Richard Whittaker
@rmwhittaker.bsky.social
Award-winning reporter and film critic.
Veep, Austin Film Critics Association.
Bylines at Austin Chronicle. The Times, Birth.Movies.Death.
Heard on One of Us, Overhated, Certified Forgotten.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critics/richard-whittaker/movies
Veep, Austin Film Critics Association.
Bylines at Austin Chronicle. The Times, Birth.Movies.Death.
Heard on One of Us, Overhated, Certified Forgotten.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critics/richard-whittaker/movies
Pinned
What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are:
Existential Soviet Cinema
French hipsters play at acting and movies
Screwball cynicism meets Capraesque heart
British flamboyance and theatrics that are resolutely antithetical to the British moral majority
Arnie being Arnie
Existential Soviet Cinema
French hipsters play at acting and movies
Screwball cynicism meets Capraesque heart
British flamboyance and theatrics that are resolutely antithetical to the British moral majority
Arnie being Arnie
- Films from 1932 in which three chorus girl gold diggers who share a flat try to survive the Depression
- Craggy former gunslinger bleakly confronts his life’s work
- Miscarriage of justice documentary
- Half-arsed ‘80s buddy comedy
- Holly Hunter whispering
- Craggy former gunslinger bleakly confronts his life’s work
- Miscarriage of justice documentary
- Half-arsed ‘80s buddy comedy
- Holly Hunter whispering
Top 5 movie genres:
- Godfrey Reggio ponders existence.
- cosmic terror makes a family sad.
- Skywalkers.
- Anthropomorphized animals learn jazz.
- Hi-8 verite.
- Godfrey Reggio ponders existence.
- cosmic terror makes a family sad.
- Skywalkers.
- Anthropomorphized animals learn jazz.
- Hi-8 verite.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
It's always fun talking with the artists behind Disney films, and I had a chance to catch up with Zootopia 2 environments supervisor Jay Jackson about creating the new district of Marsh Market for the upcoming sequel. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/maki...
Making the Moss Grow on Zootopia 2 With UT Grad Jay Jackson • The Austin Chronicle
The city of Zootopia isn’t built with bricks. It’s built with environments, and those are the responsibility of Austin native, UT graduate, and Disney animator Jay Jackson. Having previously worked on...
www.austinchronicle.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
It's always fun talking with the artists behind Disney films, and I had a chance to catch up with Zootopia 2 environments supervisor Jay Jackson about creating the new district of Marsh Market for the upcoming sequel. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/maki...
It's always fun talking with the artists behind Disney films, and I had a chance to catch up with Zootopia 2 environments supervisor Jay Jackson about creating the new district of Marsh Market for the upcoming sequel. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/maki...
Making the Moss Grow on Zootopia 2 With UT Grad Jay Jackson • The Austin Chronicle
The city of Zootopia isn’t built with bricks. It’s built with environments, and those are the responsibility of Austin native, UT graduate, and Disney animator Jay Jackson. Having previously worked on...
www.austinchronicle.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
It's always fun talking with the artists behind Disney films, and I had a chance to catch up with Zootopia 2 environments supervisor Jay Jackson about creating the new district of Marsh Market for the upcoming sequel. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/maki...
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Tapping pre-order on this was pretty surreal.
November 25, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Tapping pre-order on this was pretty surreal.
Share a 90s movie you think deserves more love ...
Waking Ned aka Waking Ned Devine is a charming addition to the nineties Irish wave. A rogue lottery ticket becomes what keeps a community together.
Waking Ned aka Waking Ned Devine is a charming addition to the nineties Irish wave. A rogue lottery ticket becomes what keeps a community together.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Share a 90s movie you think deserves more love ...
Waking Ned aka Waking Ned Devine is a charming addition to the nineties Irish wave. A rogue lottery ticket becomes what keeps a community together.
Waking Ned aka Waking Ned Devine is a charming addition to the nineties Irish wave. A rogue lottery ticket becomes what keeps a community together.
