Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · 20h

Hey, @portlandcritics.bsky.social is hosting its first public screening! Couldn't imagine a better fit.

Nov. 30, @hollywoodtheatre.org, 35mm

hollywoodtheatre.org/show/drugsto...

DRUGSTORE COWBOY in 35mm - Hollywood Theatre

Travel back to a mythical land known as Old Portland with Gus Van Sant’s breakthrough 1989 film about a gang of pharmacy bandits on a road to nowhere. Matt Dillon, […]

hollywoodtheatre.org

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · 2d

Dwayne Johnson: "Benny, it nearly killed me, but I hereby surrender my ego to you."

Safdie: "Man, I'm thinking the hi-fi at Mark Kerr's house should sound CRAZY."

foolswhodreammovies.com/the-smashing...

“The Smashing Machine” Review: Dwayne Johnson Learns To Lose in Benny Safdie’s MMA Biopic - Fools Who Dream Movies

After shattering the world record for unmemorable performances in passionless blockbusters, Johnson has surrendered himself to Safdie.

foolswhodreammovies.com

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Bennett Campbell Ferguson @bcfonfilm.bsky.social · 3d

@chancesp.bsky.social analyzes the ups and downs of Benny Safdie's "The Smashing Machine," starring Dwayne Johnson.
foolswhodreammovies.com/the-smashing...

“The Smashing Machine” Review: Dwayne Johnson Learns To Lose in Benny Safdie’s MMA Biopic - Fools Who Dream Movies

After shattering the world record for unmemorable performances in passionless blockbusters, Johnson has surrendered himself to Safdie.

foolswhodreammovies.com

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · 5d

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Portland Critics Association @portlandcritics.bsky.social · 7d

For Spin Magazine, our David Harris spotlights Portland's very own "movie mecca"—the @hollywoodtheatre.org 🍿🎥:
www.spin.com/2025/10/port...

Portland’s Hollywood Theatre Is a Mecca for Movie Lovers

Portland, Oregon, is a major city without a major tourist destination. New York City has the Statue of Liberty and countless museums. Chicago has Millennium Par

www.spin.com

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lauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 9d

i believe there are about a hundred and fifty million people like me who would pay $17 to watch benicio del toro as sergio st. carlos plan and execute a tight sunday costco run before he has to man the barbecue after his niece's afternoon soccer game (run time: 2 hours 20 minutes)

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Portland Critics Association @portlandcritics.bsky.social · 25d

Our statement on the suspension of @jimmykimmel.com.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · 26d

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Movie Madness @moviemadness.org · Sep 10

Here it is, the newest piece in our memorabilia collection. Straight out of John Carpenter’s classic BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, the brilliant neon sign from Egg Shen’s restaurant and the base of operations. Come on in and check it out now!

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Willamette Week @wweek.com · Sep 9

What to see at Portland’s repertory theaters.

Get Your Reps In: “Marie Antoinette” Reigns Supreme

Chance Solem-Pfeifer

www.wweek.com

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 27

Haha I've certainly never seen the photos. I like it as an existential observation.

Reposted by Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Sam Adams @samadams.bsky.social · Aug 27

Don’t threaten me with a good time

Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · Aug 27

AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.

Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action

Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.

arstechnica.com

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 27

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William Bibbiani @williambibbiani.bsky.social · Aug 23

I'm making the case for why EVERYONE in this industry benefits from critics.

That, and what's at stake if we disappear - or let publications tie our hands.

If you read only one of my articles this week, or this month, please make it this one.

Available to everyone this week, not just our patrons.

Film Critics Are Wolves (and That’s a Good Thing): Critically Acclaimed Newsletter (8/23/25) | The Critically Acclaimed Network

www.patreon.com

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Sarah Welch-Larson @dodgyboffin.com · Aug 17

BWDR gave me my start as a writer. It’s one of the places online I call home. I’m literally wrapping up an essay for them this evening, the kind of piece where I had a deranged idea and then @chadperman.bsky.social said “oh wow” *and* took it seriously. I love writing here.

Bright Wall/Dark Room @bwdr.bsky.social · Aug 17

Real talk (reel talk?):

BWDR recently lost a partnership that covered nearly half our operating budget, so things are suddenly very tough. If what we do has ever meant something to you, or you’ve ever thought about subscribing, now’s the time—it *truly* makes a difference.

Subscribe - Bright Wall/Dark Room

Subscribe for $29 a year Subscribe now to receive immediate access to each new essay we publish, plus our entire 135+ issue archive. Bright Wall/Dark Room is 100% independent, runs no ads, and strongl...

brightwalldarkroom.com

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 16

Two movies nobody would believe are by the same director:

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David Sims @davidlsims.bsky.social · Jul 4

RIP Ken Colley www.theatlantic.com/entertainmen...

In Praise of Admiral Piett, the Best Background 'Star Wars' Character

An appreciation of Darth Vader's pencil-pushing right-hand man

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Portland Critics Association @portlandcritics.bsky.social · Aug 12

Our @sinacolad.bsky.social on a "singular" evening with Uncle Francis.

(For @portlandmercury.com.)

Suzette Smith @suzettesmith.bsky.social · Aug 12

The Portland stop on Francis Ford Coppola's national tour:
•Four solid hours of ebullient ego
•Ten illusions scrawled on a white board
•We only ever got to five of them 😢
via @sinacolad.bsky.social

Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis Tour Comes to Portland and the Longest Q&A That Wasn’t

What about the other five "illusions?"

www.portlandmercury.com

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Matinee Mode @matineemode.bsky.social · Nov 14

“It’s called a steelbook T. And it’s the exact same movie just inside a safe deposit box.”

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 8

boxd.it/aEmRQX

A ★★★★ review of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Charlie showed Barton the life of the mind, and Anton scanned his boots for blood on Carla Jean's porch, but I truly believe the limbless thespian vignette is the darkest thing they've ever done. That...

boxd.it

Reposted by Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 5

Call my man a chiropractor because Austin Butler can only look over one shoulder.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 5

Well done, @andrewjank.bsky.social!

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Aug 5

Call my man a chiropractor because Austin Butler can only look over one shoulder.

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Reposted by Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · Jul 29

Really struggle with the idea that recognising Palestine is being treated like a way to try and moderate Israel's conduct - the diplomatic equivalent of a threat to send a naughty child to bed early if they don't behave properly - rather than the inalienable right of an entire nation of people.

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · Jul 29

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British Prime Minister Kier Starmer: "We will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza."

www.bbc.com/news/live/cd...

UK will recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets certain conditions, Starmer says - live updates

The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel's offensive began, including 112 in the past 24 hours.

www.bbc.com

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer @chancesp.bsky.social · Jul 26

Have never been accused of needing to get back into Billy Joel, but so it goes:
boxd.it/aujzS1

A ★★★ review of Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025)

Can't claim it's an objectively good doc, as it has no real angle on Billy's life and work. On the other hand, it almost subconsciously reverts to a survey style approach, mirroring the mile-wide, inc...

boxd.it

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