Watched and Read - October 11, 2026

 Here's what I watched, read, and listened to...

MOVIES

Don’t Look Back in Anger (2026), directed by Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern, is an excellent documentary on the band’s reunion. I found myself getting emotional watching the Gallagher brothers reunite. The live footage looks and sounds amazing.

The Dark Half (1993), directed by George A. Romero, is a good adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. I love the cinematography and autumn feel of the film. There are some flaws but they didn’t get in the way of the story. Michael Rooker, Amy Madigan and Timothy Hutton are all good. The climax with the birds is classic Romero and a nice homage to Hitchcock.

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TV

‘Salem’s Lot (1976), directed by Tobe Hooper, is a good adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. With the limitation of televisual horror, Hooper relies more on atmospheric horror than graphic violence. I love the set design of the interior of the Marsten House. You can almost feel and smell its deterioration. The makeup of Barlow is a nice callback to Nosferatu. I also love the references to Psycho right before Dr. Norton is killed. The miniseries is streaming on Criterion.

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BOOKS

Tales from the Crypt, volume 4. These are a lot of fun to read. I am currently reading volume 5. They are planning to release all of the Tales from the Crypt in one big book. But I do hope they release volume 6 separately.

PODCASTS

TCM’s The Plot Thickens is devoted to Stanley Kubrick this month. They are partnering with Criterion in anticipation of the big Kubrick collection coming out very soon. I really enjoyed the first episode and am looking forward to the next.

 

 

Watched and Read - October 4, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read...

 

MOVIES

It Follows (2014), directed by David Robert Mitchell, is a great atmospheric horror film with an intriguing premise. The film’s use of offscreen space, deep space staging, long takes, and deep focus photography help to create an unsettling and creepy vibe.

Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple (2026), directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, is an outstanding and heartfelt documentary on the legendary drummer of Rush. This is a must-see not only for Rush fans but for drummers alike. It was amazing to watch drummers Danny Carey, Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland, and Gavin Harrison play Rush songs. But I also enjoyed hearing about their personal connection and friendship with Peart.

TV

I finished the third season Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. There are a lot of great episodes in this season, especially “Band Candy,” “The Zeppo,” and “Doppelgangland.” The two-part finale has hints of The Avengers, a movie that the series’s creator Joss Whedon would later direct. This is also the season in which they pulled the episode “Earshot” because of Columbine. Unfortunately, this is an important episode that comes back at the end of the season when Jonathan (Danny Strong) gives Buffy the umbrella at the prom for protecting the school. Jonathan had been thinking of suicide in “Earshot,” and Buffy had talked him out of it. Overall, I very much enjoyed Buffy’s high school years. But I think it is during the college years when the show turns to greatness.

We finished watching Widow’s Bay. What a great season! All the episodes were fun to watch. There were a lot of genuine scares, especially in the last episode. The series has a good mix of folk horror and comedy. Parts of the series reminded me of Jaws, Salem’s Lot, and Lost. I am looking forward to next season.

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BOOKS

Alice in Chains: The Untold Story by David de Sola is an excellent account of the legendary grunge band from Seattle. De Sola compiled interviews with different people who were connected to the band, such as sound engineers, friends, family, and various musicians who had played with the founding members. Ultimately, the book is about the tragic and heartbreaking story of Layne Staley who died of an overdose in 2002. If you love AIC, this is a must-read.

I was very fortunate to see AIC play a small and intimate show in October of 1991 in Middletown, NY. This was not long after The Clash of the Titans tour, when I had also seen them in Middletown. They came back and played a show at a club called The Class. I was in the front of the stage and literally was five feet or so from Staley. They introduced a new song that night called “Sick Man.” It was an amazing show, one that I will never forget.

 

 

Watched and Read - September 27, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read....

