Hey, readers (both of you). So, I'm currently sitting in Los Angeles at a friend's place trying to get my mind in order, and I've realized that I should collect some more stuff that I've written here so that I can increase some degree of awareness for what all I write... So here it is.
Celine Dion.
Here are two pieces I wrote about La Celine's Courage tour. The first is a preview of the show/thinkpiece about the artist and her legacy. The second is a review of the actual show itself.
A review of COLOR OUT OF SPACE.
The 2019 Jim Ridley Film Poll, which I helped organize and collate (and ended up puking up bile in the upstairs men's room at a beloved arthouse from anxiety). Note: The Apocrypha, which is the 18,000 words submitted that didn't make it into the final version, will be published on this website in a week or so.
24 January 2020
03 January 2020
Catching up with Jason Shawhan...
A few other things what I've done recently.
A review of the legendary VELVET GOLDMINE.
DANIEL ISN'T REAL, my favorite film of 2019.
SATANTANGO!
A conversation about CATS. I go there.
A review of the legendary VELVET GOLDMINE.
DANIEL ISN'T REAL, my favorite film of 2019.
SATANTANGO!
A conversation about CATS. I go there.
02 January 2020
The Very Best of 2019.
SUPERLATIVES
of 2019
FILM
1
DANIEL ISN’T REAL
For
some an exorcism. For others, a reconciliation.
2
LA FLOR Episode II: “Watch Out”/IN FABRIC/LONG DAY’S JOURNEY
INTO NIGHT 3D
Visual,
narrative, and sensory pleasure, unbound. Nostalgia cannot truly be
bought.
3
SYNONYMS
This
is not me trying to be contrarian, but everyone who loved Uncut Gems
(a film I liked a lot but that requires emergency Xanax and that I
could never imagine watching a second time- though I would love an
Idina Menzel spinoff) really needs to see this. Tom Mercier is the
performance of the year.
4
DIANE/THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES/THE WILD PEAR TREE
The
ache of time.
5
IN MY ROOM/The SARA LEE Sketch
Y’all
might not know this, but one of my favorite subgenres of cinema are
films that start out with a simple hook and end up forcing the viewer
to confront the absolute moral truth of who they are. These do that.
6
THE LIGHTHOUSE/PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Queer
desire in hermetically sealed crucibles in the midst of the
primordial sea. Power and class and the cruel vicissitudes of the
exterior world. But beyond all these things, the near-unbearable
drama of when to share, when to hide.
7
LITTLE WOMEN/NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE
Women
proving the timelessness of women’s work; evolutions that
reinforce, but never betray.
8
THE DEAD CENTER/KNIFE+HEART/KNIVES OUT/ONCE UPON A TIME… IN
HOLLYWOOD/ONE CUT OF THE DEAD/TRANSIT
The
pleasure of genre aspirations with deeply subverted executions.
9
ATLANTICS/LIGHT FROM LIGHT/STARFISH
Subtle
touches on the surface of the hippocampus.
10
HER SMELL/THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO/PAIN AND GLORY
Long-term
research experiments on the resilience of the self.
ACTRESS
Ana
DE ARMAS, KNIVES OUT
AWKWAFINA,
THE FAREWELL
Sofia
BOUTELLA, CLIMAX
Virginia
GARDNER, STARFISH
Adele
HAENEL, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Marin
IRELAND, LIGHT FROM LIGHT
Elisabeth
MOSS, HER SMELL
Lupita
NYONG’O, LITTLE MONSTERS/US
Mary
Kay PLACE, DIANE
Florence
PUGH, MIDSOMMAR
Charlize
THERON, LONG SHOT
ACTOR
Antonio
BANDERAS, PAIN AND GLORY
Shane
CARRUTH, THE DEAD CENTER
Daniel
CRAIG, KNIVES OUT
Taron
EGERTON, ROCKETMAN
Jimmie
FAILS, THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Bill
HADER, IT: CHAPTER TWO
Tom
MERCIER, SYNONYMS
Eddie
MURPHY, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
Miles
ROBBINS, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Franz
ROGOWSKI, TRANSIT
SUPPORTING
ACTRESS
Toni
COLLETTE, KNIVES OUT
Laura
DERN, MARRIAGE STORY
