#orlando my political documentary

[awardswatcherik]

2024 Oscar Predictions: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (October)

[pacingmusings]

Seen in 2023:

Orlando, My Political Biography (Paul B. Preciado), 2023

[randomrichards]

ORLANDO: MY POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY

Virginia Woolf’s book

Recreated by trans cast

Book links to their lives

[existentialcrisistime]

tagged by: the lovely @dumbf1sketches!

last song: Into the Night - Tonic Walter (from a Deep House Relax playlist on Spotify)

favourite colour: either a Payne's Grey or Jane's Grey (deep bluish grey, bonus points for blue-brown granulation)

or a cool toned violet such as Ultramarine Violet

or black, of course

currently watching: catching up on the Max Fewtrell twitch stream from last night, been enjoying that as a bedtime routine lately. Or, not right this minute, but I've been watching a Lot of Practical Engineering videos on youtube lately

last movie: I think it was Orlando: My Political Biography at the cinema the other month—an excellent French trans retelling/part documentary, would highly recommend if u wanna sob like a baby and fall a little bit in love

sweet/spicy/savoury: all things balanced, except I am a massive wimp with capsaicin type spice so maybe not that one (but will gladly eat horseradish/wasabi/ginger type things straight out of the jar)

relationship status: just vibin', and/or that one Whoopi Goldberg article/meme where she's asked why she isn't married yet and she says "I don't want anyone in my house"

current obsession: today? the new album Glory by The Airborne Toxic Event. In general? F1, civil engineering, and black chai with honey

last thing you googled: "capsaicin" because I forgot how to spell it. Still not convinced tbh

I'm tagging: (if you want to!) @formulaborb @twinkboimler @teethingpains

[madi2112]

Pride at the Capital 2024

Two awesome days with Team Cher

Day Two:

Up bright and early today to partake in an 8am committee meeting about yet another silly pointless bill the hate mongering Majority Party is trying to get passed.

This one banning anything they define as a "political" flag or even picture or reproduction of a flag anywhere in a government area. This includes schools, airports. Etc.

They have labeled the rainbow 🌈 flag "political" and want to ban it. The real goal of the bill.

The meeting was filled with right wing rhetoric and lies (as usual) and when it was finally time for public comments the vastly overwhelming majority were against the bill.

So many people spoke out against the bill that the time per speaker kept getting reduced. From 3 minutes to 1 minute then 30 seconds to none at all. Dozens of people (including me, but luckily 2 of my team members did get to speak) never got to add thier thoughts to those already opposing the bill.

Didn't matter.

The bill passed the committee along party lines. No surprise there.

<Team Cher member speaking to deaf ears>

More delivered more bill information sheets and attempts at walk up appointments until our next meeting. Which was an interesting one.

A very interesting one.

We were meeting with a film crew who would be our companions for the rest of the day.

Yep, I (and Team Cher) are part of a documentary to air later this year (on Prime and Hulu) about those of us combating the horrible things happening in Florida. We are just a segment in the program along with a look at an Openly LGBT Senator candidate and Equality Florida in general.

They filmed our pre-meeting game plan session, one meeting with a wonderfully supportive Senator, our post meeting thoughts with both Senators, including the meeting with a someone from the opposition party.

Then lastly they filmed our overall thoughts and reflections on the two days of work we put in.

Can't wait to see how it's all put together!

Lunch was provided by the Florida Democratic Party in there conference room and media center.

We left just enough time to run down to the rotunda again (the stairs were faster then the wait for an elevator) to support another Equality Florida press conference.

<I'm just over the speakers left shoulder >

Our afternoon meeting was with Senator Torres from Orlando.

He's a terrific ally and has a grand daughter who is a transwoman.

Needless to say the 22 bills introduced already this session by the Majority Party is something he loudly opposes.

He did welcome the film crew so you will be able to see and hear his words of profound wisdom. Truly inspiring.

<Senator Torres, in the tie, being an inspiration >

The last meeting of the day was with a Senator from the oppressors (sorry. I mean opposition) party.

He was less the enthusiastic about our meeting.

Still we agreed in our strategy meeting (being filmed) we would be friendly, respectful and professional.

We were the only ones.

The senator first limited our group to only two of us, claiming his office was too small.

To bad there were couches and chairs for at least 6 in the office and an empty meeting room next door.

Then took a phone call during the alloted 15 minutes. Which didn't go even a second longer despite the call mid meeting.

He was also dismissive, confrontational and rude.

All of which we let the film crew and Democratic House leaders know about.

They weren't surprised.

The whole encounter brought on the feelings that we are fighting the evil Galactic Empire.

Enhanced by the string of 9 straight middle age (and older) white men in nearly matching suits, white shirts and ties marching into the Republican office as we arrived.

The next coming of stormtroopers.

Then I looked at the 8 of us. Diverse, colorful, full of conviction and belief in what's right.

Like a band of rebel fighters.

Hopefully we can fight them off before they takeover completely.

I felt like I was part of the solution. Part of fighting the good fight against those wanting a facist theocracy run by heartless, evil wanna be dictators.

The last bit of business was the wrap up interviews for the film crew. We all chipped in with our feelings about the event, the real struggles we faced and how we bonded as a group. This was filmed outdoors in front of the capital where just hours ago we took the group photo.

Saying goodbye was all that was left and more then a few tears were shed.

Along with a group hug.

Even our captain, who has done these teams many times before, said this group was special and one of a kind in how we bonded.

We agreed to try to reunite next year and I hope it happens.

If not, it was a life changing, inspiring and emotional 2 days.

So to Devon, Charles, Stephanie, Marissa Katie, Corey and Tanya, I'll never forget this and will always be part of #TeamCher4life.

