Darren Hughes
@longpauses.bsky.social
Occasional writer and film programmer with a day job. Cinema Scope, Filmmaker Magazine, MUBI Notebook. Artistic Director, FILM FEST KNOX. www.longpauses.com
Pinned
Our generation was born in the final years of that anomalous five-decade period between the New Deal and Reaganomics when America made *some* effort to manage the ravages of capitalism. Some of us (myself included) believed for a while that's what America would always be. Nope!
The true Gen X reaction to being lauded as the "greatest generation" would be to narrow its eyes suspiciously and mutter "whatever" when asked about it
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/t...
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/t...
Is Gen X Actually the Greatest Generation?
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Our generation was born in the final years of that anomalous five-decade period between the New Deal and Reaganomics when America made *some* effort to manage the ravages of capitalism. Some of us (myself included) believed for a while that's what America would always be. Nope!
The timing of this comment is a bit tacky, but It Was Just an Accident reminded me why I never much cared for Panahi in traditional narrative mode. It's just not a well-made movie, and the last 20 minutes are especially bad.
December 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The timing of this comment is a bit tacky, but It Was Just an Accident reminded me why I never much cared for Panahi in traditional narrative mode. It's just not a well-made movie, and the last 20 minutes are especially bad.
Michel Picolli! www.imdb.com/name/nm06815...
December 1, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Michel Picolli! www.imdb.com/name/nm06815...
Thought I’d found one this morning but when I submitted the order it was immediately cancelled.
Eyes Wide Shut orders cancelled at two B&Ns, giving up my inquiries, I was too slow
November 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Thought I’d found one this morning but when I submitted the order it was immediately cancelled.
Always fun to look up random pre-Code actors.
November 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Always fun to look up random pre-Code actors.
Watching To Have and Have Not, which if remade today would star Ryan Gosling and a really hot 19yo, I guess. Maybe Bill Murray in the Walter Brennan role?
November 29, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Watching To Have and Have Not, which if remade today would star Ryan Gosling and a really hot 19yo, I guess. Maybe Bill Murray in the Walter Brennan role?
We need more perfect 80-minute movies.
November 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
We need more perfect 80-minute movies.
I overcooked the goddamn turkey
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 AM
I overcooked the goddamn turkey
Found the discussion I needed after listening to "Trinidad" for the fifth time.
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Found the discussion I needed after listening to "Trinidad" for the fifth time.
For the last month, my algorithm has been screaming "Listen to Geese!" I finally gave in, and ... the algorithm was right. The first great Gen Z rock band? www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIol...
Geese - Getting Killed | From The Basement
YouTube video by From The Basement
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM
For the last month, my algorithm has been screaming "Listen to Geese!" I finally gave in, and ... the algorithm was right. The first great Gen Z rock band? www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIol...
A hilariously terrible idea
Nashville contractors walk off of Music City Loop jobsite, citing months of nonpayment, safety concerns and attempted “poaching” of employees by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.
nashvillebanner.com/2025/11/25/b...
nashvillebanner.com/2025/11/25/b...
Local contractor employees stop Music City Loop work - Nashville Banner
Willie Shane and his crew walk off the Music City Loop project, citing safety concerns and payment issues with The Boring Company.
nashvillebanner.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
A hilariously terrible idea
Tbh I was hoping Trump would do something about grocery prices because thanksgiving is crazy expensive this year
November 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Tbh I was hoping Trump would do something about grocery prices because thanksgiving is crazy expensive this year
Share a 90s movie you think deserves more love.
(I Can't Sleep is top-3 Denis.)
(I Can't Sleep is top-3 Denis.)
November 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Share a 90s movie you think deserves more love.
(I Can't Sleep is top-3 Denis.)
(I Can't Sleep is top-3 Denis.)
Appalachia
I figure Ken Burns has one, maybe two big documentary series in him before he fully retires. What do you think they should be? My votes include Football, Hip-Hop, World War 1, Reconstruction (though Skip Gates did this one well), Iraq/Afghanistan, 19th Century Expansionism.
