Tonight’s viewing: #TheSheepDetectives (Balda, 2026) streaming on Prime Video. I loved the book and I am hoping the film is just as good. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #Supergirl (Gillespie, 2026) #filmsky

68: TriumphOverContainment film historian Robert Kolker’s excellent examination of 1950s films and filmmakers who burrowed under the surface of American culture and fears of HUAC and communism to craft films that offered narratives of resistance, progress, and hope. Lively and informative. #booksky

Today’s viewing: #TheIsland (Leong, 1985) a gritty Hong Kong take on the slasher/horror genre that makes for perfect summer viewing with its story of young teens and their teacher on an isolated island where they discover a terrifying family akin to that in TexasChainsaw #filmsky

Boulley masterfully blends Ojiibwe language, stories, and traditions to craft this moving story of friendship and growth. Her voice is an essential addition to the growth of Native American authors and literature today. If you like Tommy Orange or Erdrich then read this book. #booksky 2/2

67: Firekeeper’s Daughter an engrossing, beautifully crafted Native American story that explores questions of identity, culture and trauma experienced by indigenous people in modern America as they fight the scourge of racism, drugs, and violence. 1/2 #booksky

Farewell to Ann Blyth (1927-2026) who was a force of nature as a death row diva in Douglas Sirk’s THUNDER ON THE HILL (1951). She'll be remembered for her Oscar-nominated role opposite Joan Crawford in MILDRED PIERCE (1945), but her talents were vast and varied. #FilmSky #TCMParty

Today’s viewing: #Picpus (Pottier, 1943) an adaptation of Georges Simenon’s book Signe Picpus the film made for the German controlled Continental Films stars Albert Prejean as the iconic police inspector Maigret investigating a series of bizarre murders linked to rue Picpus. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #HijackHighway/GasOil (Grainger, 1955) starring Jean Gabin as a long haul trucker and Jeanne Moreau as his girlfriend the film blends poetic realism with the French crime thriller in a way that is different and satisfying with a subplot about gangsters and stolen cash. #filmsky

66: The Stabbing in the Stables from Simon Brett where amateur sleuths Carole and Jude investigate a brutal murder linked to Fethering’s elites and their infidelities, gossip, and need for even more stuff and status. Darker than previous books but very engaging. #booksky

Today’s viewing: Razzia (Decoin, 1955) an excellent French crime thriller in the procedural style, only the focus is on the gritty Paris drug trade rather than the cops. Jean Gabin stars in it as an amoral heavy with a secret. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #DisclosureDay (Spielberg, 2026) the film captures the zeitgeist of American now while also continuing to explore the themes of earlier alien centered films in his oeuvre. #filmsky

65: To Die in June Alan Park’s gritty Scottish noir set in June 1975 where cop Harry McCoy grapples with religious extremism, murders of homeless men, including his da, and police corruption. It is the most tragic and moving books in the series so far. #booksky

Rewatched #CloseEncountersoftheThirdKind tonight in preparation to see Spielberg’s new alien film #DisclosureDay soon. The film is still great and depicts an America that was more hopeful. #filmsky

hey the world, here’s more of me opining about the state of the biz! thanks @ninametz.bsky.social!

64: So Much Blood Simon Brett’s entertaining novel where amateur sleuth and actor Charles Paris goes to Edinburgh to put on a one man show for a university theater series only to find himself investigating murders and trying to stay alive. #booksky

No surprise. Still, a terrible move for fans of DC and Warner Brothers.

Today’s viewing: #ShaolinAbbott (Meng Hua-ho, 1979) the third of #ShawBrother’s unofficial Pai Mei trilogy where the Shaolin Monastery is destroyed, all the monks are massacred except the young Chi San who is tasked with rebuilding it and continuing fight against Qing Dynasty. #filmsky

63: Liz Moore’s riveting The God of the Woods with its summer camp setting in 1975 is a perfect summertime read. Great exploration of how family secrets, grief, corruption and greed can harm everyone in the orbit of wealthy elites who care more for reputation than justice. #booksy

Today’s viewing: #ExecutionersfromShaolin (Liu, 1977) another entry in #ShawBrothers cycle of kung fu films built around the legendary discipline and style of Shaolin. This film offer another domestic revenge tale with intense action and critique of authoritarian regimes. #filmsky

Today’s viewing:#ClanoftheWhiteLotus (Lieh, 1980) the iconic kung fu film from ShawBrothers is quite different from the studio’s previous work. There are lots of training sequences included as well as a lightness and domestic angle as well as action that grounds the film. Very entertaining. #filmsky

62: Cinema ‘62 an outstanding example of film history and criticism that argues 1962 was as great as 1939 for American cinema in quality and variety of films that each spoke to changing nature of American society. Authors see these films as beginning of “NewHollywood.” #booksky

61: Cast in Order of Disappearance, Simon’s 1975 crime novel about alcoholic actor Charles Paris who becomes an amateur sleuth investigating racy pictures, blackmail scheme and a possible murder. Not quite a cozy mystery but still intriguing. #booksky

Today’s viewing: a rewatch of #DrNo (Young, 1962) which is quite different from the novel including having No’s island a source of radiation rather than bat guano and inclusion of several characters that are not in novel. Other big change is to have No a member of SPECTRE and not USSR. #filmsky

NEW: Marjane Satrapi, the French-Iranian author of ‘Persepolis,’ dies at 56.

