Here’s what I watched and read last week…
MOVIES
Hard Boiled (1992), directed by John Woo, might be one of the greatest action films ever made. I always show the shoot out in the tea house that opens the film to my students, and I always tell them that this is nothing compared to the hospital sequence. The long take of Tony Leung and Chow Yun-fat moving through the hospital corridors is one of the many highlights of the film.
Clockwatchers (1997), directed by Jill Sprecher, is a smartly written movie, with great performances. I particularly enjoyed how space is depicted in the film. There are a lot of shots that compress the work environment, which I think nicely parallels the existential theme of work. This is a great companion film to Office Space. It is streaming on the Criterion Channel.
Marty, Life is Short (2026), directed by Lawrence Kasdan, is good documentary on the comedian and actor Martin Short. It is hard to believe all the tragedy he faced throughout his life. Definitely worth watching.
We Bury The Dead (2026), directed by Zak Hilditch. I was mixed on this movie. I enjoyed the visuals and post-apocalyptic atmosphere, but I didn’t find it to be scary. The sound effects of teeth chattering from the zombies were a little too much for me. I had to turn the down the volume on my TV, it was so intense! But I am glad to see Daisy Ridley on screen.
Abraham’s Boys (2025), directed by Natasha Kermani, is a good movie. I read on IMDb that the film has terrible reviews, but I actually enjoyed it. It is slow paced, with a moody atmosphere. The cinematography is excellent. I particularly enjoyed the deep-focus landscapes which allows us to see the isolation of the Van Helsing family. I also enjoyed the mixture of the Western and Gothic. The film is based on a Joe Hill short story, which I’ve read. Hill is an excellent writer, and I am glad to see some of his stories making it to the screen. Abraham’s Boys might not be for everyone, especially if you are looking for lots of jump scares and fast-paced horror. But I really enjoyed Kermani’s slow cinema style adaptation of Hill’s story.
Marty Supreme (2025), directed by Josh Safdie. I really enjoyed the film’s fast-paced energy. It comes at you like a bullet train. Once you’re on board, it’s hard to get off. This is not your typical sports film. Timothée Chalamet said he watched The Hustler and The Color of Money to prepare for the role. I can see some of Tom Cruise’s Vincent from The Color of Money in Marty. It also might be one of Chalamet’s best performances. The cast of characters is great.
TV
Welcome to Wrexham, episode three, is another good episode of the latest season. We are introduced to more new players that might be shifting the tide. And I always enjoy the stories of the Wrexham community.
Spider-Noir. I enjoyed the first episode. I watched the color version. Next episode, I will check out the black and white version. Great cast of characters.
BOOKS
The Philosophy of Horror, or Paradoxes of the Heart by Noël Carroll is a very good book on the horror genre. The premise is this: why does horror frighten us when we know the monster does not exist. It is what Carroll calls the paradox of horror. One of his central claims is that it’s the thought of horror that frightens us. Carroll offers lots of examples to back this up. However, his critique of psychoanalysis is weak and outdated. I recommend reading Todd McGowan’s article or his book on The Real Gaze and Slavoj Žižek’s response to Carroll and David Bordwell’s critique of psychoanalysis and Marxism in The Fright of Real Tears. Putting psychoanalysis aside, if you are interested in horror studies, this is a must-read even if you don’t agree with some of Carroll’s claims or his definition of horror.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is an amazing book. I teach Hugo in my introduction to film course but had never read the book. I definitely plan to assign the book for my Film and Literature course. If you love movies, this is a must-read.
