Mike Walsh
mdw74.bsky.social
Mike Walsh
@mdw74.bsky.social
Films, music, politics, TV and running (not necessarily in that order). Systems Thinker by trade … curious by nature. Always time for a biscuit.
Feels like Smashing Machine is to The Rock what The Last Showgirl was to Pamela Anderson last year. A decent performance from an actor stretching themselves by playing on their own public image, let down by a badly written film.
November 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Asked to describe a brouhaha, I would say it was in between a to-do and a hubbub but not as extreme as a kerfuffle.
October 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I think that the super-natural element of Raiders of the Lost Ark became a millstone around the neck for the rest of the Indiana Jones franchise. It became a bug not a feature. In my opinion, if the last two had not had a super-natural element I think it they would have immeasurably improved.
September 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
An important film that deserves to be more widely seen.

My review of Lollipop.

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A ★★★★★ review of Lollipop (2024)
This film deserves to be more widely seen. It recently struck me that there are few British filmmakers making socio-realist films in the vein of Leigh and Loach, and almost no one documenting what it’...
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September 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
How do i keep my spirits up in these troubled political times? I watch beautiful timeless art that speaks the truth of being human. This was one of the best
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A ★★★★★ review of Tokyo Story (1953)
This film is the breath of life. In my opinion, too many modern films never give their characters the chance to breathe. Take Marvel films, for example: the action drives the characters forward at suc...
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September 18, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I was listening to the always great @trientertainment.bsky.social on their episode about 'always on' culture and wonder if we've ended up devaluing art at the expense of content.
August 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The 28 ... franchise is becoming one of diminishing returns. My review here:

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A ★★½ review of 28 Years Later (2025)
The 28 … franchise is becoming one of diminishing returns. I did rewatch 28 Days Later last year and still found it to be a powerful and taut reinvention of the zombie movie which retained its ability...
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August 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM
boxd.it/1RWj I was really pleased to be shortlisted for this year's Pitch to Park Circus #CineRedis25. I loved meeting the panel who were really enthusiastic, encouraging and lovely folks. Congrats @heathersmcgraw.bsky.social for her deserved win and to fellow nominee @momoshaty.bsky.social.
Announcing 'Pitch to Park Circus 2025' Shortlist and Winner
A story on Letterboxd.
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August 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Not the hero we wanted but the hero we needed. My thoughts on Superman.
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A ★★★★ review of Superman (2025)
I loved this version of Superman but the high water mark remains Christopher Reeve from 78-80*. I’m a big fan of James Gunn and when it was announced he would helm a new Superman film I knew that at t...
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July 18, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Jurassic World Rebirth ... a film that doesn't do anything new and that's both its strength and its weakness.

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A ★★★ review of Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)
This film doesn’t do anything new and that is both it’s strength and it’s weakness. I’ve been pretty cool on the Jurassic Park franchise since oh, about Jurassic Park 2 (1993) with the Chris Pratt re-...
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July 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Vortex (2021) by Gaspar Noe didn’t get much attention on its release. I remember thinking how few end of year lists it was on. It seems to be getting more traction in retrospect. I’ve seen it mentioned in a few best of 21 century lists. Anyway, it’s a good film more people should watch.
July 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
As someone who thinks about systems for a living I have a few thoughts about the current logic of film release schedules. Spoiler alert: it makes no sense to me.
July 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I've been reading a lot in the press about a crisis in UK TV production which has culminated in the view that Netflix's Adolescence is they kind of show that terrestrial broadcasters used to make but can no longer afford and I'd really like to understand more about this.
April 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I watched The Brutalist and was left a little underwhelmed. Review here.

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A ★★★ review of The Brutalist (2024)
This film has all the hallmarks of a modern classic—a towering central performance, ambitious themes, stunning cinematography, and an edgy score—yet I was left somewhat disappointed overall. A few thi...
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February 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM
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I watched the Nickel Boys last night and found it tough watch but for all the wrong reasons. Review here.
A ★★ review of Nickel Boys (2024)
I really wanted to like this film as it was in so many people’s end of year lists. I found it really hard to watch and literally fell asleep after the first half an hour. I did try again last night an...
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January 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Ok. I saw a crab walking sideways the other day. I know their eyes are at the front. How can this make sense from an evolutionary point of view!?
January 24, 2025 at 10:07 PM