Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
@swenryan.bsky.social
Freelance film critic, lafilmcritics.bsky.social member, list obsessive. Host of Catalyst and Witness, co-host of 24 hours don't make an ideology. USC JD, CAMS MA.
“The Night”: Gains a lot of its meditative tension from Tsai’s slow emptying out of the Hong Kong streets, in-between spaces gradually entering a limbo where connection to the here and now becomes ever harder to imagine; one of his great and most crucial final music cues too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
“The Night”: Gains a lot of its meditative tension from Tsai’s slow emptying out of the Hong Kong streets, in-between spaces gradually entering a limbo where connection to the here and now becomes ever harder to imagine; one of his great and most crucial final music cues too.
“Madam Butterfly”: Virtually a neorealist film for Tsai, stretching both very extended digital handheld shots and one(?) actor amid a real bus station; somewhat limited dramatically and Lee is missed but gets at a certain erotic longing; more of DAYS in this than expected.
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 AM
“Madam Butterfly”: Virtually a neorealist film for Tsai, stretching both very extended digital handheld shots and one(?) actor amid a real bus station; somewhat limited dramatically and Lee is missed but gets at a certain erotic longing; more of DAYS in this than expected.
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
Some guy randomly found the original handwritten screenplay for Ann Hui's Boat People. Writer Chiu Kang-chien's original Chinese title was literally 'Boat People', but this was changed to 'Seeking Refuge to the Angry Sea' at the suggestion of wuxia novelist Jin Yong.
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Some guy randomly found the original handwritten screenplay for Ann Hui's Boat People. Writer Chiu Kang-chien's original Chinese title was literally 'Boat People', but this was changed to 'Seeking Refuge to the Angry Sea' at the suggestion of wuxia novelist Jin Yong.
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
dropping next monday on the patreon (28 minutes)
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
dropping next monday on the patreon (28 minutes)
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
funniest comedy movies of all time:
10. simpsons movie
9. simpsons tv show
8. randy's candies (1988)
7. randy's candies (2007)
6. randy's candies (1902)
5. chiefs vs. browns (2002)
4. randy's candies (2029)
3. a TRULY funny film that ya GOTTA see to believe!!
3. simpsons
2. comedies
1. GREAT movies
10. simpsons movie
9. simpsons tv show
8. randy's candies (1988)
7. randy's candies (2007)
6. randy's candies (1902)
5. chiefs vs. browns (2002)
4. randy's candies (2029)
3. a TRULY funny film that ya GOTTA see to believe!!
3. simpsons
2. comedies
1. GREAT movies
November 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
funniest comedy movies of all time:
10. simpsons movie
9. simpsons tv show
8. randy's candies (1988)
7. randy's candies (2007)
6. randy's candies (1902)
5. chiefs vs. browns (2002)
4. randy's candies (2029)
3. a TRULY funny film that ya GOTTA see to believe!!
3. simpsons
2. comedies
1. GREAT movies
10. simpsons movie
9. simpsons tv show
8. randy's candies (1988)
7. randy's candies (2007)
6. randy's candies (1902)
5. chiefs vs. browns (2002)
4. randy's candies (2029)
3. a TRULY funny film that ya GOTTA see to believe!!
