No Nonsense #79: Desperate Housewives, Lux and The Florida Project
Hey divas, we’re back with another set of recs for you this week, check em out below <3
Misha MN - Contributing Culture Editor
TV series: Desperate Housewives
I’ve been wanting to revisit this iconic 00s show for years, and now I’ve finally started and it’s GLORIOUS. Marcia Cross as Bree Van de Kamp is CAMP with a capital K, that ginger flip and matching soft skirt suits are a perfect visual, especially when mixed with her BDSM submissive husband, thot daughter and evil gay son. Felicity Huffman shows real heart, I think it’s time for her to come back to the screen, I don’t care about that college admissions scandal anymore, it’s all corrupt anyway. Eva Longoria shags a 25 year old playing a 17 year old and hardly anyone mentions it. Terri Hatcher is charming but for some reason is being given physical comedy stunts that even Charlie Chapman and Buster Keaton would balk at, but she also gets to kiss hot men. Nicollet Sheridan as Edie is always a sexy scene stealer, and deserves so much more recognition for her role in this era-defining show. It’s fast, it’s snappy, it’s shocking, it’s got 23 episode seasons and it covers A LOT of ground, there’s been three murders, two houses being burnt down, lots of breaking and entering, and so many attempted assassinations in this quiet suburb it makes Chicago look bucolic, and that’s only season 1. 5 stars, always.
Film: The Philadelphia Story
Managed to catch this career defining 1940 Katherine Hepburn film on BBC the other week, and it’s as strong as ever. Some newspaper journalists schmooze their way into a society wedding so they can get the scoop on the haughty bride, collude with her Cary Grant-ish ex-husband and maybe knock the goddess off her pedestal for good measure, all of which they succeed at. Hepburn goes from ice queen to earth angel after one wild night of drinking and she’s all the more iconic for it. One of the most interesting parts of this film is the meta-narrative around it when it was produced: Hepburn had just been denounced as Box Office Poison, she was too uppity high-hat and audiences wanted to see her brought down to earth, and apparently the best way to do that was have Cary Grant punch her in the face in a surprisingly violent cartoonish prologue. Hepburn spends the rest of the film coming back down to the ground and growing into a real person, both loving, humble and self aware, and the audience ate it all up, giving her a career that lasted well into her 90s. Icon lifetime achievement award, top marks.
Song: The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
Ever since my Donnie Darko rewatch, I haven’t been able to get this song out of my head, or off my headphones. It’s like the time last year when I listened to Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears ten times a day everyday for five months straight. God knows what my end-of-year streaming statistics will look like. Anyway, I’ve made a great 80s playlist for when I’m walking around doing errands and it really bangs. Depeche Mode, Visage, Soft Cell, Bronski Beat, you just can’t go wrong with the classics.
Hatti Rex - Contributing Editor
As an adult woman, I don’t often get into the headspace of what it’s like to be an adult man but it seems a bit pub-filled and desperate. Thankfully, in Calder’s latest book, he switches the narratives between Chuck and Joey so you get a break between every chapter. It’s a real grim look at what living a corporate life in London, written from a writer who doesn’t use social media so he obviously has a lot of time on his hands to perfect his craft. Don’t read this if you think age gap relationships should be illegal because you’ll be instantly annoyed throughout, though admittedly I found him infuriating regardless. The book reads like watching a car crash, made me feel a bit empathetic for past tragic Hinge matches of years ago. Get it together bro.
Rillers, an Instagram and TikTok account dedicated to a very specific genre of stuffed gorillas
You can seep your Jelly Cats, Labubus, Beanie Babies and Troll Dolls (though I love literally all of these), it’s only secondhand stuffed gorillas for me now. I just think they’re neat. Whoever is behind the account has a collection full of them and has given them all nicknames and personalities so I’ve gotten sucked in. They went quiet for a while but they’re back again with fresh new memes, what a relief. So far, I think Mr Beans is my favourite but this could change.
What if I told you that it’s possible to go on holiday in the middle of the workday? Not physically but, with your cursor on your internet browser? Well now you can, see you by the pool.
Shannon Oxley - Junior Socials Editor
Album: Lux by Rosalia
My algorithm has exclusively been content from Rosalia's Lux tour at the moment, and I am incredibly jealous of anyone who has tickets to see her this week. It reminded me just how beautiful and poetic the album is and I have had it on REPEAT this week. Her vocals and artistic references are perfect. A true religious experience.
Rob Corsini - Contributing Editor
Film: The Florida Project
I rewatched The Florida Project on the Eurostar the other day and it just totally ruined me. I watched it when it first came out but maybe because I was younger / different time / whatever I didn’t quite get it but on second watch thought it was the most tender view into what being a child is - cried more times than I cared to count!
Transport: Eurostar
As previously mentioned, I watched The Florida Project on the Eurostar - which is the best form of transport in the world. Getting on a train and then being in a new country feels both amazing and slightly illegal. AND you get specified seats no fighting.
Camille Mariet - LA Editor
Leisure Suit Larry 6
Another freaked out 90’s point-and-click rec incoming! This old Sierra game’s about a pervy little man who’s at a resort filled with baddies and he’s trying to seduce them. I’m in it for the highly saturated pixel graphics and the baddies!! It’s definitely a product of the 90’s tho, so ye be warned.
Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Gel
For any super sensitive skincare girlies (and any of us in the US missing BoJ’s OG formulation), this Japanese face sunscreen has been a godsend!!! Last year I completely destroyed my barrier overusing actives and it has been a nearly year-long journey back to full skin health. Since then, I’ve had to be super sensitive to what I put on my face. Though not actually a gel (it’s more like a slightly milky lotion), this sunscreen has a featherlight texture and is delicately scented (it dissipates after a few mins). I can reapply all day long without feeling like my skin is suffocating and it washes off well, too (note: it is definitely not waterproof). I am obsessed with this stuff.
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XOXO,
The Polyester Team <3
