David E Phillips
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phillipsreframe.bsky.social
David E Phillips
@phillipsreframe.bsky.social
210 followers 180 following 130 posts
Entertainment & boxing writer. Irish as fuck. My scribbling can be found at thecontending.com & fightsatw.com. Member of GALECA & IFJA.
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phillipsreframe.bsky.social
For quietly great #RobertBenton, who let his remarkable work speak for itself.

Published by @thecontending.bsky.social

thecontending.com/the-quiet-le...
The Quiet Legend of Robert Benton
When I heard of the passing of Robert Benton by way of my editor today, the first thought that came
thecontending.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
#Havoc is one wound-up and ready to roar action film, but does it bring the characters home?

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#tomhardy #forestwhitaker #yeoyannyann #timothyolyphant #netflix #garethdavis

thecontending.com/netflixs-hav...
Netflix’s ‘Havoc’ Lives Up To Its Name (But Is That Enough?)
Writer/Director Gareth Evans’ Havoc had a tortured trip from the start of filming way back in July of 2021. Evans,
thecontending.com
April 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
#TheLastOfUs took a huge chance last night. Will it pay off?

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#hbo #max #pedropascal #thelastofus

thecontending.com/can-maxs-the...
Can MAX’s ‘The Last of Us’ Survive Its Own Code?
WARNING: Spoilers ahead for those who have not watched episode 2 One of the greatest strengths of HBO’s “zombie” series
thecontending.com
April 21, 2025 at 11:10 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
#RyanCoogler’s #Sinners is much more than a #vampire movie.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#michaelbjordan #ryancoogler

thecontending.com/no-irish-no-...
No Irish, No Blacks, No Vampires: Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ Upends Horror Genre
Ryan Coogler has directed five films, and Michael B. Jordan has been in all of them. Between Black Panther One
thecontending.com
April 19, 2025 at 3:15 AM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
The term #journeyman need not be a pejorative. The case for director #tedkotcheff.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#fistblood #wakeinfright #weekendatbernies #northdallasforty #rambo #uncommonvalor #nicknolte #football #film #janefonda #funwithdickandjane

thecontending.com/ted-kotcheff...
Ted Kotcheff: Portrait of a Journeyman Director
Merriam-Webster: The meaning of JOURNEYMAN is a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person, usually by
thecontending.com
April 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Early reviews for #AppleTV’s #YourFriendsAndNeighborsHaveBeenMixed. Mine is not.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#jonhamm #amandapeet #oliviamunn

thecontending.com/jon-hamm-plu...
Jon Hamm Plunders the Upper Class in AppleTV’s ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’
Warning: Potential spoilers ahead Your Friends & Neighbors opens with Jon Hamm’s unemployed hedge fund manager, Andrew “Coop” Cooper, waking
thecontending.com
April 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
The beginning of the end of #Hulu’s #TheHandmaidsTale is off to a surprisingly strong start.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

thecontending.com/the-handmaid...
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Prepares its Exodus
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead It has been so long since the last episode of The Handmaid’s Tale aired on November 9
thecontending.com
April 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
It’s worth remembering what a big deal #richardchamberlain once was.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

thecontending.com/richard-cham...
Richard Chamberlain: Musketeer, Mini-Series King, & the Bearer of a Heavy Burden
Richard Chamberlain stands as one of the more underrated actors of his generation. From his breakout role as the title
thecontending.com
April 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
I’m betting on something more.

#mobland #tomhardy #patamountplus #helenmirren #piercebrosnan

thecontending.com/is-mobland-j...
Is ‘Mobland’ Just Another Solid British Crime Thriller, or Something More?
Without any preface, Mobland begins with Harry (Tom Hardy) attempting to negotiate a truce between two crime families. After a
thecontending.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:37 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Were I a younger man, I would say that #DopeThief is “dope.” Thank dog I grew out of that.

Ps. See how I did the thing I said I wasn’t going to do while doing it? You are vexed. You are terribly vexed.

#appletv

thecontending.com/apple-tvs-do...
Apple TV’s ‘Dope Thief’ is an Exceptional Showcase for Brian Tyree Henry & One of the Best Shows of the Y
If all Apple TV’s Dope Thief would have accomplished was to have given Brian Tyree Henry the most fulsome opportunity
thecontending.com
March 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Who was the first female boxer to be taken seriously? Who fought harder outside the ring than inside? Who is being played by #SydneySweeney in one of the most anticipated films of the year? #ChristyMartin.

Here’s my interview with her for Fights Around the World.

fightsatw.com/qa-with-boxi...
Q&A With Boxing HOF Christy Martin Ahead of Her Biopic Due To Release This Year
Later this year, Boxing HOF Christy Martin has a biopic hitting theaters but before that, she talks to FightsATW about the whole process.
fightsatw.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
My interview with Minha Kim, the wondrous lead of Apple TV's far-too-overlooked series, Pachinko.

For @thecontending

Click. Read. Subscribe.

