Tag Archives: romance

Lynn Shelton Fan Post

Cover-image-for-Touchy-Feely-film.

Gather round my cinephile friends (even you who don’t consider yourself as such), you’ll want to hear this. Have you heard of Lynn Shelton? No? Well, pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. I first became aware of Lynn Shelton after watching her incredibly earnest and sweet picture, Touchy Feely from 2013. Sometimes a movie just hits you right in the solar plexus with its message of “you are not alone,” and that’s what this one did for me. We follow Rosemarie DeWitt’s character Abby. A masseuse by trade, one day she develops an aversion to other people’s skin that throws a wrench in everything. As a writer, this premise makes me think of one of the most effective writing aids I’ve ever been taught in a writing workshop: give your character the biggest obstacle that particular character could face. As a masseuse, developing an aversion to skin and touching other people is pretty much a mountain. Understandably, Abby is lost after that, not knowing what to do without the thing that gives her life meaning and fulfillment. We are introduced to Abby’s niece Jenny (played by the wonderful Elliot Page), her dentist brother Paul (Josh Pais), her boyfriend Jesse (Scoot McNairy), and the incredibly skillful Alison Janney as Reiki healer Bronwyn. Apart from the last, all of the characters seem lost in some way or another. Page’s Jenny has an unrequited crush on someone she can’t avoid, dentist Paul has closed himself off to life in a number of ways, and even Abby’s boyfriend Jesse is floundering in their relationship. I love that the actor’s name is Scoot, by the way. How many people do you know with a name like that? It’s a quiet film with very little plot to speak of. If you’re someone who’s used to action-packed adventures, it might not be for you, but I was moved by the performances and comforted by the characters ability to connect with one another. The littlest connection sparks something in each of them, and they start to come back to themselves and some sense of normalcy. I’d love to rewatch this one soon.

I’m glad I discovered Lynn Shelton while she was still alive. Tragically, she passed at the age of 54 of leukemia, but her work will always be there to discover. According to Wikipedia, she was a stalwart of the mumblecore genre, which is a hilarious term for the subgenre covering a range of independently-produced, small budget films with a focus on character development, interesting dialogue (presumably spoken at a lower volume than usual), and a desire to capture a feeling of authenticity. Fellow directors classified as “mumblecore” include the king of improvised indie cinema Joe Swanberg, known for the Netflix show Easy and several films featuring Jake Johnson (Nick from New Girl). Speaking of New Girl, the actors who played Cece and Winston have a podcast that’s a lot of fun for true fans of the True American players. We’ll get back to New Girl in a bit, as Shelton directed multiple episodes over the course of its run.

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Canada Reads 2024 In Review

Mattea-Roach-holding-the-graphic-novel-Ducks-above-her-head-in-victory.
Credit: cbc.ca

It’s over! The yearly competition to determine which book penned by a Canadian author is ‘the one that all Canadians need to read right now’ has concluded and a victor has been chosen. If you’re not familiar with the format, here’s how it breaks down. Five luminaries on the Canadian cultural scene decide to “champion” one of 15 longlisted books in a debate that’s broadcast over radio and televised across the country. Between March 4-7, daily debates took place, with a round of voting to eliminate one of the books at the conclusion of each discussion. Long-running host Ali Hassan was at the helm, acting as moderator and throwing in a few puns along the way. The theme for this year was an interesting one: Which work is the “one to carry us forward.” Carry us forward to where, you might ask. Fans of Jeopardy (such as myself), may be familiar with last year’s Canada Reads winner and overall excellent human, Mattea Roach. Roach was a formidable competitor on the classic quiz show and now holds the title for “most successful Canadian competitor” in the history of Jeopardy. Roach selected Kate Beaton’s graphic novel, Ducks, as their fighter in the ring. The true account of Beaton’s time working in the oil sands of Alberta and the complicated relationship the writer had with her gainful employment are conveyed through skilled illustrations. It was the first graphic novel to be honoured by the Canada Reads title. Check out one of Roach’s epic wins on Jeopardy here for a taste of their excellence. Turning to this year, the ‘great Canadian book debate’ was in its 23rd iteration, and this year’s contenders chose some intriguing reads. Here are the titles with their corresponding champions:

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Valentine’s Day on Kanopy!

Happy Valentine’s Day, readers! For those who observe, this awkward placement of a holiday right smack in the middle of the week might mean low-key plans. Take-out, sweatpants, maybe bingeing Netflix’s new adaptation of David Nicholl’s One Day (and sobbing into your tea, if you’re me). If you’re planning on a cozy night in, movie streaming platform Kanopy has got you covered with some prime Valentines films in their new Reel Romance in February collection. They’re got tons of classics like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Moonstruck, and Shakespeare in Love, but you can also find some more obscure gems. Below are some lesser-known films to check out with your VPL card on this day celebrating all things romance.  

Mr. Malcolm’s List 

For the Bridgerton fans looking longingly towards the new season in May! Mr. Malcolm’s List is a tasty little cake pop of a movie: short, sugary, covered in pink frosting. The plot is basically a series of Shakespearean-style hijinks, set in Regency England (aka Jane Austen time). Julia Thistlethwait is a vivacious young woman out on the Regency dating scene, but finds her charms thwarted by one Mr. Malcolm when she fails to meet his wifely criteria—his titular “list.” Determined to get revenge for this public embarrassment, Julia enlists her more docile friend Selina to ensnare Mr. Malcolm and then reject him. Of course, things don’t go according to plan, and soon enough real feelings are involved. Not a serious movie by any means, but perfect for those looking for an easy, breezy watch while munching on heart-shaped chocolates.  

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