I was in New York again this past weekend for the A Quiet Place: Day One junket – and I say again because I was in NYC the previous weekend for Celine Dion so that’s Toronto to New York and back again twice in five days. Yes I am making it about me because your girl is TIRED!
So about the movie… not usually my kind of movie because I usually don’t f-ck with this genre; also I can’t remember when the embargo is up so this is not a full review, but I can tell you it’s not what I expected at all. I did not expect to be so moved by this film – I cried at the end! And, sure, that may have been due to my overall fatigue but it’s mostly because Lupita just brought out alllll the feels in me. And that’s a testament to her talent, her impact on a project. You don’t just cast an actor like Lupita casually in a role that doesn’t promise more than just jump scares and Lupita doesn’t just casually commit to a role where there’s not more than just scares.
This isn’t a movie about aliens and trying to be quiet, it’s a story about the human condition and how much humanity we can find in silence. Sarah will have more when she reviews A Quiet Place: Day One in a few days so I’ll be curious what she has to say because I came out of there thoroughly impressed, and an emotional mess. PS. And I don’t care if I get in trouble with the studio for telling you this because it’s a public service announcement – there are no cat crimes in this film, you don’t have to worry about watching harm come to the cat.
As for the experience of talking to Lupita, just being in her presence… I got the heads up going in from colleagues who’d interviewed her before that she’s lovely, that she’s never one you have to worry about, and they were right. She is so warm it feels like the temperature in the room goes up the moment you enter, and you don’t feel the heat on your skin, you feel it in your soul. I know that sounds corny AF but it’s the only way I can describe. She has the purest, kindest, reassuring smile. As if she’s saying, come in, come in, I’ll never hurt you. I’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years, and the truth is, sometimes you walk into these junkets bracing for the hurt, it’s not often that you go in there feeling nothing but… safe.
A strange thing to say, obviously, about a stranger, but that’s the power of Lupita! Her answers were thoughtful but not too serious and she was playful when the question was meant to be playful and she was sweet with co-star Joseph Quinn (who is a SNACK!) and, yes, yes, yes, she is exquisite up close. The first thing I noticed, sorry, was her legs, her skin, because she was wearing a very tight and very short black dress and I’ve never seen skin that buttery and creamy and it was from head to toe. And her face, she’s insanely beautiful, I don’t have to tell you this but when the smile hits her eyes, it’s like the room explodes with happiness. Another corny AF thing to say but I’m telling you, I feel like Lupita changed my personality, she’s that much of an angel.
More on Lupita – and also Celine! – in my next newsletter for The Squawk so for now please enjoy these shots of Lupita in various outfits while promoting the movie in New York the last couple of days. She is wearing the sh-t out of the Dolce tuxedo bodysuit with the dramatic necklace, and I’m glad it wasn’t what she had on during our interview because I don’t think I would have been able to speak.
