The Wasteland Reviewer

Outside the Wasteland (MAR 2024)

There is more to life than movies, right? That is an obvious question (or is it…) but I find it important to focus on other interests in my life as well. Outside the Wasteland is my new avenue to express my thoughts on things outside the world, the realm of film as there are other things I like to spend my time doing. Hopefully this monthly diversion might inspire you to check out other great experiences outside of a movie theater. 

Television: 

Feud: Capote VS The Swans 

Who doesn’t love a good old anthology series from the mind of Ryan Murphy. He has quite the strange hold on a certain demographic on television that is a great mix of classy filmmaking and sleazy subject melodrama. I only recently caught up on the first season of Feud in preparation for this new season. Bette and Joan were a fantastic ode to Old Hollywood and a rivalry that captured the zeitgeist at the time. This new season captures such a great look at the high society era that allowed Truman Capote to become such a figure in culture. This series captures the energy and drama of the time so well. The attire and food were fantastic.  The period dressings were exquisite. But it is the performances that make this series worth your time. Tom Hollander disappears into the role of Capote and his drunken spiral is a sight to behold. Naomi Watts might have delivered my favorite performance of hers as she leads a talented and gorgeous crew of actors of a certain generation. Diane Lane, Demi Moore, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Molly Ringwald. They are all so fabulous. This is the perfect story from Murphy with its expert mix of class and sleaze. Hulu and FX have another winner on their hands worth your time. 

Books: 

“Blood Meridian”, Cormac McCarthy 

Who else but Cormac McCarthy can capture such brutality and the darkness inside humanity while delivering such beautiful and poignant prose? “Blood Meridian” is not my first go around with McCarthy. I am a big fan of “No Country for Old Men” and “The Road” (which I read after falling in love with the films. I am even listening to “All the Pretty Horses” as well. But I was excited to check out “Blood Meridian” after the great track record with McCarthy’s work and it certainly didn’t disappoint. McCarthy shows why he is considered one of the great American authors as I could read his words on basically anything. “Blood Meridian” certainly leans into just about anything with a bush full of dead babies. This is a timely read as well as it centers on the Texas-Mexico border. Even though it takes place in the 1850s, there is still the exploration of dehumanization that still occurs today. There is brutality in the beautiful writing. This is not a read for the faint of heart but if you are ready for a topical and riveting literary journey, then saddle up and take a ride into this nightmarish world of American expansion. This has me wondering if a filmmaker might be daring enough to bring it to life (of course I would think about that). 

Music:

“…Baby One More Time”, Tenacious D

How many times have I listened to “…Baby One More Time” by Tenacious D? I plead the fifth. Let’s just say it is a lot of times for just one week after release. I was a big fan of late 90’s and early 00’s pop music when I was a kid. I hadn’t listened to a lot of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears in a long time. It was recently where my nostalgia kicked in and I began rediscovering all these songs. Then one fateful day on TikTok…Tenacious D made a cover that nobody could have imagined be we all loved. For the release of Kung Fu Panda 4, the D recreated Spears “…Baby One More Time”. The “hitting part” hit the themes of the animated martial arts film and Jack Black just brought a whole new energy to the song. This hard rocking adaptation of the song is an absolute jam that can be heard on repeat over and over. I will probably listen to this song a few other dozen times throughout this year because he hits so many boxes. There is nostalgia. It is catchy and has an uplifting energy about it. Oh…and I am one of the biggest Tenacious D fans around. Check out the music video from the film’s premiere…it makes the song that much better. 

Podcasting: 

“367/368/369 Raging Bull Part 1-3”, The Cine-Files 

Why is The Cine-Files my favorite podcast? Sorry to all my friends and their podcasts but Steve Morris and John Rocha created a show that felt like it was made for me. Their insight has so much depth and they create the most detailed and engrossing film analysis out there for cinema. I have listened to every single episode and love their perspectives even if I do not always see the films in the same light. I have been so excited for their special series on Martin Scorsese (a filmmaker who deeply resonates with me as an Italian American Roman Catholic from New Jersey). Their dive into Raging Bull has been so impactful for me as someone who hated the film the first time I watched it back in high school. The depth in understanding who Scorsese put together along with the processes of his actors. This scene-by-scene breakdown provides a unique experience of breaking down such a layered and complex biopic. I feel like I learn so much about filmmaking in every episode. Hearing some of the commentary from the real jake LaMotta might have been some of the highlights as he is wild and such a fascinating character in his own right. This six-hour or so is a feast for any cinephile. 

Wrestling: 

The Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match, Monday Night RAW 3/11/2024 

Why did a secondary title #1 contender’s match becomes my wrestling highlight for the month? Gunther. His historic run as the Intercontinental Champion has been one of the greatest title reigns in WWE. He is there every week and putting together fantastic matches with all his opponents (the number is quite large). Gunther is the opposite of Roman Reigns (the biggest star in the company) because he does it himself and wrestles all the time. His upcoming opportunity to defend at Wrestlemania has me so excited. Enter…the Gauntlet Match! Six rising stars or underappreciated veterans collided. Two enter. Someone is eliminated and another takes their place. Ricochet and J.D. McDonagh put on an amazing opening match with high flying maneuvers and fast-moving action. The ending sequence of Chad Gable and Sami Zayn was great as well with some great technical work from Gable (who we all wanted to win). Zayn picking up the win was not the ideal choice but still a beloved star as well as a fresh contender for Gunther. What made this contest so great was everyone came to play, and each competitor brought a unique style. Ricochet flies like no one else, Gable has the technical holds, Bronson Reed is a super heavyweight with a big man game, Shinsuke Nakamura brings the strong style, and Zayn is the perfect scrappy underdog veteran. The match delivered and Gunther/Zayn is something to look forward to.