I have an inside joke with myself. When people’s first reaction to a film is, “I don’t get the point of that movie,” I know I’ll probably love it.
I like slow, mumblecore-ish, character-driven films about complex relationships, impossible love, or guys with depression that never really amount to anything.
One movie that really fucked me up, and still does ten years later, is Take This Waltz.
I’m under no illusion that the reason I found the film so poignant is I experienced a similar situation to the main character and seem to learn the same lesson she does over and over again.
I watch the trailer every few years and feel the same ache when Geraldine (Sarah Silverman) says, “Life has a gap in it. It just does. You don’t go crazy trying to fill it.”
And then I have the urge to comment on the video and realise I commented the previous year saying the same thing.
A few of my other favourite “pointless” films that capture the life gap:
Marriage Story
Aftersun
The Worst Person in the World
Kaptn Oscar
Blue Valentine
Before Sunrise
This week, I saw and enjoyed a film far outside of my preferred cinematic experience, which definitely won’t end up on that list. But first…
5 good things 🔪 (reflect)
Four strong women mentors are in my corner, and for that, I am grateful.
Sleep. I love sleeping. A much-needed break from reality.
Tom Hardy’s lips.
Small acts of service that make me feel like less of a POS.
Cosy jumpers.
The Bikeriders 🔪 (watch)
The film I saw this week was The Bikeriders, based on the 1960s Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club, captured in Danny Lyon’s photography book of the same name. The film recreates the photos through the fictional club, the Vandals.
The storyline centres around a love triangle between the club’s head, the uncool “cool guy” Johnny (Tom Hardy), the wayward Benny (Austin Butler), and Benny’s wife, Kathy (Jenny Comer).
When I say love triangle, I mean both Johnny and Kathy want Benny for themselves. Johnny looks up to Benny for his wild, unpredictable temperament and wants him to be an integral member of the Vandals for life. On the other hand, Kathy wants Benny to leave the club because it’s too dangerous. But Benny is born to be wild and refuses to be tamed.
A movie about a motorcycle club isn’t my usual cup of tea, but for some reason, I was enthralled. I’ll admit that watching Tom Hardy in leather probably had something to do with it.
I didn’t even know Hardy played Johnny until the end when I turned to my friend and said, “That Johnny character is so hot,” and she replied, “Um yeah, that’s Tom Hardy.”
How did I not know Tom Hardy? I had heard his name before and knew he was famous, but I had never paid him any mind. Crazy, huh? Now I’m obsessed with him and his lips.
I also have a thing for hyper-masculinity. Many moons ago, I would watch The Footy Show, not for the AFL updates, but for the problematic representations of masculinity depicted on the screen. Is that weird?
Anyway, The Bikeriders was lighter and more entertaining than my usual watch. It reminded me that my pop culture consumption doesn’t always have to be so serious and depressing.
It’s healthy and necessary to explore experiences outside of my own. I will probably never ride a motorbike with Tom Hardy (unfortunately), but it’s cool to see people doing things I never will.
Oh, and Australian actor Toby Wallace from Babyteeth is in The Bikeriders. That’s another movie I loved. It also had an amazing soundtrack!
Still Born 🔪 (read)
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel is a delicious, delicious, delicious read like I knew it would be!
Set in Mexico City, Still Born is about two professional women in their mid-thirties with similar values, except Laura doesn’t want children, and Anisa does.
Both women grapple with motherhood in distinct ways and experience the complex emotions that come with our most meaningful relationships.
I don’t think I’ve ever used “elegant” to describe writing, but it applies here. Nettel’s writing is direct, light, and unsentimental yet rich with meaning, making for a potent reading experience.
Still Born captures the contradictions of motherhood with such clarity and depth that I inhaled the words, and their feeling seeped straight into my soul, where it will remain.
NAIDOC week 🔪 (quick read)
I feel like a real POS for not giving you First Nations recommendations during NAIDOC week. But I did come across
’s NAIDOC Week post on A year from now.Kaylene is a First Nations business coach and founder of Startup Creative, which I have followed for years, particularly while freelancing.
Langford lists her favourite First Nations people, businesses, entertainers and knowledge keepers to check out and support.
I’ll be making my way through the list over the coming weeks and urge you to do the same.
That’s it for me!
With love & dopamine,
Nx
Quote of the week 🔪
Most of what makes a book 'good' is that we are reading it at the right moment for us. - Alain de Botton
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Thanks for the mention Naomi and hope you enjoy the list.