The thing about being a vampire is, it takes a long time to learn how to do the cool shit
On My Radar: Radio Silence, Guadagnino, Gatsby, and more!
Why, hello there! Has it been two weeks already? I've been busy hanging out with friends, watching shows and movies, reading a few books, and listening to some sweet tunes and podcasts. You know, the usual.
What I'm most excited about is that I've started writing my next multichapter fic. I've had this contemporary Outlander AU idea in my head for about a year, so finally putting it on the page has really charged my batteries. This is an MM romance featuring Jamie Fraser and John Grey. Regular readers will know of my love for these two as I wrote about them (as well as canonical pair Jamie and Claire) in my favorite couples post here.
Ready for my thoughts on some flicks and novels? Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho. Here we go!
MOVIES
Radio Silence are back with their latest fantastic fright fest. Co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett sink their teeth into this vampiric horror comedy, bringing along their Scream leading lady Melissa Barrera. It all starts out simply enough: a dirty half-dozen are hired to kidnap a young girl so that whoever hired them can get her wealthy, powerful father to fall in line. Mission accomplished, the team arrives at the designated safe house with the girl.... And that's where the fun really begins. The crackerjack cast also includes Alisha Weir, who looks like she's having the time of her life as the titular tween vampire; plus Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, and Giancarlo Esposito. (If you thought my headline quote came from The Fall Guy, well, that’s fair. I can totally hear Ryan Gosling delivering that line with panache.)
Zendaya shines in Luca Guadagnino's latest; she continues to show she's more than ready to move beyond the teen roles that made her famous. However, the real draw of this sexy soap opera set in the world of competitive tennis is not the female point in the romantic triangle. That honor goes to the men: Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. The film's MVP is Faist, confirming his turn as Jets leader Riff in Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of West Side Story wasn't a lark. Despite the myriad hookups and betrayals between the main trio, it's the guys' relationship that's the real love story. O'Connor and Faist blur the lines of friendship, playing the subtler notes with a mix of defiance and heartbreak.
David Leitch’s flick is so much fun and there's chemistry to spare between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. It also honors the stunt community by letting the stunt players outshine the actors — which probably explains why the obvious, threadbare plot leaves a lot to be desired. (I could have done without Hannah Waddingham [that wig!] and Aaron Taylor-Johnson altogether.) Just give us a hangout flick with the characters shooting the stunts for the movie within the movie! Love that Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is cool enough for what's essentially a cameo and that Winston Duke steals every scene he's in — even those with Gosling. Shut your brain off for a couple hours and let go. Ain’t no party like a Gosling party!
ALSO: Photojournalist Kirsten Dunst traverses from NYC to D.C. with a group of colleagues in a bid to interview the President of the United States in Alex Garland's gripping near-future apocalyptic tale Civil War. The writer-director treats the story as his characters do, choosing to stay objective instead of forcing his own opinion on the audience with powerful results. A sensational Dunst leads a solid cast. ... For the most part, The First Omen is an intriguing character study of a young nun (a very good Nell Tiger Free, playing in a similar sandbox to Servant) who learns that the Catholic Church has been corrupted by the Devil. It crumbles in the third act, becoming overly familiar — particularly the final moments — with an unnecessary injection of The Nun II. Arriving in Immaculate's wake, this prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen didn't have a prayer.
BOOKS
I’m gonna drop some truth on ya. Until this year, I had never read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s celebrated novel. What can I say? It was never assigned reading in school or college. But after years of hearing my mom and friends bitch about how horrible it was, I finally decided to make up my own mind. And you know what? It’s good! There's a reason Fitzgerald was a renowned author of the Jazz Age. His prose isn’t overly flowery nor is it as dry as a martini — his sense of humor is though, which is a very good thing. Jay Gatsby may have loved socialite Daisy Buchanan once upon a time, but it’s clear he’s clinging to his idea of her instead of the woman she's become when they cross paths in West Egg, N.Y., years later. For her part, Daisy wants what she's always wanted: to be swept off feet. But that man better come with a trust fund so she can continue in the lifestyle she was born into. Nick Carraway, our faithful narrator, claims to be above it all yet he’s awfully invested in Gatsby’s love life… And Gatsby keeps him awfully close despite his seeming obsession with Daisy. There’s more to this story than meets the eye. Perhaps just as Fitzgerald intended.
A Thousand Recipes for Revenge
Beth Cato has created a dynamic fantasy world ensnared in lies, betrayal, treachery, and political machinations as well as magic; at its center is a renowned chef in hiding with her beloved grandmere; she also longs for the lover and daughter she gave up so long ago. Adamantine Garland has a special gift: an empathic connection to food and wine. This gift had put her in the hands of the royal court, where she served the Five Gods and their ordained rules. Years later, Ada decided enough was enough and fled to become a rogue chef. Hiding is now no longer an option. Ada is being hunted and her quest to find out the truth will lead her straight to her past. This magical, swashbuckling adventure will pull you in right from the off. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of fantasy novels, I eagerly anticipated the sequel after I finished this. Good news! A Feast for Starving Stone is out now, completing the duology.
Got some recs of your own or just want to share your thoughts on things you've watched/read/listened to? Drop me a line!
Till next time…
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