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trwesterman.bsky.social
@trwesterman.bsky.social
330 followers 270 following 910 posts
Writer. Movies. Rock & Roll aficionado. Horror fan. Political genius.
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trwesterman.bsky.social
4 Werner Herzog Produktions with his best Fiend (who’s thankfully now the evil dead).

Alt-text for mini-reviews.

Follow my Letterbox to see my full week:
boxd.it/b3JeX

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
1. Klaus Kinski portrays a Brazilian gangster turned Cracker Cobra Verde who ruins the life of his plantation owner employer who didn’t know he’d invited an outlaw home; dispatched on a suicide mission to restart the slave trade the British ended (and enforced the prohibition of), Cobra succeeds in enslavement, and sets himself up as a bush king; it’s a complicated critique of colonial ills. 2. Fitzcarraldo. While I prefer Aguirre that has a shorter runtime without a wasted frame, only a filmmaker of Herzog’s ingenuity would match the determination of his character and actually move a massive boat over an Amazonian mountain to jump rivers. The real tribes people make the film too. I find the Opera stuff a little hard to take as it’s hard to believe headhunters would be slotted by the sound of a victrola record over the loud river. Still, it’s another masterpiece with a fraught shoot due to intense naturalism; yet I believe Herzog could have even moved the mountains. 3. Kinski as a soldier driven mad by the establishment; it’s Herzog and Kinski’s shortest collaboration, yet also a long time for what’s a cinematic murder ballad. I found the dialogue confusing but it ends strong. 4. Nosferatu the Vampire. Herzog pays homage and improves upon FW to make the best vampire movie ever made. The timing of Kinski’s movements and exhausted anger driven madness make the most believably sociopathic Count Dracula rendition of them all. The man was a monster, but a genius at capturing a captivatingly evil presence. I admire Herzog but find Kinski talented albeit loathsome. Luckily, he’s dead so I watch these in good conscience knowing Klaus reaps no reward.
February 6, 2026 at 9:46 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
My last 4 watched, with a middle 2 from Mr BIG.

Alt-text for mini-reviews.

Follow my Letterbox to see my full week:
boxd.it/b3JeX

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
My last 4 watched on Letterboxd. 1. Johnny Mnemonic. Set 3 years ago, in a cyberpunk future steeped in Orientalism, Keanu first honed his Clint Eastwood impression. It’s an interesting mix of floppy discs and prescient futurism concerning the “data wars” and other good guesses. Henry Rollins plays the other Spider not in Avatars and Ice T, the Ice killa as heavenly resistance. 2. the Magic Sword. A lose retelling of St George and the Dragon by Mr Big. Basil Rathbone as the evil sorcerer opposition, and Dr Frank from 2001: a Space Odyssey (Gary Lockwood) as Sir George; he’s playing 20, was 23 and looks like he’s going on 47. Estelle Winwood as George’s witchy adopted mom steals the show; it has a low budget charm for 1962 albeit it was behind the times even then, low-budget. 3. The Last Drive In edition of The Spider also directed by the Magic Sword’s Mr Big. It’s an entertaining Tarantula/Them rip off, a nature strikes back eco horror pic that even has a Rocksploitation reanimation, a sub-genre by the 80s, or more recently “Dead Ant.” 4. Train Dreams. See Letterboxd for my thoughts. It’s a great neo-western steeped in naturalism that takes full advantage of the dreamlike nature of cinema. I now how 2 best picture nominees to see, Hamnet and Sentimental Value.
January 30, 2026 at 10:38 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Catherine O’Hara was the funniest comedian alive, a genius. I loved her WTF interview. Her “uh-oh” when being asked about college made me laugh so hard, as did Beetlejuice I&II, the Guest movies, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone, After Hours, Wild Robot, Wyatt Earp…
youtu.be/6eMyUyOgSHw?...
WTF with Marc Maron - Catherine O'Hara Interview
YouTube video by theflyby
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 8:02 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
My last 4 watched—best picture nominee bun, zombie meat filling; it’s a newish movie sandwich. 🥪

Alt-text for mini-reviews.

