John Leman Riley
@lemanriley.bsky.social
Literature, cinema, classical music, art, Slavonic stuff, Shostakovich, Canadiana
BlueSky accidental commentary
November 25, 2025 at 11:21 PM
BlueSky accidental commentary
A while back I was on @severinfilms.bsky.social BluRay of “Viy”, talking about Russian/Soviet horror & scifi. Here’s a @letterboxd.social list of the films I mentioned, plus more. It’s still very incomplete, so I might expand it, but it’s a sort of starter pack to the subject. boxd.it/QjiKI/detail
Russian/Soviet Folk Horror/Sci-Fi
A while back I was an extra to Severin’s Blu-Ray of Viy, talking about Russian and Soviet horror and sci-fi. Some people were nice about it, especially the number of titles I mentioned. So I thought I...
boxd.it
November 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
A while back I was on @severinfilms.bsky.social BluRay of “Viy”, talking about Russian/Soviet horror & scifi. Here’s a @letterboxd.social list of the films I mentioned, plus more. It’s still very incomplete, so I might expand it, but it’s a sort of starter pack to the subject. boxd.it/QjiKI/detail
If you've ever wondered how to watch a film, this might answer some questions. Or it might not. open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE
Or, "How to Watch a Film. Or Not." That Is, "Not How", Not "Not Watch."
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:58 AM
If you've ever wondered how to watch a film, this might answer some questions. Or it might not. open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
It's #GreyCup Day. #RoughRiders vs #Allouettes. If you don't know anything about #CanadianFootball or the #CFL, this might help. Slightly. Regina - the Game's Afoot open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
Regina - the Game's Afoot
It's Football Jim, but not as we know it
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
It's #GreyCup Day. #RoughRiders vs #Allouettes. If you don't know anything about #CanadianFootball or the #CFL, this might help. Slightly. Regina - the Game's Afoot open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
If you like Kurt Vonnegut. Or if you don't like Kurt Vonnegut. open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
In Praise of Kurt Vonnegut
I went for a haircut the other day.
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
If you like Kurt Vonnegut. Or if you don't like Kurt Vonnegut. open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
Let the celebrations commence! youtu.be/W5wtaMQYJGY?...
Satantango - Baile en el bar - Tarr
YouTube video by Edu Tanti
youtu.be
October 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Let the celebrations commence! youtu.be/W5wtaMQYJGY?...
Amused to see that the episode of The X-Files that visits (the fictional) Steveston Massachusetts was shot in (the actually existing) Steveston in Richmond, Metro Vancouver.
So at least they didn’t have to change that street sign.
So at least they didn’t have to change that street sign.
October 5, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Amused to see that the episode of The X-Files that visits (the fictional) Steveston Massachusetts was shot in (the actually existing) Steveston in Richmond, Metro Vancouver.
So at least they didn’t have to change that street sign.
So at least they didn’t have to change that street sign.
One of those excruciating self-promotional moments, this time at least justified by the fact that it's Shostakovich's birthday.
open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
Shostakovich and Film
Maybe the first of an intermittent series
open.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
One of those excruciating self-promotional moments, this time at least justified by the fact that it's Shostakovich's birthday.
open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
open.substack.com/pub/johnlema...
When your name's Chase Infiniti you haven't really got any other choice than to appear in a Thomas Pynchon adaptation, have you?
September 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
When your name's Chase Infiniti you haven't really got any other choice than to appear in a Thomas Pynchon adaptation, have you?
Apparently there’s a new AI thing called ZeroGPT.
But it’s uncannily close to another product with a similar name.
Imagine - an entire product based on stuff you’ve stolen.
But it’s uncannily close to another product with a similar name.
Imagine - an entire product based on stuff you’ve stolen.
August 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Apparently there’s a new AI thing called ZeroGPT.
But it’s uncannily close to another product with a similar name.
Imagine - an entire product based on stuff you’ve stolen.
But it’s uncannily close to another product with a similar name.
Imagine - an entire product based on stuff you’ve stolen.
Scrolling through my @letterboxd.social I came across this #LetterboxdSentence
August 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Scrolling through my @letterboxd.social I came across this #LetterboxdSentence
Why, when trying to map a journey across Canada, does Google Maps take any opportunity to divert you into the USA when there are more straightforward routes wholly within Canada?
July 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Why, when trying to map a journey across Canada, does Google Maps take any opportunity to divert you into the USA when there are more straightforward routes wholly within Canada?
@bcferries.bsky.social raising so many questions.
“No pets allowed”
“But pets can use this staircase. The one also used by orca.”
“No pets allowed”
“But pets can use this staircase. The one also used by orca.”
