Author | Lightnews

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · May 14

For quietly great #RobertBenton, who let his remarkable work speak for itself.

Published by @thecontending.bsky.social

thecontending.com/the-quiet-le...

The Quiet Legend of Robert Benton

When I heard of the passing of Robert Benton by way of my editor today, the first thought that came

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 26

#Havoc is one wound-up and ready to roar action film, but does it bring the characters home?

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#tomhardy #forestwhitaker #yeoyannyann #timothyolyphant #netflix #garethdavis

thecontending.com/netflixs-hav...

Netflix’s ‘Havoc’ Lives Up To Its Name (But Is That Enough?)

Writer/Director Gareth Evans’ Havoc had a tortured trip from the start of filming way back in July of 2021. Evans,

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 21

#TheLastOfUs took a huge chance last night. Will it pay off?

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#hbo #max #pedropascal #thelastofus

thecontending.com/can-maxs-the...

Can MAX’s ‘The Last of Us’ Survive Its Own Code?

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for those who have not watched episode 2 One of the greatest strengths of HBO’s “zombie” series

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 20

Thank you, Ron. It’s a tremendous film.

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 19

#RyanCoogler’s #Sinners is much more than a #vampire movie.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#michaelbjordan #ryancoogler

thecontending.com/no-irish-no-...

No Irish, No Blacks, No Vampires: Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ Upends Horror Genre

Ryan Coogler has directed five films, and Michael B. Jordan has been in all of them. Between Black Panther One

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 14

The term #journeyman need not be a pejorative. The case for director #tedkotcheff.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#fistblood #wakeinfright #weekendatbernies #northdallasforty #rambo #uncommonvalor #nicknolte #football #film #janefonda #funwithdickandjane

thecontending.com/ted-kotcheff...

Ted Kotcheff: Portrait of a Journeyman Director

Merriam-Webster: The meaning of JOURNEYMAN is a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person, usually by

thecontending.com

2

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 13

Early reviews for #AppleTV’s #YourFriendsAndNeighborsHaveBeenMixed. Mine is not.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#jonhamm #amandapeet #oliviamunn

thecontending.com/jon-hamm-plu...

Jon Hamm Plunders the Upper Class in AppleTV’s ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’

Warning: Potential spoilers ahead Your Friends & Neighbors opens with Jon Hamm’s unemployed hedge fund manager, Andrew “Coop” Cooper, waking

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 9

The beginning of the end of #Hulu’s #TheHandmaidsTale is off to a surprisingly strong start.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

thecontending.com/the-handmaid...

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Prepares its Exodus

WARNING: Spoilers Ahead It has been so long since the last episode of The Handmaid’s Tale aired on November 9

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Apr 6

It’s worth remembering what a big deal #richardchamberlain once was.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

thecontending.com/richard-cham...

Richard Chamberlain: Musketeer, Mini-Series King, & the Bearer of a Heavy Burden

Richard Chamberlain stands as one of the more underrated actors of his generation. From his breakout role as the title

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 31

I’m betting on something more.

#mobland #tomhardy #patamountplus #helenmirren #piercebrosnan

thecontending.com/is-mobland-j...

Is ‘Mobland’ Just Another Solid British Crime Thriller, or Something More?

Without any preface, Mobland begins with Harry (Tom Hardy) attempting to negotiate a truce between two crime families. After a

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 28

Were I a younger man, I would say that #DopeThief is “dope.” Thank dog I grew out of that.

Ps. See how I did the thing I said I wasn’t going to do while doing it? You are vexed. You are terribly vexed.

#appletv

thecontending.com/apple-tvs-do...

Apple TV’s ‘Dope Thief’ is an Exceptional Showcase for Brian Tyree Henry & One of the Best Shows of the Y

If all Apple TV’s Dope Thief would have accomplished was to have given Brian Tyree Henry the most fulsome opportunity

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 27

Who was the first female boxer to be taken seriously? Who fought harder outside the ring than inside? Who is being played by #SydneySweeney in one of the most anticipated films of the year? #ChristyMartin.

Here’s my interview with her for Fights Around the World.

fightsatw.com/qa-with-boxi...

Q&A With Boxing HOF Christy Martin Ahead of Her Biopic Due To Release This Year

Later this year, Boxing HOF Christy Martin has a biopic hitting theaters but before that, she talks to FightsATW about the whole process.

fightsatw.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 24

My interview with Minha Kim, the wondrous lead of Apple TV's far-too-overlooked series, Pachinko.

For @thecontending

Click. Read. Subscribe.

#Pachinko #applet #minhakim #soohugh

thecontending.com/minha-kim-on...

