Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Really cool use of film footage to create a new film, goes way into depth on Los Angeles as city and character and backdrop and cultural phenomenon, sort of wasted on me since I've never been there, but I liked the narrator's voice.

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Too stressful for me; too many normal people doing stupid things and getting into trouble; I like to watch smart people do smart things and still get into trouble.

Border (2018)

I appreciate this Swedish film for its uniqueness, both in story (never quite seen a fairy tale concept treated quite like this) and in effects / setting / makeup (you have to watch it to understand), and while the plot sort of left the rails a bit at the end, I am really glad I watched it.

The English Understand Wool by Hellen DeWitt

This charming novella pulls in all of DeWitt’s classic themes and subjects - language, wealth, fabrics/tailoring, and clever youth.

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

Flawless storytelling in Lord Grimdark’s fifth entry of his fantasy epic, just superbly well done and crucial to the overall development of the series - I wish I had read these in order. 

A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace

On my second read through this early essay collection by one of my favorite authors I’m struck with how much fun the travel writing is and how deep the cultural critiques are and how both types of essay mix elements of each other in each. 

Violent Night (2022)

Either John Leguizamo is bad now or this director doesn't understand why he's great… might be both. 

Fight or Flight (2025)

Actually too stupid for me to finish; I just need some internal consistency, particularly around the physical rules of the universe, in order to enjoy a story.

The Fall Guy (2024)

In my quest for stupid action comedies as an alcohol substitute I broke an important rule of (consuming) lowbrow art which is to never watch the thing about making the thing, it's always solipsistic and horribly boring unless done with a deft touch (which this was not, I mean really the opposite of deft).

Heads of State (2025)

Decent stupid absurd action comedy for when brain turn off, the leads do a great job. 

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

Cinematically/technically excellent, historically fascinating, very touching at times, sort of old-fashioned and boring at other times, overall a great watch.

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

An excellent entry in the very long First Law series, a decent standalone story all its own, heavy theme of apprenticeship and trust, some great lines from some great characters. 

The Miernik Dossier by Charles McCarry

This 70s spy classic is a standout hit for its memorable characters, stylish hero, and for its masterful depiction of cold war confusion and intrigue, but it definitely reads like it was written a long time ago.

'71 (2014)

Tense, stylish, stressful, confusing, unsatisfying, and challenging for the face-blind.

A Simple Favor (2018)

This is what happens when you do Gone Girl but make it fun and low stakes and honestly I'm here for it, a sad truth I may be discovering as part of this blog is that I only want to watch fun and low stakes movies, ever.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

Good casting and acting, also from supporting cast, very stylish romantic thriller, got a little heavy handed on the twists and turns and tricks, not that I mind that, I just mind the inconsistency where a movie will start out on one level of unbelievable and then progressively escalate as it wends.