A Bit Nostalgic

On the cusp of Gen X and Millennial

Hello to my new subscribers! If you’re new here, Thelma & Alice recommends movies & TV shows that are either written or directed by women. Sometimes there are bonus posts, but in general, you’ll only see me in your inbox once a month.

May is my birthday month. I was born in the late 1970s, right on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial. I don’t identify strongly with either generation, but I do think that growing up without the internet or cable TV profoundly shaped my attitude toward movies. As a teenager, films exposed me to music, fashion, and culture that I couldn’t get anywhere else—and there were certain actors you could only see in the movies, because they were such big stars. (I think Tom Cruise is the only remaining actor of that era who hasn’t yet crossed over into television.) I remember how exciting it was when we got a VCR and could watch movies at home, and also, of course, the trips to the video store where we’d stand in front of the wall of new releases and argue about which one to rent next. Movies don’t carry the same cultural weight anymore, and to a younger generation, it’s probably not clear what going to the movies is for, other than a niche entertainment. But, maybe I’m wrong about that, and they still hold a certain amount of glamour. (There does seem to be, as ever, a thriving community of film buffs and critics.)

Anyway, with my birthday on my mind, this month’s choices are a bit nostalgic. I’m also in the midst of a major life transition as I pack up my entire apartment and plan for an interstate move. So, I hope you’ll indulge me with these classic picks.

Gen X Time Capsule

Reality Bites (1994)
Directed by Ben Stiller
Written by Helen Childress
1 hour 39 minutes; Streaming on Starz/$3.99 VOD

I rewatched this recently and the most surprising thing about it was the cinematography. The lighting was so beautiful, but it wasn’t fake-looking, or overly flattering, it was just very warm and natural. I felt like it captured what is wonderful about being young, even as the characters themselves are frustrated and confused. When I looked up the DOP, I discovered that it was Emmanuel Lubezki, who went on to work with Alfonso Cuarón and Terence Malick, filmmakers known for their stunning visuals. Helen Childress’s screenplay also stood out to me as sharp and well-written, and it’s disappointing that she hasn’t had the chance to write another movie, though I recently learned that Reality Bites is being developed as a TV show for Peacock. Which is very ironic if you remember the plot of the film. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER

Italian Real Estate Fantasy

Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)
Directed by Audrey Wells
Written by Frances Mayes and Audrey Wells
1 hour 53 minutes; $3.99 VOD

Based on Frances Mayes’s bestselling 1996 memoir, this movie got a lot of critical eye-rolls when it first came out — except for Roger Ebert, who embraced it with his characteristic humanity. He didn’t regard it as a landmark piece of cinema but he got what it is trying to do, which is to provide a fantasy for those who, however happy they may be in their lives, dream sometimes of escaping to another country and creating a new life devoted to beauty, love, and home restoration. Yes, it’s yuppie, and yes Italy has been overrun by tourists and tourist’s fantasies, but have you been to Tuscany?? This movie has charm for miles and takes you to a gorgeous setting where nothing bad ever happens. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER

Cult Classic

Wayne’s World (1992)
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
Written by Mike Meyers, Bonnie Turner & Terry Turner
1 hour 34 minutes; Streaming HBO/$3.99 VOD

Did you know this classic hangout movie was directed by a woman? I didn’t and was delighted to find out that one of my childhood favorites was made by Penelope Spheeris. When I rewatched it with my husband we were both laughing about how many lines we remembered. (“She will be mine, oh yes, she will be mine.”) The jokes make no sense outside of the Wayne & Garth universe, which is a very sweet, silly place to be. Today these two goofballs would be TikTok stars, but back then, they were floating around on cable access. Party on, Wayne & Garth! IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER

Starring Judy Blume, As Herself

Judy Blume Forever (2023)
Directed by Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok
1 hour 37 minutes; Streaming on Amazon

This by-the-book documentary puts Judy Blume in the driver’s seat, with Blume telling the story of her life in a straightforward, composed manner. There are some talking heads thrown in, too (a mix of contemporary children’s authors, mostly) as well as archival photographs and home videos, but it’s mostly just Judy, talking about her books and how they came to be. This approach worked well for me because even though I read most of her books as a child, I didn’t have any knowledge of her career path or a sense of when her books were first published. I came away from the documentary with a new appreciation of how much she changed YA literature, and how timeless she has become, with multiple generations reading her novels. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER

Sleepover Fave

Beaches (1988)
Directed by Garry Marshall
Written by Iris Rainer and Mary Agnes Donoghue
2 hours 3 minutes; Streaming on Tubi/VOD $3.99

Critics disparaged this movie when it was released, but it was definitely a hit with the fifth-grade sleepover crowd. It’s not the kind of movie that holds up to adult scrutiny, but if you watched it as a child and haven’t seen it since, do yourself a favor and rent it again. (Or watch it for free—with ads—on Tubi while you fold laundry.) It will crack you up with its depiction of New York City and adulthood in general. The plot is extremely sentimental (the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” comes from this movie) and occasionally nonsensical, but Bette Midler is so much fun and has so many different hairstyles that you kind of just go with it. Midler produced the film under the banner of her production company, “All Girl Productions,” and I think the main reason we liked watching this as girls was that it was unusual to find a movie focused on female friendship, with two women leading the story. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER