Quote of the Day

Interview Magazine got writer-director Ari Aster to sit down and chat with Babygirl writer-director and former actress Halina Reijn, which isn't a combo I would've thought of but apparently they're friends. That said exactly what I wanted to happen happened in the course of their conversation, which is Aster brought up Paul Verhoeven because Reijn acted in Verhoeven's masterpiece Black Book. Anyway both Aster and Reijn both say a lot of great things about Verhoeven but this quote from Ari seems especially important to me in the wake of Eddington, a movie a lot of people definitely misunderstood:

"[Verhoeven]’s always risking being misconstrued. He has this really impish, ironic sensibility where he genuinely loves the genres that he’s working in. So he’s making these films that function absolutely as just straight genre films, and then at the same time they’re incredibly politically subversive. Satire is harder and harder to come by because people don’t really have the nerve for it. They end up wanting to just explain themselves to make sure that they’re understood, which is not how satire should work. It should risk being misunderstood. There have been a lot of films of his that were not understood upon release, and that must have been painful for him. But he never learned the wrong lesson from that. If anything, he doubled down."

As I off-handedly admitted in my review of Eddington I had to go back the movie a second time before writing my review because I could tell it was going to be an entirely different movie a second time through, and sure enough the tone that was knocking me off balance the first time fell completely into place on view two. After the above quote Aster brings up the confused initial reception to Starship Troopers, and I think that's a perfect comparison for Eddington -- basically I think people are going to be embarassed in twenty years for not seeing Eddington's brilliance, and I'm glad I squeezed myself through to the right side of history!

Charlie Cox Three Times

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Good Morning, World

I thought I'd been doing a better job with posting all the otter-esque adorableness that Justin Chatwin's been dropping on his Instagram lately, but a check through our Justin Chatwin archives shows I haven't posted anything in two month. And there's been more than enough unloaded in that time to justify a fresh post. So let's get fresh! Hit the jump for a perfect Hump Day hit of hirsute hotness...

Jerskin It

I'm at work so I haven't been able to watch this yet myself but I figure maybe some of you freaks will be as excited about this as I am -- Yorgos Lanthimos has directed a music video starring Emma Stone for a song called "Beth's Farm" off the upcoming album of Jerskin Fendrix, the dude who's composed music for Yorgos' last couple of movies. And that's the exact same music video I posted above! What a coincidence. Fendrix was a musician before he made the music for Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness, and Yorgos' upcoming movie Bugonia -- this song's off his second record, which is called Once Upon A Time. . . In Shropshire and out in October. You can pre-order it right here if you like what you hear above. All of this is well and good but will somebody tell me is "Jerskin Fendrix" is a real name or he made that thing up, because I definitely suspect the latter. I wanna be called Jerskin dammit.

Today's Fanboy Delusion

Today I'd rather be...

... racing Supes to the finish.

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

They Call Him Mister Space Man

You'll want to put a pin in this one for future consideration -- i.e. whenever the hell this movie gets released -- but I had a lot of fun with a movie called Terrestrial from the director of Hot Tub Time Machine that stars actor Jermaine Fowler (seen above) and which just screened at the Fantasia Film Festival -- click here to read my review of it at Pajiba. I did my best to not spoil it -- and it's a movie with a lot of twists and turns so it wasn't easy. But when there's a trailer and such we'll come back to this one so I'll no doubt bring it back up then.

Manny Jacinto Ten Times

Look at that -- okay well look at Manny Jacinto half-naked first. That's why we're here. But that's not what I meant when I said, "Look at that." What I meant was glance to the very bottom of this post where I'm getting to use my "Lindsay Lohan" tag here on the site -- honestly can't believe we even have one of those but we've been around that long! The last time I used this tag was 2021 and that was just to post hot photos of her Canyons co-star Nolan Funk. And that's really what we're doing again here since she's being summoned up BECAUSE Manny is her Freaky Friday sequel co-star...

