Gene Hackman, Royal Rumbles and Latest Life of a Full Time Comic Writer

Hi and welcome back.

As I write these half a dozen brave men are doing battle on my television as part of the 1992 Royal Rumble. The Big Boss Man has just entered the fray and it feels like things are about to get serious.

To be honest, the discovery earlier today that Netflix now has all of the WWF/WWE classic wrestling events from the beginning to present day put the very fact of me managing to write this latest edition of the Subtle Sledgehammer newsletter at risk. I stopped being a watched of sports entertainment over twenty years ago but the eras from 1991-95 and 1999-2003 hold a special place in my heart. And above all else I loved the Royal Rumble. So, guiltily, I put on the first ever addition of that over the top rope slobberknocker around lunchtime and now I’m onto fifth edition!

Watching this form of entertainment that only could have come out of the United States, it is interesting to notice certain parallels with the present day. The constant claims of “conspiracy” and unwillingness to accept the villain has done anything wrong by whichever commentator they have set up to be their sycophant and the exaggerated cravenness of characters who were previously pretending to be big and tough when they’re found out. It does feel a bit like the modern world took a lot of its lessons from the squared circle. Although the majority of the crowds here do seem to know who the villains are.

Thankfully this 30-man brawl doesn’t require all my attention, so I have been able to get a few things done.

Like… recording the latest edition of my LIFE OF A FULL TIME COMIC WRITER video series.

Prior to my new found wrestling obsession I had been watching a lot of movies and TV series, including a lot staring the recently departed legend of cinema that was Gene Hackman.

Funnily enough I had already been on a bit of a Hackman kick over the past few months watching Heist, Absolute Power, Get Shorty, No Way Out, Young Frakenstein and A Bridge Too Far. Since the great man’s passing I have watched Runaway Jury, Hoosiers and most recently The Conversation.

The Conversation. Wow. What a film. I had seen it before back when I was a teenager and I had enjoyed it but I hadn’t appreciated just how brilliant it was on every level. The script, the direction, music, the sets and costumes, the beautifully paced editing and of course the acting.

It is a true masterclass in slow burn, gradual creep paranoia. The way the backstory of Hackman’s character harry Caul is given to the audience whilst also seeping out of his pores from the opening frames is brilliant filmmaking. His interactions with the different types of characters he meets tells you so much about what is going on inside the man without spelling anything out. And once we get to the final act, well you can feel the confidence of Coppola, and with good reason, he had gold and he wasn’t going to blow it.

After watching that final scene of Harry having fully given in to his worst demons I sat there at home just awestruck at what I had just seen.

If you have never seen this piece of cinematic glory or perhaps just haven’t seen it in a few years a highly recommend sitting down, putting the smartphone away and giving yourself over to it’s mastery.

It has a lot to teach anyone working in moving pictures bit also I believe comic book writers and artists. The way of slowly letting a character seep out, the restraint and tension building of the looks and shadows and moments that feel just left of normal that make you ask, “What was really happening there?” are all tools that can be used to make great comics.

That’s all for now.

Stay safe out there.

Jordan