When Gamers Go to War
💥 Interview with Valiant One filmmakers · Going native · Film rundown · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone.
Thanks to everyone who came out last night to hear Seneca Scott talk about his organizing efforts in Oakland. I mentioned his Free Press debate with Michael Schellenberger on criminal justice reform to a handful of you who wanted to hear more from Scott.
In other news, the state's so-called Education Freedom Act passed with relatively little drama (Justin Pearson accidentally got noted as a yes vote in the House), ushering in a new era in the state's approach to education. An illegal immigration bill that facilitates coordination between the state and the federal government was also passed, in addition to $450 million in Hurricane Helene relief.
Lastly, a bit of housekeeping: Someone back at Pamphleteer HQ hit the wrong button yesterday and published an article as an email. Apologies for the mix-up.
Onward.
Captain Edward Brockman (Chase Stokes) is no Alvin York. He doesn’t have the sting of M*A*S*H’s Hawkeye or even the chutzpah of Owen Wilson in Behind Enemy Lines. That’s understandable because, unlike these soldiers of cinema’s past, he’s part of the first generation of Americans not to have a war of its own.
But, when things go as sideways as they do a few minutes into the new movie Valiant One, Brockman realizes that sometimes all that stands between uneasy global alliances and the outbreak of armed conflict with North Korea is a Silicon Valley dreamer who learns that a stint in the military is more than a resume builder.
While Valiant One wears its war film genre tropes well, it also raises questions few movies of its kind have dared to ask: What identity does a soldier have in a combat landscape when the military has as much use for the first-person shooter and coding skills of couch potatoes as the doughboys it makes over in the image of Patton?
After an impressive career as a producer on films from 300 to last year’s Antonio Banderas holiday offering Journey To Bethlehem, Steve Barnett moved into the director’s chair for Valiant One, a dream project that took over a decade to bring to fruition. As he readies the film for its nationwide debut this weekend, he’s also getting acclimated to life in Middle Tennessee, where the lifelong Southern Californian moved full-time last summer.
The Pamphleteer sat down with Barnett and producer Bernie Goldmann to talk about representing combat in the Gen Z era, building the DMZ on a budget, and tapping into the enduring appeal of the war movie.
⧖⧗⧖ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ⧗⧖⧗
If you want to support our work at The Pamphleteer, a recurring donation is the best way. We have a $10/month Grub Street tier and a $50/month Bard tier. Membership gets you access to our comments section and free access to upcoming events.
🖋️ Edited by Megan Podsiedlik.
🌳 Going Native Metro Councilmembers Burkley Allen, Jennifer Gamble, Terry Vo, and Sandy Ewing have filed two resolutions to protect Nashville’s tree canopy and refine landscaping requirements in new developments.
One ordinance would maintain the American Standard for Nursery Stock, while adding new parameters to the types and sizes of trees. It also “proposes to add requirements for tree diversity and the use of native plants, as well as regulations on location of plantings in relation to easements and utility infrastructure to prevent conflicts between utilities and landscaping.”
The second resolution defines critical and structural root zones to ensure the stability and health of trees during “development activities.” It also clarifies the civil penalties for violating tree protection standards during construction, which include “a $50 fine per violation, per day, with each damaged tree being considered a separate violation, and a required replanting of any damaged or removed tree.”
🏀 Music City Hoops A handful of heavy hitters hope to make Nashville the home of a new WNBA expansion team. The ownership group announced its bid yesterday, and includes Peyton Manning, former governor Bill Haslam and his wife Crissy, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and WNBA and Lady Vols legend Candace Parker. According to the Tennessean, the Haslams head the group. If successful, they plan to name the team the Summitt in honor of University of Tennessee’s illustrious women’s basketball coach, Pat Summitt.
🏫 Antioch High School Adds Another SRO In the wake of last week’s tragic shooting at Antioch High School, Metro is taking steps to ensure the safety of Nashville students. “Metro schools are piloting a new evolved weapons detection system to enhance safety there, and the Metro Nashville Police Department has also added a third school resource officer to Antioch High School,” said Mayor O’Connell during this morning’s media roundtable.
“Unfortunately, since our briefing last Friday, eight additional people, including three this week, have been charged with making threats of mass violence against schools,” said the mayor. “Our Metro Nashville Police Department, the FBI, and other law enforcement are constantly monitoring for threats of mass violence of any kind, and those responsible, once identified, will be prosecuted and otherwise held accountable.”
According to O’Connell, absences among both students and faculty have increased across the county. “I have also heard that absences have been a little higher, not just in Antioch, but throughout the district,” he said.
DEVELOPMENT
- Acclaimed Sylvan Park restaurant, Red Perch, to close next week (Tennessean)
- Massive downtown parking garage hits the market (NBJ)
- Demo permit issued related to Midtown development (Post)
- Rivergate Mall site eyed for mixed-use project (Post)
✹ WEEKLY FILM RUNDOWN: January 31-February 6
Valiant One (Dir. Steve Barnett; Starring Chase Stokes and Lana Condor) A captain lacking combat experience finds himself leading his team to safety when their helicopter crashes in North Korea. Read our interview with writer-director Barnett and producer Bernie Goldmann here. Now playing in theaters.
Companion (Dir. Drew Hancock; Starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid) We’ll go with the official marketing for this horror film: “New Line Cinema–the studio that brought you The Notebook–and the unhinged creators of Barbarian cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story....” Now playing in theaters.
Love Me (Dirs. Sam and Andy Zuchero; Starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun) A buoy and a satellite fall in love with each other and what life was like on earth eons after humanity’s extinction. Now playing at AMC Murfreesboro 16, AMC Thoroughbred 20, and Regal Hollywood 27.
Vermiglio (Dir. Maura Delpero; Starring Giuseppe De Domenico) The current Oscar-nominee from Italy about a soldier in the late days of WWII hiding out in a provincial town and falling in love boasts naturally lit Alps landscapes and lush period drama. Now playing at the Belcourt.
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🎸 Lilly Hiatt @ The Blue Room, 7p, $25.88, Info
🐍 Lunar New Year - Year of the Snake with the Nashville Symphony @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $27+, Info
🎸 Mac McAnally @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $49.50+, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
The Pamphleteer
The Pamphleteer
The Pamphleteer
The Pamphleteer