#2018 films

[raspberrydee]

she’s literally one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous star wars characters and hardly anyone talks about her 🥲

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

November: Grey Redux

Crazy Rich Asians / Gemma Chan as Astrid Young

The designer, Mary E. Vogt, commented about this dress in an interview: "I had some beautiful dresses that Ralph Russo very generously lent us. They were gorgeous, and the director was excited about them, too. I showed them to Gemma and for that particular scene — the one where she finds out her husband is cheating on her — she said, 'I want to be really vulnerable and I don’t want to wear anything too fabulous.'

"At first, I was disappointed. I said, 'Are you sure?' But when I thought about it, yes, of course it makes more sense for this scene. It’s about her vulnerability, not some outfit. I had an elegant, gray 1930’s Ralph Lauren dress. It was very simple, yet it worked. You looked at her — at her face and her expression. You weren’t distracted by three-dimensional butterflies or anything wild on the dress."

A side view reveals that the dress fastens with a zipper on the right side. It also has an ornament at the waist, which appears to be in the shape of a dragonfly.

[randomgirl005]

Vita & Virginia (2018)

Yesterday, I rewatched 'Vita & Virginia,' and I must say, I didn't remember loving it so much the first time.

The film beautifully portrays the passionate and forbidden love story between two of the greatest female writers of their time, Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West.

It's a must-watch, whether you're a fan of these two remarkable women or not.

[safelyhome19]

After Everything (2018) starring Jeremy Allen White and Maika Monroe

[movieseverymonth]

Mid90s (2018)

dir. Jonah Hill

[adamwatchesmovies]

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

While it would be nice for every story to be wholly new and completely unpredictable, there’s something satisfying about a film that uses genre tropes this well. Crazy Rich Asians is the best romantic comedy we’ve seen in a long time. It’s glamorous, romantic, gorgeous, hilarious, smart and expertly directed.

Economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is travelling to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding) for his best friend Colin’s wedding. There, she learns that Nick's family is among the richest in the country. Dismissed by many because they don’t believe she will fit in, Rachel becomes determined to prove them wrong.

I watched Crazy Rich Asians on a double-bill with Monster-in-Law because of the two pictures’ similarities. Basically, they share a plot but the execution makes them so different it’s like they have nothing in common. You can probably guess the story’s beats but there’s a twist to them that makes Crazy Rich Asians so much more. When you see Nick and Rachel together, they’re perfect. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. He’s wealthy but isn't insensitive to the problems of the common person and doesn't flaunt his riches. The performers have excellent chemistry. They’re both beautiful people. The camera doesn’t shy away from showing you Henry Golding without a shirt on and Constance Wu appears in several glamorous outfits that make her look like a princess. You like them as individuals. You like them even better as a couple. There’s no reason for Nick's mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) to disapprove of them but she does. In her eyes, Rachel's upbringing means she will never fit in.

It’s not that Rachel grew up “poor” and that Nick didn’t. This film is deeper than that. Eleanor doesn’t approve because of the way Rachel was raised. Her parents were Chinese but she grew up in America. In Eleanor's eyes, Rachel could never understand the values the Young family hold so dearly. The opening scene shows Eleanor being discrimated against for being a foreigner. It generates sympathy for her. Seeing her judge Rachel later shows how much of a hypocrite she is.

You could dig deep into the film’s themes of old money vs. new money, of tradition and need to move away from them as well, the significance of the relationship between Astrid (Gemma Chan) and her husband, Michael (Pierre Png), or what it means to see a major theatrical release with an all-Asian cast, but ultimately, all of these are gravy. What you came for are some laughs and scenes of tenderness that will make your date want to hold your hand. That's what you get. The wedding Nick and Rachel attend is so beautiful and so glamorous. It radiates love so brightly it’ll bring tears to your eyes. It’s as romantic as attending a real-life wedding between two people you know are perfect for each other. You love seeing Nick and Rachel together. Seeing them having a great time with every luxury money can buy at their fingertips is rewarding.

There's so much going on with the cinematography, sets and costume designs you could watch the movie on mute and have a great time but then you’d be missing out on the comedy. Awkwafina (an actress who continues to impress with each film) delivers one big laugh after another. So does Ken Jeong - the funniest he’s been in years. Many of the side characters are quirky and memorable for their comedic values. The “serious” characterization is left to the main cast, with Eleanor coming off as particularly multi-faceted. She can afford to be. As in any fantasy, the leads have to be “perfect” to reinforce that anyone who doesn’t cheer for them is a villain.

Crazy Rich Asians is so enormously pleasing only those with a bone to pick against romantic comedies could dislike it. That said, I would agree with criticisms directed towards the conclusion. It’s a bit too long and does indulge a bit in some rom-com clichés. I'm mentioning this to show I'm not biased. The visuals, humor, drama and romance make Crazy Rich Asians a film you’ll be glad to return to over and over. It’s a terrific pick for date night. (August 7, 2020)

[floydsglasses]

I have a film journal and I added Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

I'm a little bit mad at how the poster turned out in the left corner but other than that the rest of it I think it looks good for my own abilities, and clearly I added this not because someone is in it (🤭) but because it's a good movie and it fits my book

(just ignore that my handwriting is obviously bad, I'm only 18 and it's gonna get better hopefully)

[lindsehbee]

Evan Peters in American Animals (2018)