Good lord it's too early to wade through all your bad Star Wars takes today.
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Good lord it's too early to wade through all your bad Star Wars takes today.
Marley was Dead: To Begin With, Charlie Brown.
I like simple pleasures, like butter in my ass and lollipops in my mouth, Charlie Brown
He Was Some Kind of Man, Charlie Brown
November 24, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Marley was Dead: To Begin With, Charlie Brown.
I got to interview Udo Kier once and, contrary to the myth, he was funny, kind, and wanted to talk about his dogs, who he missed terribly.
November 24, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I got to interview Udo Kier once and, contrary to the myth, he was funny, kind, and wanted to talk about his dogs, who he missed terribly.
A movie that takes place where you're from.
November 23, 2025 at 5:40 PM
A movie that takes place where you're from.
Modern Republicans are too stupid to trust with an egg for a high school "pretend it's a baby" project, never mind foreign policy.
November 23, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Modern Republicans are too stupid to trust with an egg for a high school "pretend it's a baby" project, never mind foreign policy.
Soon I discovered that this rock thing was true.
Jerry Lee Lewis was the Devil.
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet.
All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world.
So there was only one thing that I could do
Was ding-a-ding-dang my dang-a-long-ling-long.
Jerry Lee Lewis was the Devil.
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet.
All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world.
So there was only one thing that I could do
Was ding-a-ding-dang my dang-a-long-ling-long.
Nicotine
Valium
Vicodin
Marijuana
Ecstasy
And alcohol
C-c-c-c-c-cocaine
Valium
Vicodin
Marijuana
Ecstasy
And alcohol
C-c-c-c-c-cocaine
November 23, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Soon I discovered that this rock thing was true.
Jerry Lee Lewis was the Devil.
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet.
All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world.
So there was only one thing that I could do
Was ding-a-ding-dang my dang-a-long-ling-long.
Jerry Lee Lewis was the Devil.
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet.
All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world.
So there was only one thing that I could do
Was ding-a-ding-dang my dang-a-long-ling-long.
The only thing I'll regret is that I...
I never let you hold me back.
I never let you hold me back.
November 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
The only thing I'll regret is that I...
I never let you hold me back.
I never let you hold me back.
How long can @vanityfair.com possibly keep Olivia Nuzzi - an ethics nightmare with no editorial experience and the writing flair of a moody teen - in any position, never mind West Coast editor.
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
How long can @vanityfair.com possibly keep Olivia Nuzzi - an ethics nightmare with no editorial experience and the writing flair of a moody teen - in any position, never mind West Coast editor.
This was a week ago. Time flies, but stupidity is eternal.
Everything about this is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma.
True comedy is watching Dave Portnay trying to use a hammer
November 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
This was a week ago. Time flies, but stupidity is eternal.
@alasdairstuart.bsky.social gets it.
Post your favorite Star Trek character. Wrong anwers only.
November 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
@alasdairstuart.bsky.social gets it.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Wake Up Dead Man is a real return after the lumpen Glass Onion, a whipsmart whodunnit that's also an interesting meditation on faith. Except ... hm. @rianjohnson.bsky.social, if you ever want to talk about your depiction of atheism, we can chat.
a man in a suit and tie stands in front of an altar with his arms outstretched
ALT: a man in a suit and tie stands in front of an altar with his arms outstretched
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Wake Up Dead Man is a real return after the lumpen Glass Onion, a whipsmart whodunnit that's also an interesting meditation on faith. Except ... hm. @rianjohnson.bsky.social, if you ever want to talk about your depiction of atheism, we can chat.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made clear: “This war can only end with Ukraine’s full consent. It cannot be resolved by great powers over the heads of those under attack.” He stressed that Europe must be part of any solution and warned that Ukraine’s defeat would destabilize the entire continent.
