curated cinema: disruptive protest *works* (here’s the documentary proof)
2021 documentary Mothers of the Revolution is on Prime and Apple TV on both sides of the Atlantic.
Cold War
classic film virgin: Top Gun (1986)
Cold War propaganda that is weirdly apolitical. Sunny, breezy homoeroticism that is surely unintentional. What a hoot this is! Mostly not in a good way, but its impact on pop culture cannot be denied.
The White Crow movie review: nothing to crow about
Elegant but dull, and so subtle it’s downright diffuse. If you don’t know much about Rudolf Nureyev going in, you won’t know much coming out, either. Weirdly, it doesn’t even feature much dancing.
my picks for tonight’s 91st Academy Awards (the Oscars for 2018’s films) (winners indicated)
I correctly guessed 9 out of the 24 categories, which is appalling. I shall be in my corner reprimanding myself.
The Death of Stalin movie review: the great dictator
Audacious, outrageous, bleakly funny. Not since Charlie Chaplin sent up Hitler and invited us to laugh at terrible reality has there been a movie like this.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3D movie review: he said he’d be back…
An action masterpiece newly remastered in gorgeous 4K (and rejiggered for superfluous 3D) reveals how fresh it remains not only technically but thematically.
Atomic Blonde movie review: bland ambition
The living, breathing, bleeding life of the breathtaking fight scenes cannot overcome confusingly twisty spy intrigue and multiple male gazes on the story.
Bridge of Spies movie review: the lawyer who went out in the Cold War
Presents American hypocrisy in defense of America with the snorting derision it warrants, while also being a gripping and intense Cold War thriller.
The Man Who Saved the World documentary review: no nukes
Meet the crotchety, bitter old man who, back in 1983 as a crotchety, bitter younger man, refused to initiate global nuclear war. A true story!
Doctor Who blogging: “Cold War”
Alien on the Red October… though actually, this episode reminded me most of the Peter Davison-era Doctor Who story “Warriors of the Deep.”
