Hello! Multiply the number of baths you took this week with the number of cookies you ate, and this is your Quality of Life Score. Here’s hoping you’re operating on at least a 25.
Thoughts and swatches:
dazed and confused
I read Alright, Alright, Alright, Melissa Maerz’s fascinating oral history of Dazed and Confused. It features commentary from nearly everyone involved with the ‘93 film, from Linklater to McConaughey, and is just the kind of Gen X gossip I wish TMZ trafficked in rather than all these polyester dingdongs I’ve never heard of.
I watched the movie for the billionth time after I finished and, contrary to Wooderson’s life philosophy, it just gets better as it gets older.
As much of the cast and crew points out, Dazed really captured the spirit of high school and resonates with kids who grew up in any decade, not just the ‘70s. But I imagine if I showed it to my own kid now, it would feel so alien: What do you mean these teenagers are bored? Why are they outside all the time? Why are they always driving and not going anywhere?
Years ago I went up to Richard Linklater after a movie premiere and started asking him a question — and, in one of those just-like-I-dreamed-it-would-be moments, it turned into a long sit-down conversation. Linklater has always made art his way but is also an enthusiastic team player, and that’s a rare combo to find. Gimme a desert island with all his movies, and I’ll be alright.
bottoms
Speaking of high school movies, I went to see Bottoms. It’s an absurd, bloody carnival of teenage f-youism starring Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri, who did a video series called Ayo and Rachel Are Single and are rad in everything. (Edebiri plays Sydney on The Bear.)
Bottoms is in theaters and available via Amazon. It’ll make you wanna punch someone in the face, but in a good way.
theater camp
Ayo Edebiri also co-stars in the mockumentary Theater Camp (now on Hulu), which I knew I’d love, even though I never was a theater kid or went to camp. The cast is perfection, and special shoutout to Caroline Aaron, who made her screen debut in the 1982 Robert Altman movie Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and has appeared in at least a dozen of your favorite movies and TV shows since. A damn treasure.
Also:
Connections is my Wordle.
Longtime reader Ben Kinsley sent me some New Wave-y tracks he and his band recorded in the ‘80s and remastered during the pandemic. You can listen to I Am With Ghosts Now on his website, and scroll down for a very ‘80s photo gallery with some A+ crimped hair.
The Scotts (Scott Aukerman and Adam Scott) have a new Springsteen podcast, similar to their U2 and R.E.M. editions. It’s silly but very sincere! I imagine Bruce will be interviewed at some point.
If you’re a paid subscriber, this week you can read a short (fictional) story I wrote called “Paper Wasp.” A subscription costs $5/month or $50/year. I won’t spend it on drugs.
I post diary comics on Patreon and Substack. They take up many, many notebooks in my apartment.
Gotta run — I’m being chased by slugs. ‘Til next time!
in the weeds,
uncle arthur
Adding 'Theater Camp' to my to-watch list now!
Also, it sounds similar to the movie 'Camp' from 2003...have you ever seen it? It is hilarious and has some awesome musical numbers, and also a young Anna Kendrick, who plays a character you don't want to cross. I'm pretty sure it's the first movie I ever saw her in, and is still one of my favorites.
“A subscription costs $5/month or $50/year. I won’t spend it on drugs.” The fine print led me to believe the money would go toward buying drugs.