Everything is canceled
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Hopefully everyone went out and voted on Super Tuesday, and hopefully you’re all washing your hands and practicing social distancing and not panic-buying all the toilet paper.
Welcome back to Jacob’s Letter, a free pop culture newsletter full of puns and occasional badly-PhotoShopped dog photos.
Opal is taking precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic reared its ugly head in America, this week’s newsletter was going to be a one-year anniversary celebration for Jacob’s Letter. I launched this thing on March 8, 2019 as a way to write about all the niche pop culture stuff I couldn’t write about at my job because there wasn’t (and really still isn’t) an audience for it at work.
I had just settled into a new job after coming from a paper where I had the freedom to write about movies, country music and the faith-based movie scene pretty regularly in addition to my web production duties. I quickly found that my time at my new job was mostly consumed by web production duties and writing up a lot more breaking news than I was used to. So I started this newsletter as a way to stretch those creative criticism muscles and write about whatever entertainment news I wanted. (And, obviously, to highlight my dogs.)
I initially started out thinking that if I got enough subscribers I would charge a subscription fee, but somewhere along the line, I looked forward to coming home from work late at night and just typing these up as a hobby. I saw a tweet a while ago that talked about how the millennial generation has largely eschewed hobbies in favor of hustle culture. I agree, and I don’t think everything you do has to be done to make money.
At this point, I write this newsletter to give my mind a break from all the shootings and sexual assaults and crime and coronavirus news I’ve been writing at work lately. Plus, I see the metrics on these things, and a majority of my subscribers are family members or friends. That’s fine by me. I’m not about to charge my family money to read my thoughts.
I have found, though, that the most fun I’ve had with this newsletter has been when I’m collaborating with other people and editing other people’s work. The Veronica Mars and Star Wars editions of the newsletter were so much fun to compile, write and edit that I want to do more this year. Less grueling news cycle stories, more in-depth deep dives on stuff I love.
Expect more focused and collaborative newsletter issues this year about Pearl Jam, the “Fast and the Furious” saga (even though “F9” has been delayed a year), “Sahara,” faith-based films, country music and more.
But first, in this newsletter, we’ll talk about “The Hunt,” COVID-19’s impact on the entertainment industry, “The Invisible Man,” the Dixie Chicks and more.
As always, thanks for reading.
Happy Hunting
It might not even matter at this point because there won’t be another new wide-release film in theaters until April 10 (more on that later) but Universal/Blumhouse film “The Hunt” finally arrived in theaters on March 13th. In a way, it’s fitting that this film, which was marred by controversy before anyone ever saw it, will end up being released on a weekend where nobody will see it due to forces out of Blumhouse’s control.
After theater chains were ordered to close as a part of a response to cCOVID-19, though, Universal announced several of its movies would be moving to on-demand as soon as Friday.
Anyway, if you would like to read about the social satire film’s long, winding road to the big screen, click here.
Canceled, delayed, closed, postponed
As I write this, I am setting up our dining room table as a desk because Taylor and I have both been ordered to work from home until March 27. We are both perfectly healthy, but both of our employers have mandated this move out of an abundance of caution as COVID-19 spreads across the state. We’re safe, we’re fine and we are washing our hands regularly.
This deadly pandemic has been an unprecedented nightmare for the thousands of people it’s infected and killed worldwide and it’s putting entire industries in turmoil.
One of those industries is the entertainment industry. In the last issue of this newsletter I wrote about how the April release date for “No Time To Die” was delayed until November amid concerns about a COVID-19 outbreak at the premiere. Last week, a slew of films either delayed their release dates, paused production or got delayed indefinitely, including:
“My Spy” (first pushed to April, now delayed indefinitely)
“Peter Rabbit 2” (first pushed to April, now delayed indefinitely)
“F9: The Fast Saga” (Moved to 2021)
“Mulan” (Delayed indefinitely)
“A Quiet Place Part II” (Delayed indefinitely)
“The Batman” (Paused production)
“Shang-Chi”
“Antlers” (Delayed indefinitely)
“The New Mutants” (Delayed indefinitely, but also, perpetually delayed)
Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” remake (Paused production)
Disney+’s “Home Alone” remake (Paused production)
Disney+’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” remake (Paused production)
“Peter Pan & Wendy” (Paused production)
Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” (Paused production)
“Uncharted” (Paused production, but also, perpetually delayed)
Basically, there’s not a new wide-release film hitting theaters until April 10, when “Trolls: World Tour” gets released “day-and date”on-demand and in theaters by Universal, the first studio to do so in wake of the pandemic.
As of right now, most movie theaters are closed, and many cities (including Dallas) have instituted emergency closures for entertainment venues, bars and restaurants. The Alamo Drafthouse has closed all of its locations, as has Regal. AMC and Studio Movie Grill have limited showings and limited seating at those shows.
