May Favourites 💛

I'm a bit more on time with this post! Had another crazy month this month but don't you worry, I always always have time to watch and listen to stuff. Here's what I loved this week.

Watches:

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)

The most wholesome movie to start the month with, To Wong Foo follows three drag queens on their journey to the most prestigious drag competition in America. They come across an odd little town and pretty much uplift it into a colourful and accepting community. This film has aged so well and is still so heartwarming and funny. We have to share this kind of positivity.

Everything Beautiful is Far Away (2017)

Another quiet little sci-fi film I found this year starring Joseph Cross and Julia Garner. As the sole characters in this quest to find a great lake and build a body for their robot companion Susan, the landscape barely changes as their minds race. This was actually inspired by indie rock band Grandaddy's song of the same name. I found the visuals and electronic soundtrack to be truly soothing and peaceful. If you feel like you need to calm your mind, watch this.

East of Eden (1955)

I believe the film version of the classic John Steinbeck novel only adapts some of the colossal story of the white American experience. I still found this film to have so much depth and character, particularly in the performances and cinematography. I think Rebel Without a Cause is often heralded as James Dean's best work but something about the tragic subversion of brotherly roles, and Dean's interpretation of that had me way more invested in East of Eden. One of those 50s historical epics that genuinely held my attention for its entire runtime because of its modernism - some of the camera movements felt so innovative and are often taken for granted in modern cinema. Someone had to do it first!

The Pacifier (2005)

I'm not going to explain this one to you. I don't know, I guess I just felt nostalgic? It was nice to revisit this ok? It's still really funny. And Vin Diesel should take more comedy roles, he is incredible as 'army man who has strict rules that initially hates children but ultimately learns to love and care for them and support their dreams and makes the decision that he must look after them for all time.' Are there any children's movies like this anymore?

In the Mood for Love (2000)

One of those movies that a lot of people talk about all the time but something I had never got around to until now. Thank you to my uni library for their lovely selection of Criterion Collection movies. This film in particular is slow and yearning but it has some of the most beautiful imagery and colours I have ever seen. The yearning is heightened by the main characters and their interactions that barely and rarely occur. It is almost unbearable! But it feels amazing to witness. And just look at how beautiful Maggie Cheung's dress is!

Listens:

Aimee Mann - Magnolia: Music from the Motion Picture

I desperately need to revisit this movie because this album fully transported me back to the time when Magnolia opened my eyes to the power of film and the ways in which it can display such varied human experiences in one go! This soundtrack, with most songs written and performed by Aimee Mann, is just that: a collection of songs about human experiences. They may not necessarily relate to characters from the movie but they may relate to you. I was so excited to find this on CD because Wise Up has never been available on Spotify. Common CD W. Fave: Wise Up (of course)

Pearl Jam - Vs.

I could tell you about a million Pearl Jam albums right now because I am going through their discography but Vs. remains my favourite. It may or may not have to do with the fact that it is their only one I can listen to on vinyl but it may also have to do with the fact that this album is so incredibly well rounded. A song for every type of Pearl Jam vibe you are in. It is also strange to me that Eddie Vedder is so good at writing from the perspective of women?? Particularly on this album. How does he understand the female experience like this? Vs. is so mystical. Fave: Leash

Tommy Tycho & Vicky Tycho - Duelling Pianos

This album is about as insane as it sounds. Another second-hand purchase that I got because I thought the cover was funny and it was only a dollar. Turns out Tommy Tycho is a pretty famous Australian pianist and conductor and with his wife Vicky, has a lot of fun doing piano covers of pop songs and classics. It was truly lovely to listen to, thank you Tommy and Vicky. Fave: Believe It Or Not (a joyous cover of Joey Scarbury's theme to The Greatest American Hero)

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft

Billie's long awaited third album is her BEST. I actually had a dream the night before it came out that a song I was listening to of hers sounded really different to her old style. When I listened to the album for the first time, that sound was on 'Birds of a Feather'. So, I guess I have time travel capabilities or something? This is such a great album with such a varied sound. It really highlights her vocal abilities and I am always in so much awe that Billie and Finneas tend to record these things in one room with basically one microphone. Fave: The Greatest

Mark Ronson - Late Night Feelings

Another classic of modern pop that I was able to find on CD for a pretty good price. I've already talked about this album in my Instagram post about 'Truth' but the whole thing is so seamless and interesting. Mark can never go wrong when he collaborates with all these talented female vocalists. Even the non-singles are singles to me. Fave: True Blue (feat. Angel Olsen)