 

MOVIES

Jackass: Best and Last (2026), directed by Jeff Tremaine, is a mix of old and new skits and stunts. I’ve seen all the Jackass movies, and some of the stunts are hard to watch. But I still laughed pretty hard watching the new movie.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), directed by Wes Anderson, might be one of his best. I teach this film for cinematography, especially for its use of multiple aspect ratios. We usually associate widescreen (2.40:1) with spectacles. But it’s the classic film aspect ratio of 1.37:1 where we locate the spectacle of the hotel in the Grand Budapest.

TV

We finished Mr. Inbetween and thought it was amazing. I think it ranks highly among some of the great gangster and crime TV series of the past thirty years. The mixing of episodic and serialized storytelling reminded me of The Sopranos. And much like The Sopranos, you’re always on uneven ground, never knowing if Ray is going to be murdered. I’ll be curious to see what television series Scott Ryan creates next.

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BOOKS

I started reading Tales from the Crypt again for my yearly Halloween reads. I’ve noticed the later issues are a little more graphic. As I was reading them, I kept thinking of the Comics Code Authority seal, which came out of the Senate hearings on graphic imagery in comic books. Check out Stan Lee talking about it with Kevin Smith. 

 

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YOUTUBE

I’ve been a big fan of Quicksand since the beginning and attended one of their first shows back in 1990 at Club Anthrax in Norwalk, CT. This is a good interview. Although I wish Zane had asked questions about their connection to New York City’s hardcore scene. He missed a good opportunity to cover some interesting history, like Walter’s connection to the Straight Edge scene, and how he played bass for Youth of Today and guitar for Gorilla Biscuits. But the interview is worth checking out.

 

 

Watched and Read - September 20, 2026

 Here's what I watched, read and listened to last week...

 

MOVIES

King of New York (1990), Abel Ferrara, is one of his top films. 1990 was a big year for gangster films, such as GoodFellas, Miller’s Crossing, State of Grace, and The Godfather III. Even My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin came out that year! Like many of the movies mentioned, King of New York is a gritty and violent movie about power. The blue motif captures this theme. Who will be the one that holds the blue shield of the law? The gangsters or the police? What I found the most striking about the film is Ferrara’s depiction of drug lord, Frank White, played brilliantly and frighteningly by Christopher Walken, and his surreal demise at the end of the film.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), directed by Robert Wiene, is one of the top films of world cinema, and a key film of German Expressionism. I teach it in my introduction to film course for its atmospheric set designs and creative lighting. It is one of the first films to depict the interior state of a character by deliberate visual distortion. It is a must-see if you are interested in learning about movies, even Portlandia says so! 

  

TV

We watched the first episode of the sixth season of Slow Horses and very much enjoyed it. The setup is really good. It was sometimes hard to recall certain things after a year, such as trying to remember what role Peter Judd plays. But I think this is going to be a good season.

We also watched the first two episodes of Widow’s Bay. I can see why the series won the Emmy this year for Best Comedy. The series has a great mix of comedy and horror. I love the setting and cast of characters. Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root, who both won Emmys, are amazing. This is a new series, so I won’t say anything else. But it is definitely worth checking out.

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BOOKS

Ray Bradbury’s “The Town Where No One Got Off" starts off with a passenger on a train who randomly decides to get off at a town where the train hardly stops. This is an empty town narrative with some good atmospheric tension. The story reminds me of the first story in Now and Forever. See my post. I also watched the episode on The Ray Bradbury Theater on Peacock. The episode lacks some of the tension that’s in the story. But I love the way they depict the town during the fall season. It was also cool to see Jeff Goldblum play the man who visits the town.

 

 

YOUTUBE

Rick Beato recently posted a video about copyright clearance. If you are a content creator, especially for teaching and learning purposes, it is worth checking out.

 Alice in Chains recently posted clips from their 1990 concert at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. “Love, Hate, Love” shows the power, emotion, and amazing vocal range of Layne Staley.