July 13, 2025 at 3:07 AM
@bcferries.bsky.social raising so many questions.
“No pets allowed”
“But pets can use this staircase. The one also used by orca.”
“No pets allowed”
“But pets can use this staircase. The one also used by orca.”
Given that people are wanging on about "The Salt Path Debacle", I thought I might weigh in on "The Salt Path Debacle". Salt(y) Thoughts, by @riley_leman substack.com/@johnlemanri...
Salt(y) Thoughts
Not a Book Review
substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Given that people are wanging on about "The Salt Path Debacle", I thought I might weigh in on "The Salt Path Debacle". Salt(y) Thoughts, by @riley_leman substack.com/@johnlemanri...
David Shire (88 a couple of days ago) had a blistering run between 1974 and '76. I was delighted to guest on "Tipping My Fedora" to talk with Sergio about "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3", "The Conversation", "Farewell, My Lovely" and "All the President's Men"
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
Tipping My Fedora | Sergio Angelini
The podcast devoted to crime, mystery and all things Noir
www.podbean.com
July 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
David Shire (88 a couple of days ago) had a blistering run between 1974 and '76. I was delighted to guest on "Tipping My Fedora" to talk with Sergio about "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3", "The Conversation", "Farewell, My Lovely" and "All the President's Men"
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
What do Ennio Morricone, Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Small and me have in common?
They all feature in "Tipping My Fedora", the essential pod-guide to all things Noir, in which I talk with Sergio about neo-noir film music from the 1960s and 70s.
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
They all feature in "Tipping My Fedora", the essential pod-guide to all things Noir, in which I talk with Sergio about neo-noir film music from the 1960s and 70s.
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
Tipping My Fedora | Sergio Angelini
The podcast devoted to crime, mystery and all things Noir
www.podbean.com
July 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
What do Ennio Morricone, Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Small and me have in common?
They all feature in "Tipping My Fedora", the essential pod-guide to all things Noir, in which I talk with Sergio about neo-noir film music from the 1960s and 70s.
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
They all feature in "Tipping My Fedora", the essential pod-guide to all things Noir, in which I talk with Sergio about neo-noir film music from the 1960s and 70s.
www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-y2...
#Dollarama Swift Current AB is closing. Just watched staff dumping trolley loads of stock into skips rather than move it back to the warehouse.
June 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
#Dollarama Swift Current AB is closing. Just watched staff dumping trolley loads of stock into skips rather than move it back to the warehouse.
Here I am, talking about neo-noir film music…
Film and music historian John Leman Riley joins me at Fedora to discuss the amazing Neo-Noir music composed by Jerry Goldsmith, Ennio Morricone and Michael Small for Argento, Pakula, Polanski and Verneuil.
Apple buff.ly/wDl4xnB
Spotify buff.ly/34bRrLu
YouTube buff.ly/QyLHaCo
Podbean buff.ly/wk2LnPK
Apple buff.ly/wDl4xnB
Spotify buff.ly/34bRrLu
YouTube buff.ly/QyLHaCo
Podbean buff.ly/wk2LnPK
June 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Here I am, talking about neo-noir film music…
For those unaware of the fact, an espresso martini (the middle class vodka and Red Bull) is quite poky.
May 11, 2025 at 3:09 AM
For those unaware of the fact, an espresso martini (the middle class vodka and Red Bull) is quite poky.
Funky cardinal becomes pope.
May 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Funky cardinal becomes pope.
Watched Columbo: “A Bird in the Hand” featuring a fictional NFL team called the Stallions, that plays in green.
Amused to see that all the footage is a CFL game: Saskatchewan Rough Riders and Edmonton Elks (as they are now…) #roughriders #edmontonelks #cfl #Columbo @theelksherd.bsky.social
Amused to see that all the footage is a CFL game: Saskatchewan Rough Riders and Edmonton Elks (as they are now…) #roughriders #edmontonelks #cfl #Columbo @theelksherd.bsky.social
April 24, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Watched Columbo: “A Bird in the Hand” featuring a fictional NFL team called the Stallions, that plays in green.
Amused to see that all the footage is a CFL game: Saskatchewan Rough Riders and Edmonton Elks (as they are now…) #roughriders #edmontonelks #cfl #Columbo @theelksherd.bsky.social
Amused to see that all the footage is a CFL game: Saskatchewan Rough Riders and Edmonton Elks (as they are now…) #roughriders #edmontonelks #cfl #Columbo @theelksherd.bsky.social
Is it going to be Stanley Tucci?
April 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Is it going to be Stanley Tucci?
First asparagus of the season. Just have to work on getting them all the same size.
April 22, 2025 at 2:35 AM
First asparagus of the season. Just have to work on getting them all the same size.