Noir Watch: Nightmare Alley (2021)

Watched:  02/11/2021

Format:  HBOmax

Viewing:  First

Director:  Guillermo Del Toro

I've seen the original Nightmare Alley from 1947 a number of times.  I'm sure you can dig through the archives of this here site and find mentions, but what I would say is that on repeated viewings, for a movie that was so... grim and off-kilter, I felt compelled to rewatch the story of Stanton Carlisle and the worlds between which he moved.  And I found myself increasingly blown away with each viewing.  Today, the 1947 version is included in the pile of movies I would request to have when stranded on an island with a bluray player and television.

It was with some trepidation that I heard that director Guillermo Del Toro had taken on the movie for a remake, and that with writer Kim "Sunset Gun" Morgan, he'd be adhering more closely to the novel.  I have flat out not liked some of Del Toro's films (Pacific Rim) and not understood the hoopla around others (The Shape of Water).  But had enjoyed some of what I'd seen, which wasn't a lot.  

Ivan Reitman Merges With The Infinite

Maybe one of the most quietly influential directors and producers of the last fifty years, Ivan Reitman created an incredible number of movies adored across generations.  

I'm totally shocked, and I know everyone who hears about this will also be stunned and saddened.  

Regret Double Bill Watch: "Sheena" and "Bolero" - both (1984)

 

Watched:  02/11/2022

Format:  Amazon Prime/ HBOmax

Viewing:  First/ First

Director:   John Guillerman / John Derek

So, usually we announce an Amazon Watch Party well in advance, but when I wrapped work on Friday at 5:00, Jamie said "are we doing a Watch Party?" which roughly translates to "I know you hadn't planned a Watch Party, but we're doing one" so, as I generally DNGAF, I was like "yeah, fine."

After some looking, we landed on Sheena (1984), because if I was getting roped into a movie party, Tanya Roberts.  I think maybe I'd seen Sheena in middle-school, because I vaguely remembered bits.  And I was, even then, vaguely aware of Sheena as an old-school pulp/ comics character.  In fact, she debuted in 1938 - which is 3 years before Wondy.  I also remembered what I considered to be "too many flamingoes".  And, boy howdy, was that memory right.  

Of course in the era of Blockbuster and other video shops, Tanya Roberts looked back at you from the cover of many-a-sun-bleached box covers.  

PODCAST 183: "The Last Boy Scout" (1991) - w/ MBell, MRSHL and Ryan

Watched: 02/05/2022

Format:  Amazon

Viewing:  Second

Decade:  1990's

Director:  Tony Scott

For more ways to listen

A trio of dudes who were the exact target audience for this movie in 1991 revisit a surprisingly divisive 90's action staple. Join us as we go long on on a movie with all the right elements, but which hits everyone a little different. No one's moving goal posts, but it's time to move the chains and execute as we talk for probably as long as this movie runs.

The Signal Watch PodCast · 183: "The Last Boy Scout" (1991) - w/ MBell, MRSHL and Ryan

Music:

Last Boy Scout - Michael Kaman

Friday Night's a Great Night for Football - Bill Medley

Signal Watch Canon

The Signal Watch PodCast · The Signal Watch Canon

Watch Party! "Sheena" - Queen of the Jungle! TONITE

 

We're gonna pour one out for Tanya and celebrate her starring role as classic pulp hero, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle!  Is that a tiger?  Tigers don't live in Africa.  What the actual hell?

Anyway, I saw this in 5th grade in a brief window where we had HBO and all I remember is "too many flamingos".  

We're gonna watch this thing.  

Day:  Friday 02/11

Time:  8:30 PM Central/ 6:30 Pacific

Where:  Amazon Prime

Cost:  $0, I believe - but you'll WISH you could give someone some money

CLICK HERE TO GO WILD WITH SHEENA

This is what you're signing up for

Happy Birthday, Laura Dern

Happy Birthday to the one and only Laura Dern!  And, hey, they released the trailer for Jurassic World Dominion today.  So, our gift is more Dr. Ellie Sattler.  And that's never a bad thing.

PodCast 182: "No Time To Die" (2021) - A Bond PodCast Episode w/ SimonUK and Ryan

Watched:  01/30/2022

Format:  BluRay

Viewing: First

Director:  Cary Joji Fukunaga

For more ways to listen

SimonUK and Ryan finally get to the final appearance of Daniel Craig as everyone's favorite problematic Brit who isn't SimonUK himself. It's international intrigue, adventure, architecture, and gliders-which-are-boats! Get recruited into another fine installment of our occasional Bond-ian film discussion!

The Signal Watch PodCast · 182: "No Time To Die" (2021) - A Bond PodCast Episode w/ SimonUK and Ryan

Music:

No Time to Die - Billie Eilish

 

Bond Watch Playlist

The Signal Watch PodCast · Bond Watch!

Happy Belated Birthday to Ida Lupino

 

Yesterday was the birthday of film star, producer and director, Ida Lupino.  

She's in several amazing films, including a personal favorite, While the City Sleeps.  In the movie, she plays the fast-talking gossip reporter for a major newspaper, who wants to get with Dana Andrews (and does, somewhat on screen enough that you know offscreen the characters hooked up) but he returns to his pure as the driven snow girlfriend in the film's finish.  

Dana Andrews made a wrong choice.

you fool, Andrews.  

Television Watch: The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones takes the tried-and-true David Gordon Green/ Jody Hill/ Danny McBride formula of southern-born numbskulls with no filter (Eastbound and Down, Vice Principals) and this time focuses on the family of a highly successful televangelist, Eli Gemstone (John Goodman).  McBride plays Jesse Gemstone, the eldest child of Eli and Eli's now-deceased wife Aimee-Leigh.  Adam Devine plays the youngest child, Kelvin, a man-baby, closeted even from himself.  And Edi Patterson plays Judy Gemstone, the near feral daughter who somehow takes it up a notch even from what McBride is delivering.  Other players include Smallville's Cassidy Freeman as Amber Gemstone (if you thought she was maybe one of the more talented folks on Smallville, she's here to show that notion was correct.  She's maybe too young for the role, but she's great, so let it slide), Jesse's wife.  And, Walton Goggins as Eli's brother-in-law, Baby Billy.

I have to stop there, because one of the fascinating things about The Righteous Gemstones is the massive scale of the show, including the cast.  All those names aren't even scraping the surface of all the characters.  We see a massive sanctuary/ auditorium, each Gemstone has a separate McMansion on the family plot, there's a theme park (Heritage USA, baby!), and a story that sprawls across decades.  The ambition of the show - which is centered on an emotionally stunted, foul-mouthed clan who earnestly believe both in their righteousness and whatever is the last thing to come out of their mouths (no matter how vulgar or insane) and the very real failings of people on a pedestal.  Especially those who would claim to speak for God.  

PodCast 181: "Eternals" (2021) - Marvel Movie Madness w/ Jamie and Ryan

Watched: 01/15/2022

Format:  Disney+

Viewing:  First

Director:  Chloe Zhao

For more ways to listen

Jamie and Ryan take on the 2021 Marvel entry that some has said has an eternal runtime. It's got a cast of thousands, and that's just the Eternals themselves. Join us as we get Kirby-tastic!

The Signal Watch PodCast · 181: "Eternals" (2021) - Marvel Movie Madness w/ Jamie and Ryan

Music:

Eternally - Englebert Humperdink

Eternal Flame - The Bangles

Marvel Movies

The Signal Watch PodCast · Avengers Chronological Countdown (w/ Jamie and Ryan)