Robyn Sparkles

Part-time math teacher, full-time cinephile. I also blog here: http://trainsonfilm.tumblr.com/

[monolime]

The Queen in the North

[prncediana]

“It’s my favorite scene in the movie and it’s the most important scene in the movie. It’s also the scene that made the least sense to other people going in, which is why it’s a wonderful victory for me. I think that in superhero movies, they fight other people, they fight villains. So when I started to really hunker in on the significance of No Man’s Land, there were a couple people who were deeply confused, wondering, like, ‘Well, what is she going to do? How many bullets can she fight?’ And I kept saying, ‘It’s not about that. This is a different scene than that. This is a scene about her becoming Wonder Woman.’” -Patty Jenkins on the No Man’s Land scene

[robyn-sparkles]

Favorite Movies of 2016

Just in time for the Oscars!

My top 10 movies of the year, roughly in order of preference:

Moonlight - My favorite movie of the year. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

20th Century Women - I love the way this movie is big and small all at once. I love its compassion and its honesty. I can’t wait to rewatch it.

Kubo and the Two Strings - Beautiful animation and a fun story, but what really elevates it for me is how well it handles grief and letting go.

Arrival - Smart, thought-provoking science-fiction, with an emotionally resonant core.

Weiner - Equally hilarious and tragic. A documentary that reveals so much about our political system and the way the media covers politics. I saw it well before the election and I wonder how it would play now - probably even more infuriating.

Manchester by the Sea - Brutal. The most emotionally devastating movie I’ve seen in a long time, but it feels earned and truthful.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople & Sing Street - I’m listing these two together because I like them for similar reasons. They’re so charming! So much heart! And “Drive It Like You Stole It” is the best, obviously.

The Fits - A low-key coming-of-age story. I like how ambiguous it is. One of the best dance movies I’ve seen in a long time.

10 Cloverfield Lane - A fun sci-fi thriller with a great female empowerment storyline.

Runners-up: Everybody Wants Some!, La La Land, Certain Women

Movie I loved even though it was kind of terrible: The Neon Demon

Favorite Performances:

Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea

Lily Gladstone in Certain Women

The 3 Chirons - Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes - in Moonlight

The entire cast of 20th Century Women (because they work so perfectly as an ensemble and, anyway, how can I choose just one?)

Tom Bennett in Love & Friendship

Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane

Movies I need to catch up with that are most likely to make the list once I see them: Edge of 17, American Honey, The Red Turtle, 13th

Worst movies I saw: Suicide Squad, Knight of Cups

[netflixsense8gifs]

When this first started happening to us, I was frightened about it. But the more I connected to each of us, the more I recognized how it made me feel.

[robyn-sparkles]

Can't wait to watch the holiday special!

[cleanwhitekeds]

Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins)

[robyn-sparkles]

Recommendations Needed

I'm getting the chance to teach a film class at the middle school where I work. Since class is only an hour once a week, students will watch films for homework and then we will discuss in class. I would also like to incorporate film shorts into the course, since we can watch those during class and still have time to discuss. However, my knowledge of shorts is much more limited than my knowledge of feature films, so I need suggestions. So, Tumblr, what are good, middle-school appropriate short films?

[thegeekinside71channel]

Eartha Kitt and Adam West

[samwanda]

💕♥

[k-ohashi]

Simone Biles and Aly Raisman from the USA take gold and silver in the individual all around final

[tuathadedanannn]

while i can mainly only speak for sapphic playlists, ive noticed in general that the lgbt playlists were making are really white, cover heavy and… straight?

so heres a (very unabridged) list of lgbt musicians that deserve to be on your playlists way more than that cover of lego house. in alphabetical order:

Against Me! if youre trans & alternative and dont know abt against me - lead by trans frontwoman and punk rock mum laura jane grace - then idk what youre doing. ik theyre p well known, but i still never see them in playlists.

Angel Haze / Raen Roes black & native american two-spirit rapper with the brilliant freestyle rewrite of ‘same love’

Ashby and the Oceanns cute midwestern singer/songwriter with a tmg influence

Be Steadwell super cute butch singer/songwriter

Beth O'Reilly irish youtube singer whose gay ukelele songs arent covers

Bloc Party indie rock band from east london led by kele okereke, coolest man on earth, ended oasis w his snark (seriously)

Chris Garneau french-american indie singer reminiscent of spektor’s anti folk, often discusses trauma with very sad, floaty music. very androgynous voice

Christine and the Queens french synthpop by pansexual singer héloïse letissier

Coeur de Pirate french-canadian singer with a more folky vibe reminiscent of of monsters and men. oh, and shes dating laura jane grace. put them both in the same playlist. please.

