This year, in an effort to rebel against our culture’s tendency to wait until the end of the year to make lists of the stuff we dug, I have started making end-of-month recaps of the movies, books, television shows, and other stuff I enjoyed. Here are January, February, March, and April’s lists.
And here’s all the stuff I liked in May:
MOVIES
WATCHER (2022)
Chloe Okuno’s WATCHER is flipping amazing - a tense AF film about an American woman convinced she’s being stalked through the streets of Romania. Incredibly well-shot and paced, the movie is a wonderful display of craft. So stressful it hurts in places, WATCHER is a movie where my tuchus spent the better part of the film clenched.
CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS (2022)
Who would have guessed that the full-length adaptation of a Disney Adventures television show would be so damn good! The movie is basically THE NICE GUYS meets WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT. I have no idea how this movie was made, but god bless whatever lunatic at Disney who greenlit it. I expect a sequel or spin-off released every two years from now until society crumbles.
ON THE COUNT OF THREE (2021)
Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Abbott are BFFs with a suicide pact who spend their last day trying to exorcise personal demons. Abbott is absolutely wonderful and Carmichael (in addition to directing) delivers a damn good performance. I love films that can mine comedy from tragedy and ON THE COUNT OF THREE is super funny and super dark. It’s as if my depression had a punchline.
FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! (1965)
I filled a hole in my cinematic journey this past month with a first-time watch of Russ Meyer's FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! Based on reputation, I was expecting something vivacious and exploitive and it certainly delivered. I wasn't expecting the film to have such killer dialogue, though. The film’s script is truly right up there with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS as far as movies I wish I could memorize every line of dialogue.
HATCHING (2022)
A girl with a troubled family life finds an egg in the woods. That egg hatches a bird-like monster who proceeds to form a lethal relationship with its new mommy. The monster from HATCHING is one of my favorite new film creatures. What a weird, scary lil’ dude - slurping up puke, eating people’s pets, taking bubble baths, being a big ol’ boss. Keep flying to new heights, HATCHING bird monster - I’ll be rooting for you all the way to the top.
BOOKS
COMEDY COMEDY COMEDY DRAMA - I absolutely loved Bob Odenkirk's memoir. I listened to the audiobook - which Odenkirk reads himself - and it's a breezy, fun, and highly practical look at the ups, downs, and, above all, extremely hard work to be found in a creative career. I find it oddly inspirational when I read a memoir from somebody whose work I admire and a big chunk of their success comes down to them working their ass off. I can work my ass off too. Anybody can. Working your ass off is a whole lot more achievable than dumb luck. Anyway, if you’re a fan of Odenkirk’s comedy and you’re curious how he found himself a dramatic leading man so late in his career, this is a great read.
COMICS
ONE-STAR SQUADRON - This comic, by Mark Russell and Steve Lieber, is such a special book. It perfectly walks the line between being a funny book about doofuses in capes and a very touching look at the small but important ways people can be heroes in the world around them. A team of z-grade superheroes work out of an office and rent themselves out on a rideshare-like app. There’s some real pathos in here, alongside the yuks. Highly recommend!
TV SHOWS
BETTER CALL SAUL - Holy shit, that mid-season finale! Exactly how many weeks do I need to wait before the next episode? How is it possible every single supporting character in this show is played by an incredible actor at the top of their game? Speaking of, please cast Tony Dalton in anything and everything. Good guys, villains, the voice of a talking armadillo. This man can do it all. I’m guessing about the talking armadillo part, but I’m willing to let somebody call my bluff. I loved the way the show set up the final scene through the candle. I’m not going to say anymore, in case you haven’t seen the episode yet, but that candle! That motherflipping candle! I am in awe of the last episode, the current season, the entire show. It’s going to be a long five weeks.
MUSIC
I’ve been listening to a lot of Dawes lately. This song is a decade or so old, but it’s so great and a good introduction if - like me - you’re relatively new to the Los Angeles band. They’re coming through Houston in a couple of weeks and I am looking forward to seeing them in concert a day before I hop on a flight to Iceland for a two-week vacation.