Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

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The History of Sound (2025)

Lionel: I feel I've missed something. How to put this? It's not nostalgia, it's not grief. It's the... hardness of a fact that I should've stayed in Maine. Would I feel differently if we hadn't met? Would I feel now, that I had missed something? But we did meet. And what do I want now? I want the sound of my life, I think. What happens to it all, all the sounds released into the world, never captured? I want all of it. The history of sound.

I always feel bad for actors who've been tasked with speaking the title of the film -- how do you deliver it without it being distracting? It's kind of an impossible task and I think Chris Cooper -- who's celebrating his 75th birthday today, everybody send this treasure a happy one -- was smart to just lean into it since he wasn't just speaking the film's title, he was also delivering the film's final words. Yes the movie ends with its own title which should earn it a groan, but I find this entire timeline jump so moving thanks to Cooper's work that it doesn't. Not from me anyway. I love this movie so dearly. (Here is my review.) Have you gone back and watched it since its release? I think now, without all those annoying "awards bait" expectations crushing in on its slight frame, it breathes even more beautifully than before. It'll have a long, lovely shelf-life. What a beautiful heartbreaker.

Pics of the Day

This is so, so weird, you guys. I was just literally just thinking this very morning that if Paul Mescal is gonna be off shooting Sam Mendes' four Beatles bio-pics for all of the foreseeable furuture the least he could do was go for one of his patented shirtless short-shorted jogs to satiate those of us who need a fix... when suddenly, wham, as if the internet read my brain (can... it do that now?), photos from the now-shooting films arrived that showcase Paul and Barry Keoghan filming in Spain on a boat in short shorts the both of them. WTF?!? I really am magic, you guys. You don't want to ever lose me! I make short-shorts happen! Hit the jump for several more (and hopefully Harris Dickinson and Joseph Quinn will be joining the short-shorts club shortly)...

I Quit Smoking 18 Years Ago Today

I thought it was funny when the conversation about smoking cigarettes being "cool" again reared its head last week, as I was prepping for this annual post I've been doing for eighteen years now -- if you look it up this conversation pops up about every two years and everyone acts all outraged again. And as I say every year -- smoking is bad for you! I am glad I quit eighteen years ago today! And yet I also think that it's undeniable that it just looks cool -- it's erotic, it's cinematic, it's literally "bad for you" as I just said and I'm of the mind that we'll stop being human beings when we stop romanticizing nihilism. We're always gonna be attracted to the "bad boy" archetype, even when it's Gina Gershon in Bound. (Hell especially when it's Gina Gershon in Bound.) 

Anyway I make some form of that argument every single year so's I can justify this post. Eighteen years of them now! That's wild. And no I don't miss smoking in the slightest, even if I one thousand percent understand the sould-crush that the kids are feeling so they're picking up the cancer-sticks again. I'm not judging anybody -- I get it y'all. The world's on fire -- you might as well lean in and light some drugs up off of it. With that said over the past twelve months I've gathered a ridiculous amount of pictures and gifs for y'all (over 150) so let's get to those. Hit the jump and inhale...

Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

 ... you can learn from:

Bring Her Back (2025)

Laura: Respect my fucking privacy.

I still kind of can't believe that there was absolutely no awards buzz for Sally Hawkins' work in Bring Her Back last year -- I guess there could have been conufsion on whether her role was Lead or Supporting? I'd personally call it a Lead -- and I'd say she deserved a nomination more than half the people who did get nominated for that statue, too. Hell I liked Hawkins' work more than I liked Buckley's steamrolling performance in Hamnet, even -- as a person who generally loves Buckley I found her work in that movie overwrought; I found Mescal more moving. But I guess there are similarities between Hawkins and Buckley's characters that I hadn't even considered until now, and perhaps they're the reason Hawkins gained no footing with precursors -- both characters are after all women lashing out in grief after the death of a child. Hawkins' work is the only one that, to me, felt truly surprising though. Not to get lost in old Oscar talk! JFC who cares! So anyway! Sally Hawkins is 50 today! She's a gem and I'm so happy we have her. The movies are 75% more interesting with her running around. 

