Christopher Smets
@cwsmets.bsky.social
Used bookstore peruser. Early morning movie watcher. Director of THE ASHGROVE EXPERIMENT. Other stuff.
https://vimeo.com/user13597261
https://vimeo.com/user13597261
When I first saw The Thin Red Line, I rejected it, hard. I'd loved Badlands and Days of Heaven, but something about it pushed me away. But I had exactly this same experience, and came back around to it years later. There's no other war movie like it. It feels like a miracle that it even exists.
Terrence Malick is 82.
I showed The Thin Red Line to my A Level Film students in 1998.
After a brief silence at the end, a boy said loudly ‘that was bollocks!’
Two weeks later, he came to apologise, saying that he’d bought the video as ‘it’s stayed in my head since.’
I showed The Thin Red Line to my A Level Film students in 1998.
After a brief silence at the end, a boy said loudly ‘that was bollocks!’
Two weeks later, he came to apologise, saying that he’d bought the video as ‘it’s stayed in my head since.’
November 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
When I first saw The Thin Red Line, I rejected it, hard. I'd loved Badlands and Days of Heaven, but something about it pushed me away. But I had exactly this same experience, and came back around to it years later. There's no other war movie like it. It feels like a miracle that it even exists.
Rewatched THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, which I still love, but somehow forgot about the incredible moment where Jeff Daniels is reading an Elmore Leonard paperback in the hospital and tells Jesse Eisenberg, "It's pulp, but Leonard is the filet of the crime genre." (He's right.)
November 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Rewatched THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, which I still love, but somehow forgot about the incredible moment where Jeff Daniels is reading an Elmore Leonard paperback in the hospital and tells Jesse Eisenberg, "It's pulp, but Leonard is the filet of the crime genre." (He's right.)
When EYES WIDE SHUT came out, a friend was writing reviews for a major outlet and saw it at a press screening. He reported back that it was a disaster, telling me that when it was over, one woman turned to her friend and said, "I want to slap Stanley Kubrick." We've come a long way since then!
One of the reasons why EYES WIDE SHUT has become such an unlikely Christmas movie is that it’s basically the IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE of fucking. www.vulture.com/2019/06/eyes...
November 28, 2025 at 1:06 AM
When EYES WIDE SHUT came out, a friend was writing reviews for a major outlet and saw it at a press screening. He reported back that it was a disaster, telling me that when it was over, one woman turned to her friend and said, "I want to slap Stanley Kubrick." We've come a long way since then!
Reposted by Christopher Smets
Reposted by Christopher Smets
What a goddamn legend. Every big tough conservative masculinity guy has been crying about how terrifying cities are to live in for the past two years and now Trump wants to move back to NYC
Reporter to Trump: Would you feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani mayoralty?
Trump: "I would. I really would. Especially after the meeting, absolutely."
Trump: "I would. I really would. Especially after the meeting, absolutely."
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM
What a goddamn legend. Every big tough conservative masculinity guy has been crying about how terrifying cities are to live in for the past two years and now Trump wants to move back to NYC
When I was a kid and "The Heart of Rock & Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News came on Canadian radio, during the fadeout vamp at the end, Huey would yell "Toronto!" and "Montreal!" I just figured it was some radio-only thing, but I didn't know it was actually released as a beautiful red vinyl 45.
November 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
When I was a kid and "The Heart of Rock & Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News came on Canadian radio, during the fadeout vamp at the end, Huey would yell "Toronto!" and "Montreal!" I just figured it was some radio-only thing, but I didn't know it was actually released as a beautiful red vinyl 45.
Reposted by Christopher Smets
This was an epic moment in television. They decided to make Snuffleupagus real at the advice of child psychologists who said children needed to know their parents would believe them if they told them about someone they knew doing things with them the parents didn’t know
[November 18th, 1985] In the Season 17 premiere of Sesame Street, Episode 2096, the adults on Sesame Street finally meet Mr. Snuffleupagus and realize he is real, not imaginary.
Elmo is also introduced as a new character.
Elmo is also introduced as a new character.
November 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This was an epic moment in television. They decided to make Snuffleupagus real at the advice of child psychologists who said children needed to know their parents would believe them if they told them about someone they knew doing things with them the parents didn’t know
When I watched DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS a few years ago, my immediate thought was, oh, is this where the Coen Brothers got the ending for "The Mortal Remains" in THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS? It feels like something they might have watched as kids that got lodged in their subconscious.
November 17, 2025 at 4:51 AM
When I watched DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS a few years ago, my immediate thought was, oh, is this where the Coen Brothers got the ending for "The Mortal Remains" in THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS? It feels like something they might have watched as kids that got lodged in their subconscious.
Reposted by Christopher Smets
I’ve never heard anything but this from white centrist democrats. Especially the last 20 plus years. Never anything but this.
It's so interesting that in the name of practicality we are urged to avoid any practical action; in the name of redemption we are urged to exonerate people who have shown no interest in redemption; in the name of civility we are urged to overlook the cruelty of those who scorn all civility
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I’ve never heard anything but this from white centrist democrats. Especially the last 20 plus years. Never anything but this.
Reposted by Christopher Smets
Bill Hader doing an impression of Oliver Reed explaining the difference between acting on stage & acting on film.
Love how he cracks Paul Giamatti up.
Love how he cracks Paul Giamatti up.
December 29, 2024 at 12:26 AM
Bill Hader doing an impression of Oliver Reed explaining the difference between acting on stage & acting on film.
Love how he cracks Paul Giamatti up.
Love how he cracks Paul Giamatti up.
Grainy Tom is the new Smooth Ringo.
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Grainy Tom is the new Smooth Ringo.
