Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

 If you're looking for a timely, rebellious, insightful and insane flick.....welp.....you have found it. And if you're like me and consider Running on Empty one of your favorite films and love books like The Company You Keep and have a lot of respect for Set It Off and Public Enemy and BLM and pretty much all things anti-government.  Yeah.  This one's for you. And no, it is absolutely not like your typical Paul Thomas Anderson film, which by the way, are not usually my bag.  But this one......well.....even though some of the plot was fairly predictable, I was still on the edge of my seat until the last scene.   Of course, the performances are stellar, but it's no wonder everyone is talking about Teyana Taylor.  She's like Dame Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love .....not a lot of on-screen time, but every second of it matters.  Of course my favorite is Benicio.  I mean, we go way back.  I haven't gotten over him since Traffic . ...

 It's always brutal when South Park or the Simpsons manage to predict something.  But then again, Trey and Matt are clever scoundrels. So here we are again.  Another boring white woman talking about the weight loss conundrum.  Le sigh. I've talked about body issues , weight ,  and, uh, women's issues  on this blog before, and I'm sure I'll do it again.  I grew up feeling fat mainly because television, magazines aimed at teenage girls and other mean girls told me I was.  My mother never told me I was.  Neither did my big sister.  And neither did any boy I ever liked.  But society constantly did.  I grew up like most girls, feeling confused by all of that.  Once I got old enough to realize I was curvy and "filled out" and that wasn't a bad thing, I made my peace with it.  But I was always sad (and still am) when I see a picture of myself and I'm the heaviest women in it.  Sigh.  I guess it never goes away...

 Cameron Crowe is not a grown-up man.  He has never been married. Or divorced.  He's not a father.  He's never raised his voice or cursed in traffic. He's still a virgin.  He still calls his mom every night. He's never tried drugs or even had a taste of liquor. He's a boy.  A sweet, sweet teenage boy. And this memoir, which dives into everything you think you know about Crowe, actually gives you a heartbreak all the while leaving you with a bit of a happy-sad feeling.  Hmmm.  The more I think about it, that happy-sad feeling is about the best way to describe a Cameron Crowe film.  The family sitch is not all that relatable (although I do see a little of myself in his mother, Alice) but the drive to be a writer and to be close to music sure is. When he talked about seeing his byline in Creem for the first time, I teared up a little. When he remembered his excitement from his early interviews with Kris Kristofferson and Glenn Frey, I felt that ...

 It's almost a damn shame how much I love ragging S&TC nowadays.  But I think that was my favorite part of Susan Seidelman's memoir.....her discussion of her involvement in the HBO mega-hit.  She directed the pilot and also two of my favorite first season episodes: The Power of the Female Sex and The Baby Shower.  That was when that show was fun and unique.  Later even Susan recognized it as becoming tone-deaf and out of touch.   I also liked hearing her stories about Lower East Side Manhattan in the late 70's and early 80's.  It's one of my fave historical times of NYC for its creativity and grit.  When I was a kid I didn't understand how the different neighborhoods and boroughs of NYC worked.....I just thought it was funny how different the places looked in films.  Her effort to keep the Lower East Side and the "dirtier" life of New York was so much more real and entertaining than the glossier films of the city. Probably her bigges...

 If you're not sure who Mike Nichols is, chances are you have enjoyed at least one of his films.  I'll wait here while you check IMDB. Mike Nichols as a director, comedian, actor, and person......each embodiment is fascinating.  He is a man who has presented his foibles, triumphs, failures and sensibilities to his audiences with each performance. In listening to his story on audiobook (which I highly recommend for the unpretentious tone of the reader) I was intrigued by his early story of Jewish immigration to America, trying to fit in as a boy without hair and eyebrows, and how he navigated his own feelings about his parents and his new country. I had NO idea who Nichols and May were and IMMEDIATELY had to go back and watch their old sketches.   I was immediately jealous because I have tried to create a heterosexual writing partnership for years and have never been able to make it happen. I also loved the honesty of this book in addressing Mike's downfalls........

 This happens a lot for me.  Whenever a film gets a lot of Oscar buzz/attention/awards, I want to know more.  Especially if it's a film kinda off the beaten path.  This was definitely the case for Anora.   So first I had to know more before I committed to this film.  When Mikey Madison accepted her award and when Sean Baker spoke at all about the film, they both gave a lot of attention to the "sex worker community".  To be honest, I didn't want to watch a film portraying women (or girls) being exploited or hurt in any kind of way.  Also after having watched Mikey practically grow up on the fabulous FX show, Better Things , I didn't want to watch her in particular be abused or hurt.   I was glad to learn it's not that kind of film.  It has been called by some to be the "modern day Pretty Woman".  I kinda get it.  She doesn't get hurt physically anyway. Well kinda not.  She's definitely exploited. And she definit...

