Michael Snydel
@snydel.bsky.social
He/him. Periodic writer about movies, regular musings about everything else. Former writer/podcaster; now i'm just trying to post through it.
I haven’t listened to enough heavy music this year. What do people recommend? “Heavy” can encompass everything from electronic music to hardcore to metal to noise to jazz.
November 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I haven’t listened to enough heavy music this year. What do people recommend? “Heavy” can encompass everything from electronic music to hardcore to metal to noise to jazz.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
Goodbye Jimmy Cliff. His vocal in this 1976 SNL performance, good lord---one of the best singers of his generation, of any generation. vimeo.com/155135842
many rivers to cross
jimmy cliff on saturday night live, 1976.
vimeo.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Goodbye Jimmy Cliff. His vocal in this 1976 SNL performance, good lord---one of the best singers of his generation, of any generation. vimeo.com/155135842
Reposted by Michael Snydel
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
Anyone who’s known me for a while knows how important this man and his work were to me. RIP, Jimmy Cliff. 🖤
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Anyone who’s known me for a while knows how important this man and his work were to me. RIP, Jimmy Cliff. 🖤
Reposted by Michael Snydel
R.I.P. Udo Kier (1944—2025)
November 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
R.I.P. Udo Kier (1944—2025)
Reposted by Michael Snydel
One of the best stories I found while I was researching my book on Suspiria was that in between shooting, Argento would go drinking in Munich with Udo Kier, Fassbinder and Bowie. So wild that Argento is the only one left now.
November 24, 2025 at 12:49 AM
One of the best stories I found while I was researching my book on Suspiria was that in between shooting, Argento would go drinking in Munich with Udo Kier, Fassbinder and Bowie. So wild that Argento is the only one left now.
We’re a couple of episodes into Pluribus, and I’m a little mixed on the writing, but I haven’t been this impressed by a tv production since The Rehearsal.
November 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
We’re a couple of episodes into Pluribus, and I’m a little mixed on the writing, but I haven’t been this impressed by a tv production since The Rehearsal.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
I’m seeing a lot of talk about Train Dreams on Netflix, but I wanted to point out that the new Mari Selvaraj (Karnan) blockbuster, Bison: Kaalamaadan, is also on there right now. www.netflix.com/title/81782075
Watch Bison Kaalamaadan | Netflix
In rural Tamil Nadu, a gifted kabaddi player fights for dignity and a community cast aside as he seeks to defy those who stand in his way.
www.netflix.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I’m seeing a lot of talk about Train Dreams on Netflix, but I wanted to point out that the new Mari Selvaraj (Karnan) blockbuster, Bison: Kaalamaadan, is also on there right now. www.netflix.com/title/81782075
Reposted by Michael Snydel
Caden will be on TCM this Monday for Part Two of our series. He will be on to discuss DOG DAY AFTERNOON and MA VIE EN ROSE. Later in the evening the great trans doc DRESSED IN BLUE will be receiving its TCM debut (perhaps its English language TV debut as well?). Make sure to watch or set your DVRs
On November 17 and 24, @willowcatelyn.bsky.social and I will be on TCM talking about films featured in our book. More details to come.
November 22, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Caden will be on TCM this Monday for Part Two of our series. He will be on to discuss DOG DAY AFTERNOON and MA VIE EN ROSE. Later in the evening the great trans doc DRESSED IN BLUE will be receiving its TCM debut (perhaps its English language TV debut as well?). Make sure to watch or set your DVRs
An all-timer just started.
Now playing (11:10 AM PST):
"Killer of Sheep" (1978)
By Charles Burnett
Runtime: 80 min.
"Killer of Sheep" (1978)
By Charles Burnett
Runtime: 80 min.
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
An all-timer just started.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
Netflix now has the Tamil language Indian sports drama BISON KAALAMAADAN, about an aspiring player of kabbadi (rugby-ish, looks like). A Diwali release…I don’t think it got great reviews, despite the director's rep following his coming of age tragedy VAAZHAI (on Hulu). I like VAAZHAI so I’m curious.
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Netflix now has the Tamil language Indian sports drama BISON KAALAMAADAN, about an aspiring player of kabbadi (rugby-ish, looks like). A Diwali release…I don’t think it got great reviews, despite the director's rep following his coming of age tragedy VAAZHAI (on Hulu). I like VAAZHAI so I’m curious.
I’m seeing a lot of talk about Train Dreams on Netflix, but I wanted to point out that the new Mari Selvaraj (Karnan) blockbuster, Bison: Kaalamaadan, is also on there right now. www.netflix.com/title/81782075
Watch Bison Kaalamaadan | Netflix
In rural Tamil Nadu, a gifted kabaddi player fights for dignity and a community cast aside as he seeks to defy those who stand in his way.
www.netflix.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I’m seeing a lot of talk about Train Dreams on Netflix, but I wanted to point out that the new Mari Selvaraj (Karnan) blockbuster, Bison: Kaalamaadan, is also on there right now. www.netflix.com/title/81782075
Reposted by Michael Snydel
i feel…nuts
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
November 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
i feel…nuts
Reposted by Michael Snydel
List of losers 👇 www.newsweek.com/full-list-of...