 

MUSIC

I very much enjoyed listening to Anthrax’s new album, Cursum Perficio. Anthrax is one of the Big Four of thrash metal bands I grew up on. I’ve seen them plenty of times when I was in my teens and twenties. Their songwriting has changed and developed over the years, but they still have have a core sound. There are some very good songs on Cursum Perficio. My favorite is “The Edge of Perfection.” Scott Ian is a fan of Deaf Heaven, and you can really hear their influence, especially in Charlie Benante’s blast beats. And Joey Belladonna’s voice still sounds amazing. Time has not impacted his voice. But the band has gotten older, and Scott Ian said it might be their last album.

Watched and Read - September 13, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched, listened to, and read…

MOVIES

Obsession (2026), directed by Curry Baker, is a very good dark comedy horror. I laughed a lot watching this one, although there were some very dark and graphic moments in the film. The film is a take on the short story, The Monkey’s Paw. The main character, Bear, purchases a toy called “One Wish Willow” that allows for one wish. I won’t say much more, especially because it’s a new film. Overall, I thought Baker did a great job of pacing and stretching scenes without becoming boring. There are some good jump scares. I also thought Inde Navarrette’s performance as Nikki was outstanding. I hope she gets nominated.

Ladies and Gentlemen The Fabulous Stains (1982), directed by Lou Adler. I caught this one on the Criterion Channel. A good musical drama, with great performances by the Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones and Paul Cook, and The Clash’s Paul Simonon.

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TV

We finished season two of Mr. In Between and thought it was amazing. I can’t believe I had not heard about this series. If you love shows like The Sopranos and Breaking Bad, this is one to definitely check out.

I am halfway through the third season of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. The main characters are fully developed. They have increased the humor and campiness, something I’ve always loved about the series. But you do get the sense that Cordelia is becoming unnecessary baggage. They would create Angel after this season, and it was a smart decision to move her character there. I’m not sure what other storylines they could have come up with for Angel and Cordelia in Buffy.

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AUDIOBOOKS

Horns by Joe Hill. I’ve read the book but wanted to hear the audio version. My drive to work is long and gave me a good opportunity to try it out. It was also my first time listening to an audiobook, which I very much enjoyed. This is a great and gritty book that involves a young man named Ignatius “Ig,” who discovers he has grown devil’s horns. We learn that Ig’s girlfriend, Merrin, had been raped and murdered, and many believe Ig was responsible. But with the mishandling of evidence, Ig was cleared as a suspect. The town of Gideon, however, still thinks he’s killed her. Hill has a great gift for words. Hearing them spoken made that even more evident. My only gripe is that I did not believe Ig’s older brother, Terry, was a trumpeter. Otherwise, an excellent novel by one of our great Gen X horror writers.

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YOUTUBE

I stumbled across a live performance of Mad Season in 1995. I love seeing Mike McCready play metal. He is a metalhead after all! And what a great song written by Layne Staley. It reminds me a little bit of “Angry Chair,” a song he wrote for Alice in Chains on the album Dirt.

 

This is a great interview with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter. We recently saw him perform Miles Davis songs at the Hollywood Bowl with Herbie Hancock. It was a very memorable performance. 

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PODCASTS

If you love the Red Hot Chili Peppers, check out Fresh Air’s interview with Flea. He recently released a jazz album. Who would have known he could play jazz? They played a few clips during the interview, and they sounded amazing! songs at the Hollywood Bowl with Herbie Hancock. It was a very memorable performance. 

 

  

 

 

Watched and Read - September 6, 2026

 Here's what I watched, read and listened to last week...

 

 

MOVIES

China Girl (1987), directed by Abel Ferrara, reimagines the gangster film through the story of Romeo and Juliet. There’s a gang war between the Italian and Chinese gangs. Tony is from Little Italy and Tye is from Chinatown, and they fall in love. You can probably guess what’s going to happen, but I very much enjoyed the film.

The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), directed by Jon Favreau. I watched the movie with low expectations but wound up really enjoying it. The film had some great surprises, especially in the last half. I also liked that they brought in some characters from The Clone Wars and Rebels. I heard some critics saying that the film is more like television than cinema. I would say it is an intimate and quieter film than the epics we typically associate with the Star Wars universe.