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Appalachia
I almost made it five minutes into GDT's Frankenstein
November 25, 2025 at 4:09 AM
I almost made it five minutes into GDT's Frankenstein
I woke up this morning thinking about the time in 2008 when I saw The Duke Spirit open for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and they rocked so hard they made BRMC look like a bunch of posers (I left early).
The Duke Spirit - Love is an unfamiliar name (En vivo)
YouTube video by Arkzod
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I woke up this morning thinking about the time in 2008 when I saw The Duke Spirit open for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and they rocked so hard they made BRMC look like a bunch of posers (I left early).
It says something about Trump's health that he's passing up a chance to be taller than Mamdani in the press.
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 PM
It says something about Trump's health that he's passing up a chance to be taller than Mamdani in the press.
First four that come to mind ...
Blue Velvet
Emergency Kisses
Where is the Friend's House? (or Homework)
Do the Right Thing
Blue Velvet
Emergency Kisses
Where is the Friend's House? (or Homework)
Do the Right Thing
Name your top 4 80s films.
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
First four that come to mind ...
Blue Velvet
Emergency Kisses
Where is the Friend's House? (or Homework)
Do the Right Thing
Blue Velvet
Emergency Kisses
Where is the Friend's House? (or Homework)
Do the Right Thing
I started my top-10-is-due-next-week film binge last night with Familiar Touch, which I loved for many reasons, the most important being Kathleen Chalfrant, who gives the best performance I've seen in years. In the character's brief moments of lucidity, she brings a full, fascinating person to life.
November 19, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I started my top-10-is-due-next-week film binge last night with Familiar Touch, which I loved for many reasons, the most important being Kathleen Chalfrant, who gives the best performance I've seen in years. In the character's brief moments of lucidity, she brings a full, fascinating person to life.
Big takeaway from conversations about film marketing and distribution at Film Fest Knox: Before you do the algorithmic breakdown of your targeted micro-audiences, you have to begin with the larger subset "People who watch movies." I'm not sure Hot Ones, Track Star, and Subway Takes fit the criteria?
all i've been saying for the last year is that press tours are the new movies & ppl are finally starting to write about it. press tour is the release. everyone is cutting the hair on mannequins, watching their old shit, or testing how well they know their co-stars. none of it gets ppl to the theater
November 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Big takeaway from conversations about film marketing and distribution at Film Fest Knox: Before you do the algorithmic breakdown of your targeted micro-audiences, you have to begin with the larger subset "People who watch movies." I'm not sure Hot Ones, Track Star, and Subway Takes fit the criteria?
Still committed to this. I also now block basically all podcasters, and my experience of social media is dramatically improved. Highly recommended.
I've taken a new, more aggressive approach to blocking on social media. Health, wellness, finance, self-help influencer? Blocked. Person I would find annoying if they were seated near me at dinner? Blocked. Everyone associated with that Riyadh comedy show? Blocked. Marie Kondo but the internet.
November 16, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Still committed to this. I also now block basically all podcasters, and my experience of social media is dramatically improved. Highly recommended.
Reposted by Darren Hughes
The throughline from the Epstein story to Trump's gradual decline as a political figure is one of class. It has a hook in the public's imagination not only because it's salacious but because it's about wealthy men abusing teenage runaways and that rhymes with people's own resentment towards the 1%
November 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The throughline from the Epstein story to Trump's gradual decline as a political figure is one of class. It has a hook in the public's imagination not only because it's salacious but because it's about wealthy men abusing teenage runaways and that rhymes with people's own resentment towards the 1%
The Romance of Astree and Celadon just popped up on Kanopy! I definitely haven’t seen it since TIFF ‘07.
November 15, 2025 at 2:40 AM
The Romance of Astree and Celadon just popped up on Kanopy! I definitely haven’t seen it since TIFF ‘07.
Reposted by Darren Hughes
Important to understand that sexual violence is political violence, enacted specifically to enforce class, race, and, yes, gender hierarchies.
I sometimes feel like they don’t want to end poverty or reduce inequality because they believe they’re entitled to a class of people they can prey upon
November 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Important to understand that sexual violence is political violence, enacted specifically to enforce class, race, and, yes, gender hierarchies.