Richard Whittaker
@rmwhittaker.bsky.social
Award-winning reporter and film critic.
Veep, Austin Film Critics Association.
Bylines at Austin Chronicle. The Times, Birth.Movies.Death.
Heard on One of Us, Overhated, Certified Forgotten.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critics/richard-whittaker/movies
Veep, Austin Film Critics Association.
Bylines at Austin Chronicle. The Times, Birth.Movies.Death.
Heard on One of Us, Overhated, Certified Forgotten.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critics/richard-whittaker/movies
Pinned
Our Feature Presentation: Pinocchio
For his second animated feature, Disney makes the surprisingly contemporary fable of a little wooden boy into a universal fairytale
rmwhittaker.substack.com
The second in my series of essays about Disney's animated movies - yeah, I'm doing them all. This time, it's the puppet who became a real boy: Pinocchio. rmwhittaker.substack.com/p/our-featur...
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
The second in my series of essays about Disney's animated movies - yeah, I'm doing them all. This time, it's the puppet who became a real boy: Pinocchio. rmwhittaker.substack.com/p/our-featur...
Our Feature Presentation: Pinocchio
For his second animated feature, Disney makes the surprisingly contemporary fable of a little wooden boy into a universal fairytale
rmwhittaker.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:38 AM
The second in my series of essays about Disney's animated movies - yeah, I'm doing them all. This time, it's the puppet who became a real boy: Pinocchio. rmwhittaker.substack.com/p/our-featur...
The "Netflix is hiding episodes of Stranger Things, and they will be released January 7" conspiracy is proof the internet was a terrible idea.
January 6, 2026 at 4:24 AM
The "Netflix is hiding episodes of Stranger Things, and they will be released January 7" conspiracy is proof the internet was a terrible idea.
The second in my series of essays about Disney's animated movies - yeah, I'm doing them all. This time, it's the puppet who became a real boy: Pinocchio. rmwhittaker.substack.com/p/our-featur...
Our Feature Presentation: Pinocchio
For his second animated feature, Disney makes the surprisingly contemporary fable of a little wooden boy into a universal fairytale
rmwhittaker.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:38 AM
The second in my series of essays about Disney's animated movies - yeah, I'm doing them all. This time, it's the puppet who became a real boy: Pinocchio. rmwhittaker.substack.com/p/our-featur...
The end of Stranger Things is the best TV finale since Deep Space 9. A pitch perfect resolution.
a man with a hawking police patch on his chest
ALT: a man with a hawking police patch on his chest
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:40 AM
The end of Stranger Things is the best TV finale since Deep Space 9. A pitch perfect resolution.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
This video, viewed over 600,000 times, claims to show US troops landing in Caracas to capture Maduro.
The video is from June 2025, showing US Special Forces preparing for the army's 250th anniversary parade.
Fact-check: @lgalrao.bsky.social
The video is from June 2025, showing US Special Forces preparing for the army's 250th anniversary parade.
Fact-check: @lgalrao.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 10:33 PM
This video, viewed over 600,000 times, claims to show US troops landing in Caracas to capture Maduro.
The video is from June 2025, showing US Special Forces preparing for the army's 250th anniversary parade.
Fact-check: @lgalrao.bsky.social
The video is from June 2025, showing US Special Forces preparing for the army's 250th anniversary parade.
Fact-check: @lgalrao.bsky.social
There's no support for this act of international terrorism now. Wait for it to collapse when the inevitable body bags start rolling off transporters.
January 4, 2026 at 8:42 PM
There's no support for this act of international terrorism now. Wait for it to collapse when the inevitable body bags start rolling off transporters.
Well, outside of Disney, I think I've rewatched The Last Five Years the most, which must say something.
January 4, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Well, outside of Disney, I think I've rewatched The Last Five Years the most, which must say something.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
January 3, 2026 at 5:55 PM
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
The official position statement of Philippe Pétain has been released.
My statement on the capture of the brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and need for a transition to democracy:
January 3, 2026 at 5:45 PM
The official position statement of Philippe Pétain has been released.
Everyone involved in the attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of its leader and his wife is a criminal. No ifs, buts, or maybes.
January 3, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Everyone involved in the attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of its leader and his wife is a criminal. No ifs, buts, or maybes.
Halfway through the decade! What are your favourite films each year so far?
2020: The Hunt
2021: Minari
2022: X
2023: Oppenheimer
2024: Sing Sing/Hundreds of Beavers
2025: Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
2020: The Hunt
2021: Minari
2022: X
2023: Oppenheimer
2024: Sing Sing/Hundreds of Beavers
2025: Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
2020: First Cow
2021: Lamb
2022: Everything Everywhere
2023: Poor Things
2024: I Saw the TV Glow
2025: TBD
I'm so boring
2021: Lamb
2022: Everything Everywhere
2023: Poor Things
2024: I Saw the TV Glow
2025: TBD
I'm so boring
Halfway through the decade! What are your favourite films each year so far?
