I feel that I have never worked out more consecutively in my entire life until these last few months. Does it have to do with the fact that I am teaching barre classes? most likely. However, because it is negative eleven degrees outside and my Peloton is in the basement and our basement has yet to be insulated, I have also found myself at the feet of every hot yoga studio in the Hudson Valley. Because last winter was spent abroad parenting a one year old and reeling from a death of a friend, I lost every ounce of flexibility and strength I had, and this winter I will do anything in my bones to make sure that does not happen again. The good thing about this structure for me is that it sets me into a rhythm for everything else; eating, sleeping, reading, watching, hanging, cleaning, and writing (sort of). So now I’m here to bring you the good news of what I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
Things I’ve Seen
One of the smartest decisions we made while choosing an area to live in outside of the city was that we were adamant about still having access to arts and culture. Luckily for us we have not one, but three of the Upstate Cinema’s right near us, and they really show the f up! Not to sound like a dick but I really miss Angelika Theater and scooting there after work for a premiere or director Q & A, but Upstate Cinema’s have been a DREAM. Last week we attended a showing of The Sweet East, with a Q & A by director / videographer Sean Price Williams and writer Nick Pinkerton. First and foremost, this is one of the best, most refreshing films I’ve seen in YEARS. It’s a story about a highschool girl who ventures off on her own while on a class trip to DC and her ensuing adventure through extremist sects America, done hysterically well with soft color palettes, Nick Cave’s son, magical realism with no explanation, and a neatly done ending. Simon Rex plays a Victorian era obsessed neo-nazi who works at a University, and his range as an actor makes my jaw drop every time. There’s a scene where he is being semi-seduced by a Lolita-type whose name he believes is Annabel and he just kind of sits there and stares at her for about 4 minutes working through his desire and gaining restraint, and it’s one of the most sexually arousing and incredible scenes I’ve seen in a while. I cannot stop thinking about it. Also Ayo Edebiri… I am so glad to be alive at the same time she is. She and Jeremy O. Harris make the film a true comedy. If I had seen this movie in high school, I know for a fact it would have an enormous impact on my psyche, and, not to be dramatic, probably would have changed my life.
The next thing I saw that has created a bigger divide in this country since the year of our Lord 2016, is Saltburn. In my humble opinion (and an opinion everyone should listen to considering it’s a historical piece that dates to 2006-7) it’s a triumph.
A brighter hue for your senses, plenty of weird sexual energies, obsession, and Princess Superstar. But that’s primarily what I would like to talk about— I am grateful, giddy even, that “Murder on the Dancefloor” “Loneliness” (that SCENE) and “Perfect (Exceeder)” are getting into the ears of the youth, but it has made me so nostalgic for those days of partying without reason. No phones, no social media, just cigarette breaks and flirting for free drinks because nobody knows or will know anything about you. I remember going to a rave in a huge outdoor semi-truck warehouse outside of Atlanta and dancing to “Loneliness” underground in my American Apparel gold lamee zipup. I’m still not understanding the hate this film is getting, I’m mostly led to believe people didn’t pay attention. I’m reading a lot of “wah wah poor eats the rich” but that’s not what’s happening here, the genius is that it has nothing to do with Mr. Ripley level jealousy of the rich, it’s about obsession and control. It’s fantastic, and it’s fun, and Mr. Barry Keoghan’s acting will be studied in history books.
We also just ended the newest season of Fargo, and whew boy, what a trip. An amazing, brutal Odyssey of navigating the idea of debts, owed or forgiven, and our countries deep-seated hatred of women. We’ve just started the newest season of True Detective, and it is off to an ~intersting~ start, so we will see where it goes.
Things I’ve Read
This year has been about dusting off the ole’ list and finally reading the shit I have been meaning to read for YEARS. Oddly, it’s all fallen into place. In the bookstore the other day I was perusing through the aisles, and I came across one lonely copy of Jon Fosse’s first of his septet The Other Name I-II. Do you know how hard it has been to get my hands on any of his books? After he won the Nobel Prize in Literature it was like trying to find the needle in the haystack and our library had a wait list for months. It was everything I’d hoped it would be in dealing with relationships and the divine, tucked into a style of prose I’ve never seen in my life. Additionally, I finally got my hands on Elif Batuman’s The Idiot thanks to my friends letting me ransack their library when I came over for dinner, and devoured the book in two days. I was on such a high and I had never laughed so audibly reading a novel that I immediately called my friend to borrow her second book Either/Or, and have truly never been so disappointed at a book in my life? It felt like she was yelling at me, didn’t have an editor, and used it as an excuse to critique other books she’d read. We are holding out for her third, but hopes are heading south. I also FINALLY read Chekov’s The Seagull and finally feel like I just ~get it~ now, you know? It’s referenced almost everywhere and I had never read the play! I do not think Chekov is funny, I do not like his humor, but then again, there are not many Russian writers I find humorous. I am now one singular page into Naomi Klein’s Doppleganger and so excited to get deeper.
Things I’ve Heard
Aside from playing the Saltburn soundtrack and reliving my youth in my head, I’ve been really into…you know what it’s just easier to link the songs.
Here are some songs I’ve been listening to on repeat as of late.
I don’t know a thing about him. He looks like a tool, but his music is good so we are going to leave it at that.
Fatnotronic- É Bafo (Joe Goddard Remix)
I mean, self explanatory. Anything Joe touches turns to gold.
Barry Can’t Swim- Dance of the Crab
I am really getting into this fella. My sister read me a stat the other day that said “most people stop finding new [music] artists at 30, and just listen to what they know”. I said not me!!!!! And now I can add Barry Can’t Swim onto that list.
Cassandra Violet - Beyond the Fray
This was in a Belgian show about a drug mob that my father in law recommended. The show, Undercover, is dark and seedy and really, really entertaining, but the music! the music makes it even better.
Someone please for the love of God help me place what computer game or gameboy game this song sounds like.
I know they’ve gotten super mainstream but “Voodoo” is SO catchy and was immediately added to my biking playlist. I liked it so much I listened to the whole album “Salvation” and it’s not the only good one, “A Lot Like Heaven” is a banger, and “Heartless” is good but with stupid lyrics.
KOMPROMAT -”De Mon Ame a Ton Ame”
Don’t know how I found it, don’t know how I know the lyrics, but it’s on repeat and the video is a delight as well.