On SENTIMENTAL VALUE, for @newrepublic.com newrepublic.com/article/2025...

On FRANKENSTEIN for @newrepublic newrepublic.com/article/2027...

On Kathryn Bigelow's A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2025/10/22/m...

On Luca Guadagnino's enervating AFTER THE HUNT, for @newrepublic.com newrepublic.com/article/2011...

On Jafar Panahi’s IT WAS ONLY AN ACCIDENT, for @newrepublic.com newrepublic.com/article/2011...

This is next Tuesday afternoon; excited to talk about this group of movies. Hope you'll consider joining the session. miskatonicinstitute.com/events/sunke...

On Paul Thomas Anderson's phenomenal ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2025/09/24/m...

A few years ago I did an online lecture for @miskatonicihs.bsky.social on SPOORLOOS and had a blast; in October, I'll be doing another one on motifs of hypnosis in horror cinema, including clips from THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, CANDYMAN, CURE and GET OUT. miskatonicinstitute.com/events/sunke...

EDDINGTON is the movie of the year. Maybe of the decade. Amanda, @brofromanother.bsky.social, and I dive into it on The Big Picture. Then Ari Aster joins me to talk about his new film. open.spotify.com/episode/3dSC...

On SUPERMAN, for @the-ringer.bsky.social

There’s no discharge in a war, and no iPhone charger, either. On Danny Boyles’s goofy and moving 28 YEARS LATER for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2025/06/20/m...

On Celine Song's MATERIALISTS, for @sightsoundmag.bsky.social www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...

fantastic piece. Parts of Materialists bothered me in ways that reminded me of one of my least favourite movies ever (Up in the Air).

On THE REHEARSAL season 2, for @thewalrus.ca

Tried to take Avery on a set of failed adventures today (TTC delays, fire station not open to visitors, lousy weather). Apologized to her as we limped home in the grey. “It’s ok, it was fun to be out, don’t worry.” Occasionally life is perfect.

For @filmcomment.com.web.brid.gy on THE STUDIO, which nibbles the hand that feeds

On THE WOMAN IN THE YARD, www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...

From his Iceman in Top Gun to an uncanny Jim Morrison in The Doors, Van Kilmer was a gifted Method man known for his heart-on-sleeve weirdness and myriad eccentricities. By @brofromanother.bsky.social www.bfi.org.uk/features/val...

Here is the first instalment of a new monthly essay series for @the-ringer.bsky.social , co-written by myself and @manilazic.bsky.social we’ve made a list of 10 films from the last 25 years that we wanted to go back and forth about; first up, THE LORD OF THE RINGS www.theringer.com/2025/03/28/m...

Collaborating with @brendanowicz.bsky.social on a four part series on Biden era cinema for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social; part one is out today

I have a David Lynch story: www.theringer.com/2025/01/16/m...

On Michael Gracey’s kamikaze, schlock-expressionist pop musical BETTER MAN, which exists beyond good and evil, and which I quite enjoyed. For @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2025/01/07/m...

For @the-ringer.bsky.social, a video essay on the year's best films, featuring HERE, TRAP, THE BEAST, JUROR NO. 2 and RED ROOMS www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGEL...

Just read this terrific book cover to cover; a study worthy of its subject, which happens to be one of the greatest movies I’ve ever seen. Lucid, meticulous, imaginative and controlled criticism, if you like CURE it’s a must read

Chuck Palahniuk getting paid by the word

On Robert Eggers' drained, enervating NOSFERATU, for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2024/12/23/m...

On James Mangold’s burnished and earnest A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, which sends Bob Dylan freewheeling down the middle of the road, for @newrepublic.com newrepublic.com/article/1889...

On Brady Corbet's THE BRUTALIST, for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2024/12/18/m...

On some images that stuck with me this year, for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2024/12/17/m...

@carriecoon.bsky.social often on big pic with sean; I’d like to ask the first couple of physical media a couple of questions for a project I’m working on, easily DM’d here (I think)

“My dad got a package with a dog treat from a movie called Babygirl” - Lea to all the other parents outside school

On the best films of 2024, for @the-ringer.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2024/12/10/m...

Tonight at 7 pm EST, @seanfennessey.bsky.social and I will be hosting a watch along of SEE NO EVIL on Galerie. Use the code SPEAKNOEVIL for a free first month, plus 50% off the next three months; the site hosts a lot of wonderful film writing and is worth trying out. www.galerie.com/discover

“Sorry, Dad, the mob has spoken” - Avery

NEWS: Biden becomes first President to visit “The Veldt”.

Eight years ago this evening, I ended up rushing to the hospital with my basketball stuff in a gym bag - and nothing else of any use at all - because Lea decided to be born six weeks early. Doesn't seem possible it's been that long.

Here’s Here reverseshot.org/reviews/entr...

For Recliner, some thoughts on Warren Zevon reclinermag.com/issue/4/paid...

Wholesome post: can now hold a plank for 2 min and deadlift close to 1.25 times my body weight.

Should I share film pieces here too

1. Picaresque fiction and grotesque realism 2. Oneiric film theory 3. Gary Payton's on-ball defence 4. The duelling samples in Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" 5. Homicide: Life on the Street

♥️

Absolutely flattened today by a 10/10 summer head cold, feel too tired and dumb to watch, read or write anything, game over

A slow, plaintive piano cover of “Tarzan Boy”

Preoccupied with the new revelations around MF DOOM's death; the whispers of neglect are disturbing, but so was the terrible ordinariness of his condition and symptoms. Like all great comedians, DOOM's best jokes were lined with terror: "not to interrupt/but anybody else notice time's speeding up?"

When Don Henley invokes the “tired old man we elected king” on “End of the Innocence” he could just as easily be describing himself as Reagan; protest songs don’t come easy to the guy who sang harmony on “Take it Easy.” The David Fincher music video owns, though - knowingly ersatz Americana .

The Northern Boys’ style is hardening into shtick but they’re still funny and humane (and the unabashedly pro-trans lyrics keep getting more prominent). Went down the SindhuWorld rabbit hole to find Pete & Bas; old guys drill-rapping is a good joke, especially when the punchline is real credibility