#dolly partons 9 to 5 playing

[creeps-and-pasta]

his ass is NOT forklift certified

[palin-tropos]

DE uses real world song lyrics all the time in the wildest ways especially in somber moments i swear to god it can feel like that scene from doctor who with "let us play a traditional earth anthem" and then its toxic by britney spears

[cowgurrrl]

Listen I know grind culture is a capitalistic trap but there is something inherently sexy about me coming home from a nine and a half hour shift and doing readings for my class tomorrow

[thefemininerage]

It's so ridiculous that I have to run around like a rat in a rat maze to simply change my availability to prevent myself from working anymore from evening to morning shift back to back. It's especially draining the ever-loving youth from me. No wonder people are saying Gen Z is aging like spilled milk. We're being forced to work these long ass shifts to simply put food on the table and prevent ourselves from being one paycheck away from homelessness. Which I find to be so fucking frustrating and disgusting this is the state of my society. Especially when you complain about it, everyone is quick to classify you as an ungrateful young person who doesn't know true hardship like our elders from the past generations. In addition, your workplace will hate you for wanting better for yourself and basically will target you and belittle you constantly so you eventually just quit and go back to square one.

#prayforthislittlerodent

[lovelytsunoda]

9 to 5 (what a way to make a living) // logan sargeant

summary: its y/n's first day of work at her new job, and logan is trying his best to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

pairing: logan sargeant x girlfriend!reader

warnings: logie bear being the bestest boyfriend ever.

author's note: no logan fic will ever quite match 'jolene', but in the same spirit, here is another logan x dolly crossover event :)

she had taken the clothes out of her closet the night before, the dress pants hanging from the bedroom doorknob, silk shirt pressed over the back of her desk chair. she had been so nervous the night before that it had taken two melatonin to knock her out for the night.

which is why logan felt so bad for needing to wake her, but if she was going to make it to the first day of her new job on time for nine am sharp, she couldn't sleep in any longer.

"princess." he hummed, gently shaking her shoulder. he could smell the toast from the kitchen, hear the soft hum of the morning show he had put on the flat screen tv. "its time to wake up. its your first day of work."

"no, fuck off." she whined, smacking logan's hand away. "i don't wanna go. you have more than enough money for both of us."

logan knew that was true. he'd been born with the metaphorical silver spoon, but that didn't mean his dad didn't make him work for it, and that he wasn't still 'working for it'. it was just in a job that was more highly paid than anything else on earth.

he also knew that y/n would go insane sitting around the house all day with nothing to do, so it was important that she went to work, found a purpose and made new friends. that she socialized with other people once in a while.

"come on, you're getting up. go have a quick shower, i'm making breakfast, and they're interviewing ryan gosling on kelley and mark this monring."

begrudgingly, she sat up, her hair tangled and her face marred with red lines from the imprint of her pillowcase. "i hate you."

"no you don't." logan laughed. "shall i go finish breakfast, or do you need me to stay here and make sure that you get out of bed?"

_____

logan was in the kitchen, listening to the morning show hosts play 'stump mark', and frying up the flattened breakfast sausages. the table was already set, laid out with fresh flowers, a large stack of toast, a glass of ice water and three small heart-shaped chocolates.

everything needed to be perfect.

he had even taken the day off to make sure that all the household chores got done, and that his beloved could relax when she got home.

she emerged from the bedroom, hair still damp but curled around her shoulders, the silk shirt hugging her torso. silver hoops dangled from her ears, and logan thought she looked beautiful.

"awe, logan. you made me breakfast?" she sighed, hands over her heart.

logan grinned, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table. "and lunch. and i made you a hot chocolate to go, and packed your purse with all the essentials. i'm also working from home today, so if there's anything you think of during the day that needs to be done and starts making you anxious, shoot me a text, i'm sure james won't mind if i'm only half present in a meeting."

her heart felt full, her skin warm. she took a bite of the breakfast logan had prepared to buy herself time to think of a thoughtful answer, one that meaningfully encompasses just how much this gesture meant to her.

"logan, you're too good for me."

in a world of crappy boyfriends, and ones that are sweet and funny and kind yet unattractive (and the ones that look stunning but act like pieces of crap), how did she end up with a man like logan? a one in a million, authentic, rich, athletic, funny, charming, caring boyfriend?