~Madison

[thisisqueerly]

Film Review: Orlando, My Political Biography

‘Orlando, My Political Biography’ takes audiences on a journey into the heart of gender, identity, and the human experience. Directed by philosopher turned filmmaker Paul B. Preciado, this great documentary hybrid takes inspiration from Virginia Woolf’s legendary novel, ‘Orlando: A Biography’. The film has already made waves on the festival circuit, winning awards like the Teddy Award: Best…

[regardezmoica]

Berlinale 2023 - Encounters Lineup

January 23, 2023 - the Berlinale announced the titles from the Encounters section.

In 2023, the competitive section Encounters comprises 16 films, all of which are world premieres. There are three debut films. 21 countries are represented. Six films were directed by women.

Adentro mío estoy bailando (The Klezmer Project) by Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann | with Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann Austria / Argentina 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Debut film

The Adults by Dustin Guy Defa | with Michael Cera, Hannah Gross, Sophia Lillis USA 2023 Encounters | World premiere

The Adults

El eco (The Echo / Das Echo) by Tatiana Huezo Mexico / Germany 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Documentary Form

Here by Bas Devos | with Stefan Gota, Liyo Gong Belgium 2023 Encounters | World premiere

Im toten Winkel (In the Blind Spot) by Ayşe Polat | with Katja Bürkle, Ahmet Varlı, Çağla Yurga, Aybi Era, Maximilian Hemmersdorfer Germany 2023 Encounters | World premiere

Kletka ishet ptitsu (The Cage is Looking for a Bird) by Malika Musaeva | with Khadizha Bataeva, Madina Akkieva, Fatima Elzhurkaeva, Rita Merzhoeva, Magomed Alhastov France / Russian Federation 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Debut film

Mon pire ennemi (My Worst Enemy) by Mehran Tamadon | with Zar Amir Ebrahimi France / Switzerland 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Documentary Form

My Worst Enemy

Műanyag égbolt (White Plastic Sky) by Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó | with Tamás Keresztes, Zsófia Szamosi, Géza Hegedűs D., Judit Schell, István Znamenák Hungary / Slovakia 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Animation

mul-an-e-seo (in water) by Hong Sangsoo | with Shin Seokho, Ha Seongguk, Kim Seungyun South Korea 2023 Encounters | World premiere

Mummola (Family Time) by Tia Kouvo | with Ria Kataja, Elina Knihtilä, Leena Uotila, Tom Wentzel, Jarkko Pajunen Finland / Sweden 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Debut film

Le mura di Bergamo (The Walls of Bergamo) by Stefano Savona Italy 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Documentary Form

Orlando, ma biographie politique (Orlando, My Political Biography) by Paul B. Preciado France 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Debut film | Documentary Form

Samsara by Lois Patiño | with Amid Keomany, Toumor Xiong, Simone Milavanh, Mariam Vuaa Mtego, Juwairiya Idrisa Uwesu Spain 2023 Encounters | World premiere

Shidniy front (Eastern Front) by Vitaly Mansky, Yevhen Titarenko Latvia / Czechia / Ukraine / USA 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Documentary Form

Viver Mal (Living Bad) by João Canijo | with Nuno Lopes, Leonor Silveira, Beatriz Batarda Portugal / France 2023 Encounters | World premiere

Living Bad

Xue yun (Absence) by Wu Lang | with Lee Kang-Sheng, Li Meng, Ren Ke, Liang Wanling People’s Republic of China 2023 Encounters | World premiere | Debut film

[joeygoeshollywood]

My 25 Favorite Films of 2020

Well, this was quite the crazy year, especially for movies. While many films that were slated to be released this year were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year still provided some laughs, tears, and thrills both in theaters and in the living room. 

(NOTE: Due to the delayed awards season calendar and postponed Oscar bait films that are unavailable to be seen before the end of 2020, this list will eventually be updated after having seen the following films: The Father, Minari, News of the World, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Pieces of a Woman, Promising Young Woman)

Here are my 25 favorite films of the year:

25. Kajillionaire 

Quirky filmmaker Miranda July is back with her first feature in nearly a decade. Kajillionaire is a bizarre but captivating tale about a family of criminal grifters and how the daughter reevaluates her strained relationship with her parents after an outsider is welcomed into the fold. Evan Rachel Wood takes what could have easily been dismissed as a goofy caricature in Old Dolio (yes, that’s her name) and turns into a heartfelt portrayal of a woman whose lifestyle of freeloading dictated by her parents (played by Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins) becomes her own crisis. In many ways, Kajillionaire feels like a fantasy that keeps people asking, “What on earth is going on?” And this time, it’s for the best. 

24. Freaky

Revamping decades-old plots like the body-swapping antics from Freaky Friday can either result in a predictable failure or a surprising success. Thankfully, Freaky falls into the latter category. In this horror comedy, a deranged serial killer (played by Vince Vaughn) swaps bodies with his victim, a timid teen girl (played by Kathryn Newton). What makes the film work though are the dedicated lead performances, particularly by Vaughn, who is pretty convincing as young girl trapped in a grown man’s body. With a few good laughs and decent thrills, Freaky is worth the watch. 

23. The Outpost

The Outpost is an intense film about the real-life story of small group of US troops isolated by surrounding mountains in Afghanistan, under the constant threat of the Taliban, which ultimately comes to a head in the Battle of Kamdesh. The film captures the harrowing experiences of these soldiers with heart-pounding action sequences, which are fueled by a solid cast including Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom. 

