born a schmuck • writer at downright creepy
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Poor Things 2023
At its best early in Bella’s development — when we’re in this bizarro world of a grown woman being denied newfound, basic pleasure. “Don’t masturbate, don’t eat too many pastries, don’t waste time wondering at the world.” Things we tell children, patterned onto an adult. The story’s much less interesting when it’s like “women can read Emerson and be sexually liberated too!!!”
I do love getting to watch Emma Stone grow as an actor in real time — she’s wonderful here. With every film, it seems she discovers something new in her craft, and it’s pretty damn special to witness.
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Godzilla Minus One 2023
Not to be an idiot about a Big Monster movie but I cannot overestimate to you how HUGE this guy is?? They do such an amazing job capturing his scale — he’s appropriately terrifying and loud. Those big spikies and lasers… bigger boat indeed! Also it has this funny effect where whenever they show the little girl she’s the tiniest little girl you ever did see because you just watched Godzilla flip his tail into a shopping center or whatever.
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Edge of the City 1957
I can’t believe John Cassavetes’ entire brand as an actor was “masculinity is tricky :/” and it fucking worked every time
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Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris 1970
Seems about right that white filmmakers made a doc about James Baldwin and managed to make it entirely about themselves via their aggression and cluelessness. I’m grateful for the footage but he obviously deserves better than this!!
