Alan Arkin Merges With the Infinite

Alan Arkin, prolific and wildly talented actor, has passed at 89.

Arkin was a staple of media I consumed particularly in the 1990's, and was still a draw to this very day.  His roles were not often those of the lead or leading man, but he was always terrific and often the highlight of the films in which he appeared.  

For many of us, he was an avatar or the personification of our inner monologue through a well-crafted persona he brought to comedies (watch The In-Laws.  Brilliant.).  But there was no persona or genre or kind of film he didn't make better.

We were lucky to have him for so long and enjoy his work, which he was still doing through last year.

PodCast 247: "Ted Lasso: Season 3" Therapy Session w/ Mrshl, Maxwell and Ryan

Format:  Apple+

Decade:  2020's

For more ways to listen

MRSHL, Maxwell and Ryan have heard the final whistle on Season 3 of everyone's favorite show about a very well adjusted soccer team. After two wildly popular seasons, this season drew a wide range of opinions. Join us as we line up for a set-piece and see if we can't get it in the goal.

SoundCloud 

The Signal Watch PodCast · 247: "Ted Lasso: Season 3" Therapy Session w/ Mrshl, Maxwell and Ryan

YouTube

Part 1:

Part 2:

Music:

Ted Lasso Main Theme - Marcus Mumford and Tom Howe 

Fight Test - Flaming Lips

Doc Watch: Deepsea Challenge (2014)

Watched:  06/23/2023

Format:  YouTube

Viewing:  First

Director(s):  John Bruno, Ray Quint, Andrew Wight

Like everyone else, I spent last week keeping up with the story of the Titan, the submersible that was designed by a California firm who seemed to play pretty fast and loose with fairly common knowledge about the ways in which one usually plans and develops a vehicle intended for use 3800 meters below the ocean's surface.  As details about the Titan came out, as well as photos, my eyebrows were raised as I saw how the vehicle worked and how it looked.

Look, I'm no engineer, but you couldn't have gotten me in that thing for love or money.  I'm modestly aware of how submarines look, the need for redundancy and failsafe systems that are as robust as possible when one is not going to be in a position to be rescued should something go wrong.  And while I agree that Playstation controllers are a marvel, I also don't want to lose connectivity to my controller whilst being pulled by ocean currents.  And, really, those game paddles were seen as a sign of the clear hubris suggested by the ship's design and thumbing of the nose at well-established standards of engineering, and, in fact, physics, that I think some of us were responding to.  It was less a lack of respect for other engineers and more of a lack of respect for the danger.*

PodCast 246: "Out Of Sight" (1998) - A Social Bobcat / Neo-Noir Episode w/ Ryan

Watched:  06/16/2023

Format:  BluRay

Viewing:  Third?  Fourth?

Director:  Soderbergh

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The Social Bobcat is back to dig deep into this 1990's classic of cool. Join us as we take a look at what forces were at play in the 1990's, what works in this movie that makes it okay to be cool, and that putting Clooney and JLo in your movie is not a bad idea.

SoundCloud 

The Signal Watch PodCast · 246: "Out Of Sight" (1998) - A Social Bobcat / Neo-Noir Episode w/ Ryan

YouTube

Music:

Fight the Power, Pt. 1 - The Isley Bros. 

Foley, Pt. 2 - David Holmes, Out of Sight OST 

Noir and Neo-Noir Playlist

The Signal Watch PodCast · Noir Watch

Happy Birthday to Jane Russell and Erica Durance

 

Today happens to mark the birthdays of both Erica Durance and Jane Russell.  

Durance is most famous around this site for her portrayal of Lois Lane on TV's Smallville, where she was an absolute highlight of the show.  She's currently doing a lot of TV and TV/Film work, so who knows what she'll be in this year, but I think we can guarantee a couple of Hallmark films.

Russell is a star of the studio-era of Hollywood, and there's many books and articles about her, and you can do your own research, but you should absolutely see Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  

And, pondering Durance's early starring role, I do wonder what an A-List Superman of the 1940's and 50's would have looked like with Russell as Lois.  There's any number of actors who could have put on the cape, and I always think of Ruth Roman for Lois, but Russell would have been a fascinating choice.  

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for Durance, who it looks like may have a mystery-movie series now on Hallmark.

Art House NSFW Watch: Singapore Sling (1990)

Watched:  06/19/2023

Format:  Criterion

Viewing:  First

Director:  Niklos Nikloidas

Sometimes JAL pitches a movie and, knowing nothing about it, I say "sure.  This will surely be different from my usual fare."  And, indeed, such is the case with 1990's Singapore Sling, a Greek-made film in English and French, that was part of a movement I'd never heard of before, that being a Greek-based Shock Cinema.  I am unsure this is a real movement, but this is maybe the second Greek film I've ever seen, and I know no one who is Greek, so, why not?

