Highlights
I hate this
But does it matter? — I don’t usually say that sort of thing here. I try to be more measured, less personal. I’m talking about the police face recognition vans obviously. This might not surprise you: I mean that I don’t like them. I’m an old git after all, a man who’s written here before […]
Nearly half a bicycle
The atomic theory in Kilburn — This place (on Kilburn High Road) has been morphing steadily from dry cleaner’s to bike shop over the last few years. I remember being surprised one morning to see a few kids’ bikes lined up for sale outside but I’d say the shop is now approaching 50% bike shop. […]
Where is my patriotism?
Come, love of country, fill my heart… — I do love Britain. I guess I love England more. London most of all. I hope that in my life I’ve honoured the place I live and not disgraced it or undermined it (I support England and GB in sporting events – I fly a little flag […]
Browse by year
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On the spectrum
Two novels, one small and mean, one vast and generous, both magnificent — This year I started a bookclub in our house – with mixed results if I’m honest. It’s…
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Skycaps on a break
From the archives. At JFK, 24 April 2005. They’re telling me about the previous Friday night’s $205M Michigan lottery win.
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Three films that are not one hundred years old
My Substack newsletter is called GROSS. I’m writing about all the top-grossing films since 1913 – but I’ve made an exception for the new year and reviewed three films from…
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Final act for the streamers
Netflix introduced ads and now Amazon Prime too. It’s your fault. — It’s a three-act drama — In act one it’s about growth—extravagent, out-of-control, venture-funded growth—you remember that. Piling on…
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‘Working class golf’ – the posh media will never understand it
Broadcasters and journalists – please stop trying to explain darts. — I know you were privately educated and find darts to be kind of exotic – like chicken shops or…
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No not that one, the other one
NAPOLEON, ABEL GANCE, GAUMONT, 1927, 330 MINUTES. — I’m publishing the occasional post from my newsletter about the history of film here on the blog. This one concerns the biggest…
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Hollywood Babylon – a two-part aside
Crime, sex, addiction, murder and suicide – the golden age of the movies — Cinema is a mature form. Cinema is also, of course, the least mature form there’s ever…
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Dudes in the woods
Robin Hood is a Mediaeval superhero. He doesn’t care much about emancipation, but he loves to skip through the trees. — Gross is every year’s top-grossing movie, since 1913, reviewed.…
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Learning from old movies
GROSS is my first Substack thing. It’s film reviews, which I hope are funny and interesting and unpretentious. — It’s also my personal low-effort way to learn about the whole…
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Chaps in trouble
We’ve got to 1919. The officer class over-reaches itself and gets stuck on the ice. It’s a disaster but it all works out in the end. — Every year’s top-grossing…