“Three miles out of town and six feet down. All alone. With nobody to lie to.” Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). Michael Atkinson called Barbara Payton childlike, yet “the most chillingly dangerous of noir actresses.” You can see what he means. She’s fragile as glass until she isn’t. Then she’s lethal

A muscular rather than crepuscular horror film. Jack Palance is more general than vampire in this rather brightly-shot made for TV movie. Palance only does a little bit of Transylvanian vocal work, but he still makes it work. Written by Richard Matheson and directed by Dan Curtis.

I am doing one of my favourite things in the world, listening to a podcast of American TV critics try and review Landman. Increasingly making me laugh by how outraged they are with how Taylor Sheridan writes (all) women characters.

I love Letterboxd. I just got this comment and it really made me laugh: "This movie is actually extremely well written, so you don't have to be so pissed about it. Unlike the usual Paw Patrol episode you see lately, which is poorly written, this one would actually teach your kid a valuable lesson."

Tonight's film

It was to early. Still, ha ha ha ha - fucking Denmark.

I spent a very pleasing summer 15 years ago reading the collected short stories of W. Somerset Maugham, or at least vols one and two (as until today I didn't realise there were more...). Rain (or Miss Thompson) was one of the highlights. This film, in its rather stagey style, is good version of it.

Scored too early

Tonight's film

First watch: Out of the Past (1947), dir. Jacques Tourneur. A definitive noir for many, and it is easy to see why: private dick led astray by mysterious babe, Mitchum in a trenchcoat looking sleepy and chain-smoking, photography from Nicholas Musuraca, whip-smart lines, extended flashbacks. 1/2

"Suave private investigator Norman Conquest intercepts a secret message and meets a beautiful but foreign blonde lady in room 605 of the Park Plaza hotel." That classic English name Norman Conquest. Played by Tom Conway. Arrested by Sid James; seduced and brained by Eva Bartok.

Tonight's film I take this poster to mean Sid James is beauty, Tom Conway is murder, and Eva Bartok is espionage. Like a 1950s Sergio Leone film.

My favourite Scorsese for his Birthday; 1. Mean Streets 2. The Age of Innocence 3. The Last Temptation of Christ 4. The Last Waltz 5. The Irishman

Compulsion (1959), The Boston Strangler (1968), & 10 Rillington Place (1971), 3 true(-ish) crime dramas from prolific director Richard Fleischer All graced by brilliant central performances, all slightly lopsided plots-wise & collectively a portrait of what does & doesn't date a movie 1/15

-yearning, with exceptional cinematography -oops we did all the drugs -woman is beautiful…but evil???!!!? -people in suits doing horrible things to each other -casually unleashing an ancient horror

Top 5 movie genres: - It’s a musical but everyone’s sad. - “Damn this infernal heat!” - It’s a Christmas movie but everyone’s sad. - Wise-cracking gangster but he’s doomed - It’s a western but everyone’s sad.

Top 5 movie genres: - Does this robot / monster have a soul? (Yes it does) - Sassy New York newspaper gal does not need love but finds it anyway - I travelled in time or space. It was a mistake. - You’re supposed to be the victim of my crime but I love you - Being a detective is miserable but hot

What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are: - Japanese samurai extravaganza - Rappers trying out acting - Julia Roberts (funny) - Heists that might actually work in the real world - I am a cop/spy/ex-military with a unique set of skills but also a strong moral compass

What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are: - mystery on a train - I've committed the perfect murder, "oh for fucks sake" - European road movie - ennui in Hong Kong - I've tried nothing to improve my life and crime is the only thing left

If Hollywood had made this in 1990, it would have been Tom Cruise and Marlon Brando in the lead roles, and almost certainly as bad. The film impressively lacks both the moral clarity and moral complexity of Judgement of Nuremberg.

Off to the cinema to see

I have a decision to make: Nuremberg or The Running Man at the cinema...

He seems to have spent his money on paintings of wallpaper.

I was really quite impressed by Rage. It has a very slow build. George C. Scott the director gives a lot of time towards George C. Scott the actor in the first act being a good father, playing at being a rancher, then the terror of seeing his son succumb to an illness.

First watch: Wendy and Lucy, directed and (co)written by Kelly Reichardt. Sad, lyrical film about living on the margins during the financial crisis of 2008. Despite the context, it is not an "issue" film, with less in common with Ken Loach than De Sica (Bicycle Thieves and Umberto D.*). 1/2

This morning's film

This Scotland game is doing my head in. I preferred it when we were 3 down and Denmark were winning.

Love Gene. Don't love Judy.

This is the haircut of a fascist

The first 25% or so of The Ministry of Time is the most pure enjoyment that I have gotten from a book this year.

Tonight's film

Nearly as bad as James Gunn's Superman.

Off to the cinema with my kid to see

The problem with Creature from the Black Lagoon is that only a quarter of its 80 minute runtime looks like this:

Tonight's film

A visually impressive folk-horror from Tokuzō Tanaka, director of The Snow Woman, and The Whale God. It is simultaneously a complex samurai jidaigeki, a weird and out-there demon film, and an impressively epic action film. It comes together remarkably, and I am pretty sure I didn't follow it at all.

Tonight's film

Worth seeing for this, the single most depressed Santa in film

"When Richard Logan, the partner in a safe making firm, is found unconscious, on an old deserted bomb site, he finds that he has no recollection of the last three weeks. Then he discovers that the private detective, hired by his wife, has been found murdered." Cinema is just great, isn't it.

I confess I just looked up the film to check that's not June Whitfield. I'd just seen a post about BBC 4 marking her centenary tonight, so it did seem possible that they might be showing something from the 60s in which you see her bra

Tonight's film Swapping one Pit of Darkness (work) for another Pit of Darkness (1961 film)

Bleakness piled on bleakness. I like Scott Cooper. I have now seen every film he has directed, and I am fairly confident in saying there isn’t a director currently working with less of a sense of humour. But, I still think he is talented, and this is a really horrible and miserable horror.

The pilot/first episode of Pluribus is the most exciting first episode of a TV show I have seen since John from Cincinnati.

Tonight's film

Just seen these pop up on Amazon for pre-order. I guess I better get them.

I love "It's a Wonderful Life" BUT What is the worst thing that could have happened to Mary without George? Oh yes! Lose all her personality, liveliness, fun & fashion sense and become a Librarian! Heaven forbid! 🙄📚

I liked this. Not as good as The Breaking Point or To Have and Have Not, but I still really liked it. Well directed by Don Siegel and, Audie Murphy is decent in the lead role.

Whenever I see people post continuously about politics on Bluesky, I imagine you are Jesse Plemons in Bugonia.

Off to the cinema to see

Preordering films from Australia this morning. Someone has to.