I'm Makin' Like Austin Butler's Ass...

... and bouncing!

(Okay yeah Caught Stealing might've been just okay but it's definitely got its merits, for sure.) Anyway as the title cheekily infers I'm gone, peace, outta here. I've got to get back to the film fest grind. I actually did think I was going to be here for most of tomorrow but now something I can't miss has come up and so I'll actually be away all day tomorrow too. Boo! Hiss! That said more NYFF reviews (following the one earlier today for Pillion huzzah) will be dropping at some point, and I'll try to make those clear here, or on social media, or perhaps I'll just poke my head out of the top of whatever hole I'm currently buried in and scream something to that effect. We'll see! How exciting! Bye til then!

And Now My Pillion Review is Here

Pillion Week continues! First we got the posters, then we got the trailer, then we got Alexander Skarsgard maybe coming out as bi, and now my review! Click on over to read my thoughts on the film, starring Alexander Skarsgard as the dom to Harry Melling's happy sub, at Pajiba right here. This is my first review of several to come out of NYFF 2025 -- first because twas the easiest to write. This is a movie to just fall in love with! Just so lovely...

Pic of the Day

I think we're probably all agreed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson's current beard situation is a bit much, so I'll remind us that it's for Robert Eggers' now-filming werewolf movie. And with that out of the way let's just appreciate the fact that his wife saw fit to take and post this photo for us today. I'm almost tempted to do a "Who Wore It Best" poll between ATJ and the statue but I have no idea who the statue is supposed to be of and that seems like an important missing piece of that puzzle. Anybody recognize that ancient fella?

Quote of the Day

“I found that in this case, it’s not really relevant what my background is. I mean, I do have a kid, but what I’ve done in the past, who I’ve been with, men, women… To me, what was important was that this felt like an opportunity to tell a story about a subculture I hadn’t seen portrayed this way – with so much authenticity... My experience of watching this on screen was through Cruising, where it’s this dark underbelly of New York City and it’s dangerous, murderous and scary. Leather gays are scary. I’m no Ray, but I have a little bit of experience from that world and I know that’s not the truthful depiction."

Everybody's theorizing that Alexander Skarsgård just came out as bi with these comments made at a Q&A after a screening of his gay fetish romance Pillion at the Zurch Film Festival this week (via, thx Mac) and... I'm inclined to agree, although there is I suppose some wiggle room. I honestly 1) don't find this surprising and 2) doubt he cares that much. He's got that European attitide towards sex and sexuality, which is part of why we love him. I suppose he could come back and say he was talking in theory or he was talking about filming his gay sex scenes in True Blood et cetera but I would actually be surprised if he bothered to go and qualify the comments that way after the fact. Anyway go see Pillion! My review is coming later today and spoiler alert you want to see this movie. Shocker!

Happy 25 to Kid A

People don't spend time just staring at images for very long anymore do they? (Well unless they're these photos of Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor anyway.) No but seriously -- it used to be a thing when a new album would come out that you'd listen to it and sit staring at the artwork on the album while you did so. And so it went when Radiohead's record Kid A came out on October 2nd 2000 -- you have no idea how much time I spent staring at that weird mountainous landscape created by artist Stanley Donwood seen above. Hours and hours of my life. I'd just moved to New York and (I'm pretty sure I've shared this on one of its earlier anniversaries) I listened to this album constantly. You cannot overestimate how much I mean by "constantly." All my first months here were spent wandering the streets listening to this music. And I still can't hear any song on Kid A without being immediately transported to that time. It's also the reason I got to see Radiohead perform in a small(ish) space -- on October 11th 2000 they performed at the Roseland Ballroom and it was the greatest show I've ever experienced. They had a heap of musicians on-stage with them, besides the usual band members -- I specifically remember trombones. I also remember feeling as if I was levitating off the floor. Anyway this record is a masterpiece and I'm going to go listen to it right now. Actually somebody uploaded the entire audio of that Roseland show and I'll share it below and we can listen to that together -- funny to realize this was before we could film things with our cell phones, so audio seems to be all there is...

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Good Morning, World

I did start watching the HBO series Task before I got swallowed up by NYFF duties but it's fallen by the wayside for the past few weeks -- that doesn't mean all of my Spidey-senses didn't start a'tingling once our dear House of the Dragon hunk Fabien Frankel was seen to take his top off however (thx Mac). Swoon! Nobody spoil anything for me please but if you'd like to tell me generally if the show is worth picking back up once I'm not so busy again I'd like to hear it. I wasn't sold on the first couple of episodes save Fabien and Mark Ruffalo looking like adorable little fur-baby brothers that had me screaming "Make out!" every time they shared the screen. 

Jonathan Bailey Six Times

One of these days I won't be desperately behind on everything -- here's a fun fact: I'll actually be here at my desk all day tomorrow! But today is not that day so here are the photos of Jonny Bailey for Time magazine that dropped... some time this week. Hell it may've even been yesterday -- I have no concept of time right now. Or Time Magazine either! Wow really set myself up for that one. Y'all I'm so fucking tired. Hit the jump for the rest...

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Yes It's the Pillion Trailer

Yesterday I shared the first pair of posters for Pillion with you and now -- yes a few hours late but whatever, I'm busy! -- we've got the trailer! The responsible portion of me feels the need to say what Pillion is about every time I post about Pillion but I've posted about Pillion a billion (heh rhymes) times now and I think y'all know that this is the movie where Alexander Skarsgard takes Harry melling on as his sub boy. Anyway as I also said yesterday my review of this from NYFF is incoming and I'll link to that when "incoming" has actually "come" but for now, do watch:

I'm actually surprised A24 already dropped this trailer since the movie's not in theaters until February, but hey -- nobody's gonna complain about some of Alexander's cum-gutters hitting any ol' day, I think. Not here on this website anyway.

Good Morning, World

Yes it's another day where I'm in NYFF screenings this morning and prepping this post the night before -- so goes the busy active lifestyle of a big man on the move y'all! I'm so goddamned hip I can hardly stand it. But not too hip to share these new Tyriq Withers photos with you (via) -- never too hip for that. Anyway I'll be in proper this afternoon -- until then hit the jump for these Tyriq flavored treats...