"no i'm not." logan grins, hugging her from behind and placing a soft kiss to the top of her head. her hair was still damp, and smelled like her pumpkin spice shampoo, even though it was the middle of spring. "you're too good for me."

"can i trust you to make dinner as well, or will i come home to a burned down house?" she asked slyly, turning to face her boyfriend, still twirling a piece of bacon around her fork.

logan laughed. "babe, i think i can handle it. kyle is gonna come over, we'll get the barbecue out and make an afternoon out of it. the panthers are playing today!"

he was so excited, she almost didn't want to ruin it by reminding her lover of what happened the last time he invited kyle over to barbecue something. they were fishing charred brisket out of the pool weeks later. having the kirkwood boy over at their house just opened a whole new pandora's box. one that she was always happy to be a part of.

as long as she wasn't cleaning up after them.

feeling her eyes on the back of his skull as he crossed to the other side of the table, logan relented. "we're not making brisket today! just a simple steak roast."

"sure. you say that now, but once you and kyle start drinking, you overestimate yourselves." she jokingly jabbed back.

"don't you have to go to work?"

"don't remind me! i'm hoping they'll forget i was supposed to start today."

________

at long last, and at the moment she was dreading the most, she was ready to leave for work. her purse was slung over her shoulder, packed thoughtfully by her boyfriend to contain a small bottle of sodastream water with berry flavoring, a fresh lip balm, her allergy medication, a printed map of directions to her office, and her car keys.

she paced the front hall nervously, resisting the urge to scrunch her shoulders and tuck her hands away into the sleeves of her trench coat.

she could do this. she was about to be a working woman. this is why she went to college.

but her bed was so warm, and that book on her nightstand really needs reading. and she's two episodes away from the finale of big little lies-

"stop looking for reasons not to go." logan sighed, hands in the pockets of his adidas pants as he leaned against the doorframe. "you're going to do great, princess. they'll love you."

"how are you so sure?" she asked quietly, avoiding his eyes as she brushed a few errant strands of hair out of her face. "what if i get there and i'm bad at everything, or my supervisor hates me and i get fired and it takes me years to find another job-"

"babe, babe. calm down." logan soothed, resting his hands on her shoulders. "look at me, pretty girl. you are brilliant and funny and smart, and way more emotionally intelligent than most people give you credit for. your worked hard for this degree, and you earned it. if they don't love you there, that's their loss. any boss would be lucky to have you. you graduated on the dean's list, for god sakes. you will do just fine."

she wanted to believe him. she really did. but there was still a small voice in the back of her head that just kept going on about what-if's.

logan pulled her in for a hug, gently running a hand up and down her back.

"you are going to do wonderfully. and if you don't? i will be your sugar daddy while you find a new job."

he wasn't serious when he said it, and he knew he had said the right things when y/n began to laugh in his arms.

"don't say that. now i'll never go to work. i'll just lie by the pool with my book and make googly eyes at the pool boy while you do all the work. you know, like all rich couples." she giggled, pulling away so logan could see her face, and fully tell that she was joking.

"i love you." logan said, cupping her face with one hand, leaning in to kiss her softly. "i'm so proud of you, you deserve this job more than anyone i know."

"i love you too, logie bear. and please try not to burn the steaks."

TAGS:

@magnummagnussen @libraryofloveletters @thatsdemko @sidcrosbyspuck @httpiastri @twinkodium

@clemswrld

@userlando

[chipstiredaf]

Alexa, play working 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton ✋

[who-always-pays-their-taxes]

actually imagine living in crime alley and a well-known crime lord starts killing people in the alleyway next to your work while 9 to 5 by dolly parton plays loudly out of his helmet

it’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it

[captain-mj]

Im back on my “Graves likes country music” thoughts with evidence

If he listens to it, he can call Price honey bee after hearing Honey Bee by Blake Shelton and Price is confused but likes it

Regularly plays it on missions, i mean look at him

Is from the south, I’ve never met someone the south that didn’t have some relationship with Carrie Underwood’s music

