Sam Van Haren
@samshotfirst.bsky.social
Associate Editor @talkfilmsociety.com Host of Keanu Believe It podcast, featured on various others. Talks too much about movies, cartoons, and Keanu. ♿️ he/him
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/8EtJ
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/8EtJ
Pinned
Sam Van Haren
@samshotfirst.bsky.social
· Dec 31
My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2024:
Dune: Part Two
The Substance
Rebel Ridge
The Wild Robot
Furiosa
Hometown Prison
A Different Man
Challengers
A Quiet Place: Day One
Love Lies Bleeding
Dune: Part Two
The Substance
Rebel Ridge
The Wild Robot
Furiosa
Hometown Prison
A Different Man
Challengers
A Quiet Place: Day One
Love Lies Bleeding
Timeline is too bleak. Here’s Elijah Wood spinning “Golden” by HUNTR/X
December 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Timeline is too bleak. Here’s Elijah Wood spinning “Golden” by HUNTR/X
So what’s the count now?
Disney
Paramount
Comcast
Sony
Netflix
Harder and fucking harder to be an optimist. Naïvely thought I wouldn’t live to see cyberpunk times.
Disney
Paramount
Comcast
Sony
Netflix
Harder and fucking harder to be an optimist. Naïvely thought I wouldn’t live to see cyberpunk times.
December 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
So what’s the count now?
Disney
Paramount
Comcast
Sony
Netflix
Harder and fucking harder to be an optimist. Naïvely thought I wouldn’t live to see cyberpunk times.
Disney
Paramount
Comcast
Sony
Netflix
Harder and fucking harder to be an optimist. Naïvely thought I wouldn’t live to see cyberpunk times.
Possibly the best ending of the 21st Century so far
December 5, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Possibly the best ending of the 21st Century so far
Since Claire Danes overacting has been memed again thanks to THE BEAST IN ME, feel like it’s worth pointing out that she was great in the under-discussed FULL CIRCLE.
December 5, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Since Claire Danes overacting has been memed again thanks to THE BEAST IN ME, feel like it’s worth pointing out that she was great in the under-discussed FULL CIRCLE.
I trust Matt Reeves.
December 4, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I trust Matt Reeves.
I used think CABARET was an overrated movie. 14 year old me was real dumb.
December 4, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I used think CABARET was an overrated movie. 14 year old me was real dumb.
I’m six years late to the party but I started FOSSE/VERDON and it’s excellent.
December 4, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I’m six years late to the party but I started FOSSE/VERDON and it’s excellent.
What the fuck is a Nexus Point News?
The day I cut scoop sites out of my life came far too late but I’m much happier now.
The day I cut scoop sites out of my life came far too late but I’m much happier now.
December 4, 2025 at 2:05 AM
What the fuck is a Nexus Point News?
The day I cut scoop sites out of my life came far too late but I’m much happier now.
The day I cut scoop sites out of my life came far too late but I’m much happier now.
Thinking about William Sadler as Death saying “You have sunk my Battleship” always lifts my spirits.
December 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Thinking about William Sadler as Death saying “You have sunk my Battleship” always lifts my spirits.
No Amazon Prime Video, I will not pay an extra $3/month to remove ads. Especially for by far the worst user interface in streaming.
December 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
No Amazon Prime Video, I will not pay an extra $3/month to remove ads. Especially for by far the worst user interface in streaming.
TRON: ARES posits that Cillian Murphy + Gillian Anderson = Evan Peters
December 3, 2025 at 3:19 AM
TRON: ARES posits that Cillian Murphy + Gillian Anderson = Evan Peters
“His recent appearance on Bret Easton Ellis’ podcast”
a group of police officers are standing in a room and one of them is saying oh that makes sense
Alt: Andy Samberg in Brooklyn 9-9 says “oh, that makes sense”
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:10 AM
“His recent appearance on Bret Easton Ellis’ podcast”
I dug TRON: ARES considerably more than I was expecting. This series remains my kind of nonsense. Does lots of awesome things visually and sonically. Even Leto’s signature stilted performance fits (still he can fuck off). Story is whatever but Greta Lee is to thank for any shred of emotional weight.
December 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I dug TRON: ARES considerably more than I was expecting. This series remains my kind of nonsense. Does lots of awesome things visually and sonically. Even Leto’s signature stilted performance fits (still he can fuck off). Story is whatever but Greta Lee is to thank for any shred of emotional weight.
Tarantino is a contrarian know-it-all who likes to pick fights. Wild he was never on Twitter.
December 2, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Tarantino is a contrarian know-it-all who likes to pick fights. Wild he was never on Twitter.
MOTHER MARY, you have my attention
December 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
MOTHER MARY, you have my attention
My pettiness for today: Unfollowing people on Letterboxd for snarky takedown reviews of movies I love
December 2, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My pettiness for today: Unfollowing people on Letterboxd for snarky takedown reviews of movies I love
I needed this today. Cookie Monster asking for an “off camera cue” sent me.
'Forks Out': A Benoit Blanc Sesame Street Mystery | Wake Up Dead Man | Netflix
YouTube video by Still Watching Netflix
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I needed this today. Cookie Monster asking for an “off camera cue” sent me.
Chris Chalk is a great actor and is doing amazing work as Dick Hallorann in WELCOME TO DERRY. In fact he’s so good it’s drawing more attention to the show’s shortcomings.
December 2, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Chris Chalk is a great actor and is doing amazing work as Dick Hallorann in WELCOME TO DERRY. In fact he’s so good it’s drawing more attention to the show’s shortcomings.
Dean Cundey has never won an Oscar. And has only been nominated once. Rude.
December 2, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Dean Cundey has never won an Oscar. And has only been nominated once. Rude.
Trying and failing to think of a movie off the top of my head that has blues and blacks that look as good as THE THING and HEAT.
December 2, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Trying and failing to think of a movie off the top of my head that has blues and blacks that look as good as THE THING and HEAT.
Every fade to black or pan to black transition here is a masterclass.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 2, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Every fade to black or pan to black transition here is a masterclass.
Bennings hates dogs *and* Stevie Wonder. No great loss there.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Bennings hates dogs *and* Stevie Wonder. No great loss there.
Carpenter’s precise direction married to Morricone’s incredible score. Cinema peaked.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Carpenter’s precise direction married to Morricone’s incredible score. Cinema peaked.