Phil Hoad
@phlode.bsky.social
Reporter, features writer and critic based in Montpellier, France.
If nothing else, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER confirms Leo as the great dressing-gown actor of our times
September 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
If nothing else, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER confirms Leo as the great dressing-gown actor of our times
I'm serialising my non-fiction book about a great Hollywood rivalry, BEEF: SCHWARZENEGGER v STALLONE, here: beef-schwarzenegger-v-stallone.ghost.io.
A true story of biceps, bulging paychecks and insanely toxic masculinity.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber so I can get to finish it
A true story of biceps, bulging paychecks and insanely toxic masculinity.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber so I can get to finish it
July 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I'm serialising my non-fiction book about a great Hollywood rivalry, BEEF: SCHWARZENEGGER v STALLONE, here: beef-schwarzenegger-v-stallone.ghost.io.
A true story of biceps, bulging paychecks and insanely toxic masculinity.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber so I can get to finish it
A true story of biceps, bulging paychecks and insanely toxic masculinity.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber so I can get to finish it
This observation of Jen Lynch's about her dad hit a chord
April 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This observation of Jen Lynch's about her dad hit a chord
Is Ubisoft being French the reason why the apple of Eden looks like a pétanque ball in the ASSASSIN'S CREED movie ?
April 7, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Is Ubisoft being French the reason why the apple of Eden looks like a pétanque ball in the ASSASSIN'S CREED movie ?
This is the most perceptive take I've read on the Neil Gaiman affair - and the whole art-by-monsters conundrum
January 16, 2025 at 11:32 AM
This is the most perceptive take I've read on the Neil Gaiman affair - and the whole art-by-monsters conundrum
What is it with Paul Thomas Anderson and the world of mattress salesmanship?
January 15, 2025 at 10:17 AM
What is it with Paul Thomas Anderson and the world of mattress salesmanship?
Found a copy of Marcel Carné's HOTEL DU NORD on DVD in our holiday home last night. Apparently RATATOUILLE's Anton Ego was modelled on Louis Jouvet
December 26, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Found a copy of Marcel Carné's HOTEL DU NORD on DVD in our holiday home last night. Apparently RATATOUILLE's Anton Ego was modelled on Louis Jouvet
Tom Cruise beat Timothy Chalamet to the punch, in VANILLA SKY, on the Dylan front
December 9, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Tom Cruise beat Timothy Chalamet to the punch, in VANILLA SKY, on the Dylan front
Mopping up some unseen Claire Denis. S'EN FOUT LA MORT is like a cockfighting MEAN STREETS. Alex Descas is incredible in his final scene. And it has the coolest poster
November 17, 2024 at 8:35 AM
Mopping up some unseen Claire Denis. S'EN FOUT LA MORT is like a cockfighting MEAN STREETS. Alex Descas is incredible in his final scene. And it has the coolest poster
Never would have guessed this (from Ridley Scott)
November 7, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Never would have guessed this (from Ridley Scott)
Not sure if ASTEROID CITY is borderline experimental, or a bit of a stilted mess. But I did dig Jason Schwartzman's Kubrick impression
October 15, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Not sure if ASTEROID CITY is borderline experimental, or a bit of a stilted mess. But I did dig Jason Schwartzman's Kubrick impression
Paid homage to "Queen of Swords" Cheng Pei-pei, and her fabulous array of hats bit.ly/3ydCxpn
August 2, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Paid homage to "Queen of Swords" Cheng Pei-pei, and her fabulous array of hats bit.ly/3ydCxpn
So how come Paul Thomas Anderson didn't get hauled over the coals for this pothead heresy?
July 31, 2024 at 8:32 AM
So how come Paul Thomas Anderson didn't get hauled over the coals for this pothead heresy?
DVD Deep Cut #8 - UNITED 93 (2006): A masterclass in how to build a coherent narrative through experiential fragments. But some questions to be asked - cf the Haneke/Holocaustsploitation qualms - what the narrative beats are seeking to do
June 11, 2024 at 8:09 AM
DVD Deep Cut #8 - UNITED 93 (2006): A masterclass in how to build a coherent narrative through experiential fragments. But some questions to be asked - cf the Haneke/Holocaustsploitation qualms - what the narrative beats are seeking to do
DVD Deep Cut #7 - TRUE GRIT (1969): Never seen the Coens version, which I will remedy. But I dug this one, thought it had an excellent start - though it degraded a bit into generic western runaround. Manifestly scripted by a woman (the one-time blacklisted Marguerite Roberts)
March 18, 2024 at 9:04 AM
DVD Deep Cut #7 - TRUE GRIT (1969): Never seen the Coens version, which I will remedy. But I dug this one, thought it had an excellent start - though it degraded a bit into generic western runaround. Manifestly scripted by a woman (the one-time blacklisted Marguerite Roberts)
DVD Deep Cut #6 - 4 (2004): One of my favourite opening shots in cinema (my favourite closing one is BEAU TRAVAIL). A really important film, not only because of the DAU madness Ilya Khrzhanovsky went on to, but also for its brutal, hallucinatory, prophetic statement about Russia
February 20, 2024 at 4:50 PM
DVD Deep Cut #6 - 4 (2004): One of my favourite opening shots in cinema (my favourite closing one is BEAU TRAVAIL). A really important film, not only because of the DAU madness Ilya Khrzhanovsky went on to, but also for its brutal, hallucinatory, prophetic statement about Russia
DVD Deep Cut #5 - BREAKING NEWS (2004): Great self-reflexive concept - action movie as media display - but heavy-handed in the details. As always with Johnnie To, though, so much surface to admire, like the incredible opening take, and the hilarious lunch interlude
February 1, 2024 at 12:59 PM
DVD Deep Cut #5 - BREAKING NEWS (2004): Great self-reflexive concept - action movie as media display - but heavy-handed in the details. As always with Johnnie To, though, so much surface to admire, like the incredible opening take, and the hilarious lunch interlude
DVD Deep Cut #4 - COMING HOME (1978): Finally pushed myself to watch this because of re-reading Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, and what a movie ! Avant-garde editing pushing a communitarian ethic - and beautiful lucid acting, Jon Voight especially
January 23, 2024 at 7:40 PM
DVD Deep Cut #4 - COMING HOME (1978): Finally pushed myself to watch this because of re-reading Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, and what a movie ! Avant-garde editing pushing a communitarian ethic - and beautiful lucid acting, Jon Voight especially
DVD Deep Cut #3 - THE EXILES (1961): Pulling an all-nighter with Los Angeles' Native American community. Dreaming and desolation in equal measure, filtering through an inky-black Bunker Hill
January 9, 2024 at 7:46 PM
DVD Deep Cut #3 - THE EXILES (1961): Pulling an all-nighter with Los Angeles' Native American community. Dreaming and desolation in equal measure, filtering through an inky-black Bunker Hill
DVD Deep Cut #2 - COMEDY OF POWER (2006): Chabrol's third to last film. High-powered corporate corruption thriller with all the suspense removed and a smiling cynicism injected in its place. I shouldn't still be amazed at how good Isabelle Huppert is, but I was once again
January 5, 2024 at 5:07 PM
DVD Deep Cut #2 - COMEDY OF POWER (2006): Chabrol's third to last film. High-powered corporate corruption thriller with all the suspense removed and a smiling cynicism injected in its place. I shouldn't still be amazed at how good Isabelle Huppert is, but I was once again