my selections/contributions: James Benning's casting a glance Robert Benton's BAD COMPANY Patrick Keiller's ROBINSON IN SPACE Sarah Maldoror's SAMBIZANGA Jonathan Perel's TOPONYMY

L: Alan White, Yes drummer, died 26th May 2022 R: Alan White, Oasis drummer, born 26th May 1972

my top discovery of San Sebastian's José Giovanni retro so far is the picture I saw tonight, BIRDS OF PREY (Le Rapace; 1968), a politically-charged thriller set in 1934 Mexico. Outstanding trump-card is the reliably great Lino Ventura, front-and-centre throughout as a grizzled, stoic hitman-for-hire

looks like Kai Wegner's disastrous tenure as mayor of Berlin will soon be over. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

The World Eye@theworldeye.bsky.social · 3d ago

BREAKING: Germany’s Left party wins the Berlin state election, positioning Elif Eralp in contention to become mayor. Can Berlin shift left? #Berlin #Germany #Politics

the initial "enigmatic" ad-campaign for the Rafelson/Monkees film HEAD, making no mention of the Monkees or that HEAD was even a film. Instead it prominently featured images of (future big-deal literary agent) John Brockman..... who was himself in charge of the campaign. Self-promotion!

Michael Moorcock THE FINAL PROGRAMME Colin Forbes AVALANCHE EXPRESS John Cheever THE SWIMMER Dick Francis DEAD CERT other examples of well-known (and reasonably prolific) writers, who have only ever had one cinema-film based on any of their work?

Joan Allen has done some television in the last decade (including ZERO DAY last year)... but no films at all since ROOM back in 2015. ¿Que pasa?

Jesse Hawken@jessehawken.bsky.social · 2y ago

Joan Allen in MANHUNTER, another reason to thank Michael Mann, he gave us Joan Allen (this was only her second feature)

somewhat low-key considering whose grave it is.

Daryl@maconfleetwood.bsky.social · 6d ago

I visited his grave this past January and it’s in such a sorry state.

(probable) Sunderland fan Joseph Conrad's favourite moment from last night.

includes the Greek documentary MEGARA (winner of two international awards!) which I wrote about for Sight and Sound's "Lost and Found" column in 2022.

Sight and Sound magazine@sightsoundmag.bsky.social · 7d ago

letterboxd.com/sightsoundma...

"Palace"

new Paul Anderson picture! 75min! (wonder if it will be left off his filmographies like his previous documentary JUNUN [2015, 54min].)

Letterboxd@letterboxd.social · 4w ago

Janus Films and Criterion to release Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall 🎤 A Northern American 35mm theatrical tour of the concert film to start November 20. Add to watchlist: https://boxd.it/ZvZK

screen-debutant Polli Leuner only has a few scenes (as "Refugee Girl") in Fatih Akin's AMRUM (2025) but makes them all count. A face to remember, and name to watch.

last night decided that my favourite new song of 2026 is "I Got Tunnel Vision" by New Bedford's finest, A Wilhelm Scream. (... uh huh). www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xkM...

A Wilhelm Scream "I Got Tunnel Vision" (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

YouTube video by A Wilhelm Scream

youtube.com

Starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, THE WEIGHT opens in theaters this week. It was one of the best films at both Sundance and Berlin this year. I wish there was more hoopla around it. Please see it. I don't think you'll be disappointed. www.vulture.com/article/the-...

We Don’t Get Movies Like The Weight Much Anymore

Think of this atmospheric, exciting survival thriller as The Wages of Fear (or Sorcerer, if you prefer) but on foot.

vulture.com

Virginia Woolf’s foreword to the catalogue of Vanessa Bell’s solo painting exhibition of 1930.

Toby Miller@tobytram.bsky.social · last wk.

Vanessa Bell goes to the ballet. Picasso! Satie! Cocteau! This is like the end of the avengers film when all the heroes come out of the portals.

UK bookies have suspended betting on the next James Bond. Kalshi has Jack Lowden odds-on. Game over?

listening to this, and wondering if there's a more underrated, taken-for-granted "famous" figure in British culture than Willy Russell? if he was American, he'd have the EGOT. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa_I...

Tell Me It's Not True

YouTube video by Barbara Dickson - Topic

youtube.com

FREE RANGE: the Europa League diary of a Sunderland fan, 2026/7. 1: Wednesday 16th September Sunderland 1 — AZ Alkmaar 0 www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/reviews...

first Eurovision, then...

Mark Carney@mark-carney.bsky.social · last wk.

The EU has delivered greater stability across the continent, greater mobility for its citizens, and a single market that gives Europe global economic weight. An honour to hear President von der Leyen address the European Parliament today as we build a deeper partnership for the future.

Catherine Ringer in Godard's SOIGNE TA DROITE (1987).

Libération@liberation.fr · last wk.

Catherine Ringer : on veut pas t'abandonner... C'est la une de Libération mercredi.

So Ed Sheeran decided to tour with Macklemore (The Wokest White Rapper), two insanely Irish acts, an anarchist from Denmark, and Billie Eilish's brother and thought he could suck imperial dick without any consequences, and that just turned out to be completely not the case.

the great Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill, who would have turned 79 today, at school in Christchurch (NZ) in the 1960s.

"Sweden becomes the latest example of a pattern playing out across Europe: mainstream conservative parties concluding that governing with the radical right is more sustainable than governing without it" davekeating.substack.com/p/half-of-sw...

Half of Swedish voters said OK to having the far right in government

Behind the narrow centre-left victory in yesterday’s election is an uncomfortable reality: half of voters were fine with putting the far right into government, even if the party’s vote is shrinking.

davekeating.substack.com

Sunderland-born (and lived there until the age of four.)

Canadian History Ehx@cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · last wk.

Happy birthday to Callum Rennie, born on this day in 1960! One of Canada's most acclaimed actors, he has had roles in Battlestar Galactica, Californication, Due South, Star Trek Discovery and much more. He has won two Geminis, two Genies and four Leo Awards. 📸 Mike Carr

Willy Russell answering the question "what if Andrew Lloyd-Webber was working-class and more talented?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y9Q...

BARBARA DICKSON - EASY TERMS (from Willy Russell's musical BLOOD BROTHERS)

YouTube video by Barbara Dickson

youtube.com

on Friday the last San Sebastian Film Festival under the directorship of José Luis Rebordinos begins. Rebordinos will be a tough act to follow. Unlike so many chiefs of major festivals, he doesn't court the limelight or controversy, just quietly assembles the best event he can.

EFE Noticias@efe.com · last wk.

ENTREVISTA | Rebordinos, director del Festival de San Sebastián: Dirigir un festival de cine genera gente enfadada que luego se desenfada. ✍️Ana Burgueño efe.com/cultura/2026...

my friends Alexis Tioseco and Nika Bohinc, who were murdered in Quezon City 17 years ago this month. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_...

rewatched this on DVD over the weekend, a prime example of how a somewhat "ordinary" Hollywood film of the 40s is, in every important detail, light years ahead of anything any major studio is capable of making in the 2020s.

Gaijin Rando@gaijinrando.bsky.social · 2y ago

The Big Steal (1949) Delightful screwball noir in which an army lieutenant and a thief's ex-girlfriend pursue the thief into Mexico Directed by Don Siegel Starring Jane Greer and Robert Mitchum, BOTD in 1917