Emily the Criminal, Decision to Leave, and The White Lotus s2 finale

The cost of chasing desire, plus breaking down a fantastic episode of television

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Dec 13, 2022

Hello!

On this week’s episode of Criticism Is Dead, we discuss Emily the Criminal and Decision to Leave, two films about crimes of passion.

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02:05 Emily the Criminal, streaming on Netflix, is an impressive feature film debut that hits all the right notes, and then some.

Pelin describes Emily the Criminal as a diet Uncut Gems, which is pretty accurate: It has a similar current of tension running throughout, but without inspiring quite as much ambient dread and anxiety in the viewer. Depicting the everyday grind and desperation of a regular person — one trapped by debt, a shitty job, and a past stacked against her — this film feels like a much more grounded take on class struggle and inequality than other popular contemporaries with similar lanes of social commentary. There is not a second wasted here; its tight pacing keeps us moving along to a great climax and the natural endpoint of Emily’s moral arc. If the world is made up of those who are exploited and those who are exploiting, the film seems to ask, wouldn’t you rather be the one doing the exploiting?

18:27 Decision to Leave, streaming on Mubi, is stylish, unbridled, and utterly, unexpectedly romantic.

Decision to Leave is a love story. Love here means desire, obsession, deceit, regret, sacrifice; it is a chase, a dance, and, ultimately, a secret buried deep in the sea. Highly recommend!

35:34 Plus, The White Lotus SEASON 2 FINALE!!!

Was that great or what???

christopher @its_Xopher

Portia and Tanya connecting the dots

Tanya McQuoid, Assassin @EmmaTolkin

Jennifer Coolidge, physical comedy GOAT!!! #TheWhiteLotus

hales🦋 @HaleyGrimard

Albie and Portia at the airport #TheWhiteLotus

bethany 🎄 @fiImgal

meghann fahy portraying the 5 stages of grief on her face within 28 seconds is actually crazy #TheWhiteLotus

toad from super mario teas @itgetsbedder

Mia gets to sing her lil applës and bânanïes covers and Lucia gets 50,000 euros? Nice to see our Italian Laverne and Shirley win.

Sam Stryker @sbstryker

Cities should have to bid to host the next season of The White Lotus like the Olympics

Bonus etc.

Another great piece about Andor.

Really don’t understand what is going on with HBO Max, can someone please explain:

Deadline Hollywood @DEADLINE

‘Westworld’ & ‘The Nevers‘ Pulled Off HBO Max, Marking Victorian Drama’s Formal Cancellation

deadline.com‘Westworld’ & ‘The Nevers‘ Pulled Off HBO Max, Marking Victorian Drama’s Formal EndEXCLUSIVE: Two other original scripted series, Westworld and The Nevers, are coming off HBO Max. Unlike others that we have reported on, Lionsgate TV’s Minx and Love Life and Sony TV’s …

Squirrel mom… I’m crying…

And finally, here are some book recommendations, as promised:

Pelin (top 5 from 2022 or late 2021):

My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley
I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
All This Could be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

Jenny (just some books I’ve read this year, various publish dates):

Beautiful People, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley
A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (honestly they’re very good, I’m glad I finally started)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Thank you and see you next week!

— Jenny

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Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what to watch can go to criticismisdead@gmail.com.

Some credits:

Music: REEKAH
Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Criticism Is Dead