September 2021 Viewing Diary

Busy month. I found an apartment. I moved. AGAIN. Second time this year. Plus, a family wedding. Plus a new job. It’s been a full year of upheaval, no stability, nothing regular, my stuff scattered in storage units. I’m doing my best to keep up with it and keep calm. I’m sitting in my new apartment, surrounded by boxes – I honestly have too much stuff to fit into this apartment – so it’s going to be a while before I get organized. Gritting my teeth to endure a couple more months of controlled chaos. I’m about to go away for a week, I have a lot going on, so when I get back I will once again be surrounded by BOXES everywhere. I am so over it. I’m ready to get another cat! No cat can replace Hope. But I am ready to find another needy cat and give him/her a home. Give love to a creature. But … I can’t until I’m set up. My viewing this month has been pretty slim, due to all of this. But here’s what I’ve seen!

Faya Dayi (2021; d. Jessica Beshir)
A dream-like documentary about “khat”, a plant indigenous to Ethiopia, and the culture surrounding it. What it’s “about” can’t describe the experience of watching it though. For me, this is one of the films of the year. I reviewed for Ebert.

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali (2021; d. Marcus A. Clarke)
Well-trod ground for sure, but this documentary focuses solely on the relationship between the two men, and makes for a good history lesson, particularly for those not familiar with all the complexities. I reviewed for Ebert.

The Wire, Season 1 (2002)
Boy, those were the days. The era of The Wire, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under … the game-changing HBO era. A glut of riches. I decided to do a re-watch of The Wire after the tragic untimely death of Michael K. Williams, who created one of the most memorable characters in television history. I mean, all you have to do is say “Omar” and all kinds of pictures swirl through your mind, no matter how long ago you saw it. I remember thinking they just picked him off the street. He was so authentic. AND YET. He created a real character, with depth and complexity and humor and vulnerability – but he was also legitimately terrifying at points. The NY Times obit referred to Omar as a “shot-gun-toting thug” and I thought: Really? THAT’S WHAT YOU GOT for that performance? Infuriating. Anyway, having a great time reveling in this show again. No other show like it, before or since. How could there be?

Dating & New York (2021; d. Jonah Feingold)
A self-conscious rom-com-for-millennials. Some funny bits and observations but the two leads … I can’t keep them in my head for any length of time. They don’t STICK. But the sidekicks DO stick, and that’s a problem. Anyway, I reviewed for Ebert.

Zodiac (2007; d. David Fincher)
Maybe weird to say this is “comfort food” but it is. I’ve seen it so many times. I sink into its rhythms, the eerie beauty of its images, the performances, the clear dedication and precision Fincher brings to every moment (including the use of yellow in one of my favorite scenes in all of cinema). In a time where nothing is normal, nothing is regular, everything is unfamiliar, everything is unsettled, I needed something well-known.

LuLa Rich (2021; d. Jenner Furst, Julia Willoughby Nason)
New docuseries on Netflix about the pyramid-scheme MLM LuLaRoe – I highly recommend it. It’s fascinating! The documentary covers every element of one of my niche interests: pyramid schemes, cult-like corporate cultures, sociopathic CEOs, fraud. So this look at the downfall of LuLaRoe, a LEGGINGS company – and crappy leggings too (I have a pair and will admit that they are soft and comfy), but it was incredibly over-valued, and the pyramid scheme operation left many of the “retailers” destitute, with garages full of moldy (sometimes literally) leggings. The founders (a married couple) are a PIECE OF WORK, let me tell you. I remember when LuLaRoe took over my Facebook feed – it was 2015/16/17. It appeared to come from out of nowhere. And then vanished just as quickly. I really enjoyed this.

Mad Women’s Ball (2021; d. Mélanie Laurent)
I really loved this! A good old-fashioned period melodrama. I reviewed for Ebert.

Blue Bayou (2021; d. Justin Chon)
An excruciating and infuriating watch about the disgraceful deportations faced by those adopted into the United States, people being deported after living their whole lives here. Disgusting. Have some issues with Chon’s writing – which I mentioned when I reviewed his Ms. Purple – but this story is so powerful it doesn’t matter. It should be seen. I reviewed for Ebert.

What’s Up, Doc? (1972; d. Peter Bogdanovich)
A family favorite. Watched with the kids. They have memorized the entire thing. They also can keep track of the bags.
Me: “Wait, is that the jewels?”
Pearl: “No. It’s the documents.”
My niece is going to be Eunice Burns for Halloween. I cannot WAIT.

Titane (2021; d. Julia Ducournau)
This movie is CRAZY. And I cannot stop thinking about Vincent Lindon’s performance. That CHARACTER. He only makes up half of the movie – and the whole thing is riveting – and disgusting!! – and funny! – but I can’t stop thinking about this character. I reviewed for Ebert.