#accolades trailer

[the-astral-express-archive]

Accolades Trailer | Honkai: Star Rail

[doamarierose-honoka]

MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - Accolades Trailer

[saltpepperbeard]

NEXT GOAL WINS - 2023 | dir. Taika Waititi

[tariah23]

This dude is awesome… but also, I haven’t seen Bamboozled since middle school, oh my god. I’d almost forgotten about it-

[suppermariobroth]

Nintendo of America's 2020 accolade trailer for Paper Mario: The Origami King includes a unique humorous scene where instead of simply overlaying the accolades over regular game footage (as is standard for such types of trailers), the review scores are inserted as actual in-universe objects into the scene of Mario and Olivia relaxing in a hot spring.

Then, Olivia comments, "Ohhhhh... Yeah, I get it now." which in-game is simply a response to the relaxing properties of the water, but in this scenario appears to be her response to the review scores.

Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source

[paper-mario-wiki]

Oh Scout, did you play Outer Wilds? I would love to hear your thoughts on it!

To impress upon those who may be looking for a recommendation, I will make one speaking as little about the game as possible. If you have not played the game, it's important to recognize that all checkpoints throughout the entire game, all the way through, are 100% in your mind. If you already know how to do something, you'll know forever, so it's imperative that you know that before you go looking for more information. If you look up a let's play or a guide, you will not be able to play the game properly. I do not mean that in a "that's not what the devs wanted!" way, I mean since the game deals in mental checkpoints, seeing a puzzle solved means every time you boot the game up it will be like booting up outside the final boss's door every time, no matter what. Doesn't matter if it's a fresh install on a steam account that isn't yours on a computer on the other side of the world while playing in a language you don't understand. You cannot unlearn the solutions in this game.

I cannot overstate enough that if you were to ever be overly-cautious about not spoiling a game for yourself, it should be this one. I have a very high tolerance for spoilers, but if this game was spoiled for me it would have robbed me of something so, so important.

Now, onto the actual recommendation:

Watch the trailer and take note of the awards it shows you. It will show you nominations, high critic scores, and game of the year awards from many different sources. I can tell you with confidence after having just completed it, there is not a single one of those accolades that is exaggerated. Every person who's ever been like "you've GOT to play Outer Wilds" is doing it for a reason. It took me a while to play it because I'm the kind of person who gets annoyed when people over-recommend something to me. With this one, after playing it, I completely understand.

Genres: Exploration, Puzzle solving, Mystery, Sci-fi

Similar experiences: Subnautica

[redwinedulac]

do you know how insane it would be going forward if whenever you see jacob in a trailer underneath his name would be “golden globe nominee” or “emmy nominee” the highest accolades in the acting world omg he deserves that so much pls 😭

[bullet-prooflove]

The Circuit: Travis Wheatley x Reader

Tagging: Tagging: @kmc1989 @pear-1206 @keyweegirlie @nu1freakshow

You are the only woman that Travis has eyes for. He makes that abundantly clear during his most recent rodeo circuit. He’s a rockstar at these things, pulling in accolades, showcasing his best horses, it’s the reason John Dutton brought him on board. Travis is a money maker and the Duttons want in.

Unfortunately all of this brings the buckle bunnies.

Travis has been around the block with a few of them. He has a reputation, you know that and so does he, he’s been working hard to rid himself of it over the past year but it sticks like mud. He’s hopes news has gotten around that he has a girl but belt bunnies, they’re bold.

“I’m with someone.” He tells Lanelle when she tries to climb into his lap.

She’s a blond firecracker from Georgia with measurements that belong in a Playboy Magazine. The two of them have tussled a few times, she always seeks him out at events like this.

“But she ain’t here Sugar.” She says in that sweet Southern tone of hers as she rearranges her top to highlight her assets. “But I am.”

“Not my thing anymore.” He tells her, his voice tinged with disinterest and she pours her beer right into his lap. He has to say he half expected it. Lanelle doesn’t like not getting what she wants, in the past he appreciated that feistiness, now…

It’s gotten old.

She spends the rest of the night, writhing on the knee of some young gun coming up on the Bronco circuit and Travis could not give less of a fuck.

He slips away early, disappearing from the bar and heading towards his trailer. He usually goes to the break of dawn at these things before climbing back on his horse and winning his next bout but the truth is he’s getting tired.

The doctor tells him he has a good few years left in him if he takes care of himself, cuts down on the booze. Too much partying is starting to catch up with him, his liver isn’t functioning the way it should do.

You’re the only one he’s told about that, you and his Mama. His doctor says if he doesn’t slow down, he’ll be looking for a new liver in the next five years. Before you that wouldn’t have deterred him. He lived hard, he played hard, he would have died on that hill. But then you’d come into his life, a vision in a white cowboy hat and worn out plaid and he  realised he wanted to stick around as long as possible.

He’s never through of himself as an alcoholic, he’s always been a good time guy but the damage adds up and now he’s careful about what he drinks, what he eats because he know he doesn’t have a hope on the transplant list. Even if he did have the surgery it would put him out of action for over six months and he can’t imagine going that long without riding.

He's sitting on the edge of his bed when he calls you. He’s been missing you more and more lately, your smile, your laugh, the press of your soft body against his as you lie tangled up together. You’ve been together almost two years now and it’s getting harder to leave.

“I saw you on TV.” You say when you pick up the phone. “You looked good.”

“Yea.” He says pinching his brow to ward off the headache that’s starting to gnaw at his temples. “We made some real money today.”

“You sound tired.” You say softly and it still amazes him how attuned you are to him even over this distance.

“I’m missing you a little.” He admits as he lies back on the mattress, his gaze coming to rest on the ceiling. “Actually, I’m missing you a lot.”

Love Travis? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[racergirl-112]

Push Me Over - Chapter 2: Down Bad

MDNI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Content: Adult, Smut Warnings: mentions of orgasms, vibrators, language

A few days later

After a few days of shooting the main cast, Dani was finally making her debut on set. She had spent the morning in her trailer in hair and make-up and now was finally in her costume, the form fitting spandex, being more revealing than she thought. She heard the call over the radio of her assistant Kayla, that it was her time. 

“Are you ready?” Kayla asked. Dani nodded her head. Kayla replied to something over the radio before walking Dani to the main soundstage where they would be filming today. 

While they were on break from a scene, Ryan and Shawn were looking over some footage while Hugh scrolled through his phone. He had been divorced for a week and he and his ex hadn’t announced it yet, but he had people asking what had happened. He wasn’t really to ready to talk about it yet, nor was it anyone’s fucking business. He just happened to glance up as he saw Dani walk on set. The black spandex suit they had her in was hugging her curves and made her breasts prominent. He couldn’t pull his eyes away or stop the erection growing in his suit. She’s young enough to be your kid… 

Filming had wrapped for Dani for the day and she had gone back to her trailer to de-compress for a while after getting out of her costume. After being around Hugh all day in that suit and how it hugged all the right parts of his body, she needed to get away and fast. She pulled up the internet and searched his name. His filmography as well as his theater accolades popped up immediately, followed by his personal life. It said he had been married to a fellow actor for more than two decades and they had two kids. Her heart sank at reading that, but was happy to see a man in Hollywood stay loyal to his wife. 

At that new revelation, she grabbed her bag to leave and go back to the condo they had her staying at during filming. She put her headphones in and Push Me Over by Maren Morris began to play. Some of the lyrics being very prominent of how she had felt all day on set with Hugh. She began to hum then started singing out loud, closing the trailer door behind her and not paying attention to her surroundings. As she turned to leave, she ran into a body. It took a minute to register who it was, but when she saw the yellow and blue, her heart began to race. 

“Um, hi,” Dani said, embarrassed. 

“Hi darlin’,” Hugh answered. “You leaving for the day?” She nodded her head yes, taking her headphones out and putting them in her bag. 

“Yeah. Thought I’d go back to my condo, order some food and binge watch some tv. What about you? What are you doing at my trailer?” 

“Damn, are you always this questioning?” he asked, his eyebrow raising. Dani mentally added that to the on-going list of hot things this man did. 

“I was just asking a question,” she replied sarcastically. 

“I was going to tell you how great of a job you did today.” 

“Thank you?” she questioned. “I guess you haven’t seen my great background work prior?” The smartass smile on her face, making Hugh turned on as hell. 

“Damn sweetheart, you are a smartass. Didn’t your parents teach you to be nice?” 

“Not to strangers,” she smirked. 

“How about we fix that? Want to grab coffee sometime?” Hugh asked. Before she had a chance to register what her mind was thinking, she said it out loud. 

“No offense, but aren’t you married? I don’t want any headlines about me being a homewrecker.” That comment took him aback just by the look that came across his face. 

He closed the space between them and looked around before he spoke. “I’m actually divorced. It was finalized last week, but I haven’t told a lot of people. So, no sweetheart, I’m not married.” She felt like someone had sucked all the air from around them and they were outside. His face was inches from her’s and god did she want this man to kiss her. 

“Well, um,” she felt like she forgot how to speak. “I’m sorry. I know I don’t really know you, but if you do want to talk about it, I’m more than happy to listen. I’ve got to get going though.” 

“I’m going to hold you to that sweetheart,” he replied, his words sending shivers down her spine. 

After getting out of his costume, Hugh got back to his flat, throwing his stuff on the table. He wasn’t sure what the fuck had happened today, but he had been ready to fuck Dani into next week. He grabbed the bottle of Whiskey from the cabinet and poured himself a glass, replaying what had happened. Sure he had had eyes for only his wife for the past 27 years and had done countless love scenes with other co-stars, but there was something about Dani that made him want to break all the rules, especially the one where she was the director’s niece. He downed the whiskey and let the burn flood him as he closed his eyes, thinking about Dani. 

She had been semi right when she told Hugh, she wanted to go back to her condo and eat and binge tv. The food part had been right, but after their little conversation outside her trailer, she found herself using her vibrator to get her off while thinking about Hugh. How she wanted his muscular arms to wrap around her while he made love to her or fucked her into next week. Honestly, she didn’t have a preference. The more she thought about him, the quicker it got her high and soon she was reaching her orgasm. How the fuck was she supposed to stay away from him?

