And like that, it was gone

a man in a white shirt is dancing on a soccer field in front of a large crowd . ALT: a man in a white shirt is dancing on a soccer field in front of a large crowd .

Out of office on for the next week

a man is playing a guitar and singing into a microphone while standing on a stage . ALT: a man is playing a guitar and singing into a microphone while standing on a stage .

Team Boss here

And yet the swear words were always sexual

No Sudden Move (2021): a stacked cast led by Don Cheadle & Benicio Del Toro enliven this Soderbergh helmed 50s set noir which echoes better films like Fargo & Chinatown. It’s tense & twisty but ultimately a little rote. Nonetheless, there’s gritty & cynical fun to be had here & cameos aplenty. 7/10.

Every now and again, you spend a week just marvelling at the Beatles, individually and collectively, don’t you? That’s been my week

One Battle After Another (2025): PTA’s sprawling awards hoover has a huge rep that I’m not sure it fully deserves. The climactic car chase, performances by Chase Infiniti etc, the set pieces & the clear political heft are all on point. Sean Penn’s performance is a cartoon though. Still worth 8.5/10.

I know I’m in no position to poke fun at other teams but this tailspin that Spurs are in is morbidly fascinating

The Lost Bus (2025): another streamer, based on a real life wild fire disaster & elevated by Paul Greengrass in familiar kinetic form & the welcome return of Matthew McConaughey’s easy charm, albeit beaten down & under severe duress. Impressive CGI & genuine danger make this a cut above. 7.5/10

I haven’t disabled my account on the hellsite but stopped posting there when everyone else did.

The temptation to reply to some of the geopolitical / conflict discourse can be, on days like today, almost overwhelming.

Incredible filmography, another key 70s star gone. RIP

Downgrading this to 6/10 as its flaws are too great to ignore.

The Rip (2026): Another streamer hit, this tense Miami heist / corrupt cops thriller is built around & succeeds due to the (more grizzled) Damon / Affleck dynamic at its core. While it does end up in generic action vehicle territory it’s taut enough to be a good time on a Saturday night 7.5/10

Nuremberg (2025): first thing I’ve watched in ages, this starry account of the Nazi trials is both compelling & flawed with wild swings in tone, focus & performances. Crowe dominates as Göring but Malek is as twitchy & offkilter as always. The footage in the trial scene overshadows everything. 7/10

While everyone else is watching the latest Traitors, we’re on series one. Keeping it real at the cutting edge.

Good Lord Macclesfield

How is it only Tuesday? It’s inhumane

-8 tomorrow when I’m due to go to work after 2 weeks off, I see. #wfh

Kinda dreading how many times we’re going to need to listen to Yes Sir, I Can Boogie in various guises in 2026

Yes indeed

L.A. Confidential (1997, rewatch). Hadn’t revisited this for at least 20 years and I can tell you it holds up magnificently. All all-timer for me, just about hitting perfection. No further notes. 10/10

Still up at 1.40 and listening to a bowdlerised version of Now 4 I made a few years ago. The middle week strangeness has set in.

Belter of a game at Easter Road there. #thefitba

Looking forward to my carrot & milk snack now

On the Beach

This is a belter. What a shame, RIP…

open.spotify.com/track/5QrNXv...

I go into Twitter (without posting) on a daily basis and it exhausts and depresses me. Jumping back in here to look at pictures of 7” singles, amusing non-sequiturs and people’s ramblings on whatever is a relief.

Its Criterion reissue in September is utterly essential. It is a truly complete official presentation, pulling together the in and out-of-character commentaries, all the ancillary stuff, all looking great, with even more outtakes than ever. You need it. Just get it. Honor the man and the work.

Amp. goes to 11 (This is Spinal Tap) YouTube video by dovenol

RIP Rob & Michele Reiner
His movies gave me so much happiness.
He directed the funniest movie I’ve ever watched and provided wonderful straight man support to Christopher Guest in its funniest scene: youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?...

IYKYK

open.spotify.com/track/4hOq0W...

Wake Up Dead Man (2025): the latest Knives Out whodunit is as a
entertaining a trifle as the others, with the by now familiar Christie-esque beats, allstar cast (Josh O’Connor in particular shining as a pugilistic priest) & wry humour. Perfect holidays fare then if unlikely to linger on. 8/10