Misogyny on and off-screen: When and why it matters.

On Vulture Hound, my latest article examines what Bernardo Bertolucci's abuse of Maria Schneider on the set of Last Tango In Paris says about the collusion of off and on-screen misogyny.

http://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/12/misogyny-on-and-off-screen-when-and-why-it-matters/

Does "Star Wars" really need the Jedi?

On the Agony Booth, the imminent release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and its lack of Force-sensitives among its protagonists gets me thinking about the flaws in Jedi philosophy, how most Star Wars audiovisual and interactive media uncritically reproduce it and whether or not we really need the Jedi:

http://www.agonybooth.com/does-star-wars-really-need-the-jedi-48484

Kirk Douglas: His 10 best performances.

On Vulture Hound, I celebrate Kirk Douglas's 100th birthday by listing the 10 best performances of his career:

http://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/12/kirk-douglas-his-10-best-performances/

Movies that predicted Trump: "Bulworth"

On the Agony Booth, I contribute to the new series "Movies that predicted Trump" by examining how Warren Beatty's 1998 political satire prefigured the conditions and manifestations of Trumpian populism:

http://www.agonybooth.com/movies-that-predicted-trump-bulworth-1998-50803

Where do we go from here? Filmmaking in the Trump era

On Vulture Hound, I address the cultural changes signified by the election of Donald Trump, Brexit and the large-scale reactionary movement's growing power in the West and how artists and critics must respond to it:

http://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/11/where-do-we-go-from-here/

"The Neon Demon"

On Vulture Hound, I take a look at The Neon Demon and determine whether or not Nicolas Winding Refn's distinct style has anything useful to say about the fashion industry he satirizes:

http://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/11/looks-can-kill-the-neon-demon-dvd-review/

Trolls, and the problem with "irreverent" kids' movies

On the Agony Booth, the trailer for Dreamworks' latest release "Trolls" has me discussing modern children's animation, the Disney/Dreamworks rivalry and the resulting manufactured irreverence that permeates even good films.

http://www.agonybooth.com/trolls-and-the-problem-with-irreverent-kids-movies-50040