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  • Another Spy Thriller? Black Doves is a Worthy Watch

    We can’t get enough of spy thrillers. Just recently Lioness, The Agency, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Day of the Jackal, Slow Horses, and The Night Agent have entertained us. Not too long ago, Killing Eve, Jack Ryan, 24, Homeland, and The Americans graced our screens at home. The film world is jammed with spy thrillers, as well. James Bond and Mission Impossible have packed theaters for decades. The enticing recipe of the genre includes spies, assassins, unsolved murders, exotic locals, twists, turns, love, sex, suspense, double agents, and conspiracies. The CIA seems to be a common denominator. “We need to call Langley” is music to our ears. Black Doves has all that and adds a little pulp while amping up the blood splats.

    Black Doves is a spies-for-hire organization that obtains secrets for the highest bidders, no matter who they are. Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice, Imitation Game) is Helen Webb, wife of the Secretary of State for Defense (Andrew Buchan, Broadchurch) who learns that her secret identification as a spy is in danger. After her lover is killed, she’s out for revenge. Her handler, Reed, played by award-winning British actress, Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango in Halifax) is worried about Helen’s conflicting loyalties. She sends Sam Young, played by Ben Whishaw (A Very English Scandal), to protect her, and perhaps, keep her under control.

    Black Doves is a juggling act with several layers – a complex thriller, a dark comedy, and a family drama. Knightley and Whishaw bring it home by balancing their violent, secret lives with domestic activities that for them can never approach unfettered love. This all happening under the watchful eye of the insidious Lancashire. It’s entertaining and suspenseful as long as you don’t take it too seriously. We all are used to suspending disbelief in this genre – “man, these bad guys are bad shots” and if you’re the Defence Secretary, “Where is my wife at all hours of the night?” Black Doves (named after show creator Joe Barton’s favorite pub in Brighton) is set in London during Christmastime. The holiday atmosphere provides a festive juxtaposition to the chaos of the spy world.

    (Black Doves is streaming on Netflix – six episodes about an hour each.)

    D² Rating ◼◼◼◪☐

    Trivia: Keira Knightley achieved worldwide stardom in what film 2003-2007 series?

    Trivia: Ben Whishaw played which iconic character three times in what film series (2012, 2015, and 2021)?

    Answers below

    Answers: Knightley played Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End.

    Whishaw played Q in the James Bond series, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.

  • The 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

    Until a couple years ago we all had to wait a couple months for HBO to broadcast the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (except the lucky few who actually attended the event). Then in 2023, Disney+ started streaming the event live and the telecast moved to New Year’s Day on ABC. Since I’m not a subscriber to Disney+, I taped the ABC show to avoid the commercials. This wasn’t one of the strongest classes of inductees, although super fans of the bands might disagree. It’s undeniable, however, that the telecast is a shadow of its former self.

    Here are the 2024 Inductees:

    Performer Category

    • Mary J. Blige
    • Cher
    • Dave Matthews
    • Foreigner
    • Peter Frampton
    • Kool & the Gang
    • Ozzy Osbourne
    • A Tribe Called Quest

    Musical Excellence Award

    • Jimmy Buffett
    • MC5
    • Dionne Warwick
    • Norman Whitfield

    Musical Influence Award

    • Alexis Korner
    • John Mayall
    • Big Mama Thornton

    A brief rundown…Dua Lipa started the show singing “Believe,” as Cher joined her shortly for a duet. (I’ll let you wrestle with the image of Dua Lipa and Cher opening the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.) Zendaya took a quick break from movies and award shows to induct Cher. Rapper Chuck D inducted Kool & the Gang who can still throw a party with “Jungle Boogie” and “Celebration.” Sammy Hagar had the honors for Foreigner. The original band is no longer touring, so Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Slash, and Demi Lovato cranked out “Feels Like the First Time” and “Hot Blooded” while Kelly Clarkson took the lead on “I Want to Know What Love Is” with lead vocalist Lou Gramm. Dionne Warwick was inducted by Teyana Taylor (the actress who played her in the film biopic). Jennifer Hudson belted out “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and “Walk on By” accompanied by Warwick who still showed some chops. Roger Daltrey took the podium for Peter Frampton who performed a sit-down “Do You Feel Like I Do” with Keith Urban, complete with dueling guitars and the talk box. James Taylor honored Jimmy Buffett and performed a sweet version of “Come Monday” with Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally. Dave Chapelle heralded A Tribe Called Quest and Dr. Dre and Method Man welcomed Mary J. Blige. Ozzy sat in a black leather bat throne while Jack Black extolled the experience of discovering Ozzy as a young teenager. In what was easily the highlight of the evening for me, he spoke directly to today’s 13-year-olds, admonishing them first to put down their phones, followed by this wisdom, “Sure you could go stream Post Malone and Taylor Swift and get all the warm hugs you need for your broken hearts, or you can stay up all night and get your minds blown by Ozzy’s entire catalog for the first time.” Billy Idol, Chad Smith, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Jelly Roll collaborated on “Crazy Train” and “No More Tears.” For the closing act, super fan Julia Roberts gushed over Dave Matthews. As younger inductees, the full band was in good form on “Crash into Me,” “So Much to Say,” “Too Much,” and more.

