Weekly Roundup! March 17th, 2024

Welcome to Weekly Roundup!, where we explore captivating films, books, and stories that grabbed our attention this week.

Watches of the week

• Napoleon (2023) by Ridley Scott - 3.5/5

Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte. A man of mythical proportion (if not below average physical proportions). Ironically, that part of Napoleonic lore is up for debate.

What else is of mythical proportion? Ridley Scott’s 2023 historical-epic Napoleon. Recently released for streaming earlier this month, we finished this 2h38m beast over two days this past week. The film chronicles the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, and his relationship with Joséphine, played by Vanessa Kirby. Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding), makes a welcome, if not short lived appearance as the Napoleon’s nemesis - The Duke of Wellington. 

Ridley Scott brings his notorious cinematography and scale to Napoleon with beautiful and exciting battle scenes. And let’s be honest, historical epics are hard. Striking the balance between informative and entertaining for an audience is a daunting task. Most are an interesting and entertaining first watch, but not all can be Troy and warrant rewatch after rewatch. Although that could mainly be due to my man-crush on Brad Pitt in this role. 

Napoleon was worth the watch, but did not keep us glued to our seats for the entire 2h38m screen time. Given the action and battle scenes were the highlight, seeing it on the big screen might have given it a few extra points. The portrayal of the historical significance of the man Napoleon and this time period was left wanting. I felt that the film did not fully convey the magnitude of land conquered and the impact of the French empire

If you’re looking for a more historical POV that is also highly entertaining, I recommend Dan Snow’s History Hit podcast and the four-part series about Napoleon Bonaparte that helped get us through a drive to Chicago at the end of last year.

Reads of the week

• Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula

“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”

No introduction needed. Published in 1897 by Bram Stoker, the pointy-toothed Count from Transylvania has been a cornerstone of Gothic horror for over 125 years. And yet, I had never read the book. I have watched the 1992 film version by Francis Ford Coppola, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and no-doubt have been exposed to many variations and inspirations of this tale throughout my life. It was, however, nice to go straight to the source material.

I found the book particularly engaging due to its narrative style. It unfolds entirely through the journal entries of the main characters, providing a distinctive perspective on their journey as they succumb to Dracula's influence while simultaneously pulling down the veil of mystery that surrounds him. 

An easy recommendation if you have not already read the novel. The only consideration would be when to read it. With any book that is also a movie, I find it a conundrum to decide which to enjoy first, as that will inevitably taint your perception of the other. Or you could be like me and watch the movie a couple years prior, forget almost everything (to V’s disdain), and then read the book practically spoiler-free.

Hot Cakes Takes

Most of a long weekend in NYC was spent filling our mouths and emptying our wallets. The main highlight and purpose of the trip, however, was the Opera. For our first time at the Metropolitan Opera —my first opera period— we chose Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. I found the performances awe-inspiring (although maybe not as much as the women next to me crying during the second and third acts), and hopefully this will be the first of many trips to the magnificent opera house.

Outside the opera where everyone was dressed in their best, I couldn’t help but notice a fashion style that kept catching my attention. Don’t get me wrong, there is abundantly more variation in style in NYC than probably anywhere else in the U.S., but this “uniform” popped up enough I felt it was everywhere. It seemed no matter where we were, wherever I looked I could find at least one if not more women donning what I’ll call — the woman’s NYC sartorial uniform. 

What does this uniform consist of? First and foremost a pair of light-wash jeans. On the feet? A pair of chunky sneakers — preferably comfy, New Yorkers love to walk. Above the belt there is more freedom. Take your choice of oversized hoodie/crewneck or a dress shirt that could be your boyfriend’s. The thermometer did reach 70-degrees Fahrenheit this weekend, but it is still March in New York and that means a jacket is required. One choice here, a trench coat. Last but not least, to top it all off, an unstructured “dad” hat. 

To this I have but one question. Is this not the equivalent of the “Finance-bro” khakis and Patagonia? 

Reader Recommendations

Now, I want to hear from you! What movies, books, or articles captured your attention this week? Share your top picks in the comments below; your insights might just lead someone to their next favorite film or book. 

Stay tuned until next week!