Sasha
LANE, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Jennifer
LOPEZ, HUSTLERS
Billie
LOURD, BOOKSMART
Mary
Stuart MASTERSON, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Idina
MENZEL, UNCUT GEMS
Fatma
MOHAMED, IN FABRIC
Elisabeth
MOSS, US
Anna
PAQUIN, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
Florence
PUGH, LITTLE WOMEN
Margaret
QUALLEY, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Taylor
RUSSELL, WAVES
ZHAO
Shuzhen, THE FAREWELL
SUPPORTING
ACTOR
Alan
ALDA, MARRIAGE STORY
Willem
DAFOE, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Asier
EXTEANDIA, PAIN AND GLORY
Kevin
HART, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
Martin
LAWRENCE, THE BEACH BUM
Kyle
McLACHLAN, GIANT LITTLE ONES
Alessandro
NIVOLA, THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE
Al
PACINO, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
Brad
PITT, ONCE UPONA TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
James
RANSONE, IT: CHAPTER TWO
Franz
ROGOWSKI, A HIDDEN LIFE
Patrick
SCHWARZENEGGER, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Kiddy
SMILE, CLIMAX
Archie
YATES, JOJO RABBIT
ENSEMBLE
CLIMAX
DIANE
THE
FAREWELL
HER
SMELL
KNIVES
OUT
MARRIAGE
STORY
DIRECTOR
Ari
ASTER, MIDSOMMAR
BI
Gan, LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 3D
Claire
DENIS, HIGH LIFE
Mati
DIOP, ATLANTICS
Robert
EGGERS, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Mike
FLANAGAN, DOCTOR SLEEP
Dexter
FLETCHER, ROCKETMAN
Greta
GERWIG, LITTLE WOMEN
Yann
GONZALEZ, KNIFE + HEART
Rian
JOHNSON, KNIVES OUT
Kent
JONES, DIANE
Nadav
LAPID, SYNONYMS
Adam
Egypt MORTIMER, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Gaspar
NOE, CLIMAX
Jordan
PEELE, US
Celine
SCIAMMA, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Martin
SCORSESE, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
Peter
STRICKLAND, IN FABRIC
SCREENPLAY:
Ari
ASTER, MIDSOMMAR
BONG
Joon-ho/JIN Won-han, PARASITE
Guy
BUSICK/Ryan MURPHY, READY OR NOT
Brian
DeLEEUW/Adam Egypt MORTIMER, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Max
EGGERS/Robert EGGERS, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Mike
FLANAGAN, DOCTOR SLEEP
Greta
GERWIG, LITTLE WOMEN
Rian
JOHNSON, KNIVES OUT
Kent
JONES, DIANE
Ulrich
KOHLER, IN MY ROOM
Haim
LAPID/Nadav LAPID, SYNONYMS
Jordan
PEELE, US
Alex
Ross PERRY, HER SMELL
Steven
ZAILLIAN, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
DOCUMENTARY
AMAZING
GRACE
APOLLO
11
HAIL,
SATAN?
HORROR
NOIRE
MEMORY:
THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN
SCREAM,
QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
VARDA
PAR AGNES
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE/POLYGLOT FILM
ATLANTICS
DIAMANTINO
LA
FLOR
HAGAZUSSA
KNIFE
+ HEART
LONG
DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 3D
LUZ
PARASITE
PORTRAIT
OF A LADY ON FIRE
RETROSPEKT
SYNONYMS
THE
WILD PEAR TREE
ANIMATED
FILM
HOW
TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
I
LOST MY BODY
MISSING
LINK
TEEN
TITANS GO! VS TEEN TITANS
TOY
STORY 4
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Alberto
BAÑARES, STARFISH
Simon
BEAUFILS, KNIFE + HEART
Jarin
BLASCHKE, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Yves
CAPE, ZOMBI CHILD
David
CHIZALLET/DONG Jing-song/YAO Hung-i, LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
3D
Paul
FALTZ, LUZ
Radek
LADCZUK, THE NIGHTINGALE
Yorick
LE SAUX, HIGH LIFE/LITTLE WOMEN
Claire
MATHON, ATLANTICS/PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Maksymilian
MILCZARCZYK, ANTRUM
Adam
NEWPORT-BERRA, THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Roman
OSIN, SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK
Pawel
POGORZELSKI, MIDSOMMAR
Tat
RADCLIFFE, QUEEN AND SLIM
Leonardo
SIMÕES, VITALINA VARELA
Mike
TESTIN, BLISS
Gökhan TIRYAKI, THE WILD PEAR
TREE
Lyle
