Igor Bannikov
@igorbannikov.bsky.social
Pop culture journalist // Daily news & takes on memes, music, film, games, books // Bylines @clashmusic.com @thelineofbestfit.com @popmatters.com @godisinthetvzine.bsky.social // [email protected]
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Man, The Wrong Girls with Kristen Stewart & Alia Shawkat is insane! A “stoner girl comedy” with a score by Ty Segall, Seth Rogen & Kumail Nanjiani as cats, and an absolutely absurd plot. The kind of stuff à la The Big Lebowski and The Naked Gun I’d watch on VHS in the ‘90s.
Judging by these lines from the second season of Succession, released in 2019, we’re now in the mega toilet. Well, nice to know.
October 5, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Judging by these lines from the second season of Succession, released in 2019, we’re now in the mega toilet. Well, nice to know.
Man, The Wrong Girls with Kristen Stewart & Alia Shawkat is insane! A “stoner girl comedy” with a score by Ty Segall, Seth Rogen & Kumail Nanjiani as cats, and an absolutely absurd plot. The kind of stuff à la The Big Lebowski and The Naked Gun I’d watch on VHS in the ‘90s.
October 4, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Man, The Wrong Girls with Kristen Stewart & Alia Shawkat is insane! A “stoner girl comedy” with a score by Ty Segall, Seth Rogen & Kumail Nanjiani as cats, and an absolutely absurd plot. The kind of stuff à la The Big Lebowski and The Naked Gun I’d watch on VHS in the ‘90s.
The problem with Digger is that the incredibly complex work of composer Sheldrake, cinematographer Lubezki, and production designer Gassner gives the movie its astonishing quality, but Iñárritu’s job is to make it all work together, and if plot-wise the film is weak, that’s entirely on him.
October 4, 2026 at 8:27 AM
The problem with Digger is that the incredibly complex work of composer Sheldrake, cinematographer Lubezki, and production designer Gassner gives the movie its astonishing quality, but Iñárritu’s job is to make it all work together, and if plot-wise the film is weak, that’s entirely on him.
It’s evident that Iñárritu tried to make an ambitious, sarcastic statement with Digger about the state of the world in general and the US in particular, but to criticise things on such a scale, you need to be as witty and cunning as Paul Verhoeven or Stanley Kubrick, no less.
October 4, 2026 at 8:22 AM
It’s evident that Iñárritu tried to make an ambitious, sarcastic statement with Digger about the state of the world in general and the US in particular, but to criticise things on such a scale, you need to be as witty and cunning as Paul Verhoeven or Stanley Kubrick, no less.
Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney bought Kyle MacLachlan’s new memoir and highly recommends it. Alright, he probably gifted it to her, no out-of-pocket expenses involved. Hope he sends me a copy one day too, because why not - you have to dream big to get somewhere in life.
October 3, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney bought Kyle MacLachlan’s new memoir and highly recommends it. Alright, he probably gifted it to her, no out-of-pocket expenses involved. Hope he sends me a copy one day too, because why not - you have to dream big to get somewhere in life.
What a time we’re living in! @dualipa.bsky.social has interviewed Ai Weiwei, talking to him about “censorship, freedom, and the power of expression”. The interview will be published soon through her media platform Service95.
October 3, 2026 at 3:10 PM
What a time we’re living in! @dualipa.bsky.social has interviewed Ai Weiwei, talking to him about “censorship, freedom, and the power of expression”. The interview will be published soon through her media platform Service95.
For those who grew up listening to Placebo, their new single ‘Helen Keller’, based on the secret instrumental ‘H.K. Farewell’ from their 1996 debut, is the perfect way to get nostalgic as the band cross the UK and Europe on their 30th anniversary tour.
Placebo - Helen Keller - Lyric Video
YouTube video by PLACEBO
youtu.be
October 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM
For those who grew up listening to Placebo, their new single ‘Helen Keller’, based on the secret instrumental ‘H.K. Farewell’ from their 1996 debut, is the perfect way to get nostalgic as the band cross the UK and Europe on their 30th anniversary tour.
Btw, a new Kyle MacLachlan memoir, Fictional Selves, just came out. It’s a funny, smart reflection on his other selves, with insights on working with David Lynch, Laura Dern, Dennis Hopper, and Anthony Hopkins. Can’t wait to read it. Hope he sends me a copy though we haven’t met.
October 3, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Btw, a new Kyle MacLachlan memoir, Fictional Selves, just came out. It’s a funny, smart reflection on his other selves, with insights on working with David Lynch, Laura Dern, Dennis Hopper, and Anthony Hopkins. Can’t wait to read it. Hope he sends me a copy though we haven’t met.
Ordered a pizza today to chill a bit and… Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro literally read my mind!
October 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Ordered a pizza today to chill a bit and… Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro literally read my mind!
Talking Heads have reunited… for a moment. They did so to launch their own limited-time radio station on SiriusXM, with lots of their music, archival stuff, exclusive stories, and DJ sets from musician friends. A Q&A on it hosted by Este Haim is already up on the SiriusXM app.