This Should Be the Hamnet Poster

When are they going to start letting me run their ad campaigns?

Somewhere Between Mescal & Moura...

... is where I'd rather be.

Good Morning, Mescal

It's not often that I have to actually look at the photographer for an actor's photoshoot -- either I can tell who they are because they're the usual suspects or they're boring and who cares -- but I definitely didn't reconigze the style of these absolutely stunning photos of Paul Mescal for GQ that dropped this morning. And so I looked and her name is Elizaveta Porodina and you can follow her on Instagram right here -- these look like Carravaggio painting a 1956 production of Angels in America and I am in love. I haven't read the interview yet so excuse me whilst I go do that and eat my breakfast; y'all can hit the jump for the exquisite shoot starring our exquisite Paul...

Good Morning, World

I know I already told you last week that The History of Sound is now streaming on Mubi (with a good dose of Paul Mescal Butt along for the ride) but I wanted to make sure this moment from the movie was also well documented here on the site -- for looking at yes, obviously, but not just. On top (heh) of that it also feels vital this moment is represented to throw in the faces of the people who kept saying this was another "gay" movie where we see the men have sex with women but not each other -- yes people said that, even though the scene above existed in the movie the entire time. People see what they want to and have their arguments made up in their heads beforehand, far too much of the time. Anyway The History of Sound! Watch it! It's so lovely. (My review here.)

Good Morning, World

A good Monday morning from Paul Mescal and from me and from Oliver Hermanus' gorgeous film The History of Sound, which landed on Mubi over the weekend -- did you watch it? I hope you caught it in theaters if you were able to (picture the above shot twenty feet tall and you'll understand why I swooned in my review) but streaming is second-best (or you can now pre-order the blu-ray too!) so I hope you did. If not -- get to it! Look at that shot! That shot is in the running for shot of the year as far as I'm concerned. I do think the shot is even more beautiful in its full framing and not cropped to highlight just the sweet stuff though -- not to mention there is more to this scene worth giffing -- so I've got all of that gorgeousness for you after the jump...

Pic of the Day

This photo of Josh O'Connor and Paul Mescal snuggling up under the sleeping back on the set of The History of Sound (read my review of that movie right here) just tried to sneak passed me but I snatched it up, I did! I was actually looking for a picture of Paul in his other 2025 movie Hamnet since I am leaving you now to go see Hamnet. But this picture just won't be ignored. Sorry, Hamnet. That said, Hamnet -- jeez how many times can I say "Hamnet" in one paragraph, oh my god... or should I say, "Oh my Hamnet"? -- is one of the small handful of movies left to 2025 that I haven't seen yet and am extremely excited about, so there's no slight intended. I do love me some Jessie Buckley and I do love a tearjerker, and by all accounts this is one hell of one of those. Anyway all that's to say bye for today! See you next Tuesday (aka tomorrow).

Paul Mescal Twelve Times

As twas foretold (in this morning's "Good Morning" post) I have returned from my screening and am back here at my desk -- as luck would have it about ten seconds before my screening began I saw these photos of Paul Mescal for Rolling Stone on social media and I dropped to my knees (metaphorically speaking) and went all Darth Vader with my "Noooooo..."

... obviously not because of anything these pictures did. These pictures are our friend. But rather that I'd have to wait until this afternoon to share them. I'm sure y'all have already memorized every fold of his soaking wet boxer shorts on the cover (photographer Ryan McGinley continues to be a god among men) but anyway here I am and here are the photos, after the jump...

This Week's Three Review Round-up

Since it's Friday and this week's new movies are actually out in the theaters today let's glance back at the week that was in movie reviews by yours truly, since three of them dropped earlier this week and you might've missed them. First and foremost there's the long awaited gay romance The History of Sound starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor from Moffie and Living director Oliver Hermanus -- read my review right here. I think it's a beautiful film, well worth your time.

