Watched and Read - February 15, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 Here's what I watched and read last week...

 

MOVIES

Song Sung Blue (2025), directed by Craig Brewer, tells the story of a real-life couple who performed as a Neil Diamond tribute band. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson are amazing. I’m surprised Jackman didn’t receive an Oscar nomination, though Hudson did. The musical numbers are strong, but I wish they had done a better job casting Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. He looked a little too young in the film.

High Anxiety (1977), directed by Mel Brooks, is a great homage to the films of Alfred Hitchcock. The story doesn’t entirely work, but that’s beside the point. It’s not as strong as Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein, but it’s still worth checking out, especially if you’re a Hitchcock fan.

History of the World, Part I (1981), directed by Mel Brooks, has some genuinely funny moments. The “Spanish Inquisition” musical number is especially good. The French Revolution segment was probably my least favorite, but overall, I enjoyed the movie.

Her (2013), directed by Spike Jonze, is a haunting sci-fi romance about Theodore, who begins dating his operating system. It’s essentially like dating ChatGPT. Even though the film was released in 2013, Jonze anticipates many of the uncertainties surrounding intimacy and AI that are now part of our current digital landscape. An excellent and important movie.

The Age of Innocence (1993), directed by Martin Scorsese, is a visually stunning film with beautiful cinematography. This was probably my fourth or fifth time seeing it, but the romance never fully connected with me. Still, it’s worth watching for the visuals alone.

GoodFellas (1990), directed by Martin Scorsese, is a masterpiece and one of the best gangster films ever made, alongside The Godfather. I love the final stretch of the film, especially when the helicopter seems to be following Henry Hill. Scorsese’s music choices are phenomenal. The long take of Henry and Karen entering the club through the back is one of the greatest shots in cinema. The tracking shot parallels the space Henry commands and controls—it’s both spectacle and an assertion of power, capturing him at one of his highest points in the story. This is Scorsese at his pinnacle. If you want to be a filmmaker, this is required viewing.

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TV

Nothing much to write about this week. I’ve pretty much watched all the series I wanted to see, so now I’m just waiting for the new seasons, especially The Studio and Slow Horses.

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BOOKS

I finished the Cornell Woolrich collection of short stories, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was surprised to learn how many of his stories were adapted into films.

 

Watched and Read - February 8, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

MOVIES

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), directed by Michel Gondry, is one of the top films of the twenty-first century. It debuted at a moment when we were transitioning into Web 2.0. The film raises important questions about archives, memory, and digital media. This is one of Jim Carrey’s great dramatic roles, something he had already established with The Majestic.

Hello, Dolly! (1969), directed by Gene Kelly, might be one of the last musicals of the old Hollywood studio system. The musical numbers outweigh the narrative, but I still very much enjoyed the film. “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” is a great number. I also loved that they filmed part of the movie in the Hudson Valley, where I grew up. I knew exactly where they shot the scene at West Point, not far from Trophy Point. My only complaint is that I thought Walter Matthau was not a good casting choice. Maybe I’m too used to seeing him play Oscar in The Odd Couple or in gritty films like The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

Wuthering Heights (1939), directed by William Wyler, is a good gothic romance. What stood out to me most is the cinematography. Even before Citizen Kane, you can see Wyler’s interest in deep-focus photography. I was surprised to learn that they shot the exteriors in Thousand Oaks!

I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (2026), directed by Marina Zenovich, is an okay documentary. There were some interesting things I learned about Chase, but I was expecting much more. I also felt that some of the music used during the montage clips did not work. I would have loved to see someone like Judd Apatow make the documentary instead.

Sid & Nancy (1986), directed by Alex Cox, is an excellent film about Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. It is a gritty film about drug use that reveals a very dark side of rock stardom. Roger Deakins’s cinematography is amazing. There are also some cool surreal moments, especially the ending.

Mona Lisa (1986), directed by Neil Jordan, is a dark film about prostitution and has a bit of a Taxi Driver vibe. Bob Hoskins is amazing, and it’s no surprise that he was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance. Neil Jordan would go on to direct The Crying Game, for which he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

TV

I recently watched the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes “The Best of Both Worlds” and “Family.” This is an incredible run of serialized episodes. “Family,” written by Ronald D. Moore, explores Picard wrestling with his experience as a Borg. You can see how Moore is becoming a key writer on the series.

All Creatures Great and Small, season six. Every season is wonderful. This season was especially emotional, particularly Tristan’s struggle with PTSD after the war. It’s a great show that gives all the warm, cozy vibes.

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BOOKS

Widow’s Point, written by Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar, is a very good novel about a haunted lighthouse. I really enjoyed the way the authors tell the story, using video recordings and audio confessions. The best parts of the novel are the backstories of the different characters who were mysteriously killed after either visiting the lighthouse or living there.

