Watched and Read - March 1, 2026

My 100th blog posting!

Here’s what I watched and read…

MOVIES

Rolling Thunder Review: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (2019) is an enjoyable documentary about Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder tour in the mid-1970s. I wish it did a better job of contextualizing the tour at the outset, but I really enjoyed the performances. I was also surprised to learn that the great guitarist Mick Ronson toured with Bob Dylan. I mostly associate him with David Bowie. Definitely worth checking out.

The End of the Affair (1999), directed by Neil Jordan, was a second viewing for me. The first time I saw it when it was released on video, and I didn’t care for it. I decided to give it another try because I like some of Jordan’s films, such as Mona Lisa and The Crying Game. I appreciated The End of the Affair more this time. There are strong performances, especially by Julianne Moore, but the film still didn’t fully connect with me.

Raging Bull (1980) is one of Martin Scorsese’s best films and certainly one of the best of the 1980s. It offers an intense portrait of boxer Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro) that is hard to look away from. One of the most powerful moments occurs when Jake tries to fix the television while questioning his younger brother Joey (Joe Pesci) about what happened at the club with his wife, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty). The scene erupts into one of the film’s most violent sequences, and the television remains unfixed—a striking parallel to Jake’s distorted inner reality. I still can’t believe Scorsese didn’t win the Oscar for Best Director.

Clerk. (2021), directed by Malcolm Ingram, is a very good documentary about indie filmmaker Kevin Smith. I was in film school when Clerks was released and remember classmates talking great things about it. The early ’90s were an exciting time for independent cinema, and I enjoyed learning more about Smith’s artistic journey. Some of his films haven’t connected with me, but I think the three Clerks films are excellent, and I’ve always loved Mallrats.

EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2025), directed by Baz Luhrmann, is a terrific concert film capturing Presley when he returned to live performance after focusing on film acting. It’s the kind of experience that demands the big screen to fully appreciate what a dynamic performer and musician Elvis was. Highly recommended.

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TV

Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Redemption,” Parts I and II, is a great conclusion to a narrative that began in the third-season episode “Sins of the Father,” when Worf accepts discommendation for his father’s alleged involvement in the Khitomer massacre. “Redemption” brings that storyline to a satisfying close. Really strong writing throughout.

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BOOKS

I’m currently reading Chocky by John Wyndham, and so far it’s very good. I’m also reading The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana by Michael Azerrad, which I’m really enjoying as well. It’s such a great deep dive into the band’s history and creative process.

 

Watched and Read - Februrary 22, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

The Aviator (2004), directed by Martin Scorsese, is an excellent film about filmmaker and aviator Howard Hughes. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance powerfully captures Hughes’s obsessive-compulsive disorder. The scene in which Hughes locks himself in the projection room is probably the most unsettling moment in the film. Cate Blanchett’s portrayal of Katharine Hepburn steals the show. This film, along with Gangs of New York, marks Scorsese’s turn toward epic filmmaking.

The Color of Money (1986), directed by Martin Scorsese, is a follow-up to The Hustler. The performances are outstanding, especially Paul Newman, who finally won an Oscar for his role. Only Scorsese could create such energetic and cinematic pool scenes. The score by Robbie Robertson is very good, and of course there’s the song “It’s in the Way That You Use It,” performed by Eric Clapton, which I remember MTV playing constantly in 1986. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel were hard on the film, and I don’t think their analysis was entirely fair. I think it’s definitely worth checking out.

Nirvana: Up Close and Personal (2007), directed by Bob Carruthers, is an okay documentary about Nirvana. Most of the film focuses on Kurt Cobain, featuring interviews with people who knew him in Aberdeen, Washington, including his grandfather and former guitar teacher. Much of the information about the band and Cobain was already familiar to me, but it was still interesting to hear from those who knew him before he became a rock star.

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TV

American Prince: JFK Jr. (2025) is a three-part series created by CNN. It offers a largely surface-level account of JFK Jr.’s life in the 1990s, focusing on the launch of his magazine, George, and his marriage to Carolyn Bessette. It’s not a bad documentary, but I wish it had explored his life in greater depth.

