Ah, February. The month of love, where meet-cutes galore happen in coffee shops across the country, romantic proposals sweep the nation from shore to shore, and the perfect kiss happens almost every day of the month –
Wait, does that actually happen in real life? In case you’ve been living under a rock, no. It doesn’t, not even in February, the most romantic month. But it sure does happen a lot in Hollywood, especially this time of year. Humans love to watch a good love story with a happy ending. And why not? They have their place. They give us hope in a world that’s kind of crummy sometimes.
Which is why today, we’re going to talk about blood and guts.
That’s right. I mean, blood comes from the heart, right? So it’s kind of related? Maybe? Strangely enough, in this month of love, a lot of my media habits have been focused on true crime, folklore, and moral ambiguity. Because who doesn’t love a good book about a serial killer to keep them warm by the fire?
MEDIA MINUTE #3 – February 13, 2019
What I’ve read:
Zodiac by Robert Graysmith. You might be hoping this is a fluffy book about astrology. But you’d be wrong. In 1968, a still-unidentified man began a decades-long career as a taunting serial killer in the greater Los Angeles area, seemingly murdering at random and then writing to the police and newspaper about it. This is a story straight out of film noir, complete with a costume and a literal cipher, parts of which remain unsolved to this day. But the story is all too true, and detectives, psychologists, and laymen alike have been scratching their heads over it for decades. This story is told with gritty detail, focusing on the real-time police investigations and including details never published before (Graysmith was a cartoonist at the newspaper the Zodiac wrote to.) It’s a fascinating book that reads like a fiction thriller – except the story is all too real.
What I’ve watched:
First Reformed. I heard Ethan Hawke talk about this film in a podcast and it intrigued me. He stars as the reverend of a washed-out historical church in upstate New York who is approached by a pregnant woman who is concerned about the behavior of her husband, an environmental activist. The film quickly spirals from a quiet, slightly troubled reflection of a failing pastor to a (slightly ham-fisted) commentary on climate change. The movie brings up good points – can we have hope in a world filled with despair? And how do we as the church approach climate change in a God-honoring way? The film itself seemed disjointed and jarring, like an engine that just won’t turn over. The intensity is erratically punctuated by weird moments of calm and composure, which makes the conclusion even more bizarre and confusing.
The Punisher season two. Netflix has impressed me immensely with its Marvel original series (except for Iron Fist. We don’t talk about Iron Fist.) Jon Bernthal lends his husky, lumberjack-chic self to the character of Frank Castle, who in the second season is hot on the trail of Jigsaw AKA Billy Russo, a former military buddy of his. Ever the fan of moral gray areas, this season asks the question – if you’re doing the same thing as your enemy, what makes you any better? The conversation gets a bit long-winded at times, but it thankfully often culminates to stellar performances from Bernthal (he grimaces with nuance) and Ben Barnes (Russo.) This season also introduces an intriguing villain in Pilgrim. If you ever wanted to watch a preacher square up to a mob boss and absolutely wreck him, now’s your chance.
What I’ve Listened To:
This is Why We Drink. I’m not a huge believer in the paranormal, but dang, I love a good story about ghosts, hauntings, or just plain weird happenings. I found this podcast thanks to my Lore binging, and while Lore plays out more like ghost stories around a campfire, This is Why We Drink is more conversational. It’s hosted by two women and a box of wine, and it’s delightful. If you’re a fan of all things weird and true crimey, this is totally up your alley.
What I Want to Listen To/Watch/Etc:
Wasteland, Baby! by Hozier. IT’S COMING OUT IN MARCH AND IMSOEXCITED. Hozier’s unique, weirdly spooky, almost gospel-y sound infects me to my bones and I want more. (Like “Movement?” Come on. A groovy bop.)
Isn’t it Romantic? What’s February without some fluffy romantic comedy? Especially if it stars Rebel Wilson and Chris Hemsworth? It’s sure to be absolutely air-headed but I’m ready for it.
You. Because I said I wanted to watch it last time and I still haven’t. Shrug.
Audrey D. DeBoer 