5 things on my mind: 'Joker 2' Venice reactions, believing in Baker, and pit bull owner hazards
On a beautiful Princeton Heights morning, let's clear the mechanism.
First reactions with big movie sequels is a roller coaster for cast, crew, studios, and fans wondering if magic can be reincarnated. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice made its way into theaters without much conversation or controversy, and it will rake in the dollars this weekend at the box office after good reviews and an easygoing story helped it settle in easily. Todd Phillips’ follow-up to his trailblazing 2019 film, Joker, is being met with a considerable amount of reactions, backlash, and general discussion.
1. Welcome back, Agent of Chaos… who sings!
Joker: Folie a Deux follows Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck after the chilling finale of the original film, an ordinary guy suffering from a serious mental health illness who spirals out of control. He’s in jail when he meets Lady Gaga’s cinema inspiration of Harley Quinn, even if her character doesn’t follow the typical DC Comics trend of the toxic relationship between the Joker and his shrink/lover.
Initially labeled a musical sequel but eventually more loosely defined as a drama with musical aspects, Phillips’ sequel revolves around Fleck’s murder trial (you can’t kill a popular talk show host and get away) and his blossoming relationship with Gaga’s fellow Arkham inmate. The director/star trio made their way to the Venice film festival for the worldwide premiere of the movie, and reactions were mixed.
Some praised its originality and the show-stopping performances of its leads, while others wondered why it existed and if the entire film was a gimmick extended and gone wrong. A harsher reception than the original, which shocked the film world by winning the prestigious Golden Lion award at the festival before grossing over a billion dollars and winning Phoenix an Oscar. Coming back to the table after that kind of success is a gamble unlike most filmmaking risks, because you’re aiming to capture lightning in a bottle for a second time.
Phillips was more known for Old School and prankster comedies before he entered the serious division of DC comic film noir, so this mixed reaction isn’t surprising nor does it lessen my desire to see it. People look for a follow-up to not be as good as the original, because our dog-eat-dog world enables those pre-screening reactions. It’s a leap for the filmmaker, and I’m always game for that. Joker was a different kind of beast, and Folie a Deux looks like more of the same.
2. Believing in Luken
Being called up to the big leagues in a role that doesn’t resemble everyday usage can’t be easy. Just ask Luken Baker, the most powerful utility guy the St. Louis Cardinals have employed in quite some time. After crushing 33 home runs off Triple-A opposition, Baker finally got the call a couple of weeks ago to help the Major League club climb out of a hole, both offensively and overall play wise. Along with smashing two MLB home runs since his callup, he’s drawn nearly as many walks as strikeouts and been a late game option.
He won a game this past week with a single that helped the team earn a big win on the road. I just wish he found more playing time. With all due respect to Matt Carpenter, he shouldn’t play over Luken Baker, especially now. The playoff hopes are still slim for a team playing better, but that doesn’t mean keep playing the old guys. Paul Goldschmidt is swinging the bat a lot better, but he doesn’t have to play every single day. Think about 2025, because 2024 is a solid longshot. The truth will set you free right after it kicks your ass.
Baker has shown a wiser bat this summer over last, an improvement that should find him more playing time. Three weeks from today, the Cards close out the year with a series in San Francisco. Let’s see him Baker can smack a few out of the park and into the bay. Perhaps, he should get some starts on this homestand, the second to last of the regular season.
I often wonder why this team sticks to old traditions and habits so hard and for so long, but then I remember how much they’ve won in the past decade and it makes more sense.
3. Starbucks still carries the best specialty coffee drink
Confession: I don’t drink regular coffee at Starbucks. I prefer the 45 cent k-cups at Walmart, particularly the Great Value brand. A couple cups of breakfast blend runs me less than $2, so waiting in line or using an app to order regular coffee at a fancy spot would be futile. I go to the Bucks castle for a flat white.
Similar to a regular cafe latte, the drink uses ristretto shots instead of the standard espresso shot, giving the customer a bigger kick in a faster amount of time. Think of it as a slap from Reacher instead of Ryan Gosling. If you’re going to hand over the cash equivalent of two gallons of gas for a cup of java, get the good stuff.
An iced coffee without syrup is fine and all, but you feel like a car that just got topped off with medium-leaded caffeine that was supposed to be a drip. A large tea is a great idea until you drink all of it before leaving the parking lot, which gives one the urge to return the half cup of ice that could have been more tea. The regular coffee is suspect to the last brewing time, giving it the aftertaste of burnt rubber mixed with dirt.
The flat white is the way. Treat yourself.
4. Test taking isn’t one of my strong suits
I’d rather bullshit write my way out of a corner rather than answer a 50-100 question test. Since the early days of middle and high school, I despised tests. I understand the relevance and desire for them from the higher-ups, but they’re about as fun to prepare for and take as sitting in a dentist’s chair one week after Halloween. A warehouse full of information sitting inside of a pass or fail measure feels as good as Canelo Alvarez standing in front of me with both fists ready to throw.
My wife, and many others, can ace tests on half a night of sleep and little coffee. I overthink it, arrive at a comforting standpoint, and then dip my feet right back into the “I’m fucked” pond again before finding reassurance. It would be easy to sit here and say that I am an ace at them and lie, but that’s not what a blog with no limits stands for. You can place tests right next to mosquitoes, St. Louis summer heat, and all the drivers who speed up extra so you can make a turn in front of them.
I’m taking one this week at work. Send help and plenty of Swedish Fish.
5. The worst part about having a pit bull
The bark. You know if you’ve heard it. If Clubber Lang was in dog form and hadn’t eaten in days, it’s the pit bull bark. It’s loud, powerful, stretches blocks, and makes every dog walker cross the street. What the beagle and chihuahua do with their barking pales in comparison to Leeroy’s massive tenor. If Pavarotti’s voice sprang out of a pit bull’s mouth, you’d have my boy’s bark.
It’s not like he lets it loose all the time. He hangs onto it until you’re least likely to correct him, aka shock his neck with a clicker. Yeah, since dogs can’t understand the simple commands like “NO” and their conversations with other pets rival a couple of New Yorkers arguing over a parking spot, electricity is required when disciplining the animal. While you sit in agony and horror at the concept, understand that I would rather Leeroy listen to me like Banner’s Hulk listened to Scarlett’s Black Widow when she says, “the sun’s getting real low, big guy.”
But… I love the bastard so much, so I yell at him and then cuddle him mere minutes later.
That’s all for this latest batch of opinion. Until the next one, only watch a baseball game or movie if you want, because you owe them nothing. Choose wisely.