 The best thing about listening to this memoir as an audiobook is the mesmerizing, beautiful voice of Anjelica herself as she weaves the stories of her many loves, her beginnings of modeling and then acting and her life from young adulthood into mature age.  Her voice quavers in the parts of tragedy and loss, is quiet in the parts of fear and pain and is exuberant in triumph.   Listening to her stories made me want to watch her films that I hadn't seen and revisit the ones I had.  It made me want to look up old photos of her and bask in her cool 80's elegance.   Her stories of love and heartbreak gave me a feeling of power and resilience that I have needed after a hard year of my own disappointments.   Anjelica must have either kept really good journals and diaries or saved all of her old notes and calendars because her ability to remember details of people, places and events is nothing short of spectacular.  This memoir reads like a nam...

 

 I'm telling you, if want to experience this book the best way possible don't read it, LISTEN to it.  The sound of Owen Elliot-Kugell's lovely voice as she repeatedly says "my mom" and "my mother" is a gift to your ears.   Being born in 1975, I can barely remember the 70's.  What I do remember is mostly vintage clips of television shows and news reports: bright polyester suits on variety shows, Walter Cronkite, women in long caftans and head scarves, and music.  So much music.  My own mother raised me on The Mamas and the Papas, so the voice of "Mama" Cass Elliot is one I know well. Like many people who love the 1960's, folk music and the early days of rock music, I've heard a good many of these stories before.  But I haven't heard them told from this perspective.  The purity, the honesty and the respectfulness of Owen's retelling is extraordinary.  It's the way we would all like to be described by our kids someday.   Sh...

  In this fascinating two-part documentary, a very articulate and intelligent Ms. Shields hashes over her career beginning with child model to actress, wife, mother, writer, advocate.   I think it's pretty true to assume, as is discussed throughout the doc, that a movie like "Pretty Baby" wouldn't get made today.  The question is: why did it ever get made back then??? The nostalgia of this doc is truly enjoyable.  All of the ads, personal appearances, variety shows and of course the infamous "Blue Lagoon" are what I remember of Brooke Shields when I was a kid.  She was the beauty ideal of the 1980's and an aspirational young lady to boot.  She was always so soft-spoken and intelligent in interviews and then, I'll be darned if she didn't go to Princeton!  And she married the gorgeous and talented Andre Agassi......she had it all! The more grown-up and astute Brooke Shields looks back at the more difficult parts in her life: the relationship with h...

  Sigh.  So much to unpack here.  First of all, I knew I wasn't going to like this book going in after I listened to a podcast review of it. The moderators said that Perry is selfish, rude and basically hates all women and treats them as the beautiful objects they are......even his own mother......with barely-veiled disdain. They were correct on all counts. Second of all, I have had my fair share of experience with addicts and I can say without hesitation that they are the most selfish people on earth. Artistic endeavors often paint them as sad, often misunderstood characters but with so much charm they are still somehow beloved. Not so in this case. I really dislike Matthew Perry after reading this book. Sure, we've all got personal pain. Divorced parents. Anxiety. Career uncertainty. Cold Canadian weather. But overall, this memoir was simply a "wah wah my life is so hard being a wealthy white kid traveling between California and Ottawa as a young tennis player and priva...

 Of course, I grew up knowing about Rosemary's Baby.  It's the kind of movie you hear referenced so much throughout your life that it becomes an ubiquitous part of the culture. Truthfully, I don't know if I thought that up myself or I heard it on this podcast which encouraged me to give the film and the novel a try, "You Are Good".   You Are Good is probably one of my favorite podcasts because it doesn't just discuss movies, it discusses the "feelings" that movies give us.  It talks about the culture surrounding the movie, the zeitgeist it creates, what the actors experienced while filming and how all those little nuggets impact us all. I loved the takes on this film by podcast hosts Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed, along with guest Sarah Archer, as they discussed the actors and their other iconic roles (Ruth Gordon, anyone?) as well as the importance of the apartment in the film (the famous Dakota becomes the famous Bramford) and of course the fact th...

 Y'all, c'mon.  I didn't watch the Oscars.  Of course, I didn't.  All that self-congratulation really twists my knickers.  And also on the knicker-twisting agenda was moments like this:  Peeps are mad that Ms. Bassett didn't stand and applaud?  That ought to be glad she didn't fall over into hysterics.  It looks like her husband, Courtney B. Vance, is about to anyway!   She was disappointed, y'all.  And hurt.  And probably a little shocked.  Because she lost out out to this: And before y'all even open your mouths, I have seen "Everything Everywhere All At Once".  It is a phenomenal film.  And Ms. Curtis is wonderful in it.  She is entertaining and absurd and everything she needs to be for her odd and pivotal character.  But she is not this: Ms. Bassett's roles have been powerful time and time again.  Rosa Parks, Tina Turner, Reva Styles, Bernadine Harris, and not to mention STELLA!  But Jamie ...

