Dogs, Robots and The Elderly
Movie Recommendations and not much else today
It’s been another one of those weeks - full of big stuff happening behind the scenes, and none of it is anything I can write about in this newsletter. If you came here looking for my thoughts on Sony’s acquisition of the Alamo Drafthouse, sorry, bub. It’s all exciting stuff, but this is neither the place nor the time for my commentary.
I don’t want to send you home empty-handed, so how about some movie recommendations?
ROBOT DREAMS expands into several new markets and theaters this upcoming weekend. Pablo Berger's Spanish-French co-production, based on a graphic novel by Sarah Varon, is one of my favorite movies of the year so far.
Told entirely without dialogue, the movie follows Dog, a lonely resident of '80s-era New York City. Seeking some form of connection in whatever way he can get it, Dog orders Robot, a mail-order companion he learns about from a late-night TV advertisement. Soon, Dog and Robot will be living their best lives - roller skating, jamming to music, and taking day trips to Cony Island. When tragedy strikes, though, Dog and Robot are separated, and the true strength of their friendship will be tested.
Besides just being an incredibly charming movie told with amazing animation, ROBOT DREAMS has some really interesting stuff about transactional friendships and people in love with the idea of being in love. Is it appropriate for kids? Sure, why not? I don’t have kids, though, so take my advice with a grain of salt. There’s nothing particularly adult in the movie besides some background characters smoking. Is it sad? Quite a bit, but I’ve seen a few episodes of BLUEY. Kids can deal with sad shit just fine.
ROBOT DREAMS reminds me a lot of BLUEY. On the surface level, the movie is a simple story of friendship between an unlikely pair. Dig deeper, though, and some profound truths about the human condition lurk just under the surface. I love it, and I think you all will, too!
Also being released in a bunch of theaters this weekend is THELMA, by writer/director Josh Margolin. This very, very sweet movie stars June Squibb as a 90-year-old grandmother who is conned out of $500 by a telescammer. Unfortunately, Squibb’s Thelma doesn’t have Jason “The Beekeeper” Statham around to enact justice. Instead, Thelma sets out to get her money back on her own.
Squibb is a national treasure when it comes to character actors and THELMA gives the actress a ton to work with. There’s comedy, pathos, and even quite a few action scenes for the real-life 94-year-old actress. I loved the movie’s dedication to the premise - never once is Thelma the butt of any jokes. She’s a hero, and the movie treats her like one.
The movie also features a fantastic supporting cast, including Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, and Richard Roundtree in his final performance. THELMA is a small film, but it’s such a satisfying one - full of heart and genuine humor. If you’re a fan of seeing thieving assholes get their comeuppance from a gun-waving grannie, this is the movie for you.
I don’t have any WHERE WOLF 2 updates this week, but, as always, you can request a copy of WHERE WOLF from your local library or buy a personal copy directly from the publisher, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Brazos Bookstore in Houston, Ghoulish Books in San Antonio, or Whose Books in Dallas. If you've read WHERE WOLF, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon, Goodreads, The StoryGraph, or wherever you discover new books.
I’m hosting two events at the Alamo Drafthouse this week. Up first is FIELD OF DREAMS on Wednesday, June 19 as part of Film Club. This film, currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, stars Kevin Costner as a man compelled to build a baseball diamond in his backyard. You’ve probably already seen this movie, or at least know its secrets, but it’s still going to be a treat to see this ultimate dad-core movie on the big screen. Buy tickets here.
We have a considerably different film screening at the Alamo Drafthouse on Friday. I’ll host the Graveyard Shift screening of THIR13EN GHOSTS, the big-budget Joel Silver and Robert Zemeckis-produced remake of William Castle’s gimick-a-go-go 1960 haunted house film. Tony Shalhoub (Monk!) leads a great ensemble cast, including Matthew Lillard, Shannon Elizabeth, and F. Murray Abraham. When a group of strangers are summoned to an exceptionally haunted house, they’ll learn if they have what it takes to survive the night. Buy tickets here.