Back in the 80s, they made some of the best teem movies ever made. "The Breakfast Club", "Pretty in Pink", "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Ferris Beuller's Day Off" just to name a few. Films which spoke to the masses about what it is to be a teenager and the general pains of growing up.
Since then, with only a few notable exceptions, there hasn't been any truly relatable movies about the joys and dramas about being a teen.
"The Edge of Seventeen" stands out as an exceptional movie in many ways. A great cast, a modern setting, an unlikeably likable protagonist and the perfect mix of humour and angst and situation brings about a film that comes to rival the John Hughes films of the eighties. It's also got a killer soundtrack, taking from recent music back to the 80s.
Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine. A sixteen-year-old girl dealing with being the multiple joys of a disfuctional family, a popular brother and complete weirdo status. This is possibly why I related to this, as in many ways, it mirrored my own high school days. Nadine is an outcast to all in her life, with the exception of her only friend, Krista. When Krista hooks up with her brother, Nadine starts the slow and steady spiral into complete alienation.
There are many elements of this film that set it apart from your normal teenage fare. A fantastic script, realistic family settings and a soundtrack is up there with 'The Breakfast Club".
Hailee Steinfeld carries this movie as the moody and apparently dreadful Nadine. She brings a "girl-next-door" feeling without making her trite or smaltzy. She butts heads with her brother, played by Glee alumni, Blake Jenner, her unstable mother (an underappreciated Kyra Sedgewick) and feels at one with her grumpy teacher, played by an equally lugubrious Woody Harrelson.
Hailee Steinfeld is going to go places. She brings an outward strength and inner vulnerability to this role which could have so easily slipped into triteness or just being plain annoying.
This film also brought back every teenage bit of angst I'd ever felt. This movie did it's job.
With a soundtrack that features Birdy, The Pixies, Spandau Ballet and Aimee Mann, it's an album I'd happily hunt out.
The other great thing about this movie is it takes away a few of the stereotypes, and makes fun of quite a few stereotypes often found in these kinds of films. The love interest, in particular, is a breath of fresh air.
The Edge of Seventeen has all the stamps of a classic film. Funny, edgy and on the money. If, like me, you're avoid the hot weather and making frequent trips to the cinema, I highly recommend this film. It gets pretty much everything right.
My only question - what is it with these teenagers and their eyebrows? Is plucking now illegal?
Open for breakfast and lunch Monday - Sunday. Bookings available.
The day had gotten off to a good start. While waiting for the tram, a friend was passing by and she gave me a lit into town. So much better than taking an over hot tram into the city and it was great to catch up with this friend.
So after running a few errands I went to meet Jonella for lunch. Being back at work, she was looking for distractions - as was I having another ten days of holiday under my belt. Working in East Melbourne, she made a couple of suggestions - a couple of places I've been to, but one that stuck out on the list was Square and Compass cafe, nestled in the shadow of the old Dallas Brooks Hall (currently being disassembled). I am a freemason after all.
I'd checked the menu before I'd gone to meet Jonella and was suitably intrigued. It looked like decent cafe fare with hipster elements. It certainly made a difference from the normal sandwiches and rolls found around East Melbourne (though the cafe on George Street has always been an exception)
Being a hot, sunny day, we strolled down Albert Street to our waiting table.
The first thing about Square and Compasses - it has nothing to do with the masons, other than it's near the old temple buildings. It's also not stuffy or pretentious, as you'd often expect, but the cafe has an open, friendly feel, with friendly, attentive staff.
On being taken to our table, we perused the menu. Jonella, who has been to the cafe on a number of times was wanting to try the crunchy peanut butter and tomatoes on toast.
Not being one for tomotoes, I found a salad bowl of Smoked Salmon pastrami, saurkraut, avocado, tomatoes, caperberries and pickled cucumber. Being one for pickled vegetables, it sounded great.
Jonella ordered a green juice concoction, me an iced coffee. I was thrilled with the ice coffee - espresso, ice, skinny milk and a little sugar. Perfect for a hot day.
Jonella sold me on this place on the fact that it was a little more expensive, but worth it.
She was right.
A view of the menu does look like a lot of hipster wankery when you have a first glance - but the they take such pride in their food. The salmon pastrami bowl was one of the best meals I've had in ages. Jonella was very please with her peanut toast and tomatoes - and I'm pretty sure they make their own peanut butter.
