CURRENT ROTATIONS

Watching: The Rookie (2018 Liz Friedlander/ABC)

Watched: The Holdovers(2023 Alexander Payne)

Watched: Dune: Part Two (2024 Denis Villeneuve)

Reading: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865 Lewis Carroll)

Watching: The White Lotus (2022 Mark White/HBO)

Listening: Everything is Alive (2023 Slowdive)

Watched: The Boy and the Heron (2023 Hayao Miyazaki)

Reading: Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914 (2014 Dan Free)

Listening: Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers (2022 Kendrick Lamar)

Playing: Hudson's Adventure Island (1986 Hudson Soft)

Watched: Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2000 Ira Ishida)

Listening: Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (2023 Lana del Rey)

Films

Civil War (2023)

Civil War is an impressive work that confronts western audiences with what we believe could never happen here. Recent polarization in the west and the january 6th Capitol riots have somewhat woken people up. Peace can be easily disrupted under the right circumstances. The acting performances of all the mains are solid and I particularly liked Cailee Spaeny as the reckless rookie warphotographer. Jesse Plemons appears in only one scene in the movie, but his performance was hauntingly good and by far the most memorable scene. I used to call him evil Matt Damon but he has become his own phenomenon at this point. For all that I enjoyed about Civil War, I still felt slightly disappointed because this film is only a few notches away from being a classic, but the scenario and writing is a bit immature at times. I liked how this movie explores the relationship between Dunst and Spaeny, but I wish they'd focus more on this aspect. Also, the notion that war journalists are all restless adrenaline seekers sounds simplistic. In conclusion, Civil War is a wake up call and an entertaining, intelligent action movie.

Films

The Holdovers (2023)

Alexander Payne's latest feature film gained five Oscar nominations and won one. While it certainly had it's moments, my overall experience was somewhat disappointing. The main characters all have interesting story arcs but the overall story lacked urgency. The film is also a bit too long and feels unfocused at times. The acting performances were strong and Da'Vine Joy Randolph's performance felt sincere, but to me was not outstanding enough to be Oscar worthy. That being said The Holdovers is an enjoyable watch that is well written and Paul Giamatti is excellent as the grumpy, sadistic history teacher. Alexander Payne's films are often like that. Well written and enjoyable in the moment, but not very memorable. His storytelling is getting repetitive. In that regard the Oscar nomations perhaps elevated my expectations too high.

Music

Jay Som - Anak Ko (2019)

Jay Som is a new discovery for me and a very pleasant one so far. After hearing her feature on Bombay Bicycle Club's latest record I became interested and started listening to her most recent album release. Anak Ko is a proper shout out to the nineties. It's obvious that Jay Som has listened to My Bloody Valentine a lot as some songs like "Superbike" and title track "Anak Ko" have strong Loveless vibes. What I like about Anak Ko is how darker tracks like "If You Want It" and "Peace Out" are naturally combined with more cheerful, upbeat songs like "Nighttime Drive" and "Crown". Jay Som has got a good band accompanying her, with strong drums and basslines throughout the record. Definitely worth to listen to Anak Ko if shoegaze and post-rock sounds make you happy.

Films

Io Capitano (2023)

An impressive production from the director of Gomorra. Io Capitano sheds light on a world that as a European I hear about daily on the news, yet seems to be so far away from me. The journey of labour migrants seeking a better life in Europe is terrifying. What shocked me the most is how the constant flow of refugees has created systems along migration routes where people are exploited and abused systematically for profit. It is then quite impressive how Mateo Garrone is able to create a balanced film that mixes light, wholesome moments with the very likeable main characters, with tragic and shocking scenes that show the grim reality behind the refugee/labour migrant crisis we face in Europe.

Films

Monkey Man (2024)

To describe Dev Patel's directorial debut as 'Indian John Wick' would on the one hand be lazy, but on the other hand pretty accurate. Patel is not blind to the resemblances either and directly references John Wick in the movie at some point. If anything, Monkey Man is a more intense, more violent and more down to earth version of the very popular franchise that has been gradually losing significance since the third installment. Where John Wick started as a no nonsense revenge movie, the sequels started to bore the audience with a lot of self-referential crap and lore that the audience could do without. Monkey Man is refreshing in that regard. Patel's debut is vibrant, intense and rough around the edges. The characters have clear goals and motivations and fighting scenes, though sometimes overly curel and gorey, serve a purpose. It's worth mentioning that Dev Patel, in the tradition of John Wick and martial arts legends before him, does all the fighting in the movie himself. This alone makes Monkey Man a recommended watch!

Update: For a more comprehensive review of Monkey Man I'd like to redirect you to Saikyo Central who wrote an excellent, insightful piece.

Films

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Villeneuve has proven to be able to create a movie that is visually breathtaking, but also stimulating intellectually. Dune's setpieces have this way of making the audience feel tiny and fragile in the unforgiving landscape of Arrakis. The cast is on fire and I was cheering for cute couple Muad'dib and Chani the entire three hours. But the greatest triumph is the soundtrack and sound effects. Sound plays an important role in the Dune films, summoning the Shai'hulud is a thrill everytime and the scene where Paul tries to ride one was amazing. Also compliments to Hans Zimmer who captures the atmosphere of Dune so well. Dune Part One and Two are easily the most impressive films I have seen in the cinema in the past ten years.

Music

Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers (2022)

I have only recently become a Kendrick Lamar fan. Last year I gave his music a shot, starting with Good Kid M.A.A.D City and from there chronologically until Mr. Morale. Kendrick Lamar is a rapper, but really he is more of a literary figure. I have never heard music containing such deep, literary structures. All Kendrick Albums are high concept and each album plays with a sort of duality or a dilemma. What's interesting is how Kendrick's struggles start out external, with him looking outward at the society he was raised in, but then on later albums his view shifts inwards, becoming more internalizing. Mr. Morale is a therapy session featuring the most vulnerable Kendrick Lamar on all his records. What's amazing his how he manages to tackle very heavy topics while still creating an album that's musically top notch with memorable productions. Favorite songs are "Father Time", "Purple Hearts", "Auntie Diaries" and "Crown".