[sonichedgeblog]

The accolades trailer for 'Sonic Mania'. Support us on Patreon

[ofmdrecaps]

12/01-02/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Vico Ortiz; Kristian Nairn; Samba Schutte; Rachel House; Dominic Burgess; Adopt Our Crew; Letting Writing Campaign for OFMD S3!; Fan Spotlight: Our Flag Means Fanfiction; Citizen Dame Pod; 2024 Podfuckery; OFMD Big Bang; Love Notes;

Hey crew, as you can see I'm slowly catching up. I've been sick and my dads back at the hospital so things are a bit cray cray at the moment. Thank you for all your patience <3

= Rhys Darby =

Rhys was out in Atlanta doing comedy with Steve Wriggles, and lots of our crewmates got to get out and see him!

Source: Rhys and Steves Instagram Stories

- More Darby Daily Doodles -

Source: Rhys' Free Substack

= Taika Waititi =

Lots of BTS is coming out with Taika on Interior Chinatown!

Source: Instagram

There's also been more BTS for the KokoFoundation event that he and Minnie did a few weeks back!

Source: Letters Live Instagram

This article features Taika AND Anapela! Thank you to Jess aka @summerlinenss.bsky.social‬ for the share!

Source: Summerlinens Bsky

= Vico Ortiz =

Vico recently received  the “Courage Award” during the 29 Palms Film Festival! Check out their acceptance speech below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vico Ortiz (@puertoricaninja)

Source: Vico's Instagram

= Kristian Nairn =

Kristian was out with friends doing some winter celebrations!

Source: Ryzymackay Instagram

And he had a wee update for everyone before heading off to Columbus OH!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kristian Nairn (@kristiannairn)

Source: Kristian's Instagram

= Samba Schutte =

Fantastic news! Best Life, staring Samba was nominated for a third award! This time New York Shorts Award!

Source: Samba's Instagram

And yet another trailer for Parallel! (It sounds like its working on amazon prime again incase you ran into trouble).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Seasick Studios (@seasickstudios_)

Source: Instagram

- Advanced Chemistry BTS -

Our friend Alec Moore, writer of Advanced Chemistry and big OFMD advocate was kind enough to give us some BTS for the movie with Samba! Check some of it out below-- if you've seen the movie and have yet to review it on amazon, please take a moment to send them some love! Amazon Reviews

Source: Alec Moore's Bsky

A lot of the background pictures of samba's character Allen show Samba doing Air Guitar! Here are some closer looks!

Source: Alec moore

= Rachel House =

Rachel attended the @asiapacificscreenawards_ celebration and her film Te Maunga was nominated for "Best Youth film”. She sends out her "Massive congrats to the beautiful film Boong @lp_devi who deservedly won."!

Source: Rachel's Instagram

= Dominic Burgess =

Dominic always knows how to bring a smile to our face with cat content <3

Source: Dominic's Bsky

In addition, in case you haven't already checked it out-- Skeleton Crew is out on Disney Plus, and our favorite Jeffrey Fettering is in the show! Congrats Dominic!

Source: Dominic's Bsky

== Adopt Our Crew ==

Thank you @adoptourcrew for sharing this article on OFMD from Screenrant! Check it out here.

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Instagram

== Letter Writing Campaign! ==

Our friend Molly aka @aproperpirate.bsky.social has started up a letter writing campaign to try and convince Netflix to adopt #OurFlagMeansdeath!  Check out more info below! (If you don't have bluesky, Molly has agreed to let me post the instructions on the repo as well.)

What?

Letters and/or postcards explaining why you want Netflix to adopt OFMD. Highlight its accolades, reviews, representation, or simply what it means to you. Be honest and authentic! Send as many as you want!

Where?

Mail to:

Netflix Corporate Headquarters

121 Albright Way

Los Gatos, California 95032

When?

Plan for your letter(s) to arrive anywhere during the week of January 5-12, 2025 to coincide with the one year anniversary of cancelation on January 9.

Source: AProperPirate Bsky

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Our Flag Means Fanfiction =

New episode of Our Flag Means Fanfiction is out! Check them out on spotify! "Today we’re talking with Molly, Dahlia and Tessa about crime, criminals and outsiders; and how nefarious law-breakers actually have a positive impact on society — especially when they’re sabotaging authoritarian regimes"

Source: Our Flag Means Fanfiction Spotify

= Citizen Dame =

For those of you subscribed to the citizen dame podcast, the last two episode of OFMD S2 are up! This OFMD Series is for subscribers and it's a been a blast to go over all the wonderful things in the last couple episodes. Wanna learn more? Check them out on Patreon!

Source: Citizen Dame Patreon

= OFMD Podfuckery =

Some fun news! There's a new ofmd podfuckery going on! Several of the resident podficcers of the OFMD community are recording fics in their own style! Wanna follow along with the fun? Check out their bluesky!

First on the list is The Hunt - by our dear @petrichorca and read by @kninjaknitter.bsky.social! Are you a podficcer and wanna get in on the fun? Jump on in and keep an eye out for the #podfuckery tag on bsky!

Source: OFMDPodFuckery Bsky

= 2024 OFMD Big Bang =

The 2024 OFMD Big Bang, hosted by @ofmdbigbang is officially over! You can check out the completed works list here. If you haven't already checked out their tumblr, they've posted all the amazing works people have put together for it! Check them out over on @ofmdbigbang!

Source: OFMDBigBang Tumblr

== Love Notes ==

Hey lovelies. It's almost 2025! Holy moly! I can't even believe it honestly, where has this year gone? I have been so blessed to be able to spent a lot of it with so many of you, and getting to share in your laughter and your tears, and I am so very grateful for that. Tonight I just wanted to send you a quick reminder that if you need to get something off your chest -- please ,oh please, do. I know a lot of us worry about whether or not there are "worse things" going on for other people, and you know what, something is going bonkers for every person everywhere, and if we all just didn't talk to one another every time someone else was struggling with their own issues, no one would ever talk. Of course, be sure to ask if people have spoons, or find a group you know is cool with chatting (and obviously if they're laying in a hospital bed, maybe dont bug that person unless they say its okay)-- but please find someone to talk to. It's easy to fall into the pattern of "I don't want to bother people" or "My problems seem like so much less". You'd be surprised how much of your crew really cares and wants to help. I myself, when things get really tough, feel better when I get to talk to other people about their own issues, because I can put some love out into the world that I'm not feeling as strongly at the moment from elsewhere.

You never know until you ask, so please ask <3 Love you crew, take care of yourselves, ya hear?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Women Who Run With The Moon (@womenwhorunwiththemoon)

Img Source: WomenWhoRunWithTheMoon Instagram

[extracurious]

Reminiscence

Still Drunken on the memories of the summer of 2023.I watched the movie almost 50 times till now but truly fatigue didn't grip me. The theatre experience was outstanding. I went there with very little expectation, of course a sequel rarely matches it's predecessor.The intro of ATSV made me think that it was not the case of waste of money or time . I got what I wished for since the trailer release.Terrific voice acting done by Shameik Moore , Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Issac, Issa Rae, Daniel kaluuya, Karan Soni and others.

Peter B Parker and Miles carried the first movie with their most relatable energy.In second movie it was good to see Peter as a happy dad. Still he needed to be more cautious while handling Mayday amidst the multiverse madness even though she had spider powers .

Miles transformation was absolutely stunning one. He had grown, became emotionally intelligent yet he was not a pro. Still working for upgrading himself and continued learning. And we all had agreed that he always listened to his heart.

And coming to Gwen she was definitely "not okay" in ATSV ,especially not in a great position to handle her feelings. She doubted whether she had any importance or simply her existence was fragile.While Miles was always there to praise her innocence,wisdom,grace,skills and her self esteem.

I already had a notion of how their friendship was going to evolve into a much more beautiful bonding they could crave for. And yes Sony finally did it ,which was doomed for years. Congratulations to Hailee Steinfeld for brilliantly portraying Gwen Stacy and winning the Astra Awards and other accolades for her role.

Their interactions in ITSV had always a flirty tone in it which was subtly noticeable until Miles comeback in final battle. At that time there was a sudden realisation that the moments Gwen had longed for specially sharing with Miles, was going to end soon as the portal for her travelling back home had finally opened.

I was hoping to get atleast the full convo of the bus ride that had been pending since ITSV and how they managed to get the selfie. Well BTSV must provide that to us. Their moments together need to cherished everytime.

Hobie and Pavitr's friendship had been an exception. They were always jolly and supportive .

Expecting more screentime for all the members of the band in next movie. We all missed them a lot.

And this trio would be having a long talk before reconciliation. They would need to fix and thereby heal each other from the wounds suffered due to the betrayal.

Miguel had a hard time after loss of his daughter.His established theories could not be entirely wrong but his ideologies regarding cannon events should be studied and explained with more precision. He had been unaware of the actual policies of multiversal working. Cause he only depended on what "the model says- Lyla".Hoping the writers would be able to properly add the details and justify the incidents in BTSV along with the reason why Gwen glitched so less than other spideys in ITSV.

The creation of a joke villain,who being later considered as a multiversal threat,Spot's arc was indeed incredibly done by the writers. Eagerly looking forward as to how Spot can manipulate space and time and find the answers about his holes.

On other hand Miles 42- He gave a feeling of hardened, unshakeablly confident but sad at same time. Kind of aggressively caring person.

Lastly the music played a crucial role in uplifting the cinematic experience. Uniquely blending with all the characters. The ost and music tracks had been top notch, where "The falling apart " and "calling" became my favourite.A big thanks to Daniel Pemberton and Metro Boomin for making this a masterpiece.

This movie had no business going that hard.And I knew this obsession would have no end. 🥺

-extracurious

[ferrstappen]

LONG LIVE l Esteban Ocon

(a/n): omg the first installment of the Taylor Swift Collection. I'll admit this one was a bit of a stretch but I just had this idea and needed to get it out! I hope you enjoy it and would love to have your feedback <3

disclaimer: in this au, the reader plays the role Zendaya plays in the franchise.

summary: Esteban Ocon (aka the biggest Spiderman fan, according to himself) tried to bribe his girlfriend, gave her the silent treatment, he called her out during race weekends, but Marvel was just too good keeping their secrets. (actress!reader).

i) I said “remember this moment” in the back of my mind.

