THE QUOTE 🎬 💬
“And next time I’ll use mustard!”
hint: they’re green
THINK THOUGHTS 💭
Well hello again. We have to stop meeting like this. Like what? Late.
I’ve been writing WIT+ for over eight years and it was never sent out after 7:30 am Thursday morning, and even that was only a relatively recent occurrence. And now two weeks in a row I’ve broken that pattern. Yeesh.
Last week it was (likely) the viral vomit comet that is norovirus responsible for the delay, and this week it’s, well, you probably know what it is. It’s those god damn fires. I have an inkling you’ve heard about them. They’re everywhere, both in the news and in LA—or at least it feels like they’re everywhere.
But luckily, they’re not. My spot in Echo Park near downtown is just fine outside of shitty air and some ash. In fact, we haven’t even had the power go out. One could feel sheepish with all the (still very much appreciated) check-ins we had from friends and family while we’re sitting comfortable, having people I know post about their homes being vaporized. The starkness can be hard to reconcile. That doesn’t mean we haven’t needed to pay attention—and by “paying attention” I mean incessantly tapping through the socials and scanning this pretty incredible volunteer wildfire mapping app called Watch Duty. Although there was a small taste of the panic yesterday afternoon when the city accidentally sent out evacuation warning to 10 million people.
What does this all have to do with movies? Nothing. I mean, it is LA so you’re also likely hearing about celebrities losing homes. But right now they’re just people dealing with the same unfathomable reality. I mean, they’re always just people. But yeah.
I guess I’m writing about it because it’s kind of impossible not to. It’s the layer over everything at the moment.
As for what’s next, who knows, but for the moment you can see the usual strong desire to do something, anything, across the city. But this is much more than just a few day thing. I wish there was a culture check-in in like a month, six months, a year etc. Because this will be a long time before a new version of the old thing comes into existence. Or maybe there won’t even be a new version. But other things to distract our collective conscientiousness will come up, this we know. And fast.
So I guess we empathize as much as we can, not make silly assumptions, or share dumb ass conspiracy theories. And if possible, try and pass along what we can to those who lost everything. Speaking of, if you’re outside LA and are feeling that same “what can I do?” I can’t really guide great yet (things still a bit chaotic), but I do have friends who’ve lost their home and will gladly accept any donations to help them recover. Reach out if that’s a desire.
Otherwise, I’m still going to share some movies, because that’s what we do here, no matter the circumstances.
NEWSY BITS 👾
What Do Movie Producers Do, Anyway? - an article that would’ve been perfect for my dad, who used to ask me this question at least three times a year. - NY Times
EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE(S) 📝
Hard Truths - a seeming simple story about an on the surface angry woman, who has much more going on underneath. From Mike Leigh, who’s very well regarded, if not hugely mainstream (Vera Drake, Mr Turner, Happy-Go-Lucky). The reviews are absolutely in love with the performance of lead Marianne Jean-Baptiste who you’ll see complain a lot, but sounds like if you pay attention, you’ll also see a lot more. Playing in Limited Theaters Friday
The Last Showgirl - another performance focused character study, this time with Pamela Anderson as a showgirl in Vegas who has to figure out what to do when the only job she’s ever really known is going away. Some notable co-stars too in Dave Bautista, Jamie Lee Curtis, but this is Anderson’s movie. The reviews are also in love with Anderson’s performance, saying she shows a venerability and depth that is likely to be surprising based on most people’s conceptions of her. However, definitely some critiques of the plotless nature of it all. Playing in Limited Theaters Friday
NOTABLE NEW RELEASE(S) 🎟 & 📺
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
You might not have expected it, I certainly didn’t, but Gerard Butler looks to be starting his own little action franchise a la Fast and Furious.
Six years ago he made a heist movie where the “rogue” cops (of which he was one) chase the crew of bad guys robbin’ some banks and shit. And now he’s back, but to join the bad guys, just like Paul Walker in the Fast movies.
Which means this is all a bit been there and done that. But critics are saying while that might be the case, ya probably won’t give two shits because they’re doing the thing too damn well for you to care.
Butler’s partner here is O’Shea Jackson Jr. Aka Ice Cube Jr. He’s the only bad guy to stick around from the first one, and from the looks of it, might be Vin Diesel to Butler’s Walker.
I’d tell ya more, but honestly, there’s not a ton to say beyond banter, plot twists, gun fights and car chases. Though let’s just hope they keep the writers paid well enough they don’t have to resort to space cars.
Out: Friday
Where: Theaters
Details: 2 hrs 24 mins | R | 🍅: 72%
Better Man
This one is going to take a bit of explaining.
When I tell you it’s a biopic, you’re gonna be confused. Because above, you see one of those CGI talking apes from the Planet of the Apes movies. Except you don’t. You see Robbie Williams looking like an ape from one of those Planet of the Apes movies.
Who’s Robbie Williams, you ask? See, that’s the second bit of explaining. Because most of my readers are of the freedom lovin’ variety. That is to say, they’re ‘Merican. And ‘Mericans being ‘Mericans, we’re generally less aware of a few famous pop stars from across the pond. Robbie Williams is one of them.
I mean if you’re cool, you know who he is and listened to his music in high school (I did, but I’ll admit I wasn’t the one who discovered him, it was some buddies).
But right, wtf is with the ape thing. Well, Williams is a bit of an eccentric dude. To the point he feel like a different creature compared to most people. So, along with director Michael Gracey, they came up with the idea to make him an ape. The whole movie? Yup. Do other people know he’s an ape? Nope. Huh. Huh indeed.
And yet, apparently it not only works, it works extremely well. You’ll follow Williams from kid to chaotic star, as an ape, and not give two shits about it because they do such a good job with it, you just buy in. Or say the critics say.
Gracey is the director of The Greatest Showman, which was another movie that pulled off a big feat by initially bombing, but then eventually growing at the box office and becoming one of the most popular movies of the last little while.
Do you need to know who Williams is to enjoy? Umm, probably not. Hell, it might make it even more fun because then you’ll be surprised by all the crazy shit he did. And he did crazy shit. One could even say he went ape shit crazy. 🦍
Out: Friday
Where: Netflix
Details: 2 hrs 11 mins | R | 🍅: 91%
THE WEEKLY TRAILER PLAYLIST ⏯
Companion - Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets, Heretic) is a—very life like!—sex doll that seems to have figured out she doesn’t like being a sex doll for Jack Quaid.
Kinda Pregnant - “kinda” in that Amy Schumer looks pregnant, but isn’t—she’s wearing a fake belly. 🤫 I have a feelin’ someone’s gonna figure it out…
Heart Eyes - movie marketer approved horror movie.
Bring Them Down - an (well regarded) Irish revenge flick that stars Barry Keoghan, Christopher Abbott and sheep, fuckloads of sheep.
A Working Man - the film’s title and very much a statement about Jason Statham, who keeps pumping out pumped up action flicks like he’s never gonna die.
In the Lost Lands - kinda looks like an even blander version of Zack Snyder’s Harvest…er, Rebel Moon. From Paul W.S. Anderson, who made all the Resident Evil movies, so naturally it stars Milla Jovovich (they’re married and she’s in most of his movies).
Grand Theft Hamlet - a coupla blokes from the UK try to put on Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto online during “the bullshit.”