Michael Curley
@mcurley.bsky.social
Good cinematography was invented in 1994, apparently.
January 31, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Good cinematography was invented in 1994, apparently.
Totally. I love my Lady Eve and Sullivan’s Travels Criterions. They could do a couple more (especially Miracle at Morgan’s Creek), then a box.
January 25, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Totally. I love my Lady Eve and Sullivan’s Travels Criterions. They could do a couple more (especially Miracle at Morgan’s Creek), then a box.
They just announced Trouble in Paradise. Basically, more Lubitsch!
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 PM
They just announced Trouble in Paradise. Basically, more Lubitsch!
They’ve done Targets, Last Picture Show, then skipped What’s Up Doc and done Paper Moon.
It’s the only great Bogdanovich left!
It’s the only great Bogdanovich left!
January 24, 2026 at 8:14 PM
They’ve done Targets, Last Picture Show, then skipped What’s Up Doc and done Paper Moon.
It’s the only great Bogdanovich left!
It’s the only great Bogdanovich left!
Oh! And RRR.
I really want more comedies. Seriously, they’ve released five Coen Brothers films and it’s some of their most serious films. They certainly value drama over comedy.
I really want more comedies. Seriously, they’ve released five Coen Brothers films and it’s some of their most serious films. They certainly value drama over comedy.
January 24, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Oh! And RRR.
I really want more comedies. Seriously, they’ve released five Coen Brothers films and it’s some of their most serious films. They certainly value drama over comedy.
I really want more comedies. Seriously, they’ve released five Coen Brothers films and it’s some of their most serious films. They certainly value drama over comedy.
I keep a loose wishlist:
-Blackmail (1929)
-Ninotchka (1939)
-Ball of Fire (1941)
-The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
-Panic in the Streets (1950)
-What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
-Dawn of the Dead (1978)
-Stop Making Sense (1984)
-Raising Arizona (1987)
-Children of Men (2006)
-Moonlight (2016)
-Blackmail (1929)
-Ninotchka (1939)
-Ball of Fire (1941)
-The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
-Panic in the Streets (1950)
-What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
-Dawn of the Dead (1978)
-Stop Making Sense (1984)
-Raising Arizona (1987)
-Children of Men (2006)
-Moonlight (2016)
January 24, 2026 at 3:55 PM
I keep a loose wishlist:
-Blackmail (1929)
-Ninotchka (1939)
-Ball of Fire (1941)
-The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
-Panic in the Streets (1950)
-What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
-Dawn of the Dead (1978)
-Stop Making Sense (1984)
-Raising Arizona (1987)
-Children of Men (2006)
-Moonlight (2016)
-Blackmail (1929)
-Ninotchka (1939)
-Ball of Fire (1941)
-The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
-Panic in the Streets (1950)
-What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
-Dawn of the Dead (1978)
-Stop Making Sense (1984)
-Raising Arizona (1987)
-Children of Men (2006)
-Moonlight (2016)
There is no denying the power of scenes in this film, or the use of Adagio for Strings on the soundtrack. Stone makes his point about the hellish futility of the Vietnam War and the types of (largely poor) men forced to fight it. I’ve just never connected with it on a deeper, emotional level.
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
There is no denying the power of scenes in this film, or the use of Adagio for Strings on the soundtrack. Stone makes his point about the hellish futility of the Vietnam War and the types of (largely poor) men forced to fight it. I’ve just never connected with it on a deeper, emotional level.
My take on the film has always been that it is full of archetypes rather than characters. And Stone successfully gives the impression of his experience of Vietnam rather than a grounded reality. Berenger and Dafoe play powerful figures in opposition with Sheen’s Stone surrogate caught in between.
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
My take on the film has always been that it is full of archetypes rather than characters. And Stone successfully gives the impression of his experience of Vietnam rather than a grounded reality. Berenger and Dafoe play powerful figures in opposition with Sheen’s Stone surrogate caught in between.
The Best Picture of 1986, and it’s a very good film. It was touted for its grounded realism in depicting the horrors and fog of war, particularly compared to, say, the propaganda of The Green Berets or the fever dream of Apocalypse Now. But 40 years later, Platoon feels heightened in a different way
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
The Best Picture of 1986, and it’s a very good film. It was touted for its grounded realism in depicting the horrors and fog of war, particularly compared to, say, the propaganda of The Green Berets or the fever dream of Apocalypse Now. But 40 years later, Platoon feels heightened in a different way
PLATOON
Released December 19
#3 film of 1986
Orion Pictures
Dir: Oliver Stone
Wri: Oliver Stone
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Corey Glover, Johnny Depp, Chris Pedersen, Tony Todd
Released December 19
#3 film of 1986
Orion Pictures
Dir: Oliver Stone
Wri: Oliver Stone
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Corey Glover, Johnny Depp, Chris Pedersen, Tony Todd
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
PLATOON
Released December 19
#3 film of 1986
Orion Pictures
Dir: Oliver Stone
Wri: Oliver Stone
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Corey Glover, Johnny Depp, Chris Pedersen, Tony Todd
Released December 19
#3 film of 1986
Orion Pictures
Dir: Oliver Stone
Wri: Oliver Stone
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Corey Glover, Johnny Depp, Chris Pedersen, Tony Todd
It’s hard to imagine a popular franchise being as loose and funny about itself nowadays. It’s also, sadly, become difficult for popular franchises to engage so bluntly with a political topic as this film without bad-faith backlash. So Voyage Home feels like a small miracle, and I’m happy it exists.
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
It’s hard to imagine a popular franchise being as loose and funny about itself nowadays. It’s also, sadly, become difficult for popular franchises to engage so bluntly with a political topic as this film without bad-faith backlash. So Voyage Home feels like a small miracle, and I’m happy it exists.
It’s easy to make fun of the campiness and earnestness of Star Trek, but this film made it clear that the creators of Trek were in on the joke. And that’s very charming. And setting it in the ‘present-day’ allows for many knowing winks at the flaws of 20th century society. It’s good-natured.
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
It’s easy to make fun of the campiness and earnestness of Star Trek, but this film made it clear that the creators of Trek were in on the joke. And that’s very charming. And setting it in the ‘present-day’ allows for many knowing winks at the flaws of 20th century society. It’s good-natured.
A delightful romp to close-out the loose Star Trek trilogy that began with Wrath of Khan (a perfect film) and continued with Search for Spock (a serviceable sci-fi action film). This one lovingly plays with Trek tropes in a fish-out-of-water comedy with an environmental message. It’s so fun.
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
A delightful romp to close-out the loose Star Trek trilogy that began with Wrath of Khan (a perfect film) and continued with Search for Spock (a serviceable sci-fi action film). This one lovingly plays with Trek tropes in a fish-out-of-water comedy with an environmental message. It’s so fun.
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME
Released November 26
#5 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Leonard Nimoy
Wri: Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Nicholas Meyer & Harve Bennett
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Catherine Hicks
Released November 26
#5 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Leonard Nimoy
Wri: Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Nicholas Meyer & Harve Bennett
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Catherine Hicks
January 23, 2026 at 3:32 AM
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME
Released November 26
#5 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Leonard Nimoy
Wri: Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Nicholas Meyer & Harve Bennett
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Catherine Hicks
Released November 26
#5 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Leonard Nimoy
Wri: Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Nicholas Meyer & Harve Bennett
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Catherine Hicks
So all the film really has is Hogan as Dundee, Whos presented as a super likeable guy who gets along with everyone. But it doesn’t even comedically heighten his social skills. He’s not comically friendly, he’s just easygoing and affable. It’s inert, boring. And he’s also kind of a jerk. Weird film.
January 21, 2026 at 3:15 AM
So all the film really has is Hogan as Dundee, Whos presented as a super likeable guy who gets along with everyone. But it doesn’t even comedically heighten his social skills. He’s not comically friendly, he’s just easygoing and affable. It’s inert, boring. And he’s also kind of a jerk. Weird film.
That’s probably because this film isn’t very good. It’s inert and kind of boring. The jokes are few and far between. In the first half, it’s funny that he’s an out-of-touch bushman. In the second half, it’s funny that he’s a fish out of water. But there are so few jokes within those premises.
January 21, 2026 at 3:15 AM
That’s probably because this film isn’t very good. It’s inert and kind of boring. The jokes are few and far between. In the first half, it’s funny that he’s an out-of-touch bushman. In the second half, it’s funny that he’s a fish out of water. But there are so few jokes within those premises.
