Farran Smith Nehme
@selfstyledsiren.bsky.social
Film critic; NSFC, NYFCC. Bylines at Criterion, Sight & Sound, Noir City, my own Substack, and wherever fine film geeks are found.
https://selfstyledsiren.substack.com/
https://selfstyledsiren.substack.com/
Pinned
‘Scene’ Review: The Hungry Eye
Abel Ferrara’s movies are often driven by the consequences of extreme impulses. Much of his career has also been defined by a taste for immoderate behavior.
www.wsj.com
2025 didn't bring me many pleasant surprises, but Abel Ferrara's "Scene" was one of them. As were the films I watched or re-watched alongside it for research. (Gift link) www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
2025 didn't bring me many pleasant surprises, but Abel Ferrara's "Scene" was one of them. As were the films I watched or re-watched alongside it for research. (Gift link) www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
‘Scene’ Review: The Hungry Eye
Abel Ferrara’s movies are often driven by the consequences of extreme impulses. Much of his career has also been defined by a taste for immoderate behavior.
www.wsj.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:03 PM
2025 didn't bring me many pleasant surprises, but Abel Ferrara's "Scene" was one of them. As were the films I watched or re-watched alongside it for research. (Gift link) www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Share a great female villain 🎬
December 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Share a great female villain 🎬
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Louise at her Laurel Canyon home, 1927. Photo by Otto Dyar.
December 28, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Louise at her Laurel Canyon home, 1927. Photo by Otto Dyar.
RIP Brigitte Bardot, age 91. Farewell, beautiful.
December 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
RIP Brigitte Bardot, age 91. Farewell, beautiful.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Cecil Beaton portrait of Joan Crawford.
December 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Cecil Beaton portrait of Joan Crawford.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
It's very tedious to read only negative comments about Brigitte Bardot this morning. She wasn't crafting policy or leading a movement... so while I dislike her opinions, I prefer to remember the icon who changed everything.
December 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM
It's very tedious to read only negative comments about Brigitte Bardot this morning. She wasn't crafting policy or leading a movement... so while I dislike her opinions, I prefer to remember the icon who changed everything.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
⚫ Brigitte Bardot, actrice française légendaire, icône féminine des années 1960 et fervente protectrice des animaux, est décédée à l'âge de 91 ans, a annoncé ce dimanche la Fondation Brigitte Bardot.
December 28, 2025 at 9:50 AM
⚫ Brigitte Bardot, actrice française légendaire, icône féminine des années 1960 et fervente protectrice des animaux, est décédée à l'âge de 91 ans, a annoncé ce dimanche la Fondation Brigitte Bardot.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Nothing makes me miss New York more than the news that Central Park is covered with snow.
December 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Nothing makes me miss New York more than the news that Central Park is covered with snow.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
'So through the darkness and the cold we flew'
-William Wordsworth
@signemaene.com welcomes you to an icy cold #BookWormSat.
🎨Edmund Dulac
-William Wordsworth
@signemaene.com welcomes you to an icy cold #BookWormSat.
🎨Edmund Dulac
December 27, 2025 at 10:12 AM
'So through the darkness and the cold we flew'
-William Wordsworth
@signemaene.com welcomes you to an icy cold #BookWormSat.
🎨Edmund Dulac
-William Wordsworth
@signemaene.com welcomes you to an icy cold #BookWormSat.
🎨Edmund Dulac
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
"And what a cuwwious way to do your hair. Or, wather, not to do it."
December 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"And what a cuwwious way to do your hair. Or, wather, not to do it."
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Marlene Dietrich, Actress, #BornOnThisDay in 1901, in Schöneberg, German Empire
📸 Edward Steichen (1932)
📸 Edward Steichen (1932)
December 27, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Marlene Dietrich, Actress, #BornOnThisDay in 1901, in Schöneberg, German Empire
📸 Edward Steichen (1932)
📸 Edward Steichen (1932)
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
It was fascism when they were regularly doing this to abortion providers, too. They have merely broadened the list of targets.
December 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
It was fascism when they were regularly doing this to abortion providers, too. They have merely broadened the list of targets.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
"One judge moved house. Another had to freeze her credit cards after a security breach.
Other judges have taken actions to adapt to the changing landscape by upgrading home security systems, changing the route they drive to work."
This is fascism. This is what terrorist intimidation looks like.
Other judges have taken actions to adapt to the changing landscape by upgrading home security systems, changing the route they drive to work."
This is fascism. This is what terrorist intimidation looks like.
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
"One judge moved house. Another had to freeze her credit cards after a security breach.
Other judges have taken actions to adapt to the changing landscape by upgrading home security systems, changing the route they drive to work."
This is fascism. This is what terrorist intimidation looks like.
Other judges have taken actions to adapt to the changing landscape by upgrading home security systems, changing the route they drive to work."
