Is This Thing On?
Laura Dern
Will Arnett
Bradley Cooper
The highs held, but the lows sank and settled. Flawed characters guide this tale of a marriage that failed over decades.”
For the strain, I chose Cherry Paloma. A citrus-gas sativa-dominant hybrid crossing Tropicana Cherry and Georgia Pie, offering a euphoric high with mental clarity and calmness. Uplifting with a relaxing body high. My stream was the New York-infused dramedy, Bradley Cooper's Is This Thing On? The highs held, but the lows sank and settled. Flawed characters guide this tale of a marriage that failed over decades. Dern and Arnett play a great couple, while Arnett plays a great dad. It balances the drama well with humor, fortunately. The comic element lands as that backdrop hits close to home for an outsider who might guess that lifestyle makes one question their decisions and true motivations. Shout out to the weed cookie scene for all the stoners reading.
I Love Boosters
Keke Palmer
Taylor Paige
LaKeith Stanfield
A sharp jab at the fashion industry and capitalism, showing the debt we carry as a massive ball that follows us."
My strain was Blueberry Caviar, a loud, grape-flavored sativa-leaning hybrid crossing Grape Gas x Lantz. A relaxing body high, with a nice cerebral uplift. My stream was Boots Riley's sophomore film, I Love Boosters. A sharp jab at the fashion industry and capitalism, showing the debt we carry as a massive ball that follows us. Pretty off-the-wall with an unexpected macabre twist alongside funky surrealism and some wild effects. It even incorporates a crime caper element with a fun car chase and a supernatural element. Led by Demi Moore as a designer, Keke Palmer as a booster, while Don Cheadle and LaKeith Stanfield are just demonic. It takes a sex scene to outrageous new heights, something akin to Alien, that will surely leave many drooling for more.
Obsession
Inde Navarrette
Michael Johnston
Megan Lawless
The standard "be careful what you wish for" film trope is rendered with a full-circle, satisfying ending. A love story, I suppose..."
My strain was Garlic Mintz, an indica-dominant hybrid crossing Animal Mints with GMO. It offers a euphoric, relaxing, and happy high. I needed it for my last film, Obsession. Curry Barker's feature debut required this kind of sedative, as it found most of its frights in dark lighting and explosive sound design. Trigger warning for cat lovers. The standard "be careful what you wish for" film trope is rendered with a full-circle, satisfying ending. A love story, I suppose; yet, utterly unhinged and cringe-worthy. Blending humor and repulsive, unnerving theatrics. I wouldn't call it scary, but there is definitely a heavy-hitting third act. The performances were all good, but Inde Navarette's performance was truly unforgettable. A story like this prompts the audience to wonder who the real villain is.