Listens to 9-5 by Dolly Parton, he told me so

Believes he’s the Cowboy Casanova from the one song

Has a cowboy hat, there’s literally pics of Warren Kole wearing one, that’s basically proof

It makes me happy because i like country music

There’s so much more, I’m happy to make a continuation

[askereiniongilgalad]

🎶 “Tunes of the Crown” 🎶

Managing the Noldor? It's a full-time balancing act. Between Galadriel’s messes, Elrond feeling more dwarvish than elvish, and Celebrimbor’s questionable choice of guests, my life swings between a symphony and a tragic opera—depending on who’s causing trouble that day. 🔥

Here are my top picks:

• “Manic Monday” – Because, let’s be real, every day in Lindon is Monday.

• “I’m Still Standing” – Somehow. Against all odds. Barely.

• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Except when they actually have to do the work. (Looking at you, Elrond.)

🎧 Grab a goblet of wine 🍷, press play, and bask in my highly kingly vibe. If nothing else, this playlist proves that even under stress, I’ve got rhythm—and style. 👑✨ And oh yes, there are more playlists. I’ll explain… eventually. 🎶 A special thanks to @marshmellin and @greenleaf4stuff who inspired me to share this with you. 🙌✨ ---------------------------------------------------------- The complete list

1. “Manic Monday” – The Bangles Every day is filled with meetings, decisions, and fires (literal and metaphorical).

2. “I’m Still Standing” – Elton John Surviving Galadriel, Elrond and Celebrimbor

3. “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie Being High King is 90% stress, 10% actual ruling. And no, the 10% isn’t the fun part.

4. “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift Galadriel storms into my office on daily basis; Elrond insists he ‘has a plan.’ I laugh. What else can you do?

5. “Boss Bitch” – Doja Cat Let’s be honest: I am the boss.

6. “Take a Bow” – Madonna After saving Middle-earth again, you’d think I’d get a standing ovation. Instead, I get more paperwork.

7. “The Climb” – Miley Cyrus Leadership is a constant uphill battle. Good thing I’m great at it.

8. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears Until they meet their first dwarf king or Galadriel in a bad mood. 9. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day Even kings get reflective. Usually around the third goblet.

10. “All Star” – Smash Mouth Let’s be real: Middle-earth would fall apart without me. MVP, every year, without fail.

11. “Survivor” – Destiny’s Child Holding Lindon together, one crisis at a time.

12. “You Can’t Hurry Love” – The Supremes Elrond, take note: Leadership takes time. Also, stop inching toward the door. (credit to mashmellin)

13. “Viva La Vida” – Coldplay Reflecting on my legacy. And the chaos. Mostly the chaos.

14. “9 to 5” – Dolly Parton If only ruling were 9 to 5. Try 24/7. With overtime. And no pay raise in millennia.

15. “No Time to Die” – Billie Ellish My duty doesn’t end, even when I do, and even then, I’m sure I’ll get a posthumous task list. 16. "This One's for the girls ” – Martina McBride @marshmellin addition to this list <3 17. “Golden Leaves” – Bear McCreary (feat. the mortal pretending to be me) Every king needs his anthem 👑🍂✨

[cleolinda]

Weekend links, February 9, 2025

My posts

I’ve been working on a Silent Hill 2 remake commentary (in tandem with @idoherty451) as I slowly play a practice run through the game. As I keep saying, but in case you haven’t heard: I have never played a video game before. I started out stuck in the parking lot begging James to pick up the map, but now I have video of my skill-and-strategy practice with Pyramid Head. If you’re familiar with the game, I have currently just finished playing Toluca Prison in the dark, because I am a brave little toaster, and I am now moving into the Labyrinth. 

(I post things on Patreon first, if you’d like to be on the mailing list for things like that and also Weekend Links, but any gameplay video will be public for copyright reasons.)

Why I'm defiantly focusing on a video game instead of current events.

Also, I have been sick and very mad about it, but my throat is recovering now.

This is a bit of a mega-linkspam because it’s been a very long time since I’ve been well enough to do regular posts (my herniated disc is doing better now, thank you), and we’ve got a good 4-5 weeks of material in 2025 alone. 

Reblogs of interest

I’m still reeling from David Lynch’s passing.