    The ceremony typically runs about five hours. Over the years, the HBO telecasts ran three to four hours. Of course, that was uninterrupted time devoid of commercial breaks. ABC devoted a three-hour block for the event that with advertisements equals about 2:15. While the HBO program was always seamless, ABC’s was a choppy mess. Compounding the awful editing of the presented material was what was left out. I would have enjoyed a brief acknowledgement of the “godfather of British blues,” John Mayall. When I saw Tom Morello in the audience, I knew he could only be there to induct the highly influential MC5. Nope. At least not for us to see on network TV. The In Memoriam tribute also met the chopping block. A given of the ceremony since its inception is the all-star jam finale with the inductees gathering to perform a rock classic. It can be cheesy, but still a fitting communal conclusion for the evening. There wasn’t one this year, but Dave Matthews came back for an encore and played “Burning Down the House.” To see them covering the Talking Heads would have been pretty cool. But not to be on ABC.

    Well, there you have it, a little bit of everything – pop, country, rap, hip-hop, R&B, and oh yeah, rock and roll. The continual tilt away from rock, and now the diminished telecast, has me questioning my investment into the Rock Hall. But I’m a loyalist, especially when it comes to awards programs and the Hall of Fame ceremony has often uplifted me with its unifying spirit of rock and roll. So, I guess I need to sign up for Disney+ or just shut the f*&! up.

    2024 Nominees Who Will Have to Try Again: Daft Punk, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Chaka Khan, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, The Smiths, Joy Division, and Iron Maiden

    Trivia: Who was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice?

    Trivia: Who designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame building?

    Answers below

    Author (left) and friend at the Hall in 2007

    Answers: Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac and solo) and I.M. Pei (designer of numerous monumental structures worldwide, most notably the glass-and-steel Louvre Museum pyramid)

  • A Complete Unknown Brings Rock History to Life

    Bob Dylan. One of the greatest songwriters of all time. A 60-year career with 40 studio albums, 21 live, and 44 compilations. Inducted into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fames and recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor, Pulitzer Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Nobel Prize in Literature. How does a filmmaker even begin to contemplate condensing this influential life into a two-hour movie? Add to the fact, that your enigmatic subject is not exactly the easiest guy to get to know. Well, if you’re director James Mangold (Walk the Line, Ford v. Ferrari) you concentrate on a transformational period in music history, Dylan’s migration from Minnesota to NYC and his corresponding evolution from a folk troubadour in 1961 to going electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

    Timothee Chamalet is not even 30 years old and has already starred in films ranging from Willy Wonka to Call Me by Your Name and Dune to Beautiful Boy. To prepare for A Complete Unknown (taken from the chorus of “Like a Rolling Stone”), he immersed himself into all things Dylan and worked with coaches on vocals, guitar, harmonica, dialect, and movement. He sings and plays instruments on all 40 Dylan songs in the film. He is mesmerizing. Ed Norton (Motherless Brooklyn) shines as Pete Seeger who is initially supportive of the popularity Dylan brings to folk music but ultimately tormented by his new direction. Boyd Holbrook (Justified: City Primeval) as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire) as Woody Guthrie are in different stages of life, but both in awe of the new young phenom.

