Sarah just posted her review of Fifty Shades Freed and the movie should win the box office this weekend with a projected take of $33 million. It’s been a successful franchise, for sure, but it’s also a steadily declining franchise, like the NFL and Justin Timberlake. When the first movie opened, you could not get away from the hype. The opening weekend box office for Fifty Shades Of Grey was $85 million. But then the second movie opened with just over half of that at $46 million. And now the third is coming in with even less. Which totally makes sense. Because I’m not sure anyone’s been paying attention. I almost forgot that Fifty Shades Freed was happening this weekend until Sarah’s post. Why? Because everyone cares about another movie, the one that’s coming out next week: Black Panther.
There are so many articles that I’ve banked about Black Panther that I can’t wait to read until I see it. The only ones I’ve read are Kathleen’s. There are two reasons for this. The first is that I want to go in as fresh as possible. The second is that, afterwards, I want to prolong the experience with all the deep-dives and the thinkpieces that have already been published and all the ones to come. Not unlike the way it was when Beyoncé released Lemonade.
For now then…let’s enjoy the photos. And the style porn. The Black Panther European premiere was last night in London. Can we start with Danai Gurira? Because this dress, holy sh-t motherf-cker (Quincy Jones’s favourite word). It’s Jean Louis Sabaji. And it’s a design that feels like it’s taking place in real time. Doesn’t it look like those feathers are spreading across her body right now? As you’re looking at it? Kind of like the way Mystique’s body transforms in X-Men?
For Lupita, it was all about the hair. Am obsessed with this hairstyle. This hairstyle is the outfit. I mean, sure, she’s wearing the sh-t out of that dress but it really wouldn’t matter even if she wasn’t. The hair is the soul of the look.
The soul of all of Kathleen’s desires is Michael B Jordan. And, well, MBJ in a three quarter length jacket …what is there to complain about? Also, for all of us, here’s a shot of MBJ and Lupita looking at each other adoringly. If you would like to write some horny fan fiction about these two, I would read it:
If you would like to write some horny fan fiction about Chadwick Boseman, I would read that too. I might read that first. This JACKET. Chadwick is 41 years old. He is not married. He had a girlfriend six months ago but I can’t get an update on that, or maybe I just haven’t been looking hard enough because it doesn’t serve my purposes. What I’m trying to say is that even though it’s none of my goddamn business I would like to have a say in this.
Also attached – Letitia Wright, who everyone says will be the major breakout from Black Panther. When Letitia smiles, she reminds me of Kathleen. I told Kathleen this yesterday and she almost cried. She is either crying or almost crying any time we talk about Black Panther these days.
She also wanted me to shout out Michaela Coel, the creator and writer of Chewing Gum. If you haven’t already, WATCH CHEWING GUM. It’s on Netflix. Duana yells at me a lot to catch up on whatever show it is it that she’s up on and to finally finish Gilmore Girls. Chewing Gum is one of the reasons I never do what she tells me to. And I’m not sorry.
Finally… we need to talk about this photo that Lupita posted on Instagram the other day:
A Black Panther airplane slumber party. Excuse me. But how did those pyjamas happen? Who organised it?
One week to Black Panther. Be ready!
