are movies dead?

Dear friends,

Happy March! I hope you are all doing fine with the changing weather.

So... it was the Oscars last week! After so long, I tuned in again, and it gave me so much life. It kind of makes me sad how I grew out of watching movies these past few years. I was just too caught up with other things, and there just wasn't enough space for them in my life.

But it wasn't just that. There's this general perception that movies are dead. With the advent of streaming services, seeing a movie in a theater isn't what people want to do anymore. There's a lot of think pieces out there saying that movies are getting worse by the year. I kinda bought into that narrative and grew despondent of big franchises taking over the theaters (I don't mean to call out Marvel.)

Lately, the tides have been shifting. What I learned watching the Oscars this year is that cinema is not dead and movies are not getting worse. Netflix might have killed the box office, but good movies never stopped being made. Though you kind of have to seek them out, pure cinema is just around the corner.

And so I've begun analyzing modern pictures. My two latest essays are on The Substance and Anora. I also share a few of my takes on the Oscars relating to these films: Was Demi Moore robbed in the Best Actress category? Did "Anora" deserve to win Best Picture? Heck, five Oscars? The last time a single film won that many awards was "The Silence of the Lambs" 34 years ago... I wasn't even born yet!

I also wrote an essay on John Lennon's single, Imagine. Unlike movies, I still have a disconnection with modern music. I'm just having a hard time getting into its wavelength. There are some few good ones that pique my interest a little, but not enough to blow my mind.

My movie recommendations this round are still very vintage, with a few exceptions. In the music department, I'm trying not to fall into the "I was born in the wrong era" cliché... But I'm failing, lol. So enjoy my old-timey music. As for the books I share, most of what I read is preliminary research for future essays and projects.

Have you watched "Anora" or "The Substance"? What did you think of them? Do you think movies are dead?

From the Blog

The Substance (2024)

the substance (2024) — mustang sandy

respect the balance.

Anora (2024)

anora (2024) — mustang sandy

stay jealous, honey.

Imagine (1971)

imagine (1971) — mustang sandy

you may say i’m a dreamer

Media Archives

Film

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) A French silent film based on the recorded trial of St. Jeanne d’Arc. Jeanne is accused of heresy when she claims to hear the voice of God. This movie may be silent, but her eyes scream of impending doom.
Something Wild (1986) A screwball comedy with some fatal attraction shit. A peculiar woman kidnaps a yuppie for some weekend fun. Things are great, until her ex-felon husband ruins the party. All I can say is WOW—this is how you do a movie. Also, what a killer soundtrack!
In the Mood for Love (2000) Two neighbors in 1962 Hong Kong suspect infidelity from their spouses and form a strong connection. A movie about sex without any sex. Frustrating. Stylish. DEADENING.
Temptation Island (1980) Four beauty queen contestants are stranded on a desert island without food, water, or shelter. Accompanying them are three men, a gay, and a yaya. Iconic performances all around—so campy, so conyo!
Tangerine (2015) A day in the life of two transgender sex workers. Sin-Dee finds out that her pimp boyfriend is cheating on her, while working girl Alexandra is lost out of luck with her endeavors. A comic portrayal of the hidden subcultures of Los Angeles.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) A Spanish black comedy full of unhinge women. Pepa is distraught by her lover's departure and makes gazpacho laced with sleeping pills. Attempting to overdose, she's interrupted by a couple and her equally frantic friend. The title cannot be anymore accurate.
Persepolis (2007) A French adult animated biographical war drama about a woman growing up in Iran before and after the 1979 revolution, witnessing the tyranny of Islamic fundamentalists. Uncertain of her country's future, she moves to France for a better life. A punk-loving immigrant story.
Seven Chances (1925) A silent film about a stockbroker who needs to marry a woman by 7pm on his 27th birthday to inherit $7M from his relative. Except for the use of blackface, I was charmed by this.
Crazy Mama (1975) Three generations of women from Long Beach go on a crime spree after their beauty parlor gets repossessed. A movie on outsider culture, car chases, and 70’s Americana. This is so Pumpkin and Honey Bunny from Pulp Fiction.
Woman of the Hour (2023) Anna Kendrick’s directional debut. Based on a true story, a serial killer & rapist appears on a 1978 TV show, The Dating Game. The film stars Kendrick as the game show contestant, and unknowingly picks the murderer to take her out. Not a perfect masterpiece but she def has game.
Bituing Walang Ningning (1985) "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard copycat." Dorina, a sampaguita vendor, is the #1 stan of Lavinia, an egotistical superstar. Lavinia's ex-lover plots to ruin her career by leveraging Dorina's musical talent. I absolutely resent the ending.

Music

Democratic Circus by Talking Heads From their final studio album "Naked" (1988). This song draws from worldbeat influences, particularly African and Latin music. A clear piece of social commentary, the lyrics blur performance and reality in the political arena.
Jubilee Street by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds "A girl's gotta make ends meet even down Jubilee Street." The song suggests a character involved in heavy-handed activities on Jubilee Street, including prostitution. Haunting musical atmosphere with equally haunting vocals.
Baby It's You by Smith A 1969 rendition of the classic by The Shirelles. On the same year, it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song became 10x times cooler when I heard it play in Death Proof.
Strange Things Happen Everyday by Sister Rosetta Sharpe The mother of rock 'n' roll sings about divine intervention during World War 2—now there's a picture of you. One of most influential gospel songs to cross over with popular music in the '40s.
With You or Without You by Steve Jones A song from Jone's debut solo album after disbanding with Sex Pistols. 80's power ballad is so my parent's vibe... and sometimes it's mine too.

Books

Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties The Charles Manson book that has been calling me for years. The author took 20 years to unearth all the shocking evidence written in this publication: police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by the CIA.
The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Authorized Biography A book all about the the real king of rock 'n' roll (sorry Elvis!) Little Richard's music defied segregation in the '50's. He'll be making his way on my blog after I finish reading.
Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different Part memoir, part advice book. Chuck Palahniuk is a pretty funny guy. He knows he writes well and allows his storytelling skills to shine through. A satisfying read.
How to Write One Song The title speaks for itself. A book written by Jeff Tweedy, the frontman of the indie band, Wilco.