currently loving
Since the early days of quarantine I have been doing my research over the best films/series, podcasts, books (you name it).
So here are some of my recommendations with my review and my rating out of 5.
Films:
BlacKkKlansman 5/5 (I give this a solid 5/5 because Spike Lee’s movies are just too good and go straight to the point with a little twist of Dark Comedy. It explores the harsh reality of racism and conveys how messed up fierce supremacy is. A little spoiler here - but I loved the upside down US flag at the end - it may have multiple meanings and one of them might be that the world specially America has gone upside down. May also represent an upside down cross, revealing how there is hell on earth almost like a Biblical reference of the Apocalypse)
Mid90s 4/5 (This doesn’t hit the 5 just because the beginning was a bit slow and unnecessary but I loved the aesthetic of the 90s film keeping the video ratio classic 4:3 with a retro filter like a cam corder effect, I thought was so original for being a 2019 film. Also loved exploring the life of a real kid living in the Bronx wanting to become a skater like the teenagers around him, I’m just obsessed with teen 90s films shot in Brooklyn, New York specially the music! - who doesn’t love some Notorious B.I.G or OutKast?)
Clueless 3/5 (Bit overrated for what it actually is but if I had to choose a teen film to watch again it would be mean girls as its just the best. Also, yes I am aware I’m a bit late to the clueless game but oh well better now than never)
Little Women 3/5 (Again this remake of Little Women was a bit overrated and would have preferred to have watched the classic first but it was very confusing the way it went back and forth with time like before and after made it very hard to understand the plot and the story. However, I loved the acting and the costume/aesthetics it was all very 1800s. I mean anything Timothée Chalamet I am down!)
Skate Kitchen 3/5 (My most recent watch. Jaden’s acting isn’t the same as his Karate Kidself but overall it was an easy watch. Again another 90s skaters New York based film but I thought the acting in general wasn’t that great compared to Mid90s maybe if the cast would’ve been different it would be better. Also, found some parts a bit slow and dull but I loved the overall message about keep doing what you love the most)
Moonlight 4/5 (I watched this one around a year ago and I wanted to include it in this post as I believe that it is very relevant to what is happening right now with the fight for anti-racism and equality. Overall such a thought provoking film and I definitely shed a tear or two.)
Roma 3/5 (An Oscar-winning film and I’m giving it a 3! I mean each to their own but I personally believe that it was a very slow movie yet so simple. I loved the cinematography and the black and white aesthetic. Definitely opened my eye to everyday life in Mexico during the 70s)
Gloria Bell 2/5 (Another A24 production - I love their way of producing films and aesthetic. However this one was a bit of a disappointment just because me and my Mum didn’t find anything particularly special or striking with the film. It was just your typical life of a middle aged divorced mother, on pursuit for happiness.)
Series/Videos:
Normal People 4/5 (Another massive hype! I truly loved every episode, there wasn’t one episode I didn’t like but the ending. If you know, you know! Can I just say Paul Mescal damn. There has to be a Season 2. Period.)
Black Mirror (Now I know that there is no specific structure with the episodes as each episode is different and quite long ranging from 40 mins to 1hr30mins - I know! Basically a mini film that’s why I can’t rate it but in general from the ones I’ve watched so far - most recently Black Museum, they are all so good and another eye opener with what technology holds for us and how scary all of it is.)
Bon Appetit Test Kitchen (A cooking fanatic essential. I started watching these videos around this time last year and I am still hooked - notification button is ON. I love the Gourmet Makes with Claire Saffitz series and most recently hooked with It’s Alive with Brad Leone. My dream would be to work for Bon Appetit and the Test Kitchen. So So good.)
The Last Dance 5/5 (Once I watched all of it by myself and then made Dad watch the first one at least with me again it, the first episode made sense and was a good introduction to what there was to come. Each episode got better and better. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are the best Sport duo of all time… their bond is something else. Shredded a few tears for this one too not gonna lie. I had no understanding of the NBA apart from the big names but oh wow it does give you a full insight of the background to it all. No wonder why tickets are so expensive! Chicago Bulls all the way!)
Killing Eve 4/5 (Just finished watching Season 3 as it ended last Monday and I was a bit disappointed as there was yet another cliff-hanging ending. Nothing happened. But I guess I do love a never-ending show gives you more to look forward to but me and Mum are a bit sick of no actual ‘Killing Eve’, I wonder if the next Season is the final cut? Hmm.)
Podcasts:
Happy Place with Fearne Cotton (Such an uplifting podcast, interviewing a good range of famous guests such as Alicia Keys, Russell Brand, Rio & Kate Ferdinand and many more. Love listening to these in the morning whilst having a shower as a way of starting my day in the right headspace.)
Fashion No Filter with Camille Charriere and Monica Ainley (A good insight to the world of fashion specially for a Fashion Student like myself, interviewing Mugler’s creative director Casey Cadwallader, French fashion documentarian Loic Prigent.)
Things You Can’t Ask Yer Mum with Lizzy Hadfield and Lindsey Holland (A funny wind-down podcast for anytime of the day quite frankly. I love both of their aesthetic and style on Instagram and it’s just a nice down to earth girl chat, interviewing a range of people over different themes and topics such as Confidence with Natalie Lee, Comparison with Lucy Sheridan)
Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware (Another good wind-down food related podcast interviewing a great lineup of guests such as John Legend, HAIM, Dua Lipa and many more. I’ve listened to every single one and I can’t get enough!)
Books:
Homo Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari 4.5/5 (Such an insightful read over the history of humankind and our origins. Some bits were a bit repetitive but I gained so much knowledge and understating over where we all came from and the evolution of man as well as the uprise of religion which has to led to corruption, wars and controversy - a MUST READ.)
Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari (Since loving the first book of the trilogy, I had to order myself the other 2, Homo Deus and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. I’ve got around 60 pages left and damn I have whizzed through this one - 2 weeks 500 pages not too bad! Just goes to show how good Hariri’s explanations are.)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera 3/5 (A shotfromthestreet blog recommendation and she rated it a 4, it’s truly a beautiful read about 3 love affairs in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. However being not a big fan of romantic reads I wasn’t naturally drawn to it but I did shed a tear at times too as it was very touching and delicately written.)
Music:
What I’ve got on repeat (a good mixture of songs i’ve been loving as my songs change quite frequently hence why I can’t make an actual playlist)
Je parle Français (my French playlist - love love love French music who knew?!)
The Last Dance (obsessed with 90s hip hop too! real throwbacks here)
