Jeremy Strong Stuns as Squid Game Flops

Media Recap (Weeks of 12/9-1/6)

Jan 07, 2025

DJ JCPenney - ✨💸 2025 WEALTH MANIFESTATION MIX 💸✨

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Ice Spice - Y2K! I’m Just A Girl (Deluxe)

I finally gave Ice Spice’s album a try. So I’m just supposed to hate this girl because all her songs sound the same, and she was mean to her best friend, and she can’t rap, and she talks about poop a lot, and now that she lost weight she kind of looks like Obama now? Sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of Popa and BB Belt. I couldn’t recommend this with a good conscience, but I do not think it was as bad as people were saying.

Movies

Interstellar (10 Year Anniversary)

It may have taken me 10 years to watch this one, but that’s only an hour in Saturn time, so I’m not even that late if you think about it. I’m just thankful it worked out so the first time I watched was in an IMAX theater, and not on a plane like I’ve been tempted to do so many times. Matthew McConaughey is unmatched as a leading man; he just has a way of speaking that makes everything sound so important and emotionally charged. His relationship with his kids may be the core of the whole movie, but his relationship with TARS was my favorite. Nicknaming a robot “Slick”… come on now! The movie does a great job of making the concepts digestible without feeling dumbed down, which is a feat for a plot as complex as this one, and not something Nolan always does well. It feels so engrossing, I could’ve watched 900 hours of this. But can I get a complaint? Just one? The ending feels a little rushed. After three hours of witnessing cinematic and scientific marvels, the way everything is solved at the end feels a little too neat. Maybe that’s even more incentive for Nolan to release the 900-hour cut to theaters for the 20th anniversary.

I can’t talk about this experience without mentioning the people sat next to me, who talked through the entire movie and asked the dumbest questions I could’ve ever imagined, including but not limited to “Are they in space?” as they entered space and “Is that Saturn?” when Saturn was shown on screen. It’s not even the talking that bothered me, it’s just that all idiots should be banned from theaters. Open the schools!

Anora

This is one of those times where I can’t even entertain the negative reviews because I disagree with them so strongly. This was a near-perfect movie that got even better on rewatch. Somewhere out there is a film with an intimate portrayal of sex workers that goes in depth into its titular character and her struggles with identity and past familial trauma. That movie will not have an All The Things She Said needle drop, and I promise I will like it a lot less than I liked Anora.

Babygirl

I liked this because it was sexy, but this also didn’t work as well for me as I wanted it to, mostly because I needed Nicole Kidman’s character to stand up just a tiny bit more. You’re the She-EO of a major tech company, and the first hot intern that comes across your desk suddenly renders you subservient? You’re just willing to go face-first into a wall like that? I’m not buying it, but I did like how it didn’t take itself too seriously, with Harris Dickinson constantly laughing in disbelief of what’s happening to him. I also liked the contrast between the AI/robot/tech conversations and the sex scenes, which to my barely critical eye is supposed to be subtle commentary on the difference between technology and human connection, with its grey areas re: romance, power dynamics, and consent. At the end of the day, any piece of media with a club scene set at Basement in NYC has my heart.

Nosferatu

This was very scary to me and I don’t think I inhaled for all two hours. Technically perfect, as are all of Eggers’ movies. Important to note: I was too embarrassed to tell my parents I was seeing Babygirl so instead I told them I loved Nosferatu so much that I was seeing it twice. I don’t think I would see this again in theaters but the thought of that makes me laugh every time.

TV

Squid Game (Season 2)

I did not like this. Much more violent than season 1, which is saying a lot for a show that built a reputation off of brutal, unexpected violence. But where season 1 was shocking and filled you with dread, it’s hard to put yourself in these players’ shoes on a second go. It’s an interesting premise—what if you went back into the Games that almost killed you and tried to destroy them from the inside? But between the main character being kind of stupid, not wanting to root for anyone, and the lack of the actual Squid Games, which were ruthless but at least a little fun, I’m struggling to be invested this time around. Also, I’m sorry, but if you have 10 billion dollars of debt there’s only one way out for you and it’s not the squid games… let’s just say that. Will I be tuning into season 3? Well sure, they’ve given me no choice based on the ending of season 2, or lack thereof.

