The First Wives Club
This will likely get cut off in your email so read it in the browser also this week I am demanding that you watch the video I embedded from the movie…it’s going to make you feel great I promise.
1996 was a great year for films. The appropriate ones for me to be watching at the time that came out were films like Space Jam and 101 Dalmations — I hated both of them and instead opted for Matilda, Carpool, and the VERY GAY Harriet The Spy.
Then there were the 1996 films that I would find years later and fall in love with — Scream, Barb Wire, Bound, Trainspotting, and — The First Wives Club.
I saw this movie with my cousin, Kenyada, who I saw most movies with cos he was one of the few people who would wanna watch movies obviously meant for white women who were in their late 40s with me. It was on TV, probably TBS because that’s where I saw SO MANY movies in the early aughts on Saturdays.
It was insane how many movies we would sit and watch on that channel in the back room of his house. Curtains drawn, snacks splayed across the floor, and us twisting and contorting ourselves in positions on the couches and floor while we stared at the oversize television.
Anyway, it came on and I knew I wanted to watch because I was midway through a short-lived obsession I had with Goldie Hawn, who Millenials probably just know as Kate Hudson’s mom. Pause for proof:
I had just seen 80’s classics Overboard and Private Benjamin a few months before and immediately knew it was her when she came on the screen. And OF COURSE my cousin and I knew Bette Midler from Hocus Pocus, AND I knew Diane Keaton because I’d discovered Annie Hall from my drama teacher Mr. Boyer (and then found out Woody Allen was a creepy prick pervo jerk and never watched any more of his films ever again.)
We watched and it eventually became one of our go-to rentals. Here we were, two teenagers obsessed over a film where three white women scorned exact their revenge on their ex-husbands who had all left them for younger women. They were all best friends in college but ended up going their separate ways until the death of one of the friends in the original group (played by the one and only Stockard fuckin’ Channing) reunites them. It was high camp and hijinx galore and we cackled through it all!
Reciting the lines during re-watches where we would switch who was what character, pretending that our Faygo red and grape pops were cocktails, and of course, acting out the final scene with the volume on high.
The final scene in the movie — and the most popular as years have gone on — is where everything is a wrap. They have won and they sing a song they all used to love in college — “You don’t own me” by Lesley Gore. You may know the newer version which was popular on The Suicide Squad soundtrack.
They are in all white looking fucking stunning, reminiscing about it all, and ready to move forward. They sing this song at the top of their lungs, dancing in their renovated downtown offices — and they sing it from their souls. From inside the golden-hued room, surrounded by the beautiful chaos that’s left from a well-deserved night, and then out onto the cobblestone streets of New York City.
Screaming lyrics that they had long left behind and that they probably once promised to never forget.
Me and my cousin would perform this over and over, and when I watched it this week I danced to it the same way I did in that back room.
“I’m young and I love to be young
I’m free and I love to be free
To live my life the way that I want
To say and do whatever I please.
NO NO, YOU DON’T OWN ME
FOREVER YOUNG AND FREE DARLING YOU DON’T OWN ME”
The lyrics are so fitting to who I am now, years removed from the teenager I was when I first saw it. In a relationship where I am allowed to be myself and loved for it, and in friendships with folks who I have attracted by being the person I am — and no one wants me to change. In fact, most times it’s me yelling at myself in the mirror to change even though generally, I am quite happy with who I am.
These are lyrics you can sing to the world. To the grip that it can sometimes have on you. When you have moments of feeling like you’re just a character in the simulation instead of the one in control of it.
When I was younger and singing those lyrics, I don’t know who I was belting them out to. Could be the folks who had done harm to me, maybe to my parents, or maybe to teachers in a moment of rebellion — I don’t know. But on this day, in good old 2022, I wasn’t singing to anyone. Instead, I was just a person enjoying a scene and living out the beautiful memories that came from it.
Watching this film, with an IMPECCABLE CAST, I was so happy. I hadn’t watched it in a few years I think and when that scene came on I was — elated. I was Elise, Brenda, Cynthia, and Annie, living a life on my terms and loving pretty close to every minute of it.
Other Movies with Scenes that my cousin and I performed
This one from My Best Friends Wedding
Also — Yes we both eventually came out and are very gay.
What I Watched
As always you can find this info on my Letterboxd buuuuutttt still.
House of The Dragon — Everyone should be fried crispy but that’s just me.
Rosaline — I LOVE modern spins on Shakespearan pieces. I also am just pretty obsessed with Kaitlyn Dever. I also saw this glass I stole from Soho House in a scene that made me smile.
38 at the Garden, The Hunger, Mr. Harrigans Phone
The Only Lovers Left Alive - this was filmed in Detroit and the plot brings the city in too! It’s awesome! Also - BLOOD POPSICLES!!!
AD breaking down haunted houses from horror films
THE TRAILER FOR THE CROWN SEASON 5!!!!!!!!!!
What I Re-Watched
Will and Grace - This is my first time re-watching the show since I did when I was a literal child and yes it’s cringe but also…still funny? I am midway through season 2 as of this week, shall update you!
Katie Holmes and her attitude in Disturbing Behavior
The First Wives Club - This cast ALWAYS makes me so happy like - WTF. Also — the ever-perfect dialogue:
“I’m a lesbian — but that’s not the issue here and don’t tell Daddy I want to tell him myself when the time is right. Like Father’s Day or Christmas Morning.”
What I Listened To
I went back to work this week after a nearly 3-week vacation and apparently, lotsa QTPOC folks on our team don’t know many Black queer artists outside of the 4 mainstream ones so I made them a playlist of my favs.
Everyone on the playlist is queer except for Sy Ari (Song 20) and 95% of them are Black while the others identify as Latinx.
What I Read
Hannas’ cover story on Keke Palmer for Net-A-Porter
Chiomas’ cover story on Michaela Coel for Vogue
John Waters saying he saw Angela Lansbury at a Sex Club for Page Six — I believe it.
This breakdown of The Crown Season 5 over on TUDUM. Also, not a lot of folks read that site cos Netflix does a shit job of promoting it but its really great for insider info on stuff on that platform.
What I Ate
Birria Tacos
Ritz cheese and crackers
At home KBBQ w/ rice
Spicy Garlic Noods
A scene I can’t stop thinking about
Mona Lisa Saperstein is THE BEEEEESSSSSTTTT
Etc.
An episode of The Bechdel Cast where they talk about Bound which EVERY DYKE SHOULD SEE COS PHEW - also my episode where I talk about Empire Records cos duh.
Soho House sucks.
I love my partner
My week had quite a few like not-so-great moments but that’s okay.
THERES A PODCAST FOR THE CROWN AND NO ONE TOLD ME!!
Okay bye —
