Donald Clarke
@donaldclarke.bsky.social
Man on couch. Film bonce for The Irish Times. The Essence of the All is the Godhead of the True.
As we get into the 50 years of punk thing (Jesus, I know), the most remarkable phenomenon of that whole business was Never Mind the Bollocks turning out one of the greatest rock LPs of all time. I mean... it was sort of a novelty record.
a man with red hair is looking at a television .
ALT: a man with red hair is looking at a television .
media.tenor.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:57 PM
As we get into the 50 years of punk thing (Jesus, I know), the most remarkable phenomenon of that whole business was Never Mind the Bollocks turning out one of the greatest rock LPs of all time. I mean... it was sort of a novelty record.
Oh no, Anthony Powell. A place name. Always “Pearl Harbor”.
November 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Oh no, Anthony Powell. A place name. Always “Pearl Harbor”.
THE RUNNING MAN is actual rubbish. Any sense of contemporary satire is bouldered aside by reminders of DEATH RACE 2000, ROLLERBALL, HUNGER GAMES, BATTLE ROYALE and on and on. Sense of Wright holding himself back from characteristic whimsy. Appallingly incoherent ending. Baaaaad.
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
THE RUNNING MAN is actual rubbish. Any sense of contemporary satire is bouldered aside by reminders of DEATH RACE 2000, ROLLERBALL, HUNGER GAMES, BATTLE ROYALE and on and on. Sense of Wright holding himself back from characteristic whimsy. Appallingly incoherent ending. Baaaaad.
Jesus Christ. Does Anthony Horowitz have any idea how contemporary culture works?
James Bond’s death in No Time to Die is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Bond “was blown to pieces.”
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Jesus Christ. Does Anthony Horowitz have any idea how contemporary culture works?
After Prunella Scales last week, another giant of 1970s TV. Pauline Collins. So much good work. But forever Sarah, the incorrigible spirit of early Upstairs Downstairs.
November 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
After Prunella Scales last week, another giant of 1970s TV. Pauline Collins. So much good work. But forever Sarah, the incorrigible spirit of early Upstairs Downstairs.
I wonder if the BBC will finally be brought down by an alliance between activists who think it’s too anti-trans and activists who think it’s too pro-trans.
November 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I wonder if the BBC will finally be brought down by an alliance between activists who think it’s too anti-trans and activists who think it’s too pro-trans.
ANEMONE is pretty poor. But it’s certainly *something*. And not just because the director’s dad knows what he’s up to.
Anemone review: This grandiose, inventively operatic project starring Daniel Day-Lewis is no ordinary film
Exhaustingly morose debut feature from Ronan Day-Lewis has unquestionable evidence of talent
www.irishtimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
ANEMONE is pretty poor. But it’s certainly *something*. And not just because the director’s dad knows what he’s up to.
No space for a PREDATOR: BADLANDS review this week. But, if not quite so lean as PREY, it is still fantastic. Elle Fanning bossing it as the devil and the angel on Tom’s shoulder (from Tom and Jerry that is).
November 4, 2025 at 8:04 PM
No space for a PREDATOR: BADLANDS review this week. But, if not quite so lean as PREY, it is still fantastic. Elle Fanning bossing it as the devil and the angel on Tom’s shoulder (from Tom and Jerry that is).
Okay, taking shots at the Kardashians is a bit cheap. But genuinely can't remember anything else, in any medium, getting the novelty zero stars from two broadsheets. I confess to being a bit intrigued.
November 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Okay, taking shots at the Kardashians is a bit cheap. But genuinely can't remember anything else, in any medium, getting the novelty zero stars from two broadsheets. I confess to being a bit intrigued.
Is this a real correction on the Guardian’s piece about the John Lewis ad, or was it only ever a gag? More power, either way.
November 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Is this a real correction on the Guardian’s piece about the John Lewis ad, or was it only ever a gag? More power, either way.
My favourite movie with my name in it…
DON’T LOOK NOW
DON’T LOOK NOW
My favourite movie with my name in?
Dave The Jackal.
Dave The Jackal.
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My favourite movie with my name in it…
DON’T LOOK NOW
DON’T LOOK NOW
Yikes. Nominations for the British Independent Film Awards. Two women and 10 men. How do you think that gender-neutral thing is going, folks?
November 3, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Yikes. Nominations for the British Independent Film Awards. Two women and 10 men. How do you think that gender-neutral thing is going, folks?
Surprising raggle-taggle reference in the HEDDA trailer.
November 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Surprising raggle-taggle reference in the HEDDA trailer.
