Master and Commander cast

A cast reunion for MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD. Today’s BFI IMAX screening of the new 4K restoration was thrilling. Such a good film.

Laura Dern at the bfi

Laura Dern this evening at the bfi introducing David Lynch’s INLAND EMPIRE on what would have been his 80th birthday. She came across so very positive and sweet, with fond memories of working with Lynch. The first time I’ve seen it on the big screen in 19 years.

INSPIRATION a film by KAREL ZEMAN. A free, curated platform streaming one film every week.

Everything is made from glass in this lovely 12 minute short animation from Karel Zeman, who later made the astonishing The Fabulous Baron Munchausen. Available for a week from Le Cinema Club. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...

Online course: The Hollywood Studio System (1927-1949) (starts Jan 2026) This original film studies course, to be delivered via Google Meet, will examine the Hollywood Studio System through 23 features, 3 animated shorts, and an episode of a serial. After introductory w…

If you fancy luxuriating in Golden Age cinema to beat the January blues, I can strongly recommend this course by Matthew Asprey Gear matthewasprey2.wordpress.com/2025/12/09/o...

Thanks for the reference. I agree, it’s hardly Bergman’s finest work, a curio really.

Collection of blu rays and dvds of Peter Watkins’ films

At 90 years old, Peter Watkins death yesterday was hardly unexpected but it’s still sad that such an astonishing and bold film maker is still on the margins in our culture. His intelligent, often challenging and innovative films are unique. Here’s an obit: www.bfi.org.uk/features/pet...

Andrew an interesting critic with a deep knowledge of horror so this should be good.

Online course: A Chronicle of the Frontier: The Western as Myth and History (starting September 14) ­­A 12-WEEK ONLINE FILM STUDIES COURSE(September – December, 2025)PRESENTED BY MATTHEW ASPREY GEAR In this 12-week online film studies course, held on Google Meet, we’ll study 21 Western feat…

And from Sunday 14th September: A Chronicle of the Frontier: The Western as Myth and History matthewasprey2.wordpress.com/2025/07/24/o...

Online course: A Panorama of Latin American Cinema (starting September 13) ­­A 12-WEEK ONLINE FILM STUDIES COURSE(September – December, 2025) This original film studies course, presented online via Google Meet, will give a comprehensive survey of the best of Latin America…

For the past few years, I've been enjoying some of the film courses by Matthew Asprey-Gear. There's a couple coming up. The Latin American cinema has a lot of underseen gems. From 13th September: matthewasprey2.wordpress.com/2025/07/26/o...

Selfie with Alex Cox

Signed by Nick Freand Jones and Alex Cox

Moviedrome guides

Moviedrome launch at BFI

A thrill to meet Alex Cox and Nick Freand Jones after an event discussing Moviedrome, the BBC film programming that turned me on to the weird and wonderful in cinema. I even found my old Moviedrome booklets and got them signed!

Special preview screening: Pink FloyThe Grateful Dead Movie 2025 Meet-Up Grateful Dead celebrate their 60th Anniversary and return to our very big screen with a Meet-Up At The Movies.

It’s now on sale. I’ve got myself a ticket for the Thursday in seat L17. Anyone else coming? whatson.bfi.org.uk/imax/Online/...

Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead at the Royal Albert Hall complete with London Philharmonic Orchestra was brilliant. Lots of tie dyes in the audience. The only performance in Europe.

@thatmasonboiii.bsky.social

The Grateful Dead Movie Sign up for more information on the official website. For a limited time only in theaters & IMAX® August 14

Here’s hoping this year’s Grateful Dead Meet Up At The Movies returns to the UK. Picturehouse did a great job hosting the last two. You can sign up for updates here: www.meetupatthemovies.com

Still from The Shrouds

David Cronenberg’s THE SHROUDS is surprisingly effective as both a personal meditation on grief and also an almost absurdist comedy. Like the best of speculative sci fi, it’s a reflection of contemporary concerns, and is very much a film about ideas.

This nugget says a lot: “in keeping with its idiosyncratic way of operating, they’ve had to call in a ghost hunter to investigate the source of a mystery flood that has been blighting the building. It turns out that the cinema is home to numerous ghosts, but none are responsible for water damage.”

‘The city is being hollowed out’: the billionaire landlord locked in a David v Goliath battle for London’s West End Dubbed ‘Britain’s meanest landlord’, Asif Aziz is fighting it out with a tiny cinema that counts Christopher Nolan, Paul Mescal and other Hollywood heroes as fans. How did the capital’s cultural landm...

An interesting article covering the @princecharlescinema.com’s current challenges with its landlord. Great that the recent petition inspired Westminster to declare it an ” asset of community value” but the threat is stop there and the landlord is price gouging www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Film on film ad

A brilliant day at bfi Film On Film festival today, well worth hiding from the sunshine! Preminger’s ADVISE & CONSENT, Iranian film A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE, Hitchcock’s 1934 version of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and Georgian film PIROSMANI. More tomorrow.

John Lurie and Dennis Hopper

Tarpon sunset

A Sunday afternoon treat at the Garden Cinema. My DVD of the wonderful Fishing with John has never been able to play the first Dennis Hopper episode. Eventually I got to see it! Next in this double bill is the UK premiere of a mythical doc called Tarpon.

Sign the Petition Save the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts!

As a violin player, I'd ask you please consider signing the petition to save Newark musical instrument school, the last string instrument making school in the UK. It's not just about making new instruments, it's about having skilled people who can do repairs. www.change.org/p/save-the-n...

M: Julien. I'm Marie
J: Marie?
M: Marie, the one you loved.
J: I doubt it, Mademoiselle. You're not at all my type
M: That's what you think. Give me a little time.

Many thanks to the ICA staff who did live English subtitle matching throughout. Final two Rivette films in the season this weekend.

Still from Le histoire de Julien et Marie

For those who need translation of the last scene when the subtitle projector packed in at the ICA's rare screening of Jacques Rivette's HISTOIRE OF MARIE ET JULIEN:
Julien: What time is it
Marie: Pretty early
J: I mean … what are you doing here, who are you? How did you enter?
(cont...)

I don’t think he always chose the films but he always had something gleefully interesting to say about them.

The BFI have announced a Moviedrome season starting July!!!!
As a teen, I religiously tuned in every Sunday night to watch these weird, cult movies introduced by Alex Cox.
Now I’ll see them on the big screen with Cox and producer Nick Freand Jones introducing!
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...

Bananas are a herb

RIVER OF GRASS a film by KELLY REICHARDT RIVER OF GRASS a film by KELLY REICHARDT. 1994. USA. 76 min.

Le Cinema Club is spoiling us again. Kelly Reichard’s marvellous debut RIVERS OF GRASS available to watch free for one week. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...

UK premiere of David Cronenberg's THE SHROUDS!! This is now on sale to Members (any remaining tickets on sale to public tomorrow lunchtime). I know it's had mixed reviews, but I can't wait.

Le Cinéma Club | KAILI BLUES A free, curated platform streaming one film every week.

For the next six days you can watch Bi Gan’s debut film KAILI BLUES for free at Le Cinema Club. His latest film RESURRECTION will debut shortly at Cannes. www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...

The Necks at Cafe Oto

An astonishing final show. A delicate shimmering first set ebbing and flowing beautifully finishing with a touch of darkness. Then what a final set, epic, intense and with such energy. This has been a brilliant residency. Thanks @cafeotodalston.bsky.social and The Necks!

Just brilliant. What a way to end the residency. Incredible.