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DOCUMENTARIES

Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing, a new documentary streaming on Netflix, is a startling and shocking documentary about the corporate brass putting money over the safety of people. This was a frightening one to watch.

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TV

I finished the fourth season of The Wonder Years. There were a lot of great episodes, especially the ones involving Kevin and Winnie. But I also enjoyed many of the episodic ones, such as “The Cost of Living,” “Who’s Aunt Rose?,” and “Separate Rooms.”

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BOOKS

The Children by Melissa Albert. I read almost 300 pages and wasn’t sure what to make of this novel. Stephen King’s quote mentioned that the prose reminded him of Ray Bradbury, which I definitely agree with. But I didn’t find the characters to be likable. However, when I read the last 100 pages, most of my thoughts on the novel changed. I read that this was Albert’s first adult novel. I’d be curious to read her next book.

Now and Forever by Ray Bradbury is a book of two novellas, “Somewhere a Band Is Playing” and “Leviathan ’99.” The first is about reporter who arrives in a mysterious town to learn that the residents never die. The second is Bradbury’s take on Melville’s Moby Dick as a space expedition. Both embody many of Bradbury’s themes. “Somewhere a Band Is Playing” has a nostalgic vibe, one that reminded me of Dandelion Wine. “Leviathan ’99” has a Martian Chronicles feel, especially the part where the crew comes across a moon with an abandoned civilization. I also loved the scene where they make contact with the famous broadcast voices of the past. The story reminded me of Star Trek, given that the crew’s mission is to explore and report their findings.

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PODCASTS

The Kingcast is a podcast I have been listening to since it debuted in 2020. They have had many great guests on talking about Stephen King’s books, including King himself. But the episode they recently did with Sam Weller, who wrote Ray Bradbury’s biography, was one of their best. If you love Bradbury and King, you should definitely check it out.

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YOUTUBE

If you like or even love Pearl Jam, I highly recommend Rick Beato’s interview with Mike McCready and Jeff Ament. Beato asks great questions about their songs and their techniques. I also learned some new history about the band, especially about its formation. It is definitely worth the watch.

 

Watched and Read - August 30, 2026

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

 

 

MOVIES

Pather Panchali (1955), directed by Satyajit Ray, is one of the great films in world cinema. Ray was inspired by Bicycle Thieves, a quintessential film of Italian neorealism. Pather Panchali’s on-location shooting, non-professional actors, and depiction of poverty are all characteristic of neorealism. My favorite scene is when Apu sees a train for the first time - what a wonderful and poetic moment. Great film.

Rififi (1955), directed by Jules Dassin, is a classic French noir film. The heist sequence is one of the best I have ever seen. It is definitely up there with Michael Mann’s Heat and Thief.

The Life of Chuck (2024), directed by Mike Flanagan, is a very good adaptation of King’s story. Mark Hamill gives a great performance as Chuck’s grandfather, especially in the scene where he discusses the importance of math.

9 to 5 (1980), directed by Colin Higgins, is a movie I watched all the time on cable in the early 1980s when I was young. We watched it this weekend in honor of Dolly Parton’s passing. The film’s humor still holds up.

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TV

Spoiler alert! I loved the first season of Mr. In Between. The last two episodes were funny and suspenseful. I enjoyed the unpredictability of Ray’s character. My allegiance toward him would sometimes shift, such as when he figures out that Nick is working undercover for the police. I found myself rooting for Nick to live. But most of the time, I am rooting for Ray not to get caught or killed. This is why suspense does not primarily operate on morality. I am looking forward to checking out the next two seasons.

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BOOKS and STORIES

Spoiler alert! Black House is a great follow-up to The Talisman. As mentioned in my last post, the story starts off slow and then gradually moves faster. There are some very cool connections to the Dark Tower series. It was only a few years later that King released the last three books in the series. I loved the book’s prose, especially the scene where the Fisherman attacks Henry in his home. Henry is blind, which made it even more devastating to read. Lastly, some of the kills were very graphic, especially Henry’s and Charles’s deaths. Great read.