Follow my Letterbox to see my full week:
boxd.it/b3JeX

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞 #oscars #28yearslater #onebattleafteranother #bonetemple #thesecretagent
My last 4 watched on Letterboxd: 1. One Battle After Another. Thomas Pynchon inspired hippie conspiracy theory satire that offers action, suspense, and a lot of laughs. Both sides get shown in all their goofy glory, but only one side has something worth fighting for. 2. 28 Years Later. I may bump this one up to 5 stars as everything that I still had questions about gets resolved by… 3. 28YL: the Bone Temple. I’m a big fan of Nia DaCosta’s and Jordan Peele’s collaboration on rebooting Candyman. She makes another horror masterpiece in this follow up to Danny Boyle’s film. Both share a screenplay by the best screenwriter working today, Alex Garland. Garland delivers and while it’s easy to pit which movie ranks above the other, this seems akin to the original Star Wars trilogy, that without New Hope, you couldn’t have an Empire Strikes Back. In a way, the original trilogy is like 3 acts in one long film, and this film reminds me a lot of Empire in how it’s a brilliant continuation that raises the artistic stakes while leaving us wanting more. 4. The Secret Agent. It’s an interesting story which all made sense by the end, but while it adds up, the sum isn’t much; the deliberate pacing takes 4-5 more minutes for each scene to play out than it needs. This could easily be compressed and improved into a 2 hour movie. The ending seemed to optimize anti-climax. For a best picture nominee, I expected more, yet at its best, there’s some memorable scenes, story ideas. A lot of parallelism gets drawn which makes it feel like a rhyming poem that seems to hold a cryptic mystery but one could also summarize it and fairly hear in reply, “that’s it?” The performances sold a lot of the movie, but there’s a lot of fat. The Brutalist compares except that film thematically matched the subject matter of building a grand structure that seems overwrought but has meaning, whereas this had less claim to the length.
January 23, 2026 at 12:08 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
My last 4 watched on Letterbox, awards bait might be the theme 🎣 🎞️

Alt/description for mini-reviews.
Follow my Letterbox to see my full week:
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#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
My last 4 watched on Letterbox 1. Bugonia. I’ve seen a lot of this Director’s work, Yorgos Lanthimos, and I often find it uncomfortable albeit unique. I found this movie more rewarding albeit I’m not sure about the reversal-on-a-reversal end, that implies conspiracism belongs in the marketplace of ideas and isn’t a rotten fruit. 2. Lucky. His secret will stay with me, but I hope the body of 90 year old HDS will not; the cameo by David Lynch setting up his will to leave to his tortoise hits harder now. 3. The Bad Guys 2. I love the voice cast, and while I’m older than the main intended audience, this has plenty of heist and spy movie references to make it fun for adults. I especially enjoy Marc Maron as Mr Snake—Marc’s a good guy but he plays a great bad guy. He always makes me laugh and never phones it in by just sounding like Marc. I also needed something lighter after… 4. Marty Supreme. Maron first introduced me to the Safdie bros, this being Josh’s solo effort; like a lot of their work, there’s great character and dialogue moments, but they always give way to unrelenting action that’s thrilling yet bleak and pretty hardcore. Marty and those he encounters aren’t always “likeable” but they’re always “compelling.” I’d take a million Martys over boring, likeable but forgettable protagonists. Also, Timothee has a surprisingly poor complexion when shot in extreme closeups, yet it’s a pretty brave and real performance not to hide imperfections under that Dune CG or makeup miracle working. That’s a little bit unkind to comment on, nor would I have noticed if not for the Sergio-Leone-if-he-could-shoot-pores cinematography, but it’s pretty cool for a leading man to allow a less than photogenic approach. We had a bacterial POV of the cast. Also, fun to see a cameo from the golden voiced Ted the once homeless man. Get that SAG insurance, Ted!
January 16, 2026 at 1:48 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Bob Weir.

The other lead singer of the Grateful Dead, the Dead, the Dead and Company, WolfBros, and Ratdog.

Fuck Cancer. And like Alice Cooper, forever love the Dead. ☠️ 🌹 🥀 🐻

He takes Cassidy’s driving method to the grave.

youtu.be/3WLTs_LyPKA?...

#music #musicsky #theotherone #bobweir #rip
January 11, 2026 at 1:56 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
My last 4 watched.

Shock and Awe I missed when released due to War on Terror fatigue, but it’s a great Rob Reiner movie about the Knight Ridder reporters who did right, as fake reporters like Judy Miller had their evil way with the world.

boxd.it/b3JeX

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
My last 4 watched posters for Shock and Awe, The Ballad of Wallis Island, New Year’s Evil, and Jonah Hex.
January 2, 2026 at 11:26 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Happy New Year, kiddies.
Crypt Keeper in tux and happy new year hat with confetti falling.
January 1, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Reposted
sifill.bsky.social
Imagine watching Sinatra, son of Dolly & Antonini born in Genoa & Sicily, respectively, and Martin, son of Gaetano & Angela, born in Montesilvano, Italy & Ohio respectively, (Angela to parents born in Monasterolo, Italy), and crusading against the value of children of immigrants to the U.S.
December 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Merry Christmas!
🎁 Enjoy the mini-game!