Daskinsey4 (warning for nsfw imagery in the link) fuzzpedal britpop from bristol with a fun, bouncy tone

Doria Roberts 90s american folk singer/songwriter. political and confident. put ‘honey jar’ in your playlist please just do it.

Ezra Furman gay american alternative rock singer similar to neutral milk hotel

Ferras indie pop singer with a strong bowie influence vocally

Frank Ocean yes, you know who he is. have you listened to him? have you? i dont care if you only listen to harsh noise folk backwards - listen to frank ocean.

Gerard Way we all know gerard fuzzpedal emo king friends with ljg way and still i see more artic monkeys in these gaylists (gay playlists)

Grace Petrie folk singer from the midlands, england whose bbfsies w billy brag. has two modes: angry gay, sad gay. what more do you need?

Hayley Kiyoko ok ok ik we all know her shes the token woc in your playlist im putting her on the list anyway because im in love with her

Honeywater has a dubious place on the list due to the other fella but.. this is amandla stenbergs band. amandla. they make music. remember that.

the Hoosiers the british indie band behind ‘goodbye mister a’

Indigo Girls this is fucking lesbian heritage right here. Old Skool lesbian country singers right here.

the Internet classique gay triphop led by my dream girlfriend, syd the kyd

Jasmine Kennedy soft sad indie folk from the north of england. her sweet, quiet music ranges from melancholic to happy ending bliss. shes stage buddies w grace petrie too. put ‘cardigan sweater’ in your playlist. do it.

JD Samson & MEN nonbinary dance music officianado JD Samson and her new band after le tigre. loud and fun and gay

Jussie Smollet he plays jamal in empire. admittedly, he hasnt brought out his own stuff yet, but his music for empire is beautiful soulful R&B

Kaytranada a gay music producer whose worked with all the big names, including collaborating with the internet. gay squared.

Le Tirgre lesbian feminist dance music

MIKA the fella behind ‘grace kelly’ and outspoken mga singer whose broached gay/bi topics in his peppy, flamboyant pop since the beginning

MNEK brand new pop sensation making waves with his smooth, energetic love songs

Mr. Twin Sister american indie pop band from long island

Neon Hitch bisexual rroma indie pop singer from the uk

Rachael Yamagata melancholic, blues inspired folk-pop with a smooth, deep voice

Shamir nonbinary synthpop singer known for his androgynous voice and catchy, light hearted tunes such as ‘on the regular’ and ‘make a scene’

Sia bisexual pop-ballad queen who sings often abt trauma, mental illness, and abuse

Soko kristen stewarts girlfriend. indie singer with a high, airy voice whose music ranges in topic from trauma to homophobia to the surreal. put ‘who wears the pants’ on your playlist.

Spoonboy genderqueer punk singer from washington dc. try ‘sexy dreams’

Teenage Kitchen airy kidcore ukelele folk from bandcamp

Tegan & Sara look, ok, i know everyone knows abt tegan and sara. the lesbian band. so why are they never on sapphic/lesbian playlists? why?

Thao & Mirah folk/country lesbian mirah teams up w thao, who afaik is also sga, for an album of soft, sweet folk music

Tracy Chapman seriously ok this is History. this is the woman behind ‘fast car.’ very political american folk singer from the 90s. i love her. shes amazing.

Tunde Olaniran R&B / hiphop singer from michigan with a loud, take-no-shit style

Willow Smith yes, the willow smith. she wrote two love songs dedicated to marceline from adventure time. thats all you need to know. shes perfect.

Younger Lovers fuzzpedal energetic indie punk

this is also a list of trans women on bandcamp (check the notes for additions)

also, yknow what, spoken word poetrys getting quite popular now. heres a few lgbt spoken word poets to put in the start or end of your playlist to shake it up:

andrea gibson, toby campion, venus selenite, dia davina, aislinn evans, denice frohman, ollie renee schminkey, jade anouka

note: ive bolded the names of poc to emphasise our lgbt playlists are too white. trans musicians are italicised for similar reasons.

please feel free to add your own!

[untamedame]

Erin McKeown needs to be on this list!

[robyn-sparkles]

ANOHNI (also known as Antony from Antony and the Johnsons) is a wonderful trans artist. She does electronic/art pop songs and is the second openly trans person to be nominated for an Oscar (for “Manta Ray” - Best Original Song).