3. simpsons
2. comedies
1. GREAT movies
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
badly losing every single one of the 17 quote-post arguments i’m simultaneously having after insisting that the chiefs are socialist now because one of their coaches disagreed with donald trump’s comments about kickoff formations
November 23, 2025 at 6:52 PM
badly losing every single one of the 17 quote-post arguments i’m simultaneously having after insisting that the chiefs are socialist now because one of their coaches disagreed with donald trump’s comments about kickoff formations
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
operator: 911, please state the nature of your emergency
me: i know a lot of popular songs. a lot of times when i’m out and about and i hear a song, i know exactly which song it is
operator: oh wow. were you born in any particular year
me: i sure was
operator: that’s great. gotta love it
me: i know a lot of popular songs. a lot of times when i’m out and about and i hear a song, i know exactly which song it is
operator: oh wow. were you born in any particular year
me: i sure was
operator: that’s great. gotta love it
November 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM
operator: 911, please state the nature of your emergency
me: i know a lot of popular songs. a lot of times when i’m out and about and i hear a song, i know exactly which song it is
operator: oh wow. were you born in any particular year
me: i sure was
operator: that’s great. gotta love it
me: i know a lot of popular songs. a lot of times when i’m out and about and i hear a song, i know exactly which song it is
operator: oh wow. were you born in any particular year
me: i sure was
operator: that’s great. gotta love it
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
daisy commercials imply that people are having entire sour cream themed parties. people are dipping chips and hamburgers and all kinds of things into sour cream. i bet the u.s. still owns a lot of those islands mostly made of guano deposits that we could give them for free. they’d love it
November 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
daisy commercials imply that people are having entire sour cream themed parties. people are dipping chips and hamburgers and all kinds of things into sour cream. i bet the u.s. still owns a lot of those islands mostly made of guano deposits that we could give them for free. they’d love it
SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE: Cooper succumbs to a whole host of biopic clichés and dunderheaded decisions, but at its core this approaches the concept of crafting a transcendent artwork still not being enough with a real earnestness; not bad.
November 24, 2025 at 4:55 AM
SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE: Cooper succumbs to a whole host of biopic clichés and dunderheaded decisions, but at its core this approaches the concept of crafting a transcendent artwork still not being enough with a real earnestness; not bad.
NIGHT OF THE DEMON: Evokes how skepticism and the mundane can melt into total disarray with lightning-quick precision; Tourneur’s abundance of signifiers ultimately boils down into what can or can’t be confronted, and this threads that line wonderfully.
November 24, 2025 at 4:45 AM
NIGHT OF THE DEMON: Evokes how skepticism and the mundane can melt into total disarray with lightning-quick precision; Tourneur’s abundance of signifiers ultimately boils down into what can or can’t be confronted, and this threads that line wonderfully.
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
What I believe I see recorded in that speck of film fills me with such fear, such utter dread and loathing, that I think I shall never dare to make another photograph.
Here it is. Look at it. Do you see what I see, Charlie Brown?
Here it is. Look at it. Do you see what I see, Charlie Brown?
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 AM
What I believe I see recorded in that speck of film fills me with such fear, such utter dread and loathing, that I think I shall never dare to make another photograph.
Here it is. Look at it. Do you see what I see, Charlie Brown?
Here it is. Look at it. Do you see what I see, Charlie Brown?
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
We’ll see how he governs. But he has the most talent I’ve seen since Ocasio-Cortez. As Buchanan said of Obama, “a political athlete.”
Sir, what level of talent are we talking here with Mamdani?
November 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
We’ll see how he governs. But he has the most talent I’ve seen since Ocasio-Cortez. As Buchanan said of Obama, “a political athlete.”
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
WHAT DOES THAT NATURE SAY TO YOU: Initially off-balance yet pleasant until it reveals itself as one of Hong’s most focused in quite some time, operating along spectrums of morality and polite behavior that morph with each scenario; damningly orchestrated.
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 AM
WHAT DOES THAT NATURE SAY TO YOU: Initially off-balance yet pleasant until it reveals itself as one of Hong’s most focused in quite some time, operating along spectrums of morality and polite behavior that morph with each scenario; damningly orchestrated.
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
Justin Chang breaking out some of his best work in the pun department in his WICKED 2 review.
November 21, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Justin Chang breaking out some of his best work in the pun department in his WICKED 2 review.
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB: Politically laudable, but Ben Hania has no understanding whatsoever of the power imbalance between recreation and archival subject, and all the excessive and conventional thriller dynamics make this a profoundly misjudged endeavor. Heinous.
