Anne Billson
@annebillson.bsky.social
Auteur en filmcriticus, screenwriter, vertaler, fotograaf, evil feminist, wicked spinster, international cat-sitter. Likes frites, beer & chocolade. The Low Countries.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Film Time!
Watched Tokuzō Tanaka's THE SNOW WOMAN (1968). Reckon it would make a decent double-bill with Erik Blomberg's The White Reindeer, two folkloric tales centred on a doomed romance between a standard fella and a badass frosty succubus. Didn't expect to be weeping full tears by the end...
Watched Tokuzō Tanaka's THE SNOW WOMAN (1968). Reckon it would make a decent double-bill with Erik Blomberg's The White Reindeer, two folkloric tales centred on a doomed romance between a standard fella and a badass frosty succubus. Didn't expect to be weeping full tears by the end...
February 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Film Time!
Watched Tokuzō Tanaka's THE SNOW WOMAN (1968). Reckon it would make a decent double-bill with Erik Blomberg's The White Reindeer, two folkloric tales centred on a doomed romance between a standard fella and a badass frosty succubus. Didn't expect to be weeping full tears by the end...
Watched Tokuzō Tanaka's THE SNOW WOMAN (1968). Reckon it would make a decent double-bill with Erik Blomberg's The White Reindeer, two folkloric tales centred on a doomed romance between a standard fella and a badass frosty succubus. Didn't expect to be weeping full tears by the end...
Other pet peeves: lens flare (also distracting); excessive cuts (can drain the tension out of a scene); overenthusiastic and unthinking adoption of new technology (“How often do you watch a TV series, and when they cut to a wide shot it’s actually done by a drone? And you go: ‘Oh no, another one.’”)
‘People keep reinventing the same damn movie’: cinematographer Roger Deakins on 50 years behind the camera and his fears for film’s future
This master craftsman’s work has lit up everything from Bond to Blade Runner 2049. But as he publishes his memoir, why does he believe the artform he made his name in is in such decline?
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Other pet peeves: lens flare (also distracting); excessive cuts (can drain the tension out of a scene); overenthusiastic and unthinking adoption of new technology (“How often do you watch a TV series, and when they cut to a wide shot it’s actually done by a drone? And you go: ‘Oh no, another one.’”)
Reposted by Anne Billson
Feb 8th 1941 - The listed date of birth for Clay Banning (Nick Nolte), father of Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler). Fun fact, this is also Nick Nolte's actual date of birth
📽️📅 Angel Has Fallen (2019)
📽️📅 Angel Has Fallen (2019)
February 8, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Feb 8th 1941 - The listed date of birth for Clay Banning (Nick Nolte), father of Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler). Fun fact, this is also Nick Nolte's actual date of birth
📽️📅 Angel Has Fallen (2019)
📽️📅 Angel Has Fallen (2019)
Reposted by Anne Billson
Showing Up is indeed excellent. For me it resembles The Mastermind in that its impact slowly builds over the course of the film. It was filmed at a beloved but now-closed art school here in Portland, making the location feel bittersweet. I love Michelle Williams, and Andre 3000 is surprisingly good.
February 8, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Showing Up is indeed excellent. For me it resembles The Mastermind in that its impact slowly builds over the course of the film. It was filmed at a beloved but now-closed art school here in Portland, making the location feel bittersweet. I love Michelle Williams, and Andre 3000 is surprisingly good.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Leave this afternoon.
February 8, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Leave this afternoon.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Before you say it I know I've written the card upside down.
February 7, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Before you say it I know I've written the card upside down.
Reposted by Anne Billson
My 14 hand strawberry roan rolls round like a ship in a heavy swell.
February 8, 2026 at 2:31 PM
My 14 hand strawberry roan rolls round like a ship in a heavy swell.
Reposted by Anne Billson
I hope you are feeling better. Sorry about that little upset but you will be glad to know very little was mentioned about it when we arrived home.
February 8, 2026 at 2:36 PM
I hope you are feeling better. Sorry about that little upset but you will be glad to know very little was mentioned about it when we arrived home.
Reposted by Anne Billson
A chunk of cliff has just fallen off at Reynisfjara at the entrance to the beach; the beach has also been gouged out. I've seen this once before, & on the next visit the beach was back. Will be interesting to see how quickly it recovers. Basalt columns & stacks aren't affected.
#Iceland Mar 2019
#Iceland Mar 2019
February 8, 2026 at 2:49 PM
A chunk of cliff has just fallen off at Reynisfjara at the entrance to the beach; the beach has also been gouged out. I've seen this once before, & on the next visit the beach was back. Will be interesting to see how quickly it recovers. Basalt columns & stacks aren't affected.
#Iceland Mar 2019
#Iceland Mar 2019
Reposted by Anne Billson
I'm choosing some socks for you in a minute after a quick one with Nora at the Caledonian Hotel.
February 8, 2026 at 2:42 PM
I'm choosing some socks for you in a minute after a quick one with Nora at the Caledonian Hotel.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Happy #SuperbOwl 🦉 Sunday to all who celebrate.
February 8, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Happy #SuperbOwl 🦉 Sunday to all who celebrate.
Reposted by Anne Billson
I am reading this book now and it's terrific. Wyver's enthusiasm for his subject is ridiculously infectious.
A month on from publication my book 'Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain' remains available from publishers Bloomsbury with discounts on the hardback, paperback and e-book versions.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...