Xmas Bonus, dedicated to the late-great Rob Reiner.

youtu.be/o1-XD_C3jh4?...

#music #musicsky #adventcalendar #musicadventcalendar #advent #nowplaying #quiz #minigame #christmas #merrychristmas
#musicchallenge #robreiner #theunderplayedchristmascaroladvent
Final Mini Quiz! First to answer wins! It’s text on a music store background. Fill in the blank style; a famous cowboy gives a hint and a clue to the inspiration if you know what I mean... I spotted two letters on week 4 as it’s the hardest. I hope you enjoyed this; thanks to those who engaged! Love to y’all and your families; I’m about to get downstairs to my people.
December 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
My last 4 watched, Christmas horror is my reason for the season.

My thoughts are in the alt-text.
Please follow my letterbox if you like my takes:
boxd.it/b3JeX

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays or you-do-you & that’s coo’ too.

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
1. Don’t Open Till Christmas. This UK Christmas horror film inverts the serial killer Santa, trope with a Giallo style killer who hunts Santas. A fraught production with a lead quitting makes the movie feel listless in that it’s lead-less. The first guy on the call sheet tried to direct then quit; the screenwriter took over then drank on the set until they fired him. Other storylines then take precedence, after the lead cop leaves, and while we do get a complete story, the highlights are the seedy juxtapositions against Christmas of sex and violence. Investigations sometimes turn over so it weirdly helps the verisimilitude having a third person universal pov, rare in film. There’s an especially great London torture museum sequence. 2. Martin Starr as a dad who inherits a farm in Norway, uprooting his kids and their stepmom. The young boy adjusts when he meets the nissen who lives in their barn. Christmas gnomes that eat porridge and represent Scandinavian ancestors, we often see in the US too. This horror comedy that’s a lesser Gremlins won me over more on a second viewing, but also has some pretty obnoxious jokes targeting reasonable European criticisms of American cultural violence. I also find that the ending, the elf’s change in heart after calling in reinforcements, wasn’t really earned. The elves forgive their slaughter a little too easily after such a bloody battle, and sometimes main character armor keeps the logical thing from happening. 3. Elf in the Hood. This came across like a student film that needed another re-write, most scenes playing like a first table read by apathetic participants in a class. There’s some okay SFX for a indie. 4. Better Watch Out. This movie has an amazing turn and while it cheats a little for its reveal, and has moments I can pick apart, overall it’s so fun and so much works I don’t really care. The pacing really makes it fun too, fast paced and action packed. Darkly funny too. It’s a top 5 Xmas horror for me.
December 19, 2025 at 5:55 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
I had a smudge on my phone that looked like a human skull. I wanted to take a picture of it using my camera phone, but obviously can’t. So then I almost took a screenshot until I realized the smudge wasn’t part of the displayed image. So instead a wet wipe has robbed prosperity of great art.
December 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted
markosilberhand.bsky.social
.
In memory of a truly great . . .

... Rest in Peace Rob Reiner

💔 🙏 💔
December 15, 2025 at 8:53 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
#music #musicsky #tuccac #xmas #christmascarols #christmasmusic #underplayed #musicchallenge #nowplaying #vinyl #advent #adventcalendar #musicadventcalendar

Thanks to everyone who has engaged so far! Were a little pass the halfway mark to 🎄! (My shopping is not done 😬), 💵 boycotts & blackouts…
trwesterman.bsky.social trwesterman.bsky.social @trwesterman.bsky.social · Dec 1
🤮 the baby talk of Scary Merry Carey? Simply 🤢 of Wonderful Xmastime?

Fear not!

While annoying, notorious standards persist, torturing tasteful retailers, good Christmas music exists!

For 24 days in December, I will post an under-played Xmas song as a digital advent 📆.
#musicsky #adventcalendar
The Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025, a naughty list you wanna make. For the next 24 days and maybe Xmas time permitting, I commit to introducing or reminding you of a lesser known Christmas banger of the song variety. If you’re sick of overplayed standards, freshen up your holiday playlist with some Christmas music you should anticipate hearing. At the end, I will provide a score sheet and answer key where you can tabulate your (self-reported albeit Krampus is watching) score of “knew-it-already” picks. A high music knowledge score will be the consolation prize 🏆 for not learning a new great tune. 🎶
December 14, 2025 at 4:10 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
#musicsky #adventcalendar #nowplaying #music #xmas #xmasmusic
Repost. See original.
December 14, 2025 at 12:53 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
I try to be a charitable audience, but I had to watch 3 great movies rid the taste of Killer Christmas Elves, an all-time irredeemable. Claudia Jennings motorboating on the Bayou, me-o-my-o, Howie’s best work, and traumatic tales of Lincoln’s birthday.

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
The posters for the worst Christmas horror movie since Silent Night Blood Night, the redneck masterpiece from husband and wife proto-Coen brothers team Ferb and Bev Sebastian, Gator Bait, staring playboy playmate serial Rolling Stone dater and Bowie roommate, Claudia Jennings and The Gremlins duology—two classic Christmas movies from Joe Dante that fill up the frames with more fun ideas in a single frame than some films have during their entire runtime, with classic performances by Dick Miller, the other Thomas C Howell aka Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates Kline, and Howie Mandel as Gizmo.
December 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 6. The last Day of Theme #1 with the classy “1st Lady [back when that was a compliment] of American Song”—
#EllaFitzgerald

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aEK...

Bonus: Hotta Chocolatta

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Vq...

#music #musicsky #nowplaying #vinyl #musicchallenge #TUCCAC #adventcalendar
Day 6 of the Underplayed Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2025: Ella Fitzgerald’s Good Morning Blues. Ella rides a horse drawn Santa slay loaded with wrapped presents and Santa stands of the horse’s back clutching Ned Flander’s expert-level hot cocoa from the Simpsons. Ella Fitzgerald bonus track: Hotta Chocolatta. I included a link to the live Ed Sullivan performance. It’s Christmas adjacent but a great way to add variety to a playlist that offers a break from the word “Christmas” while evoking a great drink of the season. Good Morning Blues doesn’t get played much as an Ella Christmas deep cut, but there’s few misses when it comes to Fitzgerald. Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas cover with Ella in a green dress, leaning in, chin in hand; a deep red vinyl pulls out from the cover.
December 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
A Rock Legend’s latest concert film shot in the Circus Maximus.
The Cold Full moon 🌕 inspired — this week has gone to the dogs. 🐕 Last Drive-In presentation of Bad Moon on my friend’s b-day.

#lastfourwatched #letterboxdfriday #letterboxd #filmsky #films #movies 📽️
My letterbox last 4 watched. Werewolf Santa eeked out a 3/5 “I like it” due to the Joe Bob animated opening; it’s highly flawed. I’m glad to finally see Good Boy after being too busy to catch it in theaters. Joe Bob Briggs animated in Werewolf Santa.
December 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
#Music #MusicSky #Vinyl #VinylSky #VinylCommunity #VinylCollectors #VinylRecords #NowPlaying #theunderplayedXmasAdventCalendar #ChristmasMusic #musicChallenge
trwesterman.bsky.social trwesterman.bsky.social @trwesterman.bsky.social · Dec 2
Day 2.

Just Another Christmas song by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings.

youtu.be/ZMdbmliQQrg?...

Alt-text for fun facts and a bonus It’s A Holiday Soul Party track.

#musicsky #SharonJones #DapKings #itsaholidaysoulparty #underplayedxmasadventcalendar #adventcalendar #Christmassongs
Text: The Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025. “Just Another Christmas Song” by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, superimposed on a claymation still from a music video promoting their Christmas Album. A Candy cane 2 square sets like a postage stamp in the corner. Jones came from the same hometown as James Brown. She was one of the most dynamic live performers of soul music I’ve ever seen, despite becoming a front woman late in life after a stint as a wedding cover singer; she’d control the crowd with the learned intimidation of a former prison guard, hoping on one foot to turn on the funk motor, leading audiences through the history of black dance, bringing young frat boys to embarrass as she slow danced close to “Easy on Me” teaching them how to groove, then belting out revival soul classics that got crowd dancing on their feet. The Dap Tones backed Amy Winehouse on Back to Black. Together with Brown they formed the establishing cornerstone of Dap Tone Records, the best neo-soul, soul-revival label out there, still operating out of NYC, led by wunderkind producer, Bosco Mann. Sadly, Sharon passed away from cancer within years of when the Dap Tone’s other soul singing discovery also died of the C, a James Brown imitator who traded in an impression for originals, the screaming soul Eagle, Charles Bradley. Both I saw at a music festival and loved for keeping a great musical tradition alive and yet so fresh. Both leave behind a strong discography, and Sharon’s includes a classic-destined Christmas album that like Sharon, manages to be both outrageous fun and also Church. R.I.P., Soul-warriors. This song remains under-played on streaming and radio. I added Damian Wayne to this image due the songs inclusion by Patrick Stump in Merry Little Batman. Way to go, Stump! It’s a Holiday Soul Party LP cover with a peppermint red and white vinyl—available direct from DapTones (not a paid promo but promoted from my ❤️). Check out bonus track Big Bulbs. https://youtu.be/uL19eKEa3CY?si=7qSWbc_ft0rhx2K1 It’s a great bit of holiday hokum ready made for a burlesque show or family potluck. Help give Bosco a happy Hanukkah, keeping the gents entertained at Christmas being a proud American Jewish tradition since Rudolph (who gets 💩 about his nose). 👃
December 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
#musicsky #christmassongs #xmas #adventcalendar #music
#theunderplayedXmasAdventCalendar #adventcalendar #hollygolightly #thechristmastreesonfire
trwesterman.bsky.social trwesterman.bsky.social @trwesterman.bsky.social · Dec 1
Day 1.

The underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025…

Holly Golightly’s “The Christmas Tree’s On Fire.”

Holly’s cover of a Cledus T Judd song aka “the Weird Al of Country.” Holly Golightly (Smith), named after the Capote character, appears on the White Stripe’s 🐘.

youtu.be/Qq9VlvfODn8?...
December 2, 2025 at 3:28 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
🤮 the baby talk of Scary Merry Carey? Simply 🤢 of Wonderful Xmastime?

Fear not!

While annoying, notorious standards persist, torturing tasteful retailers, good Christmas music exists!

For 24 days in December, I will post an under-played Xmas song as a digital advent 📆.
#musicsky #adventcalendar
The Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025, a naughty list you wanna make. For the next 24 days and maybe Xmas time permitting, I commit to introducing or reminding you of a lesser known Christmas banger of the song variety. If you’re sick of overplayed standards, freshen up your holiday playlist with some Christmas music you should anticipate hearing. At the end, I will provide a score sheet and answer key where you can tabulate your (self-reported albeit Krampus is watching) score of “knew-it-already” picks. A high music knowledge score will be the consolation prize 🏆 for not learning a new great tune. 🎶
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Reposted
natcassidy.bsky.social
One of the most important works of literature in my life. This play opened my eyes to what was possible in drama, in comedy, in philosophy, in performance, in conversation with the past. My first play was an almost direct homage and I’ve been chasing it ever since. RIP to a true genius.
November 29, 2025 at 11:53 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
While I’m not the audience for this movie, and its intended viewership seems to love it, the oxymoronic title still annoys me. And not in an Annoying for Pleasant way. Or in a Painful for Soothing way. Or in a Dumb for Smart way. But in a what for oh kind of way. No disrespect to its fans.
a lightning bolt is coming out of a white object
ALT: a lightning bolt is coming out of a white object
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:20 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
1. Christmas Evil
2. The Last Thanksgiving.
3. The Last Waltz
4. Black Friday

See the alt-text for movie mini reviews.

The Last Waltz and Thanksgiving—“Happy Thanksgiving,” the Band.

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched #FilmSky🎞
1. Christmas Evil. The Last Drive-In presentation. The original killer Santa movie with some pretty great songs no indie could afford today. John Waters helped repopularize the movie and Joe Bob sold me on its quirky charm. 2. the Last Thanksgiving. A recent, indie slasher that has its moments. Linnea Quigley’s makes it worth it as the one patron who keeps a doomed diner crew from leaving early for the holiday; her kill is very Quigley-esque. 3. The Last Waltz. Happy Thanksgiving! The high-mark of classic rock and roll, filmed at the Winterland ballroom on the Thanksgiving Day of 1979; the audience had to pay the then high price of $25, double a high priced ticket then, to attend one of the most important concerts ever, resulting in Martin Scorsese’s best rated film; but included in the price they got the Band, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Dr John, Bobby Charles, Ronnie Hawkins, Eric Clapton, the Staples, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Paul Butterfield, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, and even beat poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Michael Mclure—and included in that $25 was a full Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Some complained about the high price, but today it’s hard not imagine feeling anything but gratitude this miracle concert happened. Forever young and immortality preserved, one of the most important rock docs outside Pennebaker. 4. Black Friday. Devon Sawa and Bruce Campbell in a fun holiday horror comedy. A few plot holes hold it back, but I’ve watched it most Black Fridays and always enjoy it. On my third watch, I should probably bump it up a half-star.
November 29, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Reposted
theguardian.com
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM