Sam Van Haren
@samshotfirst.bsky.social
Associate Editor @talkfilmsociety.com Host of Keanu Believe It podcast, featured on various others. Talks too much about movies, cartoons, and Keanu. ♿️ he/him
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/8EtJ
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/8EtJ
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Sam Van Haren
@samshotfirst.bsky.social
· Dec 31
My Favorite 20 Movies of 2025, in no particular order beyond the Top 5
We don’t need to start discourse every time the edgelord putz obsessed with his filmography shares a bad opinion.
February 17, 2026 at 3:26 AM
We don’t need to start discourse every time the edgelord putz obsessed with his filmography shares a bad opinion.
An animal in animation narrowing its eyes in focus, aggression, suspicion, etc. like a human is one of my favorite things.
February 17, 2026 at 2:50 AM
An animal in animation narrowing its eyes in focus, aggression, suspicion, etc. like a human is one of my favorite things.
Goddamn PRIMAL, y’all. I love this consistently wild, surprising and badass show so much.
February 17, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Goddamn PRIMAL, y’all. I love this consistently wild, surprising and badass show so much.
I appreciate that in BOB’S BURGERS Tammy started out the worst and has remained the worst, and has if anything become more toxic over the series. Some people just suck.
February 17, 2026 at 12:55 AM
I appreciate that in BOB’S BURGERS Tammy started out the worst and has remained the worst, and has if anything become more toxic over the series. Some people just suck.
Probably my favorite moment from the most recent season of TASKMASTER
February 16, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Probably my favorite moment from the most recent season of TASKMASTER
One of my grandparents favorite actors, born the same year as my grandpa. Watching SECONDHAND LIONS with them both is one of my dearest memories.
Robert Duvall. What can you even say? One of the best ever, no question.
February 16, 2026 at 6:25 PM
One of my grandparents favorite actors, born the same year as my grandpa. Watching SECONDHAND LIONS with them both is one of my dearest memories.
Robert Duvall. What can you even say? One of the best ever, no question.
February 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Robert Duvall. What can you even say? One of the best ever, no question.
Professional athlete or actor says something fucking stupid about Israel. Must be a day ending in Y.
February 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Professional athlete or actor says something fucking stupid about Israel. Must be a day ending in Y.
Was really taken by Patrick Kennedy’s warm and charming turn as E.B. White in BLUE MOON. Could have watched him trade stories with Hawke for another hour.
February 16, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Was really taken by Patrick Kennedy’s warm and charming turn as E.B. White in BLUE MOON. Could have watched him trade stories with Hawke for another hour.
Still really enjoying THE ARTFUL DODGER but it’s hard for me to believe no one in casting noticed that the actors playing the main couple look like they could be siblings.
February 16, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Still really enjoying THE ARTFUL DODGER but it’s hard for me to believe no one in casting noticed that the actors playing the main couple look like they could be siblings.
I AM YULAW! I’M NOBODY’S BITCH!
February 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I AM YULAW! I’M NOBODY’S BITCH!
Richard Linklater is a gift. He’s never content to repeat himself or do what’s expected. A lover of cinema who just went and did the thing with his friends in his hometown and became a household name.
February 15, 2026 at 4:31 AM
Richard Linklater is a gift. He’s never content to repeat himself or do what’s expected. A lover of cinema who just went and did the thing with his friends in his hometown and became a household name.
Hawke really is amazing here. It’s a very dialogue driven performance yet it’s those small silent moments that sneak up and devastate. Last five minutes tie it together beautifully. Respect it more than love it, but it’s a lovely sad little gem. Linklater never stop.
Now watching BLUE MOON
February 15, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Hawke really is amazing here. It’s a very dialogue driven performance yet it’s those small silent moments that sneak up and devastate. Last five minutes tie it together beautifully. Respect it more than love it, but it’s a lovely sad little gem. Linklater never stop.
