How I Feel / How I Wish I Felt

...as demonstrated by Nicholas Hoult

Sick day. Not cute. Talk amongst yourselves whilst we cough, sleep, sneeze, and ache ... it's an open thread. 

Streaming Roulette, Early March 2019

by Nathaniel R

As is our practice we've selected a couple handful of titles and frozen the films at utterly random moments without cheating (whatever comes up comes up) for this quick preview.  Do any of these screencaps make you wanna watch the movie? At the bottom of the page, check out full listings for Netflix, Hulu, Prime, and HBO for the first half of March. Okay, let's go...

Ohmygosh, he is dreaaammmmy.

The Notebook (2004) on Netflix
Wait James Marsden is the other man in this movie? (You may recall I told you I hadn't seen it when Kim was writing up its famous kiss last month. Somehow I didn't know that Rachel McAdams had to choose between Marsden and Gosling? Tough life, that girl leads.) Oh and did you hear that weird story about how Netflix changed the ending to The Notebook in the UK? I wouldn't have known the difference but bizarre. How is that even legal?

[eery music]

What Lies Beneath (2000) on Hulu
You guys... never look at a pristine empty bathtub while holding a ouija board...

Click to read more ...

Jennifer Jones, the early years and 'years at the top'

HAPPY JENNIFER JONES CENTENNIAL!

 Paolo wasn't kidding when he said that the Centennial of Jennifer Jones (that's today!) would be a challenge. Though we usually have some buy-in for centennials literally no one else on Team TFE volunteered for this one so it'll be short. But I'll do one or two pictures. i'm annoyed that I can't do Duel in the Sun (1946), which I've never seen, but I can't find it to stream. Actually easy availability is how I came up with your choices. So vote and tell me which of these films you most want to discuss:

free polls

But before we get there, and overview of her career.

And the eternal question: How long can any given star can stay at 'the top' from Old Hollywood to the right now...

Click to read more ...

Better Things Season 3: Back and Better Than Ever

By Spencer Coile 

Better Things being renewed for a third season was the miracle we all deserved. Since co-creator/ executive producer Louis C.K. was fired, any worries about the series maintaining its high-wire act of cynical humor and raw emotion should be put to rest. Where the magic of Better Things laid all along was is in its leading lady's craftsmanship. Writing, directing, and playing single mother and working actress Sam, Pamela Adlon is a 2019 force to be reckoned with. 

Better Things has arrived in the wake of a highly contentious Oscar season, and it could not have come back at a better time. Built into every moment is a snapshot (sometimes literal) of the mundane, almost thoughtless acts we so often take for granted. Adlon has rendered these minuscule details into something finely tuned and deeply felt...

Click to read more ...

Tweetweek

curated by Nathaniel R 

If you want to see the psychological impact of release dates and marketing campaigns on how critics perceive a film’s merits, these two movies boast a very similar premise, are pitched to the same audience, and are equally dismissive of the communities they claim to represent. pic.twitter.com/NA0fFSsgEe

— Robert S. Hamer (@robsolonhamer) February 22, 2019

 Aint that just the truth? I think tweet above is a very important thought that all critics and audience members and awards voters should keep in mind every damn year. And it works whether or not a movie is any good. A lot of people don't like these two movies mentioned above but it's even true of great great movies, perceived and received differently depending on the release dates. It's a real shame.

After the jump tweets on making movies "for the fans," ascendant gay icon must-haves, "Shallow" ear worm, Ruth E Carter's destiny, and a few leftover Oscar tweets...

Click to read more ...