The Art Idiot: volume I, issue IX
endless emails, Spotify wrapped, and more films!
Welcome back to The Art Idiot!
Goodness gracious, another email?! I know - I’m sorry. It pains me just as much to know that I’m adding to the inevitable dread of having to open and read an email.
However, you must live with the weight of knowing that I can virtually feel my sweet newsletter getting buried in your inbox; a suffocating feeling it is to put your he(art) into the world and have others swipe past it without a second thought.
Despite this somewhat sadistic relationship between reader and writer, I find joy in knowing that each time we “chat” and exchange appreciations, there is a moment shared and something learned.
Some Sound To Go…
Spotify Wrapped is here! It is thrilling to statistically track my music consumption throughout the years. It is also so fun to see what each year’s unique addition will be to the “wrapped” story: in 2021 we had our music aura, and this year, 2022, we have our music personality. A bit more about my personal results along with some recommendations:
Music minutes:
2019: approx. 105,000
2020: 80,554
2021: 75,993
2022: 93,342
It should be noted that the dip in 2021 was due to my focus on movies.
131 different genres and 3,252 different artists in 2022, but here is a rundown of my Top Artists over the years:
2019: Dr*ke
2020: Frank Ocean
2021: Dr*ke
2022: Beyoncé
5% of my total minutes (4,859 minutes) were spent listening to Beyoncé, putting me in her top 0.05% of her listeners. And for the first time in 3 years, Mia and Sebastian’s Theme, from La La Land, was not my most-listened to song. Tem’s Ice T takes the cake, give it a listen:
Although Spotify wrapped is exclusive to its users, a perk for Apple Music folks is the ability to view your most listened to album. If I had to guess, Beyoncé’s Renaissance was my most digitally listened to album, and my vinyl copy of Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra was likely spun the most. Here is a link to someone’s correct compilation of Nostalgia, Ultra:
Additionally, my most listened to (and only listened to) podcast of the year is my film friend, Kaveh Jalinous’s: Kaveh J.’s Screening Room! Check out his newest episode where we dive into ensemble films, and be mindful that ensemble films does not mean movies about musical ensembles.
Featured Films…
In Theatres…
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - 4/5 stars
My apologies as this one isn’t quite in theatres anymore (blame Netflix, not me). However, be prepared to watch this wonderful whodunnit as soon as it hits Netflix on December 23rd. A great film to throw on with the family during the holidays, and for a sequel, I was pleasantly entertained and remained interested despite knowing the typical premise of Rian Johnson, the director, whodunnit. It is a shame this one left theatres with such speed!
Also in theatres, finally, is Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All (4 stars); refer back to my special issue for a brief recap on this one!
Available on Disney+…
For the first time ever, I finally finished the entire Star Wars saga, all nine (9) episodes. Science-fiction is a recent love of mine, and similar to my engagement with the Harry Potter series, it was of utmost importance for me to watch these movies on my own time. While I hope my recommendations inspire you to broaden your horizons, I understand that in order to fully appreciate anything, one must be ready, rather than forced. Nonetheless, may the Force be with you. Here are my top 3 from the Star Wars films:
Empire Strikes Back - 4.5/5 stars
Revenge of the Sith - 4/5 stars
Star Wars - 3.5/5 stars & The Force Awakens - 3.5/5 stars (movie posters omitted due to substack’s space limits)
It is interesting, and amusing, to think that if some people were simply better father figures, intergalactic warfare would not exist.
Available on Apple TV+…
Causeway - 4/5 stars
A “hidden gem,” if you will. This 2022 A24 release did not receive much marketing, but it surly deserved it! Jennifer Lawrence hasn’t graced our screens in quite sometime, but her chemistry with Brian Tyree Henry is impeccable, heart-warming, and honest. In Causeway, we witness the difficulties of developing friendship as adults, particularly as “damaged” adults. As awards season approaches, I am afraid these two may not receive the nominations they deserve, but they will undoubtedly be considered in my personal rankings!
Available on Hulu…
On the Count of Three - 3.5/5 stars
Truthfully, I have never seen a story like this; which is something I’ve been saying a lot about the movies I’ve watched recently. Director and actor, Jerrod Carmichael, comically discusses men’s mental health, while also making light of some of society’s other public health issues, all through the lens of a ride or die friendship. Despite the dark humor blanket, there is weird weight left on the viewer to come to terms with what they just witnessed.
Warning this film has depictions of suicide and heavily involves mental illness.
Some photos from my half-frame film camera:
did you watch the star wars saga in the order they were released or the order they’re “supposed” to go in? big star wars gorl, love that you watched them <3