Good Sunday Stack October 19th
Sometimes it be ya own soup
Weeks ago, I was enticed by an Instagram video leading with “let me show you how to make this one-pot chicken gnocchi soup that will have you in a literal chokehold for the rest of soup season”. I saved the video in anticipation of soup season’s imminent arrival, and I decided this past Friday to finally make it. I walked up Ridley Road Market grabbing what ingredients I could from the stalls before finishing my shopping list at the M&S next to the overground station.
Returning home, I seasoned and chopped and simmered and souped. Somewhere along the way, a costly error was made, and my stomach paid the price over the ensuing 24 hours. Particularly challenging were the facts that one, my room doesn’t ventilate well, so I ended fumigating myself to boot, and two, I was attempting to watch David Fincher’s Se7en, not exactly the most appetizing viewing.
Moving to a new city, you picture the revelatory nights, adventures to parks and museums, and new friends, but all the rest of life – catching colds, undercooking chicken – come along too. So it goes, I’m a few movies richer and more experienced chef for my troubles.
What I’m Watching
Tottenham Hotspur, unfortunately.
Much like American politics, Spurs have depth issues on the left. They only have one proper non-Ben Davies left sided player-Destiny Udogie, who rotates with converted right back Djed Spence on the left side of the defense.
Then on the wing in front of them they’ve tried two right wingers in Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert, strikers Mathys Tel, Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison, and the newly signed Xavi Simons, whose best position being the 10 became readily apparent.
Thomas Frank, amid his first season, has been left a with this glaring weakness in an otherwise strong squad, pun intended. In today’s loss to a putrid Aston Villa side, things grew so dire he had Brennan Johson playing behind Randal Kolo Muani. As Frank continues to throw things at the wall hoping something sticks, I’d also ask he play a more progressive midfield, but that’s for another time.
Se7en
As my digestive troubles began to fade, I was finally able to stomach Se7en. I’m pleased to report it’s a perfect movie, though not for the faint of heart. I have no offerings about this classic that don’t already exist, but I am immensely glad to have finally checked it off my watchlist.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?!
Ford v Ferrari
James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari, known as Le Mans ’66 in the UK I learned is everything you expect from a Hollywood blockbuster. It’s got movie stars (Matt Damon, Christian Bale), it’s based on a true story that inspires some good old fashioned ra-ra America patriotism, and movie-goers were treated to several ornate racing set pieces sequences.
While watching at home often diminishes the spectacle of set pieces, I have the benefit of my projector casting a large screen and more importantly in this case, studio headphones. What separates this movie from the average big budget output of the Hollywood industrial complex is how it sounds. Every gear shift, engine rev, wrench crank, and tire skid is perfect. They come together for a sumptuous composition not unlike the cars at the film’s center. I love when movies emphasize tactile details. Ford v Ferrari, worth a watch, and certainly worth a listen.