... and he talks about that in the InStyle interview that's attached to these unbelievably sexy photos. (Good god he is disgustingly gorgeous.) The last time I actually posted about ol' Linds herself was in 2018 for one of our "Beauty vs Beast" series. Anyway, because my opinion matters, I am for one fine with her having a comeback. Especially since it gave us this photoshoot of Manny. Take notes, folks -- this is how you can re-endear yourself to me. (It's real easy.) Hit the jump for the whole hot shoot...

Good Morning, World

Twas a Cheyenne-stravaganza on Cheyenne Jackson's Instagram this weekend as he strutted around Fire Island in nothing but a white speedo and a smile -- the actor-singer-beefcake was in town to do one of his singing gigs but he made sure to put on another show from the beach. One we didn't have to be there among the dunes to enjoy thanks to his phone camera. Although I admit I am sad I was not there among the dunes time time. As much as I loathe the beach. I'd make this sacrifice. Anyway no need to click on over to his account and sort through things for the good bits because I'm giving you nothing but the good bits after the jump...

Together in 300 Words or Less

The best horror movie of 2025 to date is out this Wednesday! (And just screened at Fantasia, which is where I saw it.) Newcomer writer-director Michael Shanks proves with Together that he's not just somebody to not just watch but someone to attach yourselves to as if glued by some sort of demonic force. Tackling the story of an inseparable couple named Millie and her sexy but useless cuck-boy Tim (played by real-world couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco) who literally become inseparable thanks to some weird-shit-in-the-woods hoodoo that they do, Together is exctly what it promises to be on the package -- but what a package! (Don't make the Dave Franco's penis joke, don't make the Dave Franco's penis joke....)

In all seriousness I refused to watch the trailer for this but I had susseed out what the general story would be anyway thanks to 1) its title and 2) the images on the posters -- and as any of you who've ever read anything of mine know, it's not because I'm thrillingly clever. It's one of those stories that is so obvious now that it's been made you can't believe it hadn't been made already. (Final scene of Society notwithstanding.) But Shanks -- with copius thanks to the wonderful chemistry between his stars -- delivers a film that exploits our expectations while also delivering on them to a gratuitous (complimentary) and gore-iffic tee. The shocks come in how far the three of them are willing to go with it all, and Together goes all the way, baby. Two days before a movie comes out is probably early to call something a classic but Together has all of the makings. I will watch this fifty times if the world can refrain from ending first.

Russell Tovey One Time

I admit I woofed. (via) 

To Be Bold and Naked At Your Side

Did Harris grab your attention? I feel as if Harris might've grabbed your attention. How useful! Thanks, Harris -- now I can get to my point which is that I didn't get a lot done this past weekend but I did get one thing I'd been meaning to get done for awhile done, and that is go through my overflowing vinyl collection and sort out an enormous heap to sell off on eBay. So that's mostly what I've been doing today -- if yiou're in the market for what's 99% movie soundtracks keep checking this link here and I'll continue listing more this week. I've got like 40 of them I'm putting up for sale (and there were already a ton listed) so it's a real blow-out! Kind of like how Harris Dickinson in Babygirl could've blown out our backs. Ahem. Point being that yes the Babygirl vinyl is one of the ones listed for sale. You know you want it! You know Harris wants you to want it...

Who's a Good Boy Yes You Are Yes You Are

Kicking off my Fantasia 2025 reviews with one of the buzziest titles that played -- the horror flick Good Boy, which stars a tremendously adorable dog named Indy who finds himself trapped in a haunted house with his sickly owner and like any good boy will do whatever it takes to keep his human safe. Read my thoughts here -- I tried to keep them spoiler-free as much as possible although there might be insinuations I make so, you know, only read it if you don't care about that kind of thing. Anyway keep your eyes peeled (and your tails wagging!) for more Fantasia coverage dropping this week -- there's about to be a lot of it!

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Pics of the Day

Although it's clearly a covered-up tease there's our first semi-look at Jacob Elordi's Frankenstein's Monster for Guillermo Del Toro's upcoming film thanks to a great big piece on the movie at Vanity Fair -- they talk to Oscar Isaac and Del Toro and also the make-up guy a lot...

