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Sean Burns

@splicedpersonality.bsky.social

3.1K followers 350 following 1.8K posts

Film Critic. Projectionalist. www.splicedpersonality.com

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 2d

At WBUR this week I wrote about the wonderful gluttony of IFFBoston’s Fall Focus, which kicks off this Thursday at the Brattle Theatre.

'It's sheer gluttony' — IFFBoston's Fall Focus is packed with range

The 11th annual Fall Focus spills out over two weekends (plus some days) with a whopping 27 titles unspooling Oct. 9-Nov. 4. "They’ve got domestic psychodramas, international political thrillers and J...

www.wbur.org

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Reposted by Sean Burns

The Clinton Street Theater @cstpdx.bsky.social · 9h

We too yearn for the heady days of the 1980s and 90s when decent, hardworking Portlanders could make their way in this town.

A cast photo from the movie Drugstore Cowboy.

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Reposted by Sean Burns

MidCenturyCinema @midcenturycinema.bsky.social · 14h

10/8/74: Wim Wenders' Alice in the Cities
From us, via @newleftreview.bsky.social - "One of the cinematic achievements of the 1970s": newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...

More:
@glennkenny.bsky.social: mubi.com/en/notebook/...
@splicedpersonality.bsky.social: crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

Classic Corner: Alice in the Cities

Wim Wenders bounced back from an early disaster by crafting one of his finest films — poignant, keenly observant, and unfailingly true.

crookedmarquee.com

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 16h

Numbers 1, 4, 5 & 6 are all playing at the Brattle this weekend as part of IFFBoston’s Fall Focus. You should go see them.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 16h

#NYFF63 Top Six: (1.) Sentimental Value (2.) A House Of Dynamite (3.) Father Mother Sister Brother (4.) It Was Just An Accident (5.) If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (6.) Miroirs No. 3

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

It’s been a real one, NYC. Until next time…

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

THE SECRET AGENT (2025, Mendonça, ***1/2) Of course I’m a sucker for a movie in which the most noble and dignified character is a projectionist. #NYFF63

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

Last day.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

THE CURRENTS (2025, Mumenthaler, **1/2) Fairly inscrutable but not unpleasant. It helps having a pretty girl to look at the whole time. #NYFF63

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

“These are intelligent actors. Intelligent actors are good, but they can also be a pain in the ass.” MIROIRS NO. 3 director Christian Petzold.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

MIROIRS NO. 3 (2025, Petzold, ***1/2) An 86-minute marvel of concision. There’s so much you don’t need to say when you can just point the camera at Paula Beer. #NYFF63

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 1d

A highlight of the festival hanging with Brandon Streussnig and finally getting to meet the amazing Isabel Sandoval.

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 2d

Claire Denis says she doesn’t feel like a legend. She’s wrong.

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 2d

THE FENCE (2025, Denis, ***) I’m not sure I can defend or even really explain it, but there’s a doomy theatricality to this that got under my skin. #NYFF63

Reposted by Sean Burns

Willow Catelyn Maclay @willowcatelyn.bsky.social · 2d

I'm too fucking tired to debunk every stupid thing that Ryan Murphy said about Christine Jorgensen or how the public response to Ed Gein was catastrophic to the the perception of trans people so I'll just point to my book. We covered all of it.

bookshop.org/p/books/corp...

Corpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema

The History and Future of Transness in Cinema

bookshop.org

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 2d

If this sounds snippy it’s because I know how hard the people in our community work to make Boston one of the greatest cinephile cities in the world, only to have their efforts continually ignored by a local paper that would rather blather on about New York. It’s insulting.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 2d

You may have read about these movies in yesterday’s Boston Globe coverage of the New York Film Festival. At WBUR we’ve embraced the novel concept of writing about film festivals that are actually happening here and letting readers know where they can see these films locally.

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 2d

At WBUR this week I wrote about the wonderful gluttony of IFFBoston’s Fall Focus, which kicks off this Thursday at the Brattle Theatre.

'It's sheer gluttony' — IFFBoston's Fall Focus is packed with range

www.wbur.org

1 2 4

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

STILLER & MEARA: NOTHING IS LOST (2025, Stiller, *1/2) I went to see a movie about a comedy team but the director kept interrupting to talk about himself. The weapons-grade narcissism of this thing is off the charts. #NYFF63

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

Hey, that’s Maddie with PILLION director Harry Lighton and star Alexander Skarsgård.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

PILLION (2025, Lighton, ***) Given the content of some of these scenes I guess it’s fitting that this screened on “Member Day.” #NYFF63

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

“Thanks for coming out on a beautiful Sunday to watch some hardcore pornography.” PILLION writer-director Harry Lighton. #NYFF63

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

I’m so sorry, Buckley. I remember it took months for me to stop reflexively blocking the bottom of my apartment door when I came and went to make sure my cat wouldn’t get out. Then I’d remember she was dead and be bummed out all over again.

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Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

This is like when you have dreams about going to work. Feels like a waste.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

C. All of the above.

Sean Burns @splicedpersonality.bsky.social · 3d

If only your theater was in New York!