Is that a gigantic microphone, Dev Patel, or are you just happy to see me? Next up there's Rabbit Trap, an eerie folk horror about a pair of married musicians who stumble through a faerie circle and into a trippy nightmare -- click here to read my review of that sublte slow-burner. I found it kind of funny nad strange that I ended up writing about two movies about people going into the woods with sound recording eqipment this week! Not every day that happens.

And finally there's the third and finaly Downton Abbey movie -- read my thoughts right here. All obviously very different films, but each of them good in their own way -- a good weekend at the movies! Go see them all! And I suppose I'll use this opprtunity to remind y'all that I begin my deep dive into NYFF press screenings next week (with both NewFest and Brooklyn Horror immediately following) so it's going to be real sporadic around here, post-wise. So cling this  three review bounty to your bosoms as a raft to carry you through these turbulent times!

Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor: A Love Story

Well if only I'd waited an hour or so to post about my History of Sound review, then I'd have had these photos that Mubi shared today to go with it -- not that that's gonna quit me from double-posting of course! These are from the same photoshoot that went into making that gorgoues poster we shared with you back in the day (an excellent reminder to my self that I need to go see if I can find a copy of that poster to buy right this second) -- hit the jump for six more beauties of this same sort...

The History of Sound is Here

As we have been with everything The History of Sound related since it was first announced we were obviously all over the above photo the minute it made its way online, which was before the movie even started filming. But now that the movie is hitting theaters tomorrow and the critical reception has been generally cool toward the film I'm re-posting it right now because I probably won't get another chance through awards-season -- I don't forsee this movie getting much love in the months ahead. Which is a real shame if you ask me because I love the film and think it's doing some really lovely and important stuff, all of which I dive into in my review at Pajiba, which you can go read right now. I think the movie is doing something different than what people expected from it, and I hope that it'll be seen for what it is -- a deeply lovely and heartbroken tribute to the stories untold -- down the road. I'd say it's close in mood and tone to something of Terrence Davies -- abstract and intellectual. If that helps. Anyway I very much like the film and I hope you do too.  (I'm also pretty proud of the piece I wrote, so I hope you like it.)

Pics of the Day

We deserve some light in these dark days,
so if Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor have to hold hands

while walking the The History of Sound

red carpet here in NYC last night then so be it dammit!

To Thine Own Paul Mescal Be True

The first trailer for Nomadland and Eternals director Chloé Zhao's Ol' Bill Shakespeare flick Hamnet has arrived -- if y'all have been keeping score then you know I think Zhao is pretty overrated as a director, so why do I care? Well you already know the answer since I posted that photo above -- the movie stars yes Paul Mescal but also Jessie Buckley, and we're wild about Jessie. (Team I'm Thinking of Ending Things forever and ever amen.) And I do believe that Jessie, who's playing Shakespeare's wife Agnes, is the film's main character, as this is the story of the pair dealing with the loss of their son Hamnet and how it inspired oh you know some play about a prince. Anyway I'm rooting for the movie because 1) this is a good grand trailer and 2) I'd love for both of these actors to be Oscar winners soon; they've already given several worthwhile performances and both been nominated previously as well. So hopefully the movie's good and I can go on feeling that way! The movie also co-stars Joe Alwyn and (speaking of Charlie Kaufman) Emily Watson. (Let's get Emily f'ing Watson an Oscar while we're at it!) Here's the trailer:

Hamnet is out limited Nov 27th and everywhere Dec 12th.

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...