[robyn-sparkles]

3. Ex Machina (Alex Garland, 2015)

The first really good movie I saw in 2016. Excellent as a thought-provoking sci-fi film, a character-driven actor showcase, and a provocative examination of gender and exploitation.

I’ve decided to pretend Alicia Vikander won her Oscar for this, rather than The Danish Girl. Robot femme fatale >>>> long-suffering wife.

[watsonlove]

Yesterday I went to see the Cursed Child. I came in with no idea what to expect and it was AMAZING. Some things about the play were, I think, possibly even more beautiful than the films. Having seen it I felt more connected to Hermione and the stories than I have since Deathly Hallows came out, which was such a gift. Meeting Noma and seeing her on stage was like meeting my older self and have her tell me everything was going to be alright, which as you can imagine was immensely comforting (and emotional)! The cast and crew welcomed me like I was family and Noma was everything I could ever hope she would be. She’s wonderful. The music is beautiful… I could go on… Here are some pics of me meeting Noma and the crew. Love, E xx ‪#‎keepthesecrets‬ ‪#‎19yearslater‬

[cups-of-tea-and-history]

For no real reason other than I feel like it, I would like to take a moment to remember and appreciate Channing Tatum’s Ode To Situational Homosexuality (tm @johnleavittlives).

[robyn-sparkles]

Channing Tatum is a treasure. I want him to star in a full-fledged Hollywood musical.

[itsalwaystimeforhorror]

Housu (1977)

[robyn-sparkles]

Time for a rewatch?

[robyn-sparkles]

Emmy Nominations - I have thoughts

I don’t watch a ton of prestige shows* and I’m a few days late, but I still have opinions.

Catastrophe!!!! Got a writing nomination! I am shocked and delighted by this.

Sorry, Emmy’s, I am still not going to watch Silicon Valley. Or House of Cards. Or Ray Donovan. No interest. (Does anyone other than Emmy voters watch Ray Donovan?) On the other hand, I would like to watch The People vs. O.J. Simpson before the Emmy ceremony.

Beyonce was nominated for directing Lemonade. I was not expecting that, but it’s great! Will they find a way to announce this during the ceremony so she comes? Does this mean Bey and Tay could both be at the Emmy’s, if TSwift comes as Hiddleston’s date? Is Beyonce on her way to an EGOT?**

Is the People vs. OJ going to win Hairstyling purely on the strength of Marcia Clark’s disastrous curly hairdo?

The Amazing Race episode “We’re Only Doing Freaky Stuff Today” (aka the one where they do scary snowy mountain things in the French Alps) got a well-deserved nod for Cinematography for a Reality Show. I hope it wins. I’ve never seen such a gorgeous episode of reality television.

Steve Harvey earned an Outstanding Host Emmy nomination (for something called Little Big Shots) in the same year as his Miss Universe hosting gaffe. Redemption arc!

How is Downton Abbey STILL getting Emmy nominations? Even when it was at its peak, it didn’t deserve 10 noms.

Nominations I don’t understand on an “isn’t that against the rules?” level:

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have a single shared nomination for Guest Actress in a Comedy for SNL.

Horace and Pete is nominated as both a Drama (Guest Actress) and a Comedy (Editing).

There are now categories for Actor/Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. Is this new?

Every year, reading through the Emmy nominations leads to at least one “I didn’t know that was still on” discovery. This year’s is Portlandia. But yay, I guess.

Nitpicky Game of Thrones thoughts:

I can’t believe GOT got FIVE supporting actor/actress nominations and none of them were for Sophie Turner, this season’s MVP.

I can’t get behind the Writing nomination for Battle of the Bastards. As a technical achievement, it’s incredible, but I think the writing is its weakest part.

I would love to see The Door win for Directing. One of my favorite GOT episodes ever.

 Other nominations making me happy:

Jane the Virgin’s narrator.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s 4 nominations (but I wish Rachel Bloom had made it in).

The SYTYCD tap dance by Anthony Morigerato. Watch it!

“A New Season”, the song from Galavant which is delightfully silly and makes me want to watch the show.

Master of None and black-ish breaking into multiple major Comedy categories. Particularly glad the episode “Parents” was recognized.

*Mostly, I watch CW shows and CBS reality. I’m such a sophisticated tv viewer.

**Although, to be honest, I’m still rooting for the Grease Live directors. That was a crazy technical achievement!

[grumpyandgorgeous]

The time is here again: Alex looks over the Emmy longlist.

