The Lovers - Movie Review

In Theaters Now

The Lovers (R) 94 mins B+

Starring: Debra Winger, Tracy Letts, Melora Walters, Aidan Gillen, Tyler Ross and Jessica Sula

I was drawn to Azazel Jacobs' latest film, The Lovers, because of the premise- a mature, zany bedroom farce with a Woody Allen-ish vibe. The film's trailer was also intriguing, but I feared it might be giving too much away (see the link to the trailer below). Despite what I thought I knew about the film, The Lovers was full of subtle surprises. An unhappy couple, played by Debra Winger and Tracy Letts, are on the brink. The film spares us the typical kicking and screaming that usually accompanies a cheating spouse comedy. Instead, it focuses on the doldrums of their unhappy marriage, the grind of their daily lives and the weight of their unsatisfied lovers. The tone of the film is light yet pensive- Jacobs really gets it right. In lesser hands this film would've been a throwaway bittersweet romantic comedy with a predictable outcome. Jacobs manages an outcome that's both satisfying and unnerving. If you're in the mood for a lite bedroom farce, The Lovers is a perfect matinee on a lazy spring afternoon.
Check out the trailer via YouTube ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1stvXwxn_yE

Milk and Honey - Book Review

Published: Nov 2014

Milk and Honey - Rupi Kaur C

Milk and Honey had its moments. I loved the black and white line drawings. However, the majority of these poems felt like appetizers and desserts without a main course. Milk and Honey is artistic and clever, but ultimately unsatisfying. 

So Sad Today - Book Review

Published March 2016

So Sad Today - Melissa Broder B-

Melissa Broder is an essayist, poet and Twitter sensation. I stumbled upon So Sad Today because it was one of those "if you like that, you'll like this" recommendations. I was unfamiliar with Broder, but So Sad Today was a curious title so I kept browsing. I googled the author and found a sample of the book- an essay about her open relationship with her husband and his mystery illness. I was immediately intrigued. Despite the book's title, I was still surprised by the depth of Broder's sadness. Her struggles with anxiety, addiction and depression were on vivid display. Some of her views and experiences resonated with me, some felt adolescent. Nevertheless, there was rarely a dull moment.