Yes, you can get a golden latte here (made with tumeric, not urine). Yes, there appears to be quite a bit of quinoa, kale and other hipster staples, however, despite the perceived pretentiousness, these people do great food and a reasonable price. We were bowled over enough to make plans to go back again next week.
Square and Compass Cafe gives a bit of respite from the banality of East Melbourne eateries. I'm looking forward to going back.
It's early evening on the second day of the year, and other than having to go and find a new keyboard as my 'f' key is sticking, I've found that I've taken in my first film for the year. I wasn't going to do this today - I was going to get a bit of study and writing and ironing done, but no - Jay suggested taking in this film, so this is what I did instead.
The premise looked good. The cast looks great - Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. From the trailers, the special effects look great.
That's the thing - from the outside, it looks great. That's where it ends.
What they spent on CGI and sets and effects, they certainly didn't put into the script - which is my main beef with the film. That, as well as the every so slightly creepy premise of the film.
Chris Pratt plays Jim, an engineer on the flight that is supposed to be sending him and the 5000 odd other people to the other side of the universe to set up a colony. the trip takes 120 years. After a heavy meteor storm, something goes awry and Jim is woken from his endless sleep.
He's the only one awake on the craft, apart from a bartender android, Arthur, Thankully, Jim's an engineer, which means he can be annoying, endearing and able to fix things all at once.
After a year on his own, talking to the hapless Arthur (played with alacrity by Michael Sheen) Jim makes the bold move to wake Aurora - a writer.
This is the creepy premise. You think about it. Man on his own obsesses about waking a beautiful woman to be with him. He's never met this woman in the real world. There is no way they can return to earth. They cannot contact earth. It's just going to be the two of them.
So by the middle of the film you're wondering whether this is going to be an intergalactic stalker film. It isn't, but part of me wishes it was. The film has that sort of foreboding in it's early sections. This is where the film misses the mark.
Indeed, could this be classed as a bit of a poor man's "2001: A Space Odyssey"?
There is a part of me that wishes that this movie had the Kubrick touch - says she who doesn't really like Kubrick that much.
I've said enough about what happens here. What I haven't mentioned is that Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence do their best with the dodgy script. This doesn't reach the heady heights of "The Martian", which has a similar premise of having people lost in space with time being critical, even if time-critical in this movie is nearly a century.
What the film does well is the special effects. Space has never looked more glamorous or enticing, even if the ship appears to be malfunctioning. There are a couple of scenes in the ship's pool - somewhere I would love to swim. It's also interesting looking at what an engineer can do given enough time, no duct tape and a few resources.
This film is a beautiful diversion - something to see with that errant free movie ticket that's about to expire at the back of your wallet. It's great to look at, but could do without the gaping holes in the plot and the cruddy script.
The jury is still on this one. If it wasn't for the great effects I'd say save this one until it makes a visit to Netflix. The special effects, however, are worth the price of the movie ticket alone.
I never thank the guys who post these questions every week. It is a thankless task, but they do this with grace, humour and vigilance every week. Okay, sometimes the questions are pitched at 15-year-old, but for the very most part they bring a lot of joy to my rather boring weekends.
It's an unpaid and thankless task that they do and I hope BudWeiser and Kwizgiver accept my apologies for being a thoughtless and stroppy cow at times. As somebody who works, studies and does a heap of pro bono and committee work, I know what it is like to get unwarranted criticism when you're only doing your best - so please accept my apologies for my occasional rants.
This meme, which has been on the site for the last five years is my favourite meme of the year, and it's something that I cherish doing at this time. It give a chance to reflect on over the last year. And it gets people thinking about just what life is all about.
So again, thanks to the crew at Sunday Stealing for putting these questions up and allowing us to take stock of the year. And here's to a good year of memes.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
Got through both grief and heartbreak with my head held high. The grief still comes in waves, but it's manageable. The heart is pretty much mended a year on - and taking the high road has been both releasing and strengthening. He's gone. It's good.
2. Best thing that happened to you was...
Getting dumped. Dodged a bullet there.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friends Georgie and Thom had a little girl. I hope to meet her soon - well before she graduates from university.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nobody close to me died, but I've had a lot of death around me. I have a lot of friends who have lost love ones. It's been an honour to be able to stand next to them and be by their side through the process.
