Has anyone played Annapurna’s new game MIXTAPE yet? Want to hear from Bluesky gamers what you thought of it. I played their game THE ARTFUL ESCAPE and found it underwhelming and a bit naff. This, however, looks lit. youtu.be/aQoEd5rnxiQ?...

Reform voters all anti-Green but love Attenborough. The idiocracy we live in.

Wonder what made Warner Bros. finally decide to restore THE DEVILS uncut for Cannes this year. Money? Probably money.

The Met Gala is gross opulence.

I rewatched HIGHLANDER and concluded the following: • fantastical concept • beautifully ambitious cinematography • abysmal writing and structure • Sean Connery & Christopher Lambert are fucking terrible actors • Queen soundtrack doesn’t fit Will never watch it again in this lifetime.

HOKUM is out today and if your idea of fun is a miserable and rude Adam Scott dealing with his childhood issues in a spooky Irish hotel, knock yourself out. It’s one tiny step away from all the crappy films by Blumhouse, with an A24 label slapped on it. I found it superficial and silly.

Worth a mention - Aneil Karia’s new short film VOTE GAVIN LYLE, starring Jack Lowden as a prospective Reform candidate is now available for free via WeTransfer and YouTube. 16mins of roasting the middle classes and right wing dickheads. 🙃 youtu.be/GMFyg3VFSeQ?...

Can't find the source now, but on Twitter someone memorably summed up Mr Beast with "When I look in the eyes of Mr Beast I find myself believing in the concept of a soul, purely from witnessing its absence"

Strong early line up with Comics Come Alive strand of live adaptations - what a treat to see Mario Bava’s Danger: Diabolik restored in 4K! I’m hyped for GOODBYE, DRAGON INN (2003). I thoroughly enjoyed DRAGON INN (1967) but not seen this meta-Mandarin masterpiece. www.watershed.co.uk/news/first-h...

Also tonight - my project is supporting Mark Jenkin’s South West England preview tour of his new film ROSE OF NEVADA. Here at Watershed with a SOLD OUT. audience plus a special Q&A by the wonderful Gwenno. Film comes out in the UK 24th April.

“EVERYONE’S GOT TO BE AN A.K.A LOVERRRRR!”

Pouring one out for Asha Bhosle who passed away today. Guinness Record Holder of the most recorded singles of all time - 11,000 songs over 20 Indian languages. Of the many to choose, here’s the beautiful Helen capturing the spirit of “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” from the OST to 1971’s CARAVAN.

Take me back to the Carribean. Getting fat and smoking Havana cigars like Yosemite Sam. This windy weather and the UK general public are just ‘orrible.

“We are a Christian country!”

Something great to look forward to next month is the new film by Mark Jenkin. ROSE OF NEVADA🎣🌊⚓️🕰️ George McKay and Callum Turner head up an atmospheric head-fuck of a film, shifting through trawlers, time and tides. There are special preview Q&A screenings in April throughout the UK 🎟️

Both these two are perpetual bullshitters and I’m glad it’s all unravelling.

This morning’s get-up-and-go tune. Gawd, I miss the electro clash era. music.apple.com/gb/album/hid...

New PS Portal update looks incroyable. Cannae wait to boot up Death Stranding later while the missus snores.

Loving Sky’s new gonzo drama about a shitty comedy troupe. Incredulous that no one stopped to say, “hang on, doesn’t this need jokes?”

Morning.

New Ceylan in the works 🙏 thefilmstage.com/nuri-bilge-c...

An excellent representation of America (and increasingly the UK): The Three Stooges 1/3 populist, not really interested in actual policy but support cos family does (and are usually racist) 1/3 confused as fuck 1/3 just doesn't care as long as they have money in their pockets

I baulked at first, but I think this could help solve infinite scrolling and help indie filmmakers at the same time. Having infinite access at our fingertips has devalued film almost beyond salvation. (Stow your access arguments) (Not gonna replace my discs tho) www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ma...

Watched this evening - it’s a laudable, well-crafted, brave documentary, that reminds you Putin is as much a scary propagandist as the next dictator, highlighting civil disobedience can be effective. That being said, makes me wonder why THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB didn’t take the top gong. Hmmm.