I usually try to get this out quickly, but it wasn’t an option this year to do it the morning of the announcement. I’ve also been depressed as all get out so I think this year will end up being shorter out of having less to say–even TV hasn’t been holding my interest lately.

In yet another way of organizing the Emmy pdf, the Academy’s moved from frontloading the list with the Big Categories to organizing alphabetically by category sections. Which, yes, thank you Emmys! Keep this format please! So we are starting with Animated section.

And we’ll start that with a bright spot: the nomination for the Simpsons in Outstanding Animated Program. Years from now, when the Simpsons is finally canceled, someone will unoriginally claim that it went on for years too long, and you will be able to make that person look dumb by proving they didn’t even watch the later seasons of the Simpsons by pointing out “But what about that one Halloween episode?” This past season the Simpsons broke with tradition and aired two Halloween specials; in addition to the Treehouse of Horror staple there was “Halloween of Horror,” the episode getting the nomination here. “Halloween of Horror” is every bit as good an episode as an early seasons classic–funny, with an original concept, but also heartfelt. Did it make use of totally new continuity? Yes. But it was so good it was impossible to really care: I watched this with my family and we were all invested in it in a way we hadn’t been in years. Afterward I just wanted to hug my parents and they hadn’t even done anything. It’s everything you want in a holiday special. There is no justice if this episode loses. I really recommend you check this one out.

(Sorry, Bob’s Burgers, but “The Horse Rider-er” can’t compare. Maybe next year.)

There’s a lot of white guys in the directing categories with some exceptions, and then there’s direction in variety special: half-white men, half not. Among the nots: Beyonce. Keep this up Emmys! We can go further!!

The hairstyling (and make-up) categories have always been a section for me to get excited over because there’s usually the odd inclusion of a Nickelodeon program… but not this year. Now it is all the prestige adult programming you’‘d expect. Boo. Open your minds voters.

Last year John Oliver won for Interactive Program but this year, despite upping his game, he is not even nominated. I think this one is James Corden’s to lose. It’s all because of those Carpool Karaokes. You did this.

Main Title Design! The nominees are The Man in the High Castle, Narcos, Jessica Jones, The Night Manager, and Vinyl and I would link them but I know some will be location locked so do it yourself. Surprisingly, I think my favorite is Narcos. They all appropriately match the show they represent so it is hard to limit on that–for example, the Night Manager’s is overrated, just like the Night Manager itself.

I wanted to root for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and I love the number from Empire, and yeah Gaga got robbed on that Oscar because AMPAS should feel guilty they reward Sam Smith for decades and I actually think the Garfunkel and Oates song is great, but Original Song should be Galavant’s. I know. I didn’t expect it either. I’m even linking to it even though this will be location locked. It is that good. It is stupid and perfect and everything I want in a song considering this category trends toward comedy and not actual musical excellence. (In spirit, it reminds me of my favorite “We’re Gonna Finally be Fine” from Community.) Team Galavant.

Theme music is going to be a toss up between Crazy Ex-Gilrfriend and the Night Manager in my mind. What the hell is the Whispers, also? There are real actors in this. Milo Ventimiglia was in this. And yet I have never heard of it.Also the music is terrible and unoriginal. Great work here, Emmys.

Finally, the acting categories. Congrats to the ones who deserve to be here in Lead Actor in a Comedy, and also congrats to William H. Macy, who will evidently get nominated until Shameless is canceled and possibly even after that.

Who do we think will win Lead Actor in a Drama? My money is on Matthew Rhys or Rami Malek, but I would not count out Liev Schriber because as the Ringer (specifically tumblr’s @poemsvsvolcano) pointed out this week, parents love Ray Donovan–and the Academy is made up of a lot of people we could consider parents.

God some of these categories are going to be tough to call. Lead Actor in a Limited Series? Who knows right? Well, not Cumberbatch, unless things go tits up.

How did Amy Schumer get a comedy nod for a season of her show nobody watched? And why didn’t the perfect Catherine O’Hara get nominated for her turn in Schitt’s Creek??? *shakes fist* EMMYS!!!

I feel bad for everyone up against Sarah Paulson in Lead Actress in a Limited Series. Some of those other turns are stuff that will get written up in eventual obituaries–Confirmation for Kerry, Fargo for Dunst–and they have no shot at winning. Hell Rachel McAdams didn’t even get a nom for being the only good thing in True Detective s2 despite being a female character named Antigone. Gaga didn’t get nominated and she won the damn Golden Globe. Tough category–honestly, probably the toughest of everything this year. 