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made clear: “This war can only end with Ukraine’s full consent. It cannot be resolved by great powers over the heads of those under attack.” He stressed that Europe must be part of any solution and warned that Ukraine’s defeat would destabilize the entire continent.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Also a reminder that this is the most terrifying character in modern cinema.
a girl with red hair is sitting at a table with her head resting on her hand
ALT: a girl with red hair is sitting at a table with her head resting on her hand
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Also a reminder that this is the most terrifying character in modern cinema.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Finally saw Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc in the theater and it's the year's best animated feature. Anyone expecting a pop version of Junji Ito, prepare yourself for something more like A Silent Voice or Liz and the Bluebird. The tragedy of an abused kid, just with massive demon battles.
a man and a woman are looking at each other
ALT: a man and a woman are looking at each other
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Finally saw Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc in the theater and it's the year's best animated feature. Anyone expecting a pop version of Junji Ito, prepare yourself for something more like A Silent Voice or Liz and the Bluebird. The tragedy of an abused kid, just with massive demon battles.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
I chatted with Ken Burns about his new PBS series, The American Revolution (not included in the interview, how little he laughed when I called the founding fathers "tax dodgers." www.austinchronicle.com/news/ken-bur...
Ken Burns Ensures the Revolution Will Be Televised
The war is over, but not the revolution, Burns says
www.austinchronicle.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I chatted with Ken Burns about his new PBS series, The American Revolution (not included in the interview, how little he laughed when I called the founding fathers "tax dodgers." www.austinchronicle.com/news/ken-bur...
Look it up, kids.
The Russo-American plan to carve up the Ukraine is basically a new Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
November 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Look it up, kids.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Shelby Oaks remains one of my favorite horror films of the year, and I talked to director Chris Stuckmann and stars Sarah Durn and Camille Sullivan about how their crowdfunded indie became part of Neon's post-Best Picture Oscar slate. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/the-...
The Second Life of Shelby Oaks • The Austin Chronicle
It’s not often that a filmmaker gets to go back and finish a film for a second time. But that’s exactly what happened for critic turned director Chris Stuckmann on his debut feature, Shelby Oaks. Prod...
www.austinchronicle.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Shelby Oaks remains one of my favorite horror films of the year, and I talked to director Chris Stuckmann and stars Sarah Durn and Camille Sullivan about how their crowdfunded indie became part of Neon's post-Best Picture Oscar slate. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/the-...
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Just a reminder, “Epstein” is the name of the sex trafficker.
The president is called “Epstein’s monster.”
The president is called “Epstein’s monster.”
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Just a reminder, “Epstein” is the name of the sex trafficker.
The president is called “Epstein’s monster.”
The president is called “Epstein’s monster.”
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
🎵 “Join Ice” - @wellesmusic on Colbert
November 22, 2025 at 1:54 PM
🎵 “Join Ice” - @wellesmusic on Colbert
He is the weirdest. The combination of greed, malice, and senility.
A reporter asks if Mamdani stands by calling Trump a fascist. Mamdani starts to give a delicate answer.
Trump (smiles, pats Mamdani's arm): "That's OK, you can just say yes. It's easier. I don't mind."
Trump (smiles, pats Mamdani's arm): "That's OK, you can just say yes. It's easier. I don't mind."
November 21, 2025 at 10:12 PM
He is the weirdest. The combination of greed, malice, and senility.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
Good news for out-of-town SXSW regulars! The Paramount is getting new seats! Bad news, not for another year, and it will be closed for construction during SXSW 2027. www.austinchronicle.com/arts/paramou...
Paramount and State Theatres to Receive Multiyear, $55 Million Renovation • The Austin Chronicle
Next time you’re in the Paramount Theatre, take a look up to the opera boxes, stage right. Look closely. On one, the paint is pink and faded, the gold cracked and peeling, and the surrounding plaster ...
www.austinchronicle.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Good news for out-of-town SXSW regulars! The Paramount is getting new seats! Bad news, not for another year, and it will be closed for construction during SXSW 2027. www.austinchronicle.com/arts/paramou...