Watched and Read - August 16, 2026

 Today marks the one-year anniversary of Watched and Read! Fifty-two postings! Whoa! Looking back, I have learned a few things about myself. I watch at least three movies every week. My television viewing diminished and intensified throughout the year. It was also difficult to write weekly short reviews of books. It usually takes me about 10 to 14 days to read a book, especially theoretical ones. That’s why I sometimes share brief comments on books I’m currently reading. 

 

MOVIES

The Buddy Holly Story (1978), dir. Steve Rash, is one of the great rock biographies, with an outstanding performance by Gary Busey. Having played in many bands, I can tell if an actor knows how to play their instrument. Busey not only knows how to play the guitar, but he plays the songs correctly. But most importantly, he plays and sings from his heart. That’s what elevates this film. If you love music, this is a must-see film.

Tramps! (2022), dir. Kevin Heggeis, is a good documentary on the New Romantic movement in the UK during the late 1970s. It focuses on the fashion that emerged from the nightclubs and venues during that time. I’ve watched many documentaries on punk and New Wave, and it was very interesting to learn about how this subculture was intimately connected to it.

Mother (1926), dir. V.I. Pudovkin, one of the masterpieces of Soviet Montage cinema. The cross-cutting between the prisoners’ escape and the flow of ice is an iconic sequence. Mother and Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin are two great movies to compare in terms of different theories and styles of editing.

The Drama (2026), dir. Kristoffer Borgli, is a dark comedy filled with uncomfortable moments. I went back and forth between covering my face and laughing out loud. This is the type of film that you know is great but never want to see again. Great performances by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. And what a year for both actors!

---

TV

I am Evel Knievel is a good documentary about the legendary stunt devil. The footage of Evel’s motorcycle jumps is breathtaking and really frightening! I kept thinking about Johnny Knoxville and the crew from Jackass.

The Story of Pixar chronicles the creation of Pixar Studios. I knew the studio made several box office hits, but I did not realize how many in a row! Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles.

Elton John: Never Too Late (2024), dir. R.J. Culture, is not a bad documentary. Most of the stuff I already knew. But the section on John Lennon was a complete surprise.

---

BOOKS

Rupture by Paul Eisenstein and Todd McGowan is an excellent book on political philosophy. The core of their argument is that rupture is the result of the divided subject. Eisenstein and McGowan draw their notion of rupture mainly from Hegel, Freud, and Lacan. If the subject is split or divided, the symbolic order must also be divided. The split in the symbolic order is what Eisenstein and McGowan identify as the site of rupture. The book offers many examples, ranging from history to the arts, to explain the potential of rupture. But what I found most enjoyable was their engagement with different philosophers.

 

Watched and Read - August 9, 2026

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

 

---

MOVIES

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), dir. Destin Daniel Cretton. This might be my favorite of the four films made with Tom Holland as Spider-Man. Cretton does a great job of balancing action and drama. The CGI effects blend well with the live action footage. I also loved the film’s incorporation of martial arts. The friendship between Frank and Peter works well. And the setup from the last film, with Doctor Strange wiping MJ’s and Neds’ memories, keeps the story stakes high.

Bad Influence (1990), dir. Curtis Hanson, is a good thriller, with a touch of horror. It took me a moment to accept Rob Lowe as a sociopath, but he pulls it off. There are a lot of great suspenseful scenes. I especially love the look of the film and all the locations shot in and around Los Angeles. The film is streaming on Criterion and worth checking out. Be sure to watch Siskel and Ebert’s review of the film - they get into a pretty good argument.

The NeverEnding Story (1984), dir. Wolfgang Petersen. In honor of Stranger Things, and because I’d never seen the film, I wanted to check out this classic from the 1980s. I am surprised I’d never seen it, given that I was 13 when the film came out! I very much enjoyed it, especially the ending. I did not expect it to get philosophical. The special effects are not the greatest, but there is something charming and real about them. 

TV

Strange New Worlds, “The Griffin Incident” is a pretty good episode. It is a haunted house story that focuses on Spock, La’an, and Kirk as they discover the USS Griffin, which had been presumed lost. There’s some good atmospheric horror, along with graphic images that were a little disturbing, something I thought I’d never see on Star Trek.

The Imagineering Story (2019) is a great six-part series about Disney’s Imagineers. I’ve been to both Disneyland and Disney World, and it was really cool to see how they created the rides and attractions, particularly the Haunted Mansion, which is one of my favorites. The series is streaming on Disney+.

