Pics of the Day

If you follow actor (and let's just drop "genius" at this point) Richard Gadd on Instagram then you know he's been unloading reams of behind-the-scenes photos from the set of his second stunning series in a row Half Man for the pasts everal weeks, all of which has been a joy to this person who 1) loved Half Man very very much, and 2) loves staring at Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell. Anyway I could have shared many shots previously (and actually did share a couple; see some very good ones here too) but this morning I am sharing these shots of the boys rolling around shirtless and kilt a'flappin' because duh. It's such a crime that Jamie Bell didn't get an Emmy nomination, urgh! Why must he go conitinually underappreciated??? Speaking of geniuses. And sexy geniuses at that -- the best kind!Anyway go watch Half Man, you owe it to yourself. It's brilliant. Even better and thornier than Baby Reindeer, I believe!

Good Morning, World

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A post shared by Richard Gadd (@mrrichardgadd)

Yes, Richard. Actually. YES.
(Y'all have watched Half Man by now right?
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.)

Pics of the Day

Aww these pictures are sweet -- not sure of the original source for these photos but here are a pair of set photos Jamie Bell with his co-star Tom Andrews from the shooting of the (dare I say "legendary" gay sauna scenes in Richard Gadd's just concluded series Half Man -- and a good time was had by all! Okay I honestly don't know if any character on this show was ever having a good time, especially when sex was involved, but the actors look like they're having fun anyway! See my scant few posts to date about the excellent Half Man at this link -- I may've finished it a few days ago but it hasn't stopped popping into my head at the most random of moments since, which kind of feels like being punched in the gut if I'm being honest. As good as Gadd's proven to be at excavating trauma maybe for his own sake he should try something lighter next go? I don't want to have to worry about him. But then if I could write scenes specifically for Jamie Bell to have gay group sex in a sauana worthy of Jamie Bell actually taking the role and doing that I'd write whatever I'd think would make that happen too. In summation -- let's get Jamie an Emmy! He should have several awards at this point given his exceptional talent -- I mean he should have an Oscar for his work in All of Us Strangers alone, dammit. Anyway this will hopefully just be the start of the Bell-assaince...

Half Man Says Bye; MNPP Says Birthday

I am having a not-great-day mentally-health-wise, which is an admittal I feel as if Richard Gadd of all people would understand and empathize with. So for the moment I don't have it in me to add much to what I wrote last week about the end of Half Man, the Baby Reindeer star's latest series, which just finished its six-episode run. But it's still early on in the wake of it, so perhaps something will pour outta me later this week. I'd love to hear your opinions on the series and its conclusion now though, so please share in the comments. Also I really wanted to share this video of Richard cleaning up nicely, so I am doing that. 

Anyway I'm off to another NewFest screening right this second but here's a fun thing to share -- Tomorrow is MNPP's 21st birthday! I will no doubt post about it but as I do every year (mostly) only on the site's anniversary -- if you feel up to contributing a dime or two dimes to the coffers for this site, which I make absolutely bupkis from, you can via here or over in the right-hand column. Any spare change rattled from your couch cushions -- you know, whatever you think I'm worth, or whatever, sigh -- is tremendously appreciated. See y'all tomorrow! We're 21, baby! 

Good Morning, World

I'll admit that, since I have been running perenially behind on watching new episodes of Richard "Baby Reindeer" Gadd's latest televisual masterpiece Half Man, that I began this post this morning thinking that the final episode was on tonight -- then I double-checked and no, the sixth and final episode drops on Thursday night. Who knew? Probably everyone watching it, save me. Anyway I did finally catch up over the long weekend so I am ready, so so ready, to see how Mr. Gadd lands this extraordinary ship. As with his previous series it's a helluva tonal tighrope he's traversing (alliteration!) but I've found every second of it alive and fiery and dangerous-feeling -- I think it might be even better than the Baby Reindeer program? Gadd and Jamie Bell...

