technology vs. horse

Capote, Kim's Video, pimentos, etc.

Beware the Ides of March, for it will bring death, disaster, boredom and greed!

But that’s enough about Capote Vs. The Swans for now, a few other bits first:

I’m thrilled to be a returning guest at the Brooklyn Independent Comics Showcase (BICS) on April 13! The outdoor event welcomes dozens of cool creators, and I just might be debuting something new and exciting there. Stay tuned for details.

Soon I’ll be heading to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts for a writing residency. I’m so honored and grateful to be a VCCA Fellow and promise not to waste a second of my time there. Thanks to everyone, including you, who has supported my work for so long.

killers of the flower moon

I finally watched Killers of the Flower Moon — it was the last major Oscar nom I needed to see — and let me tell you, that Scorsese and De Niro are going places. (By the way, Marty’s 81 and Bobby’s 80, and it feels like they’re just getting started.) I curse myself for skirting long runtimes, because in truth I don’t mind the minutes when they’re used to tell a compelling story.

I’ll neither spoil nor go on about Flowers, but I was shaken by Lily Gladstone’s performance because a) the character is so tragic and haunting; but more so because b) she acts so very differently than the way 99% of actors behave in today’s mainstream movies. Her performance is deep yet understated, goes all in for authenticity and in zero ways for accolades. That’s pretty astounding when you’re starring in a $200 million film.

That said, my other favorite recent performances include Emma Stone in Poor Things and Portman/Moore in May December, so I also dig when someone just goes nuts and hurls china against the wall. Do everything or nothing, just don’t make me yawn or hit pause.

ezra

Congrats to my friend Tony Spiridakis on his new film, Ezra, which has debuted its first trailer! Tony is a talented screenwriter/producer, and the film is inspired by his experiences as a father. It releases in May.

kim’s video

Ooh, there’s a new doc about legendary NYC video store Kim’s Video, and it looks (fittingly) strange and fantastic.

The film’s poster shows a miniature Kim’s built by artist/designer Chris Bilheimer, a name you might know from his work with R.E.M. and for working on what I consider to be one of the greatest album covers of all time, Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

feud: capote vs. the swans

I watched every episode of this series, so I suppose they did something right, but I can’t say I recommend watching Feud over just picking up a Capote book — I dig Music for Chameleons — and watching other films that fully utilize the talents of its cast, none of whom gets adequate screen time to properly do it up.

This depiction of Truman Capote is so Rumpelstiltskin-esque I was concerned he might just reach through the screen to steal my firstborn. Watch if you so desire and try to work this camp into a lather, or save yourself the time and look up “distraught” in the thesaurus.

This weekend I aim to visit as many department stores as possible and ask them WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GLOVE DEPARTMENT??!!

anita de monte laughs last

I just started reading Anita De Monte Laughs Last, the new novel by Xochitl Gonzalez about the mysterious death of an 1980s artist and another young artist’s search for the truth.

I know a new hardcover is somewhat of an extravagant expense — it is for me, anyway — but I started reading this at the bookstore and couldn’t put it down, which is such a rare feeling I can’t put a price on it. Check it out, I’ll probably be done reading by the next time we meet here.

candy flashback

Thanks to Cassandra for sending me this photo from a 2007 Pop Candy meetup in Washington, D.C. Please keep the memories flowing, they are especially helpful as I write about this era in my forthcoming, fingers-crossed-I’ll-find-a-publisher book. Can we all party again tomorrow?

I need to go construct a tiny model of my childhood video store now, but I shall see you soon.

don’t make me turn this car around,
ellen griswold

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