22. Uncle Frank

Paul Bettany may be best known for playing The Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he should be celebrated as his title character in Uncle Frank, a touching dramedy set in 1973 about an NYU professor who returns home to his estranged family for his father’s funeral while his niece, played by rising star Sophia Lillis, idolizes him for teaching her to be her authentic self while he keeps his sexuality a secret. Bettany brilliantly balances the coolness of his stature with the internal agony that ultimately hits a boiling point, which is counterbalanced by Peter Macdissi’s fun performance as Frank’s happy-go-lucky lover who accompanies him back home despite his wishes. 

21. Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy was panned by critics over politics that had absolutely no role the film. Based on the best-selling memoir by J.D. Vance, the newest feature from Ron Howard shows the journey of a boy who despite all odds growing up in a poor family that constantly struggled with abuse and addition managed to get into Yale Law School and achieve the American dream. While both Gabriel Basso and Owen Asztalos hold the film together as the younger and older Vance in the present and flashback scenes, Amy Adams as the impulsive, irresponsible mother and an unrecognizable Glenn Close as the no-nonsense inspiring grandmother that turn Hillbilly Elegy into an acting tour de force. 

20. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin sits in the director’s chair once again in this courtroom drama about the real-life protesters who showed up in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. With themes that resonate today, The Trial of the Chicago 7 benefits from its sharp screenplay, well-paced editing, and an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Yahoo Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Frank Langella, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Michael Keaton. 

19. Yellow Rose

Broadway actress Eva Noblezada makes her film debut as an aspiring country singer on the run after her mother, an illegal immigrant, is obtained for deportation. Yellow Rose presents a nuanced depiction of US immigration, but at the heart of it is a heartbreaking story of a young woman who struggles between putting her family or her dreams first. Between Noblezada’s powerful performance and solid original music, Yellow Rose hits all the right chords. 

18. Palm Springs

Move over, Groundhog Day. While the Bill Murray classic has largely monopolized the time loop film genre, Palm Springs gives it a run for its money. Andy Sandberg and Cristin Milioti star as the unlikely duo who are stranded reliving the same dreaded wedding day involving mutual acquaintances and their desperate efforts to escape the seemingly inescapable. The Hulu comedy stands on its own two feet for the good laughs, the chemistry between the two leads, and the film’s emotionally-grounded plot.  

17. Let Him Go

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane reunite on the big screen after playing farmer parents in Man of Steel to rancher grandparents in Let Him Go, although this time they are able to display their full acting chops. In this period dramatic thriller, they set out to find their only grandchild following the death of their son only to discover that the widowed daughter-in-law remarried into an infamous crime family. While both Costner and Lane tug at the heartstrings, it’s Lesley Manville, who plays the ruthless matriarch of the family, that really takes command of the screen. Ultimately, Let Him Go is all about family and the lengths one is willing to go to protect it. 

16. Unhinged

In a year plagued by the pandemic, Unhinged led the way to the revival of movie theaters back in August and perhaps in some ways it was meant to be the film to do so as the themes of a rage-fueled society and the lack of human connection carry weight. Russell Crowe stars, as the title suggests, as an unhinged psychopath whose road rage torments a woman and her adolescent son. Unhinged is the epitome of pure entertainment and is why we go to the movies. While it’s not quite the most sophisticated thriller of the year, it’s still one helluva ride. 

15. Emma

Anya Taylor-Joy has had quite the year with both highs (The Queen’s Gambit) and lows (The New Mutants). But it began before the pandemic with the release of Emma, which she stars as the iconic Jane Austen title character, a socialite who meddles in the love life of others while refusing to acknowledge her own shortcomings in that department. Supported with a strong ensemble cast, beautiful production design, and comedic charm, Emma is not to be missed. 

14. The Invisible Man

ln the era of remakes and reboots, very few are as good as Universal’s latest monster flick revival of The Invisible Man. Elisabeth Moss stars as a woman who believes she’s being haunted by her abusive ex-husband, someone she becomes convinced faked his own death and is stalking her without being able to be seen. Filmmaker Leigh Whannell, the writer behind the Saw and Insidious horror franchises, generates good thrills and high-wire tension with the help of high production value and a terrifyingly-good performance from Moss. 

13. Dick Johnson is Dead

Documentarian Kirsten Johnson filmed a beautiful, intimate tribute to her father Dick Johnson, who has been suffering from Alzheimer's in the final years of his life. However, instead of dreading his death, both daughter and father embrace it by having him acting out several scenes of his over-the-top demises. Dick Johnson is Dead may focus on the subject manner of death, but this documentary actually celebrates life and the laughs that happen along the way. 

12. The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Perhaps one of the littlest-known films of the year, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not your conventional indie comedy horror flick. Writer/director Jim Cummings stars as an overly-heated police officer who attempts to get to the bottom of a string of murders in his small, snowy Utah town by what appears to be some sort of werewolf, though he remains unconvinced. Featuring one of the final performances from veteran actor Robert Forster, The Wolf of Snow Hollow uses its quirky sense of humor to stand out from the rest of the pack. 

11. The Gentlemen 

The Gentlemen is a fun, action-packed, crime caper from Guy Ritchie about the London turf war of drug kingpins. Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Goulding, Michelle Dockery, and Colin Ferrell all round out the strong cast, but its Hugh Grant that really steals the show as the comedically manipulative Fletcher, whose only allegiance is to himself. If you like a stylish film with well-choreographed violence and a fast-paced plot, The Gentlemen should be your cup of tea.  

10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Some of the best play-to-film adaptations are the films that feel like you’re watching a play, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one of them. Produced by Denzel Washington, Viola Davis gives a transformative performance as Ma Rainey, known as the “mother of the blues” and the clash she had with a pair of White music producers, but she also butts heads with her trumpet player (played by the late Chadwick Boseman), who also has his own music ambitions. While Davis obviously gives other Oscar-worthy performance, it was Boseman who was able to show how incredibly gifted he was as an actor. And while the world lost him far too soon, at least his last role ended up being his greatest. 

