Better Cast Saul - 407 – Something Stupid

Despite a warp speed, nearly ten month jump ahead in time, AMC’s Better Call Saul proceeds in a deliberate pace, offering just over 40 minutes of content, with just under 9 minutes of montage filling the screen time. One ball that’s left to bounce for the entire period is Nacho, the only major principle character we don’t get caught up on. Gus has healed Hector to the exact level he needs to maximize his revenge plot. Mike is struggling with an over budget superlab with a crew of bored and increasingly sloppy Germans, and Kim and Jimmy’s relationship is on life support. And that’s before Jimmy comes to Kim with a big ask to save our favorite not-so-big-man, Huell. If the pace has been slow, the tension has been fairly high, the next three weeks will hopefully have enough fireworks to carry us to season five!

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2007)

Special thanks to multi-multi-multi-commissioner Sean Ray for dialing up the number to Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2007). This edition is intended by director Ridley Scott to be the definitive version. The interesting thing is, Jim and I have always been a bit “meh” on the classic Blade Runner experience. Sure, we see how influential it is, and can understand why it was highly regarded “for it’s day”. We both felt like we saw the film with fresh eyes on this cut. Their are problems with world building and pacing here and there, but everything tracks so much cleaner, and the third act which was always a standout is now a pure joy. Thanks again, Sean! It’s not every day that a commission completely has us do a 180 on a project, this is one of those rare times!

Bald Move Prestige - Mandy (2018)

Mandy is a film by Panos Cosmatos starring Nick Cage. It is both a slow burn, 70’s style horror film dipped in acid, and a gonzo Nick Cage action film. It continually suffers from being torn in these two very different directions. A.Ron dug it, Jim wants nothing to do with it. This film boasts near universal acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes and yet is a tough one  to wholeheartedly recommend. Please enjoy our spoiler free review and discussion of new trailers and upcoming films, but if you want to hear Jim and I argue about Mandy’s merits, you’ll have to be a Club Member!

Bald Move Pulp - Castle Rock Wrap Up

So Jim and I saw the final two episodes of Castle Rock, and unfortunately for any Bald Movers that walked away as fans looking forward to season two, we’re not among that number. We’re not upset with the people who do like the show, as it’s charms are evident; it looks great, boasts an incredibly talented cast, and cribs from very highly regarded plots and material by genius of horror Steven King that should add up to a mystery box show that we’re desperate to open. Maybe that’s the problem, that we’re not as steeped in King lore, so we don’t connect as much to this material? Or maybe we just don’t have faith in the show runners to give us a satisfying end? Ultimately a show either grabs you or it doesn’t, and we flat out slipped through Castle Rock’s creepy grasp.