Here’s what I watched and read this past week:
MOVIES
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): One of my all-time favorite films. I rewatched it after hearing the terrible news of Robert Redford’s passing. I also watched All The President’s Men (1976) on Criterion - amazing film. Redford starred in so many great films, like The Natural and Three Days of the Condor. I also really enjoyed the movies he directed, such as A River Runs Through It and Quiz Show.
RIP Robert Redford.
Quintet (1979): I’ve always wanted to see this. What a strange movie! I thought the cinematography and set design were excellent—probably among the best-looking dystopian films of the 1970s. It’s definitely more about mood and atmosphere than plot, which is muddled and hard to follow. It could have been a great film. Still, it stands out as an early example of cinema blending with game-like narratives, a precursor to things like The Hunger Games and The Running Man.
Popeye (1980): I love this film and used to watch it repeatedly on cable back in the early ’80s. I was very young when it came out, so it was probably marketed toward my age group. While it doesn’t have great ratings on IMDb, I still loved watching Popeye again—maybe it’s nostalgia. As with many of Altman’s films, the set design is incredible. I read that Sweethaven Village is now a tourist attraction. I also loved Harry Nilsson’s songs.
TV
I finished the third season of Strange New Worlds. Overall, I had mixed feelings about it. I’ll definitely tune in for the next season, though—I just hope it’s a lot better.
Task, Episode 2: This was a really strong episode and a great example of how we can suddenly find ourselves complicit with criminals or characters who make the wrong choices. It’s a theme that can be traced back to the cinema of Hitchcock.
I also finished the latest season of Bob’s Burgers and really enjoyed it. I particularly loved all the episodes that focused on Bob and Teddy. “Saving Favorite Drive-In” was one of my favorites. I also liked the episode where Bob flies a kite with his dad—or at least tries to!
Finally, I enjoyed the first two episodes of Black Rabbit. It has a film noir vibe, with strong performances from Jude Law and Jason Bateman, who play brothers.
BOOKS
Bag of Bones by Stephen King: This was my second time reading it, and I really enjoyed it. That said, I do think some parts could have moved a bit faster—maybe a tighter edit here and there—but overall, I appreciated King’s gothic, paranormal tale. It’s moody, atmospheric, with a touch of classic King.