    The two women in Dylan’s life in the early ’60s were his girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, and fellow folk musician and brief lover, Joan Baez. Elle Fanning plays Sylvie Russo (Dylan didn’t want Rotolo’s real name used), immortalized on the cover of his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Both women were frustrated and captivated by Dylan. He comes and goes as he pleases consumed with songwriting and his ever-present guitar in hand. He could be uncaring and belittling, as when he tells Baez that her sunny, flowery songs “sound like an oil painting in a dentist office.” Fanning’s facial expression says it all about being involved with Dylan as she watches him and Baez perform “It Ain’t Me Babe” face-to-face.

    A Complete Unknown is restrained and refreshingly linear in narrative. Instead of trying to figure out what really makes Dylan tick, Mangold lets the songs do the talking. Folk anthems, “The Times They Are-a-Changin’” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” are embedded in the civil rights and war protests of the time (in an early sign of restlessness Dylan emphatically declares that he won’t be singing “Blowin’ in the Wind” the rest of his life.) His small nightclub rendition of “Masters of War” while the world is on the verge of nuclear holocaust during the Cuban Missie Crisis is particularly chilling. It is quite jarring when Dylan and his band plug in and let it rip at the Newport Folk Festival. Also, portentous. The movie closes at it began with Woody Guthrie’s “So Long It’s Been Good to Know You:” “This dusty old dust is-a-gettin’ my home, and I got to be driftin’ along.” This captures Dylan’s spirit as well as anything could in the early ’60s…and still does today.

    (A Complete Unknown opened in theaters on Christmas Day, running time 2:20)

    D² Rating: ◼◼◼◼☐

    Trivia: Dylan’s pickup band for the Newport Folk Festival featured which two respected musicians?

    Trivia: Dylan had a career renaissance in 1997 with the release of what album?

    Answers below

    Answers: Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper and Time Out of Mind

  • Ripley Netflix Series: Black and White Never Looked So Good

    Many of you have seen this series by now, but for those of you that haven’t…Ripley is a remake of the 1999 film, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 crime novel, the series was written and directed by Steven Zaillian (The Night Of). Andrew Scott (Fleabag) stars as Tom Ripley, Johnny Flynn (Lovesick) as Dickie Greenleaf, and the ubiquitous Dakota Fanning (let’s pick…The Alienist) as Marge Sherwood. While both adaptations stay true to Highsmith’s storyline, they couldn’t be more different in their pacing, and particularly, the color and style. Ripley is a captivating work of art that takes us back to the illustrious days of black and white.

    A refresher…it’s 1961 in New York and Ripley is a down-and-out con man. Unaware of his shady situation, a wealthy man hires him to convince his prodigal son Dickie to return home from Italy. Ripley’s immersion into the leisurely and enviable lifestyle of Greenleaf leads him into a world of lying, swindling, and even murder. Marge is immediately skeptical of Tom, but she and Dickie are a doomed couple, enveloped in Tom’s web of lies.

    It’s impossible not to contrast the two productions. Scott is an older, colder Ripley as compared to Matt Damon’s boyish, smiling character. His contempt for the world is evident, while Damon disguises his intentions behind the gleam in his eyes. Scott deserves his Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He’s spellbinding as the intriguing psychopath. Johnny Flynn is aloof and aimless as Dickie, while Jude Law is appealing and irresistible. Fanning’s Marge is aloof, content to spend all her time in her seaside cottage writing a book (or so she tells herself). Gweneth Paltrow, on the other hand, is sunshine personified. Anthony Minghella’s film is glossy and sun splashed. Zaillian eclipses the sun and creates a brilliant Italian noir.

    The black and white cinematography is radiant despite the lack of color. It’s a character all by itself, the shadows linger, the stairs beckon, the ‘light” sporadic, and the statues, gargoyles, and Renaissance art observe. The only living witness to the crimes is the resident cat of Ripley’s apartment building, Lucio (real name King). His red paw prints as he scurries through the scene of the crime are the film’s only splash of color. (It’s the second outstanding feline performance of the year – see A Quiet Place: Day One Goes for Silence Over Mayhem for the first.) Even the Italian scenery is spectacular in monochrome.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

    Trivia: Andrew Scott starred in what romantic fantasy film in 2023?

    Trivia: What Manson family member did Dakota Fanning play in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?

    Answers: All of Us Strangers and Squeaky Fromme (Although not involved in the La Bianca murders, Fromme attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975.)