9. The Kid Detective

One of the biggest surprises of the year was how good a movie starring and produced by Adam Brody was. Brody plays a washed up former kid detective who attempts to revive his once-celebrated career of solving mysteries by getting to the bottom of a murder in his hometown. The Kid Detective is a brilliant dark comedy from newcomer writer/director Evan Morgan with good laughs, plenty of plot twists, and a career-best performance from Brody, who proves he’s more than just the pretty face from The O.C. we all know him as. 

8. Mank

Citizen Kane is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and Mank is a worthy tribute. Gary Oldman stars as the title character Herman “Mank” Mankiewicz, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind the iconic film. David Fincher (The Social Network, Gone Girl) managed to capture the epic scale of the 1941 classic that would make Orson Welles proud. 

7. Soul

Soul is one of those rare existential Pixar films that goes beyond being children’s entertainment. Following in the footsteps of 2015′s Inside Out, Soul depicts what happens to the soul of a jazz musician who’s convinced his time on Earth isn’t over. While the universe created to explain how souls work and the plot that went along with it falls short of its emotions predecessor, Soul is still high-caliber among Pixar films and a great movie for both kids and adults alike. 

6. Another Round

Perhaps the greatest work from Swedish director Thomas Vinterberg to date, Another Round follows four unsatisfied middle aged men who decide to take a theory of task from a Norwegian psychiatrist, who concluded that maintaining a blood alcohol level of 0.050 will enhance their mental and psychological state. Mads Mikkelsen, who’s best known to American audiences as Hannibal Lecter in the short-lived NBC series Hannibal and the Bond villain in Casino Royale, offers a strong, nuanced performance as one of the four educators who embraces this drinking challenge in a film that provides an equal balance of chuckles, cringes, and emotional gut punches. 

5. I’m Thinking of Ending Things

From the crazy mastermind of Charlie Kaufman, the writer behind Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Anomalisa, his latest on Netflix is too a mind-bender. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a surreal, zany, and at times disturbing examination of the human condition as the nameless female protagonist played by an incredible Jessie Buckley mulls over breaking up with her boyfriend (played by Jesse Plemons) while visiting his parents’ house. Accompanied with a stellar production design and a crazy-good performance from Toni Collette as “Mother,” Kaufman newest cerebral feature lives up to his iconic reputation of filmmaking. 

4. Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee is one of the few genius filmmakers who is able to blend multiple genres together and his latest film is no different. Da 5 Bloods is an action adventure, buddy comedy, dramatic character study, and war movie all wrapped up into one about a group of Vietnam War veterans who return to the former battlegrounds to find the remains of one of their fallen soldiers as well as some treasure that they kept hidden years ago. With a strong ensemble cast that includes the late Chadwick Boseman, its longtime character actor Delroy Lindo who steals the show with his powerful performance. Da 5 Bloods is easily one of Netflix’s strongest films to date. 

3. The Assistant

One of the first #MeToo-era films, The Assistant offers the day in the life of a low-level female staffer of a production company who is haunted by the presence of her Harvey Weinstein-like boss (who never actually appears in the film). However, rather than depicting the dramatics of sexual misconduct, The Assistant uses the common subtleties and nuances of the workplace yet maintains the same tension and heartbreak. Anchored by the remarkable, devastating performance by up-and-comer Julia Garner (Ozark), The Assistant is as important as it is well-done. 

2. Sound of Metal

Riz Ahmed gives the performance of his career as a heavy metal drummer and former addict whose sudden battle with going deaf upends his life. Sound of Metal is an incredible experience that gives a rare glimpse in the American deaf community which is enhanced by the remarkable sound design that helps the audience actually hear what the musician is going through. It’s truly one of the most rewarding films of the year. 

1. The Climb

The Climb takes the generic “man sleeps with his best friend’s fiancé” storyline and turns it on its head. In his feature debut as writer and director, Michael Angelo Covino leads as the not-so-apologetic adulterer Mike and Kyle Marvin, who co-wrote the film, is the good-hearted Kyle who struggles to whether or not to forgive his best friend’s ultimately betrayal. Not only is The Climb is quirky and hilariously written, it’s a remarkably well-made comedy with some of the year’s best cinematography. Between a strong cast, a superb screenplay, and the extremely-high production value, The Climb is at the top of the mountain of 2020′s best films. 

[some-lists]

10 Documentary Series for the Wanderluster

If you’re sick of being stuck indoors and isolated from the rest of the world, you might find yourself binge watching travel documentaries just like me.

I’ve always loved traveling. I’ve been to a handful of places, but there’s so much more out there. These docu-series will make you want to get off your butt and hop on a plane ASAP. Of course, that’s not really an option in this pandemic, but these shows can offer a nice dose of escapism right in your living room.

These are just a few available to stream that I really loved. (Btw, most of these are about food. Because I love food.)

1. Somebody Feed Phil

I love this show. Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal travels to some of the most beautiful locations around the world to try the best foods. He meets with locals, expats, and world renown chefs who show him the best local dishes and their culture. Phil isn’t the best food critic. Most of his commentary consists of, “Mmm, that’s good!” But his cheery, friendly demeanor makes for easy watching as he casually befriends locals in every international city he visits. Oh, and the theme song is killer.

Watch it on: Netflix

2. Street Food: Asia & Latin America

Get ready to be hungry! Made from the same people behind Chef’s Table, this series takes you to a different country in each episode. Street Food: Asia and Street Food: Latin America are actually listed separately on Netflix. But they are essentially two different seasons of the same show. You’ll meet local street chefs who’ve made their living cooking and selling their best comfort foods on the street. They share their stories of hardship, determination, sacrifice, joys, and successes. Each episode has close ups of every dish that will have you salivating.

