Two Nights at The Angelika
I fell asleep in front of Jesse Eisenberg
I spent the last two Friday’s watching movies and attending Q&A sessions as the F train rumbled by at The Angelika Film Center.
Problemista
I was so thrilled to see this movie, especially with my friend Jules. As creators it was a really heart warming film that told us to keep on pushing. You could feel the excitement and support for Julio Torres as he joined the room for his talk back. It’s funny to engage with an artist in different ways because I have never seen Julio be plainly himself. I’ve seen him on screen in Los Espookys and his Max special, then at the Bell House (written about in my Q1 Roundup) and now here; just talking about this passion project.
The movie is an adaptation of Julio’s life and it was unapologetically colorful, creative and very him. Alejandro (played by Julio) is an immigrant living in Bushwick with the dreams of becoming a toymaker at Mattel. The film showcases the ridiculousness that is the immigration system and the general lack of care the US government has for its constituents (don’t argue with me).
There are so many small details — between the character’s distinct cow lick, his bouncing walk and the very intentional casting of Tilda Swinton — that make this movie so strong and excited for me to revisit it.
I gathered that the movie is called Problemista because the main character is always, in a way, looking for problems. He seemingly takes the more challenging route when there are more simple options laid right in front of him.
This came up during the Q&A: “What do Ale’s choices say about him? Why doesn’t he go the easy route?” To which Julio replied that people with fewer options still deserve to have options. They’re allowed to be picky and get what they actually want. I loved that. It made me teary eyed.
My Q1 Entertainment Roundup
I am known to binge a tv show. When I veg with no regret, a hair mask in, tea hot, I can watch three seasons in three days. In fact, for a couple of years I had a spreadsheet where I detailed every season of tv and movie I watched. But I stopped last year because I was really busy with the production of
Sasquatch Sunset
As I walked into the theatre this time I was on the phone with my friend Tess who told me she had read about people walking out of screenings for this movie because it showcased every single bodily fluid. Although I’m surprised they didn’t show cum since one of the first scenes is of two sasquatches having grunty loud sex.
To be honest I only came to see the movie because Jesse Eisenberg was doing the Q&A. I don’t regret it, but part of me wishes I waited to watch this movie on someone’s couch with a group of friends, after sharing a joint or at least a shot of tequila. I kept laughing to myself in the theatre about how I was sober and alone.
My initial reaction was that this film was not for me, but I know it WILL be for someone. Upon further reflection, there are actually a lot of scenes I will be thinking about for a long time. It felt like a movie my dad would show me from the 70s that has no plot but is gorgeous. It truthfully is a beautiful movie which is why it absolutely shocked me when Eisenberg’s character took a diarrheal sh*t on a road in the second act.
Enjoy this sound bite of Eisenberg talking about the fluids in the movie.
I did fall asleep for like two minutes during the screening because I was closing my eyes to avoid the possible trauma.
Anyway, during the Q&A we learned that basically no one got paid to work on this film. Jesse Eisenberg said “it was a complete labor of love” and I mean, it HAD to be. The producers included himself and the writers, so I imagine it was self-funded. But the prosthetics were insane and the crew had to endure every type of weather in Northern California. So I hope at least those people got paid.
If I averaged more than six movies a month, I would have probably appreciated this film more. But because it was one of the four movies I’ve watched this month, I was personally left needing more.
Between both screenings I thought it was really interesting to hear from people who are in completely different places of their film careers. Both of these movies are about the human experience. Where Julio wrote about something closer to our realities and something I personally can relate to more; it’s like the Zellner brothers and Jesse Eisenberg had a privilege of making something just for the sake of making something. In that way, I end up appreciating it more.
Send me upcoming movie recommendations!