VINCENT, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Ari
WEGNER, IN FABRIC
Sean
Price WILLIAMS, HER SMELL
EDITING
Denis
BEDLOW/Gaspar NOE, CLIMAX
FEKETE
Matyas, IN FABRIC
Robert
GREENE, HER SMELL
Alexander
HAMMER/Nia IMANI/Julian KLINCEWICZ/Andrew MORROW, HOMECOMING
Todd
Douglas MILLER, APOLLO 11
RESTORATION
BABYLON
A
BIGGER SPLASH
CRUISING
THE
FATE OF LEE KHAN
HARD
TICKET TO HAWAII
THE
JUNIPER TREE
NIGHT
KILLER
OPERA
PAGANINI
HORROR
PERFECT
BLUE
REVENGE
OF THE CREATURE 3D
SÁTÁNTANGÓ
THE
SHINING
VICE
SQUAD
ORIGINAL
SCORE
CAVERN
OF ANTI-MATTER, IN FABRIC
m83,
KNIFE + HEART
Matt
MORTON, APOLLO 11
Trent
REZNOR/Atticus ROSS, WAVES
COSTUME
DESIGN
Kym BARRETT, US
Niharika BHASIN/Praveen RAJA,
PETTA
Cypress COOK/Fatima IMAGINARIO,
DIAMANTINO
April NAPIER, BOOKSMART
Leticia PALACIOS, STARFISH
uncredited, LA FLOR
PRODUCTION
DESIGN
John
COLLINS, NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE
Cypress
COOK/Bruno DUARTE, DIAMANTINO
David
CRANK, KNIVES OUT
Ruth
DE JONG, US
Sidney
DuBOIS/Damien RONDEAU, KNIFE + HEART
Dana
DUMANN, HAGAZUSSA
Fernanda
GUERRERO, STARFISH
Melanie
JONES, THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA
Barbara
LING, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Paki
SMITH, IN FABRIC
Henrik
SVENSSON, MIDSOMMAR
UNDISTRIBUTED
FILM
ARROWS
OF OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE
CLIMATE
OF THE HUNTER
LIBERTE
MAD?
MANGOSHAKE
RETROSPEKT
ROT
SCREAM,
QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
SIBYL
Album:
1
FKA twigs/MAGDALENE
2
Carly Rae Jepsen/Dedicated
3
Mansionair
4
Tyler The Creator/IGOR
5
Celine Dion/Courage
6
Orville Peck/Pony
7
Lizzo/Cuz I Love You
8
Tan/Two by Tan
9
Frances Barber/Musik
10
m83/Knife + Heart
SONG
1
Ciara – Thinking ‘bout You
2
Lizzo & Missy Elliott – Tempo
3
Carly Rae Jepsen – Want You In My Room
4
Celine Dion – Lying Down
5
Inner City – Til We Meet Again 2019 (Inner City vs Carl Craig)
6
Paul Kennedy – Nobody’s Fool
7
Elle Fanning – Wildflowers
8
Mansionair – Alibi
9
Frances Barber and Pet Shop Boys – Ich bin Musik
10
S U R V I V E – Starcourt
11
Normani – Motivation
12
Billie Eilish – bad guy (Barry Harris Remix)
13
The Knocks – No Requests
14
Kevin McHale – Help Me Now
15
Bleachers – I Miss The Last Days of Disco
16
Aly and AJ – Church
17
Estiva – Trip
18
Bananarama – Tonight
19
Dido – Give You Up (Niko The Kid Remix)
20
Sofee – Thursday Night
TV
1
Los Espookys
2
Now Apocalypse
3
John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch
4
The Other Two/What We Do In the Shadows
5
Pose
6
Watchmen
7
I Think You Should Leave/Sherman’s Showcase
8
Russian Doll
9
A Black Lady Sketch Show
10
Fosse/Verdon
11
The Righteous Gemstones
12
Wellington Paranormal
13
The Mandalorian
14
The Terror
15
American Horror Story: 1984
16
My Favorite Shapes
17
Good Omens
18
Stranger Things
19
Too Old To Die Young
20
The Orville/Star Trek: Discovery
MUSICAL
PERFORMANCE ON TV
Sandra
BERNHARD/”Sometimes It Snows in April” - Pose
Bradley
COOPER/Lady GAGA/”The Shallow” - The 2019 Academy Awards
“Drop
It Low (for Jesus)” - Sherman’s Showcase
Billie
EILISH/”bad guy” - Saturday Night Live
“Grandma’s
Got a Boyfriend” - John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch
“Plain
Plate of Noodles” - John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch
MJ
RODRIGUEZ & George SALAZAR/”Suddenly Seymour” - The Late Late
Show with James Corden
“Thursday
Night” - Sherman’s Showcase
Podcasts
(in alphabetical order)
Attack
of the Queerwolf
Bad
Gays
Bait
Homophilia
How
Did This Get Made?
Keep
It
Linoleum
Knife
Nightmare
University
Pure
Cinema
Shock
Waves
Tales
from Beyond The Pale
The
Underculture
DISAPPOINTMENTS
LIST (NOTE: NOT WORST FILMS, JUST DISAPPOINTMENTS)
1
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
2
Joker
3
Les Miserables
4
I’m Just Fucking With You
5
The Dead Don’t Die
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