Similarly, I feel bad for a season of American Crime that was exalted during its run but had the misfortune to finish right before American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson started. It could be the sweeper in another year.

Amazing how they almost got rid of miniseries a few years ago and now it is the strongest right?

Supporting Actor in a Comedy is a great category but I am really happy with the nom for Matt Walsh. I rewatched all of Veep a month ago and realized how underrated Mike is–so underrated even I was underrating him. My dream is to see Reid Scott get nominated as Dan becomes increasingly horrible, but considering how much work Matt Walsh puts in to so many shows and never gets credit–I’m very happy for this nom.

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series–I genuinely have no idea who is the safe prediction here, and I imagine it is one of the three noms from The People vs OJ Simpson, but I would love to see Jesse Plemons take this for Fargo. Ed and Peggy were the heart of the season and while Kirsten Dunst is my queen for it, he made her arc possible. Ed was so solid and dependable and just fell into madness trying to be everything she wanted, to give her everything she wanted. Fingers crossed here, but really Bokeem was wonderful too, and I am sure everyone is very deserving.

I don’t think this was the best showcase season for Amy but one day Anna Chlumsky’s gotta win, you know? That said, I am pulling for the perpetually underrated Niecy Nash in Supporting Comedy Actress. You should too.

YOU GUYS I DON’T THINK CONSTANCE ZIMMER HAS A SHOT IN HELL OF WINNING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA FOR UNREAL BUT CAN WE APPLAUD IT BECAUSE A LIFETIME DRAMA MADE IN ROADS AT THE EMMYS WHEN IT IS A LOOK AT THE BEHIND THE SCENES OF A FICTIONAL SHOW LIKE THE BACHELOR AND ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND SEXISM????? YOU KNOW I LOVE QUINN RIGHT?????? Emmy this. And also everyone watch UnREAL.

I think Tracy Morgan is the sentimental fave for Guest Actor in a Comedy, and Larry David the only likely upset, but props to Peter MacNicol for out-foulmouthing everyone on Veep. It takes some skill to walk in and play that guy who disgusts everyone on a show of characters who disgust the audience.

Skipping the series nominations, mostly. You know the drill.

Sam Bee gets overlooked for Variety Chat but we nominate Bill Maher? I think this is Corden’s to lose honestly.

Poor Comedy Bang Bang, getting ignored in Sketch.

God the Emmys love James Corden. He’s up for Variety Special for a Carpool Karaoke special and I believe he would win for the Tonys in Special Class, right? This is insane.

I myself am rooting for Grease!: Live in Special Class, however. Can’t forget Baby V’s star turn.

infoMania alumna Erin Gibson gets nominated for her series Gay of Thrones in Short Form Variety. Come on infoMania! Eventually I will get you all Emmys. This would make it two of like seven! (I count Bryan Safi’s Daytime Emmy.)

Girl Meets World gets a Children’s Program nod but I still root for Linda Ellerbee at Nick News.

VICE gets noms for its new network for Gaycation and WOMAN, as well as a nom for its show on HBO. I saw the Gaycation nomination coming and suspected WOMAN would cross over as well–they have starpower, and I am even hearing ads on the radio for Gaycation even though the run ended months ago. But deep in my heart i held out hope to see recognition for the superior show States of Undress. I know I waxed about it previously but can’t find the link now–just, if you have the time, check that one out. I am just hoping now it gets a second season.

And I am tired so I am skipping writing for yay for things. Yep. I will say that.

So I am done! And I will be back next year to do this again. Always and forever, as long as tumblr exists and William H Macy gets nominated for Shameless!

[robyn-sparkles]

THAT GALAVANT SONG. I didn’t believe you, but you’re right it’s wonderful. Does this mean I need to try watching Galavant now?

Agree on lots of other things too, but especially Matt Walsh. His work on Veep is easy to overlook but always excellent. And I think his character brings a nice balance to the show. Still rooting for Andre Braugher in that category, though. Captain Holt!

[robyn-sparkles]

2. Joy (David O. Russell, 2015)

Meh. The weakest of David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence’s collaborations.

[robyn-sparkles]

1. The Danish Girl (Tom Hooper, 2015)

This was the first movie I saw in January and it was not a strong start to the year. The Danish Girl tries hard, but its depiction of transgenderism is shallow. Everything is focused on surfaces - the film makes it seem like Lili became a woman because she really liked clothes. A failure as both a movie and a tribute to a transgender pioneer. Lili Elbe deserves better.

(I’m late getting started on this, but summer break means I finally have time to post about the movies I’ve seen throughout the year)