Crazy Blues

Crazy Blues:

recorded by Mamie Smith, who died penniless on this date in 1946 at the age of 55. She was interred at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park on Staten Island, on ground which remained unmarked until 2013 when a monument was finally erected.

The Big Chill

The Big Chill (free at Xumo) is a 1983 comedy-drama film directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring an ensemble cast consisting of Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, and JoBeth Williams. The plot focuses on a group of baby boomers who attended the University of Michigan, reuniting after 15 years when their friend Alex dies by suicide. I've seen this one three times now and probably won't return to it, but it is an interesting character study and perfectly cast. It's a generational touchstone for Baby Boomers or folks around that age. The soundtrack is wonderful.

trailer:

The Muppet Movie

The Muppet Movie (Disney+) is a 1979 musical road comedy film, the first theatrical film with the Muppets. It features cameo appearances by Bob Hope, Dom DeLuise, James Coburn, Cloris Leachman, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas, Edgar Bergen (in his final film appearance before his death), Orson Welles, Carol Kane, Steve Martin, and Mel Brooks, among others. Delightful, a feel-good movie. I rewatch this every once in a while.

trailer:

*******

The Invitation (2022)

The Invitation (Hulu) is a 2022 horror/thriller vampire film inspired by but not based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. It follows a woman who, after her mother's death, meets long-lost family members and discovers the dark secrets they carry. I like vampire movies. That said, this isn't among the best of them.

trailer:

*******

Prospect

Prospect (free on Tubi -watch online or add the Tubi app to your TV) is a 2018 science fiction film that stars Pedro Pascal, Sophie Thatcher, and Jay Duplass. It's about a teenage girl and her father, who land on a poisonous forest moon to mine for valuable gems. I think there need to be more science fiction films and am happy to see this one, even though I'm only just now coming across it. It gets mostly positive reviews.

trailer:

*******

Poor Things

Poor Things (Hulu) is an award-winning 2023 film based on the 1992 novel by the same name. The film stars Emma Stone (as a young woman in Victorian London who has been brought back to life via brain transplant), Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe. This is an amazing movie, definitely different and fun to watch.

trailer:

*******

My Octopus Teacher

My Octopus Teacher (Netflix) is an award-winning 2020 documentary film about a year spent by a filmmaker developing a relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest. I'm not a fan of documentary films in general but am a believer in broadening my horizons. This film is well worth watching. I highly recommend it.

trailer:

*******

Hunger (2023)

Hunger (Netflix) is a 2023 Thai drama film about a street-food cook who is invited to join a fine-dining restaurant under the infamous Chef Paul, who is a hard taskmaster. It is well-reviewed. I enjoyed following the cook as she made her way through the restaurant business.

trailer:

*******

Next Exit

Next Exit (Hulu) is a 2022 science fiction comedy-drama film starring Katie Parker, Rahul Kohli, Rose McIver, Karen Gillan, and Tongayi Chirisa.

from Wikipedia:

A scientific study known as Life Beyond, launched by Dr. Stevenson in San Francisco, allows people to commit painless suicide with the knowledge that an afterlife does exist. In New York City, two ready-to-die strangers, Rose and Teddy, randomly end up sharing a rental car for a cross-country trip to their respective Life Beyond appointments.

This is thought-provoking, a fascinating look at what assisted suicide would look like if you knew your consciousness would live on in an actual afterlife.

trailer:

*******

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (film)

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (Amazon Prime) is a 2005 comedy-drama film based on the 1971 novel by the same name. The film stars Joan Plowright as an elderly woman who has moved into a hotel and has precious little contact from her daughter and grandson. Rupert Friend stars as the young man with whom she develops a friendship. Such a lovely film! Just the right amount of heartstring pulling and light comedic elements.

via YouTube:

*******

Underwater

Underwater (Hulu) is a 2020 science fiction action horror film about a group of workers at a drilling facility at the bottom of the Mariana Trench who encounter hostile creatures after an earthquake destroys the facility. It stars Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr., Mamoudou Athie, and T.J. Miller. Reviews are mixed, but I like it. The world needs more science fiction movies, and this is a welcome entry.

trailer:

*******

Strawberry Mansion

Strawberry Mansion (Amazon Prime) is a 2021 science fiction adventure romantic comedy film about a Dream Auditor who has been tasked with doing an audit on an artist who lives alone in a big, isolated house. Visually striking. This gets almost universally positive reviews. I loved it. It's easily rewatchable.

trailer:

*******

Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness (Hulu) is an award-winning 2022 satirical black comedy film that follows a celebrity couple on a luxury cruise with wealthy guests that end up stranded on an island and fighting for survival. It reminded me a bit of the Knives Out movies in tone.

trailer:

*******

Crimes of the Future (2022)

Crimes of the Future (2022) (Hulu) is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg. The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart. I lean away from body horror as a sub-genre but watched for Mortensen. This is not my kind of movie. It was fascinating, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

from Wikipedia:

It follows a performance artist duo (Mortensen and Seydoux) who perform surgery for audiences in a future where human evolution has accelerated for much of the population.

trailer:

*******

Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias (Tubi) is a 1989 comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts. I'm one of the few Southern women who had never seen this film, and that it turned out to be a real tear-jerker confirms I probably should've stuck with that decision. It won awards, though, so YMMV. I have never known the South created in this film.

trailer:

*******

Perfect Days

Perfect Days (Hulu) is a 2023 award-winning Japanese-language drama film directed by Wim Wenders about the routine life of Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho), a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. I had no idea what to expect with this one, but watched it for the director. Starting with The House of the Rising Sun and ending with Nina Simone's Feeling Good, the music that Hirayama listens to with his cassettes is a major motif in the film. Such a delightful and beautiful film!

trailer:

*******