Minha Kim on Sunja’s Journey from Hope to Heartbreak in Season Two of ‘Pachinko’

While Apple+ has not guaranteed a third season of Pachinko, Show Creator Soo Hugh (who I interviewed last year) and

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 15

Hey there! Listen to me talking collegiate athletics, and then nerding out on #SlyandtheFamilystond #Prince, old-school hip-hop and all other sorts of pop music w/ the learned, Jarrell Mason during his podcast #BeyondTheAlbumCover on #spotify.

youtu.be/yVXuVrJKx0g

David E Phillips

YouTube video by BeyondTheAlbumCover

youtu.be

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 15

Steven Soderbergh's Black Bag is a movie for grown folk. Apparently, they make those outside of Oscar season. Who knew?

#CateBlanchett #StevenSoderbergh #MichaelFassbender #FocusFeatures

thecontending.com/black-bag-co...

‘Black Bag’ Continues the Fascinating Late-Career Run of Director Stephen Soderbergh

After the twin financial failings of Che Part 1 and Che Part 2, Steven Soderbergh decided to take a step

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 10

This seems like a stupid thing to have to say, but here we are. So, I’m saying it.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#anora #oscars #seanbaker #mikeymadison #neon

thecontending.com/anora-is-not...

‘Anora’ is Not Porn

It seems stupid to have to say that Anora is not pornography or “just a stripper movie.” The lack of

thecontending.com

6

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 1

Between film and reality can the real #BobDylan be found?

#acompleteunknown

thecontending.com/getting-to-k...?

Getting to Know ‘A Complete Unknown’ Through the Eyes of Former Bob Dylan Band Members Billy Cross & Jo Ann Har

Director James Mangold’s eight-time Oscar-nominated A Complete Unknown announces its challenge in its title. Taken from a verse in Dylan’s

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 1

For #GeneHackman.

thecontending.com/the-authenti...

The Authenticity of Gene Hackman

The Contending's David Phillips weighs in on the brilliant, Oscar-winning career of legendary actor Gene Hackman. Like many people, I

thecontending.com

2

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Mar 1

My look back at The Social Network.

thecontending.com/reframe-the-...

Reframe: The Social Network

"You're not an asshole, Mark. You're just trying so hard to be."--Rashida Jones as a member of the legal team

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Feb 24

#GeorgeArmitage directed 2 great films: the unruly crime thriller, #MiamiBlues w/ #AlecBaldwin, & #GrossePointBlank w/ #JohnCusack as a hit man at his HS reunion. When George got it right, he came correct.

#AlecBaldwin #MiamiBlues #JohnCusack #GeorgeArmitage

thecontending.com/the-two-film...

From Blues to Blank: The Two Films of George Armitage

Title of this article aside, George Armitage actually made six feature films and one television move over his thirty-three years

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Feb 20

This one hurt to write.

#prince

thecontending.com/the-artistic...

The Artistic Death of Netflix’s Prince Documentary Series

On February 6, 2025, Netflix and the Prince Estate agreed to withhold the release of a nine-hour documentary covering Prince’s

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Feb 18

Questlove wants to take us higher in telling the story of Sly and the Family Stone.

#slyandthefamilystone #slystone #questlove #slylives

thecontending.com/questloves-n...

Questlove’s New Documentary ‘Sly Lives!’ Attempts to Unravel the Mystery of Sly and the Family Stone

In the history of popular music, no artist as gifted as Sly Stone has risen to such heights of fame

thecontending.com

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Feb 16

The Pitt is the best new show of the year. Yes, I know it’s only February.

#max #noahwyle #thepitt

thecontending.com/noah-wyle-ma...

Noah Wyle Makes a Successful Return to the ER in MAX’s ‘The Pitt’ - The Contending

The immediate familiarity you feel when you see Noah Wyle (as Dr. Robby) walk into the emergency center he leads, wearing scrubs and listening to the great old Robert Bradley track “Baby” is understan...

thecontending.com

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Feb 12

The Oscar-nominated sound team of #ACompleteUnknown speaks.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#bobdylan

surl.li/pmflkx

'A Complete Unknown' Oscar-Nominated Sound Team on Marrying the Music of Bob Dylan to the Vision of James Mangold - The Contending

For four of the five members of A Complete Unknown’s Oscar-winning sound team, the first true biopic of Bob Dylan was a reunion with the film’s director, James Mangold. Supervising Sound Editor Donald...

surl.li

1

David E Phillips @phillipsreframe.bsky.social · Feb 10

A fiend of mine just made the semi-finals of a photography contest with a not insignificant reward at the end of it. If you like the photo, click on the link, and give him a vote. IT IS FREE.

americasfavoritephotos.com/v/rf3mpz

Like this photo? Vote now!

America’s Favorite Photos: Discover your new favorite photos!

americasfavoritephotos.com