Marshall Shaffer
@marshallshaffer.bsky.social
Freelance writer frequently seen on The Playlist, Decider, Slant Magazine, Slashfilm, and Crooked Marquee. We'll get along. (he/him)
https://marshallandthemovies.substack.com/
https://marshallandthemovies.substack.com/
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Marshall and the Movies | Marshall Shaffer | Substack
Marshall Shaffer talks you through the movies you should watch, twice a week. Click to read Marshall and the Movies, by Marshall Shaffer, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
marshallandthemovies.substack.com
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“If it were episodic, you would feel like you were marching through history. One of the things I really wanted to avoid is the audience thinking that history is inevitable.”
Talked to Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus about COVER-UP, which is on Netflix today: www.slantmagazine.com/features/lau...
Talked to Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus about COVER-UP, which is on Netflix today: www.slantmagazine.com/features/lau...
Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus on 'Cover-Up' and Sy Hersh
The filmmakers discuss Hersh's legacy and what keeps them going in their own mission of holding power to account.
www.slantmagazine.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“If it were episodic, you would feel like you were marching through history. One of the things I really wanted to avoid is the audience thinking that history is inevitable.”
Talked to Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus about COVER-UP, which is on Netflix today: www.slantmagazine.com/features/lau...
Talked to Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus about COVER-UP, which is on Netflix today: www.slantmagazine.com/features/lau...
Happy MARTY SUPREME Christmas Day to all 🎅🏼 www.slantmagazine.com/film/marty-s...
'Marty Supreme' Review: Josh Safdie's All-American Triumph
'Marty Supreme' rapturously reprises a siren song that transcends any single American era, beckoning hustlers to heed its call.
www.slantmagazine.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Happy MARTY SUPREME Christmas Day to all 🎅🏼 www.slantmagazine.com/film/marty-s...
"For me, I think the modern-day Jack Lemmon or Jimmy Stewart is Lee Byung-hun, which is why I decided to cast him for the role."
Talked with Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun for
@slantmagazine.com about NO OTHER CHOICE, out in theaters beginning tomorrow. www.slantmagazine.com/film/park-ch...
Talked with Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun for
@slantmagazine.com about NO OTHER CHOICE, out in theaters beginning tomorrow. www.slantmagazine.com/film/park-ch...
Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun on 'No Other Choice'
Park and Lee discuss the nature of their collaboration, what they can relate to in Man-su's anxiety about unemployment, and more.
www.slantmagazine.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
"For me, I think the modern-day Jack Lemmon or Jimmy Stewart is Lee Byung-hun, which is why I decided to cast him for the role."
Talked with Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun for
@slantmagazine.com about NO OTHER CHOICE, out in theaters beginning tomorrow. www.slantmagazine.com/film/park-ch...
Talked with Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun for
@slantmagazine.com about NO OTHER CHOICE, out in theaters beginning tomorrow. www.slantmagazine.com/film/park-ch...
One last set of streaming recommendations, for once you’ve powered through that last yearly watch of your holiday favorite: marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/the-downst...
The Downstream: December 2025
10 great movies to watch before they leave streaming this month.
marshallandthemovies.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
One last set of streaming recommendations, for once you’ve powered through that last yearly watch of your holiday favorite: marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/the-downst...
Perhaps the most scathing review I've ever had to issue. Hated ANACONDA! theplaylist.net/anaconda-rev...
‘Anaconda’ Review: Paul Rudd & Jack Black Can’t Save A Brutally Unfunny Rock-Bottom For Studio IP Era
Sony’s 2025 reboot ‘Anaconda’ turns self-aware IP satire into a brutally unfunny, overstuffed midlife-friends meta-misfire.
theplaylist.net
December 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Perhaps the most scathing review I've ever had to issue. Hated ANACONDA! theplaylist.net/anaconda-rev...
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
“2025 has been a year not just bookended by fire but defined by it on screens big and small,” @marshallshaffer.bsky.social writes.
buff.ly
December 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
“2025 has been a year not just bookended by fire but defined by it on screens big and small,” @marshallshaffer.bsky.social writes.