Watch it on: Netflix

3. Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Season One of this National Geographic series is currently available on Disney Plus. We see chef Gordon Ramsay travel to some remote locations, where he not only learns about their local ingredients, but has to forage and hunt them himself. At the end of each episode, we see him face off with a famous chef from each region. It’s beautifully shot with some really breathtaking views of these amazing landscapes. We see the vast Sacred Valley of Peru, majestic glaciers of New Zealand, and tropical blue waters of Hawaii. Now, if only Disney Plus would release the second season.

Watch it on: Disney Plus

4. Down to Earth with Zac Efron

Down to Earth with Zac Efron is not just a feast for the eyes, but a series that will make you think. Zac Efron travels with his friend, Darin Olien, to learn about various methods of sustainable living. We learn about sustainable energy in Iceland, fresh water in France, and blue zone diets in Italy. They also take the time to explore and enjoy the best leisure activities and cuisine in each country.

Watch it on: Netflix

5. Conan Without Borders

Conan Without Borders is a segment of his talk show that is now available on Netflix (but only the first season). Of course, you can still watch more on YouTube, but those videos are cut into shorter segments. Conan’s buffoonery is put to good use as he travels to learn about other people and their countries. His shtick is the clueless, ignorant American abroad. It’s an honesty that’s rewarding, as he shows these countries in a light few Americans get to see. He’s hilarious in each episode as he accidentally (or not so accidentally) offends, but also learns from the locals in each country.

Watch it on: Netflix, YouTube

6. Travel Man: 48 Hours In...

Travel Man has had 10 seasons, and 7 (ish) of them are on Hulu. It’s a recent discovery for me, so I’m still making my way through the episodes. Richard Ayoade travels to a different city with a different celebrity for 48 hours. They do a lot of the typical things the average tourist would do. It features transportation, checking into a hotel (usually on the higher end), seeing the sites, and exploring different foods. Most of the celebrities who join him are British, so I’m not too familiar with them. It probably works better if you know who they are, but it doesn’t matter. Richard Ayoade’s dry humor makes each trip amusing regardless.

Watch it on: Hulu

7. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

British comedian Jack Whitehall takes a belated gap year trip with his 70-something year old father. The stark contrast between their personalities make for a very interesting vacation. We go on a real ride with the two as we get to know them and as they grow from the experience. Jack is full of energy and definitely more open minded of the two, but we can also see why his father gets annoyed with him. He’s a big kid and, at times, spoiled. At first Jack’s father comes across as snobby and ignorant, but we learn to laugh at his biting humor and his efforts to connect with Jack. We also get a bit of a different view of each location. We visit eccentric temples in Thailand, watch trained rats search for mines in Cambodia, check out motocross skiing in Germany, and more.

Watch it on: Netflix

8. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Seasons 7 and 8 of the late Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations can currently be viewed on Hulu. If you’re a humanitarian at heart, this one is for you. Anthony Bourdain is after truth. He’s not interested in commercialized tourist traps or filtered Instagram photo ops. He’s after the real place, the real people, and the real history. He visits disadvantaged populations around the world. He meets with locals, journalists, and humanitarians in each country. Their conversations are often about poverty, political corruption, and marginalization. But he also has some lighter missions as well. A trip to Naples in search of the real Italian food experience. A discovery of Croatian culinary greatness. A cook off in Tokyo between the world’s greatest chefs. What we see is not always pretty. Sometimes it’s truly upsetting. But sometimes it’s great too. Either way, it’s the truth. What Anthony Bourdain ultimately does is capture the heart of the people, something traveling tourists often overlook.

Watch it on: Hulu

9. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

I’m not a huge David Chang fan. I’ve only made it through one episode of Ugly Delicious. (It was the curry episode, because I love Indian food.) But I found Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner a much easier watch. It’s a lot more chill. There are only four episodes. (That helps.) He and a celebrity friend tour a different city, try the food, and just chat it up. This series focuses more on location and culture, rather than just the food itself. The personalities of his celebrity guests help provide color and humor to each episode. Kate McKinnon, as always, is a delight.

Watch it on: Netflix

10. Tales By Light

Tales By Light follows photographers around the world as they capture stunning works of art. This is a must see if you love art, especially photography. Watch humpback whales dance under water in Tonga, the colorful Festival of Holi in India, abandoned desert ghost towns of Namibia, and indigenous cultures of Australia. Season 3 is especially sobering. Photographer Simon Lister and UNICEF ambassador Orlando Bloom travel to Bangladesh to capture portraits of children in need. You’ll marvel at the beauty, but also cry for the less fortunate.

Watch it on: Netflix

[grigori77]

Summer 2020′s Movies - My Top Ten Favourite Films (Part 1)

20.  THE OUTPOST – it’s been a great year for war movies already, but summer was definitely where the genre really blew up, showering a TRIO of crackers on us, starting with this intensely rugged actioner about the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009 Afghanistan, in which a small group of American soldiers fought against an overwhelming Taliban force in extremely hostile terrain.  Director Rod Lurie (The Last Castle, The Contender) hasn’t had the most impressive career so far, but he shines here, as does a powerful ensemble cast which includes Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones and Orlando Bloom.

19.  BIT – the first notable feature from indie director Brad Michael Elmore is an enjoyably offbeat little vampire flick in which small-town transgender teen Laurel (Supergirl’s Nicole Maines) moves out to Los Angeles and gets swept up in the strictly girls-only revolution of local head vamp Duke (Goliath’s Dianna Hopper) and her feminist pack. Maines and Hopper are both phenomenal, while Elmore does wonders with his tiny budget and really pays off on his film’s intriguing ideas.

