Colin’s Quarantine Diary: Week 2

So this is just life now?

I’m sure this is the thought many of us had this week, as I know I found myself getting used to the routine of working from home, doing indoor activities at night, and going for the occasional walk as long as I keep my distance from strangers. It’s a strange thing for the world to be so quiet when it’s simultaneously falling apart. I guess this period gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “dying on the inside”. But enough moroseness. Yes, things are tough, but there is still enjoyment to get out of life’s little pleasures, and I’ve found that the most enjoyable time has been when I’m not looking at the news. Which of course brings me to the various distractions that have been keeping me sane. Continue reading →

The Pick: The Hunt For Red October

The world may have shut down, but we’re still intent on delivering episodes of The Pick. I mean, what else better do we have to do? This week we dig into a movie that’s sort of about social distancing, but also, not really, since it involves a lot of men being tucked into very close quarters with each other on a submarine. Anyways, it’s The Hunt For Red October! It’s the 30th anniversary! Let the hunt begin! Continue reading →

Colin’s Quarantine Diary: Week 1

Hey all!

I know. Things are weird right now. It’s also easy to feel like the kinds of pop culture we talk about on this blog is insignificant compared to the health of you and everyone you know. That said, because much of the world is self-quarantining right now, we’re all binging on a lot more pop culture than usual. So I figured I’d start doing these check-in’s each week or so talking about the various movies and music and whatnot that has been getting me through being trapped in my apartment. Of course, hopefully this period won’t last too long. But things don’t necessarily seem that way right now, so I anticipate this will be a recurring feature in the coming weeks. And who knows, maybe Sean and John will join in?

I think for now I’ll keep it to five things I’ve been into this week, but don’t hold me to that format. To quote The Dark Knight‘s tagline, welcome to a world without rules. Continue reading →

The Pick: Contagion

Looking for a respite from thinking about the coronavirus? Well… sorry. This week, we’re indulging the chaotic state of things by talking about Steven Soderbergh’s timely Contagion. In addition to that, we talk a bit about what it’s like for Sean and John to be in the epicenter of COVID-19 in the U.S., as well as the career of America’s favorite infected everyman, Tom Hanks. I know. These are bleak times, but maybe The Pick can offer a glimmer of hope and a few laughs. Just remember to wash your hands before using them to hit that “play” button! Continue reading →

The Pick: An American Werewolf in London

Capping off our three-part “body horror” series that included The Invisible Man and the skin-crawling 1996 classic The Nutty Professor is John Landis’ 1981 horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London.

In this episode, Sean retells the story of the most infamous “werewolf trial” in history. Also, Colin recommends collectible rubber duckies! We’re over the moon for this one so why don’t you give it a listen? Better than talking to a corpse.

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The Pick: The Invisible Man

Just in time for a new remake hitting theaters today, we’re talking about the original 1933 Universal Monster movie The Invisible Man. Much like the film itself, it’s a bit of a shorter episode, but still one that sees us taking delight in the film’s cackling villainy. John also offers some insights into how it compares to the H.G. Wells book, as well as a rundown of some of the other more notable “invisible man” movies that have popped up over the years.

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Cue Synthesizer, Cue Guitar

Destroyer – Have We Met

After having spent the past two months at Mildly Pleased looking back at 2019 and the decade as a whole, I think it’s finally time to start talking about the 2020s. Perhaps it’s appropriate that my first review of the decade is from an artist that put out great (if not classic) albums in both of the past two decades, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

A big reason why Destroyer has remained so intriguing (and a little unapproachable) over the years is undoubtedly due to frontman Dan Bejar’s need for constant reinvention. Which makes Have We Met a bit of an outlier, since it sounds a lot like his previous few albums. Yet there’s something kind of captivating about how self-assured he (and the band) sounds here, with each song being big on groove and atmosphere, while there’s still a ton of room for Bejar to spout his delightfully neurotic and weirdly melodic lyrics. Continue reading →