Back to Space

After a 9 year hiatus, the US is back in business.  Thanks to the launch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule, named Endeavor, the US can stop hitching a ride on Russian rockets to reach the International Space Station.  Since the shuttle was retired, US astronauts have been using Russia's space program as a taxi service for an increasingly expensive fee.  What was a $20 million seat in 2007 had inflated to $81 million by 2016.  That's what monopoly gets you.  The price for SpaceX is going to be $55 million per astronaut, a bargain.

Next up, the SpaceX Starship!  Or maybe something from Blue Origin.  Or maybe Virgin Galactic.  It is the dawning of a golden age in manned spaceflight.

Jane and the Lost City (1987)

It is 1940 and the Lost City - yes, that lost city - has been found.  Sort of.  A British soldier returned from the lost city and promptly died but not before dropping a diamond the size of a baseball.  The Germans get hold of the diamond and send the infamous Lola Pagola (Maud Adams) to seize the fabled diamond fortune for the Nazis.  Meanwhile, the colonel - no name, just a rank - has been assigned to claim the diamonds for the British.  He is accompanied by his faithful servant, Tombs, and his assistant, Jane (Kirsten Hughes).  Lola is aware of the British effort and has arranged for their deaths.  Repeatedly!  While trekking through the jungles of Africa, Jane meets Jungle Jack Buck (Sam J. Jones), an American, who joins as guide and love interest.

A campy WWII adventure, Jane regularly loses most of her clothes, thus her title as Queen of the Undie-World.  Neither Jane nor the colonel seem to have any particular talents that merit being sent on such a mission but then Lola and her goon squad are equally inept.  The colonel's manservant, Tombs, is often ill-used; he is the one who does most of the work.  The most competent character is Jane's dog, a dachshund named Fritz.  Somehow, looking for Fritz inevitably saves Jane from assassins or allows her to find imperiled allies or hidden escape routes.

If you liked the campier episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess or Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, this is just the show for you.

Nero Wolfe (1959)

Archie Goodwin (William Shatner) reads an article about a rocket scientist who had a heart attack during a crucial rocket test to Nero Wolfe (Kurt Kasznar).  Wolfe hardly seems to pay attention, mostly complaining about his cold.  Archie then moves to the topic of bills and Nero's lack of funds.  Well, that is a problem.  Nero has Archie read an excerpt of the newspaper article again then announces that the scientist was murdered!  Wolfe's conclusion is carried in the morning paper and Archie sets out to do the legwork while Nero waters his flowers and nurses his cold.  Soon, all the suspects are summoned to Wolfe's abode where he requests payment from them to solve the case in quick fashion.  "If you leave it to the police, it will be a long process that will muddy each of you," he explains.  They all agree, signing contracts.  And then he solves the case.

This 1959 pilot for the famed sleuth was not greenlit.  It is entertaining to see a very young William Shatner playing the sidekick.  He has as yet to develop his Shatnerian style of overacting.  Here, he is all charm and smiles, a happy-go-lucky unflappable youth.  Oddly enough, this is the first time I have watched a Nero Wolfe show so I can't contrast it with other versions.  It was fun so I may have to see the Maury Chaykin/Timothy Hutton version from 20 years ago or the William Conrad/Lee Horsley run from 40 years ago!  Huh, every 20 years?  Interesting.

The pilot is available on YouTube.  Thumbs up.

Modesty Blaise (1966)

