Now, can I top this energy in 2026?

Psst...Velvet Goldmine is back on the Criterion Channel.

PPC Deep Dive: Ann-Margret Ann-Margret is a performer who’s lived in my pop culture consciousness for longer than I care to admit. Over the course of her almost 65-year career, she’s appeared in many of my most formative films. From Bye Bye Birdie to Grumpy Old Men, these are the movies that made…

"Hawke allows this desperation to seep in slowly, like a balloon letting out air over the course of a party." At @ebertvoices.bsky.social I wrote about Ethan Hawke's masterful work in BLUE MOON as one the year's great performances Read: www.rogerebert.com/features/the...

We’ve hit pause now SEASON XIII is over, which means it’s the perfect time to catchup on anything you missed! And thanks to our many guests, including @missmaimepeas.bsky.social @katiesmithwong.bsky.social @kpierce624.bsky.social @ajblack.bsky.social @brendonconnelly.bsky.social … (1/2)

Previously on PPC: The Flying Saucer (1950) In this week's trip to the archives, Kim ventures to some of the earliest sci-fi entries in what was then a "post Roswell" world. Is The Flying Saucer really worth all the hype it gives itself as one of the first modern flying saucer movies?

This is just a friendly reminder that WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (1995) is one of the great modern Christmas adjacent romantic comedies.

Not only have I discovered that The Hour is currently available on Tubi (for all who need to know!!), but kids… I’d completely forgotten that Andrew Scott and Vanessa Kirby pop up in the show. *Chef’s Kiss*

What are four Christmas movies to know you by? #filmsky

There’s a new season of Shetland coming… and I’m unforgivably behind. I had one job.

Previously on PPC: Bud and Lou (1978) When you stumble upon a made-for-tv movie looking at the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, you check it out. Was Kim expecting this drama bio-pic about comedy legends Abbott and Costello to be gold? No. She still wasn't expecting what she got though...

Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen Ringo Starr Michael Ball Michael Crawford Donny Osmond The Monkees

Share a 90s movie you think deserves more love 🎥🎬 My yesterday, today and forever answer.

I just saw a post mentioning that David Tennant’s Doctor Who debut is officially 20 years old. I’m going need social media to stop reminding me how old I am.

For once, I’m on time this week with my #LastFourWatched

In this week's Previously on PPC, I jumped head first into Baby It's You (1983). Two words. Vincent Spano. I'm actually really surprised I haven't talked Oscar (1991) on any of the channels yet.

Kids, can we please just give Lewis Pullman all the roles? I lied the "Let's Put on a Show" mentality that I saw in The Testament of Ann Lee.

The Beatles Anthology was formative for me. This was really the pieces of media that made me the way I am. I am beyond excited for this… but really need Disney to stop reminding me it’s been 30 damn years. 😂

One of my biggest struggles in a film is when it’s feeling feeling long and slow. Something’s not quite working. Then through all this, my word you see the actors acting. You can see the effort and the theatrically beautiful humanity, but something just refuses to gel.

Leslie Howard as scholarly love interest for Joan Blondell in “Stand In” — Screenland, Nov. 1937

This week, we're returning to the Piercing Pop Culture Archive with a video discussion of the 1971 made for TV movie The Feminist and the Fuzz. Imagine the possibilities.

Whether it’s a tiny outlet or a major one, I think the entire space could pull back quite a bit on the hyperbolic pull quotes. Like how many “masterpieces” do we get a year now?

In all the Frankenstein discourse, I’m seeing so many more mentions of Mary Shelley and even Mary Wollstonecraft than I’ve seen in a long flipping time. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s been a really cool result I’m not sure I was expecting. Keep it up, friends.

Alright, film fans. We’ve been too quiet about Noirvember. Let’s hear your favorites and your Noir essentials. Spread the word on your favorites.

For the morning crowd, I sat down to talk over my thoughts on the podcast after watching The Running Man remake/reboot this week. This had my academic brain cranking… “Holy Risky Star Persona Experiment, Batman”.

