I’m thinking about writing newsletters more often and having them be a bit shorter. A “media diet” is a great place to start. If you’re looking for more recs, or curious about any of these in greater detail, ask me in the comments!
WATCHING: Coen brothers movies (“Blood Simple” through “The Man Who Wasn’t There”)
My favorite podcast, Blank Check, takes a director and talks about their entire filmography, from beginning to end (or their most recent film). I listen to every episode, but I don’t typically watch every movie along with the podcast. I usually try to fill gaps, or watch movies I’m curious about, but I don’t always have the time or interest to watch, say, Meet Joe Black.
Right now they are doing the Coen Brothers, which have a long and excellent filmography. And I’m doing my damnedest to watch the next movie each week. I’ve been really happy to finally see some of their movies that I’ve never seen, like “Blood Simple” (gripping, if not quite as well-paced) and “Hudsucker Proxy” (Funny! Weird!). Others that I’ve seen plenty already, like “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo”, are still fascinating to watch in order, in context.
There’s so much to love here, but I keep thinking about the Coens’ quote about how directing is mainly “tone management.” They do that so well. Hitting a bit of a slump period now, starting with “The Man Who Wasn’t There”, but the “No Country” era is right around the corner.
WATCHING: Watchmen (2019)
It seems almost like a pre-pandemic fever dream … there was a Watchmen show, and it was incredible? I’m re-watching the show now, partly because Alli and I just watched Showrunner Damon Lindelof’s “The Leftovers” (very enjoyable) and partly because I remember liking it a lot.
And I wanted to watch it again, outside of the pressure originally put on it by 1) having to live up to the legendary comic and 2) trying not to repeat the mistakes of Zach Snyder’s 2009 movie adaptation.
It turns out that, on its own merits, this show is quite good. Tulsa is an unexpectedly brilliant setting, the performances are so great (Regina King! Jean Smart! Bob from Mad Men!), and the show really advances the ideas in the comics, bringing them into the 21st century. I also really like the materials they created to surround the show, even if the fake news articles are terribly unrealistic — they always are.
READING: Tintin
As a DEC (dotted eyes cartoonist) myself, I have to give it up to the OG, Hergé. I didn’t grow up with Tintin, but I saw some on my shelf recently and got sucked back in. Before I knew it, I had put seven volumes on hold at the library. Some of the early stuff, going back to the ‘30s, has the titular “reporter” shooting a handgun wildly and dressing up as other races, and it can be a bit tedious to keep up with the noir-ish, pulpy hijinks.
But by the 1950s and ‘60s, the cartooning here is unimpeachably excellent, and some of these comics are very fun, one-sitting reads. Great for kids, I assume! “The Black Island” is really silly and fun, and “Explorers on the Moon” is fantastic. Next up: “Tintin in Tibet”, which is supposed to be his masterpiece.
READING: Old Man’s War
This sci-fi novel by John Scalzi from 2007 was pretty straightforwardly fun but it didn’t “blow my hair back.” It has a great premise: old folks signing up to fight in an intergalactic war. But the characters are a bit shallow and the writing is pretty mercenary and can lack energy or sparkle at times. Not sure if I’m gonna keep going — there are six in the series.
But I’ll pretty much take any sci-fi novel recommendation, so leave some in the comments! Thinking of heading back to Le Guin, hitting some of the ones I haven’t read before, and maybe some other mid-century classics.
PLAYING: Death Stranding 2
I’m unsure of how I could give you context for this that could possibly make it make sense. Creator Hideo Kojima is kind of a video game auteur, with a unique vision and artistic sensibility, and he’s best known for the Metal Gear Solid games. These two Death Stranding games are unlike … anything else pretty much.
You’re carrying stuff around and trying to extend a digital network in a post-apocalyptic world. There are ghosties, brigands, tar monsters, and more. What can I say? The rain makes things age and rust, and unprocessed human corpses are a big problem.
Aesthetically, it’s spooky, but also utilitarian, almost like a creepy, sci-fi “Mad Max”. This sequel especially is set in Australia and features George Miller, as well as a number of other directors and actors and actresses. It has a really weird sense of humor that grows on you.
I just really admire the world building, and the play style and mechanics have been improved considerably in this game — Kojia has kinda invented a new genre here, where the stuff in your inventory has real weight and you have to figure out how to handle it. Sounds boring, but, I don’t know, watch the trailer above, it’s kind of incredible. The story is ridiculous but great. Norman Reedus is killer in it.
Please tell me: what are you watching, reading, or playing?
Hi Josh! You might like Ted Chiang's short stories and novellas....one collection I enjoy is Exhalation, and his story Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom is great. Have you read Emily St. John Mandel? Weirdly I've only read the last of her trilogy (Sea of Tranquility) and loved the structure and characters in that one. I lucked into adjuncting a sci fi course and we read these together, so good if you are pressed for time. Karl Stevens' Penny (a graphic memoir told from the POV of a cat) is on my TBR pile (aka bus reads!) The art looks lovely and the lettering is pretty delicious.