#Pachinko #applet #minhakim #soohugh

thecontending.com/minha-kim-on...
Minha Kim on Sunja’s Journey from Hope to Heartbreak in Season Two of ‘Pachinko’
While Apple+ has not guaranteed a third season of Pachinko, Show Creator Soo Hugh (who I interviewed last year) and
thecontending.com
March 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Hey there! Listen to me talking collegiate athletics, and then nerding out on #SlyandtheFamilystond #Prince, old-school hip-hop and all other sorts of pop music w/ the learned, Jarrell Mason during his podcast #BeyondTheAlbumCover on #spotify.

youtu.be/yVXuVrJKx0g
David E Phillips
YouTube video by BeyondTheAlbumCover
youtu.be
March 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Steven Soderbergh's Black Bag is a movie for grown folk. Apparently, they make those outside of Oscar season. Who knew?

#CateBlanchett #StevenSoderbergh #MichaelFassbender #FocusFeatures

thecontending.com/black-bag-co...
‘Black Bag’ Continues the Fascinating Late-Career Run of Director Stephen Soderbergh
After the twin financial failings of Che Part 1 and Che Part 2, Steven Soderbergh decided to take a step
thecontending.com
March 15, 2025 at 3:32 AM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
This seems like a stupid thing to have to say, but here we are. So, I’m saying it.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#anora #oscars #seanbaker #mikeymadison #neon

thecontending.com/anora-is-not...
‘Anora’ is Not Porn
It seems stupid to have to say that Anora is not pornography or “just a stripper movie.” The lack of
thecontending.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Between film and reality can the real #BobDylan be found?

#acompleteunknown

thecontending.com/getting-to-k...?
Getting to Know ‘A Complete Unknown’ Through the Eyes of Former Bob Dylan Band Members Billy Cross & Jo Ann Har
Director James Mangold’s eight-time Oscar-nominated A Complete Unknown announces its challenge in its title. Taken from a verse in Dylan’s
thecontending.com
March 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
For #GeneHackman.

thecontending.com/the-authenti...
The Authenticity of Gene Hackman
The Contending's David Phillips weighs in on the brilliant, Oscar-winning career of legendary actor Gene Hackman. Like many people, I
thecontending.com
March 1, 2025 at 12:22 AM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
My look back at The Social Network.

thecontending.com/reframe-the-...
Reframe: The Social Network
"You're not an asshole, Mark. You're just trying so hard to be."--Rashida Jones as a member of the legal team
thecontending.com
March 1, 2025 at 12:15 AM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
#GeorgeArmitage directed 2 great films: the unruly crime thriller, #MiamiBlues w/ #AlecBaldwin, & #GrossePointBlank w/ #JohnCusack as a hit man at his HS reunion. When George got it right, he came correct.

#AlecBaldwin #MiamiBlues #JohnCusack #GeorgeArmitage

thecontending.com/the-two-film...
From Blues to Blank: The Two Films of George Armitage
Title of this article aside, George Armitage actually made six feature films and one television move over his thirty-three years
thecontending.com
February 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
This one hurt to write.

#prince

thecontending.com/the-artistic...
The Artistic Death of Netflix’s Prince Documentary Series
On February 6, 2025, Netflix and the Prince Estate agreed to withhold the release of a nine-hour documentary covering Prince’s
thecontending.com
February 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Questlove wants to take us higher in telling the story of Sly and the Family Stone.

#slyandthefamilystone #slystone #questlove #slylives

thecontending.com/questloves-n...
Questlove’s New Documentary ‘Sly Lives!’ Attempts to Unravel the Mystery of Sly and the Family Stone
In the history of popular music, no artist as gifted as Sly Stone has risen to such heights of fame
thecontending.com
February 18, 2025 at 11:33 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
The Pitt is the best new show of the year. Yes, I know it’s only February.

#max #noahwyle #thepitt

thecontending.com/noah-wyle-ma...
Noah Wyle Makes a Successful Return to the ER in MAX’s ‘The Pitt’ - The Contending
The immediate familiarity you feel when you see Noah Wyle (as Dr. Robby) walk into the emergency center he leads, wearing scrubs and listening to the great old Robert Bradley track “Baby” is understan...
thecontending.com
February 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
The Oscar-nominated sound team of #ACompleteUnknown speaks.

For @thecontending.bsky.social

#bobdylan

surl.li/pmflkx
'A Complete Unknown' Oscar-Nominated Sound Team on Marrying the Music of Bob Dylan to the Vision of James Mangold - The Contending
For four of the five members of A Complete Unknown’s Oscar-winning sound team, the first true biopic of Bob Dylan was a reunion with the film’s director, James Mangold. Supervising Sound Editor Donald...
surl.li
February 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
A fiend of mine just made the semi-finals of a photography contest with a not insignificant reward at the end of it. If you like the photo, click on the link, and give him a vote. IT IS FREE.

americasfavoritephotos.com/v/rf3mpz
Like this photo? Vote now!
America’s Favorite Photos: Discover your new favorite photos!
americasfavoritephotos.com
February 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
phillipsreframe.bsky.social
Yes, I stole the title of the article from a Leonard Cohen song. Seemed fitting.

My tribute to Marianne Faithfull for @thecontending.bsky.social

#mariannefaithfull #rollingstones #sistermorphine #brokenenglish #troubleinmind
So Long, Marianne - The Contending
Marianne Faithfull was just a dabbler when it came to acting. She appeared in fewer than twenty films, guested on a few television shows, and performed some voiceover work in her later years. Her film...
thecontending.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:18 PM