 

 

Watched and Read - February 1, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

Blue Moon (2025), directed by Richard Linklater, centers on lyricist Lorenz Hart, played by Ethan Hawke. The film takes place over the course of one evening at Sardi’s restaurant after the premiere of the musical Oklahoma! I enjoyed the conversations about high and popular art. As with many of Linklater’s films, the dialogue is well written. This is definitely one of Hawke’s best performances.

Collateral (2004), directed by Michael Mann, is one his best films. It’s a great neo-noir that unfolds over the course of a single night and also functions as a journey through Los Angeles.

WALL-E (2008), directed by Andrew Stanton, is up there as one of the greatest animated films. The film presents a dystopian vision of technology, evident in what has happened to Earth. At the same time, the relationship WALL-E and EVE form invites us to reflect on what makes us human. It’s a powerful sci-fi story that doesn’t argue that all technology is bad, but instead asks us to think about how we choose to use it. I think the film is even more relevant now than it was in 2008. A great film.

Dr. No (1962), directed by Terence Young, gets the Bond franchise off the ground. There are some great moments, including the spider-in-the-bed scene with 007 and the chase on the island. Many of the Bond films are currently on Netflix, which I plan to revisit. I’ve seen all of them many times, and they’re always fun to watch.

From Russia With Love (1963), directed by Terence Young, is a nice follow up to Dr. No. The train sequence is very good. And Robert Shaw is so young! 

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TV

Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! (2026), directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, is an excellent documentary that chronicles the life of actor and director Mel Brooks. I love that Apatow continues to make documentaries about comedians.

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BOOKS

I am currently reading Cornell Woolrich’s short stories. Woolrich is best known for “It Had to Be Murder,” the short story on which Rear Window is based. So far, all of the stories are engaging, with plenty of cool twists. Many were written during the dire days of the Great Depression, which adds even more depth to these crime stories.

 

 

 

Watched and Read - January 25, 2026

MOVIES

The Running Man (2026), directed by Edgar Wright, has some strong action sequences, especially the segment featuring Michael Cera. I love Wright’s films, but I would consider this one a minor one in his body of work.

Gone Girl (2014), directed by David Fincher, is a very good neo-noir film. The movie’s moody atmosphere and haunting score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross contribute to the sense of instability surrounding the world created by Amy Dunne’s mysterious disappearance.

Hugo (2011), directed by Martin Scorsese, is a wonderful and touching film about the relationship between Hugo, a boy who works in a clock tower, and the silent filmmaker Georges Méliès, best known for A Trip to the Moon. The film is both a love letter to cinema and a reminder that we must preserve cinema’s past. I’m so glad Scorsese is involved in film preservation. If you love cinema, this is a must-see film.

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TV

Star Trek: The Next Generation: I’m rewatching season three and there are some excellent episodes, especially Ronald D. Moore’s second story, “The Defector.” It’s the first time TNG explicitly calls back to an earlier episode from the same season, “The Enemy.” Standalone episodes were the bread and butter of television’s classical period, especially when recording episodes on a VCR was still new. That’s why I found it cool that Moore acknowledged the fans and their attention to detail in “The Defector.”

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BOOKS

The Excessive Subject: A New Theory of Social Change by Molly Anne Rothenberg is an outstanding book that traces several theorists who have written on social change. If you’re interested in Jacques Lacan, this is a must-read. It also serves as an excellent introduction to thinkers such as Pierre Bourdieu, Michel de Certeau, and Slavoj Žižek.

Newsletter #5

 

Happy New Year!

I’m happy to announce that my new novel, My Lovely Dark Summer, is now available for pre-order.

A big thank you to Lynda at Easy Reader Editing for her excellent copy editing. I also designed the cover for this one.

 

This is a young adult novel with sci-fi elements set in 1994. I was inspired by a YouTube video about an abandoned highway that was once planned in Connecticut. I had so much fun writing the story, and I hope you’ll check it out.

Hitchcock Project update. I have written five chapters and am about halfway finished with the conclusion. I’ve already completed a close edit of the introduction and chapters one and two. The proposal is almost done, and I may begin sending it out in February or March. Hopefully, the next newsletter will include some good news.

Run to the Future. This is the second Charlie One book I wrote last year. I am currently editing the third draft and think it could be ready by spring 2027.

Books read and currently reading. I’ve been reading extensively on Lacanian and Freudian psychoanalytic theory. This has been my area of study since 2005, when I was a graduate student at the University of Vermont. There is still so much to learn.

You can always see what I’ve been watching and reading by subscribing to my Substack page or checking out my blog.

Well, that’s it for me.

Enjoy the winter.

Keep reading. Watch movies.