5. What countries did you visit?
Only Indonesia (Bali) and New Zealand this year. Would like to remedy this. Love travelling.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
More laughter and more travel. 2016 was a heavy year. It would be lovely to laugh more and travel more. However, as I'm finishing my Masters this year, I'm not sure how feasible this will be. Well the travel anyway.
7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 14. It was the day that I found out Alan Rickman had died. I know it's daft to mourn a celebrity death, but I felt that one personally. I mourn the films he never made. He came across as such a great man.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I've ended up with one distinction and two high distinctions in my studies. I work hard, but it's nice to see the work pays off.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing weight. That didn't happen this year. That changes this year. It has to.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than a bout of flu, a couple of lingering colds and the odd strain from the gym, my big injury was Bruce the Bum Bruise. I tripped and bruised the left butt cheek of my arse. It was an epic bruise. There is still a lump in my butt, which is slowly going some eight months on. I really did myself a number on this one.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I discovered Marc Jacobs make up. My Miss Scarlett lipstick is a favourite. oh year, I bought a new car too. Strange how lipstick trumps a car... 12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I'm a huge fan of Justin Trudeau. Like all politicians, he's not perfect, but I like his style. Strangely, I'm also a fan of our state Premier, Dan Andrews. Again, not perfect, but he appears to be getting stuff done.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Where do I start. Aging man-baby, Donald Trump is simply appalling. Most of the Australian Federal Cabinet could go jump of a cliff and there would be no loss.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, tuition and travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Strangely, writing a screenplay for school. I started work on a mini-series. It got me a 89% grade from my tutor. I'd love to take this further. Meeting Richard Flanagan was also pretty cool. 16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
Strangely, it will be Bowie's "A Space Oddity". It makes me remember he won't be making any more music, It's a shame.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
a) About the same
b) A bit fatter
c) About the same - though I'm richer in wisdom.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Laugh, travel, drink gin, exercised (though for a few months it was hard to do much because of that bloody bruise)
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eat chips. Moped privately for three months over an arsehole who is thankfully out of my life.
20. How will you spend New Year's Eve?
As it is now New Year's Day, last night I went and saw a film and had a spot of dinner with a friend. The cat and I then listened to the fireworks.
21. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"But since you been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on" (Kelly Clarkson, Since You've Been Gone) 22. What was your favorite new TV program?
Rather fond of Outlander and UnReal. Both are streamed. Both are great.
23. What was the rudest thing someone did to you in 2016?
I hold the Federal Government accountable for all of the stuff ups they've done as the height of rudeness. 24. What was the best book you read?
Charlotte Ross' "The Natural Way of Things".
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Elle King. She's great.
26. What did you want and get?
A new car. It was a bit of a surprise occurrence near my birthday, bit I still love it. It's also still shiny and red.
27. What did you want and not get?
The happy ever after. But I don't think that exists, so that is fine.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
This is a toss up. I loved La La Land - but "The Hunt for the Wilderpeople" is still choice, bro.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Nothing much. Went to work, then had dumplings at a favourite place with a friend and my parents. 30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Regular trips to Sydney to see a friend. Nuff said there. Doing well at my studies.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Plain, boring, black.
32. What kept you sane?
Friends, movies, books, writing, exercise - and the odd gin and tonic.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still have a thing for Richard Roxburgh and Craig McLachlan.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I still cannot get over how Australia treats asylum seekers. It's gone on for too long. The fact that some idiot politicians are debating climate science also gets my goat. I won't talk about America. Sheesh.
35. Who did you miss?
Alan Rickman. David Bowie. My friend Reindert who is hopefully moving to Colorado this year.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
My work brother. he's half my age, Punjabi and we were nearly instant friends. He's good to have about. There is a life force about him.
Finally, to quote T.S. Eliot,
“For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning."
1. Do you send out Xmas cards and if so how many do you send?
No. I do send the odd Xmas email and make the odd phone call.
2. Do you write and send a holiday letter to describe your year?
No. Don't do that either.
3. What do you think of photo cards?
It's something Americans do.
4. How about the tree thing – do you have one every year? Do you prefer a real or artificial?
I have never put up a Xmas tree in my home since I left the family home 30 years ago. No point - it's just me.
5. Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type). If you don’t have a tree, do you decorate and if so, tell us about it. (If you don’t decorate make up a story here…)
See above. Not a Christian - no room. Waste of money. Nothing to go under it.
6. Do you hang up stockings? Whose names are on them (and relationships)?
No. No Mantle, not American. Just no.
7. Your favorite Xmas movie(s) are?
Die Hard. Don't mind Love, Actually and It's a Wonderful Life either.
8. Tell us about an Xmas movie you hate.
Home Alone. What a pile of shite.
9. What’s favorite Xmas Song(s)
Fairy Tale of New York.
10. What holiday song makes you want to hurl?
After having two six-year-olds make up the words to Deck the Halls over the last three days, Deck the Halls has been referred to Room 101.
11. What do you prefer for your holiday meal?
LOTS of seafood. Heaps of prawns. Oysters. Lobster. Fresh salad. Very Australian that. 12. When do you open your gifts?
When I get them, Xmas morning.
13. Do you buy gifts for your pet?
Don't have a pet, but I have been known to make Maow Maow bed blankets for his little bed.
14. What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?
I got dumped last Xmas - does that count? A green long pillow with painted kittens on it - truly awful, but I smiled through it.
15. Do you ever travel for the holiday?
As far away as I can. This year I'm in Northern Tassie. I went to Thailand one year. 16. Did you see Santa as a child?
Yes, I had that traumatic experience - like most kids.
17. Have you ever gone caroling?
Hell, no.
18. Do you drive around and look at the Xmas lights?
No. No interest.
19. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
I've not had a white Xmas, but I've had a lot of Christmases in a cold climate. Lived in England for a long time.
20. Do you know how to ice skate? If yes, when did you skate the last time?
Can't ice skate. Never ice skated.
21. Are we crazy for thinking that the holiday season is WAY too commercial?
No. Christmas is waaaayyyyy to commercial. 22. Have you ever worked Xmas eve or Xmas day?
Worked many a Christmas Eve - but never Xmas day. Christmas Eve doesn't have that much clout here.
23. What are your Xmas pet peeves?
Most of it. Lots of old Christmas trauma still to be totally cleared. Hence, I'm in Tasmania at the moment.
24. What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?
Time off work.
25. Here's your chance to say something significant to our players. Go for it!
Hope you've had a lovely time, what ever you have been doing. Just think, you could be poor old George Michael. (And I will leave you with a song... poor George...)
Today is the hard day. Today is the day that I'm feeling more than ever. Last year wasn't like this, but I think I was still in shock mixed with a large amount of guilt-ridden relief.
I managed Friday, the anniversary of her death, without as much as a breakdown. A couple of tears in the morning and a bit of lingering sadness.
But I'm feeling it today. That raw kick in the guts and the desire to medicate with ice cream, chocolate, gin or lashing out at people. I'm trying to keep to myself, keeping quiet and just getting on with things, and it's working to a point, but the feeling of wanting to self-medicate in a small way is overwhelming. I've had a bit of chocolate. There's been a bit too much coke zero (I average a can a fortnight). I had a very rare Malaysian meal for lunch - but that was mostly because the queue at Nandos was out the door.
See, today my niece would have turned 17.
It's not like the anniversary of the day she died. I still feel the relief and the release, knowing that she was no longer suffering - and my sister's family didn't have to go through the hell of watching her suffer any more. I'd prepared for Friday. Talked about it with friends. Took stock of the situation. When Friday came, it was more a case of knowing that despite the fact that she is no longer here, she isn't suffering.
Running up to the anniversary I watched as a university friend was losing her child. Very different circumstances. Very different responses. As hard as it was to watch, it felt good to stand by my friend in spirit. I understand the hurt she and her family are going through and know of the adjustments she will have to make in time.
I picked myself up today, saying something. Talking about schools with a friend I mentioned "My sister sends the girls to such and such a place." Girls. Hmm. Now there is one, not two. It's those little, subtle changes in grammar that seem to spear you hardest.
Today - I wasn't prepared for today. I didn't think about it. Wasn't reliving the last days in ICU vicariously thorough a friend.
Today, she would be turning 17.
If the leukaemia hadn't come she would be learning for her driver's license, and talking about boys and that silly K-Pop music she liked. She would have been choosing subjects for Year 12 and thinking about what she would be doing after. She'd be preparing for her school holidays and fun times with friends.
