Haggai Elitzur
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helitzur.bsky.social
Haggai Elitzur
@helitzur.bsky.social
Silver Spring, MD
@selfstyledsiren.bsky.social This was the podcast episode I mentioned on festival ovations:
New pod: Finally, some REAL DATA behind the insane rise in media coverage of film fest standing ovations. And does the applause eventually translate into dollars?? With researcher @stephenfollows.com. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/1lKe...
Do Standing Ovations at Film Festivals Mean Anything? The Town Investigates.
open.spotify.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I haven't listened to this yet, but in case anyone is interested in P.T. Anderson discussing One Battle After Another with *Steven Spielberg*, well, here you go:

thedirectorscutadgapodcast.podbean.com/e/one-battle...

@mattzollerseitz.bsky.social @biscuitkitten.bsky.social @szacharek.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Correction to an oddly ahistorical incorrect claim included in multiple media reports today, from the author of a recent book on the 1947 HUAC hearings:

a.co/d/33aFXHN
October 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
@markaldridge.info This is a nicely written review:
I review the cool new production of Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE LINKS starring Campbell Scott, playing at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey! Red Bank isn't all Kevin Smith!

tremblesighwonder.com/2025/09/28/w...
Worth The Trip: Campbell Scott in Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE LINKS
Campbell Scott’s Hercule Poirot is worth the two-hour trip.
tremblesighwonder.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
"On Earth"? Less safe for Jewish people than Afghanistan? Or Iran? Five-digit followers for this?
Empirically speaking, Israel is the least safe place on Earth for Jewish people today. That is just an incontrovertible fact.
Just heard the lady on LBC say she would be safer if she lived in Israel and I think anyone who mutters that sentence should be immediately arrested and given strict head tests because thats just so so so far from the basic principles of reality. London is one of the safest places on earth
September 23, 2025 at 11:19 AM
It didn't take long for this principle to be violated by the US govt. As documented in the excellent book linked here, those later known as the Hollywood Ten cited Jackson's words as a key pillar of their strategy in the 1947 HUAC hearings, but still went to prison.

cup.columbia.edu/book/show-tr...
"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."

Justice Robert Jackson, 1943
126. The "Fixed Star in Our Constitutional Constellation"
It's worth spending time with Justice Robert Jackson's 1943 majority opinion holding that the First Amendment bars compulsory flag salutes and compelled recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance.
www.stevevladeck.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
An early hint of Robert Redford's championing of independent movies was his original concept for All The President's Men: in black and white with young unknown lead actors. This script history by Ann Hornaday hints at that, among a ton of fascinating details:

www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/int...
September 16, 2025 at 1:53 PM
He was actually a lot more honest here about gun violence than pretty much every GOP office holder, all of whom deny any connection between gun access and gun deaths in order to avoid admitting that they *could* do something about it but choose not to.

www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk...
Charlie Kirk says gun deaths "unfortunately" worth it to ...
The conservative founder of Turning Point USA made the comments following a mass shooting in Nashville last week that resulted in six deaths.
www.newsweek.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Highest 2 Lowest is terrific and well worth seeing in a theater while you can. Re-making a great original can work with a fresh perspective, as this one has. Expanding the chauffeur's role was a particularly good choice, introducing a prime spot for two great actors to play off each other.
August 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
After seeing the new Superman last week, I understood exactly why some online insist that its villains equal Israel: in this movie's universe, there's no Oct 7th and no hostages. Just like the fantasy confllct so many insist on where the sides neatly fit into 100% innocence and 100% guilt.
July 23, 2025 at 6:13 PM
@mikegolicjr.bsky.social Which of these will lead directly to the most cancellations on your calendar? I'm going with Uncrustaburger.
i love fusion cuisine (new foods at the minnesota state fair dropped)
July 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
@biscuitkitten.bsky.social @selfstyledsiren.bsky.social I had missed this announcement until the audio trailer just posted this morning. This is going to be fantastic!

www.tcm.com/articles/Pro...
July 2, 2025 at 3:22 PM
For anyone here who did not suddenly, this afternoon, become an expert in battle damage assessment of nuclear weapons capability but is interested in a more detailed opinion, here's one from an actual expert:

x.com/DAVIDHALBRIG...
David Albright on X: "We saw the reports on the leaked DIA report, and have a few comments.  The aspects raised are addressing a narrow question, albeit an important one, namely how quickly could Iran make a nuclear weapon in a worst case assessment post-attack.  With residual stocks of 60 percent and" / X
We saw the reports on the leaked DIA report, and have a few comments.  The aspects raised are addressing a narrow question, albeit an important one, namely how quickly could Iran make a nuclear weapon in a worst case assessment post-attack.  With residual stocks of 60 percent and
x.com
June 24, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Full statement linked here: www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-r...
June 19, 2025 at 1:57 AM
In addition to how recklessly crazy this statement is, it's also incoherent with the military situation. The main target that Israel's air force is unable to reach--far too deep underground for all but the most powerful US conventional bombs--is 120 mi from Tehran.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fordow_...
June 17, 2025 at 12:36 AM
@deck.blue I noticed recently that some posts I can see in my regular bsky feed are not showing up on deckblue. Do I need to clear cache or something to try to fix that?
June 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
One of his best roles not mentioned in here is (at least as of now) available to rent on Amazon or Apple, an outstanding '70s heist movie co-starring Robert Duvall:

www.amazon.com/gp/video/det...
Joe Don Baker, the broad-shouldered Texas tough guy who portrayed characters on both sides of the law, most notably Sheriff Buford Pusser in the unexpected box-office hit Walking Tall, died May 7, his family announced. He was 89.
Joe Don Baker, Rugged Star of ‘Walking Tall,’ Dies at 89
Joe Don Baker, the broad-shouldered Texas tough guy who portrayed characters on both sides of the law, most notably Sheriff Buford Pusser in the unexpected box-office hit Walking Tall, died May 7, his family announced. He was 89.
bit.ly
May 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
@ohnocoop.bsky.social @drewstubbmuffin.bsky.social Since when did @psr1973.bsky.social start driving around in a raccoon suit?
READ. THE. SUBHEAD.
May 10, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Haggai Elitzur
Cool from the 1961 West Side Story--but here's another favorite that IMO should be way better known:

youtu.be/pd6suTj5wQ0?...
April 30, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Cool from the 1961 West Side Story--but here's another favorite that IMO should be way better known:

youtu.be/pd6suTj5wQ0?...
April 30, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Lots of good answers going around to a prompt about favorite Elton John songs, so here's the best one of all:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=REfK...
April 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Good lord what a collapse by Houston in the last minute. At least they spared the world from Duke getting there.
April 8, 2025 at 3:12 AM