The Worst Person in the World, The Afterparty, and grab bag
Pivotal soirées and their aftermaths, plus miscellaneous TV/film updates
Hello!
On this week’s episode of Criticism Is Dead, we discuss The Worst Person in the World and The Afterparty, a film and a series about looking back and moving forward.
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01:35 The Worst Person in the World, currently playing in theaters, explores existential questions through the small dramas of everyday life.
I’m going to be honest: Pelin and I disagree on The Worst Person in the World. Its heroine, Julie, is a bit of a cipher. One could argue that she is too much of a blank slate, lacking any definable motives or desires or interiority. Or one could argue that that is part of the point; she is a vessel for the audience to pour themselves into, an avatar of the aimlessness and restlessness that loads of people can relate to. This film is all about those uncertainties, raising universal questions about life and death, love and grief, intent and impulse. If you like Frances Ha, you will probably enjoy this film and all its (beautifully shot) slices of life.
23:41 The Afterparty, streaming on Apple TV+, is the latest star-packed entry in the “millennial whodunnit” genre.
Like Only Murders in the Building (previously discussed here), The Afterparty makes for a decently entertaining murder mystery comedy powered by an incredible cast: Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Dave Franco, and other scene-stealing breakouts from the funniest productions over the years. The series is both helped and hindered by its Rashomon-inspired format, which has each episode unfold through the perspective — and preferred film genre — of a different character. The results are uneven, but overall still pretty fun.
37:28 Plus, culture grab bag!
Very brief thoughts on:
Annihilation (this is for you, Christine Wu!)
Somebody, Somewhere (ty Rafi Kam for the rec!)
Inventing Anna
The Gilded Age
Single Drunk Female
The Righteous Gemstones
Bonus links
Euphoria s2 finale thoughts:
SAG looked amazing:
Alison Herman on the new wave of tech TV:
At a certain point in the last decade’s technology boom, the cart began to lead the horse. The archetype of a path-breaking iconoclast shaking up a staid business world came first, with the actual ideas arriving later—or, in some cases, not at all. For storytellers, that gap between expectations and reality leaves ample room to explore.
Also pertinent:
In unrelated news, here’s Gatorade bread.
That’s it for now. We hope you’re safe and well. 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