2003 was a stacked Golden Globes musical/comedy year, but still somewhat wild to me that Will Ferrell didn’t crack that field for ELF. (Maybe now with their six nominee field…?)
December 22, 2025 at 3:03 AM
2003 was a stacked Golden Globes musical/comedy year, but still somewhat wild to me that Will Ferrell didn’t crack that field for ELF. (Maybe now with their six nominee field…?)
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
“2025 has been a year not just bookended by fire but defined by it on screens big and small,” @marshallshaffer.bsky.social writes.
crookedmarquee.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:26 AM
“2025 has been a year not just bookended by fire but defined by it on screens big and small,” @marshallshaffer.bsky.social writes.
Who by fire…my dispatch on a shockingly prevalent motif and theme in 2025 movies.
“Avatar" might have “fire” in its title, but James Cameron's sci-fi epic was just the latest of many 2025 films that dealt with the danger and destruction of fast-moving flames. crookedmarquee.com/even-beyond-...
December 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Who by fire…my dispatch on a shockingly prevalent motif and theme in 2025 movies.
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
Major crime in the New York City subway was lower in 2025 than any year since 2009, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. nyti.ms/48UIV4t
December 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Major crime in the New York City subway was lower in 2025 than any year since 2009, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. nyti.ms/48UIV4t
Getting real “series finale” vibes for cinema this month
December 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Getting real “series finale” vibes for cinema this month
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
When ‘Miss Congeniality’ hit theaters 25 years ago today, it was marketed as a broad, goofy, makeover comedy. But there’s much more happening under its surface, @marshallshaffer.bsky.social writes: crookedmarquee.com/miss-congeni...
Miss Congeniality at 20: Still Sandra Bullock’s Crowning Glory — Crooked Marquee
When ‘Miss Congeniality’ hit theaters, it was marketed as a broad, goofy, makeover comedy. But there’s much more happening under its surface.
crookedmarquee.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
When ‘Miss Congeniality’ hit theaters 25 years ago today, it was marketed as a broad, goofy, makeover comedy. But there’s much more happening under its surface, @marshallshaffer.bsky.social writes: crookedmarquee.com/miss-congeni...
I spend all year keeping a document with everything that I obsess about in culture, and I've vomited it all into this post.
Behold, my favorite newsletter of the year. marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/2025-in-cu...
Behold, my favorite newsletter of the year. marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/2025-in-cu...
2025 in culture
Marshall's year in review
marshallandthemovies.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I spend all year keeping a document with everything that I obsess about in culture, and I've vomited it all into this post.
Behold, my favorite newsletter of the year. marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/2025-in-cu...
Behold, my favorite newsletter of the year. marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/2025-in-cu...
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
I love both One Battle After Another and Sinners, but if you don't think they're doing at least as much to work you over and get you to a certain emotional place as Hamnet is, I don't know what to tell you. There's no rule that it's okay to go for your adrenaline but cheating to go for your tears.
December 8, 2025 at 4:06 AM
I love both One Battle After Another and Sinners, but if you don't think they're doing at least as much to work you over and get you to a certain emotional place as Hamnet is, I don't know what to tell you. There's no rule that it's okay to go for your adrenaline but cheating to go for your tears.
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
Anyone here with political aspirations, please take note. We live in an era, policy-wise where there is such a dearth of humanity that if you simply allow basic fundamental baby-brained levels of human decency to guide your policy it’s like 99% certain you’ll be goddamn Superman to the average voter
NEW: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said Thursday he will not continue sweeps of homeless encampments — which city data shows have not yielded any permanent or supportive-housing referrals in more than a year.
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/04/m...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/04/m...
Mamdani Vows to Sweep Out Crackdowns on Homeless Camps
City numbers show that sweeps started under Mayor Eric Adams have not delivered on referrals for housing in more than a year.
www.thecity.nyc
December 5, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Anyone here with political aspirations, please take note. We live in an era, policy-wise where there is such a dearth of humanity that if you simply allow basic fundamental baby-brained levels of human decency to guide your policy it’s like 99% certain you’ll be goddamn Superman to the average voter
Does anyone have a PR contact at Letterboxd perchance...