New images of Neptune's rings

Five Things Your Character Can’t Do While Speaking

“This hot anime sword boy is 60 years old. He has a wife and kids. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois.”

Happy birthday to Edgar Allan Poe and Dolly Parton!

A doll-sized quilt show

Jacksepticeye has returned to Tumblr

I like to think that Death could not take Christopher Lee; he could only ask nicely

"Meanwhile Belogarth the Registered PCA is chowing down on back pain"

Successful trans men

New Stabby the Roomba lore dropped

The Juki Deathmetal Ultrafuck

Hobbes as a real tiger

Foxes, graded

Animals on a video conference

It fucken sumny

Video

Needle-felted stop-motion animation

THERE ARE TWO CHOCOLATE GUYS 

“We’ve all decided he’s more of a Greg”

Anxiety Sea Lion

The encouraging art of circles

A daytime Afrovictorian ensemble

Demonstrating the rope dart

Happy National Milk Day to all who celebrate

The sacred texts

“Sometimes people use ‘respect’ to mean ‘treating someone like a person’ and sometimes they use ‘respect’ to mean ‘treating someone like an authority’”

What if it... was for puppies

happy 10 years of spiders georg

*slaps roof of Tumblr* This baby can fit so many rare vintages

Tay’lor Spiff

Personal tags of the week

Since we have a lot to catch up on:

I try to only post positive or actionable things on us politics

Really leaning into cats

Lots of good stuff in fashion

Always worth a look at art

We all could use some beneficent chain posts

And finally, Pallas cats on manul monday

[cheesecakeingfriends]

Charlie stumbles upon a gay bar + doesn’t recognize Drag Queen!Pim at first

Charlie x Drag Queen Pim

Charlie started to go to gay bars when he was dating Zoey, actually. She enjoyed drag performers and though he was reluctant at first (a bit of internalized homophobia there) she insisted on the fact they were both bisexual so why not? (Charlie had never used that word, he just told her "I mean, everyone's kinda into guys" and she did the math for him)

After they break up (a mutual thing, kind of "hey, this isn't working, is it?" while cuddling on the couch and they're cool), Charlie keeps going to gay bars just to get drunk. At least that's what he tells himself.

Gays are cooler to be around when you drink, you see. It's... It's a science thing. Google it. No, he's not looking for a hookup, he's just here to drink. Really.

(Not that a lot of men approach him, anyway)

One night he walks into the bar and it's absolutely packed. A drag night, apparently. He even runs into Zoey who is already with a girl??? It's only been like two years, but go off, I guess. Good to know she could replace him so quickly. They're still cool, though. Just... Yeah, that's cool.

Anyway, the club is blasting Dolly Parton??? Curious. That isn't usually the type of music they'd play, even for a drag show.

He can barely see the performer but everyone is going crazy for her. She's small to the point she almost gets lost in the crowd and wearing a big blonde wig and a sparkly country outfit. It's adorable.

He kind of stares mesmerized for a while. And like, it's a normal reaction isn't it? He's never seen an audience go this insane over 9 to 5, so she's got to be pretty exceptional.

"Hey, isn't that Pim?" Zoey suddenly says.

At first Charlie laughs it off. Like, yeah, right, Pim doing drag at a gay bar. But then he looks closer... holy shit, that really is Pim. And Pim has seen him too, losing sense of the stage and falling off it.

Charlie thinks of getting to him, but he doesn't feel like doing the whole "what were you doing at a gay bar?" convo and some of the staff is already helping him, so it's probably alright.

That Monday at the office, he finds out Pim in fact broke his arm, oops

Both are awkward af, completely aware that the other recognized them and also what was that??? But Charlie feels the urge to apologize because yeah, that was probably his fault, he didn't mean to invade or anything.

Pim sits him down and explains that he's been doing drag for about three years? Apparently, he heard Charlie and Zoey gush (I mean, not gush, alpha males don't gush, but you get the point) over a really amazing performer, which made him curious. And next thing he knew he was doing it.

Charlie tells him he's very good and also can't help but comment that he thought he was straight.

Pim reassures him he's straight; he just loves the artform. Charlie says the same.