Now watching BLUE MOON
February 15, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Now watching BLUE MOON
Been wanting to check THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES off my list for a long time. A much different, and in turn more interesting, movie than I was expecting. Excellent acting and direction supported by a thoughtful and layered story.
February 14, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Been wanting to check THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES off my list for a long time. A much different, and in turn more interesting, movie than I was expecting. Excellent acting and direction supported by a thoughtful and layered story.
“Now the fool seeks to return to the past and undo the future that is Aku!”
Yes, I do have the intro to SAMURAI JACK memorized. Why do you ask?
Yes, I do have the intro to SAMURAI JACK memorized. Why do you ask?
February 14, 2026 at 7:24 PM
“Now the fool seeks to return to the past and undo the future that is Aku!”
Yes, I do have the intro to SAMURAI JACK memorized. Why do you ask?
Yes, I do have the intro to SAMURAI JACK memorized. Why do you ask?
Stopped at a stoplight and Sting was in the next lane over.
OR David Tennant filming a promo as I exited an elevator at SDCC. He gave a sincere smile and thanks for waiting nod.
OR David Tennant filming a promo as I exited an elevator at SDCC. He gave a sincere smile and thanks for waiting nod.
What is YOUR most mundane celebrity encounter?
Belle and Sebastian asked me to hold the elevator for them at a Holiday Inn in Paris, after a gig...
Belle and Sebastian asked me to hold the elevator for them at a Holiday Inn in Paris, after a gig...
February 14, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Stopped at a stoplight and Sting was in the next lane over.
OR David Tennant filming a promo as I exited an elevator at SDCC. He gave a sincere smile and thanks for waiting nod.
OR David Tennant filming a promo as I exited an elevator at SDCC. He gave a sincere smile and thanks for waiting nod.
I don’t remember where I heard it but I think of the line “he’s not wrong, but he is white” a lot and laugh.
February 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
I don’t remember where I heard it but I think of the line “he’s not wrong, but he is white” a lot and laugh.
Sanjeev Bhaskar’s complete and total disinterest in winning, or even doing okay, on TASKMASTER is a source of never ending delight.
February 14, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Sanjeev Bhaskar’s complete and total disinterest in winning, or even doing okay, on TASKMASTER is a source of never ending delight.
Some grade-A cheese and I had a grand old time. Slater gives good heroic bloodshed star, Travolta gives good hammy villain, and Woo gives good Woo. Fun action, great explosions. Not top-tier for me but I see why it has its diehards.
Now watching BROKEN ARROW, first time.
February 14, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Some grade-A cheese and I had a grand old time. Slater gives good heroic bloodshed star, Travolta gives good hammy villain, and Woo gives good Woo. Fun action, great explosions. Not top-tier for me but I see why it has its diehards.
Mmm that’s good Wilhelm scream…
February 14, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Mmm that’s good Wilhelm scream…
Now watching BROKEN ARROW, first time.
February 14, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Now watching BROKEN ARROW, first time.
Tony holding an AK while smoking a cigar set to an Emmylou Harris track. Has to be my favorite shot of THE SOPRANOS so far.
February 13, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Tony holding an AK while smoking a cigar set to an Emmylou Harris track. Has to be my favorite shot of THE SOPRANOS so far.
My hottest F13 take is that I like all of them to wildly varying degrees except for JASON TAKES MANHATTAN — which I dislike about as much as a person can dislike a movie.
February 13, 2026 at 8:59 PM
My hottest F13 take is that I like all of them to wildly varying degrees except for JASON TAKES MANHATTAN — which I dislike about as much as a person can dislike a movie.
This is incredible news. The pilot is great and full of promise. Indie animation is the future.
Dana Terrace's 'Knights of Guinevere' Gets Full Season, Trailer
Terrace discusses Glitch’s full-season order, her ambition to build a 2D indie pipeline, and what’s ahead for her sci-fi epic.
www.cartoonbrew.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:29 PM
This is incredible news. The pilot is great and full of promise. Indie animation is the future.