I’ve got little over a month left of the year to cram a few more titles in, but even I’m surprised that K-POP DEMON HUNTERS is one of my best films of the 2025. Ban this sacrilegious filth! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

First event of 2026 - The fantastic @slapstickfest.bsky.social 4-8th Feb! The theme 'Laughter is a form of resistance'. Shinchirō Ueda's One Cut of The Dead (2017) @bristolbeacon.bsky.social Sat 7th of Feb 21:00 🧟‍♀️🧟📽️ Link🔻 www.slapstick.org.uk/events/slapstick-after-dark-one-cut-of-the-dead-2017/

Tonight I’m venturing into THE TEN, a sort of Kentucky Fried Movie that hasn’t been made since MOVIE 43. I’m fascinated by what compels a big name to publicly defenestrate themselves for such bad outre comedy.

Ploughing through Duran Duran’s singles, and their 90s discography is unfairly maligned. ‘Ordinary World’ and ‘Come Undone’ are pop masterpieces. (And music nerds, do look at the wiki entry for Tessa Niles, who sings the backing vox on Come Undone. What an incredible body of work.)

@simonmayo.bsky.social just thought you should be aware.

It’s a #FilmNoir Joan Crawford day for us. See you all at #Bristol Megascreen from 12pm for a special double bill of Mildred Pierce (1945) + Johnny Guitar (1964) (both the recent 4K restorations). Thanks to @filmhubsw.bsky.social and @20thcflicks.bsky.social #Melodrama tickets: ti.to/film-noir-uk...

First film of the morning. New Petzold. Paula Beer. Should be a win?

Being such a basic at the moment and it’s liberating.

Shoutout to the CGI team on PREDATOR: BADLANDS for being able to smoothly remove Elle Fanning’s lovely thic bum. Not sure where it emerged from, but I’m here for it.

I’m very conflicted about Mira Nair being Zohran Mandani’s mum. Is there such a thing as proto-nepotism?

A chat with Die My Love director Lynne Ramsay about making gripping films that aren’t black or white ab.co/4nGVLHp

Cyber Baroque chamber orchestra RONDO VENIZIANO's incredible animated video, 'La Serenissima', would often pop up unannounced on afternoon telly in the early 80s. Here they are performing live on Kafka-esque gameshow 3-2-1, and it's an amazing sight to see (and hear)!

One of favourite dance records of all time is slowly being ruined by John Lewis.

Whoever directed the Xmas John Lewis ad should probably acknowledge they’ve ripped off the ending of AFTERSUN.

Very sad to hear of Pauline Collins’ passing. SHIRLEY VALENTINE encapsulates an era where British women were rightfully cutting the apron strings, ditching the loveless marriages and embracing joyous self-determination. She played it to a tee, Shirley is a national treasure.

Right now, somewhere on a Sheffield industrial estate, Barry, Hassan, Faisal, Omar and Waj are using these fireworks as cover.

I don’t agree with Tim Richards at all. And I don’t see enough of collegiate chain cinemas using their power to change the film landscape away from cavorting in the spoils of late stage capitalism. A load of guff. Vue cinema boss: I don't see streaming as the competition www.bbc.com/news/article...

Adverts should be representative of traditional British families.

This is a cool spin on the blindingly off-white Film4 logo. Watching MAGID/ZAFAR - an 18min short film that played at LFF this year - available free here: vimeo.com/1124950562/e...

Campaign to restore the theatrical window and ban any films from screening at LFF that don’t have a theatrical release. It’s high-time for festivals to stop rolling over and showcasing films that go straight to streaming platforms within weeks (days). I admire Cannes’ rigorous & protectionist stance

I’m averse to shitty Netflix docs, but I did have a punt on THE PERFECT NEIGHBOUR last night. It struggles to differentiate itself enough from any YouTube cop footage “documentary”, however, it’s the quiet moments which transcend those shackles. And Jesus Christ. Saddest gut-punch moment in 2025.

You can measure my age through the social acceptance of sushi. From outright xenophobic disgust at the consumption of raw fish, all the way to casually being bundled into a £5 meal deal. Such an oddity.

UK talker(preview) screening company expunged. I’ve not seen the re-released M3G4N (or whatever it’s bloody called), but did the film encourage patrons to whip out their phones?

