new year, new(s) letter
Hi!
Thanks for opening this email.
me, picking up lots of healthy new habits for this week
Wishing all newsletter readers a very happy New Year, but moreso to those who forwarded it to a friend. It's not too late to endear yourself to me forever (or, alternatively, earn a spot on my shit list) by simply adding their email here. And now, your links:
An extensive "nepo baby" explainer, exposing the lineage of young Hollywood and beyond. While much of this discussion seems to boil down to, "this is unfair," my takeway is that the United States has obilterated the creative class, and the only people with an opportunity to create anything other than spreadhseets are those with someone else bankrolling it (full disclosure: this is how I operate). Going into the same field as your parents is harmless; but the 1% hoarding opportunities for their offspring? Much more sinister.
And speaking of rich kid auteurs making straight garbage: you might love your mom, but do you "spend 20+ years making documentary-style propaganda" for your mom? Alexandra Pelosi does!
Bringing this kind of positivity and perspective into 2023.
And from newsletter friend Ravi, who was kind enough to let me know RRR is actually regressive, right-wing bullshit, but supplied me with some fun Indian action movie recs that aren't just establishment drivel, like Kaala, Fandry, Asuran, Sarpatta Parambarai (this one is on Prime!), Ponniyin Selvan: I (also on Prime), Karnan, Jhund, and Lunchbox (on Hulu).
Tunes to start the week with:
I spent most of the holidays on the road, which meant I needed to find some good music to keep me at peace on the Mass Pike. Two recs, one brand new, one nostalgia pick:
Little Simz, NO THANK YOU - I love this album. It's super slick and refreshingly different than so much of the hip hop coming out today. My buddy Patrick wrote a (very British) review here.
Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else - Classic pop-punk, emo, whatever, perfect for singing along to in the car. This album never gets old to me. "I'm Not A Part Of Me" is a perfect little rock song.
xx