What I've Been Into...
"Rivals" Silly, sleazy, satirical and starring David Tennant. What's not to love about this very guilty pleasure from over the pond streaming on, wtf!, Disney+. I guess full frontal nudity is cool with the Mouse in Trump's Amerika.
Anyway, this show is a lot of fun. Set in the "Dynasty" 1980s, Tennant plays Lord Tony Baddingham, a media baron trying to look down a broadcast license for his TV enterprise (I don't know all the ins-and-outs of Britain's broadcasting laws, then or now, but evidently such licenses are very competitive), but is faced with competition from a longtime rival, Rupert Campbell-Black, a conservative politician and all-around country dandy played by Aidan Turner.
There are all sorts of other people circling around, too, all of them doing unwise, not nice things. It's a nighttime soap that celebrates its ridiculousness, simultaneously poking fun at it's genre while relishing in it.
"The Whole Town is Talking" (1935) This old one was new to me. Edgar G. Robinson is spectacular in double roles, playing Arthur Ferguson Jones, mild-mannered clerk in an ad agency who looks exactly like "Killer" Manion, a notorious mobster who's on the loose. Screwball queen Jean Arthur is wonderful and hilarious as Athur's office mate and love interest. John Ford directs, showing he could pull off both comedies and Westerns.
It's a very funny and engaging film and Robinson's performance(s) are revelatory. He really makes these two people seem like two people, as does some nifty camera work. We all knew Edgar could play the heavy, but as Arthur he's vulnerable and exceedingly likable. Highly recommended.
Quick Links:
AIPT: Dark Horse Comics has recognized a new employees union.
NME: Rare and unreleased Prince tracks will appear on a new compilation out Aug. 28.
NME: Legendary BBC broadcaster "Whispering" Bob Harris is stepping down due to ill health.
World of Reel: Martin Scorsese's public embrace of A.I. tools has earned a "fuck him" from director Boots Riley.
Variety: The makers of Magic: The Gathering have unveiled a Marvel Superheroes card game.
Bleeding Cool News: The new issue of Fantastic Four pays homage to Asteris (spoilers).
R.I.P.
Graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi, author of "Persepolis."
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Anthony Head.
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