July 2018

When Esteban told his friend Lance that after months of liking every post and Instagram story of the actress playing Michelle Jones on the new Spider Man movies, he slid on her DMs in hopes she would answer, Lance laughed.

No, he didn’t laugh, he cackled.

It was July 2017, the first Spider-Man movie in the hands of Marvel Studios had just dropped and was a complete success, and of course Esteban had his team request a copy to the studios so he could host a viewing on his home theatre. 

He had avoided spoilers and even movie trailers in order to be surprised, most of his friends teased him about it, but he couldn’t careless, even dedicating that entire night to follow and stalk every cast member on Instagram. 

That’s when he noticed the gorgeous actress who played MJ, mysterious and intelligent on screen, and that’s when everything started for him. 

He googled her age, visited her Wikipedia page to see her accolades and projects, he even checked her dating history and the rumors surrounding her relationship with Tom Holland, the actor who played Spider-Man. 

His life went on, months went by where he silently liked her posts, just as another fan of the series and sequels of his favorite superhero, then he was focusing on the 2018 F1 Season, even as things turned ugly with not only having to worry about performing, but also with trying to keep his seat. 

Maybe his Instagram algorithm knew him a little too well when a Marvel fanpage showed on his timeline, announcing filming for the second movie of the Spider-Man sequel was taking place in London and Italy, and between the stress of training, press breathing on his shoulder about his future in Formula 1, he decided to take a risk.

Which takes him to his Canadian friend laughing at him. 

He made his way towards the Williams trailer where Lance was getting ready, not really caring that chances were he was going to take his seat at Racing Point, they were friends. That’s why Lance felt so comfortable staring at his friend in disbelief as he couldn’t stop the giggles that just kept coming. 

“Esteban, why would you subject yourself to being ignored? She’s from Hollywood, there’s no way she even knows who you are.” Lance tried to reason with his French friend, but Esteban shrugged. 

“It doesn’t matter, I know she’s probably not going to see it, but I have nothing to lose. It doesn’t even count as humiliation because we’ll probably never going to meet each other.”

Lance squinted his eyes at his friend. “You can’t have that attitude, dude!”

“But you just laughed on my face!” Esteban argued.

“Yes, because it’s my job as your friend, but at the same time I have to hype you up, you know?” Lance told him, but Esteban suspected he was just being too Canadian. “What did you tell her?”

Esteban sighed and scratched the back of his neck: “If she wanted to attend the British GP since they’re filming there.”

Lance let out a sound of approval. “You know? I think it could work out. Maybe you should find ways to drop how much of a fan of Spider-Man you are during press, you know? Just find a way, and then people will start ‘Oh, this Formula 1 driver is so adorable, he’s such a fanboy’.” The Canadian suggested. 

“How did you even think of that?” Esteban asked, but was interrupted by his iPhone going off, his engineer asking him where he was.

He didn’t get to talk with Lance again, just throwing himself on the hotel bed while his eyes were already closing due to stress and jetlag. Forcing himself off the bed to take a shower and then going to bed, checking his phone for one last time. 

His verified account worked in a weird way he still wasn’t able to fully grasp, only notifying him when other verified accounts messaged him or followed him.

And that’s what happened. 

Hey Esteban! I’m so sorry it’s taken so long to answer but ive been a bit busy. 

Attending Silverstone would actually be such a great time, is the invite still up? 

In case it is, this is my agent’s email so your people can give him the details ;)

The French read and reread the message at least ten times, not knowing if his mind was playing tricks with him, but when he read this notification, he gasped and dialed Lance. 

“LANCE!”

@(YNLN) started following you. 

ii) I was screaming “long live that look on your face”

(Y/N) thinks that Esteban exaggerated how much of a Spider-Man fan he was. They were officially dating now, so she figured it would eventually play down. 

God, was she wrong…

With the 2018 season finally over and Esteban not having a seat for 2019, he leaned heavily on her, even if he knew he was going to be under the wing of Mercedes for the time being, it wasn’t easy. 

She saw he was kind of down and with more free time than usual, plus they were still living the sweet first months of their relationship, so she surprised him with a guest pass and paper bracelet to allow him in the premises and set, leaving in on the table of her apartment while waiting for him to arrive for their movie date.

“Bebé, what is this?” He asked once he stepped inside your apartment, an envelope with his name written and an official Marvel stamp on it. He didn’t know what it was, but a grin was already starting to form. 

“Hello, Este. How are you? Did you miss me? Because I really missed you.” The actress placed her arms around his waist, shaking as his body trembled with a laugh before he leaned down to leave a caste kiss on her lips. 

“Of course I missed you, MJ.” He said and she playfully laughed at his nickname. “So, what is this?” He picked up the envelope. 

“It has your name on it, doesn’t it?” 

Esteban carefully moved from the embrace of his girlfriend and opened his gift, not even trying to hide the gasp that escaped his lips once he realized what was inside, carefully reading the letter inviting him to set, signed by Kevin Feige and Jon Watts, the director. 

“No, bebé… Is this for real?” He said with his accent getting thicker with excitement. 

“I think so.” She smiled before he kissed her, literally sweeping her off her feet. 

He knew he’d have to keep a low profile, the public not knowing yet about their relationship, the only one he had confided in was Lance, and now people in Mercedes knew, so it wouldn’t be long before the cat was out of the bag, but he was waiting for his girlfriend to feel comfortable to break the little comfy bubble they’d created.

They were in Venice when a black Mercedes picked them up at 4 AM, but he didn’t care. The street was closed and cameras were being placed, people walking all around as if it wasn’t the middle of the night and freezing. 

He knew it was cheesy, but the set lit up when she walked in. People greeted her all around, dozens of people and she stopped for each one of them, asking for their families and how was the hotel they were staying at. And the fact that he got to walk hand in hand with her, carefully carrying one of her bags, he was on cloud nine. 

But it got better. 

A British accent called (Y/N)’s name as they were approaching the luxury trailers parked not so far away from the set installed on the Italian streets. Of course Esteban recognized the accent, holding his girlfriend’s hand a little tighter. 

“Tom, this is Esteban, the guy you’ve been hearing so much about.” She said with a playful roll of her eyes, earning a chuckle from the brit as he extended his hand. 

“Pleasure to meet you, mate. I saw you during the Austin circuit, it looked sick!”

“I’m a big fan of your work, you’re the best Spider-Man,” Esteban said and his girlfriend just started to realize that maybe it wasn’t a play, he really was a huge fan. “And you’re always welcome on the paddock, just let me know.” Esteban said and Tom thanked him before being called to his trailer, telling the couple that they should go with the rest of the cast and other friends to have dinner.

“So… You’ve been talking a lot about me?” Esteban asked (Y/N), playfully raising his eyebrows and leaving a kiss on her hair. 

ACTION!

Esteban eyes followed as Peter Parker walked around the wrecked set, everything was wet and upside down, and he was in awe as he noticed (Y/N) making her way into the scene, questioning her friend if he was fine. 

Even if he couldn’t fully comprehend the dialogues or what was happening, his eyes were fixated on her, as she gave his co-star the same caring and sweet eyes that she gave him in real life, and he felt like the luckiest man on earth. 

The day was so great that they ignored the few tabloids that picked up the Instagram post of the Holland siblings, the happy couple, and other members of the cast when they went to dinner to a nice small restaurant. 

“Are Spider-Man star and F1’s star Esteban Ocon dating? We have the details from inside sources!”

 iii) When they gave us our trophies, and we held them up for our town.

Hungaroring, 2021

Every reporter went crazy when they saw (Y/N) driving a Land Rover with Esteban Ocon as her co-pilot, smiles on their faces as they pretended to ignore the hundreds of flashes capturing their faces through the tinted windows. 

They’d been dating for almost two years, but still hadn’t confirmed anything. Of course people knew; everyone involved in F1 and Marvel knew they were official since 2019, and of course their fans were aware they were together after seeing pictures of them together all the time, but no one has managed to capture even the slightest form of PDA between them, which made people still think they were friends… Very close friends. 

But there was something about this weekend that made them act more carefree, holding hands when they got out of the car, not caring if paparazzi got low-quality, grainy photos of the showing the tiniest bit of affection. 

The actress pecked his lips before he went to his driver’s room to get ready, engineers rapidly approaching him to talk a few things over. 

Time flew by and soon she was giving him one last hug and good luck kiss before he got in the car. 

“You know, this is pretty dangerous…” Esteban dramatically said, earning a grin from his girlfriend. 

“Estie, no.”

“But… I’m your boyfriend. You can trust me!” 

“It’s a secret, only a couple more months to go and you’ll watch it. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it more not knowing what’s gonna happen… Plus, I know you’re going to tell Lance whatever I tell you.”

“Is the multiverse theory true?” She was tempted to tell him something, but she always chose against it, having signed too many NDAs.

Just as she was going to answer, Esteban was called to get in the car before the race. 

“I love you, Este. Drive safely, okay?” (Y/N) got on her tiptoes and kissed him softly, like it was just the two of them. 

“Je t’aime beaucoup, bebé.” 

She became accustomed to the roaring of motors, the smell of gasoline and the rush of a pit stop, but that didn’t mean the worried butterflies on her stomach calmed down, she still bit her nails while listening to his radio and watching him overtake his rivals. His parents were the same, eyes not moving from the screen.

But today, it was a different kind of anxiety. She was on the edge of her seat, the fresh coat of nail polish chipped as everyone in the garage started realizing that they were going to win. The first for the team and for Esteban. 

She couldn’t stay seated during the last four laps, completely aware that F1 cameras were paying more attention to the Alpine garage, wanting to get the best reactions, and obviously she was there, but she couldn’t care less. 

It became real during the last lap, mechanics and engineers running to greet their driver on their maiden win.

Esteban parked the car and got out, jumping right into the awaiting arms of everyone involved, his face was one of pure disbelief, his eyes glassy with unshed tears and shaky hands.

She was holding your phone as his mom and dad went to hug him and congratulate him, wanting to immortalize the moment after so many years and sacrifices. Of course she loved his parents, but she wanted the moment to be over to hug him and congratulate him.

And that’s what happened when he noticed her. He noticed that he didn’t really know how to approach her, knowing cameras were filming their every movement and being broadcasted.

