Watchcast Schedule for September 2024: A Wonderful Universe of TANG

Hey, everyone! Been a good long while since I've had the chance to write up one of these, but with Twin Peaks officially completed and the schedule returning to the monthly film themes, I'm here again to give you the lineup you can watch along with us through the month of September.

This is one of those themes we've had written down pretty much since we got it in our heads to do the Watchcast in the first place. These are movies about video games, but not based on video games. These films range from cynically produced commercials for Nintendo products that we nonetheless harbor nostalgia for (The Wizard) to grotesque nightmare visions of virtual reality where the flesh and the avatar become intertwined in increasingly horrific ways (Ready Player One). Here's the full lineup we've got for you.

Monday, September 2nd: The Wizard (1989)

This is the movie that sparked off our discussion of doing this theme in the first place, both because it's easily the most "about a video game" movie from our youth, but also because we all have a strong desire to reconcile our own nostalgic memories of the thing with a stinging dose of cold, hard reality. Ostensibly a family film, The Wizard is mostly about a trio of latchkey kids who wander the American west on their way to a video game competition, and the parade of wildly irresponsible adults who barely regard them. Crude and cynical in several different ways, The Wizard nonetheless represents a key moment in both Nintendo's nascent attempts to break into other entertainment mediums, and one of the most blatant examples of product placement driving the entirety of a film's creative process. No, this is not a good movie, but it is a fascinating one, and we have a great time talking about it.

Where to Watch

Monday, September 9th: Tetris (2023)

This is a rare one for a couple of reasons. One, this is now the most recent film we will have done for the Watchcast. Two, this is a case where both Vinny and Brad have seen a movie, and I haven't! What can I say? I don't watch that many new movies these days. But I have been curious about this one, and I'm glad Brad made it his pick. Less about the development of Tetris than the story of the mini cold war that went on behind the scenes as efforts were made to secure the game's license, Tetris sounds like a fairly Hollywood-ized version of the story, but entertaining nonetheless. Mostly talking about it here just makes me want to stop writing and play some Tetris. I'll keep writing, though.

Where to Watch (Note: This is an Apple movie so it's only currently available on their streaming service. I'm including the Where to Watch link anyway just because you never know these days. Five years from now? We could be watching Apple movies on Amazon, Netflix originals on Criterion Channel, Discovery Plus shows on Tubi, cats and dogs, living together, and so on and so forth.)

Monday, September 16th: Cloak & Dagger (1984)

This one's my personal pick, and I went with it for a couple of reasons. One, Brad and Vinny both picked more recent films, and two, Dabney Coleman, dear friend of the Watchcast, passed way earlier this year. So what better way to celebrate the memory of a terrific actor with a movie he's actually really good in? No disrespect to his work in Dragnet, but this is a terrific example of what a fun, versatile actor he could be. Here he plays the dual role of a depressed widower who struggles to relate to his 10-year-old son (E.T.'s Henry Thomas), and the aforementioned 10-year-old's imaginary friend, Jack Flack, the hero of his favorite Atari game. I haven't had the chance to watch this in at least 25 years, so this is my excuse to finally watch the 4K edition Vinegar Syndrome put out pretty recently.

Where to Watch

Monday, September 23rd: Ready Player One (2018)

Goddammit, Vinny.

I told him we'd do whatever movie he wanted, and he wanted Ready Player One. I am not about to go back on my word.

Here's the thing: I have never completed any version of Ready Player One. I tried the book, and could not stomach it for long. I have tried to watch this movie on two separate occasions, and tapped out quick both times. Now I have no choice. I am going to have to complete the film, at least. I suppose I could try to read the book, too. Would that help, do you think? Would you want me to read the book too? Is that a sacrifice you think I should make for this podcast? Sound off in the comments below. I'll do it if you demand it. I might die, but I'll do it. I'm not reading any of Cline's fucking poetry, though. That bridge I shall not cross.

Anyway, I think we'll probably have a lot to say about this one when we get to it.

Where to Watch

Monday, September 30th: eXistenZ (1999)

What better way to both close out this month and get people ready for the obscene bodily horrors of October than with David Cronenberg's sci-fi horror thriller, eXistenZ? None that I can think of. Cronenberg's name has been tossed around a few times lately as we've talked about directors we'd like to explore more on the show, and while I don't think eXistenZ is his greatest movie by any stretch, it might be the best of his '90s output (really depends on where you land [heh] on Crash), and it's about as polar opposite from where we're starting the month as you can get. Plus, finally, something from that Jude Law sci-fi theme we kept talking about and then never did. As with all things Cronenberg, I'll just lightly warn that this is not for the squeamish. The biomechanical body horrors are most definitely present.

Where to Watch

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And that is September's schedule! As always, thanks for listening and watching along with us, we'll see you at the movies!

--A