  • Women of the Hour Film: The Dating Game Killer

    Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) stars in and directs Woman of the Year, her directorial debut. It’s based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his 1978 appearance on the TV show The Dating Game in the midst of his killing spree. Sheryl Bradshaw is a struggling actress, and her agent encourages her to audition for the show to gain some exposure. Alcala (played by Daniel Zovatto, Here and Now) is Bachelor #3. At the time of the show, he has murdered at least five women.

    On the episode, Bachelorette Sheryl goes off script because the provided questions for the men are just plain stupid. It’s another example of the sexism she has endured trying to make it in Hollywood. The show’s host (Tony Hale, Veep) adds to the slime. Since the other two contestants are so clueless, Alcala is easily the most charming and wins the date. After the taping they go out for a drink as a preview to their Dating Game-prize date to Carmel. Sheryl quickly figures out he’s a creep and as the evening goes on it becomes apparent that he is a sexual predator.

    A member of the audience recognizes Alcala as the man she saw with her friend who was later found murdered. She quickly leaves the crowd to seek help and authority. The showrunner, security guard, police, and her boyfriend all dismiss her concerns. The film’s postscript spells out the sickening parade of fatal errors in the criminal justice system that allowed Alcala to go on killing young women.

    Woman of the Hour is unsettling and gets under your skin. It’s restrained, as opposed to many murder movies which gratuitously focus on the killings. The victims are acknowledged, not their deaths. With her behind the camera direction, Kendrick shows that she’s now a double threat. The film is well-paced and successfully juggles its non-linear approach. The camera work is gripping as she frames the panic on the faces of her character and the victims. It conveys the everyday anxiety of being a woman and the secret codes and looks they give each other. It’s a chilling true story that’s worth an hour and a half of your time.

    (Woman of the Hour had its world premiere at the Toronto Intenational Film Festival in September 2023 and is now steaming on Netflix.)

    D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

    Trivia: Anna Kendrick is one of the few actors nominated for an Emmy, Tony, and Academy Award. For which film, starring George Clooney, was she nominated for an Oscar?

    Answer: Kendrick was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for Up in the Air (2009).

  • Gladiator II: The Epic Sequel Ramps Up the Spectacle

    Roman gladiator movies rank high in the echelon of epic Hollywood films. The nine-minute chariot race in Ben-Hur. The monumental crowd and battle scenes in Spartacus. The furious gladiator fights in Gladiator, including real tigers. And now the sequel, Gladiator II, with a flooded Colosseum re-enacting a famous naval battle…complete with sharks. Indeed, director Ridley Scott takes it up a notch, maybe over the top, with the computer-generated imagery. Still, the visual effects don’t overwhelm the fine acting and familiar, satisfying story.

    Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal (Aftersun) as Lucius Verus Aurelius (a.k.a. “Hanno”), grandson of Marcus Aurelius and son of Maximus Decimus Meridus (the protagonist of the first film, played by Russell Crowe). Lucius’ home is invaded and captured by the Roman Army, led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us). His wife is killed by the invaders. Lucius seeks revenge and fights as a gladiator for Macrinus (Denzel Washington, no identifying film necessary), a former slave who plans to overthrow the twin emperors, Geta and Caracalla.

    While Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla and there are a few brief flashbacks to Maximus, you don’t need to have seen the original film; the sequel stands on its own. If you have seen the original, you may find yourself in familiar territory. While slaves being trained as gladiators and leading rebellions are a common theme in ancient Roman movies, Gladiator II is almost too faithful to its predecessor. Generations come and go but the struggle for family and power remains the same. Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal share a similar dynamic with Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.

    Mescal can’t live up to Crowe’s Best Actor performance, but he does portray strength and tenacity. Pascal’s Acacius lives a live of luxury with wife, Lucilla, but spends most of his time off at war. His disillusionment with killing arrives too late. It’s Macrinus that steals the show. Washington is truly enjoying himself as he glams it up while undermining the completely deranged twins. Along with the theatrics, the blood count is also up in Gladiator II. In addition to numerous gory deaths on the battlefield and in the gladiator ring, it’s not just sharks out to kill. More mega creatures are unleashed in the Colosseum. All in all, it’s an entertaining, historical joyride. See it on the big screen where it was made to be seen.

    D² Rating◼◼◼◩☐

    Trivia: Ridley Scott has been nominated for Best Director three times. Name the films.