Modesty Blaise (Monica Vitti) has been called upon by British Intelligence (Harry Andrews) to protect a diamond shipment en route to a Middle Eastern Sheik.  For some inexplicable reason, Modesty is the 'son' of the Sheik.  Why does the government need to employ multiple diversions and subterfuge to deliver the diamonds to a man who is in London at this very moment?  Unclear.  Modesty refuses to come out of her retirement unless she can have Willie Garvin (Terence Stamp) involved.  Off to Amsterdam where Modesty tangles with a British agent involved in the operation and Willie seduces a low-level vixen from the opposition.  The villain of the piece is Gabriel (Dirk Bogarde), a fastidious fellow with a band of mildly comic henchmen.  There are times that it feels like an episode of The Prisoner with the crazy traps, inscrutable villains, and non sequitur plot.  At other times, it is an episode of Get Smart with crazy gadgets and comic action.  And here is a musical number where Modesty and Willie profess a desire to have an affair.  Doubtless, the Austin Powers series took some inspiration from this movie.  Mostly, it is a convoluted mess that is occasionally funny.  One weird quirk was the dual role of Clive Revill.  On the one hand, he is Gabriel's unflappable accountant who nags about how much is being spent on this or that operation.  On the other hand, he is Sheik Abu Tahir, the recipient of the diamond shipment.

Having read a couple Modesty Blaise graphic novels, this is not what I expected.  Not terrible but far from good.  Sixties spy spoof that had a lot of room for improvement.

The Big Sleep (1978)

In the English countryside, Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) arrives at the estate of General Sternwood (James Stewart).  Even before he meets the general, Camilla Sternwood (Candy Clark) practically molests him in the foyer.  The general explains that a 'bookseller' has sent a huge bill - blackmail? - in regard to his younger daughter, Camilla.  He asks that Marlowe find out if this is something serious or just someone trying to con him for a quick buck.  Marlowe visits the bookstore and finds that it is a front for selling smut.  The receptionist is Agnes Lozelle (Joan Collins).  Trailing the bookseller to his home, Marlowe settles in for a stakeout.  That evening, Camilla arrives.  As Marlowe approaches to get a closer look, there are gunshots.  Inside, he finds Camilla naked and stoned, the bookseller dead, and a camera on a tripod aimed at Camilla but the film is gone.  In the morning, the Sternwood's chauffeur is found dead from suicide and it is clear that he killed the bookseller.  However, he doesn't have the missing film from the camera.  As Marlowe follows each thread of the case, he finds another person who is either dead or about to be murdered.  The death toll on the case is quite high.

The story was written in the late forties for Los Angeles but has here been placed in the modern day (1978) in London.  This hurt the noir aspects of the movie.  Also, much of the action takes place during the day when it is far too bright.  I far prefer Mitchum's Marlowe to that of Eliot Gould.  Mitchum's Marlowe is competent, has an emotional range, actually investigates, and isn't a chain smoking depressive.   Also, the brutal integrity is made clear when he refuses huge sums of money even when it is offered with no strings attached; With Gould, I was baffled that he refused money and tossed away $5000.  On the other hand, Mitchum is too old for the role while Gould was about the right age.  The cast is all stars: Richard Boone, Sarah Miles, Edward Fox, John Mills, Oliver Reed, and Harry Andrews all appear.

The plot is a Gordian knot of intertwining mysteries that all come back to an incident that Marlowe wasn't asked to investigate though everyone asks if he is.  There is always a third party present during any incident; that introduces a new mystery to be solved.  Loose end after loose end, each accompanied by a corpse.  It is an engaging movie but most of the players are too high-strung.  Camilla is the most extreme example but there are a lot of characters who are too ready to resort to murder.  Each one is tipped to murder by the previous domino in the chain.  Maybe crazy attracts crazy.

It's okay.  If you like Robert Mitchum, watch it.

The Late Show (1977)

Ira Wells (Art Carney) is a retired private investigator who rents a room from Mrs. Schmidt.  One evening, his old partner Harry Regan visits; he's been shot!  Ira asks who shot him while Mrs. Schmidt calls for an ambulance.  Harry babbles on about making a great deal and he's gonna give Ira a cut.  Of course, he then dies without having revealed any of the players in this deal or who shot him.  Thanks, Harry.  At Harry's funeral, Ira is approached by Margo Sterling (Lily Tomlin) about her lost cat.  It seems that she had hired Harry to find the cat.  Inevitably, Ira agrees to look for Margo's cat if only to discover who killed his old partner.  Along the way, he has to deal with genial criminal Ron Birdwell (Eugene Roche), his two-timing wife Laura Birdwell (Joanna Cassidy), and failed Hollywood agent and bar owner Charlie Hatter.  Every time Ira finds a lead, the lead is murdered before he can ask them anything.  Worse, the murderer is only too willing to shoot Ira or Margo if they happen across his/her path.

