https://www.avaspencer.com/blog daily 0.75 2024-07-12 https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/winter-24 monthly 0.5 2024-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/2b7d1096-2afd-4b1d-8b45-734addb7bc14/71xEY%2BZI8kL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Late last year, I found myself in a never ending spiral about the meaning of love. Or, perhaps, more accurately: how has love been presented to me? Have I been a willing participant in it? Have I been loving? Capital L, love. I found myself stuck between equal parts wanting romantic love in my life, and throwing it out all together. For the first time in my life, really. Why? I’m a serial hope-ful romantic. Anyone could tell you that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/51da73bd-8f94-4a0e-8142-b6271c386ec1/Rye-Lane-Movie-Poster-1047x1536-70296934.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Rye Lane was such a fun, vibrant take on the romcom genre. And one, that I’m so happy had two Black leads! It didn’t give me all the heartache and longing that I typically love in this genre, but the personality throughout the film had me grinning my socks off. Favorite scene has to be them badly karoke-ing along to Salt-N-Pepa’s Whatta Man. Classic romcom cheese, in all the best ways. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/ba515126-4e1d-4131-87a5-ae11dace6beb/MV5BMDBiYmRkNjUtYzc4My00NGFiLWE2NWUtMGU1ZDA1NTQ3ZjQwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTM1NjM2ODg1._V1_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - If there’s anything I took away from Anatomy of a Fall is that I never, ever, ever want to get charged for a crime in France. I’m amazed that you can ask leading questions and create conjecture like that. It’d make even the innocent of people look suspicious. Though… I suppose I shouldn’t be suprised. This is, afterall, the country that celebrated the guillotine. Side note: does Swann Arlaud remind anyone else of an older Austin Abrams, or is that just me? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/ffcd8407-6f34-4b3c-9a42-d900792d6767/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-fbfd598c-1847244120.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - In my younger days (lol), I was an avid Hunger Games fan. Then, as most people do, I fell into this trap of not liking popular media, because that’s apparently “cringe” and “growing up” means being as boring as a white piece of printer paper. Now, I avidly reject this notion. Hence, the re-love of the Hunger Games series (and my recent rewatch). I haven’t read the book, but I was pleasantly surprised with how well this movie landed with me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/304718e0-d79c-45db-b66c-cc7a2463542d/BraidingSweetgrass_PB_Cover_NB.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - I have had trouble putting into words just how much Braiding Sweetgrass sums up both the human existence and our relationship to the natural world. If Fuzz was good, Braiding Sweetgrass is on a whole other level. There’s a reason why it’s quoted and studied and venerated so. Just, read it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/86bf8649-59cd-4941-be8d-7f4a4ca940cd/MV5BMjMxNTdiNWMtOWY0My00MjM4LTkwNzMtOGI0YThhN2Q4M2I4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ%40%40._V1_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Ever since downloading Letterboxd, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with what my 4 favorite movies are. It’s an impossible question. Do I answer with the current films that changed my life? Or the super artsy fartsy ones? Or the childhood favorites that fill my heart like an overflowing cup of hot cocoa and whipped cream. I still haven’t found an answer that quite satisfies me. Four and only four movies is an impossible ask. But for a long time, The Green Knight was on that list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/5f166ae3-1d94-4f36-85a6-5a2a3eab72ad/MV5BZTY0YzY1YTktNzA5NS00NWM3LWFmMTMtNmJmNGEzOGIzMjUzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDc5NDc2Nw%40%40._V1_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Frybread! What a joy! I’m fairly certain I cried at the end of this movie, which must require a four star minimum rating. I too would be heartbroken if I was sent away after being promised tickets to a Fleetwood Mac concert. And I’ll add—this film didn’t help my ever-growing need to move to New Mexico. It can be all dirt and piñon-juniper and I’d be all over it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/c2ffca2e-afe4-4462-871f-df2041bb810b/s-l1600.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - I’m not sure what loving this movie says about me. But alas, we’re here. Standouts for this movie were the set design (specifically Saltburn manor), square ratio (I eat this up every damn time) and I’m being 100% serious here, Jacob Elordi’s acting (he plays the perfect innocent, but secretly malicious and negligent friend that’s not really a friend—oh, friend by convenience!). Though, if there’s anyone in this film that deserving of the world and all its awards—it’s Alison Oliver. That final scene with her in the bathtub. Ugh! My heart felt everything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/bab8d69f-1b5b-4245-9bbc-6e65bf39eb38/MV5BOTY0NDQ2NzQ2N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTU0OTkwOQ%40%40._V1_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Feeling the deepening need for more Greta Gerwig post summer 2023 Barbenheimer, Frances Ha was on the chopping block. Three and a half stars feels almost mean, for something so beloved, but I feel like this just wasn’t the defining “in my 20s” film I thought it’d be. And that’s okay. Not everything has to be a life-changing piece of media. Especially one, like this, that is supposed to be a snapshot of someone’s life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/f789dc0d-0056-4524-97fd-a12be44c3e23/ems.