That’s why she took the matters in her own hands. Her hand went to cup his face, his arms found their home on her waist as he lifted her and kissed her. It wasn’t a pretty kiss, they were trying to pour every feeling, knowing words wouldn’t do it justice.

“Babe, I’m so proud of you, congratulations. Shit, I don’t even know what to say!” They laughed and went for another short kiss, people around them cheering. 

“You know what a great prize would be?” He asked her, gently placing her back on the ground. 

“Not a chance, Estie.”

(YNLN) just posted.

(YNLN): GP winner/king of my heart/love of my life @estebanocon

iv) Long live the walls we crashed through, how the kingdom lights shined just for me and you. 

Sadly, Esteban wasn’t afraid to admit he pleaded his girlfriend to show him the new Spider-Man script. He tried to bribe her with silly gifts, gave her the silent treatment. His last resort was to call her out during race weekends. 

“Esteban, we are living the last races of the 2021 season and you seem alone, did you girlfriend leave you for Peter Parker yet?” The interviewer asked him laughing, making Esteban smile. 

“Yes, she is in the middle of her press tour for the latest movie.”

“I don’t remember many movies creating this level of hype and mystery, do you have any inside details?”

“Don’t even get me started,” Esteban answered, his accent getting thicker. “I don’t know anything, she has kept everything a secret. I’ve pleaded, I even spoke with her co-stars and they told me (Y/N) warned them to not tell me anything! Not even after I offered full-access paddock passes!” Esteban was  shooting his last shot to get any information, even if it meant exposing his girlfriend. 

“Interesting, Marvel is that good keeping secrets, huh? We hope to see you on the red carpet. Good luck on the race! Esteban Ocon, everybody!” 

“You are shameless!” That was the first thing Esteban heard after he picked up the FaceTime call from his girlfriend. 

“Oh, you saw it?” He asked her nonchalantly, like it wasn’t a big deal. 

“You just have to hang on a couple of weeks and you’ll see it. Babe, I have to be back with the interviews soon, but I was told you can bring a plus one to the premier.”

“Am I not your plus one?” Esteban asked confused. 

“Nah, people like you too much now. We can walk the red carpet together, though!”

Esteban smiled at the sight of her perfectly dressed girlfriend. “No, it’s your moment, wouldn’t want to steal it with my perfect height and handsome looks.” He joked, earning a loud laugh from her, his favorite sound. 

She was right, time flew by. Now Esteban was admiring as people worked on her dress and makeup. Someone was fixing his hair for one last time before they left the fancy hotel room. 

Paparazzi were already lining up outside the hotel, waiting for them. They smiled before the valet got the car. She gave him a weird look, seeing a sports car, very similar to his Alpine car, with no one inside. 

“You didn’t think I was going to let someone else drive you, right?” He offered his arm and opened the door for her, helping her with the dress and leaving a kiss on her hand before walking towards the pilot seat. 

She couldn’t stop smiling, resting her hand on Esteban’s thigh during the short ride as he expertly drove, eyes not leaving the road to interlace their fingers. 

“Chérie… You have one last chance.”

“Esteban!” She stared at him in disbelief. 

“Can’t blame a fan for trying.”

Esteban would never tell her, but it was completely worth it in the end. His eyes couldn’t leave the screen for a second, too enthralled by the story being played in front of him, not even noticing the nervous eyes of his girlfriend, she wanted him to enjoy it because, as she found out during the time loving him, he was not exaggerating how much of a fan he was.

She noticed how he didn’t even try to hide the tears and the gasps during the movie, he probably didn’t notice how his grip on her hand got tighter every time a twist happened. Tears were falling freely as he watched his girlfriend on screen, playing what he thought was the saddest scene on modern cinema. 

He was the first one on his feet to start the stand-up ovation in the movie theatre. He didn’t care about anything when the lights were turned on, his only worry being softly kissing her lips while people around them were still cheering. 

“Shit, I still can’t believe he pulled it off…” 

That was Lance, shaking his head and taking a picture with his iPhone to show it at their wedding, knowing that Esteban and (YN) were endgame, even if he made fun of Esteban.

[frostironfudge]

Silhouettes In The Spotlight - Bucky Barnes - Epilogue

Summary: Bucky Barnes has worked immensely hard to have a filmography expanding across genres and garnering accolades from critics, peers and fans. Y/N Y/L/N, with her debut novel (fan-fiction turned New York Times Bestseller) has two other best sellers under her belt. Next is her highly anticipated fourth book lined up for release. SHEILD Productions has acquired the film rights to her debut novel and they want Bucky Barnes to play the lead (aka himself) by any means necessary. This story is about angst, lust, heartbreak, and love. After all fairytales only exist in books and movies right?

Warnings: fluff, feels, sm/ut, dirt y-talk

Pairing: Actor!Bucky Barnes x Plus Size!Fem!Reader

Word Count: 6.2k || Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Main Masterlist || Fic Masterlist || AO3 || Fic Playlist

Chapter Sixteen

HEADLINES:

Oh, Oh, Looks Like Sharon Carter and Brock Rumlow Are Building HYDRA For Themselves. All Eyes Are On Them. 

EXCLUSIVE! Pictures From The ITIMYIMDO Filming Wrap Up After Party. You Will Not Believe Who This Actor Was Found Kissing!

Author Y/N Shares Pictures From Vacation. Ma’am Where Are The Shirtless Beach Pictures Of Bucky Barnes? Can We Peek Inside Your Phone? Pretty Please? 

Steve Rogers Shares Pictures With His Dog And We Cannot Help But Melt. Eight Times Our Favourite Blonde Man Gave Us Puppy Vibes. (Yes Even All Sweatered Up As Ransom Drysdale) 

Loki Laufeyson Spotted Returning To The Stage For Shakespeare. Shows Sell Out For First Month. 

Natasha Romanoff Shares Trailer For ITIMYIMDO Release Date Announced! 

Top Ten Moments From The Book We Wish Are In The Movie

Six Months Later

“Everybody please put your hands together for the Dark Prince of Hollywood,” Erik introduces to an elated crowd, “Bucky Barnes!” 

The band plays a beat as the curtains part revealing a grinning Bucky. He waves at the crowd making his way to the familiar couch. Erik and he shake hands and share a hug. The crowd still cheers and they watch as Bucky smiles, cheeks flushed at their admiration. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” He says to the crowd sending them flying kisses. 

Erik gestures for him to sit and the crowd to calm down. Once things settle down the two men grin at each other. 

“So good to have you back on the show. How have you been my friend?” Erik smiles.

“Always happy to see you man, I’ve been good, getting by.” Bucky shifts a little in his seat, unbuttoning his jacket. 

“We recently saw you were on vacation,” Erik gestures to the screen displaying the picture of Bucky at the beach and shirtless. 

The crowd hoots and hollers, the crimson on his cheeks deepens. 

“He’s a taken man you people!” Erik feigns chastising the audience. 

Bucky chuckles, “My girl actually took most of the pictures.” 

“Tell us about her, we want to know how it feels for an avid reader as you to date an author?”  

Bucky takes a deep breath considering his words, his nervous gestures of fiddling his glove clad fingertips manifests. 

“She is listening, you know,” Erik teases to ease some of the nervousness. 

“I know, but the thing is I don’t know what to tell you because there is so much I adore about Y/N. Not just her skill as a writer.” Bucky explains, “We’re quite private and what we share online is just a little glimpse. A glimpse we control to protect ourselves and close friends.” 

“I see, how was the experience filming with Steve Rogers again? I know you did a cameo in his movie. So is it all water under the bridge?” Erik raises his eyebrows and the crowd ‘oohs’. 

“We’ve worked to revive our friendship, it’s good to have each other back. I Think I Met You In My Dreams Once; was one of the best experiences filming for me. I got to work with incredible people and amazing friends.” Bucky smiles in fond memory. 

“That is sweet, how was it working with Y/N? How did you go about it, an experienced actor like yourself and her debut?” Erik watches Bucky carefully for any tidbit of information. 

“It goes as any film goes with experienced actors and ones who have a debut. I was once a newbie surrounded by seasoned and far skilled actors. I’m immensely proud of how hard she worked to hone her skills. She wasn’t willing to take the role, but the team behind the movie and the test audience couldn’t see anyone else play the lead.” Bucky explains, he licks his lips before continuing, 

“She almost gave up, doubting herself, hell even I doubted myself when I took on this role and so many others. She rose to the challenge as she always does. I have yet to see the final cut of the movie but when I watched her scenes with others and even scenes with myself? She took my breath away.” He smiles. 

“On that note, you take a deep breath, Bucky. Everyone put your hands together, may I call upon Y/N Y/L/N, author, executive producer and now actor.” Erik stands gesturing with his hands to the parting curtains as you stand there smiling. 

Waving at the crowd you make your way to the centre stage. Bucky steps down reaching to you after Erik greets you with a handshake. 

You take Bucky’s hand as he helps you up the step, his hand on your lower back, a grounding gesture. You smile up at him, squeezing his hand. 

When you both sit down on the couch your hands are intertwined, he brushes his thumb over your quill tattoo. The two of you part hands. 

“Oh no you lovebirds keep holding hands we don’t mind.” Erik grins, you smile at him. The nerves that are eating away at you on the inside stay at bay. 

“My first question to you, Y/N. How much media training did you get?” 

You chuckle out of nervousness, “Um, quite a bit but it was mostly to speak more rather than keep quiet.” 

“It's funny. I got the same lesson.” Bucky adds with a laugh. 

“Well you both are damn reclusive and secretive.” Erik declares and the crowd agrees. 

“I mean we value our privacy, after the very public ordeal anyone would want that for themselves.” You defend politely. 

“True, true. Now what was it like being in front of the camera rather than your favourite device for writing?” 

“For one, I couldn’t wear my most comfy hoodie and curl up with my laptop. It was different, difficult but overall a memorable experience. I have newfound respect for actors and the crew that backs them.” You look down at your palms, “I remember one night all of us were hanging out at the hotel, playing UNO. Kate and I were still playing and the guys were off to one corner with Nat. The next day we went in and they did the sweetest thing for the crew, food trucks and other things. It was so very sweet. Our crew is one of the best. I knew them from when I was just an iexecutive producer. So it was nice seeing them rewarded.” 

