Thing to watch on Netflix : The Talented Mr. Ripley
So right before Netflix made you choose between streaming and DVD rentals, I had haphazardly cancelled my membership a couple times. Let’s say “twice” in rejoining for just the streaming portion of their services, I may or may not have let’s say “forgotten” to return a few DVDs. Sue me. The Talented Mr. Ripley was one of them, and since moving out of college last Spring, I misplaced the disc (serves me right) but was pleasantly surprised to find it streaming. If you like sociopaths, Matt Damon, Jude Law, and touch of LGBQ, this is your movie. Essentially it’s about a man who has three talents, forging signatures, impersonations, and lying. Tom Ripley is intriguing as hell, and I highly recommend you watch this classic.
Food : Buffalo Wings from Jackalope’s on Sixth Street (Austin, Texas)
If you’re a pussy like me then I would suggest getting them mild or medium, because in the south they really don’t mess around. Jackalope’s wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. They’re bigger than average (even for Texas) and they don’t skimp on the sauce, not in the least. In my one week in Austin, I must have ate more wings than in the past six months combined, and I’m not mad at it. If you’re ever in Austin on sixth, grab some buds, some brews and a basket of wings.
Movie I Saw : This was a really tough one for me because I saw 4 really fucking good movies this month. So rather than choose, I'm just gunna name all four, duh. They are however, in order of least to most favorite.
Wolf on Wall Street : I went to business school, so trust and believe me when i say this is nearly every man's wet dream. Money, power, drugs, sex, excess, and midgets! Really doe, there were. Where I personally don't find a lot of things lewd (I love.lovelove slasher films, and I'd pick rewatching 300 over a romcom any day of the week) I thought that it was an accurate portrayal of excess and greed. At Bentley they pretty much glazed over the ethics portion of the curriculum in 3 months, instead of ingraining the principles from the get-go. Leo did a fantastique job at portraying the over the top real-life character that the movie is based off of. I have yet to read the book myself, but it's definitely on the top of my to do list. There was a lot of great symbolism through and through, and without giving too much away I'll say that Leo's real life counter part, while selfish in the beginning, knows what he's doing. And does it well. Jonah Hill was phenomenal as well, and I really applaud his performance as being even more selfish and grotesque than his handsome counterpart.
Fun coupons for everyone!!
Inside Llewyn Davis : This movie gave me a lot of trouble because I wasn't entirely familiar with the timeline of everything at first. After doing a little research and rewatching, I've grown to like this movie quite a lot actually. Essentially it's about Dave Van Rock whose story is actually quite fascinating and filled with sadness, amongst other emotions too; self-fulfilled or not. Carey does a great job at being that girl you love to hate too : "everything you touch turns to shit, you're like King Midas' idiot brother". The character arc is ever so slight, and there are some motifs (school word) that carry throughout the whole thing. For instance, a lost cat. Trying to catch a break, and having people understand his music. There were a bunch of other unsuspecting characters that had a pretty big affect on the main character. The change was ever so slight, so small, so unnoticeable. I find myself debating whether there was a conflict within the character or whether it was because of society...Either way I highly encourage watching this movie. The Coen brothers are some of my favorites, and they do not disappoint. (Barton Fink anyone??) The musical stylings and performances are breathtaking to say the least. (kudos Oscar Isaac) This film made me frustrated as fuck, and I loved every moment of it.
Her : with one of my personal favorite actors, Joaquin Pheonix. This movie is about a man that feels so shut out by his own reality/ lack of emotional ties with others, that he bonds with his operating system (the voice of the lovely Scarlett Johanson). Without giving too much of the movie away, it deals with *name* divorce, and him trying to get over that void. The advancement of technology, and the highlight of our human dependency on an existential subject (at least in my opinion). It indirectly highlights our human flaws, and our inadequacy to adapt and evolve, our attachment along with our emotional belonging. If you thought I-Robot was good, than burn it, (sincerely a Will Smith fan, and I-Robot owner) I can't not talk about the styling of the movie. The absence of blue hues, the high waisted pants, the fluidness of it all. I loved this movie to pieces. I found this movie to be quite insightful of the road that we've seemed to have partaken on when it comes to the consumption of technology. It's filled with heartbreak and love, friendship, and the emptiness. PS: ROONEY MARA.
Dallas Buyers Club : There aren't really many words I can use to describe this movie that aren't cliche. Speaking from one of the least/worst Matthew McCona-hell-no fans, I sincerely recommend you watch this movie above all others. It was not only based on a true story, but it covers a topic that is widely frowned upon and overlooked in this country. The AIDS epidemic, and things that surround it. This movie hits all the notes. A "buyers club" was a term used for essentially alternative methods to deal with the complications of the disease. McConaughey's character goes through great lengths to not only provide an alternative to a lethal "cure", but transforms himself as well. I could go on all night about this movie. Just watch it please.
Article of Clothing : Scarves
Whether they’re the traditional long rectangle, or the infinity style. I can’t get enough of them. Here are a few that I’ve been lusting over.
Cocktail/Beer : Texas Mule from Peche in Austin, Texas.
I went to this swanky bar the first time I was in Austin (link to texas trip) and fell in love with the atmosphere. If my memory serves me, one of my cousins ordered this. This cocktail is perfectly balanced. It’s made with vodka, jalapeños, ginger beer (made in-house of course). The bartenders know their stuff, they’re friendly, inhumanly observant, charismatic, and efficient. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, and they were incredible. Almost couldn’t decide between those and the wings for my favorite food of this month.
Artist : The Hood Internet
I had the pleasure of seeing him (only half the duo could make it) in concert this past weekend (technically not in January, but meh). He went above and beyond all of my expectations. From old school jams, to the latest and greatest Top 40. There wasn’t a genre he didn’t cover, or beat that he missed. I wish the night could’ve lasted forever. I've been listening to them since high school, and it was really great to finally see it live.
thanks for the pictures! (and the tickets babe)
Read : Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I’m currently still working on this (stolen) book so I’ll follow up with it next month. But from where I am right now it’s pretty damn interesting. It took me a while to get acclimated to the vocabulary but once I reread a few pages it started to mesh together. It’s set in a dystopian future you could say, where humans are genetically modified to fulfill certain roles. There’s also a drug called soma that essentially alleviates the concept of depression. If you’re into weird futuristic concepts that could potentially come true, I would highly recommend reading this book. It may take a while to dig in to, but once you do, you’ll be hooked.
this is my favorite cover art for the book.
Want/Lust : Nars
I've been lusting over brick and ruby woo by Nars, along with pretty much all of their products.
Man : Zachary Quinto
I kinda had a crush on this dude since I saw him in Heroes years back. He cemented this when he was in Star Trek, and definitely more so when he was in American Horror story.
Woman : Robin Wright
dude, I just realized that she's the princess from Princess Bride, mind blown. I love her in House of Cards, I think she's sexy as hell, and I love her short hair style.
Trend : Ramen
As you may have seen from my post about what I did last month. Then you may have known that I had the chance to eat a ramen burger! The food trend of putting ramen in places you normally wouldn't.
Tip : Never get too comfortable.
this seems to be more and more relevant as I go through the years..