    Answers: Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down

  • Big Head Todd and the Monsters in Concert – 40 Years Strong

    I wasn’t all that familiar with Big Head Todd and the Monsters, besides hearing a few of their ’90s hits on the radio and having the Beautiful World album on CD. I missed their previous visit to the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, so I was glad to have another opportunity to see them live for the first time. SLO was the fifth stop of a tour that will take them to numerous destinations across the country through April 2025.

    These guys are a true Colorado band. Todd Park Mohr, Brian Nevin, and Rob Squires attended Columbine High and the University of Colorado together, playing their first gig at a Boulder college party in 1986. It was their third LP, Sister Sweetly, in 1993 that rocked them into the charts with “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” and “Circle.” Beautiful World in 1997 expanded their popularity with singles “Boom Boom” and “Resignation Superman.” In 2005, they released an iTunes single “Blue Sky” at the request of the Space Shuttle Discovery crewmembers. A live rendition of the song served as a wake-up call to Discovery. The original trio remains, along with long time member Jeremy Lawton. They’ve played the Red Rocks Amphitheater over 35 times and continue to sell out shows, particularly in the Centennial State and Mountain West. They’re still in the studio, as well, releasing their 12th studio album, Her Way Out, earlier this year (I purchased it at the merch stand before the show).

    Her Way Out

    They opened with “Turn the Lights Out,” the first of five from their most successful album, Sister Sweetly. Next up was one of my favorites, “Resignation Superman.” “Please Don’t Tell Her,” also from Beautiful World, was a slower-paced standout. Six cover songs were on the set list, several being the band’s beloved blues songs, such as “Boom Boom,” and “Hidden Charms” (they had a side project at one time called the Big Head Blues Project.) One cover was definitely not a blues song. It seems cringey, but “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” was actually a fun-loving crowd favorite. Their biggest hit, “Bittersweet,” introduced by Mohr as, “believe it or not, we did have a #1 single,” was warmly received. They played three from the new album, including “Rainbow Girl” about Mohr’s seven-year-old daughter, “she does as she please” (I’m assuming that’s her on the cover of the album).

    “Circle,” the last song of the set and “Broken Hearted Savior,” the first of the encore closed out the evening’s Sister Sweetly tunes. Then things took a sharp detour with “the Classic Rock Challenge” starting with “Foreplay” the intro to Boston’s “Long Time” right into “Highway Star,” an all-time live album highlight courtesy of Deep Purple’s Made in Japan. Huh? Some of my favorite concert moments have been cover songs (Pearl Jam’s take on The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” just to name one). But this was a miss for me – long, loud, and a distorted last impression. An enjoyable concert, nevertheless, for sure. The band is a well-oiled machine, and their blues-influenced straight-ahead rock n’ roll has an engaging front man in Todd Mohr. He writes life-affirming songs, plays a crisp guitar, alternating between delicate and blistering, and brings it all home with his authentic, passionate voice. They are still having fun after playing together for decades. You’ll be drawn in by their infectious comradery. Go see them if you have the chance.

    D² Rating: ◼◼◼⬕☐

    Three trivia questions are calling out to me this time:

    Trivia: What guitarist from a well-known band produced Beautiful World?

    Trivia: “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” is a song by what American pop rock band?

    Trivia: “Boom Boom” was originally written and performed by what famous blues artist?

    Answers: Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads; Looking Glass, John Lee Hooker (John Lee Hooker was recording in the same studio and joined Big Head Todd for their cover of his most popular song which became a hit for them, too.)

  • Songs of a Lost World: The Dark and Triumphant Return of the Cure

    Finally. If you’ve followed me over the last four years, you’ve read several asides like, “where is that new Cure album? We’re still waiting.” When I launched my website in early 2020, a new Who album had just been released, and Robert Smith said the new Cure was ready to go. I thought I’d have a couple significant album reviews to get Pop Transmission off to a good start. No such luck. The Cure even went on a hugely successful worldwide tour playing the new songs, without releasing the album. In November 2024, the ultimate better late than never has occurred. Songs of a Lost World is majestic and ominous. What more could we ask for?