The only actor with any bollocks in that room last night.

In April 1992, Robert Altman's The Player was released, garnering lavish praise for its opening scene, a complicated ensemble tracking shot. In April 1990, Coronation Street was doing stuff like this, and nobody batted an eyelid.

Best documentary Oscar winner MR NOBODY AGAINST MR PUTIN is currently free to watch on BBC IPlayer. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Cute little promo items from this weekend’s preview screenings of PROJECT HAIL MARY. A film I thoroughly enjoyed for its dry kindness and humble blockbuster reach. Doesn’t shove its ecological aspects down your throat, swerves any glib romantic arc, and yet I found its theme of co-operation warming.

100,000 trans people & allies fill central London for Trans Pride. Mainstream media: nothing Thousands of trans people & allies fill Wembley Arena for pro-trans gig with massive names like Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Sugarbabes. Mainstream media: nothing. This is what extreme media bias looks like.

If you’re in the south west of England - me and my crew are helping this tour of WILD SWIMMERS in these venues. Do pop along and give regional homegrown talent with Ric’s team your support. Tickets on sale now. 🎟️

Never thought I’d be championing Iran in a proxy war. But here we are.

Insanely high frame-rate live rotoscoping for an ad …. where else? Japan. Made for the defunct fashion brand Renown in 1988. Love this. (A-ha’s Take On Me was 1985, used the same technique, but a much lower-frame rate as rotoscoping is highly labour intensive)

I do think 1995-2005 was a peak era for subversive British comedy series. It was an excellent petri-dish for homegrown weirdness. If you were ever into Nighty Night, Psychoville or Phoenix Nights, try and watch FUNLAND - the forgotten unhinged Blackpool miniseries. www.imdb.com/title/tt0426...

Looking forward to Project Hail Mary this weekend. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are best contemporary enfants terrible you’ll get in Hollywood that have carved a commercial furrow with their kooky stubbornness.

This is an excellent mixtape from Tim Sweeney and Hercules & Love Affair. Love Anohi’s voice. And who can’t beat a bit of Alison Moyet? music.apple.com/gb/album/bea...

Olivia Dean is this generation’s Dina Carroll.

I don’t put myself out there enough with my DJing, so here’s my last live mix that I did for radio a few weeks ago - 30mins across genres. From Turnstile to The Police to Hamdi to Radiohead. www.mixcloud.com/NeverTheSame...

Five rarely seen Jafar Panahi films have landed on Mubi UK. Gonna have to get involved.

In better news, I saw EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET this evening and the kinda documentary that rouses the activist in me, and makes you think of what more you can be doing to help your community. Love a bit of peaceful social disobiedience. Out UK wide on 13th March via @conic.film Essential.

Fucking spineless cock. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great article about why the Paramount buyout of Warner Bros may not be a good things after all. Lots I didn’t consider in this. How Hollywood and Maga aligned over Warner Bros deal www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Woke up to good news for once. So, this is how it feels?

My fave films from this year's Berlinale bit.ly/4aZLVwe

Fantastic interview. Everyone should read it:

In defence of John Davidson.

I’m not sure that giving the “Outstanding Contribution to Cinema” award to the director of a business that had not been paying the living wage for nearly 20 years is a good look. #BAFTAs #EEBAFTAs

Finally some good news - vaccine skeptic’s life expectancy has been slashed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Will be supporting a SW tour of this film with director Mark Jenkin in April. I loved it. youtu.be/bw371ui9cTk?...

Hideki Sato - not a name you’d instantly recognise, but definitely gave hours of joy to anyone who picked up a Mega Drive (Genesis) gamepad, Master System, Game Gear or Saturn. Worked on the complete design and ergonomics of all Sega consoles up to the Dreamcast. Sadly, passed away Friday.

Two new films you MUST see this rainy weekend: THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP - a brilliant throwback, fully animated, billet-douce to WB Daffy Duck & Porky Pig reminds you why these characters endure (voice cast 😘) THE PRESIDENT'S CAKE - a superb child's perspective on Saddam Hussein's birthday (🎂).