I’m watching the highest-grossing films of 1986 (in North America), and this film ranked a very close second behind Top Gun. It was huge, a cultural phenomenon. But while Top Gun’s popularity has endured, including a mega-hit legacy sequel, Crocodile Dundee has disappeared from the collective memory
January 21, 2026 at 3:15 AM
I’m watching the highest-grossing films of 1986 (in North America), and this film ranked a very close second behind Top Gun. It was huge, a cultural phenomenon. But while Top Gun’s popularity has endured, including a mega-hit legacy sequel, Crocodile Dundee has disappeared from the collective memory
CROCODILE DUNDEE
Released September 26
#2 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Peter Faiman
Wri: Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie & John Cornell
Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Mark Blum, Michael Lombard, Reginald VelJohnson, Terry Gill, Steve Rackman, Gary Skilton
Released September 26
#2 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Peter Faiman
Wri: Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie & John Cornell
Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Mark Blum, Michael Lombard, Reginald VelJohnson, Terry Gill, Steve Rackman, Gary Skilton
January 21, 2026 at 3:15 AM
CROCODILE DUNDEE
Released September 26
#2 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Peter Faiman
Wri: Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie & John Cornell
Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Mark Blum, Michael Lombard, Reginald VelJohnson, Terry Gill, Steve Rackman, Gary Skilton
Released September 26
#2 film of 1986
Paramount Pictures
Dir: Peter Faiman
Wri: Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie & John Cornell
Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Mark Blum, Michael Lombard, Reginald VelJohnson, Terry Gill, Steve Rackman, Gary Skilton
The film has the boldness to have leads who swear, smoke and act inappropriately. The narrator says this is what boys discuss before they discover girls. But it’s also what they discuss when they have enough self-awareness about their parents and status and potential future. It’s also quite fun!
January 19, 2026 at 3:50 AM
The film has the boldness to have leads who swear, smoke and act inappropriately. The narrator says this is what boys discuss before they discover girls. But it’s also what they discuss when they have enough self-awareness about their parents and status and potential future. It’s also quite fun!
That’s the enduring power of Stand By Me. Kids who watch it can identify with their feelings and experiences, depicted more accurately than usual, while it also reminds adults of how they were when they were kids. This is how boys are and always have been. That’s why this is the gold standard.
January 19, 2026 at 3:50 AM
That’s the enduring power of Stand By Me. Kids who watch it can identify with their feelings and experiences, depicted more accurately than usual, while it also reminds adults of how they were when they were kids. This is how boys are and always have been. That’s why this is the gold standard.
As a high school teacher, I’m around teens all the time. One thing I always push back on is when I hear older people say “kids these days are different” in a negative way. Yes, technology and lifestyles have changed, but kids are kids. The boys in this 50s-set 80s film are the same types we have now
January 19, 2026 at 3:50 AM
As a high school teacher, I’m around teens all the time. One thing I always push back on is when I hear older people say “kids these days are different” in a negative way. Yes, technology and lifestyles have changed, but kids are kids. The boys in this 50s-set 80s film are the same types we have now
BONUS
STAND BY ME
Released August 8
#13 film of 1986
Columbia Pictures
Dir: Rob Reiner (R.I.P.)
Wri: Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Keifer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Marshall Bell, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack
STAND BY ME
Released August 8
#13 film of 1986
Columbia Pictures
Dir: Rob Reiner (R.I.P.)
Wri: Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Keifer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Marshall Bell, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack
January 19, 2026 at 3:50 AM
BONUS
STAND BY ME
Released August 8
#13 film of 1986
Columbia Pictures
Dir: Rob Reiner (R.I.P.)
Wri: Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Keifer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Marshall Bell, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack
STAND BY ME
Released August 8
#13 film of 1986
Columbia Pictures
Dir: Rob Reiner (R.I.P.)
Wri: Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Keifer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Marshall Bell, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusack
That version gives full context to Ripley’s feelings about the alien, the Queen, Newt, everything. It’s all layers through a patient first act set-ups. By the third act, when incredible pays everything off, you’re completely invested in Ripley and her new surrogate family. Incredible filmmaking.
January 19, 2026 at 3:50 AM
That version gives full context to Ripley’s feelings about the alien, the Queen, Newt, everything. It’s all layers through a patient first act set-ups. By the third act, when incredible pays everything off, you’re completely invested in Ripley and her new surrogate family. Incredible filmmaking.