The Weekly Spill #16
schiaparelli, salinger, and snubbed cinema
Happy Friday! I’ve spend the majority of the week with a migraine, which always provides an interesting lens through which to view the world. Thankfully, twas a big week for culture, with couture week happening in Paris and the Oscar nomination announcement, so while I spent most of the week in bed there’s still much to discuss. Additionally, I must issue a clarification on last week’s beans, though I am leaving that for the end. Anyway, here are the beans from this week:
Normal People: I read Normal People a few years ago, but for whatever reason hadn’t watched the show. How did I, a card-carrying member of the brunettes-with-bangs-cult, manage to go this long without watching it? Your guess is as good as mine, but after seeing Paul Mescal in All of Us Strangers last week, I decided it was time. I’m sure you are all waiting with baited breath to hear my thoughts on a show from 3 years ago, so let me break my silence and tell you: it’s great!
Oscar Nominations: Going to go out on a limb and say that this is the most the general public has cared about Oscar nominations in a hot minute. It feels like everyone is talking about the nominations and snubs, which is sort of great? Yes, some of the takes are dumb, but at least people care. There seems to be this misconception that the movies that make the most money are the most deserving of awards, which is simply not how the Oscars work. I don’t have any proof, but that has to be a result of the Marvel-ification of cinema.
I have now seen almost every Best Picture nomination, along with a couple that were snubbed, so I feel qualified enough to give my opinions. Also, this is my newsletter which means I will give my opinions, qualified or not. So, here are my thoughts:
I was really hoping that this would be the year that I see every nominee for best picture, so for that selfish reason, I am a little irritated that “Zone of Interest” was nominated. Only because it is the one film I have very little interest (see what I did there) in seeing. I would have probably given it to “May December” or “All of Us Strangers.”
I have seen all of the nominated performances for lead actor, and I really think that Andrew Scott deserved a nomination. I thought he might be nominated since his performance has been getting a lot of buzz recently, so I was surprised to not see his name on the list. I would have loved to see Dominic Sessa pick up a nomination too, though that seemed less likely.
As for lead actress, you all know that I have been proudly waving the Lily Gladstone flag for months. I really hope she wins. Unless you have been without internet access these past few days, you know that Margot Robbie was not nominated. I think that the outrage has gotten a little out of hand. I like Margot Robbie a lot, but if I was going to add someone to this list, it would be Greta Lee.
Charles Melton should have been nominated for Supporting Actor. He gives an amazing performance in May December.
I am so happy to see Danielle Brooks get a nomination for best supporting actress. If for some reason Da'Vine Joy Randolph doesn’t go home with the statue, I would love to see Danielle Brooks win.
Everyone is really mad about the Greta Gerwig director snub. I am still angry about her being snubbed for Little Women, which I stand by as her best work to date. While I understand being disappointed to not see her on this list, some of you need to recognize that this was a packed year and calm down. That includes Hillary Clinton, who is apparently now a Twitter (X, whatever) cinephile. I think that Celine Song and Alexander Payne both did amazing work this year and also missed out on what would have been well-deserved nominations.
I think the best costume race this year will be an interesting one because it’s a really diverse group of costumes to compare to each other. It’ll ultimately be a race between Barbie and Poor Things, but I was glad to see the nomination for Flowers of the Killer moon. The research and details in the costumes for that film were pretty amazing. Harper’s Bazaar interviewed the costume designer Jacqueline West, and the Osage consultant Julie O’Keefe about their process and it’s a great read.
The Barbie snub that no one is talking about is the hair and makeup team not being nominated. Those wigs were really fantastic and I am shocked that they didn’t warrant a nomination.
My final thought, Does Hillary have a Letterboxd?
This T-shirt design: I try not to speak about the swifties on the internet out of fear, but they went too far with this one.
She can’t take credit for “Mom, I am a rich man.” Not on my watch!
Apple TV pulling funding for the Sofia Coppola series: This hurt my feelings. I have been excited at the prospect of seeing Coppola’s take on Edith Wharton’s Custom of the Country for a long time. In my opinion, she is the perfect director for it. The Apple TV executives (who were almost all men btw) said that the reason was because they found the main character to be unlikeable, to which she iconically replied, “so is Tony Soprano.” I hope that someone else swoops in and gives her the money for this, because I want to see it.
The Schiaparelli Couture baby: I decided to dedicate a separate newsletter to my thoughts and favorite looks from couture week because to put them in here would make this much too long (so be on the lookout for that), but this technology baby has been taking up space in my brain.
I can’t wait to see who gets to pull it for the red carpet or a shoot. Depending on the dress code, I could potentially see it showing up on the Met Gala red carpet. It would make sense given the technology aspect of this year’s exhibit, as well as questions regarding the renewal of things seen as obsolete.
Anne Hathaway walking off set in support of the Conde Union: queen (of Genovia) behavior!
Dominic Sessa should be a Saint Laurent ambassador: I saw these pictures from the interview he did with GQ, and he is selling the shit out of this Saint Laurent suit. He’s cool, talented, and has that 70s rockstar thing going on despite being born in 2002. They should go ahead make him a brand ambassador before they have to fight with Hedi Slimane at Celine for him.
Someone hire me, I can’t believe I’m just giving genius away for free over here.
The Bell Jar Fig Tree Locket: the targeted Instagram ads are getting a little too good. They also have lockets for Little Women, Emma, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and Anne of Green Gables. I can’t wait to wear it around so everyone who sees me can know I am a #sadgirl.
Franny and Zoey: I read this last weekend and it is one of those books that tricks you because you think it is simple when you finish it, but then you can’t stop thinking about it. I really don’t have much to add to the almost 65-year-old discourse, but it has been on my mind all week.
Now for my clarification: I don’t like the pieces in the Skims Valentine’s collection. I think they look pretty cheap and bad if I’m being perfectly honest. The reason I put it in my newsletter was because of Nadia Lee Cohen. I love her work on the campaigns, and I think she does a fabulous job when she shoots Lana because their aesthetics work really well together. I saw the product shots, and I felt I must make this clear. Not that anyone asked, but it was concerning me.
Anyway, that’s the beans for this week! I’m working on the newsletter all about the couture collections, so be on the lookout for that. If you want to steal my Oscar opinions when chatting with friends over cocktails this weekend, that is totally fine, though you must share this newsletter with a friend afterwards. It’s only fair! See ya next week, diva!