adaptation later this year,
chronicles the making of The Room,
along with Greg Sestero’s relationship with the actor/writer/director/producer
Tommy Wiseau. The book is consistently
hilarious, and details in a refreshing way the filmmaking process.
Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately
by Alicia Cook: B. Again, I’ve been obsessed
with these Andrews McMeel poetry collections.
As far as quality goes, this is much better than the collection by
Robert Drake I read last time. Cook’s
poetry feels natural, tells a coherent story, and is cleverly rewritten halfway
through to convey different messages.
Tangles – A Story About Alzheimer’s,
My Mother, and Me by Sarah Leavitt: B+. It took me awhile to get into this graphic
memoir—not because I wasn’t a fan of the work; however, it’s an unrelentingly
depressing story. The unusual aesthetic
choices actually helped me get through this faster, as it helped me not dwell
on the more tragic entries.
Movies
Everything, Everything: C/C+. This was an advanced screening. I usually make up my mind on a rating, but in
this case, I have mixed feelings. The
movie was just as cheesy and kitschy as the book, but I had hopes that the
movie would make up for the book having serious Did Not Do Research problems. Also, the book’s big reveal worked because it
wasn’t afraid to call attention to a pretty common mental disorder we see in
books and movies; the movie left no traces of that, and just played it off as
something else entirely. Overall, this
isn’t a bad movie, but it’s so silly and convenient that I struggle to support
it.
Shut In: F. UGH! This was one of the most boring, incoherent horror movies I’ve
seen.
Going in Style: C+. Fun for what it is. Not sure what the message of the film is
supposed to be.
The Room: no rating. I had to rewatch this after reading the book,
and of course this didn’t disappoint.
Newtown: B-. Utterly depressing
documentary about the Sandy Hook massacre, although the filmmaking techniques
are flawed, and the whole piece feels incomplete.
Unforgettable: D. Contrary to what this random title
(seriously, it has no bearing on the plot of the movie) suggests, I’ll probably
forget this movie exists within the next week.
And here’s what I’m hoping to read and watch this week:
Books
Anna and the French Kiss by
Stephanie Perkins: The slump is still
going strong, so the only thing I’m planning to read listen to is this
romance.
Movies
I actually have a couple that I want to see this week!
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword:
I think this comes out in 3 weeks. This is another advanced screening.
The Circle: The previews look promising.
The Lost City of Z: The previews look promising. Critics are raving!
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