Who’d’ve thunk it? ‘Ecometal’ - my new favourite genre. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Go back to ‘retirement’, mate. Film’s shit. www.bbc.com/news/article...

I’m in that episode of Peep Show where Mark is trying to amalgamate marketing into sales, subsequently having to do a presentation at the Kettering conference. Do I run into the car park or feign a brain tumour?

Bristol pals! I am coming to talk about language, power & dragons to launch BAD LANGUAGE @bookhaus.bsky.social. I'll be talking to the amazing @noreenmasud.bsky.social so it will be AWESOME. Weds 26 Nov, 6pm Book your tickets here👇 www.bookhausbristol.com/events/#e139...

Hearing Jake Wallis Simons having his arse handed to him by a panel of Radio 4 conservative pundits has been the highlight of my day.

LOOKING FOR MR GOODBAR is so underrated. Rest in power Diane Keaton.

Tonight’s first time watch. Apparently, between Saruman, Dracula and Scaramanga - Christopher Lee considered his role as Jinnah (the paramour to Gandhi) as one of his most accomplished roles. An oddity as he played it in brown-face and (for the most part) Pakistani audiences loved it.

I’m very happy for Jonny Davidson and the story of his life being told to a wide audience with I SWEAR. The documentaries I’ve seen of his struggles and the impact Tourette’s has had on his life have been heartbreaking.

Consistently doing unique ability fire events for genre cinema in Bristol — now they’re throwing a few shrimp on the barbie!

A true Home Secretary of the United Kingdom in the 21st Century probably should have attended a protest or two in their time in opposition (or just private lives) and understand the right to protest - with little to no limit - is a vital part of a healthy society.

The new PTA film pleasantly met expectations - possibly the most narrative driven feature he’s done and decent performances all round (even if Sean Penn went a bit comic book, at times). Absolute classic it’s not, but the fact the 2.6hr runtime clapped along is always a good omen.

A true British treasure and one of most impactful acting exports. Rrrrrrichard! Pouring one out for Patricia Routledge tonight.

This is spot on from @zackpolanski.bsky.social, who is himself Jewish and comes from Manchester. Shabana Mahmoud is being deeply dishonest, disingenuous and dangerous by conflating protests against genocide with this antisemitic attack. It is not antisemitic to protest against the horror in Gaza.

Answers on a postcard.

Fine evening last night watching The Ballad of Wallis Island followed by on-stage discussion between Tim Key and @neilramjee.bsky.social. Thank you Neil and @wshed.bsky.social. You help make Bristol a cinema city of excellence.

@h0rr0r0fdracula.bsky.social I think we just passed without saying hello again. Looking sharp if it was you!

American centrism at its finest. This can only be a good move for the international market to move away from playing films from the major studios. Biggest grossing film in the world this year is Chinese anyway. Wah wah.

@kermodemovie.bsky.social Erm.... 👀 possibly the best version out there (i know its not official)_ aessentials.shop/products/012

I made a director cry during a Q&A I was hosting last night, which was a first.

Coming up 26 October: two films about Bristol. The Newcomers, made by John Boorman before he went on to Hollywood fame, helped launched BBC2 in 1964. In Money into Light he returns to Bristol 25 years later. Thanks to @swsilents.bsky.social for partnership and @filmhubsw.bsky.social for support.

A fairly niche observation, but I love that Japanese techno-drama HAPPYEND by Neo Sora has Boiler Room star DJ ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U smashing out bangers in the first five minutes. HAPPYEND is out on general release this weekend in the UK

Got notes for the 4K restoration of BARRY LYNDON this afternoon. Let’s gooooo.

Once of the best film festivals in the South West of England, and #Frightfest fans should definitely get a ticket if you’re around next weekend.

Thought BEATING HEARTS (2024) was an exceptional premium French indie with a touch of cult sheen. Loved the two- part heightened drama - nothing wildly radical, but enjoyable solid story about love across the divides. Reminded me a bit of Pete Travis’ under-seen CITY OF TINY LIGHTS (2012) Now on 🐮🐝

@streettrash.bsky.social there you are. Hope all is good, pal x

Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere

Mainstream film criticism has become so staid. Likely because the PR system has become so efficient at blacklisting defamatory voices. Most stuff I encounter reads like pseudo marketing. Is there an Armond White or Pauline Kael waiting in the wings, scribbling away that I’m unaware of?