The hottest Film Substack posts right now

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Most 'Romulus' Limited VHS Preorders Went to eBay Scalpers

Textual Variations • 265 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Many pre-orders for the limited VHS edition of 'Alien Romulus' went to scalpers instead of fans. This made it hard for real fans to buy the edition at a reasonable price.
  2. The quick sell-out of the VHS copies raised concerns about how many copies were available and whether collectors had the chance to buy them. It looks like scalpers bought a lot of them to sell at much higher prices later.
  3. The situation highlighted how companies like Disney and Walmart could do better in communicating with their audience and preventing scalping. Better planning could help ensure that real fans get a fair chance to buy limited editions.

The William Friedkin Paranoid-Thriller Double Bill

Read Max • 895 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. This newsletter discusses action movies and pays tribute to director William Friedkin.
  2. Friedkin directed overlooked classics like 'Bug' and 'The Hunted', which are worth watching.
  3. Movies like 'The Hunted' showcase Friedkin's impeccable thriller direction and unique vibe.

Consumption report

Vague Blue • 159 implied HN points • 23 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The essay discusses the enduring legacy of Bruce Lee in American cinema and his charismatic mannerisms that captivate audiences.
  2. The post delves into the portrayal of unconventional and progressive relationships in classic Hollywood films, hinting at societal issues that continue to resonate today.
  3. It shares insights on the practice of 'microdosing cinema' by watching specific scenes from movies and shows, offering a unique way to appreciate media content.

The Lesbian Behind The Camera

Paging Dr. Lesbian • 157 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Lesbian films often feature women taking pictures of each other, portraying themes of gaze and power.
  2. Photography in lesbian films serves as a tool for expressing desire and intimacy in a safe way.
  3. The depiction of photography in lesbian films highlights the lesbian gaze, visibility vs invisibility, and the power of the lesbian perspective.

A new and improved Film and TV Newsletter Directory

Textual Variations • 265 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The Film and TV Newsletter Directory has been updated and is back up and running. It showcases various film and TV Substack newsletters.
  2. The updates to the directory faced challenges due to technical issues and design limitations within the Substack platform. A new format was developed to make it visually appealing and user-friendly.
  3. The directory allows authors to be mentioned and notified when their newsletters are highlighted. However, there are concerns about some authors disabling mentions, which posed a problem when trying to update the directory.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

'COVER-UP' IN THEATERS

Seymour Hersh • 21 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A film called 'Cover-Up' about Seymour Hersh will be released in various theaters starting December 5. It's a great chance to see a film about an important journalist.
  2. The film will also be available to stream on Netflix starting December 26. This makes it easy for anyone to watch it from home after the theater premiere.
  3. The release happens around the holidays, which is a time for gathering with friends and family. It could be a nice way to relax and enjoy some meaningful content during that time.

Automation in Movie Theaters Gives Me the Creeps

Textual Variations • 198 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Automation in movie theaters is increasing, leading to fewer staff and a less engaging experience for viewers. People feel uneasy seeing machines replace human jobs and the emptiness of the theaters.
  2. The closing of a popular David Lynch Facebook page highlights issues with automated customer service. It shows how difficult it can be to get assistance from large companies like Meta when they rely heavily on machines.
  3. The alternate Pizza Hut version of 'Demolition Man' demonstrates how movie marketing has evolved over time. It's a fun twist that changes the film's context for different audiences, reflecting how product placement has shaped cinema.

T.V. Digest #20 is Mostly about Film Revision. Mostly.

Textual Variations • 231 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Film revision is an important topic, and the film industry has issues that need to be addressed, especially concerning the VFX community's treatment over the years.
  2. Streaming services often misrepresent runtimes, so it's best to verify by watching the cuts yourself, which can lead to surprising discoveries.
  3. The opening of 'Kraven the Hunter' shows promise for the film, indicating that it may resonate well with fans of the genre.

Is That What a Man Looks Like?

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 118 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The essence of Fight Club resonates with a rejection of consumerism and mainstream societal expectations, particularly targeting materialism and globalism.
  2. The movie's deeper meanings and interpretations vary widely, sparking discussions on masculinity, rebellion, and individual identity.
  3. Personal experiences often reflect the themes explored in Fight Club, highlighting the consequences of prioritizing material possessions and societal norms over genuine fulfillment and self-awareness.

Scatterbrain: a letter from the North Pole

The Leftovers • 79 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The importance of storytelling and who gets to tell stories, questioning the media's focus on certain tragedies over others.
  2. Reflection on the never-ending process of writing, revising manuscripts, and the challenge of knowing when to stop.
  3. Critique of demanding representation in mainstream media and cinema, emphasizing the need to create cultural spaces that challenge the status quo.