An under-reported aspect of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER'S strong box office (yes, I KNOW it hasn't yet made a profit) is it's extraordinary "overseas" performance. Only one English-language film in the top 20 – F1 – beats that percentage. Who would have guessed?
November 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
An under-reported aspect of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER'S strong box office (yes, I KNOW it hasn't yet made a profit) is it's extraordinary "overseas" performance. Only one English-language film in the top 20 – F1 – beats that percentage. Who would have guessed?
THAT'S A 180° TURN, GUARDIAN!
*Wheezes and grasps chest*
(I know it's a quote, but it deserves a "[sic]")
*Wheezes and grasps chest*
(I know it's a quote, but it deserves a "[sic]")
October 31, 2025 at 10:45 PM
THAT'S A 180° TURN, GUARDIAN!
*Wheezes and grasps chest*
(I know it's a quote, but it deserves a "[sic]")
*Wheezes and grasps chest*
(I know it's a quote, but it deserves a "[sic]")
Took me a minute.
Seeing a lot of derogatory comments about them, but I think it's courageous they attended the game considering what happened to his grandmother when she visited a baseball stadium
October 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Took me a minute.
Reposted by Donald Clarke
Parents, please check your kids’ candy this Halloween. I’ve just found an ancient metal whistle with the inscription “QUIS EST ISTE QUI VENIT" inside a Snickers bar. I blew it and heard a note of infinite distance, and now I’m haunted by a figure in pale, fluttering draperies. Be safe.
October 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Parents, please check your kids’ candy this Halloween. I’ve just found an ancient metal whistle with the inscription “QUIS EST ISTE QUI VENIT" inside a Snickers bar. I blew it and heard a note of infinite distance, and now I’m haunted by a figure in pale, fluttering draperies. Be safe.
Reposted by Donald Clarke
funny how no one who claims to be 'just asking questions' never just asks the question, gets an answer, and then shuts up.
October 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
funny how no one who claims to be 'just asking questions' never just asks the question, gets an answer, and then shuts up.
Look, someone had to do it. So, I prepared the nation for Jessie Buckley becoming the first Irish woman to win the best actress Oscar.
Donald Clarke: Jessie Buckley is unbeatable at the Oscars. Unless this happens
Academy Award nerds are already engraving the Hamnet star’s name on the best-actress trophy. All that stands in her way are pesky other actors
www.irishtimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Look, someone had to do it. So, I prepared the nation for Jessie Buckley becoming the first Irish woman to win the best actress Oscar.
“If Edward Woodward is being burnt in a huge wicker structure and is dying a slow and agonising death - how can you say you abhor human cruelty?”
“These are rural pursuits and have been for many, many years.”
“These are rural pursuits and have been for many, many years.”
🗣️ “If a fox is being ripped limb from limb and is dying a slow and agonising death - how can you say you abhor animal cruelty?”
🗣️ “These are rural pursuits and have been for many, many years.”
Heather Humphreys discusses her support for fox hunting and hare coursing.
#TheBigInterview
🗣️ “These are rural pursuits and have been for many, many years.”
Heather Humphreys discusses her support for fox hunting and hare coursing.
#TheBigInterview
October 21, 2025 at 9:33 PM
“If Edward Woodward is being burnt in a huge wicker structure and is dying a slow and agonising death - how can you say you abhor human cruelty?”
“These are rural pursuits and have been for many, many years.”
“These are rural pursuits and have been for many, many years.”
I like to imagine the guys behind the Louvre heist watched the meticulous theft in Melville's Le Cercle Rouge – maybe the best ever – and just said: "Bollocks to that! Angle-grinders in broad daylight, baby!" ("Merde à ça ! Meuleuses d'angle en plein jour, mon ami!"?)
October 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I like to imagine the guys behind the Louvre heist watched the meticulous theft in Melville's Le Cercle Rouge – maybe the best ever – and just said: "Bollocks to that! Angle-grinders in broad daylight, baby!" ("Merde à ça ! Meuleuses d'angle en plein jour, mon ami!"?)
I like BlueSky, but, every now and then, I am forced to remark: “Ah. So this is where that insufferable Twitter pillock turned up.”
October 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I like BlueSky, but, every now and then, I am forced to remark: “Ah. So this is where that insufferable Twitter pillock turned up.”
As ever, Colin Farrell talked at me like nobody’s business.
Colin Farrell: ‘I’m finding the 40s to be the most meaningful and beautiful chapter in my life’
You don’t so much interview Farrell as curate his conversation. A professional down to his neat fingertips, he gives you, in 20 minutes or so, enough material for a smallish book. It is 25 years since...
www.irishtimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
As ever, Colin Farrell talked at me like nobody’s business.