(Spoiler: they were not straight)

Charlie becomes Pim's biggest fan, he goes to all his performances and insists that he'll kick any dude who makes him uncomfortable's ass (he will most-likely not succeed, but he'll try). Pim finds it super endearing.

Then along comes Pim's gay awakening and he actually starts seeing a guy after his shows.

Charlie is so normal about it.

Of course they end up having a screaming "weren't you straight?"/"weren't *you* straight, Charlie? why do you care so much?" match at the break room.

(Allan hates gay people now.)

Let's just say Pim won't be seeing guys who aren't Charlie for much longer.

[olive-pup]

Dolly Parton 9-5 plays in the distance

(Yes I'm using a printer to cure silicone faster and Yes that bone mold is deformed i turned the heated bed up too high)

[youremyheaven]

butterfly motif 🦋& vedic astrology

ive wanted to exclusively dedicate a post towards the use of the butterfly motif in pop culture, so here it is!! i think butterflies have had a re-emergence in fashion in the last few years and im here for it!!

🦋 as i've mentioned in many other posts, the nakshatras closely tied to using this motif repeatedly are the pisces rashi nakshatras of ubp and revati along with punarvasu nakshatra.

Revati moon, Rihanna wearing butterfly eye lashes.

Venus exalts in Pisces and ive noticed that these natives are often drawn to Venusian aesthetics and imagery.

Rihanna at a Savage x Fenty show. You cannot tell me this isn't reminiscent of the Birth of Venus and the colour scheme is super Venus coded as well.

UBP sun Lady Gaga wearing butterfly face paint. she has often gravitated towards this motif over the years.

here she is in a blue butterfly dress

idk about you but when i see wings, i think butterfly 🦋. hence why this look is here 🤭😌

yet another lady gaga butterfly lewk

2. bella hadid for Swarovski. bella has ketu in ubp and girlie is obsessed with butterflies 😍

3. kendall jenner, ubp moon wearing a butterfly print dress

4. emrata, also ubp moon wearing a butterfly print dress

5. urfi javed, an indian entertainer who has ubp ketu wearing an outfit with a butterfly motif

6. dua lipa, punarvasu moon and known for her butterfly obsession wearing a blumarine butterfly head to toe lewk

7.brie larson ubp asc wearing a winged dress

8. sarah jessica parker is ubp sun & venus with revati mercury atmakaraka and this is a vvv iconic look from sex and the city

9.bella hadid had an nft thingie and the teaser(?) for it depicted her as a cyborg in a pool of water with butterflies. couldn't get more pisces coded than that tbh

10. queen latifah, ubp sun with those butterfly tats. ive noticed a lot of pisces girlies specifically choosing blue butterflies over any other type👀

11. halsey, punarvasu moon and has a butterfly tattoo!!

12. mariah carey, i mean we all know the OG iconic butterfly top moment but here's an underrated lewk from this punarvasu queen who also has an album titled Butterfly

she also has a perfume line called Lollipop Bling that's packaged like this:

13. Kendrick Lamar's to pimp a butterfly

he has mercury and mars in punarvasu. jup in revati atmakaraka and ubp rahu. lamar has implied that the title alludes to the nature of celebrity and how something free spirited and beautiful can be so violently controlled. again, VERY pisces coded.

14. brand new eyes by paramore

hayley williams, who is the lead singer has revati mars amatyakaraka.

15. dolly parton has a very very famous song called love is like a butterfly, she has punarvasu mars conjunct saturn. look at the lyrics of the song, only a cancer girlie would go so soft like this 🥺

Love is like a butterfly

As soft and gentle as a sigh

The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings

Love makes your heart feel strange inside

It flutters like soft wings in flight

Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing

Dolly also has a perfume called "Tennessee Sunset" and its packaged like this:

16. alexander mcqueen, the fashion designer had ubp sun and used lots of winged imagery in his work

17. vincent van gogh, revati sun ubp venus and mars and punarvasu rising has a series of paintings called butterflies. i personally associate whimsical art with both pisces rashi and punarvasu. ill make another post some day but the impressionist movement and even the surrealist movement were vvv influenced by these two placements.