... are giving tremendous performances and I hope that this show proves as popular with the awards bodies as Reindeer did, although its hook of this tortured homo-erotic (homo-deranged?) friendship ("friendship"?) between two extremely damaged boys to men isn't as hooky as that earlier show's was for a wide audience, I don't think. Still it speaks very clearly to me, and I think a lot of queer men -- the self-hatred and abuse we're willing to not just accept but even eroticize... it's a show that's saying a lot very clearly and efficiently and with great humor and I hope that Gadd keeps dropping truth bombs every couple of years on us like this. What a talent. All that and I wanna climb right up and mount him there on that bench-press -- feeling fortunate and thankful for you, good Gadd sir. So what is everybody thinking of Half Man? 

One Month Til Half Man

Half Man is Richard Gadd's upcoming follow-up to Baby Reindeer and it's hitting HBO one month from today, to the day -- I shared some photos and the plot synopsis et cetera from it when it all first dropped last August but the gist is they play estranged brothers whose relationship is followed across decades. And since Gadd's all beefed-up and all the headlines I've seen lately from him have been about "masculinity" I have a feeling that's what it's dealing with. Anyway I am very much looking forward to this, and that just-dropped poster above only underlined that feeling -- I very much wanna watch those two rassle. In all seriousness Jamie Bell is so freaking under-appreciated it's annoying so I'm hoping some of Gadd's golden boy magic rubs off on our favorite tiny dancer man. 

Pics of the Day

HBO has just released the first images of Rochard Gadd's follow-up to the smash hit Baby Reindeer -- and yes that's Gadd beefed up on the right side of that photo, if you can believe it. The series is called Half Man and it stars Gadd opposite the extremely talented and underrated Jamie Bell as "brothers" (they put that in quotes but don't explain why so I'm guessing they're adopted or foster care kids) -- here let me just cut and paste the entie logline:

"Half Man follows estranged “brothers” Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Richard Gadd). When Niall's estranged “brother” Ruben shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives. Spanning almost 40 years from the 1980s to the present day, Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell portray Niall (Robertson) and Ruben (Campbell) in their younger years, in a series that explores the highs and lows of Ruben and Niall’s relationship, from meeting them as troubled teenagers to witnessing their falling out as adults – with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry, and challenging moments along the way. The series will capture the wild energy of a changing city – a changing world, even – and plumb the depths of what it means to be a man."

I like most everyone else devoured Baby Reindeer and was absolutely wowed by it (if any of you hated it please share; I just realized I never read a single bad word about the series except those coming from Gadd's real-life stalker). Anyway I'm sure Gadd is feeling the sophomore pressure to deliver, but having Jamie Bell as his co-star is certainly a big boon right outta the gate. And if this gets Jamie Bell some much deserved awards recognition at last I'll be so very pleased! (He should have gotten nominated for an Oscar -- hell he should have won an Oscar -- for All of Us Strangers.) Here are two more photos they released:

Half Man doesn't premiere until next year.

Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

 ... you can learn from:

All of Us Strangers (2023)

Mum: They say it's a very lonely kind of life.

Adam: They don't say that anymore.

Mum: So you're not lonely?

Adam: If I am it's not because I'm gay. Not really.

My number one movie of last year Andrew Haigh's masterpiece All of Us Strangers is now out on 4K blu-ray today thanks to the wonderful wonderful folks over at Criterion -- pick up your copy here (as if y'all didn't already have it pre-ordered from when I first announced it was coming out). Here is my review of the movie, where I said of it "an epic of intimacy with a staggering open wound of a performance from Andrew Scott in its lead, All of Us Strangers is so brave in its honesty we’re all left naked babes wailing in its wake." 

(Heyyy Paul.) It's a movie that hit me harder with every re-watch -- every single actor in this film should have been nominated for an Oscar, along with all of the people behind the scenes in every single category, and it's total lack of nominations stands as further proof the Oscars are total shit. TOTAL SHIT. Anyway that's hardly news -- I'm just so glad that Criterion's giving it a proper physical-media release. Since it was a streamer's film and it made no money there was no gaurantee that it would get this. So go shower your money on Criterion in appreciation!