Preview of Attractions Coming

Hey everybody! I'm back home but not back back from my trip in the sense that I'm blogging today -- that starts tomorrow. But how could I not hop in here to 1) say hello (Hello!) and 2) share this poster for The History of Sound, Oliver Hermanus' forthcoming WWI-era romance starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor? Swoon, yes, but also -- kinda feel like poor Josh got a little sidelined there? I'm reminded of all the stories of movie stars wrangling for poster billing of olde and wondering if Josh gives a shit. I feel like he doesn't. And there's enough of his pretty closed eyes and pouty lips to make me stir anyway. Anyway! The trailer is apparently dropping tomorrow so we'll cover that when we're back at our desk then. Oh and one more important bit of vaguely related news that dropped today -- Luca Guadagnino's film After the Hunt with Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri was announced as the Opening Night Film of this year's NYFF! This is very exciting for me personally! I shared the trailer for this before I headed out for a week -- check that here. I'm always wrangling for the NYFF Opening Night Party invite but I will lay waste to the earth for it this year, best believe!

[RUNNING AROUND THE ROOM SCREAMING CRYING] Luca's new movie is Opening Night at NYFF!!!! @filmlinc.bsky.social

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— Jason Adams (@jamnpp.bsky.social) July 23, 2025 at 9:13 AM

6 Off My Head: A 2025 Peek Ahead

Inspired by the Bugonia teaser I just shared (along with the fact that it's Paul Thomas Anderson's birthday today which reminded me he has a new movie out in several weeks) I decided to go ahead and make a list of the movies left to be released in 2025 that I'm most looking forward to. I did this (as with everything I do here) mostly for myself because I've been bad about keeping an eye on what's ahead -- I can be very much in the moment; planning ahead's not my strongest suit! So I will myself probably be referring back to this list often. But perhaps this will help you along the same lines! That'd be nice! So sans further ado I give you...

My Top 6 Anticipated Movies of 2025

Bugonia (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos) -- Oct 24th 

(more here)

One Battle After Another (dir. PT Anderson) -- Sept 26th

The History of Sound (dir. Oliver Hermanus) -- Sept 12th 

(more here)

After the Hunt (dir. Luca Guadagnino) -- Oct 10th 

(more here)

Sentimental Value (dir. Joachim Trier) -- Nov 7th

Pillion (dir. Harry Lighton) -- TBD

(more here)

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(Sidenote: There is no word on Gregg Araki's I Want Your Sex and any kind of release date for it yet, otherwise it would very much be listed above.) 

(Sidenote #2 - literally five minutes after I posted this list it was announced that Neon has bought Park Chan-wook's new movie No Other Choice for release and it's premiering at Venice so add that one too!)

Runners-up: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (dir. Rian Johnson), Marty Supreme (dir. Josh Safdie), Hamnet (dir. Chloé Zhao), A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (dir. Kogonada), It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi), The Roses (dir. Jay Roach), Avatar: Fire & Ash (dir. James Cameron), Together (dir. Michael Shanks)...

... Weapons (dir. Zach Cregger),  Jay Kelly (dir. Noah Baumbach), Caught Stealing (dir. Darren Aronofsky), Frankenstein (dir. Guillermo Del Toro), The Mastermind (dir. Kelly Reichardt), Highest 2 Lowest (dir. Spike Lee), A House of Dynamite (dir. Kathryn Bigelow), Die My Love (dir. Lynne Ramsay), The Running Man (dir. Edgar Wright)

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What movies are y'all most looking forward to?

I'll Have One Josh O'Connor On the Rocks

It was extremely kind of the world to give me a reason to post these photos of Josh O'Connor chilling at the beach beyond just posting photos of Josh O'Connor chilling at the beach -- I have actual Josh O'Connor news to share! It'd have been even nicer if he'd been canoodling on the beach with Paul Mescal instead of some girl, but I'll take what I can get. The History of Sound, the gay romance starring Josh & Paul and directed by Oliver Hermanus -- we've talked about this movie a couple of times, ahem -- just got a release date! It's hitting the streets on September 12th! That's only 87 days away! So if the world could continue turning until September 12th I'd fucking appreciate it, mkay? Thanks. Now with that aisde let's get back to the whole "Josh O'Connor chilling at the beach" thing and hit the jump for more several photos...