UM SO i just went to the German premiere of Beale Street and met Barry Jenkins after the Q&A and he was super lovely and we talked about Wong Kar-wai for a bit AND THEN he noticed my Good Time t-shirt and asked if he could take a pic with me and send it to Benny Safdie..... think i've reached peak letterboxd guys thank u and goodnight x

John Akomfrah is an absolute master of audiovisual bricolage, and sensibly realises that there's no need for talking heads when it's doubtful anyone could be as articulate and engaging on the subjects explored as the subject himself; this isn't so much a documentary about Stuart Hall as it is half a century as seen through his eyes. I slightly prefer Akomfrah's more fluid companion gallery piece The Unfinished Conversation, but this is still brilliantly put together and deeply moving. It's depressing that I can't think of a British public intellectual who comes even close to occupying a similar position to that which Hall held today.

I can’t remember the last time I was so totally immersed in a film. Everything in this insane, anarchic riff on Lord of the Flies is crafted to perfection - the raw direction; the textured, breathtaking (really, I forgot to breathe) cinematography; the immensely physical performances; Mica Levi’s elemental score, outrageously topping her outstanding previous work. Monos is exhilarating, mesmerising, terrifying. It’s possibly one of the best films of the decade.

Bill Nighy: You see, son, all the men in our family have the ability to time travel.
Domhnall Gleeson: What? What about the women??
Bill Nighy: *chuckling softly* oh no son, that would give them narrative agency! Anyway have fun using your powers to get away with being a total arsehole, manipulating and stalking women while you craft yourself a perfect life formed on the basis of exploitation and lies!!