Matt Wedge
@thewedgeserpent.bsky.social
(He/him) Film writer type, bylines at Daily Grindhouse, Neon Splatter, and others; vegetarian, expert on the films of Larry Cohen, cat herder, library lifer, cancer survivor, Chicagoan living in the south. All opinions mine.
Pinned
I never knew Steve Cropper was from freakin' Dora, MO. That was my neck of the woods where I grew up and somehow even a smaller town than where I went to school. And look at what he accomplished. RIP.
Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classics including "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour" during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84. n.pr/48zf0gD
Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records' Booker T and the M.G.'s, dies
Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classics including "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour" during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84.
n.pr
December 4, 2025 at 4:40 AM
I never knew Steve Cropper was from freakin' Dora, MO. That was my neck of the woods where I grew up and somehow even a smaller town than where I went to school. And look at what he accomplished. RIP.
You guys. This just altered the way I see the world.
December 4, 2025 at 3:28 AM
You guys. This just altered the way I see the world.
Was there an actual complaint about best of lists being full of movies the person had never heard of or did someone decide to get mad at a hypothetical situation again?
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Was there an actual complaint about best of lists being full of movies the person had never heard of or did someone decide to get mad at a hypothetical situation again?
Vulture Cinematrix No. 617: Dec 3, 2025
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2644
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2644
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
Cinematrix No. 617: The Criterion Julianne Moore Edition
Can you name a movie starring Julianne Moore and Madonna?
vulture.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Vulture Cinematrix No. 617: Dec 3, 2025
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2644
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2644
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
I don't have any strong opinions about Paul Dano in just about anything. He does the job asked of him. But I'll give him this, he's good enough as the weaselly, falsely pious preacher in THERE WILL BE BLOOD that I actively rooted for him to be on the business end of that bowling pin.
December 3, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I don't have any strong opinions about Paul Dano in just about anything. He does the job asked of him. But I'll give him this, he's good enough as the weaselly, falsely pious preacher in THERE WILL BE BLOOD that I actively rooted for him to be on the business end of that bowling pin.
I like to think that Tarantino and Paul Schrader are in some sort of unending game where they have to one-up each other in outrageous public statements but neither one of them will blink.
December 2, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I like to think that Tarantino and Paul Schrader are in some sort of unending game where they have to one-up each other in outrageous public statements but neither one of them will blink.
Woke up having an allergy attack so I took Sudafed (the real stuff) allergy pills and then drank about three cups of coffee without considering the consequences.
I think I may be seeing God right now. He looks like Don Knotts.
I think I may be seeing God right now. He looks like Don Knotts.
December 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Woke up having an allergy attack so I took Sudafed (the real stuff) allergy pills and then drank about three cups of coffee without considering the consequences.
I think I may be seeing God right now. He looks like Don Knotts.
I think I may be seeing God right now. He looks like Don Knotts.
Reposted by Matt Wedge
Watched THE THICKET tonight. The novel by Joe Lansdale is probably in my top five by him, so we're talking pretty rarefied air. The movie is hit or miss. Dinklage is (obviously) perfectly cast and delivers. Juliette Lewis is great. But everything around them is oddly restrained. As if none of... 1/?
December 2, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Watched THE THICKET tonight. The novel by Joe Lansdale is probably in my top five by him, so we're talking pretty rarefied air. The movie is hit or miss. Dinklage is (obviously) perfectly cast and delivers. Juliette Lewis is great. But everything around them is oddly restrained. As if none of... 1/?
Reposted by Matt Wedge
I mean, come on...
December 2, 2025 at 4:29 AM
I mean, come on...
Vulture Cinematrix No. 616: Dec 2, 2025
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2660
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2660
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
Cinematrix No. 616: December 2, 2025
Can you name a Molly Ringwald movie released between 1980 and 2000?
vulture.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Vulture Cinematrix No. 616: Dec 2, 2025
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2660
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
I got 9/9 Correct
Score: 2660
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
vulture.com/vulturecinem...
I'd like to thank the NBA braintrust that decided to make tonight's Bulls game against Orlando a Peacock exclusive so I didn't feel the duty to watch them get their asses kicked.
December 2, 2025 at 4:57 AM
I'd like to thank the NBA braintrust that decided to make tonight's Bulls game against Orlando a Peacock exclusive so I didn't feel the duty to watch them get their asses kicked.
I mean, come on...
December 2, 2025 at 4:29 AM
I mean, come on...
Moving back to Chicago this coming Sunday-Monday. I really need everyone sending good vibes that the weather cooperates for the drive. Getting really nervous about this as timing is going to be pretty key with the rental van and a flight literally the day after I get there.
December 2, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Moving back to Chicago this coming Sunday-Monday. I really need everyone sending good vibes that the weather cooperates for the drive. Getting really nervous about this as timing is going to be pretty key with the rental van and a flight literally the day after I get there.
Watched THE THICKET tonight. The novel by Joe Lansdale is probably in my top five by him, so we're talking pretty rarefied air. The movie is hit or miss. Dinklage is (obviously) perfectly cast and delivers. Juliette Lewis is great. But everything around them is oddly restrained. As if none of... 1/?
December 2, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Watched THE THICKET tonight. The novel by Joe Lansdale is probably in my top five by him, so we're talking pretty rarefied air. The movie is hit or miss. Dinklage is (obviously) perfectly cast and delivers. Juliette Lewis is great. But everything around them is oddly restrained. As if none of... 1/?
I Heart Radio is basically pure evil in the radio world. That even they're realizing this is a losing proposition says something. Sure, they'll probably try to reverse course later when the heat dies down, but the fact that even the short term is such a loser for this stuff is impactful.
I Heart radio has pulled an AI artist from the air and its chief programming officer has started an initiative called “guaranteed human.” He says this also applies to their podcasts. www.billboard.com/pro/iheartra...
iHeartRadio Exec Says Company Won’t ‘Play AI Music’ or Use ‘AI Generated Personalities’ in Staff Memo
iHeartRadio banned AI music, podcasts and radio DJs with a new program called "Guaranteed Human," programming head Tom Poleman wrote in a staff memo.
www.billboard.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I Heart Radio is basically pure evil in the radio world. That even they're realizing this is a losing proposition says something. Sure, they'll probably try to reverse course later when the heat dies down, but the fact that even the short term is such a loser for this stuff is impactful.
Nice! Looks like I picked a good time to be moving back to Rogers Park.
Rogers Park's New 400 Theaters, once the city's oldest continuously running movie house, is reopening.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/01/r...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/01/r...
December 2, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Nice! Looks like I picked a good time to be moving back to Rogers Park.
Reposted by Matt Wedge
fairway golf, 1700 como avenue, st. paul, minnesota, 1984
December 1, 2025 at 5:36 AM
fairway golf, 1700 como avenue, st. paul, minnesota, 1984
It's always made me happy that Batmanuel was in THE DARK KNIGHT.
December 1, 2025 at 11:25 PM
It's always made me happy that Batmanuel was in THE DARK KNIGHT.
This is a bummer, but not surprising. I used to go to the one in Lakeview quite often, but it steadily went downhill for a solid year before closing three or four years ago. I last ate at this Loop location about two and a half years ago and it was pretty good, but there were hardly any customers.
Black-owned vegan restaurant Native Foods is closing its last Chicago outpost. blockclubchi.co/4rtlrKD
December 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
This is a bummer, but not surprising. I used to go to the one in Lakeview quite often, but it steadily went downhill for a solid year before closing three or four years ago. I last ate at this Loop location about two and a half years ago and it was pretty good, but there were hardly any customers.