All of this is contributing to a bad time at the movies for studios. North American box office numbers plunged to their lowest levels in at least 20 years this weekend— generating roughly $55.3 million between Friday and Sunday.
According to data firm Comscore, box office revenues haven't been that low since September 2000, when $54.5 million in tickets were sold. That’s fewer people than went to the movies the weekend after 9/11.
I don’t know how the box office will bounce back from weeks of lower-than-normal profits (not to mention the loss of business for smaller indie theaters struggling to get by). I’m also willing to bet streaming services and on-demand services start to see an uptick in profit for the next few weeks as many people are increasingly being asked to work from home.
What’s more, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson both tested positive for COVID-19 after a trip to Australia, Idris Elba also tested positive Monday, every sporting league in America has canceled its season, Broadway went dark, “SNL” is on indefinite hiatus, Disneyland, Disney World, Six Flags, Universal Studios Orlando and Harry Potter World are all shut down, SXSW and the E3 gaming conference are canceled and there’s no end in sight.
Combat the misinformation campaign
Now, with all COVID-19 news in mind, it is my sworn duty as a newly minted Disinformation Ambassador™️ at WFAA to remind you that:
A) The coronavirus is not a “conspiracy” or a “plot to make Trump look bad” or a “media-made fear machine.” The “media” (a BS term anyway) didn’t make you go out and stockpile a bunch of toilet paper to self-quarantine with. I have done nothing but coronavirus news at work ever since Super Tuesday, and every day brings a new challenge about how to reasonably present this news to people in a way that doesn’t freak people out. Most news (and almost all local news) outlets think this way and are made up of people just trying to do their best to relate tough topics to a mass audience.
Don’t solely rely on cable news or Facebook for your news unless you are looking at the Facebook page of a verified, trustworthy news outlet. Joe Don down the road posting how his cousin heard from his momma about how since COVID-19 came from China, it will now infect all of America’s Chinese food restaurants, is not a reliable news source. (And it’s racist.)
2) The coronavirus should be taken seriously because it has killed thousands of people worldwide. Carriers can be asymptomatic, and elderly people and those with underlying medical problems are extremely vulnerable. If you can stay at home, you should.
Symptoms include fever, cough, some chest pain and shortness of breath and typically show up between two to 14 days after exposure. People in close contact, within six feet, are most likely to transmit the virus. An infected person who sneezes or coughs emits respiratory droplets that can land on other people or can be inhaled. If you’re young and healthy, you could still spread it to someone else who is not healthy.
D) There is a lot of bad information out there about COVID-19 and the coronavirus and tons of other things. Know how to protect yourself from mis- and disinformation.
First Draft is a nonprofit that specializes in teaching people how to be more media literate in this crazy age of conspiracy theories and social media. Check out their website for tools you can use in the disinformation fight online. If you’re a visual learner, watch this video that uses information from First Draft:
Be good to one another, don’t panic, don’t hoard all the resources for those who may have none and don’t spread rumors.
And stay six feet away from each other and wash your hands for at least 25 seconds, multiple times a day.
Gaslight anthem
The last movie I saw in the theater (looks like it’ll be the last movie I see in the theater for a while) was Leigh Whannell’s 2020 remake of “The Invisible Man.” The twist is that this version loosely centers on the Flora Cranley character from James Whale’s 1933 original film.
The only similarity between the two versions is that mad, controlling scientist Adrian Griffin (here played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen from “The Haunting of Hill House”) has invented a way to make himself invisible.
In this new version, Adrian’s girlfriend Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) leaves him because he’s a controlling, abusive, gaslighting man. When Adrian dies from an apparent suicide two weeks after Cecilia runs away from him, his will stipulates that Cecilia will inherit $5 million if she isn’t convicted of a crime and/or ruled incompetent to stand trial.
When Cecilia starts to see things she can’t explain (the gas burner on the stove lighting suddenly; footprints magically appearing by her bed; getting punched out of nowhere) she starts to lose her grip on reality and starts to question whether or not any of this is happening, or if this is Adrian somehow still controlling her.
The film’s metaphor for abuse and trauma is well-done, if a bit on the nose. The real treat here is watching Moss act and react with her face for so much of the movie and selling the audience on a ridiculous premise. The movie believes her, but why should the audience? Moss makes sure you do.
Whannell’s command of the frame makes your eyes constantly search for something that is (or isn’t) there, and the opening scene where Cecilia runs away while constantly checking on a sleeping Adrian via security camera is masterful for two reasons: it characterizes both of these people without a line of dialogue, and it tips the viewer off that the suspense will come from whether or not Cecilia can “see” Adrian.
I had a blast — see it in theaters when we can all go out in public again. Or, see it on VOD this weekend.