18.  DA 5 BLOODS – Spike Lee’s latest joint must be the most tripped-out and subversive Vietnam War movie since Apocalypse Now, letting his politically-charged mixture of reportage and personal drama run riot with particularly colourful results as we follow a group of ageing black Vets on their journey to retrieve the remains of a fallen comrade and a fortune in illicit gold. The cast are uniformly excellent, particularly Delroy Lindo as traumatised hothead Paul, while there’s a magnificent turn from Chadwick Boseman in one of his final roles.

17.  THE LOVEBIRDS – director Michael Showalter reunites with Kumail Nanjiani, star of his indie hit The Big Sick, for this riotous screwball comedy in which lovers Jibran and Leilani (Nanjiani and Insecure’s Issa Rae) find their faltering relationship tested to breaking point when they’re forced to prove their innocence after being framed for murder by a corrupt cop.  The laughs come thick and fast, but there’s an endearing warmth that adds emotional heft to the story, bolstered by the leads’ palpable chemistry.

16.  UNHINGED – Russell Crowe brings every motorist’s worst nightmare to life as Tom Cooper, a deranged psychopath who harasses struggling divorcee Rachel (Slow West and Mortal Engines’ Caren Pistorius) and her son to increasingly terrifying extremes after one bad day leads to a road-rage misjudgement.  The overblown revenge thriller plot works best if you don’t think about it too much, but the incredibly game cast give their all and director Derrick Borte (The Joneses) keeps the tension cranked up to breaking point.

15.  THE NEW MUTANTS – the last ever Fox-based X-Men movie slumps into cinemas with little fanfare after a series of increasingly lamentable delays with an inevitable sense of Marvel Studios going through the motions out of mere obligation to what was once the franchise that MADE them.  It’s truly criminal treatment because this is a CRACKING film, the property taking an intriguing swerve into horror movie territory as five young mutants trapped in a shadowy government institute are terrorized by their own worst fears.  The Fault in Our Stars’ director Josh Boone shows a surprisingly sure hand with the superheroics AND the scares, but the film really belongs to its uniformly excellent young cast, particularly Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams as shapeshifter Rahne Sinclair and Anya Taylor-Joy as fan favourite Illyana Rasputin.  It’s another worthy mutant-fest, which makes it all the more heartbreaking watching with the knowledge that, now that the X-Men and their ilk have been officially folded into the all-encompassing behemoth of the MCU, it’s the opening chapter of a new franchise we’ll never get to see …

14.  BECKY – ambitious indie directing duo Jonathan Millott and Cary Murnion have been on my ones-to-watch list for a while now (ostensibly after their horror comedy Cooties but mainly thanks to supercharged single-shot action thriller Bushwick), but they’ve really outdone themselves with this left-field survival horror, in which a pack of neo-Nazi prison-breakers led by brutal genius Dominick (a cannily cast-against-type Kevin James) find themselves up against something they never bargained for – Anabelle: Creation star Lulu Wilson’s eponymous, unexpectedly lethal 13 year-old girl.

13.  THE VAST OF NIGHT – despite its far more understated, super-low budget origins, there’s a strong dose of Super 8 in the DNA of this astounding debut from writer-director Andrew Patterson, an intriguingly ambitious first-contact sci-fi thriller set in small town America in the 1950s.  Some Kind of Hate’s Sierra McCormick and newcomer Jake Horowitz are the endearingly sparky core of the film, putting the rich quick-fire screenplay through its paces while Patterson displays uncannily sophisticated flair behind the camera.  I can’t wait to see what he’s going to deliver in the future …

12.  IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS – not just the best feature I’ve watched so far in what’s already been an unusually strong year for documentary films, but one of the best I’ve watched in a good long while, this epic examination of ALL the key horror cinema releases of the 1980s and their enduring cultural impact makes for undeniably engrossing viewing.  Despite clocking in at OVER FOUR HOURS, it never outstays its welcome, with writer-director David A. Weiner’s fascination for the subject proving overwhelmingly infectious.

11.  GET DUKED! – four wayward teenage boys are pursued by gun-toting aristocratic psychopaths in the Scottish Highlands while doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award (well, it was that or Borstal) in this gleefully OTT comedy masterpiece from debuting writer-director Ninian Doff.  One of last year’s major festival hits, it’s an absolute riot, a blissfully unapologetic non-PC laugh-fest powered by a quartet of astonishing turns from its young leads and brilliant support from Eddie Izzard, Kate Dickie and James Cosmo.

[a-vicious-girlcc4-blog]

Spy Equipment - Spyware for Surveillance, Security, Privacy, and Safety

I wanted to purchase some surveillance devices for videography as I was planning to go overseas to shoot a few videos in some third world countries where human trafficking and narcotics are a big concern. What I found was quite enlightening and surprising.Do you want to learn more? Visit eyespysupply.com

There is a wide disparity between the types of spy equipment, the companies that retail it, and the prices the unsuspecting consumer charges. I would have easily spent $500 to $600 if I hadn't done my homework and I'm working on a very small budget.

Websites are numerous that provide this material, but they typically rarely answer their telephones when you attempt to call them for technological assistance or to ask a few basic questions. This is the first indication that you don't want to work with the business. If you're anything like me and need tech support for the stuff you 're buying, then you don't want to buy from a company that's never there to help teach you how to use their spy equipment.

Secondly, if you can't ask questions before you buy (and sadly this is often the case because most vendors just want to sell, don't educate the public so their profit margins won't be jeopardized), then you might very well buy the wrong kind of gear. Law enforcement officers have fewer purchasing opportunities than videographers and photographers do.

