Well I’ve spent the whole of #NorEng drawing the three English lions on a tote bag, time well spent even if we don’t win

It’s still not coming home. Sorry gang

As per usual, a cracking line-up this year. I highly recommend this festival

UK politics is beyond satire. It makes me incredibly sad. Little wonder that Iannucci and Morris no longer engage in absurdist pastiche.

Damn. Tony Rayns was a real one. Opened the door to East Asian cinema for so many anglophiles (including me with his accessible language; unrivalled in his knowledge, fluency and passion. I remember doing an intro to a Hou Hsiao Hsien film trying to instil his spirit! His work will live on!

Rest in peace Tony Rayns, quite possibly the most consequential Western figure in spreading the worldwide recognition of East Asian cinema.

Shout out to anyone on SSRNIs in this weather. Pretty grim all round.

Had floor seats at the MEN Arena for the B52s tonight and they were ace. Massive crush on Kate and she looked and sounded resplendent. 💚 Support from Lene Lovitch, The Rezillos (still hard!) and DEVO.

Sorry gang. This England team is fucking shite.

Mbappe seems to enjoy being The Guy on an almost McCartneyesque level

I was going to do a poll for the best ‘primer’ before seeing the new Spielberg film. With knowing fuck-all about it (and as I’m an adult) I’ve decided it’s a late night double-bill of Close Encounters and Contact.

She can join the twat club with Paltrow this week.

A strange kind of patriotism: ‘They’re not really British’ right up until they pull on an England shirt and start winning matches. Then suddenly everyone’s colourblind. Mugs.

Being more judicious with my film viewing this year. New titles aren’t hitting for me. The hyped BACKROOMS is the natural melding of contemporary film and 4Chan flash video obtuseness. Chiwetel Ejiofor in a giant squishy pirate mascot outfit is not evocative of liminal spaces. It says Redman.

Really gone off Idris Elba in the last decade. Can’t think of a film where I thought he wasn’t shilling for some bollocks, going through the motions or pedalling an egotistic project. Well done on the knife crime work. Enjoy your Gold Council and Sonic money. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Nigel Farage Listens to the News

Sad to hear about Marjane Satrapi’s passing. PERSEPOLIS is such a bold statement as a film. And I’m still in awe of how THE VOICES vibrated with exceptional insight into the extremes of men’s mental health with its sardonic smile. I have no doubt she had much more to give.

A selection of film storyboards by renown directors.

Had a blooming lovely blether with Sean Baker about making movies ahead of his Vivid Sydney appearance ab.co/4uZQPBZ

Swotting up on Jafar Panahi films I’ve not seen and I was taken in by the simplicity of THE WHITE BALLOON. Allegories & metaphors about Iranian politics ahoy, but you needn’t worry if you want to see a beautiful story about a little girl who just wants a chonky goldfish. mubi.com/films/the-wh...

The new James Bond game is fantastic. Clear love for the history from the developers. That bit with Chase and Status is stunning.

Judith Chalmers was part of the British culture I grew up with. The aspirational lifestyle holidays in Skegness to The Maldives. Escapism at its finest. Lies at its worst. Very much the fabric of my upbringing. Enjoy your holiday in the afterlife, Judith!

Does everyone remember when Secret Cinema got nearly £1M from the government/Arts Council England during COVID, from a fund that was supposed to support struggling cultural organisations? Fuck them, their exorbitant prices, the cynical corporate buyout and their unpaid ‘volunteers’. 🖕🖕🖕

You reckon Lou Bega still dines out on his Mambo No.5 dime? Set for life, surely.

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.