As a novel, THE THIN MAN is kind of an amazing detective story because Nick Charles does next to no sleuthing in it, he and Nora mostly just go out to restaurants and clubs and run into people who pull them deeper into the mystery. It's incredibly charming.
Dashiell Hammett's The Thin Man is going into the public domain on January 1st in case anyone wants to make a horror film about an adorably drunk couple and their dog chasing, like, a killer clown or something.
November 12, 2025 at 1:22 AM
As a novel, THE THIN MAN is kind of an amazing detective story because Nick Charles does next to no sleuthing in it, he and Nora mostly just go out to restaurants and clubs and run into people who pull them deeper into the mystery. It's incredibly charming.
I just found out today that DEATH WISH director and notorious prick Michael Winner once directed and starred in a series of insurance ads in the UK that were 1) so popular they inspired their own catchphrase, and 2) feel as deranged and ill-conceived as one of his movies. youtu.be/efl5pFTFnBU?...
Esure - Calm Down Dear (2003, UK)
YouTube video by The Hall of Advertising
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I just found out today that DEATH WISH director and notorious prick Michael Winner once directed and starred in a series of insurance ads in the UK that were 1) so popular they inspired their own catchphrase, and 2) feel as deranged and ill-conceived as one of his movies. youtu.be/efl5pFTFnBU?...
Reposted by Christopher Smets
the single most annoying thing about cigarettes, which are terrible and will kill you, is how fucking cool people can make them look
I mean come on
I mean come on
November 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
the single most annoying thing about cigarettes, which are terrible and will kill you, is how fucking cool people can make them look
I mean come on
I mean come on
Extremely meta moment at the Revue Cinema last night, seeing GREMLINS 2 on 35mm and having the film *actually* break down.
November 9, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Extremely meta moment at the Revue Cinema last night, seeing GREMLINS 2 on 35mm and having the film *actually* break down.
Reposted by Christopher Smets
this looks like a trick daffy duck would put up to get bugs bunny into "the oval office"
November 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM
this looks like a trick daffy duck would put up to get bugs bunny into "the oval office"
Wild movie.
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
Coming on February 23rd in the UK on #4K from @filmsradiance.bsky.social as the second title in their #Transmission line: #TheStuntMan (1980)!
Cameron (Steve Railsback, Lifeforce) is a man who finds himself unmoored from American life: recently returned from Vietnam,
Coming on February 23rd in the UK on #4K from @filmsradiance.bsky.social as the second title in their #Transmission line: #TheStuntMan (1980)!
Cameron (Steve Railsback, Lifeforce) is a man who finds himself unmoored from American life: recently returned from Vietnam,
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Wild movie.
Reposted by Christopher Smets
“Good game. That was a good game.”
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 AM
“Good game. That was a good game.”
Reposted by Christopher Smets
As a Dodgers fan, I literally feel like Sarah Connor at the end of the first Terminator. That’s how good the Blue Jays were.
Like we won but I’m so traumatized I’m going to lose custody of my son because I trained him to shoot weapons in Nicaragua and I’ll end up in a max cell at Pescadero
Like we won but I’m so traumatized I’m going to lose custody of my son because I trained him to shoot weapons in Nicaragua and I’ll end up in a max cell at Pescadero
November 2, 2025 at 4:57 AM
As a Dodgers fan, I literally feel like Sarah Connor at the end of the first Terminator. That’s how good the Blue Jays were.
Like we won but I’m so traumatized I’m going to lose custody of my son because I trained him to shoot weapons in Nicaragua and I’ll end up in a max cell at Pescadero
Like we won but I’m so traumatized I’m going to lose custody of my son because I trained him to shoot weapons in Nicaragua and I’ll end up in a max cell at Pescadero
The fact that Mary Hart has been a regular fixture behind home plate is a constant source of amusement in my house.
Mary Hart is at the game with Albert Brooks when he’s playing a villain
October 30, 2025 at 12:59 AM
The fact that Mary Hart has been a regular fixture behind home plate is a constant source of amusement in my house.
An actual laugh out loud.
Diplomatic Talks Break Down Between Trump, Motion-Activated Ghost Decoration
Diplomatic Talks Break Down Between Trump, Motion-Activated Ghost Decoration
WASHINGTON—In what they described as a disappointing turn in the ongoing negotiations, White House officials confirmed Wednesday that diplomatic talks had broken down between President Donald Trump an...
theonion.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
An actual laugh out loud.
I was trying to figure out who Max Scherzer reminds me of and I think it's this guy.
October 17, 2025 at 2:22 AM
I was trying to figure out who Max Scherzer reminds me of and I think it's this guy.
I was so happy to see him.
If you’re like me, you sat up on your chair when S-tier character actor Kevin Tighe turned up in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. I had a wonderful conversation with him about it for The Reveal: thereveal.film/interview-ke...
Interview: Kevin Tighe on ‘One Battle After Another’ and a great career on stage and screen
The great character actor talks about his return to the screen in 'One Battle After Another' and a half-century journey in the business.
thereveal.film
October 16, 2025 at 3:30 AM
I was so happy to see him.
I am obsessed with the speaking voice of Buck Martinez.
October 16, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I am obsessed with the speaking voice of Buck Martinez.
I ran into a friend on the street today who managed to get the last available seat for one of the final 10pm screenings of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER in 70mm IMAX. I asked him if he liked it and he just laughed and said, "I mean, we're so lucky to be alive when PTA is making movies."
October 10, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I ran into a friend on the street today who managed to get the last available seat for one of the final 10pm screenings of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER in 70mm IMAX. I asked him if he liked it and he just laughed and said, "I mean, we're so lucky to be alive when PTA is making movies."