Screen legend Sidney Poitier has passed. One of a handful of actors who truly helped change the world.
Film. Comics. Sci-Fi. Superheroes. Pulp. Noir. History. Superman. 20th Century Archaeology.
Friday, January 7, 2022
Peter Bogdanovich Merges With The Infinite
Peter Bogdanovich, director, historian and Hollywood icon has passed.
Thursday, January 6, 2022
TV Watch: Queer Eye - ATX Edition
So, back in 2019 word got out that Netflix's reboot of Queer Eye was coming to my hometown, Austin, Texas. I've seen most of the original series from the early 00's and all of the reboot series. Given Austin's unique physical and political location, I thought - yeah, that'll work.
Austin sits on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, and while the eastern portion of town is mostly flat to rolling fields, the further west you head through town, the higher the hills. It's a mix of lovely green trees and white limestone, and in the more densely populated areas, people do try to make the most and beautify through art and color. Most of the new skyline defining architecture I find intensely boring, but there are a few stand-outs (the new Google building is amazing). All of which looks swell on camera.
Monday, January 3, 2022
Doc Watch: Beanie Mania (2021)
Watched: 01/01/2021
Format: HBOmax
Viewing: First
Director: Yemisi Brookes
Hoo-boy. I think I have more to say about the topics covered in Beanie Mania (2021) than I have to say about the film itself.
But, so.
Beanie Mania covers the 1990's Beanie Baby fad and tulip-like frenzy around the little doorstops that became an obsession with some people at the time. There are interviews with people who were Beanie celebrities, former employees of Ty (the company that made the bean bags), with distributors and a last, passing glance at how YouTubers are maybe reviving Beanie Mania.
It collects news stories and people who were there at the time are remarkably candid about what they did and why and what was happening. And many of them are still in the Beanie Business, which is still a thing, I guess (look, eBay has taught us secondary markets are there for *everything*). There's no gory murders of sex scandals, but it is fascinating to remember that this really was a nation-wide obsession for a minute there, and that it really tapped into so many parts of how we can project our hopes and dreams into something as ridiculous as a bean bag made to look like a frog.
Sunday, January 2, 2022
Movies 2021 - By the Numbers
Well. I watched, for me, *a lot* of movies in 2021. A number of things contributed to this.
1. My teams were incredibly bad. The Chicago Cubs decided to implode in late-June/ early-July, then trade away many of their franchise players. At some point, we just stopped watching the Cubs, which gave me back like 12 hours of screentime per week. The UT Longhorns football team did, uh, did not meet expectations, which gave me back my Saturdays in the Fall.
2. We did a lot of Watch Parties. It was fun! But it locked me in to many, many Friday and Tuesday nights with a fresh movie.
3. We did a bunch of podcasts.
4. I didn't watch a lot of new TV shows. Ted Lasso, sure. But I wasn't actively seeking new stuff and was happy watching movies instead of committing to a TV series.
5. I mean, I didn't have a job for a few months. Friends, that certainly frees you up.
6. I don't have kids. Turns out when you don't have kids, you can do whatever the @#$% you like.
If you like, review the spreadsheet on your own. I could probably break the numbers down more - but, no.
So.
How Many Movies Did I Watch?
Saturday, January 1, 2022
Last Film of 2021: Another Thin Man (1939)
Format: TCM
Viewing: Unknown
Decade: 1930's
Director: WS Van Dyke
Technically, I finished this movie at 12:30 AM on 01/01/2022, but I'm calling it as my last movie of 2021. I make up the rules here, so deal with it.
TCM started a Thin Man marathon at 7:00 PM Central on New Year's Eve, and we watched the first two movies in parts between episodes of Queer Eye's Austin season which debuted on 12/31, and is worth it's own post. But once Jamie went to bed, I was free to hang with my pals, Nick and Nora.
Another Thin Man (1939) needs no write-up from me. Or at least isn't getting one on New Years Day, but it's a very fun movie. I definitely suggest watching the Thin Man films in order, just to follow the progress of the series, but any time with William Powell and Myrna Loy is a good time in my book.
2021 - A Year That Was
So. 2021. It's been, once again, a hell of a year.
I just saw word that Betty White had passed, and we're all, rightfully, a bit put out. As I said elsewhere, don't be sad Betty White is over, be happy that she happened at all.
Still, it's... a bit on the nose, 2021, to take Betty White from us just a few days shy of what would have been her 100th Birthday. She was owed that cake and party. We all needed her to have that cake and party.
I've personally had worse years in many ways, but 2021 was not a banner year. Some of you know that I was layed-off in the summer and took a bit before I got back to work. But when I do my annual "let's do the movies by the numbers" and you're like "holy god, that's a lot of movies" - friends, I had a lot of time on my hands that I did not want.
Whenever I'm sad in this post, I'll post Hannah Waddingham to cheer me up.
See, feeling cheerier already.
Friday, December 31, 2021
Neo-Noir Watch: The Silent Partner (1978)
Format: TCM on Demand
Viewing: First
Decade: 1970's
Director: Daryl Duke/ Curtis Hanson
I knew nothing about this movie other than it starred Elliot Gould before Jamie put it on. She'd read about it somewhere and knew "this will be in Ryan's wheelhouse, so I don't need to sell him on it", and she was 100% correct.
The upshot is that I really dug this movie, and I think you might, too. It's a very 1970's neo-noir in the vein of classic thriller-noir like Kiss of Death. But don't use that as an exact comparison.
LIGHT SPOILERS
Thursday, December 30, 2021
PODCAST 177: "North Sea Hijack"/ "ffolkes" (1980) - w/ SimonUK Cinema Selection w/ Ryan
Format: DVD
Viewing: First
Decade: 1980
Director: Andrew V McLaglen
It's Roger Moore in a beard and playing with cats and fighting villains! What's not to like? SimonUK and Ryan get on board to bear witness as Anthony Perkins decides to make some quick cash by entering the petroleum industry! It's all hands on deck as James Mason and many other familiar faces mix it up in a high stakes chess match that no one in the US ever managed to watch!
Music:
Main Titles and Closing Titles - Michael J Lewis
SimonUK Cinema Series
Doc Watch: Street Gang - How We Got to Sesame Street (2020)
Format: HBOmax
Viewing: First
Decade: 2020's
Director: Marilyn Agrelo
Of the near universal experiences of my generation (that being the generation known as "X") was the certainty that you were plopped down in front of a television as soon as you could sit upright and you were a fan of Sesame Street. It was partially a product of the fact we usually had three networks and a PBS affiliate on our TV's and very little else, but also because it was recognized by our parents as both entertainment and a source of education.
As a kid, I remember the combination of Muppets, kind adults and kids, animation and music made it a variety show that I personally wanted to watch. I am sure I had favorite bits and characters, but that's all been lost to time as all I can remember is a general warm spot for the show, the actors and the Muppets. And, now, the nostalgia when seeing footage from that era hits me like a wave. It's tapping into brain cells that haven't been accessed much in years, and related feelings both directly and indirectly tied to the show.
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