Hence the importance of posing questions and talking to a professional individual. I consider this special key someone with a conscience and a degree of integrity a daunting task to be. I stumbled upon a guy who provided outstanding service after many days of web searching, phone calling, and being put on hold (only to be told later little helpful info buy the phone rep).

You would have had to see how the local store owner handled me to fully appreciate how good the guy was who helped me. Here in Orlando the guy in my town was rude, impatient and condescending.

Fortunately I discovered a treasure in a guy called Zeek, a genuinely friendly person who talked politely to me on the phone for almost an hour and respectfully answered all of my dumb questions.

Undoubtedly God blessed me by encouraging me to meet Zeek who taught me what I needed to know, stopped me from buying the wrong things, and offered me a price well below the other crooks selling spy equipment out there.

The website for the organization is excellent, comprehensive and competent. Most of all, it was the customer service that did it for me, since I'm kind of ignorant about security and spyware. The beautiful thing now is that I live my dreams as a filmmaker doing documentaries abroad and helping mankind.

It just goes to show you that we are all interconnected and that we need one another. Believe God and you'll get good things. Pray for divine appointments and links with key people who can save you a great deal of grief and frustration.

We sent our surveillance gear to us the next day and tested it out that evening. My video guy Chris was really shocked when we placed it on his machine to see if this could fit for us in filming and how well it performed and the picture quality.

We brought the spy cam out to some clubs and got some fantastic footage and in our cargo pants we concealed all the equipment. It was an unforgettable experience!

[ooffies]

Hi! Here the info 4 the matchup :) And thank you a lot ✨ I'm a 'modern day' witch with slavic gypsy roots & I live alone with my cat Orlando (Bless the Queen Virginia Woolf) among books, plants, vinyls and instruments. I study Art, English Literature with Philosophy & Gender Studies in my minor (joint honours) and I'm politically v outspoken dismantling patriarchy at all times uwu. Additionally, I'm an aspiring (documentary) filmmaker & writer. At times I disappear 4 months on my travels (1)

I match you with........ Lucifer! Your talents and interests are refreshing to him. He enjoys hearing about your studies and views/opinions on things. He will go traveling with you for a break from work. Your guys go to date is a coffee date. He likes the sound of your voice, it calms him. He gives you kisses on the forehead but likes getting kisses on the lips from you. He gets really flustered when you kiss him on the forehead and barely gives you the chance to do so. And though he may not admit but he loves getting hugs from you, make sure to give him a lot of them!

I really sorry for doing this so late @vvenus-anadyomene , I've been really busy! I hope you enjoyed it!☺️- ooffies💙💜❤💛🧡

[sowhatisthisfor]

My Top 50 movies of 2019

Of the 145 movies I watched this year, here are my top 50 picks:

50. Pihu [Kapri Vinod, 2018, India]

Heartbreaking torture. Although I feel like it could have ended better. 6.5/10

49. Green Book [Peter Farrelly, 2018, United States]

Flawed yet entertaining – not sure if it’s good or bad though. 6.5/10

48. 4 Latas [Gerardo Olivares, 2019, Spain]

For all its nonsense, I enjoyed it. 7/10

47. First They Killed my Father [Angelina Jolie, 2017, United States, Cambodia] 

sincerely and sensitively paints a portrait of a country’s tragic history. 7/10

46. Dear Ex [Chih-Yen Hsu, 2018, Taiwan] 

Features odd but genuine kind of love. It is funny, heartfelt, and charming all at the same time. 7/10

45. UnTrue [Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, 2019, Philippines] 

to put it simply, UnTrue is a thrilling rollercoaster ride. 7/10

44. The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbrunch [Michael Steiner, 2019, Switzerland, Germany] 

A funny glimpse at a life of an Orthodox Jewish man with a chemistry that gives you a hopeful ending. 7.5/10

43. Furie [Le Van Kiet, 2019, Vietnam] 

With great performance and thrilling choreography, Furie is one of the best action films of 2019. 7.5/10

42. Kaptn Oskar [Tom Lass, 2013, Germany] 

Only basic virtue - it is a beautiful film. Not only for its comfort. But for the old poetry of dust emotions. 7.5/10

41. Giant Little Ones [Keith Berhman, 2019, United States] 

An honest road to knowing your own self in the eyes of a boy transitioning to adolescence. 7.5/10

40. Contratiempo (The Invisible Guest) [Oriol Paulo, 2017, Spain] 

offers an outstanding and enjoyable thrilling ride. 7.5/10

39. My Days of Mercy [Tali Shalom Ezer, 2019, United States] 

There is a bewitching chemistry between the two leads despite the coldness of it all. 7.5/10

38. A Land Imagined [Chris Yeo, 2018, Singapore, France, Netherlands] 

An unsettling noir mystery that questions people's notion of truth. 

37. The Two Popes [Fernando Mereilles, 2019, UK, US, Italy, Argentina] 

Features two outstanding performances that redeemed it from all its dragging moments. 7.5/10

36. Sovdargari (The Trader) [Tamta Gabrichidze, 2018, Georgia]

Emotionally intense depiction of rural poverty. 7.5/10

35. If Beale Street Could Talk [Barry Jenkins, 2019, United States]

The kind that even though you are hopeful, you know from the start that it's going to be tough. 8/10

34. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga [Shelly Dhar, 2019, India] 

Not a first in world cinema, but is still a groundbreaking moviemaking in the context of India. 8/10

33. Brother of the Year [Witthaya Thongyooyong, 2018, Thailand] 

For all its simplicity and bleak storyline, it still offers an abundance of emotion and a sense of realism. 8/10

32. Kuwaresma [Erik Matti, 2019, Philippines] 

Is a multilayer of social commentaries which were good before they too contradict themselves. 8.5/10

