On January 16, Nintendo officially unveiled the successor to its incredibly popular Switch. The new device is simply called the Switch 2, it’s bigger, sleeker, and most of your old games should work on it. But now, the next question you might have is “When or where can I pre-order this thing?”
On January 16, Nintendo officially unveiled the successor to its incredibly popular Switch. The new device is simply called the Switch 2, it’s bigger, sleeker, and most of your old games should work on it. But now, the next question you might have is “When or where can I pre-order this thing?”
Right now we only know about one game for the newly announced Nintendo Switch 2: the next Mario Kart. Nintendo didn’t reveal a title, but fans are already calling the kart racer Mario Kart 9 and scanning every frame of footage we got from the announcement trailer. We’ve gathered a few of those observations fans have…
Right now we only know about one game for the newly announced Nintendo Switch 2: the next Mario Kart. Nintendo didn’t reveal a title, but fans are already calling the kart racer Mario Kart 9 and scanning every frame of footage we got from the announcement trailer. We’ve gathered a few of those observations fans have…
One of the all-time greats is gone. That thought went through my head this afternoon when word came down that David Lynch, the incredible mind behind Twin Peaks, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and so many more, was no longer with us. The news was a shock as, despite his fragile health, Lynch was still pretty active, teasing potential new projects and also receiving rave reviews for his acting turn as John Ford in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans.
Of course, with this news, it’s time to take a look back at the master’s work, and lucky for us, he leaves an incredible cinematic legacy behind. We all have our favorite David Lynch movies, but here are my top 5 picks:
This was an important movie in my cinematic education. It came out in the late nineties, at a time when I was coming of age as a potential cinephile. Growing up, I had a sister who was a few years older than me, and she loved Lynch. She encouraged me to take a break from my repeated viewings of the Star Wars trilogy and try a Lynch movie. So, as a teenager, I gave Lost Highway a go on VHS and had my mind blown by Lynch’s nightmarish odyssey into madness. So many things about this film stuck with me, from David Bowie’s theme song, “I’m Deranged” (which I’m listening to as I write this) to Patricia Arquette in a dual role opposite the unforgettable Robert Blake, and so much more. But, above everything else, it taught me that movies didn’t have to be linear or even make a lick of sense. Lost Highway was a nightmare put to film, and even about a quarter century later, that first viewing of it has stuck with me.
Of course, having loved Lost Highway, I next had to trek to my neighborhood video store and pick up Blue Velvet. In many ways, this is the definitive David Lynch movie, mixing small-town Americana with a seedy, surreal underbelly that’s uglier than anything we could ever imagine. Kyle MacLachlan, who remains Lynch’s definitive on-screen collaborator, is superb as the all-American college boy who returns to his hometown and finds himself engrossed in a mystery that repels and seduces him. Like Lost Highway, there are moments in this that will stick with you forever, from Dennis Hopper inhaling gas (“mommy!!!”), to Dean Stockwell lip-synching to Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams.”
Yet, there was more to Lynch than his darker fare. Indeed, he made one of the most heartbreaking films I’ve ever seen – The Elephant Man – which is based on the true story of John Merrick, who was born with a disfiguring condition and made a circus freak until being taken in by a kindly Victorian doctor. In the title role, John Hurt was nominated for an Oscar, and many believe that its makeup effects being overlooked for an Oscar led to the creation of the Best MakeUp award the following year. This was produced by the great Mel Brooks, who famously described Lynch as “Jimmy Stewart from Mars.”
For me, Mulholland Drive is very much a companion piece to Lost Highway, but that might also be because, as a young man, I would often watch both films back-to-back, forever associating the two. This is the film that introduced us to Naomi Watts. Infamously, the film was conceived as a TV pilot before ABC got cold feet. Its rejection was probably the best thing that ever could have happened to it, as Lynch was able to reformat it into a surrealistic masterpiece, and for a while, it was his most widely seen film.
Of course, Lynch will always be best known for Twin Peaks, which began life as an ABC series before being cancelled, leading to a movie (Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me) and an eventual sequel series, Twin Peaks: The Return, which stands as the director’s last major work. Watching the whole thing together, it’s an essential piece of our shared pop culture and will undoubtedly be seen as Lynch’s Magnum Opus. My only complaint is that I always hoped Lynch would return to that world again for yet another chapter, but as far as endings go, you can’t go out on a much higher note.
What are your favorite Lynch films? Let u know in the comments!
The post 5 Great David Lynch Movies to Remember Him By appeared first on JoBlo.
One of baseball’s most iconic voices is now silent after Bob Uecker, the famous Baseball Hall of Famer, Milwaukee Brewers announcer, and actor, died on Thursday. According to Uecker’s family, he dies after losing a battle with small-cell lung cancer. He was 90.
The Brewers announced Uecker’s passing on Thursday, releasing the following statement:
“Today, we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Uecker.
“Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room, and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.
“Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.
“There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years.”
While Uecker’s six-year baseball career wasn’t the stuff of legend, he steadily grew into an icon thanks to his warm demeanor, detailed play-by-play commentary, and love of the game. Before joining the Atlanta Braves broadcast team, he was a scout, then acted as the Brewers announcer in 1971.
In addition to his legendary contributions to the sport, Uecker played a disheveled sportswriter named George Owens on Mr. Belvedere from 1985-1990. While the sitcom never rose to the top of the evening entertainment food chain, Mr. Belvedere lasted for six seasons and is beloved by many to this day. He also played Harry Doyle, an ornery play-by-play announcer in David S. Ward’s 1989 sports comedy Major League. In the film, the new owner of the Cleveland Indians puts together a purposely horrible team so they’ll lose, and she can move the team. But they start winning to spite her after discovering the plot. Major League stars Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, James Gammon, and more.
Uecker was a Jack of many trades, and we will miss his insightful commentary, expertise, and engaging stories. We want to extend our condolences to Mr. Uecker’s family, friends, and fans. Rest well, sir.
The post Baseball Hall of Famer, MLB announcer, and Major League actor Bob Uecker passes away at 90 appeared first on JoBlo.
He had to die, point blank. For four seasons of Netflix’s stalker drama You, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) has cheated death (and a few love interests) enough to warrant him being eliminated from existence forever, and the final season looks like it’s going to do just that. Today, Netflix put us all out of our misery by…
He had to die, point blank. For four seasons of Netflix’s stalker drama You, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) has cheated death (and a few love interests) enough to warrant him being eliminated from existence forever, and the final season looks like it’s going to do just that. Today, Netflix put us all out of our misery by…
Famous writer-director David Lynch, who was behind iconic and influential movies and shows like Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks, has died. The director was 78.
Famous writer-director David Lynch, who was behind iconic and influential movies and shows like Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks, has died. The director was 78.