Bucky is about to add onto the topic when Erik cuts him off,

“What about minimum wage and the horrible working conditions? Given the regulations and now with the writer’s strike?” 

“The crew working on our movie is paid more than the minimum, a good enough sum and timely payments. It’s contractural. The terms stated before signing on. Former SHIELD had the stipulation clause that the crew is paid first then the actors. The new house formed has the same rules applying.” Bucky recounts to Erik, “About the writer’s strike, indie production houses are agreeing to the terms and conditions from the writers, meeting them with everything required by them. It's the big corps searching for loopholes. As actors we support the writers.” 

“The production houses that won bids for my book adaptations have new contracts given to them which stipulate they can only use the filming rights if the writers have their demands fulfilled. I’ve returned advances and dissolved the film rights with two houses that rejected my demands to help respect the writers. Other houses who do agree will get the filming rights.” You explain, Bucky nods. He was proud of you. 

“What are you doing for your show writers Erik?” you ask the host. 

“I’ve agreed to their terms.” He says, “Of course I’m on their side, you think my jokes would land without them?” 

“That is good.” Bucky commends. 

“How was it working with Bucky?” Erik smoothens over the little rudeness in his tone.

“Oh god,” You look towards your partner, “Nerve wracking. He is immensely talented. I think Nat has a whole roll of tape that is me just so blown away by James’ talent that I stare at him forgetting my lines.” You smile sheepish, Bucky laughs. 

“Oh Nat doesn’t have it, I do.” He tells you. 

“Yes and we got a little bit of the tape.” Erik grins. 

You cover your face, “This is why I will not be acting ever again.”

“Aw, Feather.” Bucky pulls your hands away from your face just as the clips play. 

The dialogues are the ones from the trailer so no spoilers are there. You’re just staring at him, obviously overcome with emotion. You want to look away but every time you’re lost in his talent. Bucky brings you out of it with tenderness. 

“Oh and Bucky,” Erik grins mischievously, “Here you are getting absolutely floored by Y/N. Natasha gave us this one.” 

Now you watch on with delight as a camera is trained on Bucky watching you act and him completely taken by you and your craft. 

“It's the same look I have when I read her books.” He comments. 

“It’s true I’ve seen it.” You agree. 

The topic shifts back towards the movie and the story. A few more questions about what is next. The interview ends after reading a few thirst tweets for both of you. 

Bucky and you both are left red faced. 

“I can’t believe there are thirsty tweets about me.” You shake your head, getting out of your very expensive designer jacket and placing it on the hanger. 

The bed calls you both, tiredness of the interviews back to back seeping into your bones. 

Bucky pauses while taking off his shirt, “Feather, I’d write thirst sonnets about you.” He pulls you close, the dress underneath was with thin straps with sequins upon them. His lips trail along the strap and then the neckline over your breasts. 

You feel your nipples pebble in response to his teasing. 

“Bucky,” You breathe, your fingers carding through his now shorter hair, “I’m still mad at you for cutting them.”  

Bucky nips at your collarbone, leaving his mark upon you. He trails his lips up your neck. 

Shivers run down your spine, he hums appreciatively, when you tug on his hair for more of him, “It's long enough for you to hold onto, while my mouth devours my delicious pussy.”

You pull him closer, your lips brush against his, for a breath your lips stay apart and then his tongue peeks out, tracing your bottom lip. 

Bucky presses his lips to yours the need to taste every bit of you overriding every rational thought. 

Your curves decadent in his large hands, roaming over you. 

“You feel perfect in my arms, fuck you’re beautiful Feather.” He praises and you keen as his hands make you sit on the table. Your legs spread apart to accommodate him. 

In the haze of the kiss you tug at his hands, he gives them to you. Foreheads touching. You gently take his left palm between yours, slowly taking the glove off. Your lips press to his bionic palm.

Bucky closes his eyes focusing upon the feeling of your lips. No one ever showed his arm so much affection. Treating it as if it was normal. No difference between the flesh and metal. 

You repeat the same with his flesh hand. 

Then look up at him, “You’re perfect, James.” 

He presses his lips to yours once again, hands moving to the straps tugging them downward. 

The dress pools at your waist, pushed up as well to expose your thighs for him. Bucky bites his lip, hungry eyes raking over you. 

“Fuck I’m the luckiest man alive.” He says sinking to his knees. 

Nose brushing along your inner thighs. The scruff of his beard leaves a pleasing sting. 

Bucky groans against your cunt as you tug him closer by pulling on his hair. He loved it, loved when you allowed him to please you. 

His aching length calls for attention but the scent of you has his mouth water. 

“Feather, I’m a starving man.” He warns, your panties pulled down your legs by his teeth. You take him in, eyes dark pools of lust. Shirt half off his shoulders, the scars he carries beautifully on display. Thin blue rims eager for a taste of you. Lips kiss bitten and shining because of your arousal upon them. 

You moan, “You’re a fucking divine sight.”  

Bucky wastes no time, lips latched around your clit sucking upon it. Your moans and pleas are music to his ears. The taste of you floods his tongue. He groans, tongue greedily demanding more from your sweet walls. 

Two fingers curve inside you, while his tongue spells his name on your clit. Your lips part in a prayer of his name. Every fibre in your being tightening and then breaking, then being put back together for Bucky. At his mercy. 

He smirks as your arousal floods his mouth, he laps at your folds, your thighs shake and attempt to close. He growls, throwing your right leg over his shoulder and pushing the left to keep his access to his pussy uninterrupted. 

His scruff over your folds, his tongue teasing your entrance and his nose rubbing at your clit— you preen, words failing you, pleasure seizing you again. 

Bucky pulls away in the slightest, cheeks flushed and chin glistening. None of your erotic fantasies come close to this sight. Not one word you could ever write would do justice to the way this man, you man worships you. 

“Bed?” He questions, you nod. Your brain has yet not connected to your mouth, making him laugh. 

You hit his chest with a breathless huff. You push at his shirt. He discards his pants somewhere across the floor.  

Bucky carries you to the bed, settling between your legs, “I told you I’m starving and my cunt is fucking delicious.” He presses a kiss to your clit, just when you finally find a word to say to him. 

It dies on your tongue, a mewl leaving from your throat instead. 

Bucky moves his tongue against you in a way that has your hips lifting up from the bed, almost grinding over his mouth for more. 

“My dirty little greedy girl.”  He nibbles on your clit, your thighs shake, he only continues till you fall apart over and over satiating his hunger when he watches the mix of you and him, coating your inner thighs. 

Bucky keeps thrusting into you, gathering his cum and rubbing it on your clit you shudder, sobbing in the overstimulated pleasure. Your nails leave crescents upon his shoulders down to his bicep. 

“One more, I know you have one more in you my good fucking—,” he hisses as your walls clench around him, “Greedy girl doesn’t want to let me go is it?”

You feel the pleasure begin to spark across your body. 

“It’s your cock baby, take all that you need, milk me all you want. I’m all yours,” Bucky’s mouth descends upon your pebbled nipple, your back arches and his cock meets the spot that has you cum undone for him. 

Bucky watches as you still float in the pleasure, his soft kisses over your face, neck and chest ground you to him. You whine when he pulls out, he presses a kiss to your forehead. 

“Just two minutes Feather, need to clean you up.” He promises, covering you with the blanket. 

The little sleepy haze is broken when you feel the warm cloth cleaning your thighs. 

Your eyes move over his naked form, god he’s perfect, and so damn handsome. 

“Why, thank you.” He chuckles, eyes crinkling. 

Prettiest smile, you never want it to fade. 

“Never will fade as long as I have you in my life.” Bucky kisses your nose, “Yes you’re talking out loud and yes, you’re possibly fucked out. I’m proud.” He helps you sit up and drink some water before he pulls you close to snuggle.  

Am I speaking out loud? 

You hear his beautiful laugh, reaching up to trace his beautiful face with your palms.

“I love you.” You whisper to him, voice slightly hoarse. 

“I love you.” He replies, drawing you closer to his warmth. 

“I can't believe you’re the blanket thief.” You comment after a moment. 

Bucky loved to cuddle, so much so he hogged the blankets most of the time. 

“It’s a trick to have you not move away from me in the middle of the night.” He grins, tapping his temple. 

“Smart man, though your grip on me is enough. Plus you’re warm so I wouldn’t move away.” You let him know. 

“Absolutely not true this one time you did move away from me.” He recounts the first week. 

“I was sweaty!” You defend. 

“So was I.” 

“Bucky—,” 

“Feather—,” 

“Well I don’t move away now do I?” You raise a brow and he nods. 

“Water under the bridge.” He nods, “Now go to bed or Yelena will kill me for keeping you up.” 

“She’s going to kill you anyways for the lovebites and then our make-up artist will.” You giggle. 

“You will be on trial for the same thing.” Bucky shrugs, “I mean people wanna talk they will talk. Unless we give them something to talk about and do not speak about it at all.” 

“What is on your mind?” You ask as he reaches for his phone.

Bucky grabs his phone and sets the camera to the square orientation. Making sure only the two of both your lips, your love bite clad neck and his love bite clad chest are seen he takes the picture and throws a black and white filter upon it. 

And shares it on his stories. You look at him in disbelief. It hardly takes ten minutes before you see the silent notifications roll in and Bucky deletes the story. 

“Well we’re getting murdered.” You giggle as Sam’s face takes up Bucky’s screen. He silences the call and puts the phone aside.  

“Sleepy time now.” He declares, kissing you deeply. 

“I just pack a lot of colour correctors for them.” The make up artist, May sighs at the magazine interviewer covering the backstage process for the premiere. 

“Why?” The interviewer questions. 

May tilts your head so the gift Bucky left is visible. You blush deeply at the sharp intake of breath. 

“This is after three rounds of icing.” She sighs, slathering more colour correctors to cancel the red tones. 

“It isn’t that bad.” Bucky comments from his chair. May affixes him with a glare. 

“At least she kept her bites in non visible areas.” May still glares at you too. 

“You love us.” You pout at her batting your lashes. 

“Don’t test that theory too much.” She begins blending. 

—————-

You watch the live red carpet on the tv screen. Celebrities who were invited to walk the carpet of your movie. Your movie in so many ways than just one. 

