I've been thinking about Grosse Pointe Blank a lot lately. Specifically, the scene in which Jeremy Piven repeatedly screams "TEN YEARS!!!" at John Cusack. Now you may be wondering why. Or, maybe not. Maybe you figured it out before you clicked the link. The point is, I don’t see another goddamn movie blogger, so pipe down.
Anyway... ten years ago today, The Movie Moustache went live. Although it was Moustache Movie News back then.
It all started with a little post about the then upcoming Jurassic World sequel - what would turn out to be Fallen Kingdom - and whether they should stop. Needless to say, they did not listen, as we've had three Jurassic sequels since then. And ten years later, even though I have enjoyed some of those sequels, I'm still wondering how many more dino adventures they could or should get out of this prehistoric franchise.
But that's not the only milestone we've passed in the last decade. My favourite movie, Back to the Future, has turned 40. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell flew back into cinemas. Daniel Craig ended his run as 007 in unique fashion. Harrison Ford put on the fedora one last time. And John Wick, Baba Yaga himself, actually... might have died.
All of which came after a global pandemic shut down pretty much everything, including cinemas.
Over the last decade there have been some great movies gracing both the big and small screens. Spotlight, American Fiction, Hundreds of Beavers, Dolemite Is My Name, Searching. As well as some pretty terrible ones, like Moonfall and Serenity (not Firefly).
We've witnessed the continuing meteoric rise and maybe slight stumble of the MCU. While the DCEU went through some equally impressive ups and downs, before crashing and burning. All of which led to the birth of the DCU, and a more bright and hopeful Man of Steel. While Matt Reeves went and made his own DC sandbox to play in, with The Batman and The Penguin.
Both Blade Runner and Dune have experienced mind-blowing reboots, courtesy of Denis Villeneuve - the man who is about to take on the next re-imagining of Ian Fleming's super spy. Where that goes will certainly prove an interesting debate. At the same time Christopher Nolan has continued to play with both time and the IMAX camera, as he crafted increasingly bold cinematic epics. While James Cameron remains doggedly devoted to Pandora.
A galaxy far, far away has opened up significantly with the sequel trilogy, and many spin-off shows and movies that have expanded the lore. Including the fantastic Rogue One. Although the results of this expansion have not always been well received. Whereas Starfleet has - after the completion of the Kelvin trilogy - returned to its roots, and a more “episodic” method of storytelling. Not that TV is simply TV anymore.
We are now very much in the age of the streaming service. At this point it feels like the whole world and his wife has one. It has made it a lot easier, in many ways, to access a wealth of films and TV shows. New shows like Stranger Things, Bosch, and The Mandalorian have taken the world by storm. Even Marvel utilised the format to expand on their cinematic universe. While over at Paramount, we have witnessed the rise of Taylor Sheridan. The man who once left a supporting role on Sons of Anarchy because he couldn't get fair pay, went on to write and direct several hit movies, and now seems to have a hand in pretty much every original IP that has landed on Paramount+.
There's no denying that these services have made life easier. They certainly helped a lot during the Covid lockdown. Anyone remember my Moustache Lockdown Streaming Survival Guide? But they have also brought about changes to the industry. And while those changes haven't resulted in the death of cinema, just yet. The shortened release schedules and quick turnaround to digital releases certainly haven't helped.
Without wanting to sound hypocritical, I have benefitted from this relatively new phenomenon. Last year I was unable to see Superman or Jurassic World: Rebirth in the cinema, so I purchased them through Premium Video On Demand (PVOD). Not without a slight pang of guilt, I might add. Then there are the movies that were supposed to get a cinematic release, only to see them cancelled or severely reduced by the studio, like Apple's Wolfs and Pixar's Turning Red.
Now these streaming services are growing so much that they're buying up pieces of Hollywood. Amazon owns both MGM and James Bond, and Netflix is looking to buy Warner Bros. What does that mean for cinematic releases? Who knows? In an interview with the New York Times, Ted Sarandos has promised to keep a 45 day window for cinematic releases: "If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office."
 |
| Who will be the next 007? |
Hopefully there are enough of us movie fans out there to hold him to that, because no matter how good TV's get, or how fast the internet becomes... the best place to watch a movie is still the cinema. Which is what I've been thinking about while Jeremy Piven has been screaming "TEN YEARS!!!" in my head. You cannot beat seeing a movie on the big screen. The immense sound, stunning visuals, shared laughs, and waves of emotion hitting the audience - this is an experience that cannot be matched at home. And sharing that experience through The Movie Moustache has been truly enriching.
Over the last decade I have met more than a few certified movie geeks. Made a few friends. Connected with indie filmmakers from around the world. And spent many hours discussing, debating, and writing about all kinds of movie related topics.
I have had the privilege of guesting on and co-hosting some great podcasts, including The LAMBcast, Simplistic Reviews, MovieRob Minute, Forgotten Filmcast, Deep Blue Sea: The Podcast, and of course... A Year In The Career: Bruce Campbell.
All of which I intend to keep on doing for many years to come, no matter how many Jurassic World sequels they make. I just hope there will be cinemas in which we all can watch them.
Leave a comment below or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. You can also email us at moviemoustache@gmail.com.
Comments
Post a Comment