Midnight Movie Vault: Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) How, oh how, does one write about Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death? Let's give it a whirl. So this is a film that's been sitting on my watch list for a long, long time. With a title like that, I don't think…

If you're having trouble sorting out the continuity of James Bond, that suggests to me that you do not understand the enduring appeal of James Bond. Continuity is not that franchise's strong suit. It's been soft rebooted repeatedly, and everyone understands. Dumb People Problems.

Kim ventures back to Contemporary Corner for a late night discussion of The Running Man and this Glen Powell fangirl wasn't fully bought into this dystopian reboot.

Today on Patreon: Grab your glitter paint and cue K$sha's "Blow" because we are discussing Tina Romero's debut feature, #QueensoftheDead (2025). This gay bar vs zombies film has a great queer cast and a few fun performances, but unfortunately that's where it stops working for us.

Charlie Cox in an apparent holiday rom-com? I’m listening… So help me, I’d something happens to the dog, I’m going to be livid.

We’re uncomfortably late in the year and I’m playing catch-up! What are your 2025 releases that you want to make sure you watch before year end?

In this week's newest episode of Piercing Pop Culture, I'm restarting The Virginian Vault with a look at season three, episode 17: Two Men Named Laredo. Fabian guest stars this week.

Joseph H. Lewis’ essential noir GUN CRAZY (1950) is on MOVIES! TV Network tonight at 10:30pm ET (and 3 other times this month). Don’t sleep on MOVIES. It’s got lots of noir and it's available free, over the air in 85% of the US (and also on live TV streamers like Frndly TV). #FilmSky #Noirvember

I wrote about my experience with Frankenstein tonight. Kids, I learned one thing. I haven’t been giving Jacob Elordi enough credit apparently. I haven’t read Shelley in far, far, far too long, but I enjoyed myself immensely with this one.

Friends, as of tomorrow, GGA is no more. This site has given me a home and amazing opportunities for my whole writing life. Please follow this amazing team as they move on to new places. This is a great group. As for me? For now, all my contemporary reviews will be on Piercing Pop Culture.

Today over on Piercing Pop Culture I talk a bit about Mike Henry and his time as Tarzan. I’ve currently seen 2 of the 3 and am questing to find his final one. These are are quirky in a way that only Tarzan in the 60s could be. I even find a way to mention Skyjacked! Because… of course I did.

Diane Ladd (age 22) in a 1957 episode of the syndicated cop series DECOY. Her first major TV role is on Tubi, and it's very much worth watching. An unforgettable 65-year career started here: tubitv.com/tv-shows/477... #FilmSky #DianeLadd

New Letterboxd favorites for #Noirvember. What are your film noir essentials?

MANILA — An important piece of Filipino history missing for almost 90 years and thought to be lost forever was just found in Belgium. “Diwata ng Karagatan” is now the oldest surviving Filipino film! 🎞️🎞️ www.abs-cbn.com/entertainmen...

Re-upping for the night time crowd. I talked a bit about Frogs (1972) on a mini episode of Piercing Pop Culture. Animals causing trouble in the 1970s is one of my favorite sub-genres. What are you essential watches in this wide swath of delightfully colorful films?

RIP, Diane Ladd.

… and thanks to everyone else, including @missmaimepeas.bsky.social, @kpierce624.bsky.social & @brendonconnelly.bsky.social 🙏 www.vampirevideos.co.uk/episodes/sea... (2/2)

A movie you've seen more than 7 times in a GIF:

Watching Smoke Signal (1955). This cast is *chef’s kiss*

Jan Murray is one of my favorite performers to stumble onto.

My timeline is out there reminding me that it’s been far too long since I watched Who Killed Teddy Bear.

Complete with Gavin MacLeod doing his best Charles Nelson Reilly impression.

Death Squad starts what looks to be a journey into the deep cuts in Mark Goddard’s filmography.