 I'm sure most people picked up this book for one of two reasons: either they were iCarly Fans or they were struck by its provocative title.  Given that I was aged out of this show at the time (and actually had to Google who the actress was) I definitely chose it for the title. It's too simple to chalk this story up to a simple "stage mom" tale.  It's way bigger than that. McCurdy really puts her vulnerability in her front pocket to share tales of her mom's emotional manipulation and overbearing-to-the-point of embarrassment actions to her daughter's body. Just a few of the yucky things Jennette's mom inflicted upon her from childhood and well past age eighteen: ~teaching her to "calorie restrict" ie how to practice anorexia and bulimia ~not allowing her to shower herself or clean herself after trips to the bathroom (no, really) ~shaming her for any feelings toward men or boys ~guilting her for any feelings of autonomy or independence ~limiti...

I don't always see Oscar-nominated films, but when I do, my opinion is the only one that matters. Being the busy woman that I am, I did manage to see two of the Best Picture nominations this year.  But can we pause for just a hot minute and talk about the use of the verbiage "Best Picture".  I mean, I love Old Hollywood, but are we still nominating Joan Crawford and Sidney Potier?  Who uses the word "picture" to describe a movie?  Further, do most people say films now?  Or just self-important iconoclasts?   Okay.  Done with that rant. Everything Everywhere All At Once is an incredible movie.  For a person who knows nothing of the "multiverse" and even less about martial arts movies, if even a nube like me can enjoy this so can you. To be honest, I don't remember a whole lot about what happens in "Everything".  The plot is very twisty and strange at times.  It's got a really fast-paced graphic novel aura and it's kinda long....

The Young Becky of the late 90's and early 00's never would have said this.  But the (much) older and (maybe) wiser Becky of today straight up loves Ms. Anderson. She's a woman, like most of us, that took some time coming into her power.  But now that she has it, you fools better step the hell aside! I guess it all started with the Hulu show.  I remember the Pam & Tommy stolen tape controversy.  The Hulu series does a good job of explaining how little we all understood of the internet at the time.  But they also did a good job of showing the humanity of Pam and Tommy, the personal humiliation it brought them to and how everyone regarded the two of them very differently in the matter.   I remember it well. Tommy was a dumbass with a big dick. Pam was a dumbass with big tits. The end.   But watching this limited series made us remember that it was so much more.  They really were a young crazy couple in love.  They really did just ...

  Pretty meh.  This memoir reminded me a lot of Elizabeth Vargas' memoir in the sense that they both don't want to spoil their "good girl" images of telling too much or being too opinionated.  So they both tell just enough truth to keep their readers happy who also don't want to see them in a varnished light.  I can't help but wonder if Valerie's upcoming book will share a bit more after Eddie Van Halen's untimely death.   Also, I'm not trying to downplay or misunderstand the struggle because I struggle with it myself, but the constant focus on weight and pounds was pretty boring.  I think by today's standards (when you consider this book was written roughly 15 years ago) this memoir would be considered "fat phobic".   It's sad that woman as talented and charming as Bertinelli would store so much by her size.  But I suppose that's the plight of American women, especially those in the entertainment industry.

Like most Americans, I became acquainted with the young Kelly Osbourne on the MTV reality show, The Osbournes back in 2002.  Back then she was a smart-mouthed teenager that pushed her boundaries with her parents, with the audience and with the world in general.  These days, she's a grown woman in her 30's that has quite a lot to stay about fame, wealth, and growing up in the spotlight to infamous parents.  I was intrigued by a lot of Kelly's hot takes on the world at large because at her age she's kind of a Gen Xer/Millennial combo.  I was impressed by how guarded she is with her body and her sexuality and how candid she was with her drug use and abuse.  She has strong feelings about social media that definitely puts her over her age limit.  She was great at famous people name-dropping (which the voyeur in me enjoys) and had a lot of great London stories (which the Anglophile in me enjoys).  My favorite chapter in the book was about her adv...

(Continuing my nostalgic 1980's childhood series with my favorite periodicals.  I was pretty lucky in that my mom would buy what I asked for when she grocery-shopped.  She was a pretty cool mom like that.) I was once told I looked like Alyssa Milano. I've carried that with me my whole life! I found metal early.  Probably about 11 or so. Kirk!  Back when he was still cool! My sis and I liked these because they contained song lyrics of current songs on the radio! I still have some of the pull-out pics and posters from magazines like this! I think I had this actual issue with Molly! I always waited patiently for my sister to get done with the current issue.  She had a monthly subscription....lucky duck. Oh, boys! My mom never discriminated or tried to censor my musical taste. I couldn't skate, but liked skater boys and skate culture. My mom bought me my first copy as a gift when my sister was going t...