Well folks, your friendly neighborhood movie reviewer will soon graduate from Truman State University. It’s been a pleasure writing for such a prestigious publication as The Index.
Perhaps you will see me again writing alongside A.O. Scott for The New York Times. Or, more likely, on a personal blog accessible through my Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Through my four years at the University, I’ve had my ups and downs. The team at The Index are brilliant, hard-working, welcoming and often hilarious — providing me with a sense of belonging and community through thick and thin. For that I am eternally grateful.
In terms of advice, challenge yourself, be open to new possibilities, seek help if you’re struggling, exercise outdoors, don’t let academics dominate your life, watch all my movie recommendations and don’t have in-person parties during quarantine.
I suppose I should provide some movie recommendations to soothe your heartbreak. Some incredible movies currently streamable on Netflix — covering a wide spectrum of genres — include “American Factory,” “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” “Drive,” “The Florida Project,” “Good Time,” “Happy as Lazzaro,” “Hell or High Water,” “I Lost My Body,” “Moon,” and, if you’re feeling ambitious, “There Will Be Blood.”
On Amazon Prime, check out “The Farewell,” “Honey Boy,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” “Leave No Trace,” “The Lighthouse,” “Moonstruck,” “Paterson,” and the original three Wallace and Gromit short films (“A Grand Day Out,” “The Wrong Trousers” and “A Close Shave”).
Truth be told, I don’t really care which movies you watch in your free time — if any at all. This has been an outlet for me to indulge in my love of cinema above all else.
Developing a sarcastic, cynical writing persona has also been a real treat. In real life, I like to think I’m a pretty timid, soft-spoken and kind-hearted individual who’s obsessed with movies. Critique has always been secondary. Watch what you want and share what you love.
Stay safe and healthy. À bientôt.