Irrelevant But Awesome

Welcome to Kue's List! This is a weekly collection of fresh and fantastic tunes curated by yours truly, Jonah Kue. So, without further adieu, here's this week's Kue's List, followed by Apple Music and Spotify links to it: John Mayer - "Still Feel Like Your Man" Wale - "Fashion Week (feat. G-Easy)" Dirty Heads - "Freedom" THEY. - "Dante's Creek" Future - "Comin Out Strong (feat. The Weeknd)" Calvin Harris - "Slide (feat. Frank Ocean & Migos)" Thundercat - "Show You the Way (feat. Michael McDonald)" Niia - "Hurt You First" Jidenna - "Bambi" Stormzy - "Big For Your Boots" NAV - "Myself" Click for Apple Music playlist link Click for Spotify playlist link

Alexa:  A little background for anyone not familiar with “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” – the project originally screened as two separate movies, “Him” and “Her” versions told from the perspectives of Conor (James McAvoy) and Eleanor (Jessica Chastain) as their marriage falls apart after a tragedy. Director/writer Ned Benson subsequently stitched together scenes from both films into another version, “Them.” I remember being intrigued by the “Him” / “Her” approach when the films were first released, but sadly I only had time to watch one version this week, so I chose “Them” – and I was a bit underwhelmed. The movie is gorgeously shot and features remarkable performances from McAvoy and Chastain. Their haunting work alone is reason enough for anyone who appreciates nuanced acting to watch it. But at least in the “Them” cut, the story felt more familiar than I was expecting based on the buzz surrounding the film when it was on the festival circuit. Other than the acting, n...

Welcome to Kue's List! This is a weekly collection of fresh and fantastic tunes curated by yours truly, Jonah Kue. So, without further adieu, here's this week's Kue's List, followed by Apple Music and Spotify links to it: MisterWives - "Machine" Anna Wise - "Some Mistakes" DJ Khaled - "Shining (feat. Beyonce & JAY Z)" Avelino - "Energy (feat.  Stormzy & Skepta)" Vince Staples - "BagBak" WATERS - "Hiccups" THEY. - "U-RITE" NAV - "Some Way (feat. The Weeknd)" Sampha - "Under" Little Dragon - "High" Lana Del Rey - "Love" Click for Apple Music playlist link Click for Spotify playlist link

Alexa:  Kevin Smith routinely balances offbeat premises with clever (if sometimes crass) dialogue. And while I’ve enjoyed many of his movies, Chasing Amy is a cut above the rest – for the most part. Ben Affleck, Jason Lee and particularly Joey Lauren Adams deliver compelling performances, and the film’s take on love and friendship feels more honest and heartfelt than some of Smith’s other works without being too overwrought. It’s apparent that this was a passion project for Smith, deftly balancing genuine emotion with his signature quirks and raunchiness. My only real complaint is that the ending – or rather the scene right before the ending – felt out of sync with the tone of the rest of the movie. I understand Smith’s intentions surrounding Holden’s insecurity, but his approach with this scene (which I won’t spoil for anyone who hasn’t seen it) comes across as jarring. While Chasing Amy is a bit dated now, overall it’s still a high point in Smith’s filmography. Joel: I...

Alexa:  I’m a sucker for British romantic comedies no matter how ridiculous, and Man Up is no exception. Objectively it’s pretty middle-of-the-road as far as rom-coms go. It’s certainly not the worst I’ve seen – its two delightful leads alone are enough to ensure that – but it doesn’t offer anything that elevates it beyond your cookie-cutter expectations of the genre. In other words, it’s the perfect Netflix movie for a night in after a long week and all you want is a bit of cheese. Simon Pegg and Lake Bell have great chemistry and ooze charm, even when their characters make questionable choices. They’re likable despite their many flaws, which make them all the more relatable. You do have to look past some tropes that would be alarming in any other context to truly enjoy it. An unnecessary subplot involves a former high school classmate/stalker of Bell’s Nancy that we’re supposed to find laughable rather than just plain creepy. And even the story’s central meet cute, which inv...

Alexa:  I’ve never been a fan of The Jungle Book in general – not even the beloved animated version – so kudos to John Favreau for crafting an adaptation that melted even my Jungle Book-hating heart. I could wax poetic for thousands of words about the animals alone. They were created entirely using CGI and motion capture technology, and the resulting creatures are both hyper-realistic and fantastical. They seamlessly integrate with the gorgeously rendered environments, yet the fact that they talk doesn’t look at all out of place. But beyond the stunning visuals, the structure of this particular version and the rich portrayals of the characters resonated with me unlike any other adaptation. Neel Sethi, the young lead, is utterly charming, and the voice actors are all perfectly cast. My only real complaint is the use of a select few songs from Disney’s classic animated movie. This film is not a musical but two songs still make it into the narrative, so it feels like they’re onl...