Magic Rays of Light
On the evening of 26 January 1926, inventor John Logie Baird held a public demonstration in his workspace on London's Frith Street of a 'seeing by wireless' app…
www.bloomsbury.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:40 PM
I am reading this book now and it's terrific. Wyver's enthusiasm for his subject is ridiculously infectious.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Favourite Stations - Gloucester Road
Meet Anthony, a content creator and the face behind HiddenGemsLondon. His favourite Underground station is Gloucester Road.
I've started exploring people's favourite stations or stops on the London Underground Tube Map. L
What's your favourite station?
Meet Anthony, a content creator and the face behind HiddenGemsLondon. His favourite Underground station is Gloucester Road.
I've started exploring people's favourite stations or stops on the London Underground Tube Map. L
What's your favourite station?
February 8, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Favourite Stations - Gloucester Road
Meet Anthony, a content creator and the face behind HiddenGemsLondon. His favourite Underground station is Gloucester Road.
I've started exploring people's favourite stations or stops on the London Underground Tube Map. L
What's your favourite station?
Meet Anthony, a content creator and the face behind HiddenGemsLondon. His favourite Underground station is Gloucester Road.
I've started exploring people's favourite stations or stops on the London Underground Tube Map. L
What's your favourite station?
Reposted by Anne Billson
Train near Newcastle railway station, 1937, by Bill Brandt.
December 16, 2024 at 7:15 AM
Train near Newcastle railway station, 1937, by Bill Brandt.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Hearing Rain, starring Joan Crawford has been restored!? One of my favourite Shoe Entrances. Or as my friends and I used to chant (to a mambo beat): “Bracelet, bracelet, shoe, shoe!” youtu.be/fPzMnaeu2OQ?...
Joan Crawford's Entrance in RAIN
YouTube video by Max Terra
youtu.be
February 8, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Hearing Rain, starring Joan Crawford has been restored!? One of my favourite Shoe Entrances. Or as my friends and I used to chant (to a mambo beat): “Bracelet, bracelet, shoe, shoe!” youtu.be/fPzMnaeu2OQ?...
Reposted by Anne Billson
Live At the Witch Trials
Collage made from 1960s Women’s Realm, Parade & Vogue magazines, 1960s wallpaper, Players cigarette cards, Ladybird books, watercolour, acrylic marker, felt tip pen
Collage made from 1960s Women’s Realm, Parade & Vogue magazines, 1960s wallpaper, Players cigarette cards, Ladybird books, watercolour, acrylic marker, felt tip pen
February 7, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Live At the Witch Trials
Collage made from 1960s Women’s Realm, Parade & Vogue magazines, 1960s wallpaper, Players cigarette cards, Ladybird books, watercolour, acrylic marker, felt tip pen
Collage made from 1960s Women’s Realm, Parade & Vogue magazines, 1960s wallpaper, Players cigarette cards, Ladybird books, watercolour, acrylic marker, felt tip pen
Reposted by Anne Billson
My favorite artifact in the "you don't need AI to do art" discourse is, of course, screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's sketch of the facehugger to explain it to Giger.
February 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
My favorite artifact in the "you don't need AI to do art" discourse is, of course, screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's sketch of the facehugger to explain it to Giger.
Reposted by Anne Billson
The great Chester Himes and Griot, his beloved blue point Siamese, named "after the magicians in the courts of West African kings." Himes also said that if he stayed away too long, Griot would wreck his studio and chew up his books. #Caturday
February 8, 2026 at 1:40 AM
The great Chester Himes and Griot, his beloved blue point Siamese, named "after the magicians in the courts of West African kings." Himes also said that if he stayed away too long, Griot would wreck his studio and chew up his books. #Caturday
Reposted by Anne Billson
Very disappointed I can't find a fish & chip shop anywhere.
February 7, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Very disappointed I can't find a fish & chip shop anywhere.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Today’s lunch spot
February 7, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Today’s lunch spot
Reposted by Anne Billson
For a while people have said “you really must watch this gangster film with Ian McShane playing a bisexual hood alongside Richard Burton” and (thanks again to @andrewmale.bsky.social) I’ve finally watched the 1971 Clement & La Frenais-penned Villain and well, yes, *hello* to the both of them 👀
February 7, 2026 at 10:29 PM
For a while people have said “you really must watch this gangster film with Ian McShane playing a bisexual hood alongside Richard Burton” and (thanks again to @andrewmale.bsky.social) I’ve finally watched the 1971 Clement & La Frenais-penned Villain and well, yes, *hello* to the both of them 👀
Reposted by Anne Billson
Arrest & execution of Sir Thomas More, from the very lively imagination of Antoine Caron of Paris. Feel pretty certain it looked nothing like this! Today is More's day.
February 7, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Arrest & execution of Sir Thomas More, from the very lively imagination of Antoine Caron of Paris. Feel pretty certain it looked nothing like this! Today is More's day.
Toshiro Mifune = peak hotness!
Akira Kurosawa's STRAY DOG (1949) at De Cinema this evening? Don't mind if I do!
February 7, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Toshiro Mifune = peak hotness!
Reposted by Anne Billson
Found my calculator. There was a hole in the lining of my handbag & it was in there. Thanks all for looking. Hole has disappeared now.
February 7, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Found my calculator. There was a hole in the lining of my handbag & it was in there. Thanks all for looking. Hole has disappeared now.
Reposted by Anne Billson
Sir Thomas More and his family. Fantastic study for (alas!) now lost painting by Hans Holbein. So unusual as a family portrait, but then, this family was unusual too. Today is Thomas More's day.
February 7, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Sir Thomas More and his family. Fantastic study for (alas!) now lost painting by Hans Holbein. So unusual as a family portrait, but then, this family was unusual too. Today is Thomas More's day.