The dress for the night is a play on Doll’s blue dress, the one you own. Now reimagined into a gown with a split. That reached your thigh. 

The neckline was off shoulder. The sleeves were full and it showed off your curves. 

You stare at yourself in the mirror one more time. Nervousness pooling in your stomach. You didn’t want to make a fool of yourself. Nor of Bucky or Natasha, Loki, Steve, Kate or anyone who worked upon the movie.  

There is a knock on the door, it opens with Loki peeking inside. He was wearing his signature colours, a deep green suit with a yellow pocket square to represent his mother. You smile seeing the gesture. 

“Hi.” He says, “Is it okay if I come in?” 

You nod, not trusting your voice. 

“You’re visibly nervous and that is completely okay. I’d be worried if you weren’t nervous. I threw up on my first co-star's shoes right before we walked the carpet.” Loki recounts with a laugh. 

“Oh god,” Your hand goes to your queasy stomach. 

“No, you won’t throw up on Bucky, or any of us for that matter. Y/N, tonight is the culmination of all of your hard work for getting your book out into the world. Tonight please try and enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about the reviews, the comments or anything. Focus on your family alright? We’re all focused upon you.” 

You pull Loki into a hug. He returns it with equal happiness. The two of you had become the best of friends as filming went on. Often pulling pranks on set which only Loki was famous for on any movie he did. 

“You’re going to do wonderful.” He murmurs before pulling away from the hug, “I’ll see you inside okay?” 

You nod, feeling much better. Another knock follows and it's Yelena telling you to head down to the entrance so the car can take Bucky and you to the premiere. 

Steve helps your mom into the car she was going to walk the carpet with him. The two of them had bonded over the course of time as well. Her healing something within Steve and him absolutely adoring her and even calling her Ma on several occasions. She loved having a whole roster of kids she had adopted. 

Her treatment was going well, the response was good. You all were hopeful of good news once the course of treatment would be up. The doctors themselves were confident at each check up. 

Steve turns to you, running over and giving you a hug. Before running back to your mom and their vehicle heading out. 

Hayden opens the door for you, you smile at him. Extremely happy that he would drive you to your biggest moment as well. 

Bucky stands beside you, he had a meeting right before the premiere. Needing to be in the UK in the next two days to begin his next project. 

“How was the meeting?” You ask once the two of you settle into the car. 

“It was good, they have accommodated my request to travel back and forth. I know you can’t travel because your book is getting read and your mom’s treatments are on. I’m okay with travelling.” He shrugs, stroking your tattoo with his thumb. 

“How did I get so lucky to find you?” You ask him with a smile. 

“You were a silhouette in the spotlight and I saw you. And only you saw me. That is all it took.” He smiles, kissing your cheek, “I don’t like how May covered up my marks.” He pouts cutely. 

“I don’t either.” You press your lips to his quickly kissing his pout away. 

The car stops, Bucky exits first, rounding the car to help you out. He fixes your dress, you fix the skewed lapel. 

“Remember what I said to you?” He says over the crowd and the noise that awaits.

“That, I need to focus on you?” You ask, he nods. 

“And also to be proud of yourself. This all is what you began all those years ago. Embrace the moment, don't let your nerves get to you. I’m right here but this is your night.” He kisses your forehead. 

“Ready?” He offers his hand to you, you take it. 

“Ready.” 

Flashes so many flashes, you pose with everyone involved. Loki, Steve, Nat, Kate and you absolutely love this one picture of you all with your mom, enveloping her in a hug. Her at the centre feeling all of the love. 

There is one picture of her patting your head. Another of her cupping Bucky’s cheeks. Another of her hugging Steve and patting his head. 

You take pictures with so many fans, signing books and posters. The entire experience was so surreal. Taking it all in you feel your heart burst with love. 

On carpet interviews questions, about the outfits, expectations for the movie. Any small bit of gossip, a whirlwind of faces, smiles and laughs. 

Once you cross the threshold to the theatre you sigh. Bucky presses his lips to your temple. 

“Do you want to drink something?” He murmurs, you nod. 

You smile at him, he always knew to watch out for you. He kisses your temple again before he heads to the table lined with food and beverages. 

A tap on your shoulder has you turn. A red haired woman stands there with a smile on her face. 

“Um, hello…” you greet, not liking her proximity. 

“Hi, I’m from TMZ. I wanted to ask you a few questions.” She explains.

“Oh, um the press docket isn’t until we get inside, you can ask—,”

“How does it feel to finally get what you want? I mean you did use your body for gaining all of this…” she gestures with her hand towards the event. 

“Excuse me?” Your brows raised and baffled at the notion. 

“Why are you surprised? First you’re associated with Steve Rogers then you conveniently get with Alexander Pierce and suddenly you have Bucky Barnes? Amidst that you falsify your clear consent as an assault by Alexander Pierce? Jeez, where is feminism with you?” She lists off and you can’t find the words to say anything to her. 

“I didn’t know we got together?” Steve tilts his head walking towards you, “Also Alexander Pierce did assault her and take advantage of her. It has been proven in court. You can look up the trial to update yourself.” 

“Also, Buck, remind me isn’t this MJ? The disgraced reporter? The one who was fired? What was it for?” Steve pretends to think. 

“For invasion of privacy, the only reporter with the most restraining orders. Currently breaking the one she has placed upon her by Natasha and myself.” Bucky adds. 

Steve nods towards someone on the side, two security personnel come in, grabbing her recording devices and making sure everything is deleted before escorting her out. 

“This is always going to follow isn’t it?” You ask both of them. 

Bucky bites the inside of his cheek, Steve doesn’t know how to tell you. 

“It will, but at one point your achievements will outweigh it all. He will be a part of your history, that history in which you helped bring to light his crimes and helped victims fight him.” Natasha says, “I’ll make sure she doesn’t publish anything. She’s been a thorn in our side for years.” 

“Thank you.” You hug her, “That helps not dwell on it too much.” 

“Yeah I couldn’t have said it that way.” Steve agrees. 

“Yes because you have all the stupid with you, punk.” Bucky teases him. 

Steve rolls his eyes, “Jerk.” 

“Last question to our author and lead,” All eyes turn to you. 

You nod, grabbing the mic, “Sure.” 

“There is a countdown on your author website, as of today it has changed to hours and right now it says two minutes. You haven’t explained anything.” He leaves it open ended. 

You waste a few seconds contemplating the answer, “Oh that countdown was two fold actually, it is for the premiere and well, my next book. A steamy age gap romance with mafia vibes…” You grin as the fans sitting in the audience cheer. 

“Do we have a name yet?” The reporter questions. 

“We do but that will be announced in a month with the cover.” You grin as everyone groans. 

“How spicy is the spice?” Another reporter questions, “I mean I was floored by the third book.” 

“There might be a bit more than that one.” You tease, “You should ask James though, he’s read a snippet of the spice.” 

Bucky visibly blushes, shifting in his seat. 

“Lucky ass.” Steve whispers into the very functional mic. 

Bucky runs a palm over his jaw, fixing you with a feigned glare, “I read the snippet and your favourite author and I didn’t leave her little study for a few hours.” 

A chorus of ‘oohs’ rang out. 

“What? We were editing!” He looks at the audience in feigned scandal, he turns to you, “You have spawned dirty minded people my little—,”

“James!” You cut him off. 

“I wasn’t going to say that!” He defends. 

“Don’t lie.” You narrow your eyes. He just grins sweetly. 

“Well, avoiding the truth isn’t lying…” He chuckles. 

“Alright that's enough, your moms are here.” Natasha says in her director voice. 

“Sorry mom.” All the cast sing songs to annoy her. 

“With that we close the press meet and the movie will begin in five minutes.” Maria announces. 

Loki, Bucky and Steve line up at the edge of the staircase, helping everyone get down the steps. 

“Men written by women!” A voice declares. 

The three of them chuckle but you wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment.  

Soon enough the lights are dimmed, and you all wait with bated breath to know what the thoughts are, you couldn’t stomach watching the final cut. 

Natasha, Maria and Nick are the ones inside. Joined by Sam, Kate and Yelena. The rest of you head to the hotel to hang out in the room back at the hotel. 

More than an hour after the premiere you all venture online. The hashtag is typed across several platforms. 

‘When you watch ITIMYIMDO you realise that the book was given absolute justice. It is one of those adaptations that you cannot complain about. The raw performance was delivered by Barnes, with Laufeyson being the understanding best friend. This duo is wonderful across all roles they play. I do not think any awards committee will ignore these two and if they do they would have to have some serious explanation to offer.’ – The TIMES

‘Debut Novel turned Debut Movie— Author to Actor and you can see the work put in by Y/N. Though some scenes where light hearted tones felt put up, her emotional delivery and comedic timing is stellar and worth exploring should she choose to shut down her laptop and cast aside the pen.’ — Vanity Fair 

‘Their chemistry in real life, though limited to the public, explodes on screen. Rhys and Doll make a pair that puts your favourite romance couples to shame. This is the modern romance we were waiting for and we got it.’ — Rolling Stone

@.imetbuckyonce: okaY LISTEN I LOVED THE MOVIE I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY SLANDER TOWARDS MY QUEEN Y/N. SHE IS PERFECT. BUCKY IS PERFECT. KATE IS PERFECT. LOKI IS PERFECT AND OH MY GOD WHY DID STEVE ROGERS PLAYING A BAD DUDE FEEL SO SHIVER INDUCING YUMMY?????? WHEN HE SAID THAT LINE???????

@.booksandbarneslover: @.imetbuckyonce I ABDOSLYELT AGREE IM FERAL FOR VILLAIN STEVE *LOGS ONTO AO3 FOR BADBOY!STEVE X READER* 

‘In Steve Rogers’ history of playing the good guy we have him play yet another villain and something about Hollywood’s notorious good guy being oh so bad it is a wonder to watch. There is no redemption for his character but we love him the way he is and the portrayal will be a feather in his cap.’ — Buzzfeed UK

@.stevierogers: IWUEEHNADJDOEOEJ STEVE

@.upallnighttogetloki: LOKI LAUFEYSON YOU ARE A DREAMBOAT. SUPPORTIVE BESTIE CHECK LOOKS AMAZING SHIRTLESS CHECK A MAN WRITTEN BY A WOMAN CHECK. FUCK I DONT HAVE A SONGLE BAD THING TO SAY

‘A good attempt at a book adaptation, however if a seasoned plus size actress was taken instead of the author in a pseudo-nepotistic manner this movie could be worthy of more praise. While the seasoned actors and actresses are brilliant to watch the movie falls flat when the debutant is on screen. Meh, Dolores would have been better.’ — Sharon Carter, HYDRA. 

