Matthew Donlan
@mdonlan.bsky.social
studies at AFTRS, watches movies, writes, reads, breathes (in that order, not all at once) - https://linktr.ee/matthewdonlan
This was a really interesting, inspiring and honest chat to listen to
Lots of interviews going live on the Curb today.
First up, I have a long chat with one of the finest directors working in Australia today:
David Robinson-Smith.
Listen to that here:
www.thecurb.com.au/david-robins...
First up, I have a long chat with one of the finest directors working in Australia today:
David Robinson-Smith.
Listen to that here:
www.thecurb.com.au/david-robins...
Filmmaker David Robinson-Smith on masculinity, his Letterboxd four, and the new wave of Australian filmmakers - The Curb | Film and Culture
Subscribe to The Curb podcast via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart Radio. Download the episode directly here. Filmmaker David Robinson-Smith is one of the major voices of the new Australia...
www.thecurb.com.au
August 24, 2025 at 6:51 AM
This was a really interesting, inspiring and honest chat to listen to
Found this a really interesting piece to edit!
A guest contributor this week looks at a fascinating doco about Japan and Palestine
No. 017 - 'Stars of Orion' by Adam Bahgat (2012)
Guest writer, A. Zayn, takes a look at a surprising moment of history between Palestine and Japan.
open.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Found this a really interesting piece to edit!
One of the best directors working today visited my film school last week and screened his short films for us!
Apichatpong Weerasethakul is in Sydney for an installation at the MCA, and a special QandA on the weekend
No. 016 - Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Nature, time and breaking the artifice...
open.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 6:43 AM
One of the best directors working today visited my film school last week and screened his short films for us!
My goal to watch more Australian films than any other country on Letterboxd this year is yielding absolute gems! Lantana, Love & Other Catastrophes, Dead End Drive In all this week!
July 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
My goal to watch more Australian films than any other country on Letterboxd this year is yielding absolute gems! Lantana, Love & Other Catastrophes, Dead End Drive In all this week!
“…shits and fucks, kind of” has entered my general vocab now
And finally I wanted to showcase some of my friends who wrote pieces for SFF too (including the strongest opening line to a review for Eddington)
No. 008 - SFF 2025 Wrap Up Pt. 2
Guest reviews for some of the biggest films at SFF!
open.substack.com
July 2, 2025 at 2:44 AM
“…shits and fucks, kind of” has entered my general vocab now
Just finished Book of the Banned by Simon Miraudo. An incredible history of film censorship in Australia
May 29, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Just finished Book of the Banned by Simon Miraudo. An incredible history of film censorship in Australia
i wrote about jeanne dielman after finally getting to see it last weekend for its 50th anniversary
Issue no. 4 tackles the greatest film of all time!
No. 004 - 'Jeanne Dielman' by Chantal Akerman (1975)
"50 years later, this film feels more powerful, more alive, than ever"
thefleapit.substack.com
May 24, 2025 at 2:35 AM
i wrote about jeanne dielman after finally getting to see it last weekend for its 50th anniversary
Reposted by Matthew Donlan
Issue 002 out now! Reviewing 'Escape from the 21st Century' as part of the Fantastic Film Festival!
No. 002 - 'Escape From The 21st Century' by Yang Li (2024)
I'd hate to have this superpower with my allergies! Plus, Matthew picks out the must-see films in Sydney this week.
thefleapit.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Issue 002 out now! Reviewing 'Escape from the 21st Century' as part of the Fantastic Film Festival!
I’ve started a weekly newsletter for Sydney-based film lovers!!
May 1, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I’ve started a weekly newsletter for Sydney-based film lovers!!
Shout out to @samtwyfordmoore.bsky.social for writing this incredible book on film in Australia. Witty, fascinating and at times (for a film student wanting to make Australian works) disheartening
April 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Shout out to @samtwyfordmoore.bsky.social for writing this incredible book on film in Australia. Witty, fascinating and at times (for a film student wanting to make Australian works) disheartening
Just watched Two Hands for the first time. One of those films I put off watching for ages and now I regret that. Absolutely incredible stuff
April 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Just watched Two Hands for the first time. One of those films I put off watching for ages and now I regret that. Absolutely incredible stuff
Did they cast Liam Neeson for the Naked Gun cause his name is kinda similar to Leslie Nielsen?
April 4, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Did they cast Liam Neeson for the Naked Gun cause his name is kinda similar to Leslie Nielsen?
wrote my thoughts on the best picture noms for this year (tldr; mostly mid content)
Best Picture Ranked – Oscars 2025
2025 was the year of solitary characters moving against popular tides.
matthewjdonlan.substack.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
wrote my thoughts on the best picture noms for this year (tldr; mostly mid content)
tried to put to words my feelings about leaving Canberra, then life decided to remind me who really was in control
The seven-year itch
Thoughts on saying goodbye to a place in a time of uncertainty
matthewjdonlan.substack.com
February 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
tried to put to words my feelings about leaving Canberra, then life decided to remind me who really was in control
updated the profile page for 2025
February 13, 2025 at 7:13 AM
updated the profile page for 2025
Opening ‘Invisible Boys’ by smashing the tv as Turnbull gives his marriage plebiscite speech is the exact right move
February 13, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Opening ‘Invisible Boys’ by smashing the tv as Turnbull gives his marriage plebiscite speech is the exact right move
Too long, love Timmy
The only reason I am watching this now is because it’s been nominated
January 25, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Too long, love Timmy
The only reason I am watching this now is because it’s been nominated
January 25, 2025 at 7:15 AM
The only reason I am watching this now is because it’s been nominated
For the third year in a row I’ve summed up my year via various pieces of media I consumed
13 best pieces of media I consumed in 2024
In no specific order but I’ll defend the ranking to my death!
matthewjdonlan.substack.com
January 12, 2025 at 12:23 AM
For the third year in a row I’ve summed up my year via various pieces of media I consumed
A one-for-them-one-for-me dynamic here
January 11, 2025 at 12:58 AM
A one-for-them-one-for-me dynamic here
Seated for IMAX 10th anniversary screening of Interstellar !!
January 3, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Seated for IMAX 10th anniversary screening of Interstellar !!
For the past two years I’ve had a goal of writing more so this year I’ve made an accountability mechanism (Substack)
Home for the Holidays
Sentimental snippets from my time visiting the parents at Christmas
matthewjdonlan.substack.com
January 1, 2025 at 1:22 AM
For the past two years I’ve had a goal of writing more so this year I’ve made an accountability mechanism (Substack)
Triple feature today !!!
December 30, 2024 at 1:45 AM
Triple feature today !!!
I watched it so you don’t have to: Christmas edition
December 28, 2024 at 10:09 AM
I watched it so you don’t have to: Christmas edition