Morning ☕ 💙 pic.twitter.com/U2Gi8eQmWo

— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) September 10, 2024

Happiness Is a Stranger's Apocalypse

Apologies but y'all are going to have to scrape me off the floor before I can write this post with Criterion's September announcements -- this is the most aimed-straight-at-me batch of titles imaginable. It was like one slap with a brick across the face after another as I scanned down through the email announcement -- I couldn't even believe my eyes. I ran to Twitter to immediately scream about the title seen above (which we'll get to in a second) and then when I went back to the email I saw what else was in store and was like, "Momma get me my pills." This is just three simultaneous (wet) dreams coming true at once. I am in a state of happy shock. Allow me a moment to luxuriate in this pleasure...

Okay. Let's get to it. First up! If I went back and tried to find the first time I screamed at Criterion to release a box-set of Gregg Araki's "Teen Apocalypse Trilogy" it would be impossible because it was many many many moons ago and I have done it approximately ten million times since. I probably brought it up two to three times a year. Seeing it finally come to fruition is something I'd almost given up on! But then the movies got remastered last year and I began to think it might be a real possibility... and here we are. Totally F***ed Up, The Doom Generation, and Nowhere, given the proper love they have long deserved. We won! You can see all of the special features over at Criterion, where you can also buy the set -- and do that, buy one for everyone you know, because we need to let them know how happy this has made us. Just know the set is loaded with extras -- they even got the rare bird of Nathan Bexton to be on one of the commentaries! 

My insides are screaming, crying, throwing up, throwing gay ass 

confetti. I could end this post there and be ecstatic, but then...

... it turns out that Criterion is releasing Andrew Haigh's 2023 masterpiece All of Us Strangers on 4K in September too! My favorite movie of last year (here is my original review), which we'd been worried wasn't getting any kind of physical media release here in the U.S. (there is a U.K. blu-ray scheduled) because it was an Amazon movie and that cruel rumor had been going around. I had not a single inkling this was going to happen and every part of me is right now tingling. What a gorgeous surprise! And yet that wasn't even the biggest surprise of all, because...

... Todd Solondz's Happiness is also hitting 4K! HOLY SHIT!!! Do you understand now why my entire self is vibrating? This movie hasn't gotten a proper release since the age of DVD, and those DVDs have been out of print and fetching good sums of money for years now. And now suddenly we're moving right on up to 4K! This is one of my favorite movies of all time, I've seen it more times than I could count -- if you've somehow never managed to see it before (because it really has been a pain to see) my god are you in for a deranged dark treat. I quote this movie at least once a week...

... it's basically everything I want from the movies. And I'm also over the moon that they used Daniel Clowes' fantastic original art-work for the set's cover because how do you top that slice of perfection? It's iconic. Anyway with those three sets (containing five movies total) September 2024 is now etched into the fabric of time and reality as Peak Criterion. My gods. My stars! Oh and I should mention that as seen below they're also dropping 4Ks of both The Long Good Friday and Repo Man which are great and all, too. But let's be honest and obvious -- I am all about the above fireworks show of awesomeness. So, so, so all about! Today is a great day, my friends! Slip something in your tuna sandwich and celebrate! 

Strangers On Hulu

It might not have gotten any Oscar nominations and it might not have won any of the BAFTAs it was nominated for and it might not be getting a physical media release here in the U.S. but my favorite movie of 2023, Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers, doesn't need any of that because it's already a goddamned classic and it will outlive and outshine 95% of anything else made in 2023. And at least we can watch it on Hulu now -- it just hit the streamer today. So go watch it, and then leave it playing on repeat in the background of your life so somebody will notice there's interest and maybe we can at least change the "no physical media" thing. (Come to the rescue, Criterion!) That's the only one I really care about. Whatever -- I'm used to it taking time for my beloveds to find their place in the world. I made my peace with it long, long ago! Just go watch the movie, and then read my review, and then we can cry and cry more together over the beauty and the heartbreak of Haigh's making. 

