Second Act

I am curious who of Nicole's shared Amazon recipients watched this before I did? Hehe.
Three quarters thumbs up - it is cheesy, it is predictable, it is surprisingly sweet, it has J Lo... all the makings for a perfect afternoon movie.

Monster

As difficult and disturbing as her life was, the saddest part for me was that she "hooked" herself for $30. Thirty dollars. That's it.
One thumbs up, all for Charlize because what a performance.
On a side note, I watched this movie in 30 - 45 minute portions over a couple of nights. I have done this for some other movies before too. Turns out this is a much more controversial move than I had ever thought! People I told this to range from agreeing (e.g. Lord of the Rings in portions became their mini TV series) to SHOOK and disappointed haha. So there you go, I do this to movies sometimes. I take the degustation dinner and eat it over the course of a week. Sometimes.

Okja

I don't know why but I was quite bothered by Mija's bowl haircut. Like why this stylistic choice? Is this still a typical hairstyle? Are you trying to ironically or lovingly embrace the Asian stereotype? But then isn't this just reinforcing the stereotype? But maybe Bong Joon doesn't have the same complex I do to this because he didn't have to sport a bowl haircut as a child.
Zero thumbs up - interesting world set-up, but it felt like it was neither here nor there, like one foot in the Korean world and another in the American world but not enough depth in either.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

I had to pause and watch a video on making gnocchi (tip: add an egg next time), to calm myself down and to just give my eyes and soul a break.
One and a quarter thumbs up - that was NOT funny. The Lobster and The Favourite are much more my flavour of Yorgos Lanthimos dark humour. This was just absurdist but not at all funny. Get rid of any expectations of where you think it will go, because it will just veer off course.

Ratatouille

We talked about if we had a favourite food country. We couldn't nominate our clear winners, but Reb gave special mention to Sri Lanka for good surprise and variety. However we easily talked about our life-changing or memorable meals. Reb had a pistachio/ricotta gelato from Italy. One of mine was when we had Japanese breakfast in Hawaii. Fish for breakfast?! This is AMAZING.
Two thumbs up - for so long I have always said Finding Nemo is my favourite Pixar movie. But as I get older, I feel my tastes have matured and now Ratatouille might be the unofficial favourite.

Tigertail

Chinese New Year house party?? We had a lot of questions:
1. Is this a thing? Is this an American thing? It is so strange. Friends... at CNY?? Whaaat
2. This is apparently the first time you've hosted this without Eric, but... you've only been with him for eight months?
Three quarters thumbs up - it had a lot of potential but didn't really go into any relationship in further depth. It was beautifully shot though. I was vibing a mix of Wes Anderson/Tarantino which is a weird combination but I might have just been confusing the Wes Anderson aesthetics with retro Tarantino music.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

*Reb yelps*

"They just walked through the pigeons without flinching! Just walked through!"

An unmemorable second in the movie made memorable now haha. 

Two thumbs up - I want my life to look like a rich American in Italy in the early 60s. It is slightly elitist and bougie? Yes. Do I still want it? Yes. 

The Post

That Richard Nixon is a nasty piece of work.
Three quarters thumbs up - it was pretty slow for the whole first half, and I kept wondering how Meryl Streep was even relevant, but stick it out for the second half.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Of the two women, I always thought of Reb to be Scarlett Johanssen (creative, more free-spirited) and me to be Vicky (more 'traditional' and straight-laced). That was until during the scene where the women meet Javier Bardem and Reb commented "We are going where on the what now??"
So I guess we are both Vicky now. No-one is Maria Elena though. We are not crazy.

One and three quarters thumbs up - I never stop loving Penelope Cruz in this. She is so insane but you can't help but laugh or be drawn to her. 

Lion

At least I had tissues prepared this time. The first time I watched it in the cinemas I had to mop up my tears with my sleeves, ran out of space, then had to use my canvas bag. Ah the pre-COVID days when you could wipe your tears and snot on anything.
Two thumbs up - it is so beautiful but watch out for your heartstrings. I made it through the 'pepper' scene but basically wept for 10 mins straight in the end, and any scene with Nicole Kidman. She is wonderful and she holds a dear spot in my heart (since Moulin Rouge).

Notting Hill

I love Notting Hill and I am not ashamed. 

One and three quarters thumbs up.

Election

Worried Pathetic vs. Crazy Earnest. You are welcome
One and three quarters thumbs up - it is so funny. Go watch this (for free on SBS On Demand) if you haven't already!

Ad Astra

IMDb trivia: "Clifford McBride says that he has cataracts and has trouble seeing. Cataracts are one of the projected health problems linked to exposure to solar radiation during an extended period in space"
True. But also, HE OLD. He was always going to get cataracts even on Earth #optomfacts
An introspective one thumbs up - there was a lot of anticipation and I got to a high of one thumbs up, but then ended on three-quarters thumbs up. So rounded up. Also Brad Pitt does what only one other man (Tom Brady) has done so far - "hot in a helmet"

Bonnie and Clyde

I have never looked at a passionate or suspenseful scene and thought "hmm this needs BANJO music" but here we are. Oddly enough it actually works for this.

One and a half thumbs up - despite being set in depression-era dustbowl, it was just beautiful. Especially Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty - what gorgeous people.