    Let’s look at some career highlights of the Cure before we jump into the new album. Robert Smith is the lone constant member of the band, formed in 1976. Their debut LP in 1979, Three Imaginary Boys (renamed Boys Don’t Cry for the U.S. release) made an impact with college radio favorites, “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” and “Killing an Arab.” In 1987, the band’s only double album, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, raised their profile with foot-stomping pop beauties “Why Can’t I Be You” and “Just Like Heaven.” Their popularity peak was the late ’80s and early ’90s with Disintegration (1989) and Wish (1992). “Lullaby,” “Lovesong,” “Fascination Street,” and “Pictures of You,” from the former and “High” and “Friday I’m in Love” from the latter remain new wave staples today. Their records since then have been sporadic and inconsistent. Their last studio album was 2008’s solid, but unremarkable, 4:13: Dream. Their legacy was cemented when Trent Reznor inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

    The Cure’s music runs from tormented goth to upbeat pop, inspiring contradictory emotions. Love songs and existential despair coexist. If you love the bouncy new wave Cure…well, there is nothing like “Friday I’m in Love” to hear here. It’s a lost world with ageing and death front and center. The themes may be bleak, but grace and beauty break through, as evidenced by the opening track, “Alone.” After a three-minute sweeping intro punctuated by Reeves Gabrels’ ragged guitar and Roger O’Donnell’s exquisite keys, Smith proclaims, “This is the end of every song that we sing.” The guy’s voice has not changed a bit.

    The storm clouds persist through the rest of the album with short bursts of sunlight peeking in. “A Fragile Thing” conveys a hint of Cure-pop, while “Warsong” is industrial and drone-like. The warm synths of “I Can Never Say Goodbye” honor Smith’s deceased brother and the cascading piano and strings illuminate “And Nothing is Forever.” The eight-song record ends with “End Song,” “Left alone with nothing, the end of every song. Nothing.” “End Song” was the finale of the recent tour shows, as well. Seems like it is the end song, doesn’t it? Well, Robert Smith says another album is almost finished and another one in the works. So here we go again…

    p.s. For the album collectors, I have 3 EPs and all 14 of the Cure’s studio albums, 7 on vinyl, 7 on CD. Also, the deluxe CD edition of Three Imaginary Boys, the CD box set Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities, and their Greatest Hits CD.

    D² Rating: ◼◼◼◩☐

    Trivia: The Cure’s 1st Top 40 hit was what song off their second LP, Seventeen Seconds?

    Trivia: Guitarist Reeves Gabrels was in what band from 1989-1992? (Hint: The band included a very famous member.)

    Trivia Answer #1: “A Forest.” The song is still a signature of their live shows. Watching The Penguin? In episode 5, “A Forest” comes out of the Gotham darkness putting an exclamation point on a defining moment of the series.

    Trivia Answer #2: Tin Machine with David Bowie

  • Conclave: Behind the Scenes of Choosing a New Pope

    Black smoke is emitting from the Vatican signaling that a new pope has not been elected yet. What actually goes on behind those hallowed doors? Conclave takes us inside this beguiling, solemn process that has been occurring since 1271. It’s a fascinating ritual, taking place in the Sistine Chapel, that shows the revered Cardinals grappling with the same human frailties as the rest of us.

    Conclave is directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) based on the novel by Richard Harris. A trio of splendid actors anchor the cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow. Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is in charge of organizing the papal conclave and finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about each of the candidates. He is questioning his faith and not interested in being Pope, or so he says. His opening speech encouraging the gathered to embrace doubt and uncertainty sparks raised eyebrows. Lawrence leads the liberal wing along with Cardinal Bellini (Tucci) who also claims he is not worthy. Cardinal Tremblay (Lithgow) is a mainstream conservative. Also in attendance are a fiery traditionalist, a social conservative, and a late arrival, from of all places, Kabul, who really rocks the ceremony’s historical convention.

    Fiennes is fantastic as he swims through the deceit, avoidance, and egos of the conclave. They are sequestered in a dormitory and insulated from the outside world (although in a rather shameless display, it quite literally enters the room). In their iconic red robes, they write out their choice by hand and deliver their paper vote to a special bowl. (They burn the votes after each round and add chemicals to create the smoke.) Conclave is a riveting, serious, and dialog-heavy film, but also entertaining and chuckle-inducing. It doesn’t dodge current socio-political issues from the parallels to our recent election to commentary on the modern-day Catholic Church.

    The Cardinals struggle with balancing human nature and devotion to the deity. Their machinations might be more visible than they think. In one of the film’s finer moments, Sister Agnes (Isabella Rosellini) warns the men that while the nuns are supposed to be invisible, they have eyes and ears. One more revelation is to come. The ending is controversial and unforeseeable. Some will undoubtedly be turned off. I’m still not sure what I think. It’s an outlandish twist. It also effectively encapsulates the themes of the film.