Mad Men (Season 3)

I’m starting to warm up to Mad Men. I like that a major historical event wasn’t just used as background conversation this time and actually affected the plot in a reasonable way. I’m starting to get irritated with just about every character, but that’s also allowing for some real rising stars like Joan, Pete, Bert Cooper, and Lois the secretary. Connie Hilton was a good villain for the season in the way that he’s actually a realistic advertising client—overbearing, expects way too much, no boundaries—and I hope they didn’t get rid of him just like that. The typical villains of Mad Men are also still at play here: misogyny, infidelity, deceit, and lung cancer. We’ll just have to see which catches up with Don Draper first.

Survivor (Season 47)

After a horrible start filled with super fans and twerps, this turned out to be a pretty successful season. It might not have the insane personalities that made 46 so enjoyable for me, but it did have really great strategy and gameplay, if that’s what you like out of your Survivor seasons. I thought the winner was very well-deserved if not a little obvious, I liked the final three, and there were some pretty exciting moments of deception towards the end. Not my most favorite season, but worth a watch for Andy, Rome, Rachel, and Sue lying about her age.

Sports

Lions vs. Vikings

NFL post-season is here and I’m excited about it! I thought this was being played in Minnesota until about five absurd calls in, and then I realized no refs would ever do that to a home team out of fear for their own lives. A terrible game to be a Vikings fan, but fortunately an amazing time to be a Lions fan, who are having their best season in NFL history despite nonstop defensive injuries. Of course we weren’t immune from those (starting to think there’s a punch card or points system in place at the physical therapist’s office) but the return of Alex Anzalone was more than welcome. After a much-needed bye week, I’m excited to see where this momentum brings us. And Amon-Ra, twin, don’t think I didn’t notice you stole my move.

For You Page Roundup

Golden Globes Recap

I wasn’t able to watch the Globes due to major conflicts (Lions game) but I’m mostly happy with what I saw. Demi “You Two” Moore looked yum dot com and won a well-deserved award. I’m not too upset at an Anora shut-out because I think a movie can get over-awarded and that becomes its legacy, so it’s fine to see it lose to other very good movies, and it’ll get its redemption arc for the Oscars. Challengers winning Best Original Score was the only correct option. In true The Penguin fashion, Oz (Colin Farrell) stole best actor from the show’s actual best actor Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), but any recognition is a win for Ma’s Basement. I will be watching Emilia Pérez someday to see what the hype is about, but a musical involving Selena Gomez seems like a recipe for Matt K disaster, so I’m keeping expectations very low. Nikki Glaser was allegedly good—anyone who watched FBoy Island could’ve seen that coming—and I’m happy there’s finally been an awards show host that can bring us together.

Celebrity Ladies State of the Union

Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco. Dua Lipa and Zendaya reportedly engaged to men other than me. Kylie Jenner rumored to be pregnant. What is happening to our women? I leave the dating game for a few months and suddenly it’s a feeding frenzy. Ladies, I’ll be free for a #datewithMatt soon enough, no need to get antsy!

@AlwaysDressBest on Instagram

alwaysdressbest

A post shared by @alwaysdressbest

Every once in a while an Instagram Reel comes across my feed and stops me in my tracks. I feel a particular kinship with Riley Meckley, the creator of fashion IG page Always Dress Best. I’m not sure if it’s the dancing videos, the radical optimism, our extremely similar style and the ethos that if the colors are even slightly matching then it’s a successful outfit, but Riley and I seem to be cosmically aligned. I hope something, somewhere, is telling her that a boy with big city dreams is writing about her content on his little Substack, and that maybe we can collab someday. Until then, I’ll keep stanning from afar.

Hope everyone has a nice week :)