Embargo seems to be up. Project Hail Mary is the crowd-pleasing, hope-giving, big A-list movie-movie we don’t get much anymore. Scope is massive and the humor is on point, keeping the dire stakes from being overwhelmingly bleak. I’d lie, cheat, steal, kill, and die for Rocky.
Daylight Savings Time not happening during SXSW for once feels like a mini-miracle. Anybody who ever got home at 4am after their midnight movie knows what I’m talking about.
Am I time traveling focus-puller? (If you don’t know what I look like, it’s pretty much this dude working on Spielberg’s TV movie, Savage, except without the rad mutton chops)
Late birthday outing. Being treated like the princess I am.
Both are wild rides and both benefit hugely from not knowing a goddamn thing about them going in.
The next day I was taking an out of town friend to Lockhart for BBQ and who do I see at Blacks? Robert Duvall. The man took my advice and seemed happy with his brisket. So, that’s my Robert Duvall story.
I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Duvall a couple of times and found him quiet and focused, but ready for a laugh. He once asked me where the best bbq in town was where you didn’t have to wait in line for 3 hours and I told him probably Black’s in Lockhart…
We lost another titan. Robert Duvall lived a long, prosperous life and left behind a hell of a legacy. Of course there’s his Coppola work, but two roles of his I’ll always think about are Falling Down and The Outfit. Two radically different characters, both equally fascinating.
Grateful for all the happiness this absolute legend gave the world. She’s what my friends and I call a never-bad. To be the best thing in just about everything you’ve been in for 45+ years is incredible. RIP Catherine O’Hara.
The world is noticeably less chaotic, for sure. And like the good kind of chaotic, not the shitty chaotic.
Happy birthday to a real one. Miss you, buddy.
What a fucking gut punch it is to hear about Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. The man made the gold standard of damn near every genre he approached. Coming of age movies all try to measure up to Stand By Me, mockumentaries to Spinal Tap, rom-coms to When Harry Met Sally.
Well, how could I say no to that? Drop me an email with more details. Addy’s in my bio.
They were so good!
If nothing else The Duffers got this right: Peanut Butter Boppers fucking ruled.
Could you imagine?!?
My two nerddoms unite.
Caught Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein on the big screen tonight. What a treat. Sad, romantic, deeply human, and a flat out extraordinary performance from Jacob Elordi.
Yeah, it’s one of his better recent books! Definitely a recommend from me.
Follow along with Watching IT: Welcome to Derry. @brezwrites.bsky.social and I will be going in depth on each episode of the HBO series each week. What we liked, what we didn’t, connections to the original novel, etc. Links to YouTube, Spotify, et al below!
www.fangoria.com/kingcast-hos...
Thanks to @screenrant.bsky.social for picking up this news item from The Kingcast. 🎈
screenrant.com/it-chapter-o...
@ericvespe.bsky.social
Not yet! It’s on the stack!
“I’m Not Drunk Enough To Go Out On A Boat” cocktail.
Don’t know why the hell I have to go all the way to Japan to get a real Jaws section at a Universal Park, but this is so damn cool. And yes, I’m doing the ride later today. Of course I am.
Universal Japan is wild for this one. After his failures on the Fourth of July? Smdh.
Rest in Peace to the great Drew Struzan, a man whose work sparked the imaginations of a whole generation of movie nerds. The master is gone.
I had the privilege of visiting him in his studio once and getting to talk shop. Here’s his words on one of his masterpieces:
Kels and I are off to Japan tomorrow! First time for the both of us. Any tips and food/restaurant recommendations appreciated! We’ll be in Osaka and Tokyo and I want to eat all the ramen! Go!
I did a thing. Incredible friends, wonderful location, and a beautiful bride. I’m a lucky guy.
New Gore Verbinski alert! Saw Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die and it’s an incredibly entertaining satire about time travel, AI, pie, and the sad state of modern tech addiction. Sam Rockwell leads a great cast through a straight up bonkers save-the-world adventure. Out in theaters in January.
This is true and it weirdly works super well. Didn’t expect to end up rooting for the crazed ax murderer, but it was a welcome surprise. Dug this one a lot.