TITAA #48.5: Stone Tape on a Stone Island

Things I Think Are Awesome • 117 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Film
  1. The film 'Enys Men' by Mark Jenkin is a poetic visual experience featuring a mysterious radio and glimpses of the past.
  2. The concept of 'stone tape theory' in the film explores the idea of objects recording and playing back the past, contributing to the eerie and weird atmosphere.
  3. Mark Jenkin's film delves into the fear of time breaking down and uses film as a medium to convey a sense of time and space.

A road trip Q&A

Austin Kleon • 739 implied HN points • 18 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A road trip can bring a refreshing change and spark interesting conversations and reflections.
  2. Reading diverse books can broaden your horizons and offer new perspectives on life.
  3. Sharing experiences, like school lunches, can create deeper connections and memories with others.

Frozen Revolutions, Obstinate Memories

NOW IS GOOD • 137 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Chilean documentarian Patricio Guzmán's films capture the hope and chaos surrounding Allende's presidency.
  2. The legacy of Pinochet's dictatorship and Chile's colonial history are themes in Guzmán's recent documentaries.
  3. Allende's domestic agenda lacked support, facing challenges in achieving socialism and coordinating actions within the government.

Spread cheer!

Austin Kleon • 799 implied HN points • 24 Dec 21
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Reading good books is important. Some favorites this year included 'Matrix' by Lauren Groff and 'The Master and his Emissary' by Iain McGilchrist.
  2. Celebrating the lives and works of great writers is valuable. Remembering Eve Babitz and Joan Didion highlights the impact of their writing.
  3. Finding joy and comfort in art, like playing video games or listening to music, can really help us relax and feel better.

Because there's nothing funnier. . .

Disaffected Newsletter • 339 implied HN points • 27 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Humor can vary greatly and some jokes may only resonate with a specific audience.
  2. The nostalgia of old movies or actors can evoke laughter through their unique styles and dialogues.
  3. Context and delivery in comedy are key, as they can make a line or moment truly funny.

The Sexy Alien, the Blair Witch and the Rejected Hunter

Textual Variations • 198 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. _Alien Resurrection_ is a unique film that combines surreal visuals with erotic themes. It's different from typical horror movies and stands out for its strange and beautiful imagery.
  2. The movie emphasizes mood and feelings over traditional storytelling, making it feel more like a dream than a straightforward narrative. This artistic choice adds to its weirdness.
  3. Despite mixed reviews over the years, many argue that _Alien Resurrection_ deserves more appreciation and can be seen as the third best movie in the Alien franchise. It plays with themes that push boundaries in cinema.

Curator

Castalia • 179 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Writing can involve tough ethical choices, especially when it affects others. Authors must think deeply about how their work impacts the people they write about.
  2. The film industry is changing due to AI and popular franchises like Marvel. These changes may lead to less diversity in storytelling and more emphasis on simple, mass-appeal content.
  3. Trans issues are part of a larger conversation about acceptance and identity. It's important to recognize individual experiences without forcing them into narrow expectations of progress.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 498 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The last volume of Proust's book 'A la recherche' is like a theater piece with interwoven social and sexual elements.
  2. Pasolini's film 'Salò or 120 days of Sodom' did not focus on social context but rather indulged in gratuitous violence.
  3. Pasolini's film aimed to shock the audience, contrasting with the earlier approach of situating vices in a social context.

One thing leads to another

Austin Kleon • 739 implied HN points • 07 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Books and year-end lists can inspire creativity. Sharing your favorites might encourage others to reflect on their own experiences.
  2. Creating playlists or lists is a great way to track what you love over time. It's fun to see how tastes evolve year by year.
  3. Using ideas from past projects can spark new creations. It's like a 'chain smoking' method where one thought leads to another.

Ahab's Leg Dilemma: Part 1

All Visible Objects • 59 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Film
  1. The specific leg that Captain Ahab is missing in Moby-Dick is not definitively stated, creating a longstanding mystery in literary analysis and artistic adaptations.
  2. Melville scholars and artists have debated whether Ahab had a left or right missing leg, with historical studies showing a tendency towards illustrating him with a left leg prosthesis.
  3. Artistic interpretations of Ahab's missing leg throughout different mediums, such as books, films, and illustrations, tend to split almost evenly between left and right legs, showing a balanced artistic representation despite the lack of explicit text in Melville's novel.

Disaffected Watch Party: Feud, Part IV

Disaffected Newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Join the watch party for 'Feud: Bette and Joan' to enjoy some entertaining drama. It's a fun event for fans of the show.
  2. The series features a rivalry between two famous actresses, adding excitement and intrigue to the story. You'll see how their competition unfolds.
  3. To participate, you need to be a paying supporter, but there’s a chance to get a free trial to check it out. It's a great way to connect with others who enjoy the series.