December 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Does anyone have a PR contact at Letterboxd perchance...
Not only excluded from A-List but **non-refundable**
KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR is excluded from AMC A-List.
Okay *now* I am part of the anti-Tarantino hate train!!!!!
Okay *now* I am part of the anti-Tarantino hate train!!!!!
December 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Not only excluded from A-List but **non-refundable**
10 solid streaming options new to their platforms in December, rounded up in today's newsletter: marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/the-upstre...
The Upstream: December 2025
10 great movies new to streaming this month.
marshallandthemovies.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:26 AM
10 solid streaming options new to their platforms in December, rounded up in today's newsletter: marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/the-upstre...
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
Josh Safdie's MARTY SUPREME rapturously reprises a siren song that transcends any single American era, beckoning hustlers to heed its call. Read @marshallshaffer.bsky.social's review. tinyurl.com/47xpsxfn
December 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Josh Safdie's MARTY SUPREME rapturously reprises a siren song that transcends any single American era, beckoning hustlers to heed its call. Read @marshallshaffer.bsky.social's review. tinyurl.com/47xpsxfn
Happy first Sunday of Advent — and the ideal day to start @abbyolcese.bsky.social’s FILMS FOR ALL SEASONS!
November 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Happy first Sunday of Advent — and the ideal day to start @abbyolcese.bsky.social’s FILMS FOR ALL SEASONS!
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
not sure what Gen Z has to do with a 43-year-old’s adaptation of a 52-year-old’s novel—and lest you think it’s just the hed, the piece calls Hamnet “mumblecore Shakespeare, conceived for the TikTok generation,” never mind that mumblecore predates TikTok by like 20 years
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
not sure what Gen Z has to do with a 43-year-old’s adaptation of a 52-year-old’s novel—and lest you think it’s just the hed, the piece calls Hamnet “mumblecore Shakespeare, conceived for the TikTok generation,” never mind that mumblecore predates TikTok by like 20 years
A good day to chat all things Greta Gerwig with @lauravenning.bsky.social, author of GRETA GERWIG: ICONS OF CINEMA, over on my Substack! marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/thankful-f...
Thankful for Greta Gerwig
A conversation with author Laura Venning
marshallandthemovies.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
A good day to chat all things Greta Gerwig with @lauravenning.bsky.social, author of GRETA GERWIG: ICONS OF CINEMA, over on my Substack! marshallandthemovies.substack.com/p/thankful-f...
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
Attention, shoppers! We’re having a Black Friday sale at The Reveal. 20% for first-time subscribers. There is much behind that paywall, plus access to comments and our excellent Discord server: thereveal.film/the-reveals-...
The Reveal's Black Friday Sale Starts... NOW!
This is the sale you've been waiting for! But it won't last forever.
thereveal.film
November 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Attention, shoppers! We’re having a Black Friday sale at The Reveal. 20% for first-time subscribers. There is much behind that paywall, plus access to comments and our excellent Discord server: thereveal.film/the-reveals-...
Reposted by Marshall Shaffer
“Cattet and Forzani create a total cinema within REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND—not because they manage to replicate reality but because they manage to eradicate it.” @marshallshaffer.bsky.social, Slant
See it Dec. 3 at the @siffnews.bsky.social Film Center!
grandillusioncinema.org/film/reflect...
See it Dec. 3 at the @siffnews.bsky.social Film Center!
grandillusioncinema.org/film/reflect...
November 26, 2025 at 8:59 PM
“Cattet and Forzani create a total cinema within REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND—not because they manage to replicate reality but because they manage to eradicate it.” @marshallshaffer.bsky.social, Slant
See it Dec. 3 at the @siffnews.bsky.social Film Center!
grandillusioncinema.org/film/reflect...
See it Dec. 3 at the @siffnews.bsky.social Film Center!
grandillusioncinema.org/film/reflect...