It's been a slow year so far watching movies. I've been sucked in to too many shows to give a gander to some of the names going around. Usually, by this time of the year, I am neck deep in Oscar films. I think I've seen two so far.

I used to keep my Letterboxd page updated, so I would remember the films I've watched at the end of the year. After last year, though, it's clear I don't remember that sites existence half the time. Great site, but yeah it slips out of the universe for me. I figured keeping track of films on my own site would be easier—if not less community driven. But we can discuss movies, books, and whatever I'm writing over at my BuyYouaCoffee page. Donations and subscriptions are not required to follow and comment.

Updated Feb. 11, 2025

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Date Watched: Sometime at the beginning of January.
Rating: 5/5

I freakin' loved this movie. I thought Mad Max: Fury Road was good, but this was so much better. I had heard middling things, so I put off watching it. I don't know what I heard because the Rotten Tomatoes scores are 90% critics and 88% audience. Those are great scores.

I think it was the story that did for me. Fury Road was phenomenal, but it was go, go, go while catching tid-bits of the story. That is great, and it does it well; but I think the emotional impact of Furiosa was much more impactful for me personally. I'm a character-driven person, and that type of story telling is almost always going to win me over.

As far as the acting, Anya Taylor-Joy is always wonderful to watch. Her mini me, played by Alyla Browne, was also terrific. Lots of stoic acting from both of them. However, Chris Hemsworth wins the show in my opinion. I was captivated every time he was on screen. I would love to see more weird characters from him in the future.

The Subtance

Date Watched: February 1, 2025
Rating: 4/5

You know how there is media you love, and there is media you appreciate it for what it is but you just can't love it. This move is the latter. It was stunning visually and absolutely disgusting. I typically avoid body horror because I just can't. It's always too much. This was definitely in that group.

Don't get me wrong Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley were amazing, and I'm rooting for both of them to win more acting awards for this. It really was just the body gore taking me out of it. The story concept was on point, and I was weirdly reminded of Death Becomes Her. These women were locked in a premise that they weren't much more than their youth and looks, and when that gets taken away all they they have left is the ugliness inside. Whether that's just from being a horrible person or having the patriarchy's voice screaming so loud in your mind that you belive this is all your worth.

While I don't fully recommend it to anyone who isn't up for all the squeamishness, the cinematography is beautiful and haunting. The film direction also has me looking forward to more from Coralie Fargeat.

Nightbitch

Date Watched: February 8, 2025
Rating: 3.5/5

I'm not a mother, so I don't have the experience that comes from that. However, as a woman and friend to mothers, this movie was powerful. Giving birth changes a person, and many times, women are left with the duty to raise this little person largely on their own. That can make anyone go a little feral.

It's a bit heavy handed, but I think it touches on aspects that many mothers want to voice and be told. You don't babysit your own kid. Being a stay-at-home mom to a baby or toddler is full time job. There are no breaks. Women need to find their packs more than ever when they bring one of these little people into the world. Definitely, worth a watch. My 3.5 was due to one particular scene that made me scream out, "Why!!!" But you get it.