Spencer’s film Picks:
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
When I’m asked to pick a favorite actor, I almost always think of Jennifer Lawrence. I saw Silver Linings Playbook quite a few years ago and fell in love with its unapologetic characters and 2012 charm that I’m constantly searching for in films being released today. Having rewatched it recently with my family, I noticed something about it that really spoke to me on many levels. With age, the themes began to resonate more deeply. The story revolves around Pat (played by Bradley Cooper), a former teacher who has just gotten back from a mental institution, who stumbles upon Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow struggling with grief and using unhealthy coping mechanisms. As these two find comfort in each other’s peculiar and isolating situations, they form a hard-hitting bond. The character arcs may seem to be a source of a more thematically heavy film, as mental health and grief being centerpoints to a romantic comedy may be a bit out of place, but it works on many levels. This deeply personal story thrives when they make these characters feel seen in an extremely enlightening way, as the leads have clearly shown with their committed performances. With that, the film focuses its time on creating a story that audiences can love and also see themselves in. This is a romantic comedy at heart, but a truly unique and idiosyncratic one. Jennifer Lawrence took home the Oscar for Best Actress at only twenty-two years old, and it’s one of my favorite performances I’ve ever seen.
Other films to check out: The Daytrippers (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Sentimental Value (2025), Tangerine (2015), Spencer (2021)
Scout’s film Picks:
- Rushmore (1998)
Wes Anderson’s Rushmore follows ambitious teenager Max Fisher (played by Jason Schwartzman) as he begins to fall in love with a teacher at his school, and, as a result, attempts to court her. Max seeks advice from his schoolmate’s father (played by Bill Murray), but soon the plot becomes complicated as the father becomes romantically involved with Max’s love interest. The story explores the regrets and embarrassment that come with adolescence, but also the beauty and humanity found within those feelings. Though most of the decisions these characters make are brash or driven by emotion, I find myself simultaneously loving and hating the characters, whether it’s from the second-hand embarrassment from Max’s efforts to romantically pursue someone 15 years older than him or the betrayal of his mentor pursuing that same woman behind his back. This was Wes Anderson’s sophomore film, and I find that it achieves a harmonious balance of the grit found in his first film, Bottle Rocket, and the hyperstylization reflected in his later works, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel. This balance, along with the film’s soundtrack, creates a distinct atmosphere and crafts a feeling of tenderness; I think all of the bittersweet aspects of this film contribute to why I associate this movie with the colder seasons.
Other films to check out: Blue Velvet (1986), Out of the Blue (1980), Stranger than Paradise (1984)
Spencer’s TV picks:
- The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
When I was reading Hamlet this quarter in my AP Literature class, I found myself relating the iconic Shakespeare characters to the ladies of Salt Lake City. Shakespeare was a mastermind in the human condition, and so is Bravo. If you aren’t familiar with the Bravo universe, the reality TV channel has a total of 21 Real Housewives franchises. Spanning from Atlanta, Georgia, to Melbourne, Australia, these women have cultivated pop culture in the shadows. What makes The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City so special is the cultural environment they live in; if you are at all tapped into the Mormon side of social media, you would know that this world is entirely real and entirely deranged, and RHOSLC shows this entirely. To give a quick description of some of the cast members: we have Jen, who was recently released from prison; Mary, a church leader who is married to her step-grandfather; and Lisa, a Mormon tequila brand owner (however that works). This show has had a total of six seasons so far, and the stories and drama never get boring whatsoever. Even if you have a prevailing agenda against reality TV, this show will make you feel entirely different–there’s something really beautiful about the vulnerability and growth this group of messy socialites in Utah goes through.
Other TV shows to binge: I May Destroy You, I Love LA, Pose, Undone
Scout’s TV picks:
- How to with John Wilson
The first episode of this series is entitled “How to make small talk.” I remember bracing myself for an awkward epic of unpleasant human interaction the first time I watched it, and the first 10 minutes were nothing short of that. But as creator John Wilson journeys through New York, attempting to master small talk, he begins to discover the complicated underbelly of one of the most common human interactions. From talking about pets to oversharing the details of a divorce and eventually connecting over the shared experience of grief, this episode devolves into an emotionally provoking exploration of the human condition. It’s almost as if Wilson has snuck onto this planet and is attempting to understand humanity, but he only achieves this by documenting us doing the most mundane tasks, and how we interact with each other. The episodes start on a generic and lighthearted note, then spiral into a convoluted search for meaning. Because of the unexpected turns these episodes take, I find them very easy to get sucked into, and while the concept seems ridiculous on paper, Wilson’s curiosity is infectious and somehow persuades me to trust his process.
Other TV shows to binge: Freaks and Geeks, Haha You Clowns, Sex and the City
Spencer’s music picks:
- Jessica Pratt: On Your Own Love Again (2015)
Jessica Pratt, the San Franciscan-born, guitar and folk singer/songwriter, brought the 70s landscape into the 2010s with subtlety and grace. On her sophomore album, On Your Own Love Again, she reached a new height in her style that so specifically tailors to specific periods of our lives. Writing songs with a thrifted guitar, her uniquely crafted blend of sparse arrangements and eerie vocals sparked new subgenre emergences, with one coined “freak-folk.” There’s something very timeless about the music and genres that artists by the likes of ’60s artists Nico and the early 2000s coffeehouse sounds of Norah Jones; Jessica Pratt has created a very timeless sound. If you were to take Phoebe Bridgers circa 2018 and Nicole Dollanger, the result just might be Jessica Pratt. What I particularly enjoy about this album is the lyricism. There’s one line I can’t get out of my mind, and it goes “If you just can’t form the words to say, I haven’t thought of it that way.” In that moment, she’s admiring a moment of realization, even if the words for this feeling can’t be put together. If you find yourself on a cozy walk or sitting reading a book by the fireplace, this might put you into a wintery mood.
Other music to check out: Norah Jones: Not Too Late, Napa Sinephro: Endlessness, Santigold: Santigold, Alanis Morsiette: Supposed Former Infatuation Jackie
Scout’s music picks:
- Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal
Singer/songwriter Cameron Winter began receiving attention for fronting the New York Indie band Geese. Geese spiked in popularity after releasing their second album, 3D Country, in June of 2023. This record can be characterized by its zany lyricism and sonic experimentation, as illustrated in songs such as “I see myself,” which contains infectious hooks about love, or the title track, telling the story of a cowboy with a one-track mind. After a year of consistent touring, Cameron Winter released his first solo album, Heavy Metal. I hadn’t listened to Geese before listening to Winter’s solo work, so I wasn’t sure what to expect upon first listen. The first song I heard from the record was “Love Takes Miles.” Even with this being the most sonically conventional song on the record, I thought about how I had never heard a song sound like it. Soon after I listened to the record in its entirety, watched live performances, read interviews, and attempted to understand Winter’s writing, I found myself captivated by this record. The whole atmosphere of this record has such a specific quality to it that I have a hard time putting it into words; It’s lush and comforting, but it can also be pensive and abrasive. The emotional vulnerability and catharsis throughout the record is what connected to me; he’s blatantly honest without explicitly telling the listener what he means. Winter doesn’t sacrifice any part of himself for an audience; he’s unapologetic within his sincerity, whether it’s jarring or touching.
Other music to check out: Arthur Russel: Love is Overtaking me, Judee Sill: Judee Sill, Carole King: Rhymes & Reasons, Suicide: A Way of Life, Leonard Cohen: Songs of Leonard Cohen
Thank you for taking the time to read this. We hope you check out some of our picks and have a relaxing break! -Scout & Spencer
