An ode to Greta
On an August day in New York City, my family and I came across a huge crowd gathering on the street near a film crew. As we stood as tall as possible to peak through the people, we soon noticed several familiar faces. We spotted Russell Brand, who was running down the street and kicking his feet up, dame Helen Mirren (why, oh why, did she do this movie?) and a petite blonde in an all blue outfit that we couldn't identify. Later that day, once we re-gained internet access (this was pre-Smartphone), we discovered they were filming a remake of Arthur, and the mysterious blonde in the shot was none other than Greta Gerwig.
Of course, now Greta's face and name is a must-know in the movie world, as she's gaining much-deserved acclaim for Lady Bird. But back in 2010, this was the first that I had heard of her. Soon I began to notice the name Greta Gerwig pop-up more and more. She often played smaller parts in larger movies and did some co-writing, but finally, in 2012, I came across Frances Ha. The black-and-white film stars Greta (playing Frances Halladay) and is written by her and her partner Noah Baumbach. The movie tells the story of Frances and her best friend Sophie; Frances struggles to find her place and grows apart from Sophie, who moves to a new neighborhood in NYC and gets a serious boyfriend. It's a simple story that's beautifully filmed, and Greta has a "must-watch" star quality that charms the audience. I had to wait until 2015's Mistress America for the next Greta-penned flick. In it she flexes her acting skills even more as pretending-to-be-put-together Brooke. The script is hilarious -- coming to a head when almost all the characters find themselves taking a road trip to Connecticut. It was another Gerwig/Baumbach writing collaboration, but as we already know, she's not anyone's muse, so it was especially rewarding to see her make her solo writing and directing debut two years later with Lady Bird. This movie is in a class of its own. It's beautiful in its deceptive simplicity; a film that doesn't have huge twists and turns, but instead chronicles the complex relationships between a mother and a daughter, a father and a daughter, best friends and first loves. It's laugh-out-loud funny and brushing-away-an-embarrassing-amount-of-tears touching. You can hear Greta's voice and affection of each character shine through in every scene. If you loved Lady Bird, you should take some time to work your way through the rest of Greta's movie catalog, as you anxiously anticipate what she creates next (hopefully with some Oscar wins under her belt).
As Seen on TV
The humor is quirky. The writing is clever. The cast is superb. And the first season of The Good Place went largely unnoticed until the final episode gave viewers a genuinely shocking twist. Set in the afterlife, Kristen Bell plays Eleanor, who is mistaken for a do-gooder and sent to the Good Place, where she has to learn to become a better person while keeping her secret. It's Samantha Who? meets Parks and Recreation. While the first few installments are a bit bumpy, stick with the show and you're sure to be charmed, not only by the always delightful Kristen Bell but also by the hilarious ensemble. Every time I think I've figured out the direction of the show, something else happens to surprise me. But unlike most other shows driven by plot twists, at it's core The Good Place is full of heart and focused on people, exploring issues of ethics and morality. Created by Michael Schur (of Parks and Rec fame), it's one of the most creative, detail-oriented and clever shows on TV, defying sitcom rules by rejecting a formulaic structure. The sophomore season wraps on Thursday, and it's somehow maintained the suspense and surprise of the first one, while also giving the always funny Ted Danson much more to do. Do yourself a favor and catch up on the show now, mostly so I can stop being so paranoid about spoiling everything for those who haven't caught up yet.
Bonus Pick: One of the many scene-stealers on the The Good Place is Jameela Jamil, who plays Tahani. Portrayed by any other actress, this character could easily join Marnie from Girls or Ellis from Smash on a "most annoying characters on TV" list. But Jameela is hilarious and grounds Tahani in hidden vulnerability. Even more surprising is the fact that she's never acted before taking this role.
Haven't You Heard?
In 2013, Darren Criss, of Glee, YouTube and, now, American Crime Story fame, went on tour to test out original music with the hopes of releasing an album. I attended the Chicago performance and enjoyed the pop music he premiered at the House of Blues. Soon Darren's schedule filled up and his hopes of creating an album were postponed. But this November, he made good on his promise and released Homework. While none of the songs on this EP were performed on his initial tour, these feel more personal and in his wheelhouse. The EP was mostly recorded at his home or at his friends' homes, so it has an intimate feel that isn't overproduced, with plenty of trumpet, violin and guitar instrumentation. It features a wistful cover of I Dreamed a Dream, a nod to his Broadway past and his love of re-arranging classics. I Don't Mind is cozy and romantic and my favorite of the five songs he released. If you've got some extra time, the Darren discography dates back much further on YouTube and iTunes. You can find his first EP from 2010, which features the impressive song Not Alone. And then search for the same song on YouTube and discover Darren's many different arrangements -- each one more touching and powerful. Check out the other EP he recorded last year with his brother, Chuck Criss, called Lost Boys Life. And don't miss out on the hundreds of videos of him performing throughout college, at bars, on his first major tour and even at Maggiano's. There's no shortage of Darren Criss music to discover, making it all the more exciting that he's finally recording and releasing it for listeners.
Required Reading
Earlier last week, news came out about an anonymous Google Doc created to expose pay gaps between Hollywood writers and actors. The document revealed, unsurprisingly, disparities between what women of color, white women and white men doing similar jobs were paid. Two ladies working to combat this long-standing problem? Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain. If you didn't already know, these two are reuniting in an upcoming comedy movie -- it's set at Christmastime and it's supposed to have a Planes, Trains & Automobiles vibe, so I can't wait. At a panel at the Sundance Film Festival, Octavia shared the story of their salary negotiations for the movie. She and Jessica teamed up, had an open and honest conversation about money and worked together to make sure that they'd both be paid equally. And they ended up making five times what they asked for.