Tom C.

www.tomconnellyfiction.com

tomconnelly.substack.com

 

Watched and Read - January 18, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read last week...

 

MOVIES

La La Land (2016), directed by Damien Chazelle, is a masterpiece. It is not only a love letter to classic musicals like Singin’ in the Rain, but also a love letter to Los Angeles. The film features stunning cinematography, vibrant colors, and wonderful songs. The Griffith Observatory sequence is one of my favorites. 

Lady Bird (2017), directed by Greta Gerwig, is a beautiful coming-of-age film. I love the pacing of the story, which unfolds in snapshots of Lady Bird’s final year of high school. Occasionally, the film slows down for more dramatic moments. I found the ending especially touching.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), directed by John Hughes, is a classic comedy/coming-of-age film. I think the movie is really about Cameron, Ferris’s best friend, and how Ferris helps him open his eyes and see the world. Sometimes, you have to break the rules.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952), directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, is an amazing musical. The dance numbers are wonderfully choreographed, and the songs are so catchy that you’ll be humming them all day after watching the film. This was my third time seeing it, and I am still amazed by how effectively it breaks cinema’s fourth wall—especially in the opening, when Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) explains how he became a star. This was an unusual technique during the classical Hollywood era.

Spooktacular! (2023), directed by Quinn Monahan, is a solid documentary about Spooky World in Massachusetts. The frequent use of stock footage is sometimes distracting, but overall I enjoyed it.

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TV

All Creatures Great and Small, one of my favorite cozy shows, is back on PBS. If you love pets, this is a must-see.

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5 is an excellent documentary about the making of the final season. It should be recommended viewing for anyone interested in making movies. I found the scene in which the cast reads the final script for episode eight especially touching.

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BOOKS

I’m very busy preparing for a course I’m about to teach. I was hired as a replacement with little time to prepare the syllabus. For context, some of the films mentioned above are all on the syllabus. One story I recently reread that will also be included is Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt,” a prophetic story about what we would now call a smart house.

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Watched and Read - January 11, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…Lot’s of documentaries this week. 

 

 

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MOVIES

The Ice Storm (1997), directed by Ang Lee, is one of his best films. It’s a nuanced story with complex characters. I also highly recommend Rick Moody’s novel on which the film is based.

Dead Presidents (1995), directed by the Hughes Brothers, is an okay film. I appreciate the The Deer Hunter–inspired vibe they were aiming for. The Hughes Brothers have a great sense of style, which unfortunately is stronger than the story itself.

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (2024), which aired on Nat Geo, is a wonderful and beautiful documentary. The cinematography is incredible, and it’s available on YouTube. Definitely worth checking out.

The World Beneath Your Feet (2018) is an excellent documentary that follows Matt Green, who set out to walk every street in New York City. Green, once a civil engineer, not only journeys through every street but also seems to know everything there is to know about the sites and places he encounters. I highly recommend it.

Secret Mall Apartment (2024) is a documentary about a group of artists who built an apartment in an unused space inside a mall in Providence, Rhode Island. The characters are a bit hard to identify with, but I really enjoyed watching how the apartment continued to grow over time.

Lily Topples the World (2021) is a very cool documentary about Lily Hevesh, a domino artist.

Carmine Street Guitars (2018) is a rocking good documentary about a shop that makes handmade guitars in Greenwich Village.

Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds (2020) is a good documentary about meteorites that have impacted the Earth. I love that Werner Herzog preserves the quirks and oddities of the characters he and Clive Oppenheimer interview.

Sliding Doors (1998), directed by Peter Howitt, is a romantic comedy that depicts two alternate timelines in the life of Helen Quilley (Gwyneth Paltrow): one in which she catches the Tube home and one in which she doesn’t. It’s an interesting premise. I hadn’t seen the film in a long time and, for some reason, remembered it as more of a psychological thriller, so I was in for a surprise. Ultimately, I didn’t think the film worked as a whole, and the ending didn’t work for me at all.

Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (2022) is a really good documentary directed by Sam Jones. I was shocked to learn that skateboarding declined in popularity in the early 1990s. And I couldn’t believe that Tony Hawk and his friends are still skating in their 50s!

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TV

Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Timescape,” Season Six. I’m doing research for my new novel, which involves time, and this episode has a bit of a Twilight Zone feel. Captain Picard discovers the Enterprise frozen in time while in battle with a Romulan warbird. It’s really cool how they resolve the story. Definitely one of Star Trek’s top episodes about time.

Besides that, I’ve watched all the shows I wanted to see! I’m now looking forward to All Creatures Great and Small.

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BOOKS

Insomnia (2022) by Sarah Pinborough is a good whodunit with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde–style storyline. It also makes effective use of the unreliable narrator.