Issue 2: May December
Currently on tabloid romances, poetry, electric trucks, traditions, and magic.
📝 Reviewing: May December (2023)
As I was organizing my thoughts on May December, I discovered that it’s more difficult to articulate when a film doesn’t resonate with me than when a film does. Maybe that says less about film and more about me — that I have a natural desire to highlight positives in an effort to encourage others to have a pleasant experience. May December is neither positive nor pleasant.
The story is loosely based on the real-life age-gap romance of Mary Kay Letourneau, so naturally, there are themes of grooming and sexual assault. While director Todd Haynes is known for audaciously exploring complex and controversial themes, I expected a more thoughtful and considerate portrayal of such a sensitive and intimate relationship.
May December attempts to be a layered commentary on tabloid obsessions, but what’s layered are its disorienting tones which teeter between high camp, melodrama, black comedy, to soap opera. It also attempts to invoke a feeling of mistrust and uncertainty, but what’s uncertain is the case for surface-level jokes, distracting score, and heavy-handed metaphors.
After its buzzy debut at this year’s Cannes, Netflix acquired May December to extend its offerings on true crime, however, it feels like a better offering on Lifetime. May December will be available to stream on Netflix on December 1st.
📖 Reading: Rudy Francisco
When someone tells me they don’t like poetry, I give them the book “Helium” by Rudy Francisco. Rudy uses personal narratives to discuss relationships, race, class, gender, and religion with introspection, honesty, and humor. He has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award, was the 2017 National Poetry Slam Champion, and was the first person ever to perform a full-length poem on the Tonight Show. His latest book “Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky” is available now.
🎧 Listening To: How I Built This - Rivian (2022)
What was incredibly clarifying as we thought about what to do was we knew the right question to answer. And it was a single question and the question was whatever we do, it needs to have the most positive impact. And that even if the company wasn't successful, if we were working on problems that were big enough and hard enough, that inspired competition, that inspired existing OEMs to change the way they looked at things, that would be a success from the measure of reducing the amount of carbon emitted into the world.
At 6, Rivian founder RJ Scaringe knew he wanted to start a company. At 8, he started a metal polishing business. In high school, he knew that company would be a car company. He got a doctorate simply because he knew it would help raise capital. He selected MIT over Stanford because its research lab was integrated with GM and Ford. He started Rivian (known then as Mainstream Motors) the day after graduating. At 36, he’s grown Rivian to be worth $16 billion.
There are many stories of founders pivoting and evolving, but not many stories of ones who’ve been so single-mindedly steadfast since an early age to truly deliver on the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
💡Inspired By: Sabbath Dinner
I was recently invited to an event referred to as Sabbath Dinner. Held every Friday night, Sabbath Dinner is an intimate gathering inspired by various Sabbath traditions, serving as a meaningful start to a day of rest and reflection. The purpose is to engage in reflective conversations with others, fostering a connection that helps us recall our own experiences and gain insights into the lives of one another. During dinner, each guest takes turns answering these three questions:
What was hard about your past 7 days?
What was good about your past 7 days?
What’s coming up in your next 7 days?
After each dinner, the aim is that our weeks will be stored better in our memories, we will all know each other a little more deeply, and each person will leave feeling heard.
I am honored to be included in such an intentional gathering. I am considerably inspired by the hosts as they navigate their relationship with the church while creating space for belonging, honoring rituals, and evolving long-lasting traditions to better fit their current lives and community.
📣 Recommending: In & Of Itself (2020)
Do you have a “this is an extension of me and if you don’t like this then you probably won’t understand me” piece of media? Because In & Of Itself is that for me. It’s a captivating cinematic experience that transcends traditional storytelling. It revolves around illusionist Derek DelGaudio's one-man show, seamlessly blending magic, storytelling, and introspection. DelGaudio's performance is mesmerizing, inviting viewers on a journey of self-discovery and defining identity. The film's unique narrative structure and profound themes make it a truly singular and memorable experience, leaving audiences in a sense of wonder, contemplation, acceptance, and for me, tears. In & Of Itself is currently available to stream on Hulu.
Thanks for being here.
— Justin