My Birthday Month Wrapped and Recycled

This month involved a little movies, a lot of music, and my 22nd birthday. Here’s a break down of it all.

Movies!

I have been completely slacking on my movie game but nonetheless let us recap. Also let it be known I rate my movies based on vibes alone nothing goes into the star rankings but pure unadulterated vibes. Also, these are not full reviews because I don’t want to do that sorry :)

Shakespeare in Love Directed by John Madden - 4/5 stars - I’m currently in a Shakespeare class so you’ll see an ongoing theme of him. This movie was star studded and honestly quite good. Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare) and Colin O’Donoghue (Captain Hook in OUAT) look so similar they should play family members at one point.

Election Directed by Alexander Payne - 2/5 stars - It was a weird movie. My favorite part was how all of the main characters got to talk and explain their side to the audience. I don’t know if I would recommend this to anyone or not it kind of lives in a liminal zone.

Night at the Museum Directed by Shawn Levy - 5/5 stars - an absolute stellar rewatch and pick for my birthday movie. there’s so much nostalgia around these movies especially growing up as a kid who loved history (+ rami malek). it’s just such a classic and if you haven’t watched it you’re missing out.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Directed by Shawn Levy - 4/5 stars - it’s so goofy and that’s what makes it so good I mean along with Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart and Octavius running into battle to save Owen Wilson.

Hamlet Directed by Robert Icke, Rhodri Huw - 3.5/5 stars - i have a whole article on Andrew Scotts performance in this stage play as Hamlet click here to read! But the whole idea of making it modern in a way that doesn’t feel forced was really cool and I love the guy from Bridgerton! Also I mean it’s Andrew Scott come on now.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Directed by Shawn Levy - 3/5 stars - it’s so sad worst one is the one that focuses on Rami Malek and has Skylar Griswold. I was honestly so shocked how sad I was at the end but I think that’s with the knowledge of knowing about Robin Williams death.

My letterboxd: my profile where I'm super cool

Books & Plays!

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave - 4/5 stars - I had originally bought this for my mom for Christmas and she finished it super quick and I took it with me on my trip to Florida. Let me say this is the perfect trip book I started it on my flight and finished it on my flight back. It went in directions I didn’t think it would and I was on the edge of my seat practically the entire time. Though the ending was slightly lack luster I liked the hanging in the balance feeling.

Salvage the Bones by Jasmyn Ward - 4/5 stars - The way Ward makes you connect with the characters in these books while the book itself doesn’t even span two weeks is incredible. We meet so many characters and I do feel like I know them by the end and I understand each of their motivations and why they are in the situations that they are in. highly recommend.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell - 4.5/5 stars - I love that Shakespeare is never named and I love the back and forth time looking at the past to the present. I think Agnes is such a strong character. With the little information we actually know about Shakespeare’s life this was a great literary historical fiction. Can’t wait to go see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s version at Chicago Shakespeare theater in a few weeks and the movie as well (which I just went to and oh my gosh so beautiful I didn’t want it to end).

Hamlet by William Shakespeare - 5/5 stars -this is one of my favorite plays ever.

Admissions by Joshua Harmon - 3.5/5 stars - a play. a look at race and college admissions through an all white cast. it is so reflective of what a lot of small towns look like especially in New England and having them look at the structure of their boarding school and how many students of color are attending and how they represent it through their catalogue and how they think race plays into getting into college. I saw a production of it at the Citadel Theater in the Chicago suburbs and it was thought provoking, uncomfortable, funny, and real.

Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - 5/5 stars - such a good uplifting book with a great movie adaptation. it makes me hopeful for the future in a time that’s not so hopeful. also, I just can’t wait for the new movie that’s in production.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - 5/5 stars

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter - 5/5 stars

Music!

the soundtrack to my birthday month I was determined to be an upbeat one - here’s some of my favs!

I Thought I Lost You - Bolt Soundtrack

Move Your Feet - Junior Senior

Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows

5 Years Time - Noah and The Whale

Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Aperture - Harry Styles

I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of Seagulls

Florida!!! - Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine

Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdul

The Time of Your Life - A Bug’s Life Soundtrack

Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles

30/90 -tick, tick…BOOM!

22 - Taylor Swift

Tv Shows!

Dawson’s Creek: I have been making my way through Dawson’s Creek since prime Covid quarantine times and it’s been a slow journey but I just can’t give up on this show. I’m on season 5 and am just waiting for (spoiler) joey and pacey to get back together :) Also rip James Van Der Beek I love that man.

Sweet Magnolia’s: There’s something so comforting about this show I’m rewatching it whenever I feel like and it just feels familiar. Also the divorced/doctor dad in this is also in Election and that really freaked me out.

Sex and The City: Ok so technically I finished the show at the very end of January but I really wanted to tell you guys that I finished it and that I should watch the movies. I probably won’t want the new show but at least the movies.

Finding Her Edge: Bro the ending so stupid they better make Brayden end game next season because Freddie literally get out of here he had more chemistry with Brayden than Adriana. Whatever.

If you have any recommendations at all I would love to hear them!