Today’s viewing: #TheDeadlyBreakingSword (Sun, 1979) starring TiLung and Sheng Fu as a trickster gambler this is an entertaining #ShawBrothers film that blends comedy, action, extreme violence mixing wuxia with kung fu to craft a story of redemption and vengeance. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #Crime101 (Layton, 2026) a thrilling action heist crime drama based on a Don Winslow novella. Great performances in this adult drama which channels the spirit of the great action films of 60s and 70s. Very entertaining. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #SouloftheSword (Shan Hua, 1978) a more psychologically take on the wuxia focused around the quest of Ti Lung to become the greatest swordsman at all costs. Not top tier #ShawBrothers but still action packed and entertaining capped off with a bleak and unexpected twist. #filmsky

60: The Creak on the Stairs a dark and mysterious example of Icelandic crime fiction that is part police procedural and part psychological thriller. A great and unique use of crime fiction to illustrate the impact of trauma on shaping and reshaping people’s lives. #booksky

59: The Possession of Alba Diaz a chilling Mexican Gothic tale set in 18th century that explores notions of misogyny, body horror, forbidden passions and the terrifying impacts of colonialism’s plundering and attacks on indigenous people. Canas is a master storyteller. #booksky

Tonight’s viewing: #JohnCandyILikeMe (Hanks, 2025) the moving and fascinating documentary which if you enjoyed watching John Candy perform or are a fan of his, then this film is a must see. #filmsky

#Hacks finale was moving, funny, and a perfect ending for the series that celebrates female friendships.

58th: The Cinema of Extractions combines film history with eco criticism. Jacobson’s book offers a fascinating model of scholarship blending methods from media industries with formalism/close reading to craft an important narrative about how film is an extractive process. #booksky

The waits between seasons doubled in last 10 yrs — & this piece doesn’t get into it, but when execs also demand shorter seasons, in some cases way too short, the end result = audiences that just don’t engage with shows/characters the same way. www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/w...

Tonight’s viewing: #FackhamHall (O’Hanlon, 2025) the hilarious satirical sendup of British heritage films and TV shows like Downton Abbey with a star studded cast.

Today’s viewing: #LifeGamble (Chang Cheh, 1978) this wuxia from #ShawBrothers amps up the scheming, action, and death with its story of a priceless jade that is coveted by gamblers, killers, and thieves. Very entertaining. #filmsky

57: The Undiscovered Country an excellent new history of the American West from the Revolutionary period to the 1900s that strips away the myth using biographical sketches of Daniel Boone, Red Eagle, Kit Carson, and others to reveal the epoch of American expansion. Great read for 250th. #booksky

56: Octopussy and The Living Daylights published in 1966 is the last of Fleming’s Bond works. The short story collection features one excellent story, one okay one, and two that are subpar. The sniper story The Living Daylights is best one. #booksky

55: The Man with a Golden Gun features a Bond who returns brainwashed by the Soviets to MI6 and struggling with his next mission to take out a dangerous hitman tied to Soviets, Cuba, and the Mob. Bond reckons with his training and instincts to kill and what they have cost him. #booksky

Today’s viewing: #DuelforGold (Yuen Chor, 1971) the film was Yuen Chor’s first directorial effort for ShawBrothers and it does not disappoint. Great blend of wuxia and heist film wrapped in a nihilistic story of gold, greed, betrayal and non stop action matched with bloody violence. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #DeathDuel (Chor Yuen, 1977) this entertaining and nihilistic #ShawBrothers film was Derek Yee’s breakthrough playing the wandering swordsman/beggar who seeks to escape the fame of his name and reputation as a master swordsman. A must see ShawBrothers masterpiece. #filmsky

54: You Only Live Twice where a dejected and disgraced Bond goes to Japan on an impossible mission to gain access to Japan’s intelligence services for the Crown, which leads him to face a “Disneyland of Death,” to prove his intentions for both governments. Solid read with unexpected end. #booksky

Second viewing of day: #TwelveDeadlyCoins (Hsu, 1969) a solid wuxia with lots of melodrama interspersed with top notch fight scenes. Lo Lieh is cast as the hero in this #ShawBrothers film about grudges, reputation and honor. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #TwinBladesofDoom (Ching Doe, 1969) this wuxia from #ShawBrothers starts off strong but then that is lost in part because of poor direction, a meandering script, and a lackluster performance by Yun Ling who plays the hero in this story of revenge. #filmsky

53: Within These Wicked Walls a YA reimagining of Jane Eyre in a Ethiopian like setting with younger characters and Gothic elements including a cursed Rochester and a house filled with ghosts and evils. It is a decent read but not as good as Bronte’s Jane Eyre. #booksky

Second viewing: #PyramidoftheSunGod (Siodmak, 1965) the entertaining sequel to Treasure of the Aztecs. Based on Karl May’s Mexican novels the film shows the evil and inhumane effect of greed and desire for power on humans. #filmsky

Today’s viewing: #TheTreasureoftheAztecs (Siodmak, 1965) a rousing action adventure quasi Western film from West German CCC studios based on Karl May’s Mexican novel series. The film little seen or known outside of Europe is very entertaining and good example of popular cinema at the time. #filmsky

In the last 3 months, 40% of Americans have quit their streaming services over continued price increases 📈 These companies keep raising their prices, exploiting their monopolies and hoping inertia will prevent most people from switching Support creators directly where possible - a few options �

Second viewing of day: #KingdomofSilverLion (Gottlieb, 1965) the 3rd of Brauner’s CCC studio Karl May adaptation of his “Orient” novels. The film makes great use of locations in Andalusia, Spain to further the story of KaraBenNemsi and explore issues of religious interfaith alliances. #filmsky