18. Papillon 1973

its based on the true story of henri charriere, who is played by steve mcqueen in the movie. not only is the movie called papillon (french for butterfly) the character also has a butterfly chest tattoo and steve mqueen has ubp sun, revati venus atmakaraka and punarvasu rising

19. silence of the lambs<3

one of the most iconic movie posters of all time features a moth. this moth also plays a key role in the movie and is a major motif.

the book on which the movie was based was written by thomas harris, who has a revati stellium (sun, jupiter & ketu)

20. SPOILER ALERT!!

in the movie corpse bride, the titular character dissolves into a bunch of butterflies at the end of the movie

corpse bride is played by helena bonham carter who has ubp saturn and ketu in revati

21. Kali Uchis, punarvasu sun often uses butterfly imagery

This photoshoot was conceptualised and shot by the South Korean photographer Choi Gi Seok who has purvabhadrapada moon (0 degrees pisces)

His work heavily features butterfly imagery ;

XxxxxxX

my own take is that, since pisces is the final rashi and the point of "absolution" it represents the end of chrysalis, when all elements have come together to create transformation; in pisces there is nothing left to do, but seek liberation from these cycles (its purpose is moksha,after all) and dissolve entirely into the cosmic ocean.

a butterfly is a beautiful symbol, representing not only the death of the creature that inhabited the cocoon but also reminding us that that death is necessary because only then can something as beautiful as a butterfly emerge from within that womb. the womb is the source of creation but you're not meant to stay there forever, that's not just stagnancy, that's death. birth is a painful process because you're leaving behind the only place you've ever known but you have no other option so you must be brave enough to face it.

this brings us to the connection of punarvasu nakshatra to butterflies. punarvasu's deity is goddess Aditi who is creation itself; she is the cosmic mother, she created this universe. in pisces, you seek liberation from the cycles of life but in punarvasu, life, the universe, creation itself takes place. thus it represents the butterfly emerging from the cocoon to claim its identity as a butterfly because the life it led before that was a non-life, it wasn't yet a butterfly, it was a non-being. goddess Aditi embodies infinite space and primordial vastness. what better way to represent the cosmic abundance than with a symbol like a butterfly? 🦋you cannot ask who created you because you are your own creation

“Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.”- Zhuangzi

xxxxxxx

that's it for now but i'll keep updating as i find more examples💛i hope this was interesting<3

[spiral-man]

Every time I listen to the song “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton I imagine that Elias plays it every morning over the archive speakers and it drives Jon insane.

The song starts and it’s really up in the air how he’ll react, will he simply sigh very dramatically in frustration before continuing with his work? Will he let his head drop to his desk with a thunk of exhaustion? On especially difficult days maybe he’ll just break out into tears? His reaction very much hinges on two factors

1. how long he’s been in the archives at this point (has he just clocked in or has he been here all night)

2. Weather or not he’s forgotten to leave the office door open because if he has, Tim takes the opportunity to do a full lip sync performance of the song, primarily sliding around in his office chair in front of the door, every time Jon sees it a bit more of his sanity wastes away.

I’ve been unable to listen to this song for about two years now because I can’t help but imagine this, and so it is now your burden as well.

[pomegranate]

THANK YOU to both @amrv-5 and @hawkesque for tagging me to ask for my list of

9 of my favourite films that I watched for the first time this year!

I’ve seen 49 new (to me) movies this year - and I will be watching at least one more new one before tomorrow at midnight to cap it off at 50 - and there were a lot of really great ones overall, but these ones get the honour of being named my favourites.

(after making this list I realized 4 of them take place during periods of sweltering heat lmao. INTERESTING)

- Past Lives (2023, dir. Celine Song): I talked about this one a bit in that end of the year ask meme but I really didn’t know what to expect going into this one and came out deeply affected in a way I’ve not been able to put into words. I can’t believe this is Celine Song’s directorial and screenwriting debut?!?! It feels so well-crafted and extremely deserving of the praise it’s received. I think this description from a Looper listicle sums it up beautifully: "a master class in the art of subtlety while evoking complex human emotions. The minimalist love story is like no other in how it expertly captures the slow-burn nature of fate. It's a bittersweet experience that'll leave you aching for all of life's "what-ifs.""