Ray Bradbury: The Illustrated Man is a 1980 documentary produced by the BBC. It’s an excellent film that explores Bradbury’s thoughts on writing, technology, and the importance of reading. I especially enjoyed the segments in which excerpts from his short stories are read aloud and acted. It’s available on YouTube and well worth checking out.

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BOOKS

Martin Scorsese: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work by Ian Nathan is one of the best books of his that I’ve read. He gives particular attention to films such as Taxi Driver and Goodfellas, though the book provides strong coverage of Scorsese’s career overall. It’s an excellent read and made me want to revisit several of his films.

Widow’s Peak: The Complete Haunting, written by Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar, picks up where the 2025 novella leaves off. I very much enjoyed the book. The story has more room to breathe than the novella, though you do have to pay close attention to the slug lines to keep track of where you are. The novel definitely has a Blair Witch vibe. Most of the characters are unlikable (except for the professor) but that makes sense, given what typically happens to the main characters in found-footage horror. I would definitely recommend it.

“I Sing the Body Electric!” by Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite short stories, and I’m excited to teach it in my writing class this semester. I’m pairing it with discussions of utopian and dystopian depictions of technology and science in speculative fiction. This story leans more toward the hopeful, particularly in the way the electric grandmother is embraced by the two boys and their father.

However, the emotional center of the story is Agatha, who is initially skeptical of the electric grandmother but eventually comes around after the grandmother saves her from a car. Cars are often depicted negatively in Bradbury’s work, and it’s no surprise that he himself did not drive.

Reading the story closely, it feels especially relevant today, prompting us to reflect on artificial intelligence and the question of human intimacy.

 

 

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.

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.

Watched and Read - January 4, 2026

 

Happy New Year! 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

The Lost Bus (2025), directed by Paul Greengrass, is an intense survival narrative. Matthew McConaughey is excellent, and the film’s special effects are awesome. I’m not sure whether the film is eligible for Academy Awards, since I don’t think it had a theatrical release, but it is definitely worthy of some nominations. Greengrass previously directed United 93, a film I don’t think I could ever watch again, but he clearly knows how to create tension and suspense.

The Mastermind (2025), directed by Kelly Reichardt, is a slow-paced story about an art thief played by Josh O’Connor. The film has a touch of Robert Bresson’s influence and reminded me of Pickpocket and L’Argent. A good film overall.

Once Upon a Time in China (1991) features martial arts sequences that are much stronger than the story. If nothing else, it’s worth watching to see Jet Li, who is amazing.

City on Fire (1987), directed by Ringo Lam, is one of the better Hong Kong action films I’ve seen recently. This is the film that influenced Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. Definitely worth checking out.

The Big Sleep (1946), directed by Howard Hawks, is one of the most complex stories in the film noir canon. If film noir is defined by its labyrinthine plotting, this may be the ultimate example. I won’t even try to summarize the plot, but I agree with Roger Ebert’s view that the film isn’t about solving the mystery so much as experiencing the process.

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TV

Stranger Things. The fourth season was one of my favorites, but I also enjoyed the fifth and final season. I particularly liked the last episode and thought the Duffer Brothers did a nice job wrapping up the story. There are always going to be complaints about series finales—the only one I can think of that avoided this was Breaking Bad.

One of the things that impressed me most was how well the Duffer Brothers mapped out the characters. Stephen King is one of their major influences, and it’s worth noting that his epic novels—’Salem’s Lot, The Stand, Needful Things, and Under the Dome—all feature ensemble casts. King is great at weaving a complex tapestry of characters without confusing the reader, and I felt the same way about Stranger Things. It will be fun to watch the entire series straight through.

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BOOKS

James Patterson’s Return of the Spider is one of the top books in the Alex Cross series. I think the novel works best for longtime fans of the series rather than for readers who have never read a Cross book. That said, newcomers shouldn’t avoid it altogether. Having read all of the Cross novels, I found this one especially effective as a backstory.

