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
Pinned
Sam Van Haren
@samshotfirst.bsky.social
· Dec 31
My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2024:
Dune: Part Two
The Substance
Rebel Ridge
The Wild Robot
Furiosa
Hometown Prison
A Different Man
Challengers
A Quiet Place: Day One
Love Lies Bleeding
Dune: Part Two
The Substance
Rebel Ridge
The Wild Robot
Furiosa
Hometown Prison
A Different Man
Challengers
A Quiet Place: Day One
Love Lies Bleeding
Chris Chalk is a great actor and is doing amazing work as Dick Hallorann in WELCOME TO DERRY. In fact he’s so good it’s drawing more attention to the show’s shortcomings.
December 2, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Chris Chalk is a great actor and is doing amazing work as Dick Hallorann in WELCOME TO DERRY. In fact he’s so good it’s drawing more attention to the show’s shortcomings.
Dean Cundey has never won an Oscar. And has only been nominated once. Rude.
December 2, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Dean Cundey has never won an Oscar. And has only been nominated once. Rude.
Trying and failing to think of a movie off the top of my head that has blues and blacks that look as good as THE THING and HEAT.
December 2, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Trying and failing to think of a movie off the top of my head that has blues and blacks that look as good as THE THING and HEAT.
Every fade to black or pan to black transition here is a masterclass.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 2, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Every fade to black or pan to black transition here is a masterclass.
Bennings hates dogs *and* Stevie Wonder. No great loss there.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Bennings hates dogs *and* Stevie Wonder. No great loss there.
Carpenter’s precise direction married to Morricone’s incredible score. Cinema peaked.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Carpenter’s precise direction married to Morricone’s incredible score. Cinema peaked.
Good news, Rocket barks at the dog. Wonder if he can tell it’s an alien.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 1, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Good news, Rocket barks at the dog. Wonder if he can tell it’s an alien.
Not to start the hyperbole too soon but… best title card ever?
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 1, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Not to start the hyperbole too soon but… best title card ever?
Redeeming myself.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Redeeming myself.
“Any leads on a new job? Bet you’re eager to get back out there.”
(I don’t work and don’t plan to, but it has no impact on feeling ‘fulfilled’)
(I don’t work and don’t plan to, but it has no impact on feeling ‘fulfilled’)
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 7:41 PM
“Any leads on a new job? Bet you’re eager to get back out there.”
(I don’t work and don’t plan to, but it has no impact on feeling ‘fulfilled’)
(I don’t work and don’t plan to, but it has no impact on feeling ‘fulfilled’)
That oughta about cover me
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
That oughta about cover me
Same here. It’s been a couple years since my last LOTR revisit. I’ve started splitting each movie in half and spreading out over a week. Highly recommended for people with time constraints.
It's that time of year where I feel the call. It starts in November but really ramps up once December hits.
December 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Same here. It’s been a couple years since my last LOTR revisit. I’ve started splitting each movie in half and spreading out over a week. Highly recommended for people with time constraints.
Scorsese finishes a movie then gets right down to the next one. Often he’s making a new documentary before he’s finished on a narrative feature. Meanwhile some people who will not be named just run their mouth.
December 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Scorsese finishes a movie then gets right down to the next one. Often he’s making a new documentary before he’s finished on a narrative feature. Meanwhile some people who will not be named just run their mouth.
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
December 1, 2025 at 3:52 AM
It looks like this outside and I haven’t watched THE THING yet. Apologies, everyone.
Bravo on the finale of (and the rest really) E504: “Sorcerer”. STRANGER THINGS 5 is hitting season 3 levels so far, and for me that’s high praise. Optimistic they may stick the landing.
December 1, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Bravo on the finale of (and the rest really) E504: “Sorcerer”. STRANGER THINGS 5 is hitting season 3 levels so far, and for me that’s high praise. Optimistic they may stick the landing.
The only real brand loyalty I have that isn’t by necessity is to Culver’s
December 1, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The only real brand loyalty I have that isn’t by necessity is to Culver’s
I am vaccinated against flu and COVID, once again.
November 30, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I am vaccinated against flu and COVID, once again.
It’s admittedly funny in this particular case that the STRANGER THINGS kids are so much older because in S1 they were the actual ages of the characters. But let’s not forget it used to be industry standard to have near 30 year olds playing high schoolers on TV.
November 30, 2025 at 3:45 AM
It’s admittedly funny in this particular case that the STRANGER THINGS kids are so much older because in S1 they were the actual ages of the characters. But let’s not forget it used to be industry standard to have near 30 year olds playing high schoolers on TV.
Stick clicks
November 30, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Stick clicks
“Is this genAI?” is the worst alternate reality game ever but I can’t stop playing whenever I watch anything. I hate it.
November 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
“Is this genAI?” is the worst alternate reality game ever but I can’t stop playing whenever I watch anything. I hate it.
My brother introduced this movie to me when I was too young to “get” it but I still loved it instantly. The writing and performances are just utterly entrancing.
Vintage Stoppard as performed by Oldman & Roth. Delightful stuff. youtu.be/u3xIs0aajN4?...
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) - Playing Questions Scene (2/11) | Movieclips
YouTube video by Movieclips
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
My brother introduced this movie to me when I was too young to “get” it but I still loved it instantly. The writing and performances are just utterly entrancing.
“A man become preeminent he’s expected to have enthusiasms. Enthusiasms. Enthusiasms.”
November 29, 2025 at 5:56 PM
“A man become preeminent he’s expected to have enthusiasms. Enthusiasms. Enthusiasms.”
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, BRAZIL, and EMPIRE OF THE SUN all mean a lot to me. Rest in peace, Mr. Stoppard.
November 29, 2025 at 5:42 PM
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, BRAZIL, and EMPIRE OF THE SUN all mean a lot to me. Rest in peace, Mr. Stoppard.
Jessica Henwick is always a delight. She’s a quiet scene stealer here, so many amazing reactions.
November 29, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Jessica Henwick is always a delight. She’s a quiet scene stealer here, so many amazing reactions.
“This can’t Shazam, it’s a lamp.”
November 29, 2025 at 1:46 AM
“This can’t Shazam, it’s a lamp.”