 

Eat Me, Disney

A terrible awful no-good rumor popped up on Twitter last night and the worst part about it is that it seems to be coming from a person who would know, and therefore it's not a rumor but a fact that we just haven't gotten further confirmation upon -- a dude who works on the making of physical media says that not only will Disney only be putting Yorgos Lanthimos' Oscar-nominated Poor Things out on blu-ray only (talk about a movie that demands 4K attention!) but Andrew Haigh's not-Oscar-nominated masterpiece (my number one movie of 2023) All of Us Strangers isn't getting any kind of physical media release at all. Is that the real difference between getting a nomination and not getting one? Do we have tangible proof now? And don't come at me with that box office jibber-jabber -- I don't speak box office. I do speak physical-media though and if AOUS isn't getting a blu-ray because it didn't get Oscar nominations you're about to see somebody start caring about Oscar nominations. And for that a hearty fuck you to Disney. Fingers crossed that Haigh's movie gets a release outside of the U.S. since I have a region-free player -- I should add that technically all of this is personally moot since I got an awards screener of the film mailed to me a few months ago so technically I own the movie already, but those crappy watermakred DVDs don't really count. What a shitshow. 

... this title will sit alongside other Searchlight and 20th Century titles like 'A Haunting in Venice' and 'The Bookeyman' with no 4K release - Blu Ray only. The recently acclaimed Searchlight, #AllOfUsStrangers will not be getting a physical release at all.😭

— Adam J. Yeend (@AJYeend) February 13, 2024

Strangers Come Home

Heads up -- the best movie of 2023 is hitting streaming in a couple of weeks! Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers will be on Hulu on February 22nd. I know it's been kind of hard for people to see the movie -- the release strategy has been pretty shitty and drawn out -- so this'll make it easy for you all, finally. Click here for my review if you missed it. It was nice to see the film -- which our filthy stupid Oscars totally ignored -- get a bunch of awards (alongside my second favorite film of 2023, Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest) at the London Critics Circle Film Awards over the weekend -- some people have taste at least!

All of the Stranger's Music

Happy news, Strangers-heads (is that a thing? Let's make that a thing) -- Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch's lovely score for Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers is getting a vinyl release! It's out on April 12th and you can pre-order it right here on Amazon (or at one of your fine local retailers). It's just the score mind you, so it doesn't include the two pop songs that left such an impression in that movie -- namely "The Power of Love" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and "Always on My Mind." by Pet Shop Boys -- but you can listen to those right now anywhere. The score itself is gorgeous and I couldn't be happier about a proper release! I've become a huge fan of Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch -- her score for Living last year (which never got a vinyl release at all!) was my favorite of the year. And her music for the horror movie Censor kicks ass too. Keep hiring her, folks!

Happy Strangers Holiday

Since All of Us Strangers is finally hitting theaters tomorrow (look for theaters and dates here) and I'm heading off for the holidays (MNPP will be closed up until January 2nd... although pay attention to my socials cuz I do have some other stuff dropping) so who knows when I will get around to officially posting anything like a Top 10 here, I'm just gonna come right out and spoil that (not that this will surprise anybody who's been paying attention) -- Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers is my favorite movie of 2023. You're number one, baby! Here's my review from September -- I've seen a lot of other movies since then, a lot of fantastic other movies, but nothing's come along to move this gorgeous sad thing from that top spot.  So go watch my boys (and girl) break your heart the minute you can, is my point! And come back here to tell me your thoughts -- leave comments on anything you see. I love to hear from my babies! And I'll see y'all in 2024 with plenty more nonsense...

Good Morning, World

Every homosexual on Earth, it is now our duty to high-five Claire Foy whenever we see her in person, from now until the day she dies or the world ends whichever comes first, because (probably) no other human person can claim that they laid in bed with Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Andrew Scott as seen here in this photo from the set of Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers. (My review here.) What a day that must have been!

Good Morning, Strangers

I'm going to be busy this morning with off-blog stuff, so why not entertain yourselves with these photos of Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal along with the interview in the New York Times that goes with it? They're talking All of Us Strangers obviously, their new movie from Weekend director Andrew Haigh that's out in a couple of weeks -- here is my review of it; it is not to be missed. As if you were gonna miss this movie. I know my readers. Anyway I'll be back in a couple hours, maybe sooner. Hit the jump for more photos...

