"I Feel Like You Like Movies Where Nothing Happens"

This newsletter features an interview with my mom and a movie rec/complaint.

When I started Aerial Shot, I immediately put together a list of ideas in my notes app. Some were fully formed, others were general thoughts/irks that could lead to content.

ABC: Always Be Contenting.

One of the first things I wrote down was “Interview Mom.” Why? I thought it would be funny, and, reader, I was correct. If a Venn Diagram was made of the two of us centered around movies, there would be a few in the center and then our personal circles would be drastically different. As a self-proclaimed snob, I wanted to get to the heart of where it all went wrong for me. My mom, Caryn Meth-Gottfried, loves a light-hearted rom-com or a tear-jerking biopic. I prefer a three-hour existential thriller that makes you think about the futility of existence. We both like Crazy, Stupid, Love though.

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Greg: Who are you? What do you do?

Caryn: This is like Wheel of Fortune. I am Caryn Meth-Gottfried. I have a wonderful husband and two great kids and a dog named Rascal waiting for me to get home. What do I do? I worry about my children, all three of them. I like to take care of people. I design and provide prosthetics and orthotics for the pediatric population.

How would you describe me in general?

Umm, friendly? Loyal. Fun-loving.

Sounds like a dog…

And maybe sometimes a little messy. You’re a good judge of character and hard-working. Good friend. Positive influence. I think that’s enough, don’t you think? Do you want me to throw athletic in there, just for kicks?

What do you think about my movie taste?

Eclectic? At times, somewhat unusual. Although many agree with you, so maybe it’s me that’s unusual.

What’s the first movie we saw together?

I’m trying to think. Was it Hercules or Air Bud? Think it’s Air Bud. Hannah was just born and we were looking for something to do in Great Neck. I brought snacks for you and you sat through the whole thing. You had a little booster seat. You must’ve been less than three. I think you liked it.

What’s an example of a weird/bad movie I made you watch?

I can’t think of a movie. I can think of series. I usually don’t watch them; I leave the room. Yuck! What’s the Quentin Tarantino movie you and dad watched? 

Inglorious Basterds.

I hated that. Now that’s a bad movie. Pulp Fiction too. I DID NOT like that one. Soundtrack’s good. That’s where it ends.

When did you realize that I had “weird” taste in movies?

Maybe when you were in college. I don’t know. When you’d have to explain what the movie was about and you told me about movies I hadn’t heard of. And none of them started with the Disney logo.

What kind of movies do you like?

I like romantic comedies. I like when no one’s head gets blown off. No violence. Nothing where I have to hide behind my eyes except if I’m crying. 

What are some examples?

The Blind Side, Cheaper by the Dozen, Dirty Dancing, Hugh Grant movies, Mamma Mia!, Bridget Jones’s Diary. You know another movie I love? Crazy, Stupid, Love. And Crazy Rich Asians. All romantic-comedies. They leave you with a happy feeling, that something good can happen. It makes me smile. You know what I watched last night? Legally Blonde. That’s a great movie.

Why do you like The Blind Side?

It’s a true story of when love can conquer anything. Kinda sappy, right? Why do you like The Blind Side?

I don’t.

Why? It’s a true story! It’s great.

Umm, I’m trying to think what else to ask.

What are the best movie experiences we’ve had? I liked taking you to Toy Story and Toy Story 2 but not Toy Story 3. That was too close to home since you were also about to go to college. I also liked when we all went to the Alamo Drafthouse to see Knives Out.

*thinks for a bit* Where did you get your taste in movies from? It is very out there.

I’m trying to think of other movies we’ve watched that you didn’t like.

I feel like you like movies where nothing happens. Licorice Pizza recently. I do like going to the movies with you on Jewish Christmas but not Licorice Pizza. You know what’s another good movie? The Devil Wears Prada. The Intern. Awakenings with Robin Williams. I didn’t love the new West Side Story. It was okay. 

Do you have any Oscar takes?

What’s nominated? Have I seen any of them? I liked Will Smith in King Richard. I enjoyed that. I like a movie at the end where you want to watch some more. Not that you’re glad it’s finally over. CODA’s nominated. I love that one. Movies shouldn’t be three hours. What’s that other one you recommended? About the Asian family locked in the house. Parasite. That was creepy. I don’t know why you recommended that. I didn’t like Being the Ricardos. [Nicole Kidman] was nothing like Lucille Ball. She was just a redhead.

Is there anything else my readers should know?

Ask for another opinion besides Greg when picking a movie. It should be a group effort. You’ve had some good recommendations though. They’re not all bad. 

Okay. I think we’re done. 

Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. Oh, also, I don’t like the fact that you don’t eat popcorn in movie theaters. It’s disturbing. Actually, I am glad, because then you won’t eat my popcorn. 

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I would love to recommend Petite Maman to you, a slight but beautiful sci-fi story about a bond between a girl and her mother, however, I’m not totally sure how to. It was the best new movie I saw last year and is kind of a small miracle clocking in at 72 minutes. It was filmed entirely during COVID-19 centering around a set of twins that have never acted before and is a perfect gem/follow-up to Portrait of a Lady on Fire. I was able to see Céline Sciamma’s new movie last October due to an early New York Film Festival screening, but it now seems to be stuck in cinematic purgatory. People are seeing it here and there, but there’s no official release date or news about a U.S. theatrical run. This is where my rant begins: Show your goddamn movies.

There was a big push as of late for Peter Dinklage to get into the Oscars race for Best Actor. Unfortunately, I do not yet have a take on Dinklage’s performance, since his movie, Cyrano, is still not out yet for general audiences. He ended up being left out of the final five, and Javier Bardem snuck in a late entry with the shlocky Being the Ricardos. I know this isn’t a new problem, but it’s a ridiculous thing to expect people to be hyped up for your awards shows when they can’t see what’s nominated.

Another example of this is The Worst Person in the World, which had a small bicoastal release after Oscar voting ended, and I sincerely think there would’ve been a bigger push for that movie to get more noms had the general public been able to see it. It got into Original Screenplay and I have a feeling that Renate Reinsve was closer to making it into Best Actress than anyone initially thought, especially with her surprising BAFTA showing.

This happens every year with movies being released (what feels like) seconds before the Academy Awards. The Father and Judas and the Black Messiah had especially late releases before the last Oscars and won awards despite a confused audience that didn’t have enough time to catch up. Give us the movies. It’s not that complicated.

I just want you all to see Petite Maman, but I have no clue how that will happen. Until then, there are like 27 Ryan Reynolds movies on Netflix, and they’re all exactly the same.