- Asteroid City (2023, dir. Wes Anderson): I really enjoy some Wes Anderson films but a few of his more recent ones missed the mark for me, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one. Happily, I had an absolutely fantastic time watching this with friends - it’s funny and inventive in a way that really tickled me, and the heartbreaking romance woven into the “background” of the story (quotation marks bc it’s not really the background) really stuck with me.

- High and Low (1963, dir. Akira Kurosawa): I’ll admit I wanted to see this after Ayo Edebiri included it in her Criterion Closet video bc I have a massive crush on her and I admire her taste, and BOY it did not disappoint! It’s just under 2 and a half hours long but I was so wrapped up in the tension and drama that the time absolutely flew by. My first Kurosawa film but definitely not my last!

- Nine To Five (1980, dir. Colin Higgins): I did not expect to have so much fun watching this but I should’ve known a movie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton would have me clapping my hands and stomping my feet with delight. Dabney Coleman is also SO great as their disgusting boss and a special shout out to him for how funny he was in each of their little fantasy sequences. God, if only real life was as satisfying as the ending of this film.

- Roman Holiday (1953, dir. William Wyler): I’ve had this on DVD for years but only got around to watching it this past August and OH what a beautiful movie! It’s wild to me that this was Audrey Hepburn’s first film; she’s totally captivating and I can’t take my eyes off her the entire time. Definitely one I’ll be returning to again and again.

- Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins): I’m embarrassed it took me this long to watch this film but unsurprisingly, it’s as magnificent as everyone has always said. Chiron’s story is told so beautifully and the way it all comes together in the end is simply perfect. Every performance felt vivid and authentic and each actor who played Chiron made him feel like a real person I was watching grow up on my screen. Quite possibly one of the best movies of all time.

- Dog Day Afternoon (1975, dir. Sidney Lumet): I challenged myself to only include one Al Pacino movie on this list and since this is the one that kicked off my Pacino era (despite me having watched Cruising earlier this year), it’s gotta be here. Watching it a second time also highlighted how well made it is as a film - Al is magnetic in his performance as a desperate man pushed to the brink to take care of the person he loves. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, especially the tellers, led by Penelope Allen. And now that I’ve seen the 2nd Godfather installment, my love for John Cazale has blossomed fully. I love the deeply disturbed Sal sooooo much. GOD I haven’t even touched on Lumet’s insanely masterful direction and the fact that this movie swings from unbearable tension to being hysterically funny within moments is BEYOND incredible. MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!

- Rear Window (1954, dir. Alfred Hitchcock): Another one that I’m embarrassed I hadn’t seen until this year, despite recognizing many references to it through pop culture (most notably the Simpsons ep where Bart thinks Flanders has murdered his wife). It lives up to the hype, with a murder mystery so well-crafted that even if you KNOW where the story is going, you’re still not entirely sure what’s going to happen next. I’m also so fascinated by Hitchcock’s use of cameras (both Jeff’s and the actual camera filming the movie) to show us the range of humanity on display within a fairly confined area and how Jeff’s voyeurism is contrasted with our voyeurism as the audience. I need to watch this again bc I know I wasn’t fully appreciating that storytelling device the first time.

- Do The Right Thing (1989, dir. Spike Lee): I said this in my other post from the end of the year meme, but I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this movie and it floored me. I was immediately drawn into the vibrant community where I’d be spending the next couple of hours, with Lee’s distinctive directing style making me feel like I was right there in Brooklyn with the characters as the heat and tension simultaneously reached a boiling point. The explosion that we see kick off with about half an hour left to go in the runtime is inevitable but still felt like a punch in the stomach. God. I think my heart rate is climbing just thinking about it. One of the most powerful cinematic experiences I’ve had in a long time.

Honourable mentions that didn’t make this list include Bottoms (2023), Charade (1963), Some Like It Hot (1959), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Hundreds Of Beavers (2022), Scream (1996), …And Justice For All (1979), The Godfather Part II (1974), Fancy Dance (2023), and The Holdovers (2023).

As for tagging other people, I’m going to leave it blank for now bc I’ve been sitting in a chilly vehicle writing this but I may come back later, not sure! I don’t want to pressure anyone who doesn’t feel like doing it but PLEASE do it if you want to & tag me in your lists bc I would love to read them!!!