My December 2024 Wrap-Up
The month is over, so let's recap!
With another month of the year complete, it is time to look back and reflect on everything that went down this December in one of the more casual posts here on A Story For Another Day. Enjoy!
Movies
This month was full of going to the movies because, for some reason, every movie I wanted to see was coming out this month. When posting this article, my piece on my favorite films of 2024 will not be up for another few days, but many of the films I saw this month will be on that top ten list. I fell in love with so many new stories, each providing a different experience I cherish.
If you keep up with the madness here on A Story For Another Day, you probably saw my story about how I got “kicked out” of watching The Brutalist. It was a mess, so go read that if you want to know that story, but I did end up watching the film in its entirety a few days later, and it was magnificent. I don’t think the film’s second half landed as well as the first, but I would be lying if I said I did not find myself thinking about the incredible story and its themes days after completing it.
This month, I also watched Queer, a beautifully tragic romance that felt all too real. It is a film I could rewatch over and over again because of its rich layers and thematic elements. It was another film I knew deserved its own piece because it was just so personal and enjoyable. I paired Queer in a double feature with the Amy Adams starrer Nightbitch. The film revolves around Adams’ character, thinking she is turning into a dog. It is undoubtedly entertaining but lacks substance and only takes its concept halfway. At least it wasn’t as bad as the new Mufasa movie. Yikes, Disney dropped the ball big time with this one. While watching, I wondered, “Why is this film not using 2D animation?” Mufasa could have been so much more interesting if the film had a captivating story to tell, but instead, it chooses the most basic, cliche plot points and accompanies them with terrible music that poses the question of whether Lin Manuel Miranda still has it.
I hate that I am saying this, but Robert Eggers also made me question his talent after seeing Nosferatu. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the film! The performances were great, and the evocation of the film’s vibe was flawless. Yet, the twisted charm that filled his three previous films is absent in this retelling. I fear that the creepy vibe was just not there, feeling a bit more drawn out and dull. Maybe I just expected something similar to the craziness of The Lighthouse, my favorite film of his, but this did not meet my high expectations, which is probably my fault for placing them that high in the first place.
I also saw Babygirl and A Complete Unknown this month, but I am going to save my full thoughts on those for a future post. Spoiler Alert: they are on my favorite films of the year list. However, the latter of the two flicks actually brings us to the next topic.
Bob Dylan
I am a Bob Dylan fan, thanks to James Mangold and Timothée Chalamet. Maybe it’s embarrassing to admit, but I had never heard a Bob Dylan song before watching A Complete Unknown. Honestly, I did not know a single thing about the man. Yet, after watching the film, I have become obsessed with him and his music. Bringing It All Back Home has been on repeat, meaning I have not listened to any other albums in full because I cannot escape the greatness of that one, but I am going to listen to his entire discography very soon because I am very intrigued in what he has to offer.
Books
Recently, I posted on Notes that I would start reading A Little Life, the hefty book that has caused chaotic conversations among book enthusiasts for years. Well, I started it but did not finish it. It’s not that I did not like it, but rather that I was just so busy this month that I did not have it in me to read a nearly 800-page book and appreciate it. So, I am putting it down and picking it back up another time.
Throughout 2024, I read 12 books! For some people, that might seem like a small number, but it equals a huge accomplishment to me because 2024 was the first year in a long time where I truly enjoyed reading and doing it consistently. My goal for the year was 20 books, but hey, I am just happy that I picked up some books and read.
Looking Forward
This post is the last monthly wrap-up of the year, so I just want to say thank you for all the support this past year. I know, this is the looking forward section, but this platform has grown so much since I started last year that I just have to share my appreciation. Many new pieces have flourished, feeling like I have found my voice in my writing.
Here are some of my favorite articles I posted this year:
With that, I hope 2024 has been good to everyone and that 2025 will be an even better year. Thank you so much for the support, and I wish you all to stick around for another year because there are plenty of days to tell many more stories.