Media Diary: June '26

featuring three Whitney Houston films

Jul 01, 2026

It’s really summer now, pals!! You can often find me reapplying my SPF every two hours or hiding inside in the bliss of AC and shade, watching movies and knitting. I know…my wild rockstar lifestyle is intimidating!

Watched

New

Something in the Water (2024, dir. Hayley Easton Street)

Another beautiful text watch with my friend Meg. One of the dumbest films ever recorded, perhaps???? This movie opens with a hate crime. Then the girlfriends at the centre of the hate crime are broken up and reunited at a friends destination wedding. Then they all go on an adventure and the friends conspire to get these girlfriends to be girlfriends again. Unfortunately, shakes conspire with the ocean to gobble them all up, basically. Not a single one of these ladies displays even the slightest hint of survival skills. Also, do not stay friends with people who insist that you should take back the person who bailed on you after you were physically assaulted. 1.5 stars.

How To Make a Killing (2026, dir. John Patton Ford)

Oh…….okay. Not quite. 2 stars.

The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025, dir. Kaouther Ben Hania)

You can’t really rate a movie like this. A docudrama that expertly highlights the bureaucracy of humanitarian work alongside the pure and utter evil that is Isra*l.

We Were Dangerous (2024, dir. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu)

I love a good piece of New Zealand cinema! The subject matter of this film is tough but is handled in a beautiful way with signature Kiwi humour. 3.5 stars.

Pillion (2025, dir. Harry Lighton)

I thought this was beautifully shot and the performances were great. If I had one comment it’s that I wish there was even a brief conversation about what the dynamic was going to be instead of Ray just barking orders without context. That said, this isn’t my culture so what do I know! 3.5 stars.

We Can Live Forever (2022, dirs. Sarah Watts & Mark Slutsky)

A small canadian film about teenage lesbians and a small Jehovah’s Witness community. Sweet and beautiful and tough. And I always curse the JW building when I drive by FOR A REASON. 4 stars.

New to Me

The Watermelon Woman (1996, dir. Cheryl Dunye)

This has been on my watchlist forever and I have no excuse for not watching it until now. But I did!!!! Exquisite. 4.5 stars.

Boys on the Side (1995, dir. Herbert Ross)

If this had been a Penny Marshall film…it might have been good! But oh my goodness???? The premise of this movie is exactly my shit but the execution was bad!!! A shocking amount of lesbophobia for a movie with an Indigo Girls cameo? Justice for Whoopi. 2.5 stars.

Game Night (2018, dir. John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein)

Somehow had never seen this even though I knew the famous scenes. Was the perfect silly viewing for a final visit with our bestfriends. Jesse Plemmons is truly so fucking funny. 3.5 stars.

All The Beauty and The Bloodshed (2022, dir. Laura Poitras)

I watched this after a Paris is Burning rewatch and it was excellent. I knew it would be interesting but it absolutely exceeded my expectations. Vital. 5 stars.

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024, dir. Michael Mabbott & Lucah Rosenberg-Lee)

And I rounded out that day with this documentary that had been on my Crave list for ages. SO interesting and beautiful. 5 stars.

Rewatch

Waiting To Exhale (1995, dir. Forest Whitaker)

The makeup artist(s) on this film should’ve won an Oscar for how stunning each woman looks at every moment. 4 stars.

The Bodyguard (1992, dir. Mick Jackson)

Didn’t we almost have it all????? 4 stars.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001, dir. Sharon Maguire)

I always wonder who ends up paying back the Greek restaurant for their window??? 4.5 stars

Bring It On (2000, dir. Peyton Reed)

“Tried to steal our bit, but you look like shit...Cuz we're the ones that are down with it!". 4.5 stars

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998, dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan)

My thing with this movie is like….Taye Diggs was 27 when they made this movie so why did they not just make his character his age????? And I do always get annoyed that Stella and Delilah spend basically NO time together on their trip? They have the best chemistry in the film. Anyways, Angela Bassett looks exquisite in every frame. 3 stars.

The Long Walk (2025, dir. Francis Lawrence)

The second watch is…..absolutely more devstating somehow??? Happy pride to Pete and Ray. 4.5 stars.

Cinderella (1997, dir. Robert Iscove)

The only Cinderella. 5 stars.

Monkey Man (2024, dir. Dev Patel)

We downloaded this to watch on our flight back to Ottawa for graduation….excellent decision. It’s just too good. 5 stars.

The Birdcage (1996, dir. Mike Nichols)

One of the greatest movies there is and I really believe that. 5 stars.

Hit Man (2023, dir. Richard Linklater)

Another film we downloaded for the plane. It’s just a good time! 4.5 stars.

One of Them Days (2025, dir. Lawrence Lamont)

Keke’s talent and charisma should be studied. 3.5 stars.

Paris Is Burning (1990, dir. Jennie Livingston)

I love this movie so much. 5 stars.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986, dir. John Hughes)

I have seen this movie a number of times that should be troubling? But I can’t help it. Cameron forever. 4 stars.

Pretty In Pink (1986, dir. John Hughes)

The way I feel about Duckie is the way that tweet talks about killing ET with hammers. 3.5 stars.

Pretty Woman (1990, dir. Gary Marshall)

Julia Roberts is just so unbelievably charming and sometimes you just gotta watch this corny film. 3.5 stars.

Runaway Bride (1999)

Had to be done!!!! I was raised on this film, for better or worse. 3.5 stars.

[redacted] Chicks: Shut up and Sing (2006, dir. Barbara Kopple & Cecilia Peck)

Somehow my partner had never seen this and I have not watched it since 2006. What a time capsule!! With 2026 eyes it might not seem that interesting—especially since musicians are all doing filmed concerts and stuff—but at the time this documentary was mind blowing. It’s still a fascinating look at this era and how fucking crazy this situation was. 4 stars.

Television

The Other Bennet Sister….twice. And I’ll do it again!!!!
The final season of The Bear.
Widow’s Bay concluded. What an absolutely excellent show.
RHORI reunion ends. Liz and Rulla…..woof.
Ongoing:
- From….it’s losing me.
- RHOA — Good grief. K. Michelle and Kelli need to go.
- Below Deck: Mediterranean —
- Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — a thrill ride.
- Cape Fear — excellent.
- Showing my partner a CW classic that I loved in my undergrad: Hart of Dixie