Carney does a good job of being a seen-it-all retiree who still has some tricks but isn't as tough as he used to be.  His slang is clearly from another era and he has an abrasive personality.  However, he also thinks more of himself than the events merit.  Though he plays the role well, I didn't like Ira Wells, making him an excellent character but a poor protagonist.  Tomlin is miscast.  Her New Age ditzy actress and dressmaker is more often annoying than entertaining.  When Ira gets frustrated by her constant blather, the audience can sympathize.  Eugene Roche is hilarious - about the only one to get any laughs in this 'comedy' thriller - as a well-off crook who offers to pay with high-end merchandize rather than money.

In the end, the plot is an overcomplicated mess.  Harry could have just said "X shot me," and this whole movie and most of the deaths would vanish.  Thanks, Harry.  A variety of unlikeable characters plod through an often incomprehensible plot to an unsatisfying conclusion.  Meh.  Skip this one.

The Narrows

Harry Bosch is still retired though his old partner, Kiz Rider, is trying to convince him to return to the LAPD.  He's considering it.  Retirement has left an emptiness.  However, the widow of former FBI Agent Terry McCaleb has asked Bosch to investigate his death.  Someone had tampered with his heart meds which resulted in his death.  He soon finds himself in Las Vegas and meeting with Rachel Walling, an FBI agent whose career is in the doldrums thanks to The Poet.  In fact, the Poet is back and evidence shows that he stalked Terry McCaleb in the weeks leading to his death.  Harry and Rachel have an alliance of convenience to track down the Poet and foil him for good.

As with Lost Light, Bosch is written in first person.  Rachel and the Poet are both written in third person.  Again, this seems to be an awkward format and one that Connelly has used occasionally since The Poet.  Generally, I prefer a third person narrative but it should be consistent.

One of the best parts about the book is that it serves as Terry McCaleb's last case despite his being dead before the book begins.  As Bosch follows Terry's notes on the case and Rachel gathers clues about him from crime scenes, his last days are detailed.  His notes break the case for Bosch.

Another excellent book by Connelly and an unusual return of a villain.  Recommended.

Lockdowns Have Gone Too Far

Here is an interesting report out of Pennsylvania.  If two thirds of the cases are at nursing homes and the average age of someone who dies of Covid-19 is 79, why is everyone locked down?  Yes, have the elderly stay home but younger people, especially under 40, should be allowed out.  The shutdown was sold as a way to flatten the curve.  The curve is flattened.  The risk of overwhelming the system has been averted.  Let people go back to work.  Sure, we can wear masks and social distance but if isolation hasn't burned out the virus yet, it isn't a worthwhile tactic.  Maybe in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, where the majority of cases and deaths have occurred, should stick with the lockdown but not the whole country.  This starts to smack of petty tyrants who get high on locking up their citizens.

Speaking of petty tyrants, consider the Texas judge who sentenced a woman to jail because she didn't admit to being 'selfish.'  We're releasing prisoners for fear of the spread in jails and prisons but putting a woman in jail for not accepting court-ordered bankruptcy.  Nice.

Virus Discriminates by Governor's Party?

Does Covid-19 impact Democrat-run states more harshly than Republican-run states?  I heard that comment and thought it weird.  However, it's easy to check.  Let's look at the latest numbers.

Of the 10 states with the highest death tolls, 8 have Democratic governors.  Massachusetts and Florida are the exceptions.  Of the 10 states with the lowest death tolls, 7 have Republican governors.  Interesting but hardly conclusive.  More rural states tend to vote Republican while more urban states tend to vote Democrat.  Contagious diseases are harder on urban centers.

