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Benny Safdie Swings and Misses in 'The Smashing Machine'

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · 8d

Plenty of punches are thrown but few connect in Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut “The Smashing Machine,” an awards-hungry drama that sacrifices depth for dress up. poplifestl.com/benny-safdie... #filmsky

By Alex McPherson Plenty of punches are thrown but few connect in Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut “The Smashing Machine,” an awards-hungry drama that sacrifices depth for dress up. Safdie’...

'Afternoons of Solitude' Is a Fascinating, Unnerving Look at the Abyss - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · 14d

Now available to rent/buy on Prime Video! Other digital platforms October 7. Definitely not a "feel good" film, but a must watch nevertheless. #filmsky

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jul 25

Yeah, another masterpiece incoming. Screening this weekend @wufilmseries.bsky.social ! poplifestl.com/afternoons-o... #filmsky

June Squibb And Erin Kellyman Excel In Scarlett Johansson’s Shaky Feature Debut 'Eleanor the Great' - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · 16d

Eleanor the 🤷 poplifestl.com/june-squibb-... #filmsky

Sports Horror Film 'Him' Is a Half-Hearted Tackle - Pop Life STL

Reposted by Alex McPherson

Webster Film Series @wufilmseries.bsky.social · 18d

TONIGHT and TOMORROW Hong Sangsoo's current release BY THE STREAM returns for its final two shows! With Kim Minhee and Kwon Haehyo. Showtime 7:30pm. Consensus from our Hong regulars after last week's preview is that this one is one of his best ever--everyone was aglow after the screening.

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · 22d

Alternately goofy and self-serious, director Justin Tipping’s “HIM” fumbles intriguing ideas and crash lands into a barren field of mediocrity. poplifestl.com/sports-horro... #filmsky

Darren Aronofsky Takes a Detour in Hyperviolent 'Caught Stealing' - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Sep 7

Great review.

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Sep 2

As it descends further into chaos, director Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller “Caught Stealing” becomes increasingly muddled; it’s a grimy, mean-spirited film that’s effective in spurts but remains dazed by (literal) hit-or-miss sensibilities. #filmsky poplifestl.com/darren-arono...

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Aug 29

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Reunite in Bumpy, Vibrant Crime Thriller 'Highest 2 Lowest' - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Aug 24

Highest 2 Lowest... more like, uh, Decent 2 Quite Good.

Epic Car Chase Through Russian Streets | The Bourne Supremacy

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Aug 23

Watching “Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave” on VHS while I was little pretty much sealed the deal for me being a lifelong cinephile.

Bright Wall/Dark Room @bwdr.bsky.social · Aug 23

What movie has had the most impact on your actual literal life? Not necessarily your favorite, but the one that’s most influenced or shaped something in your trajectory?

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Aug 23

Yeah, I think it’s time for a rewatch of the Bourne movies.

YouTube video by Action Picks

youtube.com

Reposted by Alex McPherson

Matt Zoller Seitz @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social · Aug 19

The missing piece of the equation explaining why so many critic positions are being eliminated is the little AI summaries at the top of Google results, which reduced click-throughs drastically. Once again, a tech company has stolen human labor and monetized it and doesn't care about the impact.

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Aug 6

Stop scrolling, & post two characters who bring you joy & happiness.

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Aug 3

Viscerally effective but narratively stretched beyond its limits, director Michael Shanks’ debut feature, Together, succeeds as a darkly funny look at codependency taken to outlandish extremes. thefictiondepartment.com/together-rev... #filmsky

Together REVIEW - Body-Horror Tango - The Fiction Department

Viscerally effective but narratively stretched beyond its limits, director Michael Shanks’ debut feature, Together, succeeds as a darkly funny look at

thefictiondepartment.com

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jul 27

Had to think about it a while, but I ended up really enjoying"Eddington." poplifestl.com/ari-asters-l... #filmsky

Ari Aster's Latest 'Eddington' Is a Frenzied, Absorbing Nightmare - Pop Life STL

'Afternoons of Solitude' Is a Fascinating, Unnerving Look at the Abyss - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jul 25

Yeah, another masterpiece incoming. Screening this weekend @wufilmseries.bsky.social ! poplifestl.com/afternoons-o... #filmsky

Eva Victor's 'Sorry, Baby' Is A Powerful Meditation on Pain and Healing - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jul 25

"Sorry, Baby" is one of the year's best films so far. poplifestl.com/sorry-baby-i... #filmsky

James Gunn Mostly Saves the Day in 'Superman' as Big-Hearted Comic Book Spectacle - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jul 14

Not quite "super," but pretty good. #filmsky poplifestl.com/james-gunn-m...

Boyle and Garland Deliver Outstanding Sequel '28 Years Later' That's Thrillingly Alive - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jun 29

At last, after what seems like 28 years later after the movie released, here's my review of "28 Years Later." poplifestl.com/boyle-and-ga...

'The Life of Chuck' Is a Glossy and Frustrating Exercise in Style Over Substance - Pop Life STL

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jun 23

Here's my New York Times Reader's Choice ballot for the best movies of the 21st century so far. Tough choices. Surprised they didn't have David Fincher's "The Killer" in their system...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
#filmsky

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jun 15

Happy No Kings Day (fuck Cheeto Mussolini), but, uh, here's my review of the mediocre "The Life of Chuck." poplifestl.com/the-life-of-...

Mid-Tier Wes Anderson 'The Phoenician Scheme' Is Enjoyably Chaotic - Pop Life STL

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jun 8

Favorite films of 2025 so far (unranked):
- Black Bag
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- Misericordia
- Eephus
- Sinners
- Blue Sun Palace
- April
-Caught by the Tides
#filmsky

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Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · Jun 8

Wes Anderson being Wes Anderson. Which is good! poplifestl.com/mid-tier-wes...

Alex McPherson @gdogmcp.bsky.social · May 31

Screening at @wufilmseries.bsky.social !