2020: I’m Thinking of Ending Things
2021: Memoria
2022: Pacifiction
2023: Eureka
2024: Queer
2025: The Ice Tower
2020: I’m Thinking of Ending Things
2021: Memoria
2022: Pacifiction
2023: Eureka
2024: Queer
2025: The Ice Tower
January 2, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Halfway through the decade! What are your favourite films each year so far?
2020: The Hunt
2021: Minari
2022: X
2023: Oppenheimer
2024: Sing Sing/Hundreds of Beavers
2025: Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
2020: The Hunt
2021: Minari
2022: X
2023: Oppenheimer
2024: Sing Sing/Hundreds of Beavers
2025: Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
2026 starting with a cinematic bang with The Plague. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/film...
The Plague Review: Childhood’s End • The Austin Chronicle
Few works of art have debunked the idea of childhood innocence as harshly as 1954’s Lord of the Flies, and what makes it such an important work of fiction is its astuteness. Take away the island setti...
www.austinchronicle.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:13 AM
2026 starting with a cinematic bang with The Plague. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/film...
My original hardback with dust jacket of the Star Wars novelization.
No, you cannot borrow it.
No, you cannot borrow it.
Ok, everyone, what book is sacred enough to you to get sworn in on?
Strange takes on Mayor Zamdani swearing his oath on the Qu’ran. It has nothing to do with church & state. The point of the oath is for the person swearing in to do so upon some text that is sacred TO THEM. Some Presidents swore in w/o any book. John Quincy Adams was sworn on a law book. His choice.
January 2, 2026 at 2:02 AM
My original hardback with dust jacket of the Star Wars novelization.
No, you cannot borrow it.
No, you cannot borrow it.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
To sleep, perchance to make movies: ending the year with a review of a truly wondrous film, Bi Gan's Resurrection. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/film...
Resurrection Review: To Sleep, Perchance to Make Movies • The Austin Chronicle
It’s been said that a film is merely a dream captured in celluloid, and if so then the nighttime visions that dance through the head of Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan must be too vibrant to contain within o...
www.austinchronicle.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
To sleep, perchance to make movies: ending the year with a review of a truly wondrous film, Bi Gan's Resurrection. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/film...
If you are still up, I am begging you to turn on the Nexstar Coast to Coast Countdown New Year's Eve show. Michael Yo and Nikki Novak drenched in front of Treasure Island while their cohosts interview random gamblers in Phoenix. Music by 38 Special and a Nirvana cover band.
an illustration of a hot dog holding an american flag
ALT: an illustration of a hot dog holding an american flag
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:09 AM
If you are still up, I am begging you to turn on the Nexstar Coast to Coast Countdown New Year's Eve show. Michael Yo and Nikki Novak drenched in front of Treasure Island while their cohosts interview random gamblers in Phoenix. Music by 38 Special and a Nirvana cover band.
To sleep, perchance to make movies: ending the year with a review of a truly wondrous film, Bi Gan's Resurrection. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/film...
Resurrection Review: To Sleep, Perchance to Make Movies • The Austin Chronicle
It’s been said that a film is merely a dream captured in celluloid, and if so then the nighttime visions that dance through the head of Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan must be too vibrant to contain within o...
www.austinchronicle.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
To sleep, perchance to make movies: ending the year with a review of a truly wondrous film, Bi Gan's Resurrection. www.austinchronicle.com/screens/film...
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
White dude with camera arrives at daycare and demands to see kids.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
December 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
White dude with camera arrives at daycare and demands to see kids.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
Got into an elevator during SXSW which already contained Conan O'Brien. As we went to get off, Rainn Wilson was getting on and we all shuffled awkwardly past each other.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 30, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Got into an elevator during SXSW which already contained Conan O'Brien. As we went to get off, Rainn Wilson was getting on and we all shuffled awkwardly past each other.
JRR will rise from the grave.
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
Sauron, the high-end home security startup for "super premium" customers, plucks a new CEO out of Sonos | TechCrunch
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
techcrunch.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:35 AM
JRR will rise from the grave.
It's been nearly nine decades since Walt Disney released the first animated feature film ... except it wasn't. Getting inside the myths, history, and art of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. open.substack.com/pub/rmwhitta...
Our Featured Presentation: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
A breakthrough in cinema, and the film that legitimized the animated feature
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
It's been nearly nine decades since Walt Disney released the first animated feature film ... except it wasn't. Getting inside the myths, history, and art of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. open.substack.com/pub/rmwhitta...
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
December 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
Reposted by Richard Whittaker
It is my birthday. If you’re feeling at all generous, consider making a donation to one of my favorite charities. The Cheetah Conservation Fund. (The name pretty much explains what they do.)
Donate • Cheetah Conservation Fund
Support the best in scientific research, educational programming, and conservation initiatives. Together, we can save the cheetah.
cheetah.org
December 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
It is my birthday. If you’re feeling at all generous, consider making a donation to one of my favorite charities. The Cheetah Conservation Fund. (The name pretty much explains what they do.)
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, or Alice In Chains.
December 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, or Alice In Chains.