Being so close to an independent cinema, Fyn and I purchased annual passes so we can see as many movies as we want this whole year.
I went alone to this one, which I think was a very good thing given Fyn's aversion to the theme of a person losing control of themself. I was pleasantly surprised by how queer this film is. I wish we had gained more insight into Lotte's gender identity. The story ends with the viwer seeing Lotte still presenting as a woman, but the character's reaction to becoming John Malkovich seems *very* trans to me. Lotte experienced gender euphoria just by embodying Malkovich and seeing Malkovich's reflection.
Fyn and I went to this one together. I don't have any complaints about this movie, and there is a lot I really appreciated. There were some gorgeous shots (one where the lens catches the sun in a prism that moves lower with the camera/viewer was particularly breathtaking). The sibling dynamic between Sasha and Jeremy is so well-developed, and all three actors (kid Sasha, adult Sasha, and Jeremy) did a phenomenal job creating the absolute Tragedy of their relationships with each other and with their family. The two un-named middle brothers wonderfully served the narrative, allowing us to see how both Sasha and Jeremy felt like outsiders in their family. This film was just so... human. I think I'll continue liking it.
I didn't like this movie, though there were moments I found enjoyable. At its best, it felt campy (observational humor about the "lesbian best friend" trope, though done less well than Kendahl Landreth does in her sketches) or heartfelt (the vigil and the full-character-ization of the "Pink Ladies.") The husband character was boring and contributed nothing. The lesbian-best-friend character was, as mentioned, sometimes fun in a camp way, but that was largely because of the bad acting, which didn't come across as a conscious choice so much as a consequence of the actress' lack of skill.
I'd seen this movie once before, on my dingy laptop screen, alone, entrenched in the grief, anger, and alienation of 2023/24. I didn't like it at all then. This time was different. Fyn and I went to a special screening and the audience was full of people who love the movie (many were even dressed up). It felt like I was watching the movie with Aimee. The audience's collective love for the movie, evident from the robust and frequent laughter, not only helped me "get it," but made it feel like Aimee was in the room with us, laughing along. (also I don't smoke weed but when I got into my car to go to the movie I definitely got a hint of the good kush. Rabbi Aimee I see u.) I don't want to interrogate my thoughts on this movie. I want it to be a way to hang out with my dead friend. So no thoughts.