Hi friends,
It’s raining again in LA. My chronic pain is flaring up. I’m watching TV and re-learning how to juggle.
In a sign that I’m somewhat adjusting to this new normal, I’ve shifted from consuming as much information as possible to immersing myself in movies and TV. I feel less constantly panicked, which is probably good. I still have some work to complete for my capstone project but am otherwise done with finals.
Chronic illnessly speaking, I’m concerned that I am losing some hard-won stamina by staying inside every day. Obviously, there isn’t really an alternative. With POTS, building stamina over time is a tricky endeavor, and it feels like my daily energy levels have already declined. Unfortunately, I don’t have great access to outdoor space in my neighborhood and I am worried about maintaining six feet of distance. So for now I am trying to stretch every day, keep up with my physical therapy exercises, and not think about it too much.
Since I am spending so much time on the couch, though, I thought I would recommend some feel-good movies. Some of these are very well known, but maybe a few will be new to you. Let me know if you watch any of them! And let me know if you have other suggestions.
In no particular order…
The Way He Looks - a super sweet love story about two Brazilian teenage boys, one of whom is blind. You may find yourself grinning uncontrollably while you watch
Knives Out - the most fun movie I saw last year. It’s a mystery (and a comedy), so it works best if you go in cold
What We Do in the Shadows - a hilarious vampire mockumentary, and one of two Taika Waititi films on this list (also recently adapted as a very good TV show)
Dope - a fizzy teen romp with a killer soundtrack and a perfect ending
The Princess Bride - you probably don’t need me to recommend this movie. But if you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a treat
Sing Street - totally delightful. Irish teens in the 80s form a band with unrealistically good original songs. Directed by John Carney, who made Once
10 Things I Hate About You - this might just be the millennial in me showing, but I think this is the best teen movie ever?
Paddington 2 - Charlie and I saw this in theaters and we were the oldest people there not escorting children, but it’s so good, I promise (this is a popular opinion; it’s 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). Hugh Grant should only play villains in children’s movies
We Are the Best! - three Swedish 13-year-olds start a punk band. The appeal here is not their music (which is appropriately terrible), but the story about friendships between teenage girls
Singin’ in the Rain - I mean. It’s iconic.
Thor Ragnarok - the best Marvel movie is undeniably Black Panther, but this one might be the most fun. Another Taika Waititi film, Thor Ragnarok tells a pretty self-contained story, so the plot is easy to follow even if you haven’t seen other Marvel offerings (and I don’t recommend the first two Thor movies, which are pretty bad!)
Almost Famous - a dreamy coming-of-age film with an incredible cast. My favorite movie for a long time
Stardust - a sweet fantasy romance with Robert De Niro as a flying pirate and Michelle Pfeiffer as an evil witch. Probably not for everyone, but if those elements sound appealing you’ll likely be into it
Clue - another classic. Campy perfection.
I’m taking a break from my regular list of links, but here are three I think are worth reading:
From a Bay Area chronically ill rabbi: My Life Is More ‘Disposable’ During This Pandemic
Reclaim Our Homes, about the movement to reclaim vacant houses in LA