But she's not here. The leukaemia came and took her away. And it's shit.
And I mourn that loss of all that potential.
I set myself a task on Sunday night - to make a paper crane.
I remember a yoga teacher in Ubud telling me about the restorative powers of small acts of devotion. She spoke of the canang sari, or offerings that the Balinese leave outside their houses every morning, and spoke of the devotion and love that people put into these. An every day act of love and a desire to be a part of something bigger. To wish for love and luck and good fortune. A quiet time to put the hands to work for the betterment of humanity.
At her daughter's funeral, my friend had her friends and family make paper cranes. I love the symbolism of this, helping to let her daughter's soul take flight.
We did the same for Lolly, but her symbol was the butterfly. I see a butterfly and I always say hello to it.
So Sunday night I sat down with some paper to make this paper crane. That small act of devotion, for me, for my niece, and for my friend.
Needless to say, I suck at origami.
I didn't manage to make the paper crane. I nearly got there, but time, and patience were wearing thin.
This is my small act of devotion. For my niece. For my friend and her child. And for me.
I will make this paper crane. I feel I need to finish this small act.
Like everything, this feeling will pass. I'm glad I can sit with this for the day, know what it is, feel it, an move on from it.
And in the meantime, I will wander around feeling as if I've been harpooned.
Today is Christmas wrapping day. Christmas is nearly finished. Found some butterscotch for my hosts (bought him something my grandfather would like), have Barney's 12 assorted beers in the car and I will be picking up the Maow Maow this evening for a month at Aunty Pand's (lucky cat).
Five more days at work and I'm of for three weeks. Have a gentleman's agreement that I will finish the episode in draft of the mini-series I started earlier this year. I also want to get some work done on some of next year's reading if I can. Lots to do. Tasmania first (next weekend).
1. Which is worse? Being gossiped about or being lied to?
Being lied to. Have no idea why anybody would want to gossip about me anyway. I'm boring.
2. What is your favorite "Starbucks" drink? Or if you have better taste, Dunkin’Donuts?
Melbourne has far too many good coffee places to go to Starbucks Seriously, they are one up from Gloria Jeans which is run by a homophobic mega-church and I refuse point blank to buy coffee there - I will get the odd cappuccino from there, but really, by Melbourne standards - crap coffee. We don't have Dunkin Donuts here either.
3. Name an embarrassing moment (Make it good).
No. Too many to choose from.
4. Is it hard for you to ask some to forgive you when you have wronged them?
Okay - depends what it is.
5. Who do you wish you could meet?
Would love to meet William Shakespeare and grill him about a few of his plays.
6. Best food comes from which country?
Do I have to choose one? Spain. Love Spanish food.
7. Do you like small talk, or deep conversations?
Deep conversations.
8. Who do you most want to encourage this year?
Well, there isn't much left of this year, but I have a friend that I really want to encourage to get some help, pointed, targetted help. Just how to broach this with this person...
9. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
Save 10% of your salary each week. I'm trying. Currently that 10% is paying for tuition.
10. How often do you get real sick?
I tend to get a really bad flu/chest infection once a year. Thankfully that is about it. 11. Are you a person who has a whole lot of acquaintances, or just a few very close friends?
A bit of both. A couple of close friends, but a wide circle of acquaintences too. 12. If you could cure a disease, or heal a sickness, which one would you choose?
I wish I could retrospectively cure leukaemia. I really do.
13. What was your favorite book of 2016?
Although harrowing, "The Natural Way of Things" by Charlotte Wood was excellent. I love ML Steadman's "The Light Between Oceans" was fantastic too - much better than the movie.
14. What was one of your biggest accomplishments in 2016?
In some ways, just staying upright has been an achievement. I've got two high distinctions and a distinction for my Masters course this year too. Not a bad effort.
15. If you could be guaranteed a spot on the reality show "Survivor", would you go?
Maybe. Though the sight of me in a swimsuit would probably not be good for the viewing public. 16. Which is worse? Shopping for Jeans or a bathing suit?
Bathing suit. Jeans I can do no the denim has a bit of stretch in them in larger sizes.
17. How old was your oldest living relative (still living or in the past)?
My grandmother made it to 104. My oldest currently living relative is my aunt who's tipping 90 in January.