The Kiss of Death Edition

Why is this interesting? • 422 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Michael Mann is known for his meticulous attention to detail in filmmaking, like the extensive training for the cast in 'Heat'.
  2. The 1957 crash in Guidizzolo, known as the 'Kiss of Death', ended the Mille Miglia race and symbolizes audacity and the recklessness of youth.
  3. The photo of Linda Christian kissing Marquis Alfonso de Portago before the fatal crash is seen as a haunting symbol, with Christian's seemingly detached gaze hinting at a premonition.

Anti-femi-semitism

Ladyparts • 359 implied HN points • 24 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Having a career as a female artist in any field can be challenging, and being Jewish may add an extra layer of difficulty.
  2. An experience at a family gathering prompted the idea of a Borscht Belt themed film festival, starting with _Dirty Dancing_.
  3. To access full post archives, a 7-day free trial for Ladyparts is available, with options to subscribe or sign in for paid subscribers.

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The movie 'Overdrawn at the Memory Bank' showcases a blend of ambition and incomprehension in its attempt to imagine a futuristic world, highlighting a theme of technological advancement outpacing individual understanding.
  2. Specialization in modern society has led to increased complexity and automation, resulting in individuals having limited understanding of the technology that surrounds them.
  3. The advancement of high technology has ironically led to a decrease in general technical knowledge among the populace, making society more ritualistic in its approach to technology and the world.

Lazy Hot Takes on Classic Films

Sounds Good! • 117 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The movie 'The Omen' can be interpreted as a commentary on bad parenting.
  2. Sometimes revisiting classic movies can change your perspective and reveal new insights.
  3. Sharing unique and humorous hot takes on films can spark interesting discussions.

Pulp Memories

Sounds Good! • 117 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The author reflects on revisiting classic Tarantino films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction after many years.
  2. Pulp Fiction holds a special place in the author's heart, being the film he watched the most number of times in cinemas.
  3. Nostalgia for iconic films like Pulp Fiction should be cherished, as they continue to have an enduring impact on popular culture and filmmakers.

How to think about blowing up a pipeline

What's Left • 117 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The movie 'How to Blow Up a Pipeline' challenges viewers with the question of whether property destruction is a justifiable tactic for climate activism.
  2. The film is inspired by a book advocating for radical climate action through sabotage to make mainstream advocacy seem more moderate by comparison.
  3. The director emphasizes the importance of storytelling in bringing academic discussions on climate activism to a broader audience.

I’m still here

Austin Kleon • 719 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Stephen Sondheim was an influential composer, and many people are sharing his great works after his passing. Watching the documentary 'Six by Sondheim' is a good way to appreciate his talent.
  2. Using soft lead pencils, like the Blackwing, makes writing more fun because they need regular sharpening. Sondheim loved using them for this reason.
  3. Books like Louise Erdrich's 'The Sentence' are enjoyable and worth reading, along with new releases like 'The Art of Activism' that provide fresh perspectives.

Woman: A Non-Circular Definition

Bet On It • 684 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The documentary 'What Is a Woman?' is praised for being sublime, humane, and hilarious despite controversy.
  2. Interviewees in the film struggled to define 'woman' in a non-circular way due to their dogmas.
  3. The film challenges views on transgenderism and highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the topic.

11 Best Things of 2024

SatPost by Trung Phan • 164 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The film industry is relying too much on sequels and spin-offs, leading to a lack of creativity. New stories like 'The Wild Robot' bring freshness and are needed more than ever.
  2. Nuclear threats are still a serious concern, and many people are complacent about it. A book about a potential nuclear war highlights the urgent need for communication between world leaders to prevent disaster.
  3. Taking time to create special memories with loved ones is important. A personal trip to Paris with family shows how meaningful experiences should not be postponed.

Start the Week #105

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 10 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The author is busy and has a lot of reading and writing to do for upcoming deadlines. This means the newsletter schedule might be a bit inconsistent for a while.
  2. The author reflects on male bonding, noting that hugs and emotional displays might not feel genuine and preferring a more traditional style of bonding like joking and shoulder taps.
  3. The author is excited about teaching a writing course soon and has more ideas for lessons than he has time for, which he considers a nice problem to have.

Reading with a blade and a glue stick

Austin Kleon • 679 implied HN points • 10 Dec 21
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Reading can be a creative process. Instead of just reading, you can use tools like a blade and glue stick to interact with the content.
  2. Being popular on social media doesn't guarantee book sales. It's important to have good marketing strategies to sell books.
  3. Exploring cultural topics, like why people have mixed feelings about certain music, can be really interesting and shows how taste varies.

The endless wokeness of Hollywood

Unreported Truths • 58 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Hollywood often portrays white male characters negatively, making them the villains while characters from other backgrounds are shown as heroes. This can be seen in movies like 'Jurassic World Rebirth'.
  2. The focus on diversity in films sometimes feels forced and overly obvious, which can take away from the entertainment value. It's like watching a movie with too many messages about being inclusive.
  3. There's a growing feeling that many studios are just following trends and not being original, leading to a lack of creativity in storytelling. People notice these patterns and start calling them out.