31. Berlin Calling [Hannes Stohr, 2008, Germany]

a movie that lives in the present paced in such rhythmic beat, it is dazzling from start to end. 8.5/10

30. Margarita with a Straw [Nilesh Maniyar, Shonali Bose, India, 2016] 

An unusual take on sexual exploration and self discovery. It somehow lost its focus towards the end but still a delightful watch overall. 8.5/10

29. Fuccbois [Eduardo Roy Jr, 2019, Philippines] 

Amazing storytelling and editing of a narrative so strange yet so eclectic. 8.5/10

28. First Reformed [Paul Schrader, 2019, United States] 

an astounding character study that questions the politics of religion. 9/10

27. La Luciernaga (The Firefly) [Ana Maria Hermida, 2015, Colombia] 

is about finding love in grief, beauty in ugly. And though there are some directorial decisions I don’t necessarily agree with, the chemistry its leads bring onscreen is too tangible for me to pay attention about its flaws. 9/10

26. Eerie [Mikhail Red, 2018, Philippines] 

More than its excellent scare tactics, what I love about it most is its clever storytelling and use of metaphors. 9/10

25. Widows [Steve McQueen, 2018, United States] 

How can something so traditionally formal feel so modern at the same time? Steve McQueen knows. 9/10

24. Paglisan [Carl Papa, 2018, Philippines] 

A heartbreaking test of sympathy. Stop-motion at its most affecting with a storytelling that reminds me of Farhadi. 9/10

23. Paris is Burning [Jennie Livingston, 1991, United States] 

is a little documentary that stays. 9/10

 22. Mamu and a Mother Too [Rod Singh, 2018, Philippines]

Why it scared me, I don’t know. It could be because it’s unpredictable, it’s non-cliche, and it’s gentle in ways you don’t expect. I love it. 9/10

21. PK [Rajkumar Hirani, 2014, India] 

a courageous film that wittingly pokes fun of religious beliefs. 9/10

20. The White Helmets [Orlando Von Eisiedel, 2016, United Kingdom, Syria] 

A heartrending glimpse at the life of true heroes in violence-stricken Syria. 9/10

19. Us [Jordan Peele, 2019, United States] 

It is as if every element in this film is smartly placed there to serve a deeper purpose, it's a movie in search of greater meaning. 9.5/10

18. Incendies [Dennis Villanueve, 2011, Canada] 

With such expert direction, it's elementally strong in more aspect than one. 9.5/10

17. The Wife [Bjorn Runge, 2018, Belgium] 

Glenn Close is mesmerizing. There is no need to say more. 10/10

16. Avengers: Endgame [Russo brothers, 2019, United States] 

Raises the bar so high, is probably the most entertaining superhero movie to date. 10/10

15. Ulan [Irene Villamor, 2019, Philippines] 

Is a fuck you to societal norms, so profound, it is a love story that involves only one. 10/10

14. Marriage Story [Noah Baumbach, 2019, United States] 

My favourite performance of the year belong to these two leads whose portrayal of lovers going through divorce is rock solid heartbreaking. 10/10

13. I Lost My Body [Jeremy Clapin, 2019, France] 

gives an absolute strange reason to cry, it's extraordinarily cathartic. 10/10

12. Edward [Thop Nazareno, 2019, Philippines] 

I am so amazed at how this film shows struggles after struggles after struggles without spoonfeeding emotions. It’s a movie so simple yet so despairing. Everything of it is in the right place, it’s sublime. 10/10

11. The Favourite [Yorgos Lanthimos, 2019, Greece, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States] 

a dark period comedy oddly fused with sophisticated costume and production design for a strange yet striking visual treat. 10/10

10. Metamorphosis [JE Tiglao, 2019, Philippines] 

Not your ordinary coming-of-age movie. This one comes with such importance and inclusivity, everyone needs to see. 10/10

9. Atlantique [Mati Diop, 2019, France] 

Such a bewitching tale of love, lost, and longing. A film told with such raw elegance, it’s enchanting. 10/10

8. The Third Wife [Ash Mayfair, 2019, Vietnam] 

possibly has one of the best visual stories this year with a contrast of hauntingly sensual tension and dreamlike composition, it’s strangely beautiful. 10/10

7. John Denver Trending [Arden Rod Condez, 2019, Philippines] 

Aside from its central theme of mental health awareness, it also has an excellent juxtaposition of the culture of bullying and cyberbullying and its correlation with how the nature of superstitions and religions shapes a country’s humanity. 10/10

6. Capernaum [Nadine Labaki, 2018, Lebanon] 

it’s not just about a boy in an unjust world, it is more about an implausibly unjust world where everyone is a victim and no one is an actual villain. 10/10

5. Shéhérazade [Jean-Bernard Marlin, 2018, France] 

a gritty narrative of an unusual young love with such depressing yet charming emotional pull. 10/10

4. Kanarie [Christiaan Olwagen, 2018, South Africa] 

Has one of the most poignant and critically-observed approach to self-awareness and acceptance. 10/10

3. Las Herederas (The Heiresses) [Marcelo Martinessi, 2019, Paraguay] 

compellingly melancholic in its silence and uncertainty. It's a blossoming, a self-discovery, a thorny journey towards maturity. 10/10

2. Parasite [Bong Joon-ho, 2019, South Korea] 

You can watch it in many different ways, perspective, and angle, and everything is just as clever. 10/10

1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire [Celine Sciamma, 2019, France] 

a film of magnificent visuals, intoxicating sound design, and a screenplay of jawdropping surprises -- definitely on top of my 2019 movie list. 10/10

Here’s the trailer: 

Related links:

All movies: 2019

Top 50 of 2018

Top 50 of 2017