November 22, 2025 at 4:25 AM
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB: Politically laudable, but Ben Hania has no understanding whatsoever of the power imbalance between recreation and archival subject, and all the excessive and conventional thriller dynamics make this a profoundly misjudged endeavor. Heinous.
DEAD MAN’S WIRE: Pretty snappily constructed and ably establishes the support for its rebel, though Van Sant doesn’t successfully incorporate the wider media and cultural ecosystem/power to the people mentality that’s intended; light but fun.
November 22, 2025 at 4:12 AM
DEAD MAN’S WIRE: Pretty snappily constructed and ably establishes the support for its rebel, though Van Sant doesn’t successfully incorporate the wider media and cultural ecosystem/power to the people mentality that’s intended; light but fun.
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
This is brilliant. Another politician would have let Trump’s line stand. Trump let him off the hook but he said it anyway.
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
November 21, 2025 at 9:54 PM
This is brilliant. Another politician would have let Trump’s line stand. Trump let him off the hook but he said it anyway.
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
I produced a cornucopia of home video delights for Cohen Media Group, @kinolorber.com, and @milestonefilms.bsky.social this week. Something for every taste. Check one out, won't you?
November 21, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I produced a cornucopia of home video delights for Cohen Media Group, @kinolorber.com, and @milestonefilms.bsky.social this week. Something for every taste. Check one out, won't you?
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
Baum's away. The remarkably terrible WICKED: FOR GOOD, reviewed: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
“Wicked: For Good” Is Very, Very Bad
In the second of two movies adapted from the Broadway musical, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo battle fascism, bigotry, and some fairly dreadful filmmaking.
www.newyorker.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Baum's away. The remarkably terrible WICKED: FOR GOOD, reviewed: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
For my second of three very belated pieces from this year's New York Film Festival, I tried to put into words the grandeur of Óliver Laxe's SIRĀT, the boldest, most wrenching film of the year, for Taipei Mansions. taipeimansions.com/2025/11/20/t...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 AM
For my second of three very belated pieces from this year's New York Film Festival, I tried to put into words the grandeur of Óliver Laxe's SIRĀT, the boldest, most wrenching film of the year, for Taipei Mansions. taipeimansions.com/2025/11/20/t...
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
Ghosts of girlhoods past: on the haunting, labyrinthine mysteries of Mascha Schilinski's SOUND OF FALLING, one of 2025's great films. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Ghosts of Girlhoods Past in “Sound of Falling”
Mascha Schilinski’s dark, century-spanning ensemble drama sees four generations of women take up spectral residence in a German farmhouse.
www.newyorker.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Ghosts of girlhoods past: on the haunting, labyrinthine mysteries of Mascha Schilinski's SOUND OF FALLING, one of 2025's great films. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
Thrilled to be introducing this formally precise, quietly haunting work to North American audiences next year. It won't be for everyone but personally, I think it's a special one!
variety.com/2025/film/gl...
variety.com/2025/film/gl...
Lithuanian Weird Wave Thriller ‘Jōhatsu’ Acquired for North America by Cineverse, Fandor (EXCLUSIVE)
‘Jōhatsu’ is a Japanese term for individuals who choose to disappear without trace.
variety.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Thrilled to be introducing this formally precise, quietly haunting work to North American audiences next year. It won't be for everyone but personally, I think it's a special one!
variety.com/2025/film/gl...
variety.com/2025/film/gl...
Reposted by Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing
As promised, here are my reviews of Oshii Mamoru's Angel's Egg and The Red Spectacles, restorations of which are playing at either a theatre near you (for the former) or at the @metrographnyc.bsky.social (for the latter).
www.thechinesecinema.com/angels-egg-a...
www.thechinesecinema.com/angels-egg-a...
November 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
As promised, here are my reviews of Oshii Mamoru's Angel's Egg and The Red Spectacles, restorations of which are playing at either a theatre near you (for the former) or at the @metrographnyc.bsky.social (for the latter).
www.thechinesecinema.com/angels-egg-a...
www.thechinesecinema.com/angels-egg-a...