Story Stream: 8/29 - 9/4
Hello friends!
I hope you've all had the best week, filled with the best stories. It's definitely been a good one on my end! I'm getting to the end (finally) of some of the trashier guilty pleasure shows of Summer, and back to some stuff with real artistic merit. (Plus a little bit of trash still, for good measure.) Let's get into it!
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MOVIES
Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)
Earlier this year I watched a collection of Black Westerns on Criterion, and so thoroughly enjoyed that. I've been hoping another collection would pop up that pique my interest. This week I found their Neo Noir collection and decided to dive in. I'm confident the collection with be excellent. This movie though... not for me. I'm not even sure how to describe it. Perhaps because I don't have a good sense of the context in which it was released, but I just wasn't able to connect with this film at all. Streaming on Criterion Channel. (5/10 - Not Recommended)
Across 110th Street (1973)
I have mixed feelings about this one. It was the second film in Criterion's Neo-noir collection, and for all intents and purposes, it was really good. The struggle for me was with the violence it contained. I'm fine with violence in movies, but this was tough to watch. It wasn't even an extreme amount of violence. It wasn't Kill Bill or Zombieland or anything graphic like that. It was just very realistic violence. But, all the same, a pretty solid film. It lacked none of the grit that you'd expect from a Neo-noir film. Streaming on Criterion Channel. (8/10 - Recommended)
The Long Goodbye (1973)
I'm being completely honest when I say this is one of the best movies I've seen in 2021. A definite new addition to my list of favorite movies. Elliot Gould gives the performance of a lifetime playing one of the most fascinating and complicated characters I've ever seen. It feels like a dark drama version of the 80s Chevy Chase comedy Fletch. And I mean that in the best possible way. This is one I'll rewatch many times in my life. Streaming on Criterion Channel. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)
Chinatown (1974)
Film #4 in the Criterion Neo-noir collection. A very solid film, with really phenomenal performances by both Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. This went to some very dark and unexpected places, but it kept me locked in start to finish. I probably won't re-watch it a lot in my life, but I'd definitely still recommend checking it out! Streaming on Criterion Channel. (8/10 - Strongly Recommended)
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TV
Big Brother (Episodes 23-25)
Nothing new to report here. I still love, love, love this show/game. And we're ABOUT to get to the REALLY good parts Seriously. Join me in my BB fandom! Streaming on Paramount Plus. (8/10 - Very Strongly Recommended)
Physical (Episodes 8-10)
Finally finished this masterpiece this week, and LOVED it...even while the ending left me SUPER dissatisfied. I can't wait till Season 2, and I just wish it could come sooner. Rose Byrne is amazing. Streaming on Apple TV Plus. (9/10 - Very Highly Recommended)
Love Island (Episodes 25-29)
Well, we made it to the end. Finally. I do NOT like how it ended, but what can you do? Here's what I'll say about this trashy show: while it is utterly ridiculous, it also has incredibly cinematic moments. Also, as I've mentioned, the narration is beyond clever and perfectly delivered. Makes the whole journey worth it every week. I'm sure I'll revisit it next summer, whatever that says about me. Streaming on Paramount Plus. (4/10 - Very Highly Recommended)
Bachelor in Paradise (Episodes 4 & 5)
So much drama in paradise this week! But goodness gracious this show is awful. And so much fun. I don't know where they find these people. I will say though, last week's episodes, which featured David Spade to my surprising delight, were much more fun. I'd forgotten how funny that guy can be. Streaming on Hulu. (2/10 - Recommended)
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PODCASTS
SmartLess - "Sean Penn"
I loved this interview. As you know, I love every episode. But I'm not sure there's been anyone these guys have revered quite as sincerely as Sean Penn, including Sir Paul McCartney. And I don't think I realized how much I really respect Penn. I knew we had a deep mutual love for Haiti, but I'm very interested in catching up on the parts of his filmography I've missed. Streaming on the various podcast listening apps. (8/10 - Strongly Recommended)
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill- "Who Killed Mars Hill"
I revisited this episode this week as I'd recommended the show to my Listening Sessions group and they chose to review it. I reached out to Mike Cosper, the host/producer, as we have a number of mutual friends, and he joined us for the call. Very fun! He's doing a phenomenal job with this show, and I can't wait to hear the rest of the series as it releases over the next few weeks. Streaming on the various podcast listening apps. (9/10 - Highly Recommended)
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MUSIC
Kanye West - Donda (2021)
All hype. I honestly didn't make it halfway through. Disappointing. BUT, I leave room for the possibility that I wasn't in the right headspace for it yet. I'll revisit and reassess soon. For now though? Very meh. Streaming on all the music streaming apps. (5/10 - Recommended level in italics)
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BOOKS / AUDIOBOOKS
Is This Anything? - by Jerry Seinfeld (2020)
Read through the 90s this week, and while it had a surprisingly slow start (compared to the last half of the 80s, it did get really good again. I'm THOROUGHLY enjoying slowly making my way through this collection. Available at your local independent book store. (9/10 - Very Highly Recommended)
Consider This - by Chuck Palahniuk (2020)
Chuck Palahniuk, if you don't know, is the author who wrote the novel Fight Club. He's a very interesting guy, and a brilliant writer. This is a book for writers about writing, but I think there's SO MUCH here for creative folks of all types. I found this book to be incredibly honest, insightful, and helpful. Streaming on Audible. (10/10 - Very Highly Recommended)
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Well, that's what my week looked like! I recognize that I may have a bit more margin than most for consuming stories, as I basically always have something playing. But, I'm also positive you've got lots of stories in regular rotation as well, whether in the form of movies, books, podcasts, tv shows, or whatever else. I'd love to hear your recommendations! Would you mind sharing one recommendation in the comments below? If possible, I'll do my best to check them all out over the next couple weeks!
That's it for now, friends! Have a wonderful, relaxing, and safe Labor Day weekend!