    (Conclave premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August and is currently in theaters – run time 2 hr.)

    D² Rating: ◼◼◼◩☐

    Trivia: Stanley Tucci was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for what 2009 film, also starring Saoirse Ronan and Mark Wahlberg?

    Trivia: John Lithgow was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the role of a transexual football player in what 1982 film?

    Trivia: Ralph Fiennes was nominated for Best Actor playing Count Almasy in what 1996 film?

    Trivia Answers: The Lovely Bones, The World According to Garp, and The English Patient.

  • New Music Alert: Latest Songs from Old and New Bands

    Time for some new music, one more for 2024. As usual, the new music alert is songs from newer bands, older bands, bands I’ve never heard (the first six), and bands I’ve been listening to for years (the final four). Hopefully, you’ll want to add one or more of these songs to a playlist and maybe explore the band further.

    – “Further From My Start” by Prize Horse: The trio from Minnesota comes with a brooding blast of grunge. Check out this tune from their debut album, Under Sound:

    – “Just a Place” by Glitterer: The D.C. band released its third LP late last year. They produce an erratic, noisy template jacked up with guitars and synths. Take a listen to the slower, wistful, and typically short “Just a Place:”

    – “Joy is a Crime” by Soft Kill: The Portland band has a fine-tuned blend of indie rock and dark synths. Here’s what that sounds like:

    – “Scream from New York, NY” by Been Stellar: The title song of the debut from Been Stellar says it all. They are a NYC band and the chaos of the city amid its stirring culture are running themes of the album. Hence the tension between inspiring and ominous as heard here:

    – “Reappearing Rat” by Sunset Rubdown: Sunset Rubdown started as a solo project for Wolf Parade singer, songwriter and keyboardist Spencer Krug. While familiar with the Montreal rockers, I had no idea about the side project (see an earlier Post Transmission post Rock N’ Roll in the 2020s (cont.)- Wolf Parade and Pearl Jam). More than a one-off, Sunset Rubdown’s new Always Happy to Explode is their 5th album and first in 15 years. They’re music is cheerful acoustic guitar and catchy keys as evidenced by this song:

    – “Supersad” by Suki Waterhouse: I don’t get too excited when I hear that another actress, singer, and model has come out with an album. So, when I heard “Supersad” on Sirius XMU radio, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a 90s radio-friendly throwback with trashy guitars and soaring vocals.

    – “Raining on Your Pillow” by DIIV: DIIV has just released Frog in Boiling Water, their 4th and best LP. After seeing them live in 2019 I called them punishing bliss (Six Overlooked Bands for You to Check Out). I’ll let the band describe this new single, “A looping guitar plays underneath a driving rhythm in a cloud of murky atmosphere of analog synths and tape loops – menacing, doomed, and strangely hopeful.”

    – “Desire” by Fontaines D.C.: Fontaines D.C. embark in a new direction on Romance, the band’s 4th album. (see my first post Rock N’ Roll in the 2020s? – Try The Districts and Fontaines D.C.) The hypnotic chanting has been replaced by a lighter, more accessible, and less Irish-focused sound. But they’re still raw, dark, and enchanting led by Grian Chatten’s vocals.

    – “Ruby Church” by X: I didn’t think I’d be writing about another X album after 2020’s excellent Alphabetland (Ten Late Career Albums That Were Overlooked but Carry on the Band’s Legacy) They surprised us all with one final album and tour in 2024. Smoke & Fiction is a 28-minute, full throttle finale. With songs like “Winding Up the Time” and reflective lyrics about their journey “from a big black X on a white marquee to a tiny little x on a white marquee,” X cements its legacy.

    – “Portland Rocks” by Ride: I loved Ride in the ‘ 90s and was excited about their return in 2017 (Bands that Took 20 Years (or more) Between Albums: Part Three – Ride (and a shout out to Shoegazers) Interplay is the third album of their rejuvenation. It’s signature Ride with its chiming, lush guitars. On “Portland Rocks,” the guitars are flat-out exhilarating. This song had me at about 10 seconds.

    Trivia: Suki Waterhouse starred in what Prime Video musical drama series?