“Of course she’d criticise you.” Yelena clicks her tongue. 

@.dolores: just saw ITIMYIMDO and honestly? Y/N fucking killed it. Jealous fuckers shut up. 

“And Dolores just defended me.” You look up from your phone. The opinions were across all spectrums. You just hoped it would be a success for the sake of the friends you made. 

Maybe even line up prestigious awards for Kate, Bucky, Loki and Steve. They deserved it. The recognition, the opportunity for more roles that made them happy. 

Bucky wraps his arms around your waist. Chin resting on your shoulder, watching you read praises specific to himself. 

“I think you should stop reading about me and read the praise about you.” He grabs your phone typing in your name and watches as you read the praise. Each word makes your chest feel tighter with emotion. 

“You did more than good, Feather. You are phenomenal.” Bucky praises. 

“Couldn’t have done it without you all backing me and being by my side.” You kiss his cheek. 

“Are we getting kisses for being supportive?” Steve grins, Bucky glares at him. 

“On the cheek, yes.” You giggle as Steve leans towards you. Bucky pushes Steve away. The blonde only laughs at his friend. 

Your man leads you to the small balcony overlooking the city. 

“You’re cute.” You kiss his jaw again. Bucky grumbles, protectively pulling you closer. 

“I’ll show you cute.” He warns hand moving the slit of the dress. 

“James.” You warn, but don’t say anything to stop him. 

“I’ll just taste you, I know you’re still sore.” He kisses the spot on your neck, “You remember that bookmark you got me?” 

You nod, breath hitching as he continues to kiss and nip at your neck. 

“I got you one too. I saw your tagged posts. You know I adore the edits your readers make for your books. I came across these bookmarks that double up as handcuffs.” He smirks as your hips seek him. 

“I’m going to cuff your hands, my dirty little writer. You’re going to look so pretty, dripping for me. Then,” He cups your breast with his right hand and  his left cupping your cunt, 

“I’ll fill you up with my cum. Keep you still cuffed and make you warm my cock.” He tugs on your earlobe.  

You moan softly, hips moving against his palm for friction. His words make you needy. 

“You want to know why, Feather?” He questions, hands moving away from where you need him, instead turning you around. 

His index finger tucked under your chin, making you look up into the most tempting storm of darkened blue, “Because while I’m gone, I want you to feel me.” He presses his lips to yours in a searing kiss. 

You set the pen down. Moving your wrists for a much needed break. The signing was successful. The display of your latest book is done wonderfully by the independent bookstore. Three months passed by in a blur, a beautiful, happy blur. 

Your phone was silent, save for the occasional texts from your mom. You frown, Bucky was supposed to text you. He had a day off from filming, you were worried he had fallen ill working himself too hard. 

Sam had told you to make sure most of the video-calls happened along with dinner or lunch. Bucky tended to skip eating out of his nervousness and body dysmorphia when scenes that required him to show his body were scheduled. You were proud of him for trying to push through the negative self talk and getting the help he needed. 

Some days all he wanted was you curled up by his side. Other days he craved for you to show him how you saw him. Your touch, your words, you being there for him. 

The line outside is welcomed in, doors opening after a brief recess. You pick up the pen again. Book after book and conversation after conversation. 

“Just give me a second please,” you request the oncoming person. You quickly shoot a worried text to Bucky as they place a familiar book on the table. 

You stare at the self-published version of I Think I Met You In My Dreams Once. Your eyes get misty at it, the book has sticky tabs and other type of annotations all across itself. 

You look up at familiar blue eyes. Bucky sheepishly smiles at you. 

“Remember when I said I haven’t read your book? I hadn’t read the publisher’s version. I have read yours and I want you to sign it.” He smiles. 

“What should I write?” You open the book. 

“I’ve written a question, just answer it.” He shrugs. 

You look down at his writing and back up at him. 

A watery grin on both your faces. You hide what you write, closing the book and handing it back to him. 

You watch him as he reads it. His eyes finding yours and your favourite crinkles by his eyes smile gracing his features. 

@.winnies: Hello Everyone! Winnie’s will remain closed for the next two nights in view of private events. We are open for brunch till 3 PM on these two days. Please make sure you have made your reservations and confirmed them. 

We look forward to serving you regularly following these two special nights. 

HEADLINES:

All The Stars Descend Upon The Trail To Winnie’s For Celebrating The Continued Success Of ITIMYIMDO! The Entire Crew Was Invited!

Awards Season Is Here! And The Nomination Committee Did Not Disappoint In This Year’s Nominees. Check This List Out!

Bucky Barnes, Loki Laufeyson, Steve Rogers All Nominated At This Year’s People’s Choice and Emmy Awards. We Cannot Wait To See These Men In Suits and Swoon! Here Are Their Best Looks Ranked!

The Women On Board ITIMYIMDO All Secure Nominations As Well. 

Clean Sweep At Securing Nominations In All Award Shows. The ITIMYIMDO Cast And Crew Overjoyed. 

Extended Scenes and Director’s Cut Of ITIMYIMDO Releasing Soon. 

Bucky Barnes and Y/N Y/L/N Share The Sweetest Picture Of Their Silhouettes At Sunset At Winnie’s. 

Insiders Say Night Two At Winnie’s Was A Private “Close Friends And Family Only” Event But We Have The Scoop!  

A.N.: thank you for waiting for this one, I'm sorry it took so long. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for all your love on my story.

Taglist: @stevesmewmew @elle14-blog1 @crazyunsexycool @sebsgirl71479 @pandaxnienke @slutforsexyseabass @eclecticpatrolroadlawyer @pandaxnienke @vampire7595 @buckyinluv @almostcontentcreator @calwitch

[daraactualtrash]

Double Exposure Accolades Trailer... but something is different

[thesublemon]

best picture

For the first time in a long time, I watched all of the movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars this year. Partly on a whim, partly for a piece I’ve been working on for a while about what is going wrong in contemporary artmarking. I cannot say that the experience made me feel any better or worse about contemporary movies than I already felt, which was pretty bad. But sometimes to write about a hot stove, you gotta put your hand on one. So. The nominees for coldest stove are:

Poor Things. Did not like enough to finish. I always want to like something that is making an effort at originality, strangeness, or style. Unfortunately, the execution of those things in this movie felt somehow dull and thin. Hard to explain how. Maybe the movie’s motif of things mashed together (baby-woman, duck-dog, etc) is representative. People have been mashing things together since griffins, medleys, Avatar the Last Airbender’s animals, Nickelodeon’s Catdog, etc. Thing + thing is elementary-level weird. And while there’s nothing wrong with a simple, or well-worn premise, there is a greater burden on an artist to do something interesting with it, if they go that route. And Poor Things does not. Its themes are obvious and belabored (the difficulty of self-actualization in a world that violently infantilizes you) and do not elevate the premise. There’s a fine line between the archetypal and the hackish, and this movie falls on the wrong side of it. It made me miss Crimes of the Future (2022), a recent Cronenberg that was authentically original and strange, with the execution to match.

Anatomy of a Fall. Solid, but not stunning. The baseline level of what a ‘good’ movie should be. It was written coherently and economically, despite its length. It told a story that drew you along. I wanted to know what happened, which is the least you can ask from storytelling. It had some compelling scenes that required a command of character and drama to write—particularly the big argument scene. The cinematography was not interesting, but it was not annoying either. It did its job. This was not, however, a transcendent movie.

Oppenheimer. Did not like enough to finish. But later forced myself to, just so no one could accuse me of not knowing what I was talking about when I said I disliked it. I felt like I was being pranked. The Marvel idea of what a prestige biopic should be. Like Poor Things, it telegraphed its artsiness and themes and has raked in accolades for its trouble. But obviousness is not the same as goodness and this movie is not good. The imagery is painfully literal. A character mentions something? Cut to a shot of it! No irony or nuance added by such images—just the artistry of a book report. The dialogue pathologically tells instead of shows. It constantly, cutely references things you might have heard of, the kind of desperate audience fellation you see in soulless franchise movies. Which is a particularly jarring choice given the movie’s subject matter. ‘Why didn’t you get Einstein for the Manhattan project’ Strauss asks, as if he’s saying ‘Why didn’t you get Superman for the Avengers?’ If any of this referentiality was an attempt to say something about mythologization, it failed—badly. The movie is stuffed with famous and talented actors, but it might as well not have been, given how fake every word out of their mouths sounded. Every scene felt like it had been written to sound good in a trailer, rather than to tell a damn story. All climax and no cattle.

Barbie. Did not like enough to finish. It had slightly more solidity in its execution than I was afraid it would have, so I will give it that. If people want this to be their entertainment I will let them have it. But if they want this to be their high cinema I will have to kill myself. Barbie being on this list reminds me of the midcentury decades of annual movie musical nominations for Best Picture. Sometimes deservingly. Other times, less so. The Music Man is great, but it’s not better than 8 1/2  or The Great Escape, neither of which were nominated in 1963. Musicals tend to appeal to more popular emotions, which ticket-buyers and award-givers tend to like, and critics tend to dislike. I remember how much Pauline Kael and Joan Didion hated The Sound of Music (which won in 1966), and have to ask myself if in twenty years I’ll think of my reaction to Barbie the same way that I think of those reviews: justified, but perhaps beside the point of other merits. Thing is. Say what you want about musicals, but that genre was alive back then. It was vital. Bursting with creativity. For all Kael’s bile, even she acknowledged that The Sound of Music was “well done for what it is.” [1] Contemporary cinema lacks such vitality, and Barbie is laden with symptoms of the malaise. It repeatedly falls back on references to past aesthetic successes (2001: A Space Odyssey, Singin’ in the Rain, etc) in order to have aesthetic heft. It has a car commercial in the middle. It’s about a toy from 60 years ago and politics from 10 years ago. It tries to wring some energy and meaning from all of that but not enough to cover the stench of death. I’d prefer an old musical any day.