“There Will Come a Soft Rain” by Ray Bradbury is a post-apocalyptic story about a house equipped with automatic systems that does routines such as cooking and cleaning. Bradbury paints a dystopian picture of the aftermath of nuclear war. The story is positioned at the end of The Martian Chronicles. Having read all the stories that take place on Mars, it is the post-apocalyptic Earth that is strange and foreign.

“Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” by Richard Matheson. I have seen the Twilight Zone episode many times, but I have never read the story. Matheson’s prose never lets up, creating a classic tale of suspense and terror.

Spoiler Alert! “The Life of Chuck” by Stephen King, is one of the novellas in the collection of stories in If It Bleeds. King tells a three-chapters story, starting from the end and moving to the beginning. It is not made explicitly clear, but the apocalyptic ending is everything from inside Chuck’s head as he is dying. I very much enjoyed the story’s exploration of life, memory, and death.

 

Watched and Read - August 23, 2026

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

 

 

MOVIES

Sense and Sensibility (1995), directed by Ang Lee, is a very good romantic drama based on Jane Austen’s novel. The film has a killer cast, including Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman. And the cinematography is gorgeous. This is Ang Lee’s first English-language film. I also read Whitney Crothers Dilley’s chapter on the film in her book on Lee, which explores a variety of topics, including feminism and globalization.

Man with a Movie Camera (1929), directed by Dziga Vertov, is one of the masterpieces of documentary filmmaking. The editing and camera movement are amazing. It is no surprise that Sight & Sound ranked it as the eighth-greatest film ever made.

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TV

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. I very much enjoyed rewatching season two. There were a handful of episodes that felt more like filler. But overall, this is a strong season, especially the last two episodes, which are some of the series’ best.

Mr. In Between. We are watching the first season. This is a solid crime drama. In his book on The Sopranos, Dana Polan writes about the series as having a picaresque format: the small adventures of a criminal you root for. This is definitely the case for Mr. In Between.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I watched “Lamb to the Slaughter.” This is one of the classic episodes that Hitchcock directed. It was written by Roald Dahl. Hitchcock’s mixing of the macabre and humor is on full display.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. This is my second time watching the series. Some of the topics they explore are mind-blowing, such as when Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the Cosmic Calendar. I hope they release Cosmos: Possible Worlds on Blu-ray.

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BOOKS

King’s Ransom, written by Ed McBain, is a novel from his 87th Precinct series and was loosely adapted by Akira Kurosawa into High and Low (1963). I love the gritty feel of the novel, particularly the realism of the dialogue. I am planning to teach the novel next year for my writing course, comparing it with Kurosawa’s adaptation. I also read Matthew Bernstein’s excellent article, “High and Low: Art Cinema and Pulp Fiction in Yokohama.”

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YouTube

If you love rock and metal music, I highly recommend Rick Beato’s channel. There are a lot of great interviews, especially his recent one with Billy Joel. One of the highlights of the series is “What Makes This Song Great?” Beato breaks down the song by isolating the audio tracks and analyzing the different sounds, techniques, and tones used during the recording. After you watch the video, you’ll hear the song in a new way. I also love his “rant” videos.

 

 

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!

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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.

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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 - 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. 

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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.”

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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 - June 28, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read this past week...

 

MOVIES

Toy Story 5 (2026), directed by Andrew Stanton, is a very good film that focuses on technology and children. The animation is great, with some nice moments that explore the themes of connection, friendship, play, and imagination. We did not see the 3D version. But you can tell there were some shots made specifically for 3D. Toy Story 5 is not as great as the first three movies, but it is definitely worth watching.

Pavements (2024), directed by Alex Ross Perry. I am not really a fan of Pavement’s music, but I thought it would be interesting to learn about their history, particularly how they became a big indie band in the 1990s. The documentary seems to oppose this approach. I felt it was very indie rock snobbish. These were the people I avoided in the 1990s.

