Ash's Cinematic Universe

"Don't you think maybe they are the same thing? Love and attention?" - Lady Bird (2017)

[yetanotherfilmkid]

This profile has been dead for many moons. If ya still care about my movie thoughts, my profile on Letterboxd is here

[yetanotherfilmkid]

Ok but every single one of katniss' outfits from the victory tour in the movie look like she was going to a business casual brunch networking event. And Peeta was looked like he was buying a $7 coffee in Fitzroy on a Thursday. Why did they do them so dirty????

[femmeidiot]

Dolly Parton is a god to me.

[yetanotherfilmkid]

According to the tumblr tag, the only people who attended the BAFTAs are Tom Hiddleston and Pedro Pascal

[yetanotherfilmkid]

Celeste and Jesse Forever (dir. Lee Toland Kreiger, 2012)

Hello! Long time, no see!!

I just finished watching this movie after stumbling along the trailer on YouTube maybe a year or two ago.

Despite having two of the most recognisable comedy actors of 2010s television (Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones) as the titular characters of the film, Celeste and Jesse Forever delivers a sobering perspective of marriage and, more importantly, divorce. It explores the thick sea of emotions and complexity that comes from separating from your best friend, picking through the highs and lows of watching them move on and become someone new. My favourite part of the movie was how much care was put into the writing of Celeste and Jesse's relationship; within them we see a couple that undoubtedly loves each other and aren't willing to let all their love go just yet. This is a refreshing take on "Hate Your Ex With a Passion" that has been normalised in modern culture and provides some interesting questions on emotional boundaries and intimacy.

To me, the greatest tragedy of this film is that it came out too soon. It has all the narrative bones of a fantastic film but the execution is so intrinsically linked to the year 2012 that it manages to sterilise some of the most emotionally raw parts of the story. In some ways, it works in favour of the writing by undermining a few of the overused tropes, in fact Rashida Jones wrote this film because she was tired of the basic romcom, but many of the stereotypes (including but not limited to, Gay Best Friend, Infatuated in a "Desperate but Cute" Way Business Man and Misguided Teenager Played by Emma Roberts) tended to feel like the weakest parts of the film. I feel like, had it come out a few years later, it could measure up to films like A Marriage Story (2019) whereas, in its current form, it feels more like the weird uncle of it.

Celeste and Jesse Forever is a romcom without the rom or the com but not in a manner that feels non-committal to a genre. It is comfortably understated and feels genuine. It's clear that a lot of love went into the creation of this movie and I honestly enjoyed watching it a lot.

Rating: 8/10

[weirwolves]

Anya Taylor-Joy in THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT (2020) dir. Scott Frank 

[melodramasarchive]

ask game: send me a number from 1-100 and i’ll tell you what song is at that position in my spotify wrapped

[odaat-deactivated20210704]

Talented. Brilliant. Incredible. Amazing. Show stopping. Spectacular. Never the same. Totally unique. Completely not ever been done before.

Legally Blonde (2001) dir. Robert Luketic

[yetanotherfilmkid]

You know what, fuck it. Here's a snapshot review of Legally Blonde, (dir. Robert Luketic, 2001) for no other reason other than the fact that I adore this movie SO MUCH.

Early 2000s "chick-flicks" were an era defined by women taking off their glasses and suddenly becoming supermodels, Robert Luketic's Legally Blonde actively subverted the pretty/smart binary that is still deeply ingrained in our modern society and delivered a film that, at first, was written off as just another girly movie.

With the feminist movement evolving over time and becoming a more mainstream concept, the film recently gained more popularity as people started to realise its extremely feminist message. I would actually argue that Legally Blonde is one of the best feminist movies of its time. I remember the first time I watched this movie (at the young, naive age of about 12). I was put off by Elle's seemingly incessant girly girl nature and found myself waiting for her to grow up to become "serious" like Vivian. However, watching it now as a woman in a STEM degree, I connect more with Elle because no matter how hard people try to put her down and tell her she's too dumb for Harvard Law, she persists without losing who she is at her core. That's the real beauty of Legally Blonde - it never forces Elle to choose between Pretty™️ or Smart™️, nor does it invalidate Vivian and Paulette because they believed in that binary. That is what a true feminist film does.

[yetanotherfilmkid]

The Farewell (dir. Lulu Wang, 2019)

I’ve had my eye on this movie for a while and was super excited when it popped up at my local library. Lucky for me, the librarians were kind enough to mail it to me since I can’t go to get it myself (classic stage 4 lock down restrictions) and I was able to watch it with my grandma about a month ago. 