26 states have Republican governors and 24 have a Democrat.  Of note, 178 million people live in the Democrat states while only 150 million live in Republican states.  Of the 1.2 million people infected with Covid-19, 72% live in Democrat states.  80% of the deaths have been in Democrat states.  Correcting for population differences, 1 in 3,112 citizens of Democratic states have died while only 1 in 10,200 citizens in Republican states have died.  Odds of death are tripled in Democratic states.

Is this just a reflection of urban vs. rural populations or does it show that one party is better at handling such crises?

Alexander the Great (1963)

Before Star Trek or Batman, there was Alexander the Great.  In 1963, William Shatner and Adam West were cast in a TV pilot that would detail the adventures of Alexander as he conquered the known world.  This episode: The Battle of Issus!  Of course, the pivotal battle that opened the heartland of Persia to Alexander's forces is more of a backdrop to the traitors among his leading generals, most notably Karonos (John Cassavetes).  William Shatner plays a cheerfully brash Alexander who just seemed like Kirk in a time-travelling episode of Star Trek.  Adam West's role was quite small but he is clearly intended as a trusted advisor and sidekick.  Joseph Cotten guest starred as Antigonus, the trusted elder statesman and voice of reason.

Filmed in Utah, the vast armies are never more than 30 or so soldiers.  It is no wonder that betrayal rather than epic battle was the focus.  As the show was not bought, this pilot sat around until years later when both Shatner and West had big followings.  In 1968, this turkey was aired.

Goofy and formulaic, it is both fun and cringe-inducing.  Just imagine the series that might have been if some network had given it the greenlight.

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Philip Marlowe (Elliot Gould) awakens in the middle of the night when his cat jumps on him.  Out of cat food, he offers the cat something else.  The cat shoves it on the floor, where Marlowe leaves it.  He goes out to get food for the cat but the cat refuses that.  At this point, Terry Lennox, an old friend, arrives with a story about a fight with his wife and needing a ride to the Mexican border.  Uh huh.  No sooner does he arrive back in Los Angeles than the police are waiting for him and asking where he took Lennox.  Marlowe says nothing, even spending several days in jail.  When he learns that Terry killed his wife, he is baffled.  He is being released because Terry committed suicide in Mexico, closing the case.  But Marlowe's troubles are only beginning.  A thug shows up and demands the money that Terry owed him; either Marlowe locate the money or there will be consequences.  Then there is the neighbor of Terry who calls about her missing husband, a somewhat famous author.  Unsurprisingly, it all ties in with Terry Lennox.

This is the worst performance I have ever seen by Elliot Gould.  In every scene, he is lighting a cigarette.  He's dragging matches on every surface available to light half-smoked cigarettes.  Most of the time, he is a flat monotone.  Is he depressed?  For a private detective, he does almost no detecting.  He just wanders around as the clues come slap him.  He is thoroughly unlikeable.  Playing on the 40s origin of the character, he drives a 1948 Lincoln, a car that couldn't possibly hope to blend.  Try to tail someone in that thing.  Well, he does.  Sure.  Then, in order to get information from demonstrably corrupt officials in a small Mexican town in 1973, Marlowe pays the princely sum of $5,000!  How do you stay in business?

The movie has a soundtrack of 1 song.  It is a sad dirge of a song that repeats in different styles and formats though the film.  Here it is on the radio and here the piano man at the bar sings it.  Combined with Gould's flat delivery, this melancholy excuse for a song adds to the misery.

When the story is all told, it is stupid.  Why would Terry Lennox's mistress hire Marlowe to find the husband on whom she was cheating?  Her husband had told Lennox's wife about the affair, triggering the fight that resulted in her death.  Why does the thug attack his mistress to prove how serious he is to Marlowe?  What's with stripping off his clothes?  That Gould is utterly unmoved by anything makes the stripping scene even more bizarre though it is funny to see Arnold Schwarzenegger as an unnamed hood eager to strip.

IMDb rates this a 7.6 film.  How?  Who likes this crap?  I've enjoyed some of Robert Altman's movies and have always liked Elliot Gould but this is darn near unwatchable.  Thumbs down.