Understanding Lacan’s Objet A by Juan Pablo Lucchelli is an excellent book on how Lacan developed the concept of objet petit a—the object-cause of desire. For Lacan, the subject is always divided between consciousness and the unconscious. Once one becomes part of the symbolic order, one becomes a subject of desire, which means the subject must tarry with lack for the rest of their life. This is what Lacan terms the barred or split subject. However, Lacan also argues that there is a remainder—what he calls objet a, the lost, impossible object. If you want to read about objet a in more detail, check out my blog post. Another great example is Slavoj Žižek’s analysis of Coca-Cola in The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology.

 

Watched and Read - December 28, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week… 

 

MOVIES

Wake Up Dead Man (2025), directed by Rian Johnson, is a fun and engaging whodunit. I liked it much more than Glass Onion. Glenn Close is terrific and deserves an Oscar nomination, and Johnson should also be recognized for his writing.

Bugonia (2025), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, was one I enjoyed—much more than Poor Things. Having written a book on confinement cinema, it was especially cool to see Bugonia embody many of the characteristics I discuss.

The Piano Teacher (2001), directed by Michael Haneke, is a tough film to watch, but it is very good. Some moments reminded me of Caché, particularly in the way Haneke casually depicts violence. This is a film that will stay with me for a long time.

Metropolitan (1990) is a very good comedy directed by Whit Stillman. The film was released just as independent filmmaking was beginning to take off in the United States. Its clever dialogue is one of its strongest components, so it’s no surprise that the film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. What I especially love, though, is the upper-class setting Stillman creates on such a low budget. This is what separates Metropolitan from other indie films of the period, such as Richard Linklater’s Slacker (1991) or Kevin Smith’s Clerks (1994).

The Grandmaster (2013), directed by Wong Kar-wai, is a beautiful martial arts film about Ip Man (Tony Leung). The fight sequences are awesome, and both Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi are excellent. At times, I found myself lost or confused by the film’s plotting, even on this second viewing. My reaction is similar to how I once felt about the Coen brothers’ Miller’s Crossing, which I now consider one of their masterpieces, though I didn’t at first. I’m beginning to feel the same way about The Grandmaster, which makes me want to watch it again.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) is a very cool animated film set 200 years before the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I had to look up some of the names and places of Middle-earth to re-familiarize myself with Tolkien’s fantasy world.

Christmas Vacation (1989). I watch it every Christmas and still love it. Chevy Chase buying lingerie is one of my favorite scenes, and of course I love the moment when he loses it after he doesn’t get his bonus.

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TV

I very much enjoyed Netflix’s The Beast in Me. It has some great Hitchcockian moments and plenty of cool twists. The series reminded me of 1990s thrillers such as Primal Fear, The Game, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Arguably, the best thing about the miniseries is Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys—both performances are excellent.

Plubribus is definitely one of the best TV shows of the year. Vince Gilligan has created an intriguing and highly engaging story, and I can’t wait for the next season.

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BOOKS

We Live Here Now (2025) by Sarah Pinborough is an excellent Gothic supernatural novel and a new take on the haunted house narrative. I won’t say too much about the plot, but I love the way the book shifts points of view between Emily and Freddie—very effective. The title feels like an homage to Shirley Jackson. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I’m so glad Stephen King recommended it.

Surplus Enjoyment (2022) by Slavoj Žižek is one of his best books since Sex and the Failed Absolute. Surplus enjoyment is a Lacanian notion: enjoyment always involves suffering—enjoying too much—or what Lacan calls jouissance. For example, Žižek views conspiracy theorists as a form of surplus enjoyment. They doubt all existing theories and then construct one grand explanation, which, for Žižek, gives them an overwhelming sense of enjoyment. But it is also detrimental to the big Other—the symbolic structures that hold society together. This is why jouissance is linked to the death drive: suffering for one’s enjoyment. Žižek offers many other examples, but the highlight of the book is his reading of Todd Phillips’ Joker.

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe might be one of my favorite reads this year. It chronicles Crowe’s experiences writing for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. If you love classic rock, this is a must-read. I also recommend Crowe’s book on filmmaker Billy Wilder.

Watched and Read - December 21, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read…

MOVIES

 

Eyes Wide Shut (1999), directed by Stanley Kubrick. The Criterion Blu-ray looks amazing. I love this film so much and think it’s one of Kubrick’s most personal films. The second disc has lots of extras. I really enjoyed hearing Larry Smith, the DP, talk about how he lit the film. The interview with Lisa Leone is great as well. 