Talk Radio (1988), directed by Oliver Stone. This film is often overlooked in Stone’s body of work. But it may be one of his best, especially given the rise of social media. I wrote about the film in my book Cinema of Confinement, discussing how Stone creates a space of paranoia within the confined setting of the radio station. Tension lies between Barry and his listeners. Who are his fans? Who are the threat? My book is available through open access and can be downloaded if you want to check out the chapter.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), directed by Jack Clayton, is a good atmospheric horror film based on Ray Bradbury’s great novel. I was skeptical about watching it because I love the book so much. Johnathan Pryce and Jason Robards give great performances. It is a quick watch and is available for streaming on Disney.

The Sheep Detectives (2026), directed by Kyle Balda, is a very good whodunit movie with some very nice moments. I loved Nicholas Braun (aka Cousin Greg from Succession) as Denbrook’s only police officer. The CGI sheep worked, but I would rather see real animals. However, given the complexity of the plot, it makes sense that they took the CGI route. Nevertheless, the film gave me some Babe vibes. I highly recommend it.

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TV

The new Lord of the Flies is a pretty good series on Netflix. Although, I personally prefer the black and white version from 1963. I thought that some of the episodes could have been shorter. There were also many unnecessary close-up shots of characters looking directly at the camera. I am unsure what that was all about. It is hard not to think of the great TV series, Lost, which I am guessing drew some inspiration from Golding’s novel.

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BOOKS

Ghost Town by Tom Perrotta is a good and very engaging coming-of-age book, involving Jimmy, a thirteen-year-old growing up in an Italian American community in New Jersey in the early 1970s. Perrotta strongly captures the time period with some very interesting characters. The story reminded me of the collection of short stories he wrote in Bad Haircut: Stories from the Seventies.

Bradbury Speaks is a great collection of essays written by Ray Bradbury. I enjoyed reading all of them, especially the ones on Los Angeles and Paris. Other standouts were, “How Something Wicked Came,” “Mars: Too Soon From The Cave, Too Far From the Stars,” “Mouser,” “Lord Russell and The Pipsqueak, and “Any Friend of Trains is a Friend of Mine.”

 

 

Watched and Read - June 7, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936), directed by Jean Renoir. This week I started watching the Criterion Channel’s curation of French poetic realism. I had a seen a few films from this period, but I was curious to learn more about this movement. The Crime of Monsieur Lange is an entertaining film about a small publishing company run by Paul Batala, a shady man. I enjoyed the cast of characters. The set design is cramped and confined, which I am learning is a stylistic trait of poetic realism.

The Lower Depths (1936), directed by Jean Renoir. This is another film from Criterion’s poetic realism collection. A good drama with a great performance by Jean Gabin who plays Pepel. I particularly enjoyed the scene when Pepel becomes friends with the Baron after trying to rob him.

A Wedding (1978), directed by Robert Altman. I‘ve always wanted to see this one. What a cast of characters! Almost fifty! Carol Burnett is amazing. She should have been nominated for an Academy Award. A Wedding is not as great as Nashville or McCabe & Mrs. Miller, but this is a solid and funny film. Altman’s career in the 1970s is amazing. A Wedding is available to stream on Criterion. Don’t miss this one.

Power Ballad (2026), director by John Carney. Another great one by Carney. I’ve loved all of his film, with Sing Street being one of my favorites. Great performances by Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Fun film with a good soundtrack.

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TV

Welcome to Wrexham. This is turning out to be a really good season. I look forward to each week’s episodes. Go Wrexham!

I watched the third episode of The Boroughs and am still enjoying it. There was a great twist at the end of this one.

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BOOKS

I finished Jacques Lacan’s first seminar. I’ve read a lot of Lacan and do have some familiarity with his concepts. It goes without saying that Lacan is very difficult to read. In Seminar I, he takes up the topics of ego psychology, speech, transference and resistance. This is also the seminar where he discusses the inverted bouquet scenario. I plan to read Seminar II which is a continuation of these topics.

 

Watched and Read - May 31, 2026

 

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. 

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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.

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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.