My rating: 4 kitchen knives out of 5
They’re baaaack
Speaking of “gaslighting,” the Dixie Chicks’ new song “Gaslighter” came out last week. It’s the lead single from their upcoming album of the same name, set to be released May 1.
Despite the political label often associated with the Chicks and the divisive nature of the very word “gaslighter,” this song has more in common with “Goodbye Earl” than “Not Ready To Make Nice.” I’m excited to hear the rest of the album.
Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison
On March 11, a New York jury sentenced rapist, serial sexual assaulter and former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein to 23 years in prison. Earlier, on Feb. 24, that same Manhattan jury found Weinstein guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He was acquitted on two counts of predatory sexual assault, the most serious charges he faced. He still faces multiple civil lawsuits and other rape and sexual battery charges in Los Angeles.
At least 100 women accused Weinstein of sexual assault after one accusation was profiled in an Oct. 5, 2017 New York Times exposé, effectively launching the #MeToo movement.
If he serves his full sentence, he will be 90 years old when he is released.
May he rot in prison.
Islands in the Stream
“Islands in the Stream” is where I’ll discuss any and all happenings on the streaming front every week, since there’s so much of it now. While you’re here, read my deep dive for WFAA about how diverse the streaming landscape is becoming and read my in-depth analysis of Disney+.
This week:
Since everyone is at home watching TV, Disney decided to drop “Frozen 2” on Disney+ a couple of months early. You’re welcome, parents?
Zombie pandemic-outbreak video game “The Last of Us” is reportedly going to be an HBO show at some point in the near future. Personally, I’d rather just play the game again.
Quibi, a short-form streaming app, somehow raised $1 billion in funding before anyone even saw what the thing looked like. The Jeffrey Katzenberg/Steven Spielberg-backed service will specialize in 10-minute episodes. It launches with a ton of material on April 6, and it’s giving a free 90-day trial period to anyone who signs up before the launch date.
Trailer Park
Want more trailer news for all the movies coming out this spring? I have just the thing: Read my spring movie season preview here at jakeharrisblog.com. (Now that everything has been canceled because of COVID-19, all dates past March 21 are delayed, but the movies should still be coming out at some point.)
“Platform”
In this social commentary, a prison is made to be an elevator. The haves are on top; the have-nots are on the bottom. Every day, a food shipment is lowered down from the top to the bottom. The only catch is- sometimes the inmates are randomly assigned higher or lower cells on the elevator tower. This does not look subtle, but looks like a lot of fun.
“Greyhound”
The CGI for this World War II flick looks a little wonky, but the big draw here is that Tom Hanks wrote the screenplay.
“Connected”
This looks like a modern-day update of “A Goofy Movie” but with a focus on technology. Luckily, it looks to go beyond the “phones are bad” surface-level observation.
“Soul”
Hand-drawn animation! In a Pixar movie! This looks like it was tailor-made for “Inside Out” fans.
Again, for more tailer news, check out my spring movie preview here.
Letter of Recommendation
What I’m playing:
If you, like me, now find yourself stuck inside with a significant other who is also working from home, you might want to play some games. Taylor and I have been enjoying “Snipperclips” and “Overcooked!” on the Switch. Both are cooperative team-building puzzle games.
In “Snipperclips,” (above) you work together to make your characters conform to shapes to complete various puzzles.
In “Overcooked!” (above) you and a teammate work together in a kitchen to fill orders for various foods as a clock winds down. It’s fun and oddly soothing.
Friday News Dump
A list of online writing I really liked this week:
Everyone whining about how they’re healthy and should be able to live their lives and go out to large gatherings in public amid COVID-19 needs to read this edition of Anne Helen Peterson’s newsletter about America’s cult of individuality in crises. (via Anne Helen Petersen on Substack)
Amid the recent talk about “Star Wars” and its post- “Rise of Skywalker” revelations, this piece shows why Lucasfilm, like J.K. Rowling, will never stop rewriting its cash cow. (via Andrew Todd in Birth.Movies.Death.)
Why are so many modern Texas houses ugly? Gentrification. (via Allyn West in Texas Observer)
And lastly, to end on a fun note: Scientists have discovered evidence that Stegosauruses once lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. (via Nicola Davis in The Guardian)
That’s all, folks. If you liked what you saw here, click that subscribe button (promise I won’t send any annoying emails) and tell all your friends!
This newsletter is written by me and edited by my favorite person, Taylor Tompkins. Views expressed here are my own and don’t reflect the opinions of my employer, yadda yadda yadda.
If there’s anything you want to see covered in a future newsletter, let me know!
You can find me in other corners of the internet as well, if you so choose. There’s my personal website (which focuses on pop culture, faith and my journalism clips), a Twitter account and a Letterboxd account. Subscribe away.
See you next week,
Jake