Monday Missive: 2024-05-06

MUSA, more patina, and a movie update

Back again with another Monday Missive, a shorter dispatch covering things that I’ve been into over the past few weeks, both clothing and culture. 

Made in America

I’d been hearing about a new book called American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home for a few months leading up to its release and couldn’t wait to dive in. I read this book in maybe three sittings and learned so much about the US clothing and manufacturing industry. While there is a lot about how these industries largely died out, I finished the book feeling incredibly hopeful; buoyed by those who are choosing to take up the mantle and make things stateside. Most of my favorite shoes are MUSA by Alden, and I will say, this book is tipping the scales toward a pair of Leisure Hand Sewns, over a pair of equally beautiful Crockett and Jones pennies, because I want the craft of American shoe-making to continue. 

On the subject of American Made, Weiss Watches out of Nashville, TN released a beautiful limited edition dive watch. Limited to only twenty pieces, this is the first Weiss watch designed, hand-finished, and assembled by Cameron in his Nashville workshop. It should come as no surprise that the agave green dial caught my attention. While this watch is too big for my dainty wrists, I hope to add a Weiss to my collection one day soon. 

Patinations

This is my Leica M240. It’s long in the tooth, nearing twelve (12!) years old, but I still shoot with it on a weekly basis. I bought this camera in November of 2020 and it arrived with dings and dents, and I’ve only adding to the brassing. The leatherette is peeling and probably should be replaced, but I haven’t felt the need. The lens is a 40mm M Rocker from the 70s that’s dreamy and renders things beautifully. Every once in a while I think about replacing my M with a newer model, but this camera continues to deliver great images so it has stayed in the bag. 

April Movie Diet 

A brief rundown of the movies I saw in April and a letter score, a la Jason Kottke.

Problemista. Julio Torres and Tilda Swinton in a surprisingly tender film with the perfect hits of magical realism. (A-)

Riddle of Fire. The ultimate childhood adventure. Highly quotable. Can’t wait to rewatch. (A+)

Civil War. Less about politics, more about journalism and the act of witness. (B+)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Very loosely based on a true story, this involves a lot of comedic Nazi killing and Alan Ritchson in this perfect outfit. (B)

Sisu. April rolled on with even more Nazi killing, none more than the Wickian levels of violence in Sisu. Bonus points for creative use of landmine. (C) 

Monkey Man. Dev Patel’s directorial debut got a little lost in its own sauce, but was still a solid outing. I was disappointed because it was missing the most important thing: Dev Patel’s acting chops. (C+)

Challengers. Much internet ink has been spilled about this film, so I won’t add much more than to say it was fun as hell and the Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross soundtrack has been bumpin’ on my Sonos ever since. (B-)

The Fall Guy. I had a huge grin the whole damn time. The best Taylor Swift montage since the *Forks* episode of The Bear. (A+)

Clothing conundrum? Sticky sartorial situation? Comment? Email me at bruce@awwdispat.ch or drop a comment below.