Full list of Democrats voting to condemn socialism as Zohran Mamdani comes to town
The House of Representatives voted on a resolution condemning socialism ahead of President Trump's meeting with Zohran Mamdani.
www.newsweek.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
List of losers 👇 www.newsweek.com/full-list-of...
There’s a particular niche of college/indie rock that nerds obsess about on online album brackets here and then in the same breath, tell you why Janet Jackson and Madonna are overrated. There are so many other kinds of music.
November 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
There’s a particular niche of college/indie rock that nerds obsess about on online album brackets here and then in the same breath, tell you why Janet Jackson and Madonna are overrated. There are so many other kinds of music.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
There’s nothing like the dopamine hit from the first time you recognize that Fatboy Slim sampled Angela Bassett’s line in STRANGE DAYS (1995) for “Right Here, Right Now”.
November 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
There’s nothing like the dopamine hit from the first time you recognize that Fatboy Slim sampled Angela Bassett’s line in STRANGE DAYS (1995) for “Right Here, Right Now”.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
🎉BUCKET LIST BYLINE ALERT🎉: For @avclub.com, I wrote about the transcendent, haunting TRAIN DREAMS (which is still playing @thegrandcinema.bsky.social ) and how it cuts into the Pacific Northwest. It's got history on its mind just as it urgently speaks to the present📽️
www.avclub.com/train-dreams...
www.avclub.com/train-dreams...
November 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
🎉BUCKET LIST BYLINE ALERT🎉: For @avclub.com, I wrote about the transcendent, haunting TRAIN DREAMS (which is still playing @thegrandcinema.bsky.social ) and how it cuts into the Pacific Northwest. It's got history on its mind just as it urgently speaks to the present📽️
www.avclub.com/train-dreams...
www.avclub.com/train-dreams...
This has always been my favorite song from The Stone Roses, and it only works so well because of that deftly insistent bassline. RIP Mani. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWP5...
I Am the Resurrection (Remastered 2009)
YouTube video by The Stone Roses - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This has always been my favorite song from The Stone Roses, and it only works so well because of that deftly insistent bassline. RIP Mani. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWP5...
Reposted by Michael Snydel
Hot take but the president openly calling for the murder of his political opposition should be grounds for immediate impeachment and removal for office.
November 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Hot take but the president openly calling for the murder of his political opposition should be grounds for immediate impeachment and removal for office.
NW: Drugstore Cowboy (Gus Van Sant, 1989)
November 20, 2025 at 1:03 AM
NW: Drugstore Cowboy (Gus Van Sant, 1989)
Reposted by Michael Snydel
i think this list of films in conversation with OBAA from @judysquirrels.bsky.social is really lovely. i might do that for bugonia. letterboxd.com/riotglasses/...
films in conversation with ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
A list of 14 films compiled on Letterboxd, including Born in Flames (1983), The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973), Citizen Ruth (1996), Bulworth (1998) and How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022).
letterboxd.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
i think this list of films in conversation with OBAA from @judysquirrels.bsky.social is really lovely. i might do that for bugonia. letterboxd.com/riotglasses/...
I really liked Caught by the Tides and its remixing of Jia's previous themes, characters, and fixations - but I can't imagine someone seeing it as their first Jia film. It's such a fusion of his sensibilities, and lands experientially somewhere between Ash Is Purest White and Mountains May Depart.
November 19, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I really liked Caught by the Tides and its remixing of Jia's previous themes, characters, and fixations - but I can't imagine someone seeing it as their first Jia film. It's such a fusion of his sensibilities, and lands experientially somewhere between Ash Is Purest White and Mountains May Depart.
Reposted by Michael Snydel
I was chuckling at that post saying we should be prepared for people we "admire" to be in the Epstein Files because it's definitely a you problem if you think politicians and money grubbing rich people and Silicon Valley creeps are worthy of admiration in the first place.
Not for nothing but if you’re gonna print the Trump White House’s attack strategy verbatim you might want to offer an assessment of whether it will actually work? www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
‘Democrats are going to come to regret this’: After Epstein vote, Trump ready to attack
The White House is frustrated about being backed into a corner on the Epstein vote. They plan to punish Democrats for it.
www.politico.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I was chuckling at that post saying we should be prepared for people we "admire" to be in the Epstein Files because it's definitely a you problem if you think politicians and money grubbing rich people and Silicon Valley creeps are worthy of admiration in the first place.
NW: Caught by the Tides (Jia, 2025)
November 19, 2025 at 2:02 AM
NW: Caught by the Tides (Jia, 2025)