There’s a really specific emotion you get being in a place with people you knew when you were only a little kid but are now practically strangers to you and I think The Farewell has the most realistic depiction of that feeling I’ve ever seen, to the point that it actually reminded me of my own family. 

The Farewell really keeps it simple but there is a lot of love and respect in the simplicity that I admire greatly. The performances from Awkwafina as Billie and Zhao Shuzhen as Nai-Nai were particularly notable in this way, they were able to create an environment that left just as much unsaid as there was said.

One thing I found particularly interesting was that the moral dilemma at the crux of the film was never resolved; in fact, in real life, Nai-Nai continued to live in blissful ignorance until the film was released in China and the only reason Lulu Wang's family allowed her to create the film was because they assumed Nai-Nai wouldn't live to see it. Depending on your investment in the film, it is both a good thing and a bad thing. As a piece telling the story of a family affair, I actually prefer the question unanswered because there is no real right answer to the question. However as a piece centred on a question of morality, it felt like the script was shying away from what could and should be the opus of the story. More than once, we as an audience edged closer to some description of a resolution but moments later the subject is changed and we were immediately moved away.

The main draw card of this film and what makes it really special to me is the homeliness of it. It's not cinematic, it's plain, simple and honest. Simple directorial decisions like having majority of the film in Chinese, washing out the colours and leaving a lot of questions unanswered keep the story close to home. There was a really distinctive peace to the construction of this film that makes it feel very intimate and familiar. For a directorial debut, this is a wonderful beginning

Movie Rating: 7.5/10

[nicholasbritel]

New Girl Week → Day 3: Favorite Character - Winston Bishop “You know what I learned from the internet? We got nothing to worry about. Everybody has their moment. We might get a cat one day- that cat might play the keyboard. A bear might jump on our trampoline- we don’t need to have it figured out right now. Our moments will come.”

[yetanotherfilmkid]

TV Shows I’ve Binged in Iso Pt 2.

Apparently a lot of people liked this and it’s also super fun so here we go again with some snapshot reviews brought to you by the Victorian Lockdown.

New Girl - I’ve watched all 7 seasons in the span of 2 weeks (oops) and I really loved it. Full disclosure, I cried multiple times over a lot of non-sad parts. There’s just such a warm feeling of home that I found with these characters and so many jokes that are genuinely hilarious (I may never get over panic moon walking and night peanuts). The absolute best part of this show is the chemistry between the actors, they all act like a family and it's clear to see that there is so much love in their work. Like every show, New Girl has its various flaws, season 7 was a bit of a let down because it felt rushed (I don’t know what happened but it’s very clear they were on borrowed time by late season 6). Unfortunately, for me, that time restraint put a stopper on the chemistry between Nick and Jess that the show spent 7 years perfecting to a science because we had to make up for the time between season 6 and 7. Even though there were some really beautiful moments, I felt like it never compared to what earlier seasons managed. That being said, the content still maintained that comforting friends-that-became-your-family vibe that I fell in love with in the first place and everybody on that show deserves recognition for their work.

Dark - I’ve been watching this with my friend Ethan (we’re only in mid-season 2 so no spoilers pls xo) and it’s quite a wild ride. The whole vibe of the show sits comfortably between Stranger Things and Twin Peaks which makes for a magnetic and nuanced mystery that I really enjoy. One thing that really stands out for me is the large ensemble of characters, which is something I often struggle with because I never remember who’s who, but with Dark, I didn’t have any trouble with this at all. Each of the characters is explored in a unique and memorable way that makes them all compelling and multi-layered without sacrificing clarity in the story. I have a really good feeling about where this one is going, it’s not the kind of show I’m usually into but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this one.

The Owl House - I watched this one with my sister, @juicebox-baby and oh boy, it was so sweet. This is the kind of show I wish came out when I was 12 because I definitely would have been obsessed with it. In all honesty, the story itself is pretty basic but that really allows for the characters and the world to shine. In the classic Disney fashion, The Owl House is super heartfelt and carries your stockstandard morals through classic mishaps and tropes. I have to give Disney bonus props for an openly queer main character, I personally can't wait to see more development on that storyline and hope this means Disney and other studios will become more inclusive of diverse characters and creators.