    Answer: Daisy Jones & the Six

  • Mothers’ Instinct: Tragedy Upends Life in the 1960s Suburbs

    Next door neighbors, Celine and Alice, lean on each other to withstand the domestic drudgery of their suburban lives. They each have young sons and husbands who go off to work every day and come home to a whiskey. Their sisterhood is shattered after a freak accident ends in a tragic death. You’ll never guess the extreme instincts that are forthcoming.

    Mothers’ Instinct is the directorial debut of Benoit Delhomme and a remake of the 2018 Belgian film, which itself was an adaptation of the 2012 novel. It stars Anne Hathaway (Celine) and Jessica Chastain (Alice) in an emotional tug-of-war with deadly consequences. Two of our finest actresses put on a spellbinding show. They are the prime reason for watching. The film also excels in its production design. The ’60s are on full display as the women glow, the pastels pop, and the clothes…immaculate.

    The script is uneven; the tone scrambled. The twists are sensational, almost pulpy, while the story simultaneously veers into social issues of the time. Oppression and mental illness are somewhere in there but remain opaque. There are odes to Hitchcock, but they lack his voyeurism and edgy contrasts. Maybe they should have gone all in on a mocking melodrama instead of maintaining a clumsy seriousness.

    So, where does this leave us? Chastain and Hathaway and sparkling visuals? Or the muddled script of a bizarre story? For some, Mothers’ Instinct will cross the line. It’s unnerving to say the least. More like bat-shit crazy. I found the absurdity morbidly entertaining. The fine acting and exquisite style also kept me engaged. Plus, it runs a tight hour and a half instead of the ever-more frequent 2.5-or-3-hour cinematic endurance tests.

    Mothers’ Instinct is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

    D² Rating: ◼◼◼☐☐

    Trivia: Jessica Chastain won the Academy Award for what 2021 biopic film?

    Trivia: Anne Hathaway won the Best Supporting Actress Award for what 2012 musical film?

    Answers below

    Trivia Answers: The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Les Misérables

  • The Diplomat: Netflix’s Surprisingly Delicious Political Drama is Back

    The Diplomat returns for its second season on Netflix, October 31st. To get ready, let’s revisit the joyride of season one.

    Career diplomat, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell, The Americans), reluctantly accepts reassignment to the U.K. as U.S. ambassador. Her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell, The Man in the High Castle), also a diplomat, accompanies her to London. He’s got swagger, a high profile, and a penchant for the limelight. Their roles have reversed; she’s driving the relocation and he’s the trailing spouse. It’s immediately apparent that he will have a hard time being the second fiddle. And as they struggle to adjust to their new life in England, their marriage is unraveling; depending on which one you ask and when, they’re done.

    Ambassador Wyler immediately finds herself trying to defuse an international incident. A British Navy vessel has been bombed and the death of British soldiers has the Prime Minister (played by Rory Kinnear) seeking retribution. The U.S. President (Michael McKean) has to support its major ally without triggering a wider conflict. Of course, politics underlies everything. The behind-the-scenes diplomacy may be a little far-fetched but it’s riveting and reflective of current events.

    While the couple is forging strategic alliances, there are uncomfortable moments and mischief afoot at the palatial residence of the Ambassador. Kate Wyler is not suited for living in a castle, the English pomp and circumstance, or fancy photo-ops. Watching her handlers and stylists preparing her for a ceremonial appearance in a white gown is hilarious. (“I have a black dress and another black dress.”) The couple tries to keep their marital troubles under wraps, but that doesn’t last long under the prying eyes of household staff. Finally, their verbal jousting turns into a full-on, knock-down, drag-out brawl on the front lawn. It’s part cringeworthy, part hysterical. This blend of geopolitics and a wicked sense of humor is where the show excels.

    You’ll enjoy The Diplomat if you liked The West Wing, Madame Secretary, or Borgen (see previous post on the excellent Danish program Borgen: The Engrossing Danish Political Drama and Its Well-Deserved Encore). But The Diplomat is not as refined. It lacks grace and subtlety. The selected diplomatic path is often not the moral high ground. The Diplomat posted big numbers for Netflix and was renewed for another season right out of the gate. Where will season two go? Well, season one concludes with Kate in an elegant red dress attending a grandiose ball…

    D² Rating ◼◼◼◼☐

    Trivia: Keri Russell won a Golden Globe in 1999 playing the lead role on what WB network show?

    Answer: Felicity