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - So, here’s the thing. It started out so well, and I did like the first season, but my brother and I took a significant break from watching Maisel (I think we started in April of last year?) and when finally getting back into it, we accidentally skipped to season 5. We watched over half the episode by the time we noticed. And this was due largely to the fact that nothing! changed! They were still going on about the same shit!!!! It was then that I decided to give up entirely on the show. Which, shockingly, I don’t do much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/75e18b7d-568c-413a-ae9d-eafdd1c35898/51MGNlc4ebL.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Okay, I’ll fold. I’m on the Dune train. In preparation for the second installment, I rewatched the first part to get a better sense of what was going on. The first time I watched it, I was completely unconvinced that this was the next big thing. Granted, I approached it in a terrible viewing manner—watching one half and then waiting over six months to watch the other. However, this time…. it sung. The pieces all made sense in my little sci-fi adverse brain and I GOT THE HYPE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/70ea2651-92c4-4361-85a3-449d0ec99323/fuzz.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Do you all have that book that your mom/friend/partner/coworker recommends to you so relentlessly, that you end up picking it up sheer out of guilt? Fuzz was one of those. However, I can gladly say that it was well worth it. My Goodreads review says it best: Although Fuzz had it's ups and downs--I think it would be an insult to give it anything less than a 5, despite my arduous battle in trying to complete it (nearly a year, I hate to admit). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/616d9e8c-1c4b-4687-9894-935f1004817d/AAAAQRVDmFVWFePxQBs9uP3MBd0ezw9GxXbE-Hua7bB922U9-oZJZs6VPcQUORHzk7hm1wmXEl3FkXsBm9SszNFpUTM_j8RGcuG13p7MvhPAmWpxB7cYLLGh5YdQuVPQf6CRbv0LOypkF7ojtyibKngyjnj6.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - Regretfully, I have not gotten around to reading One Day. However, after watching my way throughout this series—I know without a doubt that I would absolutely love it. Something that’s consistent about me is that I love a good heartwrencher. Especially something that has an ending that makes me want to chuck myself out of a window (i.e. La La Land). I feel that’s what makes a story feel real to me. Love is equal parts loss and comfort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/a4c57140-cf12-4610-b5b9-2829047b76fe/81fMAYnOETL._AC_UF894%2C1000_QL80_DpWeblab_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - I’m not sure I’ve ever had a more quick turn around in a regard for a movie as this one. As someone who is mostly a pacifist, the fact that the dialogue must have been written with the byline of “yell all of these lines at the top of your lungs". You could probably imagine, the effect was grating. Side note: can you imagine being on this set???? HOWEVER, by the time the end credits rolled around. I knew why it was such a fan favorite. I love an unexpected death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/90f3841e-6f30-46ce-86cb-47abbac97b6f/MV5BMjAxNjcyNDQxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzU2NDA0MDE%40._V1_.jpg Recent Posts - Winter, 2024. - I’ll be honest. I believe fullheartedly that a whole star (if not more) to this film goes to the accompaning soundtrack. For a long time I’ve been an avid fan of the bluesy, country-esq, folksong genre. Milk Carton Kids. The Secret Sisters. The Avett Brothers. And more. And when collecting songs for a BBQ my parents were hosting at their newly bought house, I stumbled on the beauty that is this film’s soundtrack. Since then, I had been putting off actually watching the damn thing. https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/fall-23-wrap-up monthly 0.5 2023-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/93eaa65a-3209-4c95-b35c-088acf94e6df/MV5BZWFlYmY2MGEtZjVkYS00YzU4LTg0YjQtYzY1ZGE3NTA5NGQxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI%40._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg Recent Posts - Fall 23’ Wrap Up (September/October) - *Rewatch After putting on the sequel to The Shining (Doctor Sleep) during a family movie night, we quickly decided we needed to go backwards to understand the overall plot. If there’s one thing that I forgot about this movie, is that it’s a slow burner. I remember watching it the first time and thinking to myself: “people are scared of this movie.” Call it desensitization to creepy/horrible things in the world or what, but while The Shining won’t keep me from sleeping, it certainly hits the happy thriller part of my taste. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/531878a1-371e-47c3-859a-62aebf0997c4/61A4UoOdsIL._AC_UF894%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Recent Posts - Fall 23’ Wrap Up (September/October) - I have Pinterest to thank for this one. That green dress was everywhere on my feed. That green dress. The only green dress that matters. If there was one thing I wish for my life is that I can one day get my hands on a replication piece of that gorgeous, gorgeous dress. Note to self: look that one up. Anyway, besides the dress (which I was mainly watching for, to be perfectly honest), the movie was just aight. The one thing I would change was the glowy film over everything. It just didn’t age great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/35266bd9-be7b-4255-9b65-37dd5530c0b1/dfuns+2023-10-08+175909.989.JPG Recent Posts - Fall 23’ Wrap Up (September/October) - The 1975 , “Still… At Their Very Best” Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater - October 7, 2023 The Purge House members looking absolutely adorable with their sparkly hair tinsel, soft-grunge-alt fits, and the starting lyrics of “Love It If We Made It” bouncing off the walls of their lovely brains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/97aca3dd-451b-4ac3-a1a8-48459cf94967/MV5BNDk5MDA2YTUtYWMwZi00MDk0LWIwOWYtMTc2ZTVjNDk4MmMxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQzNTA5MzYz._V1_.jpg Recent Posts - Fall 23’ Wrap Up (September/October) - I cannot tell you how excited I am to write a review for this movie! It feels like a long time coming. I went in with super high expectations for Past Lives, which I’ll admit—it’s usually a mistake, but something in me knew this was going to be an instant favorite. The tone and pacing reminded me a lot of Aftersun (another A24 film that I reviewed last month) with it’s simplicity and softness. I’m gradually finding that minimal dialog is more of a strength than a weakness (words, many words, has always been my favorite—this is changing), since it really packs a punch. https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/summer-23-wrap-up-july-august monthly 0.5 2023-09-16 https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/spring-23-wrap-up monthly 0.5 2023-07-08 https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/march23-wrap-up monthly 0.5 2023-04-13 https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/mega-highways-and-mountain-lions monthly 0.5 2023-02-24 https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/missile-range-wildlife monthly 0.5 2024-06-15 https://www.avaspencer.com/blog/wildlife-biology-industry-analysis monthly 0.5 2023-02-27 https://www.avaspencer.com/about daily 0.75 2024-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/9090486b-2acc-4ab1-ba6e-ed68099f137b/elk.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/c61a80ea-1032-4c44-9c20-3ba19466dddd/000028460011.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/ff757e3b-e7e4-4ab2-bd19-d3a03624d536/IMG_8112.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/9c368a6f-c2dd-44e7-9f17-be54c84e175c/8AAA24D0-7F6B-40FB-BBF5-8E5C58CED0F0.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/f894de74-f779-4197-8fa8-9066e3f31219/Resized_DSC_9773_120423240396509.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/0c65d9bf-71dd-47ea-bace-2d6161a39caf/C2E75696-0295-452F-AAC1-18A1DEC276D4.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/b47ecfd3-fb11-4eec-aa10-d16ec728649e/000028450010.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/1bd50a7e-a4f4-4479-bb29-6ff9d4a10d6b/939A7C65-C1C0-4FE1-9B4C-3E7BCC0C568B.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/fdc9d56a-c4ff-49f4-8c7b-90c9f1e9b03e/A94C2CFA-A491-4AEC-A3C8-5CACA5D85DE6.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/864d6af5-8bb0-4afc-867c-b5f309a6c536/A5353739-0382-4438-8039-0010F6135B4A.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/a02e56bf-c6fb-4860-9c71-dc8bf9c5ba71/IMG_8703.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/232c0780-fe95-45ec-a858-bca3f98d2f62/8E60A2CC-39D2-4977-BC3F-2F93C4C66AE3.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/0b575ccc-0555-48e9-970d-ff251fda238b/IMG_5837.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/29b47801-30c3-4b7c-99f2-85b086ddf719/classicu+2023-09-23+112317.914.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/0adc59ee-eb5f-4434-a1e0-58bf64df1ed3/classicu+2023-09-19+190924.199.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/c7200f5d-8d3b-465b-9bde-f761f7180c74/37FE2CFA-2639-46B6-ABEF-EC02DD8A898F.jpeg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/74b4c675-8461-459a-9bb3-dd439754fc2f/classicu+2023-07-13+220852.775.jpeg About https://www.avaspencer.com/home daily 1.0 2024-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/5de9d668-bff6-4caf-83e7-c8f2263ae35b/000028450012.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/919dc6f7-e5da-4374-bc5b-5006fe825f63/IMG_6355.JPG https://www.avaspencer.com/cirriculum-vitae daily 0.75 2023-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/0adc59ee-eb5f-4434-a1e0-58bf64df1ed3/classicu+2023-09-19+190924.199.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/1bd50a7e-a4f4-4479-bb29-6ff9d4a10d6b/939A7C65-C1C0-4FE1-9B4C-3E7BCC0C568B.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63dc49fe2489d5166c89a809/74b4c675-8461-459a-9bb3-dd439754fc2f/classicu+2023-07-13+220852.775.jpeg https://www.avaspencer.com/contact-me daily 0.75 2023-02-12 https://www.avaspencer.com/take-action daily 0.75 2025-05-08