The Umbrella Academy (season 2) - I spent a while deciding whether watching season 2 was actually worth watching because season 1 didn't set as high a standard as I'd hoped (I found most of the characters recycled and a bit annoying) but I think I made the right choice. Season 2 managed to round out the characters in a much nicer way so they were more than just archetypes as well as tidy up the Agency arc. I feel like this season leaned into the stylism a lot heavier and they were definitely rewarded for it, they managed to keep it both gritty and humorous without confusing the senses. Like many people, I am a big fan of the new and evolved Hargreeves Sibling Dynamic, outfitted with wholesome moments and gratuitous humour and decided minimisation on the sibling-romance, all in all, there's a lot to like about season 2.

[filmgifs]

Dear Diary, my teen angst bullshit has a body count.

HEATHERS (1989), dir. Michael Lehmann

[freeselfdefense]

Rape Escape

Easy and very effective

Requires nothing but your body

Includes attack

[kny111]

Very useful to know, pass and share please.

[blog-archive-111189]

Worth watching

[heylookitseli-archives]

I don’t mean to impose a personal favour on you guys, but I really would like to ask that everyone who follows me reblog this. 

I don’t think I made it very clear but last month I was sexually assaulted by someone who I thought was my friend (I don’t want to talk about it don’t ask), and it’s… really fucked with my head. 

Had I known this a month ago I would have been able to get away. 

So, essentially, I’m really pleading with you to reblog this so everyone who follows you doesn’t get stuck in the same position I was with no way out. 

I mean again I don’t want the point of this to be my sob story or whatever but if you could reblog this it would seriously mean a lot 

[leo-bish]

and im asking to all of my followers who see this post in your dashboard to please press play to this video, you never know when this is gonna be

useful, PLEASE DON’T IGNORE IT.

[appropriately-inappropriate]

This is one of the first moves I was taught in Krav Maga, and it is one of the most effective.

It took me about a half hour to get down with practice, but once you get it, it’s an intuitive movement.

Please pass this along, it will save lives.

[sprouting-colours-deactivated20]

Important

[hayei]

Please reblog this.

[madiithepand0rk-blog]

Please, if you see this, Reblog it. 

[nailtipflips]

If you see this, reblog please.

[sigilcrafter]

not witchy but definitely worth watching, stay safe

[thatgayguywitch]

If you follow me, REBLOG THIS

[abrin-core]

REBLOG I SWEAR THIS CAN SAVE SOMEONE

[maya-hawkes-deactivated20260712]

Tessa Thompson in Sorry To Bother You (2018) dir. Boots Riley

[yetanotherfilmkid]

5 things that bring me joy, tagged by @sadspice666

this is a really wholesome tag, I love it

1. Lying on the driveway at midnight to watch the stars and planes. I’ve only done it a few times but the quiet is so meditative and you can just feel the whole universe observing you as you observe it.

2. Seeing my cat asleep on my bed, she’s so soft and cuddly.

3. Dancing with my friends. We go all out no matter what we’re listening to 😂 Even when there’s no music, we just dance everywhere, it doesn’t matter if there are people watching.

4. When my sister unexpectedly hugs me. I’m super close with her but we don’t really hug each other (which is weird bc we’re both hug-people) but lately she will just walk up to me and hug me and I like that a lot.

5.  Exploring. This is what I do most with my friends and we have wandered into the most random places you can imagine (places like the Melbourne Art Centre’s extensive underground tunnel system, a performing arts university and a windmill house just to name a few). You find the coolest spots and have the strangest stories to tell.

Edit: I forgot to tag so I'm tagging @juicebox-baby

[yetanotherfilmkid]

TV Shows I’ve Binged During Iso & Brief Thoughts on Them

I noticed lately that I have been watching far more series than movies so I thought I’d share a few thoughts on what I’m watching at the moment.

High Fidelity - I loved this show so much that I watched it twice (once by myself and the second time with my friend, Ethan). Definitely the standout feature of the show is the soundtrack, it sent me on a 4 week Bowie-Bender both times, and Rob’s outfits (much time was spent with Ethan discussing her killer style). I definitely recommend this if you’re a music lover.

Fleabag - Fleabag is competing to be my favourite show of all time. Even though I personally believe that season 2 was (eeeeever so slightly) better, the whole show is funny and brash and sad and relatable and I want to just loop it in my brain forever. High Fidelity and Fleabag are cut from the same cloth in subject/format but I think Fleabag does a more intimate job of it. This is easily one of the most satisfying shows ever, the character development is beautiful and doesn’t feel forced. Also, fourth-wall-breakers, take notes. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is just an amazing writer and actress, holy hell. 