American Fiction. Was okay. It tried to be clever about politics, but ended up being clomping about politics. At the end of the day, it just wasn’t any more interesting than any other ‘intellectual has a mid-life crisis’ story, even with the ‘twist’ of it being from a black American perspective. Even with it being somewhat self-aware of this. But it could have been a worse mid-life crisis story. The cinematography was terrible. It was shot like a sitcom. Much of the dialogue was sitcom-y too. I liked the soundtrack, what I could hear of it. The attempts at style and meta (the characters coming to life, the multiple endings) felt underdeveloped. Mostly because they were only used a couple times. In all, it felt like a first draft of a potentially more interesting movie. 

The Zone of Interest.Wanted to like it more than I did. Unfortunately, you get the point within about five minutes. If you’ve seen the promotional image of the people in the garden, backgrounded by the walls of Auschwitz, then you’ve already seen the movie. Which means that all the rest of the movie ends up feeling like pretentious excess instead of moving elaboration. It seemed very aware of itself as an Important Movie and rested on those laurels, cinematically speaking, in a frustrating way. It reminded me of video art. I felt like I had stepped through a black velvet drape into the side room of a gallery, wondering at what point the video started over. And video art has its place, but it is a different medium. Moreover video art at its best, like a movie at its best, takes only the time it needs to say what it needs to say. 

Past Lives. I’m a human being, and I respond to romance. I appreciate the pathos of sweet yearning and missed chances. And I understand how the romance in this movie is a synecdoche for ambivalent feelings about many kinds of life choices, particularly the choice to be an immigrant and choose one culture over another. The immigrant experience framing literalizes the way any choice can make one foreign to a past version of oneself, or the people one used to know, even if in another sense one is still the same person. So, I appreciate the emotional core of what (I believe) this movie was going for, and do think it succeeded in some respects. And yet…I was very irritated by most of its artistic choices. I found the three principal characters bland and therefore difficult to care about, sketched with only basic traits besides things like Striving and Being In Love. Why care who they’d be in another life if they have no personalities in this one? It’s fine to make characters symbols instead of humans if the symbolic tapestry of a movie is interesting and rich, but the symbolic tapestry of this movie was quite simple and straightforward. Not that that last sentence even matters much, since the movie clearly wanted you to feel for the characters as human beings, not just symbols. Visually, the cinematography was dull and diffuse, with composition that was either boring or as subtle as a hammer to the head.

Maestro. Did not like enough to finish. Something strange and wrong about this movie. It attempts to perform aesthetic mimicry with impressive precision—age makeup, accents, period cinematography—but this does not make the movie a better movie. At most it creates spectacle, at worst it creates uncanny valleys. It puts one on the lookout for irregularities, instead of allowing one to disappear into whatever the movie is doing. Something amateurishly pretentious in the execution. And not in the fun, respectable way, like a good student film. (My go-to example for a movie that has an art-school vibe in a pleasant way is The Reflecting Skin). There’s something desperate about it instead. It has the same disease as Oppenheimer, of attempting to do a biopic in a ‘stylish’ way without working on the basics first. Fat Man and Little Boy is a less overtly stylish rendition of the same subject as Oppenheimer, but far more cinematically successful to me, because it understands those basics. I would prefer to see the Fat Man and Little Boy of Leonard Bernstein’s life unless a filmmaker proves that they can do something with style beyond mimicry and flash.

The Holdovers. Did not like enough to finish. It tries to be vintage, but outside of a few moments, it does not succeed either at capturing what was good about the aesthetic it references, or at using the aesthetic in some other interesting way. The cinematography apes the tropes of movies and TV from the story’s time period, but doesn't have interesting composition in its own right. It lacks the solidity that comes from original seeing. (Contrast with something like Planet Terror, in which joyous pastiche complements the original elements.) The acting is badly directed. Too much actorliness is permitted. Much fakeness in general between the acting, writing, and visual language. If a movie with this same premise was made in the UK in the 60’s or 70's it would probably be good. As-is the movie just serves to make me sad that the ability to make such movies is apparently lost and can only be hollowly gestured at. That said, the woman who won best supporting actress did a good job. She was the only one who seemed to be actually acting.

Killers of the Flower Moon. The only possible winner. It is not my favorite of Scorsese’s movies, but compared to the rest of the lineup it wins simply by virtue of being a movie at all. How to define ‘being a movie’? Lots of things I could say that Killers of the Flower Moon has and does would also be superficially true of other movies in this cohort. Things like: it tells a story, with developed characters who drive that story. Or: it uses its medium (visuals, sound) to support its story and its themes. The difference comes down to richness, specificity, control, and a je ne sais quois that is beyond me to describe at the moment. Compare the way Killers of the Flower Moon uses a bygone cinematic style (the silent movie) to the way that Maestro and The Holdovers do. Killers of the Flower Moon uses a newsreel in its opening briefly and specifically. The sequence sets the scene historically, and gives you the necessary background with the added panache of confident cuts and music. It’s useful to the story and it’s satisfying to watch. Basics. But the movie doesn’t limit itself to that, because it’s a good movie. The sequence also sets up ideas that will be continuously developed over the course of the movie.* And here’s the kicker—the movie doesn’t linger on this sequence. You get the idea, and it moves on to even more ideas. Also compare this kind of ideating to American Fiction’s. When I said that American Fiction’s moments of style felt underdeveloped, I was thinking of movies like Killers of the Flower Moon, which weave and evolve their stylistic ideas throughout the entire runtime.

*(Visually, it places the Osage within a historical medium that the audience probably does not associate with Native Americans, or the Osage in particular. Which has a couple of different effects. First, it acts as a continuation of the gushing oil from the previous scene. It’s an interruption. A false promise. Seeming belonging and power, but framed all the while by a foreign culture. Meanwhile potentially from the perspective of that culture, it’s an intrusion on ‘their’ medium. And of course, this promise quickly decays into tragedy and death. The energy of the sequence isn’t just for its own sake—it sets up a contrast. But on a second, meta level it establishes the movie’s complicated relationship to media and storytelling. Newsreels, photos, myths, histories, police interviews, and a radio play all occur over the course of the movie. And there’s the movie Killers of the Flower Moon itself. Other people’s frames are contrasted with Mollie’s narration. There’s a repeated tension between communication as a method of knowing others and a method of controlling them—or the narrative of them—which plays out in both history and personal relationships.)

Or here’s another example: When Mollie and Ernest meet and he drives her home for the first time, we see their conversation via the car’s rearview mirrors. This is a bit of cinematic language that has its origins in mystery and paranoia. You see it in things like Hitchcock or The X-Files or film noir. By framing the scene with this convention, the movie turns what is superficially a romantic meet-cute (to quote a friend) into something bubbling with uneasiness and dread. This is not nostalgia—this is just using visuals to create effects. It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen anything that uses the convention before, although knowing the pedigree might add to your enjoyment. The watchfulness suggested by the mirrors and Ernest’s cut-off face will still add an ominous effect. It works for the same reason it works in those other things. Like the newsreel, it is a specific and concise stylistic choice, and it results in a scene that is doing more than just one thing.

In general, the common thread I noticed as I watched these nominees, was the tendency to have the ‘idea’ of theme or style, and then stop there. It’s not that the movies had nothing in them. There were ideas, there was use of the medium, there was meaning to extract. There were lots of individually good moments. But they tended to feel singular, or repetitive, or tacked on. Meanwhile contemporary viewers are apparently so impressed by the mere existence of theme or style, that being able to identify it in a movie is enough to convince many that the movie is also good at those things. The problem with this tendency—in both artists and audiences—is that theme and style are not actually some extra, remarkable, inherently rarifying property of art. Theme emerges naturally from a story with any kind of coherence or perspective. And style emerges naturally from any kind of artistic attitude. They are as native as script, or narrative, or character. A movie’s theme and style might not be interesting, just like its story or dialogue might not be interesting, but if the movie is at all decent, they should exist. What makes a movie good or bad, then, is how it executes its component parts—including theme and style—in service of the whole. When theme is well-executed it is well-developed. Contemporary movies, unfortunately, seem to have confused ‘well-developed’ with ‘screamingly obvious.’ A theme does not become well-developed by repetition. It becomes well-developed by iterationand integration. Theme is like a melody. Simply repeating a single melody over and over does not result in the song becoming more interesting or entertaining. It becomes tedious. However, if you modify the melody each time you play it, or diverge from the melody and then return to it, that can get exciting. It results in different angles on the same idea, such that the idea becomes more complex over time, instead of simply louder.

Oppenheimer wasprobably the worst offender in this regard. Just repeat your water drops, crescendoing noise, or a line about ‘destroying the world’, and that’s the same as nuance, right? Split scenes into color and black and white and that’s the same as structure, right? That’s the same as actually conveying a difference between objectivity and interiority (or another dichotomy) via the drama or visual composition contained in the scenes, right? When I watched many of these movies, I kept thinking of a behind-the-scenes story from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The story goes that Joss Whedon was directing Sarah Michelle Gellar in some scene, and when the take was over he told her how great she was, and that he could see right where the music would come in. And Gellar replied that if he was thinking about the music, he clearly wasn’t getting enough from her acting alone. This conversation then supposedly informed Whedon’s approach to “The Body,” a depiction of the immediate aftermath of death that is considered one of the best episodes of television ever made, and which has no non-diegetic music whatsoever. Not to imply that music is necessarily a crutch, or to pretend that “The Body” is lacking in other forms of stylization (it is a very style-ish episode). But more to illustrate the way that it is easy to forget to make the most of all aspects of a medium, particularly the most fundamental ones, once one has gotten used to what a final product is supposed to feel like. 

And that’s why most of these movies don’t feel like movies. They create the gestalt of a movie or a ‘cinematic’ moment—often literally through direct vintage imitation—without a sense of the first principles. Or demonstrating a sense of them, anyway. Who needs AI when the supposedly highest level of human filmmakers are already cannibalistically cargo-culting the medium just fine.

[1] “The Sound of Money (The Sound of Music and The Singing Nun).” The Pauline Kael Reader. (This book contains the full text of the original review, rather than the abbreviated review that I linked earlier.)