Rain-out Theater
Friday night’s movie fix, courtesy of Netflix by mail, was a big winner: The Outfit (2022), a cerebral gangster yarn, starring the master of soft-spoken power, the UK’s Mark Rylance. Set in Chicago in the mid ‘50’s, it’s the story of a cutter, not tailor, playing a cat and mouse game with mobsters who use his shop as a drop off station. The plot is intricate and the dialogue first rate. There is violence but not much profanity. I was unfamiliar with the fine supporting cast, although each player is in the midst of a solid career. Dylan O’Brien and Johnny Flynn are good as young hoods, as is Zoey Deutch as the shop assistant. I’m chagrined at not having recognized Simon Russell Beale, who was in 13 episodes of one of my all-time favorite shows, MI-5, and played the evil Beria in the terrific The Death of Stalin (2017). He has played Timon of Athens and King Lear on screen. The Outfit was directed by Chicago’s Graham Moore, whose career is in its infancy. He co-wrote the sceenplay with South Carolina’s Jonathan McClain, an accomplished poet who has 40 credits as an actor. More, gentlemen, more. 52,000+ users at Amazon have rated The Outfit, forging to a consensus of 7.2 on a scale of ten. Made on a budget of $5 million, it returned more than $4 million worldwide, and probably will turn a profit with streaming, DVD sales and rentals. Does it all make sense? No, but its strengths outweigh its flaws by a wide margin. It runs 1:45. It is atypical gangster fare that may disappoint fans of the genre. Here are Rylance and Deutch in character:
RIP eight-time All-Star SS Dick Groat, 92. Born in Pennsylvania, he was All-America in baseball and basketball at Duke, and is one of only 13 men to play both sports at the pro level. The third overall pick in the NBA’s 1952 draft, he played one season for the Fort Wayne Pistons, averaging just under twelve points per game. In June 1952, 21, he signed with the Pirates, went straight to the majors and hit .284. Army service interrupted his career for two years. He led Fort Belvoir to worldwide Army championships in basketball and baseball, averaging 35 PPG and batting .362. Team Captain, he was the NL MVP in 1960, hitting .325, when Pittsburgh beat the mighty Yankees in seven games. In ’63 he was traded to the Cardinals. He hit .319 and was second in the MVP voting to Sandy Koufax. He hit .292 in ’64 and won his second World Series, as St. Louis beat the Bronx Bombers in seven. He was traded to the Phillies in ’66 and ended his career with the Giants in ’67. His career average is .286. I wouldn’t vote for him for the Hall of Fame, but lesser players have been inducted. He is a member of the Pirates Hall of Fame. After retirement, he and ex-teammate Jerry Lynch designed and built a four-star golf course near Pittsburgh. Owner and manager, he lived on the grounds. As one would expect, he shot in the 70's. He was married 35 years until his wife’s death. He was a father of three daughters. Awesome, sir.
RIP April Stevens, 93. Born Caroline Vincinette LoTempio in Niagara Falls, of Sicilian descent, she had success as both a solo artist and in a duo with her younger brother as Nino Tempo and April Stevens. At 22 she recorded Cole Porter’s I’m in Love Again, which peaked at #6 on the pop chart. Her follow up that year, Give Me a Little Kiss, Will Ya, Huh, hit #10. In 1959 she released Teach Me Tiger, which did not receive airplay on many stations because of its suggestiveness and topped out at #86. Tame by today’s standards, it is the title of her autobio. Her most popular song, Deep Purple, was done with her brother. It reached the top spot in 1963 and won a Grammy for Best Rock & Roll Recording, although it is pure pop. Whispering hit #11 in ’64 and All Strung Out #26 in ’66. She was a mom of four stepkids. Well done, paisana.
Iran has issued a challenge to the USA, headline from nypost.com: “Captured at sea: Video shows Iranian navy commandos seize US-bound oil tanker.” Will America respond?
Blowing its own horn, headline from newsmax.com: “Fox News Ratings Collapse by 50% as Newsmax Soars.”
Headline from foxnews.com: “Prolific sperm donor with over 500 children must pay eye-popping fine if he gives again.” Other men may have been dubbed The Sperminator, but this guy owns the title.
The floating book shop was rained out, which allowed me to take care of some chores.
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