The Good Place - I accidentally binge-re-watched all 4 seasons in 6 days (oops). I don’t even know where to begin on how much I love this damn show. It just keeps getting better as you go along, even though the first season is phenomenal, the rest just ...improves?? It’s genuinely hilarious (“I love you too, egg” has had me cackling at 3 am like a madwoman more than once) and the discussion on ethics and humanity is just *chef’s kiss*. It’s not often that you see a show with decent and insightful commentary on morals, politics, humanity and the good and evil binary; multiple POC in leading roles; genuinely good humour and aesthetics and set design that deserve love. Everyone should watch this show.

Community - This was another re-watch for me (Ethan recommended it to me a couple of years ago) but it has always held a special place in my heart. Much like The Good Place, the heart of the show runs through the idea that humans, together, are better and will make each other better people. I could continue to be sentimental about the characters but that wouldn’t give me enough time to gush about the several other beauties of the show for example, homages to classic movies, Donald Glover, the many 3%er jokes, paintball episodes, Troy and Abed doing literally anything, the absolute absurdity of the show, the list is infinitely long and it’s only a matter of time before I accidentally summarise each individual episode. #SixSeasonsAndAMovie bitches ✌

Love - Ethan and I watched this together and it was pretty fantastic. We both agreed that Gus and Mickey were kinda overrated as a couple and as human beings but even so it was a fun and wholesome watch. We spent multiple hours bitching about all the characters, especially Gus and Mickey, and occasionally the writers. This is the kind of show you watch because you’re super invested in the side characters and have a reluctant soft spot for the main characters, but as a whole is entirely lovable. (Bertie deserves better).

Midnight Gospel - Midnight Gospel is an absolute trip to watch. Animating a podcast was a really cool idea but how can we possibly make it cooler?? By animating groovy space creatures in psychedelic palettes of course! The whole show is sensory overload in the best way possible and I want to re-watch it asap because there is so much to absorb in such a short amount of time. Even though the early episodes are totally awesome, the last few episodes are my favourites by far as they feel more personal and not gonna lie, I cried in the last episode. I really hope it comes back for more seasons because it was a really strong start.

Normal People - I read the book and then counted the days til the series came out. I’m not joking. I loved this adaptation a lot. It paid a lot of respect to the book but managed to divert comfortably into its own medium too. I was super worried they’d turn it into a flowery teen romance series and I’m infinitely grateful they didn’t. Ethan thought that the series was actually an improvement on the book whereas I love them both equally. The two highlights for me were the cinematography, the shots were so damn pretty, and the pacing of the script, it left a lot open for the audience to sit with and think about before moving on. It’s probably one of my favourite adaptations of a book ever.

Unorthodox - Ethan and I watched this most recently and this is another one everyone needs to see. I’d like to start this by saying I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Hasidic community portrayed in any media before which was really interesting, I feel like majority of devout followers in media are Christian so this was an interesting learning point for me. Unorthodox was really beautifully made and, most importantly, it was made by people who genuinely care about the story. The absolute standout was the amount of raw emotion packed into it all. The characters don’t even need dialogue for us to feel what they’re feeling. Shira Haas did a phenomenal job portraying Esty. I think it’s also important to remember that it’s not an indictment of religion, but rather, an exploration of Esty’s personal relationship with God and herself. Just thinking about this show makes me want to talk about it for hours

One Day at a Time - I watched this one with my sister @juicebox-baby and holy crap it is extremely wholesome. It’s your classic family sitcom but it’s also super heartfelt and inclusive. Full disclosure, I cried like an absolute baby on like 5 or 6 separate occasions. At times, the writing feels like it’s trying to cram too much in and as a result, the arcs can feel a little bit rigid but that’s fairly easy to look past in favour of the really sweet family feel. Also I have to take a second to say that Abuelita is a gift to humanity.

Killing Eve - Phoebe Waller-Bridge is back. Can Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh please get all of the awards for having stupid amounts of talent? Not to quote the ads but they really do have killer chemistry and it’s a little offensive how amazing they are. I don’t normally go for murder/espionage shows but there was something about this one that had me completely hooked. Even my mum (who falls asleep during every. single. show.) managed to stay awake almost the whole time and was nagging me to watch the next episode with her. 

[theglimmmertwins]

Unorthodox (2020)