Xan Brooks
@xanbrooks.bsky.social
Novelist, journalist. THE CATCHERS (https://tinyurl.com/TheCatchers2024)
Jennifer Lawrence Oscar campaign up & running
November 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Jennifer Lawrence Oscar campaign up & running
40 years old this week. One of those rare life-changing albums when I first heard it at 16; the whole wild world kicking in the front door. ‘We sail tonight for Singapore …’
October 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
40 years old this week. One of those rare life-changing albums when I first heard it at 16; the whole wild world kicking in the front door. ‘We sail tonight for Singapore …’
Birds, Strangers & Psychos, an anthology of Hitchock-inspired short stories, is the Times's "thriller of the month". We're launching it at the BFI Southbank, 6.30pm next Monday. Drop by if you're free, or need a place to lie low. Still some vacancies. All mod cons
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
September 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Birds, Strangers & Psychos, an anthology of Hitchock-inspired short stories, is the Times's "thriller of the month". We're launching it at the BFI Southbank, 6.30pm next Monday. Drop by if you're free, or need a place to lie low. Still some vacancies. All mod cons
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Robert Redford, 1936-2025.
“If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him”
“If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him”
September 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Robert Redford, 1936-2025.
“If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him”
“If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him”
First in line at this year’s Venice film festival.
August 27, 2025 at 5:38 AM
First in line at this year’s Venice film festival.
Honoured to have a clownish walk-on role in @owenslot.bsky.social's epic look back at Isner, Mahut & the longest match in tennis history (zombies optional)
www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis...
www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis...
June 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Honoured to have a clownish walk-on role in @owenslot.bsky.social's epic look back at Isner, Mahut & the longest match in tennis history (zombies optional)
www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis...
www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis...
Putting the festival behind us, until next time
May 24, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Putting the festival behind us, until next time
Well, Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind is a thing of beauty: an unhurried 70s-set crime drama that drifts like late autumn leaves through New England. Shot through with sadness & a longing for home. Loved it #Cannes2025
May 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Well, Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind is a thing of beauty: an unhurried 70s-set crime drama that drifts like late autumn leaves through New England. Shot through with sadness & a longing for home. Loved it #Cannes2025
The pristine quietude of the Cannes press room on the final Friday
May 23, 2025 at 7:35 AM
The pristine quietude of the Cannes press room on the final Friday
One for the Cannes crowd: a playlist of songs from this year's festival. One track per film, sketchy & incomplete, so do feel free to pitch in.
open.spotify.com/playlist/5sq...
open.spotify.com/playlist/5sq...
May 23, 2025 at 6:29 AM
One for the Cannes crowd: a playlist of songs from this year's festival. One track per film, sketchy & incomplete, so do feel free to pitch in.
open.spotify.com/playlist/5sq...
open.spotify.com/playlist/5sq...
So much to cherish about Oliver Hermanus's The History of Sound, a big, sweeping 20s-set love story with shades of a certain film by Ang Lee & a soundtrack of primitive American folk. Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor both on song & in harmony #Cannes2025
May 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
So much to cherish about Oliver Hermanus's The History of Sound, a big, sweeping 20s-set love story with shades of a certain film by Ang Lee & a soundtrack of primitive American folk. Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor both on song & in harmony #Cannes2025
View from the press terrace: the real Cannes opener. Snaps the eyelids up like rollerblinds.
May 13, 2025 at 10:38 AM
View from the press terrace: the real Cannes opener. Snaps the eyelids up like rollerblinds.
Trump Says He Will Put 100% Tariff on Movies Made Outside U.S. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/b...
May 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Trump Says He Will Put 100% Tariff on Movies Made Outside U.S. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/b...
THE CATCHERS, a novel of the 1920s American South, has been shortlisted for this year's Ondaatje Prize for books that evoke a sense of place. Thanks to @rsliterature.bsky.social & to the fabulous @saltpublishing.com
April 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
THE CATCHERS, a novel of the 1920s American South, has been shortlisted for this year's Ondaatje Prize for books that evoke a sense of place. Thanks to @rsliterature.bsky.social & to the fabulous @saltpublishing.com
Morocco. Good heavens.
April 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Morocco. Good heavens.
The Catchers is longlisted for the 2025 RSL Ondaatje Prize, recognising books that evoke "the spirit of a place". Delighted & honoured. Also my god, what a lineup rsliterature.org/rsl-ondaatje...
April 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The Catchers is longlisted for the 2025 RSL Ondaatje Prize, recognising books that evoke "the spirit of a place". Delighted & honoured. Also my god, what a lineup rsliterature.org/rsl-ondaatje...
Today on a billboard beside an LA hotel. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court probably
March 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Today on a billboard beside an LA hotel. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court probably
If there's a heaven for actors, I'd like to think that this is how he's getting there
February 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
If there's a heaven for actors, I'd like to think that this is how he's getting there
Gene Hackman was a giant: the rough, textured soul of American acting. Scarecrow, The Conversation, Night Moves, French Connection, Eureka, Mississippi Burning, Another Woman, Unforgiven & on & on. We shan't see his like again
February 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Gene Hackman was a giant: the rough, textured soul of American acting. Scarecrow, The Conversation, Night Moves, French Connection, Eureka, Mississippi Burning, Another Woman, Unforgiven & on & on. We shan't see his like again
Over the moon to see THE CATCHERS longlisted for this year's Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. Up against some absolute giants, too, which makes the nomination all the sweeter www.walterscottprize.co.uk/the-2025-wal...
February 18, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Over the moon to see THE CATCHERS longlisted for this year's Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. Up against some absolute giants, too, which makes the nomination all the sweeter www.walterscottprize.co.uk/the-2025-wal...
Au revoir Bertrand Blier, always & forever the creator of Les Valseuses, that dirty, sweaty, incorrigible masterpiece of 70s French cinema
January 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Au revoir Bertrand Blier, always & forever the creator of Les Valseuses, that dirty, sweaty, incorrigible masterpiece of 70s French cinema
This is the moment he became president
January 21, 2025 at 7:18 AM
This is the moment he became president
Babygirl & Maria predictably dominating the dojo when the best film of the week is The Girl with the Needle - a pitch-black real-world fairytale that deserves more attention. Not for all (most?) tastes but what a harsh, brilliant picture
January 9, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Babygirl & Maria predictably dominating the dojo when the best film of the week is The Girl with the Needle - a pitch-black real-world fairytale that deserves more attention. Not for all (most?) tastes but what a harsh, brilliant picture
Moon Venus Portaloo
January 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Moon Venus Portaloo
As an image of America in 2025 this is almost too on-the-nose
January 2, 2025 at 8:25 AM
As an image of America in 2025 this is almost too on-the-nose