Tower of Babble

Every so often a piece of media comes around that speaks to the truth of our modern society in such an astute way that it just simply cannot be denied. Mike Judge's 'Office Space' might be THE exemplar of this. Despite being almost 30 years old, it still captures the reality of office work in such painful clarity that it still resonates as powerfully today, if not even more powerfully (god knows, Corporations have only seemingly gotten worse since Y2k). Amazingly, despite the low-hanging, cringe humour, fruit that was perfectly captured by 'The Office' just 6 years later (2005), this movie plays it much more like a straight comedy, and yet it's manages to capture the soul-deadening nature of office work the endures for many to this day. While not perfect, there are moments so enduring that this movie will continue to resonate as long as people continue to work in an office. No notes. Eat the rich - Burn it all down! Next Month: we move ahead to a movie released only 1 year later, in 2000, but turn the setting back to the 70's to hang out with a rock band in Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous".

Despite being over 3000 years old, Homer's 'The Odyssey' has remained an enduring work of fiction. It's hard to conceive how many times this story has been told and retold. For this reason it's all the more compelling to have one of our generations greatest visual storytellers reinterpret this foundational work for modern audiences. In fact, you could argue this may be the richest interpretations, while understanding the limitations of the filmic medium, given the wonders of modern technology (imagine what the ancient Greeks would think of this!). That's without even mentioning that this film was shot entirely on 70 mm IMAX film (a first of it's kind), and while it may very well be a dying medium, it remains one of the grandest forms of visual storytelling available still today. A beautiful marriage of subject and medium. That is all to say that Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' is a remarkable film. The job of pulling an ancient text into the modern world in way that still captures the imagination is no easy task, but I can safely say accomplished with style by Nolan. While certainly not perfect, the film's ability to leverage the story of Odysseus to deliver a message profoundly relevant to our current time speaks both to the timeless nature of the story but also to Nolan's craftsmanship to shape his telling in such a way as to be pointed in the parable. Which may end up being the film's enduring legacy.

Another cult classic, 'The Warriors' brings a distinctly unique sense of style and grittiness that feels right at home on the grimy streets of 1970's New York City. The gang-centered heightened reality of the film feels almost Shakespearian in nature, as if you're watching an mythological journey fraught with peril of all kinds - violence, temptation, and the law. This movie was selected as a double-feature of sorts with Nolan's recently released 'The Odyssey' and the comparisons between these stories feels apt. At the end of the day it's just people trying to get home and doing their best to overcome the challenges the world throws at them. The stakes are clear, and while the nature of good guys vs bad guys is more than a bit muddied here (Ajax... dude, wtf?) the thrilling chases, bombastic action sequences and the long awaited final confrontation are all working at a high level (despite some pretty flat performances and lackluster dialogue). While there are certain elements of the movie that DO NOT age well (looking at you gender politics), the core of the film remains strong and executed well. Plus, as an added bonus, the soundtrack for this movie absolutely slaps! This is a fun ride and it's easy to see why it's endured over these many years.

We're into the full swing of blockbuster season. With 'Obsession' breaking box office records, 'The Odyssey' now filling IMAX theatres, and 'Spider-Man' right around the corner, movies feel very "back" right now. Plus, with Comic-Con next week Marvel released their first full-length 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer. Julian and Matt try to decide if the hype is there, which feels crazy when considering it's an Avengers movie after all, but that might speak more to the situation Marvel currently finds themselves in. Meanwhile, DC doesn't want to be left behind, releasing a new trailer for 'Clayface' , which is shaping up to be a sneaky hit in the body-horror space (despite still not Batman). This all leads to Matt's idea that comic book movies should be treated like jury duty. Plus, a news rundown covering the passing of Sam Neil, Netflix updates (they're bad), some box office updates, and more!

Time marches on and we all feel old. This week, 'Toy Story 5' hit theaters, and while reviews have been positive, it's crazy to think we're onto the fifth installment in that franchise. In a similar vein, we recently learned that Mike Myers is interested in returning to 'Austin Powers', on the heels of his appearance in the trailer for another fiver, 'Shrek 5' (which already has people in it's own tizzy). Matt and Julian debate the merits of either prospect, and then turn the page to stare into the abyss that is AI invading Hollywood. Plus a grab-bag of entertainment stories covering odd popcorn bowls, a Knicks documentary, a scrapped Palpatine show and much more! Finally, to wrap things up, a brief discussion on 'House of the Dragon' season 3 premiere, 'Obsession', 'The Furious', and 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (both in and out of concert).