Alls Well When Read (and Watched) #2: Gothic Conspiracies & More
Greetings!
End of summer watches and reads have always been a bit weird for me. My moods change up as much as the weather does, and I find myself going back and forth between latest releases and things that bring familiar comfort.
This week has been no different.
So, I wanted to apologize because this list might seem a bit all over the place, messy, and indecisive — a representation of my mind currently. But I won’t because I realized that’s the beauty of everything listed here: there’s a little something for everyone. There doesn’t have to be order or parallelism for y’all to find at least one thing to enjoy here.
What to Watch This Weekend
The Invitation (2.75ish/5)
“The Invitation,” which premiered in theaters over the weekend, is one of those films that I would’ve totally LOVED as a teenager. As an adult, there are some words I quickly found myself using to refer to it: Scary “Twilight” and Hallmark Vampires. So, I didn’t love it, but there were still some things I definitely liked.
The thing that stood out the most was how quickly the film was twisted into a complete gothic conspiracy. Creators obviously wanted to emphasize that nothing about vampires can be considered perfection. With the ones in the film, their aristocratic air and effervescent good looks are just fronts for hundreds of years of dark family history, them committing torture and abuse, and them contributing to major racial issues. Basically, creators are telling us we’re better off being our imperfect selves (and maybe to not trust those who are TOO good looking).
The romantic storyline was the thing that kind of killed the vibe for this film because it was predictable and clunky. Without giving anything away, it would have been nice to see the main character get to the conclusion without any of the typical sickly sweet vampire love. Plus, all of the vampires in it were just SO terrible and creepy anyways, that I couldn’t imagine our main heroine falling in love with one of them to start with!
If this sounds like something for you, DEFINITELY see it in theaters before it’s gone!
I Love My Dad (3.5/5)
I literally spit out my coffee laughing during this film at least 5 times. Yeah, it’s that funny.
“I Love My Dad” is based on James Morosini’s own story of getting catfished by his father on the internet, and having to endure the emotional trauma and complete embarrassment that comes when thinking you’ve been talking (and sexting oh my GOSH) to someone who just gets you, but they actually don’t exist.
This film triggers a whole mix of emotions because you can’t believe that a father would go to that length to be more included in his son’s life. But, it happens, and it’s as mortifying and cringe-worthy as you can imagine, and you won’t be able to turn away because of Morosini’s penchant for creating amazing stories out of the lemons he’s been given.
You can rent “I Love My Dad” from Amazon Prime!
The Offer (4/5)
Okay, I get it: I’m a bit late on this (a few months to be exact). But, I actually watched this a while ago, have ruminated, and can declare that while Miles Teller is awesome as Al Ruddy, he’s not what makes the show so great. All that magic comes Dan Fogler, Matthew Goode, and Burn Gorman, who respectively play Francis Ford Coppola, Bob Evans, and Charles Bluhdorn.
All three actors leveled up the rhythm of the show by giving their characters the right amount of wit, will, and glamour to perfectly contrast Teller’s straight-shooting Ruddy. Through them, the essence of the men they’re playing is tangible: we can practically grab onto their depth and emotion, making us want more (and we can never get enough of Fogler as Coppola as far as I’m concerned).
Stream it on Paramount Plus.
Naughty Books (3.5/5)
Disclaimer: if you’re one of those people who can’t stand to hear erotic fiction or themes being read or talked about aloud, this one isn’t for you.
“Naughty Books” is a fast-moving documentary filled with sex and love, and the women who have gotten fame and fortune self-publishing dirty books about all of them. While following the authors’ highs, the film features just as many lows that come with writing and sudden success that the general public isn’t aware of, like having unsupportive husbands or enduring years of no inspiration.
Even if erotic fiction isn’t your thing (it’s not mine) or you can’t call yourself a writer or reader, this film is still fascinating because we all can relate to these authors somehow. So, go into it with an open mind and really listen to what these women have to say. I promise, it’s all great.
Find “Naughty Books” on Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV, and Amazon Prime!
What to Read
Truly, Madly (4/5 so far)
I will read anything about Laurence Olivier, so I’m a bit biased here. But, “Truly, Madly” by Stephen Galloway gives everything an Old Hollywood lover like me could want with the legendary Olivier and Vivien Leigh love story: trauma, decay, hopeless dreaming, the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and LOTS of glamour and name dropping.
Besides their love story, Galloway also takes the reader into both Olivier’s and Leigh’s background, showing the bits and pieces they lost of themselves as children that couldn’t be replaced as adults, no matter how strong their bond was. It’s safe to say Galloway has completely enthralled me at 50 pages in already, and I’m SO excited to have a long ways to go with this one.