Shit, Actually

The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema

By: Lindy West

Narrated by: Lindy West

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Your favorite movies, rewatched.

New York Times opinion writer and best-selling author Lindy West was once the in-house movie critic for Seattle's alternative newsweekly The Stranger, where she covered film with brutal honesty and giddy irreverence. In Shit, Actually, Lindy returns to those roots, reexamining beloved and iconic movies from the past 40 years with an eye toward the big questions of our time: Is Twilight the horniest movie in history? Why do the zebras in The Lion King trust Mufasa - who is a lion - to look out for their best interests? Why did anyone bother making any more movies after The Fugitive achieved perfection? And, my god, why don't any of the women in Love, Actually ever f--king talk?

 From Forrest Gump, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and Bad Boys II, to Face/Off, Top Gun, and The Notebook, Lindy combines her razor-sharp wit and trademark humor with a genuine adoration for nostalgic trash to shed new critical light on some of our defining cultural touchstones - the stories we've long been telling ourselves about who we are. At once outrageously funny and piercingly incisive, Shit, Actually reminds us to pause and ask, "How does this movie hold up?", all while teaching us how to laugh at the things we love without ever letting them or ourselves off the hook.

Shit, Actually is a love letter and a breakup note all in one: to the films that shaped us and the ones that ruined us. More often than not, Lindy finds, they're one and the same.

©2020 Lindy West (P)2020 Hachette Books

Lindy West: Human Chef’s-Kiss

Lindy West consistently writes and performs her own books so well I always listen to them at least three times through and this one is no exception. As soon as I saw this was released I didn’t even listen to a sample, I just snatched it up in a panic—as if it could somehow be sold out on audible? Listen to this book. Then listen to the other ones. Then go watch Shrill. You won’t be sorry

Hilarious! 11 out of 10 DVDs of The Fugitive

Lindy West is a comedy genius (and no, I am not exaggerating). I love her unapologetic sense of humor; I hope she comes out with a follow up book of more movie reviews sooner rather than later!

The Quarantine Book You Didn’t Know You Needed

Lindy West is my favorite writer. If you’re a fan of her work (Shrill, The Witches Are Coming), you don’t even need to read this review. Just buy it and let it bring you the joy you know you need.

Shit, Actually is a collection of essays commenting on a variety of movies from Honey, I Shrunk The Kids to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Prior to reading each chapter, I watched every movie. Lindy knows these movies aren’t perfect, but her whip-smart commentary will have you laughing the entire time. At certain points, I ended up thinking about what Lindy would say while watching the movie...especially for the movies I didn’t even like! When there is everything on TV with nothing to watch, this book gave me purpose. Thank you Lindy for this gift during quarantine. I loved our little movie club.

meh

this is, at best, a series of Blogposts but criticisms if movies. the book retells each movie with jokes interspersed every two or three sentences. it wasn't very good, insightful or funny.

That Voice

I was so excited for this. Then I very rapidly went from feeling ok to being frustrated. I love watching people review things I do that every day. But this was annoying, I started Viewing Lindy's voice as Obnoxious. I was fine with the idea of hearing someone review a movie I hadn't seen before but she narrated with so much sarcasm that I couldn't understand how she actually felt about the movie. She also rated the movies based off of a movie. A movie which I never saw. Why not just out of 10?

Hilarious!

Lindy West is HILARIOUS. Her summaries of the plots of various movies made me laugh out loud SO many times. I love how she navigates the space of loving a problematic movie by making fun of how problematic it is by today's standards. And just making fun of plot holes and general logical fallacies of many popular movies. I also may be convinced to watch The Fugitive.

Hurt my face

After 10 months of crippling pandemic sadness and clinical despair, I broke my atrophied smile muscles listening to Lindy read this masterpiece. I want to be her best friend, but there’s probably a line.

Laugh out loud - SO MUCH FUN!

I love movie recaps and this was exactly what I was looking for at a time I am watching more movies than ever. Even if you haven’t seen some of these movies, you’ll want to after hearing Lindy’s take. I’m so excited for even those new to Lindy’s work to laugh out loud at her hilarious writing. Well done, Lindy! Just the book we needed!

Hilarious is not a strong enough word

I love Lindy West for so many reasons. But this took it to new heights. I found myself literally laughing out loud...in the grocery store...in front of Denis Rodman (no joke). During this pandemic, I was in desperate need for some belly laughs. She delivered. Enjoy!

Watching the movies mentioned is not a prerequisite!

I don’t watch movies and got this book because I will consume anything Lindy West is involved in and somehow missed that it was about movies. First two sentences I though “shit, actually...maybe this book isn’t for me” glad I didn’t turn it off (tbh I was riding my bike and can’t mess with my phone without crashing yet) because it was amazing like everything else Lindy West does. Congrats on another book, please write more. And maybe come our gay wedding and be our officiant? ❤️