... for obvious reasons. But I just wanna hear from costume designer Kate Hawley  for paragraphs because she's what's wowing me in these photos. Especially all of the spectacular outfits we see Mia Goth wearing. (I imagine Hawley also probably had fun giving Oscar his undone blouse & snug trousers and whatever tattered rags Jacob Elordi sports.) Anyway hit the jump for the photos...

Good Morning, World

Since I've been extremely busy and traveling for the past couple of weeks I haven't had a moment to watch any of the second season of The Sandman (and with the horrors revealed about Neil Gaiman it didn't feel too pressing) but when I saw these two gifs of blond beauty Freddie Fox making the rounds I felt the need to move it up the list. Anybody watched the second season yet? If you're unsure where you know Freddie from it might be The House of the Dragon or it might be Queer as Folk creator Russell T. Davis' hella-gay miniseries Cucumber or it might be this great big gratuitous post I did on him backin 2018 when I mistook him for one of the Dunkirk Twinks. Remember that phenomenon? At least Christopher Nolan gave culture something once. As did Sandman:

Our Souls Are Black

Back in May the first three of a series of John Waters' screenplays books were dropped with his movies Desperate Living, Pink Flamingos, and Flamingos' never-made-sequel Flamingos Forever getting the treatment -- I told you all about that and linked them here. Well today I stumbled on the fact that the next three of these books are all up for pre-order now! On October 21st we're getting the screenplay book for Multiple Maniacs -- pre-order that here -- and Hairspray -- pre-order that here -- and the best of the best my favorite John Waters movie of them all with a script that's just one classic quotable line after another, Female Trouble! Buy that one here. Of course you can also support small businesses and buy the books from either Baltimore's Atomic Books (they don't have them listed yet but there's plenty of John merch here) or P-Town's East End Books (right here) and both of those sites promise your copies will be signed by John himself before they ship! So that's certainly an impetus if altruism ain't yer cuppa.

Logan Lerman Ten Times

There's a really delightfully dark little comedy called Oh, Hi! coming out in theaters tomorrow that stars Mr. Lerman opposite my beloved Molly Gordon of Shiva Baby and The Bear fame that I recommend you seek out when you get the chance -- I saw it at Tribeca last month but never got the chance to review it and I'm not going to get that chance this week either as it drops properly, so just consider these few scant words all the review you need -- it's a good time, and not just because Mr. Lerman spends 75% of it naked and handcuffed to a bed. (Here is the film's trailer.) Though...  not not that either. Anyway Mr. Lerman spoke to Bustle magazine about that movie and other stuff I assume (no I haven't read the interview yet) while getting photographed in some short shorts so natch we're on it. Hit the jump for the photos...

Look Ye Upon The History of Sound

As foretold yesterday when that lovely poster for The History of Sound dropped we now have the trailer! And yes it's giving big Brokeback vibes, just as the poster echoed a famous image of Jack & Ennis -- I am sure there will be plenty of snarky comments about this being 20 years later and we're dealing with another gay love story starring two (nominally) heterosexuals but you won't hear them from me. I love everyone involved with this movie from director Oliver Hermanus on down to all of the cast so saying I'm onboard is an understatement. Especially...

... with all the absolutely gorgeous shots of Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor in said trailer. I know that the general feeling out of Cannes was one of disappointment, at least from a lot of the critics I trust and admire who saw it there, but I'm remaining enthusiastic despite that because I've loved every single one of Hermanus' movies to date, usually more than many of my peers, and I don't mind a restrained film which seems to be one of the bigger complaints. If they make me feel real emotions that's what matters; I can just use my imagination to picture Josh tea-bagging Paul. It's not like I haven't already! 

Anyway I suppose I'll get to know what my actual opinion is soon enough since this movie is actually out in actual theaters on September 12th -- no dilly-dallying with a long festival run for this baby! On the one hand I'm sure people who care about awards prospects will be sniffing at that news pointedly but since I'm not one of those people I just celebrate the non-wait. Gimme! In that vein here's that trailer:

And because it's what I do hit the jump for an assortment of 

several more gifs I made of noted moments in said trailer...