American Psycho (2000), directed by Mary Harron, is a funny and disturbing film about Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a yuppie who works on Wall Street and also happens to be a serial killer. I love the ambiguity of Bateman’s character. We never know for sure whether he imagines the violence he inflicts on his victims or if it’s real. There are clues to this throughout the film, but no clear answers. A cult classic.

Megadoc (2025), directed by Mike Figgis, is a documentary about the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. The documentary follows the film’s entire production. I would have loved to see how Coppola edited the film and how it was released into theaters, but that’s not what the documentary is about. Still, I very much enjoyed it. Megalopolis, on the other hand, is kind of a mess that I nonetheless somewhat enjoyed. Who knows? Maybe we’ll view it differently in twenty years.

Maggie’s Plan (2015), directed by Rebecca Miller, is a romantic comedy with some funny moments. The casting is strong, although most of the characters are unlikable. It was also cool to see Žižek referenced, though I highly doubt that Ethan Hawke’s character loves Žižek’s books.

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TV

I finished the fifth season of Slow Horses and thought it was outstanding. It might be one of my favorite seasons. The unfortunate thing is that now I have to wait until next year for season six.

I very much enjoyed Welcome to Derry. At first, I thought Pennywise would lose its scare factor, but it didn’t. The writers came up with many clever ideas that build on and complement King’s novel while still creating scary moments.

The Beast in Me. I’m really enjoying this so far. The setup is great. The chemistry between Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys is really good. I can’t wait to watch more episodes.

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BOOKS

I am currently reading Slavoj Žižek’s Surplus Enjoyment, which has been excellent so far. I’m also halfway through Cameron Crowe’s The Uncool, which I am immensely enjoying.

Watched and Read - December 14, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

Jay Kelly (2025), directed by Noah Baumbach, is an excellent film, featuring strong performances by Adam Sandler and Laura Dern. It is definitely one of George Clooney’s best acting roles since The Descendants. The film reminded me somewhat of The Player, as well as 8½ and perhaps even Death in Venice. It is definitely one of the top films of 2025.

The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (2006), directed by Sophie Fiennes, is a three-part documentary featuring philosopher Slavoj Žižek, who analyzes a range of films through the lens of psychoanalytic theory. I have always found the sections on the gaze, fantasy, and ontology the most fascinating. I am particularly drawn to his argument that reality is ontologically incomplete and that we are always haunted by an ultimate version of ourselves. As I am finishing my book on Hitchcock, I wanted to revisit the documentary, since many of the concepts Žižek discusses are central to my work.

The Million Dollar Hotel (2000), directed by Wim Wenders, is another film featured on the Criterion Channel as part of a collection centered on hotels. The film follows an ensemble cast of eclectic characters who live in a hotel. Filmed at the Rosslyn Hotel in Los Angeles, the plot involves the murder of one of the residents, though the film is less a traditional whodunit than an atmospheric character study centered on Tom Tom (Jeremy Davies) and Eloise (Milla Jovovich). Bono shares a story credit, and U2 contributes several songs to the soundtrack. It takes some time to adjust to Davies’s unusual performance, and the film is slow-paced—as most of Wenders’s films are. While it is nowhere near as great as Paris, Texas or Wings of Desire, or even Perfect Days, which I loved, it is still worth checking out.

My Blueberry Nights (2007) is not as strong as Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love or Chungking Express, but it is still worth seeing, especially for Darius Khondji’s awesome cinematography.

Mahjong (1996) is the last Edward Yang film I watched on the Criterion Channel, and I enjoyed it. Of all the Yang films I’ve seen so far, this one has the most humor.

 

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TV

I finished the fourth season of Slow Horses and found it the toughest to watch. As always, there are big surprises and strong performances, but this is by far the most violent season.

 

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BOOKS

I’m almost finished reading Slavoj Žižek’s Quantum History: A New Materialist Philosophy (2025). Žižek offers some intriguing interpretations of ontology through the lens of quantum mechanics. He has been writing on this topic for some time, and I’ve never fully understood his arguments before, but I think I finally grasp what he’s getting at this time. I’ll try to write a review of the book once I’m finished.