Eiffel movie review: Gustave’s erection
Comfortably unchallenging French romantic drama, though it does Freudian-slip into implying that the engineer was only inspired to erect his soaring tower when an old flame reawakened his, er, heart.
loaded question: what movie have you seen the most times in its initial theatrical run?
I think for me it must be 1993’s The Fugitive. I’m not even sure how many times I saw it, but it must be a dozen at least.
The Princess documentary review: look back in anger
A portrait of Diana’s depiction in the press that is incendiary, incisive, and transfixing. A litany of horror, in retrospect, and an incredibly valuable look at how public stories are shaped by media.
Wild Men (Vildmænd) movie review: mild men, more like
This Danish black comedy is a meandering exploration of masculinity in the 21st century, and though it’s more miss than hit, it’s charming and bittersweetly heartfelt in its bumbling and bungling.
loaded question: do you think the cancelled Batgirl movie will ever see the light of day?
Is this the death of streaming? Is this the end of superhero movies? Is it just a glitch in the pop-culture Matrix? In what way might the film ever get released?
Bullet Train movie review: total derailment
The cast is, on paper, terrific, but there’s nothing engaging in their bloody savagery. A misfire of a supposed action comedy, this mind-numbing mess is by turns grating, tedious, and infuriating.
weekend watchlist: hacking capitalism
Plus the horror stories women live, cold cops, and more. (First published July 2nd, 2022, on Substack and Patreon.)
loaded question: what’s a thing from movies (or books or TV) that you absolutely believed as a kid?
And do you still kinda sorta half believe it?
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris movie review: a fashion for kindness
This 60-year-old story of pursuing a dream with resolute kindness could not feel more fresh in its knowing class clash. Lesley Manville is an absolute treasure, her command of comedic pathos supreme.
loaded question: what’s your favorite cultural life hack?
Are there ways that you consume or play with music, movies, books, games, etc, that give you extra pleasure, and/or that you suspect may not have occurred to other people?
