Creamline Goes to the Movies

With a special appearance by Moviepudding's Elissa Suh.

Welcome to Creamline, movie edition! In honor of this week’s guest—the amazing film critic, writer, and founder of MOVIEPUDDING Elissa Suh—we’re sharing the films that molded us.

Parts I & 2: Our Formative Film Strips

Inspired by Moviepudding, we dove into our respective cinematic histories to find movies that have shaped the way we see the world over the years, from beauty to food to love. Please silence your phones and enjoy.

Taylore’s Picks
Movie Snack: I’ve maintained the same in-theater for years: a small popcorn and a box of Buncha Crunch. I eat them together, but you can’t just dump the candy into the popcorn bag; the chocolate will melt. It’s a handful-by-handful situation, and there’s nothing better.

Beauty

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964): We watched this technicolor stunner in my high school French class, and I’ve thought about Geneviève’s ‘60s cat eye, pink cheeks, and bowed updos ever since.

The Pirates of the Caribbean Saga (2003-2017): Sure, the quality of the series might have eventually fallen off, but the looks never did. Elizabeth Swann’s gradual transformation from prim-and-proper commander’s daughter (flushed cheeks, soft curls, stately manners) to badass pirate king (smoky eyes, salty sea-waves, a foul mouth) has served as my hair-and-makeup inspo on more than one occasion.

Grease (1978): Sandy’s iconic makeover had me in a chokehold as a kid, and it probably always will. The chills continue to multiply.

Food

Hook (1991): As a constant daydreamer, I remember being mesmerized by the scene where the Lost Boys teach Peter how to use his imagination. It’s whimsical and colorful and touching, and it’s one of the things that taught me how magical food can be.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989): It was tough to pin down just one Ghibli movie for this, so I went for my childhood favorite. I loved how independent the little witch was, especially when she was making herring and pumpkin pies or just a meager breakfast for one.

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971): Another easy choice for obvious reasons, but dear god, did I want to taste those giant gummy bears and the snozzberry wallpaper.

Love

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022): There are many types of love dissected in this stunning movie, but every time I watch it, I get emotional when a flawlessly suited Ke Huy Quan starts the laundry and taxes speech. The scene is heavily inspired by In the Mood for Love (2000), another all-time great.

Moonstruck (1987): It was filmed in my neighborhood, the Italian-American vibes are strong, and Cher (so glamorous) and Nicholas Cage (so insane) are two of the most watchable people on earth. But most of all, it’s just bursting with messy, all-consuming passion. Ronny says it best: “The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die. The storybooks are bullshit. Now would you come upstairs with me and get in my bed?”

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013): If there was ever a realistic portrayal what immortal love might look like, I imagine this is it. Some years would be spent together and some spent apart, but when you’ve got forever, what’s a few decades?

Christine’s Picks

Movie Snack: Small popcorn, fountain Diet Coke, and a bar of Ritter Sport Dark Chocolate with Whole Hazelnuts that I snuck in. That said, we only went to the movies on special occasions when I was growing up but watched a ton of movies at home, so my most nostalgic movie snack is my mom’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Beauty

Random Harvest (1942): This was the first movie to pop into my head for this category, specifically this shot. From a scene near the end of the film, it juxtaposes the physical closeness and financial abundance of the main characters with the scarcity of connection in their emotional lives. Greer Garson’s character has never been more beautiful or more miserable. One of those shots that really only could have been done in black and white.

Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996): You want a perfect red lip? Maggie Cheung will give you a perfect red lip. Her styling in In the Mood for Love is admittedly more glamorous, but I simply do not think there is anything lovelier than a red lip with a fresh face.

How to Steal a Million (1966): Givenchy did Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe for this film and knocked it out of the park. Her hair doesn’t translate to present-day wearability (though it was very chic in its day) but her clothes and makeup looks very much do. Absolutely perfect eyeliner in just about every scene. I’ve been watching this movie since I was a kid, and love it just as much today as I did back then.

Food

Robin Hood (1938): Another movie I grew up with, in glorious, larger-than-life Technicolor. The feast scene was always my favorite, a celebration of scrappiness and community in the face of bleak circumstances (plus it’s when we start to see our main characters fall in love).

Le Havre (2011): Aki Kaurismäki is one of my favorite directors and this is my favorite of his films. The way he portrays food and drink is elemental, almost the clock by which we set the characters’ lives. They eat and drink simply, but a day does not go by without bread or an apéro at the neighborhood bar. Comforting and charming.

It’s Complicated (2009): This one needs no explanation. Nancy Meyers + Susan Spungen’s food styling = a visual feast.

Love

Past Lives (2023): A look at the way that love is sometimes bigger than our little human lives have room for and the ways that we try to make sense of it. This one is lodged deep into my heart.

The Princess and the Frog (2009): Friendship, community, romance! Magic! Dreams! New Orleans! Musical numbers featuring dancing animals! This movie has it all.

Beginners (2011): A tender and nuanced portrayal of people imperfectly loving each other. A forever favorite.

Part III: Frivolities with Elissa Suh

Elissa (@oddbarnacles) is the smart and stylish film critic and writer behind MOVIEPUDDING, a food and movie newsletter here on Substack. You may also have seen her work in Cultured Mag, Vogue, Eater, MUBI, and more.

The Salty: I famously do not like eating during the movies but when you’re watching at home—sometimes all day, as I am you—you need to eat. I have become a fiend for Happier Grocery’s brined and roasted pumpkin seeds. On-hand are also Bjorn Corn for pre-popped and Cheerie Lane in the butter flavor if I’m popping on my own.

The See-Through: I bought this minty skirt finished with fist-sized rosettes from the Mr. Larkin warehouse sale last month and it is prime time to wear it. Here it is in black.

The Sentimental: I keep all the notes, postcards, and cards my husband and close friends and family have written to me over the years and use them as bookmarks. I’m always leaving half read books all over the place so it’s always nice to happen across something from the past.

The Shiny: And silver. After much denying my brother who recently had his ears pierced and told me I have come around to the fact that I look better in silver jewelry. I’ll be sticking with it even after the flames of trendiness have died down. These days I am almost never without my Lie Studio ring or at least silver studs. And for summer I’m wearing Jenny Bird anklets (this and this)

.The Sexy: I’ve been rewatching a lot of erotic movies for a New, Exciting, and Big project I’m working on. Reaching beyond the usual comforts of erotic thrillers (many a Michael Douglas movie) I have been casting a broader net, revisiting and scrutinizing sexy in all its forms. Some other recent viewings and rewatches: Jungle Fever, High Art, In the Realm of the Senses.