We finished the fifth season of Stranger Things. Watching it for the second time, I think it’s the weakest season of the series. I thought the plotting could have been better. I did not find that the abduction of Holly Wheeler gave the story enough stakes. I think it would have worked better if they had just focused on getting Max out of Henry’s memories. With that being said, I think there are a lot of wonderful moments in the series. Episodes four and eight were the standouts for me. Overall, I had a great time revisiting the series this summer, especially season four.

---

BOOKS

I am rereading Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Black House in preparation for Other Worlds Than These, the third book of the Talisman trilogy. In the first section, King and Straub take their time setting up the world and introducing us to the characters in French Landing. I love how they use a bird’s eye perspective to achieve this. Once you get through the first part, the story starts to pick up. The connections to the Dark Tower are very intriguing. I can’t wait to read the next adventure with Jack Sawyer.

 

Watched and Read - August 2, 2026

 

MOVIES

Disneyland Handcrafted (2026), directed by Leslie Iwerks, is a very good documentary streaming on Disney+ about the building of Disneyland. The documentary consists of never-before-seen footage. From what I could tell, the footage was shot on 35mm color film, then scanned and transferred to high definition. 35mm is the ultimate medium because it transfers beautifully for HD viewing. I was shocked to learn how fast they built Disneyland.

Pigs and Battleships (1961) directed by Shōhei Imamura. Out of all the Japanese noir I’ve been watching on the Criterion Channel, this was the toughest one to watch. What stood out to me is the cinematography and the way Imamura captures the gangster underworld of Yokosuka. A gritty film.

Blue Heron (2025), directed by Sophy Romvari. A good film that follows a family who moves to Vancouver in the 1990s. Their eldest son is showing dangerous behaviors, putting the family into a crisis. I was a little thrown off by the structure of the film, but I did enjoy how the film played with the documentary and fictional modes. The movie is streaming on Criterion.

---

TV

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. What a great start to the fourth season. The first episode has a classic Star Trek vibe, involving time travel, and reminded me of Star Trek IV. I’m looking forward to episode two.

We finished Stranger Things season 4. This was my second time watching it, and I think it’s one of the best. Episode seven is probably one of the top episodes of the entire series. The Duffer Brothers weave a very large cast of characters, but never to the point where you are confused. There should have been Emmy nods for acting, especially for Joseph Quinn. But as usual, horror and sci-fi are often snubbed when it comes to acting nominations. 

---

 

BOOKS

The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre by Tzvetan Todorov. This is a well-known book in literary studies. Todorov’s definition of the fantastic is the hesitation between reality and the imaginary. The book is a little dense, but Todorov offers lots of examples from different novels to help explain the nuances of the fantastic, including the difference between the uncanny and the marvelous.

From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury is a book that took him over 55 years to complete. There is definitely an Addams Family vibe in these stories of the Elliott family. After I finished the book, I was surprised to learn that Bradbury and Charles Addams were friends and had discussed working together on the Elliott family. This did not happen, but Addams went to create the famous Addams Family that we all know.

Watched and Read - July 26, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

MOVIES

The Odyssey (2026), directed by Christopher Nolan, is an amazing film. I won’t say too much about it, but I highly recommend watching it in the theater. There are many excellent action sequences, some of which are mind-blowing. And the performances are great, especially those of Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. I think they might get the Academy Award, or at least be nominated. The theater we watched it in had the volume too loud, which sometimes took me out of the film. But I plan to watch it again.

Marc by Sofia (2025), directed by Sofia Coppola, is an okay documentary on fashion designer Marc Jacobs. I really enjoyed hearing how the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Bob Fosse influenced his approach to fashion. But I would have liked to learn a little more about Jacobs. Great soundtrack. 

---

TV

I finished the third season of The Wonder Years. There were a lot of great episodes and a few that didn’t land with me. The best were the three episodes involving Kevin’s math teacher Mr. Collins. “Goodbye” might be the best episode in the entire series. I was not surprised to learn that the episode won an Emmy for comedy writing.

Watching the series again, I was reminded of the benefits of the longer TV season and that most prime-time television is scheduled around the school year (at least for appointment television). Alan Sepinwall points out in his article “TV Seasons Have Gotten Shorter. That Doesn’t Mean They’re Better” that it allows the writers to experiment with characters and storylines. Sometimes you get a filler, like The Wonder Years’ season three episode, ‘“Glee Club.” Sometimes, you can get a great episode, such as “Square Dance” in season two. I love binge-watching, but I do think we’ve lost some of the collective viewing experience in the age of streaming.

We finished the third season of Stranger Things. I love the mall versus downtown theme that the Duffer Brothers take up. Having grown up in the 1980s as a teenager, I am amazed at how well they captured the era. I thought it was a smart move to incorporate Murray Bauman’s character into the series. He knows how to speak Russian, likes good food and drink, and is really funny. I also love the comedic banter between Steve and Dustin.