Three Strangers Standing Before Me

I was lucky enough to see Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers a third time last night as part of MoMA's annual "Contenders" series, and I was even luckier for Haigh to be there along with his actors Andrew Scott and Jamie Bell for a Q&A after the screening. If there's one thing that all of the recent Q&As I've attended have made clear is actors have been DYING to talk about their movies -- an activity which had been delayed due to the Hollywood strikes -- and their enthusiasm levels are off the charts at these things. 

And that couldn't be more true than it was with three three fellas last night -- not that they don't have reason to beam anyway, given what a masterpiece they've given us with this movie. (Here is my review if you missed it.) I began crying approximately two minutes into last nigt's re-watch and didn't stop once. Anyway I took some photos and several videos of the Q&A and I will share them below -- that said they discuss spoilery things about the movie therein so don't watch these if you haven't seen the movie or at least, I guess, read the book it's based on. If you don't know what the movie is about I really recommend going in with the freshest eyes you can. Now hit the jump for the good stuff...

Andrew Scott Nine Times

I wish that Andrew Haigh's movie All of Us Strangers was opening earlier than December 22nd -- I assume the studio is hoping that when people see it so late its actors will be fresh on everybody's minds when they go to vote for awards. But I feel like movies that open this late, especially ones as small and intimate as this, get swallowed up by the holidays, and they need more time to settle in people's brains. Also just out of selfishness I wish it was opening sooner so I could go see it a third and a fourth and a fifth time sooner. Anyway if you missed my raving mad rave review for the movie click here -- its leading man Andrew Scott, who's seen here on one of the "Men of the Year" covers of GQ this month (read his interview here), deserves mountains of accolades for his devastating performance. And I do want to add -- we have this performance and that is its own reward; I still think the Oscars are dumb pointless shit. I'm just steeling myself for two gay actors playing gay roles to get steamrolled all awards season by a "straight" guy playing gay again, and that shit's exhausting (especially when the movie is so terrible). But pelase anyway hit the jump for all of the photos of dear Andrew...

Good Morning, World

Several new photos from Andrew Haigh's marvelous All of Us Strangers have been released via Film Updates on Twitter of all places -- this is the first time I think I've ever seen that account get exclusives? I find that account somewhat annoying because they came along and always beat me to tweeting out things because they just tweet them while I make entire posts about things and then tweet links to said things -- I suppose good on them for maximizing the platform but why would you want speed and efficiency when you can have me rambling like this here? 

Exactly. Aaaanyway I'm a hypocrite because I also find their account useful because they catch way more things than I do, and now they get exclusive images of half-naked Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal apparently! (And we are gonna need to talk about Paul's mustache at some point y'all.) Click here if you haven't read my review of All of Us Strangers -- the movie is screening here in NYC at NewFest this weekend and then it's out in theaters on December 22nd. I've been fighting the impulse to RSVP to every single press screening, personally. Between this and re-watching Saltburn and Poor Things over and over again my calendar's filling up with the same three movies!

Beautiful Strangers

Hey everybody! Another week ahead of the New York Film Festival happily gobbling up my hours -- just got out of a back-to-back double-feature and I will be in screenings all day tomorrow. Just popping in to alert you to the fact that I do have a review from the fest live, one I'm very proud of because the movie was worth writing something special -- click here to read my thoughts on Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers, starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal and Jamie Bell and Claire Foy, who are all doing some of if not their very best work on-screen. There's no way this gorgeous tearjerking tour de force doesn't make my favorites of the year, you need to see it the second it's out (which for the record is December 22nd, and yes it is a Christmas movie, sort of), and we all need to make some damned noise to get Andrew Scott an Oscar nomination -- a gay man playing a gay man, dammit! Make some noise.

Anyway I have another review going live tomorrow (here's a hint, it rhymes with "Door Rings") so keep your eyes on Pajiba for that. When I am back on Wednesday (and I'm online that whole day -- it's my only day this week with no screenings) I'll link over to it of course, but who needs to wait an extra 24 hours for your Me Fix??? (Don't answer that.)