Firstly, I'm not sure I actually think you should watch this movie.  It's a real YMMV bit of cinema that is intended to deliberately provoke and upset and make you laugh.  In the US we'd call it exploitation cinema for lack of a better label, but I'd argue that label is on the wrong jar in this case.  

In general, I don't ask the question:  what is this movie for?

New Movie Watch: Ghosted (2023)

Watched:  06/17/2023

Format:  Apple+

Viewing:  First

Director:  Dexter Fletcher

What's funny about Ghosted (2023) is that if it came out 25 years ago, this movie would have been a fairly big theatrical hit.  Now it's dumped on Apple+, who immediately cease advertising any movie they own two days after the movie is released.  So, you probably already forgot to watch this one - if you ever considered it - and it's more than likely you forgot it exists.

It's also the sort of thing people used to go see, but now just shrug at, because we've seen a lot of stuff like this since True Lies (in my experience).  If you did see the trailer and thought "I know exactly what this is, so I'm good", you aren't wrong.  It's a movie that feels generated by AI at the script level, and relies entirely on the charm of stars Chris Evans and Ana de Armas - who are both charming as hell.  

Ape Watch: King Kong (1933)

Watched:  06/11/2023

Format:  BluRay

Viewing:  Unknown

Director:  Merian C. Cooper / Ernest B. Schoedsack

So, last week Stuart sent me a link to a doc on YouTube to watch.  It was, roughly, a 3-part series on King Kong (1933) and the impact of the film over decades.  I texted him 15 minutes in to the first part and said "there's no way I don't wind up watching Kong this weekend", and, indeed, I'm a man of my word.

We all have our foundational films, and King Kong, in it's very roundabout way, is one of mine.  

Growing up in the 1970's and 80's, and in the wake of the 70's monster craze, Kong was more or less a household name, concept, etc...  Everyone had an idea of King Kong as a giant ape liberated from an island who winds up in Manhattan and wreaks havoc, winding up atop the Empire State Building.  

My first exposure to Kong's full story was in a hard-back book my dad read to me (and, I assume, my brother) when I was about 5.  Only later would I learn it was an official novelization worked on by no less than Merian C. Cooper, director of the film.  

PodCast 245: "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse" (2023) a KTB episode w/ Dug, Jamie & Ryan

Watched:  06/03/2023

Format:  Theater

Viewing: First

Decade:  2020's

Director:  Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

For more ways to listen

It's a leap across the Spider-Verse, and that means bringing the gang together from across space and time. Join Jamie, The Dug and Ryan as we ponder the latest installment in the adventures of Gwen and Miles. Join us as spin a web of conversation, and try to decide if this movie is Signal Watch Canon.

SoundCloud 

The Signal Watch PodCast · 245: "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse" (2023) a KTB episode w/ Dug, Jamie & Ryan

YouTube

Music:

Annihilate - Swae Lee, Lil Wayne, and Offset 

Calling -   Swae Lee, Nav, A Boogie w/ a Hoodie 

Marvel Movies Playlist 

The Signal Watch PodCast · Marvel Madness - Movies and More...!

John Romita, Sr. Merges With the Infinite

John Romita, Sr., one of the classic Marvel bullpen of creators of the 60's-era (and well beyond) has passed.  

Much as Carl Barks was "the Good Duck Artist" to a generation or three, Romita was, to me, THE Spider-Man artist.  Sure, he did plenty else, but his work on Spider-Man was so foundational to the character, his design and humanity brought to each panel, a key player in re-figuring the style at Marvel, and therefore the style of modern comics.  

The world of Spider-Man was surely full of colorful characters, but they weren't defined by their powers, they had unique personalities and character, and Romita brought it right to the surface.  

He was also the artist who brought classic moments we're still dealing with in comics.

Like, the intro of Mary Jane Watson.

and, of course, everything with the Stacy's.

And that's how everything ended up with Gwen and Captain Stacy.  Everyone cool and living happily ever after.

I love this era of Spidey.  It's the height of personal and super-hero drama, and has Spidey working in a milieu I think he operates in best.  And when I think of this era, sure I think the title is well written, but it's also the Marvel Method, which means Stan worked out a storyline with the artist and cut them loose, to come back and fill in dialog later.  So it's artistic storytelling, refusing to rely on text or words.

We'll miss knowing Romita Sr. was out there.  We lost a giant this week.