---

BOOKS

I finished I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution, an oral history of the cable channel. I absolutely loved this book. I was ten years old when the cable network launched, and I can remember watching all these videos and big events, such as the 1992 VMAs and the Axl Rose and Nirvana feud. I loved Headbangers Ball and watched it every week. And I loved 120 Minutes, which introduced me to bands, such as Swervedriver and The Jesus and The Mary Chain. I highly recommend it.

 

Watched and Read - July 19, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

I am now adding a spoiler alert.

 

 

MOVIES

Niagara (1953), directed by Henry Hathaway. I have been watching Criterion’s “Murderous Melodramas” this month. The Technicolor cinematography of Niagara Falls is beautiful, with some great performances from Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, and Jean Peters. Similar to my review of Leave Her to Heaven, Niagara’s dark themes of deception and murder clash with the film’s luscious colors.

Bigger Than Life (1956), directed by Nicholas Ray. Another excellent noir melodrama that is streaming on Criterion. One of the first things I teach in my television course is to challenge the perception of the 1950s, and the idea of life for many Americans was not The Donna Reed Show. Bigger Than Life underscores this notion. I was shocked by the topics it takes up, such as underpaying teachers and drug addiction—all shot in CinemaScope and Technicolor!

Married to the Mob (1988), directed by Jonathan Demme, is a fun screwball comedy with a good cast. But Mercedes Ruehl steals the show. I can see why she was later cast in The Fisher King, the film for which she won the Academy Award. Even though I enjoyed Michelle Pfeiffer playing a Long Island wife of a mobster, her New York accent sounded forced - a pet peeve of mine.

‘Round Midnight (1986), directed by Bertrand Tavernier. I knew nothing about this film but was interested in seeing it because of Dexter Gordon. I bought the Criterion Blu-ray during the 50-percent off sale. I hardly ever purchase a movie that I do not know anything about. I’m so glad I did! This is an amazing film with a great soundtrack by Herbie Hancock, who won the Academy Award. Gordon is also very good and funny. This is a must-see for jazz lovers.

Hud (1963), directed by Martin Ritt, is an amazing film and a must-see if you are interested in studying movies, particularly cinematography. James Wong Howe’s black-and-white photography beautifully captures the open landscape in wide shots and deep focus. I particularly love the opening scene in which Lonnie traverses the empty town. The wind blowing is haunting and ghostly, especially if we consider how the tragic death of Hud’s brother lingers over the film. My favorite scene is when Homer and Lonnie go to the movies and then out to eat. You get a sense of how much Lonnie loves his grandfather. But it also reveals his loneliness and how he is stuck between Homer, a principled man, and the thrill-seeker Hud, who lacks a moral compass. 

---

TV

I am re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I started with the second season and am up to episode seven. The introduction of Spike and Drusilla is a classic episode. But it is the Halloween episode where the series starts to find its voice. I think it is the first time we start to learn about Rupert Giles’s past, when he was known as “Ripper.”

---

BOOKS

Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square by Arthur La Bern. (Spoiler alert). I am currently finishing my book on Alfred Hitchcock and horror, and wanted to read La Bern’s novel for research purposes. Anthony Shaffer did a great job of adapting the novel, which would become Frenzy. The movie is much better than the novel. For example, they shortened the unnecessary long trial of Richard Blamey (Blaney in the film). They added a funny subplot involving the Chief Inspector’s wife, who is a terrible cook. And the ending of the movie is much more suspenseful than the novel’s, where Blaney is finally proven innocent.

 

Watched and Read - July 12, 2026

 Here is what I watched and read last week...

 

MOVIES

Minions & Monsters (2026), directed by Pierre Coffin, is a very good and funny movie about the minions going to Hollywood. This was my first time watching a Minions movie, and I enjoyed it very much. The references to Hollywood are hilarious, and the animation is outstanding. What struck me was the underlying message about the history of theatrical cinema, which I think is especially important in the age of clip culture and streaming. I’ll have to check out the other Minions films.

Violent Saturday (1955), directed by Richard Fleischer, is a great film about a group of characters who come to a desert-mining town to rob a bank. Throughout the story, we are introduced to a series of characters and their situations leading up to the robbery. The cinemascope is amazing, with many shots filmed on location, giving the film both a spectacle and a realist look. The film is streaming on Criterion’s “Murderous Melodramas.”

Leave Her to Heaven (1945), directed by John M. Stahl, is an excellent noir film about a jealous woman who becomes obsessed with her husband. The technicolor cinematography is amazing, and the set design is beautiful. However, lurking within this beautiful setting is a monstrous figure played brilliantly by Gene Tierney. The film is streaming on Criterion’s “Murderous Melodramas.” Definitely check out Imogene Sara Smith’s analysis of the film, which is also available on Criterion.

---

TV

I finished the second season of The Wonder Years. There were many great episodes. Highlight were: “Our Miss White,” “Walkout,” and “Square Dance.” The series does a great job of balancing nostalgia, melodrama, and comedy.

We re-watched the first and second seasons of the Stranger Things series. The Duffer Brothers do such an amazing job of weaving together a cast of characters. The first season focused mostly on Lucas, Dustin, and Mike as they searched for Will. However, the second season is structured around a web of narratives, crosscutting between different groups of characters, such as Dustin and Steve; Lucas and Max; Jonathan, Nancy, and Murray; Joyce, Bob and Jim, etc. Arguably, this is why the episode “The Lost Sister,” which involves Eleven and Kali, feels out of place. They should have done a better job of threading that storyline together with the others. Besides that, the second season is really good.

---

BOOKS

The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag by Robert A. Heinlein is an excellent novella. I first learned about the story through a chapter in Slavoj Žižek’s Looking Awry, where he discusses the story’s ending in regard to the Real (the thing that disrupts the symbolic order) and fantasy. I finally checked out the book from the library and read it. The story is a good example of the fantastic, capturing the hesitation between reality and fantasy. Heinlein does a great job of holding the reader’s interest until he finally reveals Hoag’s profession.

 

 

Watched and Read - July 5, 2026

 

Here is what I watched and read last week…

 

MOVIES

Pale Flower (1964), directed by Masahiro Shinoda. I am continuing to watch Criterion’s curation of Japanese noir. Pale Flower places more emphasis on atmosphere rather than plot, with some excellent black and white cinematography. But the standout moment is the haunting imagery of Muraki’s dream. Very cool movie.

The 400 Blows (1959), directed by François Truffaut. One of Truffaut’s best and most personal films. I teach this for the French New Wave and art cinema in my Introduction to Film course. The film beautifully captures the theme of freedom and entrapment, using many of the characteristics associated with the French New Wave, such as handheld camerawork, on-location shooting, and a loose ordering of narrative events. This is a must-see if you are interested in learning about cinema.

No Down Payment (1957), directed by Martin Ritt, is a very good and dark film about four suburban families. The film begins by emphasizing the surface, which is then slowly deconstructed. What we may think is a typical all-American family is underpinned by a dark underside that involves racism, alcoholism, trauma, and money, to name but a few.

Phil Lynott: The Long Goodbye (2022), directed by Remarni Ramchaitar-Jackman, is a good documentary on the legendary singer and bass player for Thin Lizzy. I did learn some new things about Lynott, but I kind of wished the documentary went a little more in-depth into his life. But it is definitely worth checking out if you want to learn about him.

Cover-Up (2025), directed by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, is an excellent documentary on journalist, Seymour Hersh, exploring the major stories he reported on, such as Vietnam, Watergate, and Abu Ghraib. If you are interested in journalism, this is a must-see. It is currently streaming on Netflix.

The Wizard of the Kremlin (2025), directed by Olivier Assayas. I did not connect with this. It was very hard to believe Jude Law as Putin. I also thought Paul Dano was miscast in the film.

Jaws (1975), directed by Steven Spielberg, is a movie I watch every Fourth of July. It is one of Spielberg’s finest and scariest films. I am working on a book on Hitchcock and horror, and discuss The Birds as a precursor to Jaws. Both films feature creatures that defy the laws of nature—what I call supernatural creatures. I also highly recommend The Jaws Log, which explores the making of the film.

---

TV

We finished The Boroughs and thought it was a good and entertaining series with a lot of nostalgia. The finale was very good, with some touching moments. I also enjoyed how the series addressed the themes of death and grief.

---

BOOKS

I finished reading Jacques Lacan’s Seminar II and thought it was a lot harder than Seminar I. The standout section is Lacan’s reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Purloined Letter.” For Lacan, the letter hiding in plain sight stands for the unconscious. This leads him to claim that the unconscious is on the outside. Or, as he puts it, the unconscious is the discourse of the Other.

I very much enjoyed Ray Bradbury’s Green Shadows, White Whale. At first, I thought he was going to write about his process of adapting Moby Dick for John Huston. Instead, it is mostly about the people he met in Ireland, their stories, and their culture. Although he does not delve deeply into his relationship with Huston (he even discusses why at the end of the book), you do get the sense that Huston was difficult to work with. I think this book is more for Bradbury fans than for film buffs.