This is fascism. This is what terrorist intimidation looks like.
Michel Piccoli was born 100 years ago today. Even an abridged list of his directors carries a whole history of film: Godard, Buñuel, Varda, Demy, Vadim, Chabrol, Sautet, Chahine, Allégret, Tavernier, Resnais, Bava, de Oliveira, Costa-Gavras, Malle, Rivette, Corbucci, Ruiz, Bellocchio, Hitchcock.
December 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Michel Piccoli was born 100 years ago today. Even an abridged list of his directors carries a whole history of film: Godard, Buñuel, Varda, Demy, Vadim, Chabrol, Sautet, Chahine, Allégret, Tavernier, Resnais, Bava, de Oliveira, Costa-Gavras, Malle, Rivette, Corbucci, Ruiz, Bellocchio, Hitchcock.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
it me
“We must stop eating!” cried Toad as he ate another.
December 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
it me
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
"While President Donald Trump’s peace plan appears to be holding, albeit with regular Israeli airstrikes, the crisis endures."
That is one hell of a load-bearing "albeit."
That is one hell of a load-bearing "albeit."
Top-end iPhones on sale in Gaza as food and medicine trickle into territory
Phones are compact and profitable, so traders can import them more easily than bulky or restricted items like formula, medical supplies or construction materials.
www.nbcnews.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:40 PM
"While President Donald Trump’s peace plan appears to be holding, albeit with regular Israeli airstrikes, the crisis endures."
That is one hell of a load-bearing "albeit."
That is one hell of a load-bearing "albeit."
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Well here we are on the other side and I wanted to say thank you for reading along with my advent stories this year. I so enjoyed the additional participation & inventive extras. I hope that whatever this season of the year brings, you can enjoy some peace, #1920s #KSUMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
December 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Well here we are on the other side and I wanted to say thank you for reading along with my advent stories this year. I so enjoyed the additional participation & inventive extras. I hope that whatever this season of the year brings, you can enjoy some peace, #1920s #KSUMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Robe de Style
https://botfrens.com/collections/223/contents/98947
https://botfrens.com/collections/223/contents/98947
December 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Robe de Style
https://botfrens.com/collections/223/contents/98947
https://botfrens.com/collections/223/contents/98947
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Elisha Cook Jr born Dec 26, in 1903 - Over 215 roles including Shane, The Big Sleep, House on Haunted Hill, Born to Kill, The Killing, Don't Bother to Knock, Rosemary's Baby, lots of TV after 1950 - & of course The Maltese Falcon!
#botd
http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/elisha-cook-jr/
#botd
http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/elisha-cook-jr/
December 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Elisha Cook Jr born Dec 26, in 1903 - Over 215 roles including Shane, The Big Sleep, House on Haunted Hill, Born to Kill, The Killing, Don't Bother to Knock, Rosemary's Baby, lots of TV after 1950 - & of course The Maltese Falcon!
#botd
http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/elisha-cook-jr/
#botd
http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/elisha-cook-jr/
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Five Winter Books I’ve Read alifeinbooks.co.uk/2025/12/five...
Five Winter Books I’ve Read - A Life in Books
Book reviews, snippets of book news, and alerts about books outside the glare of the publicity spotlight.
alifeinbooks.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Five Winter Books I’ve Read alifeinbooks.co.uk/2025/12/five...
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
Marguerite Churchill in "The Big Trail" - BOTD
December 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Marguerite Churchill in "The Big Trail" - BOTD
Excuse me, I'll just be taking the seat on the couch next to Dana...
Round 2 of Movie Club starts with me working through my resistance to what I call the Safdie school of filmmaking, though it isn't limited to the movies made by those two brothers, together or apart. slate.com/culture/2025...
Timothée Chalamet’s New Movie Is Part of a Trend I Can’t Stand
Marty Supreme is one of the year’s most acclaimed movies. But aren’t there higher goals than just stressing you out?
slate.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Excuse me, I'll just be taking the seat on the couch next to Dana...
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
We also call on Wales, Sanger, and @wikimediafoundation.org trustees to reveal all sources of external pressure to deny the Gaza genocide, including from Israeli government officials or pro-Israel advocacy networks.
December 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
We also call on Wales, Sanger, and @wikimediafoundation.org trustees to reveal all sources of external pressure to deny the Gaza genocide, including from Israeli government officials or pro-Israel advocacy networks.
Reposted by Farran Smith Nehme
We join CAIR and 42 other organizations to urge the Wikimedia Board of Trustees and @wikipedia.org editors to reject and block the efforts of Wikimedia co-founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger to deny the inescapable conclusion that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza.
December 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
We join CAIR and 42 other organizations to urge the Wikimedia Board of Trustees and @wikipedia.org editors to reject and block the efforts of Wikimedia co-founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger to deny the inescapable conclusion that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza.