this week’s playlist
screenshot me:
fallout (prime video)
if you've ever wondered what it would be like to live in a video game, FALLOUT feels like a good start (and it's way more interesting than TRON, and sassier than THE LAST OF US). i had fun picking out the NPCs (non-player characters) and other easter eggs that populate the post-apocalyptic landscape. the show has gotten props from gamers for its fidelity to the canon, brought to life by a trio of leads, including ella purnell (YELLOWJACKETS) and walton goggins (JUSTIFIED).
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civil war (a24)
alex garland's new film is the opposite of escapist entertainment. the start reminded me of THE LAST OF US minus the zombies. but as it progressed it took a nosedive into a hellscape -- America at its most polarized, where morals have no place. garland is a good filmmaker, kirsten dunst is excellent, and the ending was the best part of the film. but brace yourself. it wasn't fun.
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ripley (netflix)
i've officially plunged down a rabbit hole with tom ripley, starting with devouring the latest iteration of patricia highsmith’s stylish, enigmatic grifter. andrew scott (FLEABAG’s hot priest) is more of a blank canvas compared to matt damon’s dorky turn in 1999's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY. but then i saw the 1960 adaptation, PURPLE NOON – a sexier take by alain delon (gasp!) – followed by dennis hopper's cowboy-hatted turn in wim wenders’ THE AMERICAN FRIEND (1977, both on CRITERION). next up is RIPLEY’S GAME with john malkovich, who has a cameo in… RIPLEY. guess i’ll finally have to read the books.
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luna luna: forgotten fantasy
julia and varsha joined me as i (finally) made it to this legendary surrealist playground in downtown LA. i was impressed by the low-culture take of high-caliber artists – basquiat, hockney, scharf, haring, lichtenstein, but also delaunay and dali – in fanciful carousels, a mind-blowing maze, and amazing merch of course. all created in 1987, resurrected in DTLA through may 12, slated to travel to NYC next.
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wall street (prime video)
in this nutty economic climate, i hit the archives: i knew all the catchphrases from this iconic film ("greed is good" uttered by a brilliant michael douglas) but hadn't seen it in full. pure 80s gold, right up there with TRADING PLACES in terms of must-see finance movies. also, how often do you get to see a father/son duo (martin/charlie sheen) playing those roles on screen? it's perfect, as is the TALKING HEADS music featured in the film.
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the guest (penguin random house)
don't wait until summer to grab this buzzy beach read. you can hang in the hamptons with alex, the unreliable (but reliably cute) con artist scamming her way through the hamptons. ate it up. ready for the sequel.
insights & inspo
the dawn of the dumb house
the ‘dumb house’ trend is on the rise. artisnal craftsmanship reigns over technological clutter in this refined, sophisticated aesthetic where simplicity drives the movement towards mindful living.
more insights here
Loved Ripley so much. Check out the Still Watching podcast for a 2-part analysis. So good having the back story!
will check it out thank you!