October 2, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Talking Heads have reunited… for a moment. They did so to launch their own limited-time radio station on SiriusXM, with lots of their music, archival stuff, exclusive stories, and DJ sets from musician friends. A Q&A on it hosted by Este Haim is already up on the SiriusXM app.
A new GTA 6 mural is going up in Brooklyn. People say it’s on Wythe and North 11th Street in Williamsburg if you want to see it with your own eyes.
October 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
A new GTA 6 mural is going up in Brooklyn. People say it’s on Wythe and North 11th Street in Williamsburg if you want to see it with your own eyes.
What a twist of fate. Being a huge star of the Mummy franchise and then forgotten for about 15 years, Brendan Fraser got back in the game thanks to Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale and several dramatic roles, getting big enough again to star in another Mummy installment. True GOAT.
October 1, 2026 at 8:23 AM
What a twist of fate. Being a huge star of the Mummy franchise and then forgotten for about 15 years, Brendan Fraser got back in the game thanks to Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale and several dramatic roles, getting big enough again to star in another Mummy installment. True GOAT.
Hideo Kojima is once again hanging out with Caroline Polachek. Hope it’s a sign that they are working on an album together.
October 1, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Hideo Kojima is once again hanging out with Caroline Polachek. Hope it’s a sign that they are working on an album together.
Spotify is down for some users rn, including me. You pay for an expensive subscription that costs more every year and still can’t use it. I wonder if they’ll consider giving us some kind of compensation for the time the service was down.
September 29, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Spotify is down for some users rn, including me. You pay for an expensive subscription that costs more every year and still can’t use it. I wonder if they’ll consider giving us some kind of compensation for the time the service was down.
Hideo Kojima has met with David Jonsson, one of my favourite next-gen actors, who’s nailed roles in Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk, and Wasteman. Kojima gets it. A one-man cinema outlet!
September 29, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Hideo Kojima has met with David Jonsson, one of my favourite next-gen actors, who’s nailed roles in Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk, and Wasteman. Kojima gets it. A one-man cinema outlet!
Oh boy! Steam Controllers are back in stock and I've finally ordered one. Out since May 4 & almost half a year later, I'll finally get to test one. Even more surprising, I got it for the same $99 price as at launch, while elsewhere they're already going for $500. What a miracle!
September 29, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Oh boy! Steam Controllers are back in stock and I've finally ordered one. Out since May 4 & almost half a year later, I'll finally get to test one. Even more surprising, I got it for the same $99 price as at launch, while elsewhere they're already going for $500. What a miracle!
Madonna has teamed up with Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, coming back to the VMAs stage for the first time since 2003, when she performed alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Btw, she got seven awards this time! A pop icon, she still easily outshines younger stars.
Full Performance Madonna/Sabrina/Charli XCX Opening VMA 2026
YouTube video by Gregory Albert
youtu.be
September 28, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Madonna has teamed up with Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, coming back to the VMAs stage for the first time since 2003, when she performed alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Btw, she got seven awards this time! A pop icon, she still easily outshines younger stars.
U2 returned to their old high school, where they first performed 50 years ago, to play a special anniversary gig in the playground for 1,000 students and teachers.
Addressing the students, Bono said: “Thanks for showing up. I suppose you’d nowhere else to go.”
Addressing the students, Bono said: “Thanks for showing up. I suppose you’d nowhere else to go.”
September 27, 2026 at 9:21 AM
U2 returned to their old high school, where they first performed 50 years ago, to play a special anniversary gig in the playground for 1,000 students and teachers.
Addressing the students, Bono said: “Thanks for showing up. I suppose you’d nowhere else to go.”
Addressing the students, Bono said: “Thanks for showing up. I suppose you’d nowhere else to go.”
In the trailers for his two upcoming movies, Ebenezer and Day Drinker, Johnny Depp says, "It's good to be back" and "I'm done when I say I'm done." Perfect mottos for his comeback. Glad to see him back at it and hope we get a few more decades of funny, strange and moving roles.
September 27, 2026 at 7:56 AM
In the trailers for his two upcoming movies, Ebenezer and Day Drinker, Johnny Depp says, "It's good to be back" and "I'm done when I say I'm done." Perfect mottos for his comeback. Glad to see him back at it and hope we get a few more decades of funny, strange and moving roles.
For the past few months, literally all my life plans have been divided into before and after the GTA 6 release. Oh, I need to get this work done - better do it before the GTA 6 release. Yay, I’ll see my relatives, but that won’t be anytime soon - only after the GTA 6 release.
September 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM
For the past few months, literally all my life plans have been divided into before and after the GTA 6 release. Oh, I need to get this work done - better do it before the GTA 6 release. Yay, I’ll see my relatives, but that won’t be anytime soon - only after the GTA 6 release.
The New York Times put together the ultimate list of the 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century with the help of 500+ stars. Sadly, some of my favs, like We Own This City and The Chair Company, didn’t make the cut, but it’s still a pretty fun project.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
September 26, 2026 at 6:55 AM
The New York Times put together the ultimate list of the 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century with the help of 500+ stars. Sadly, some of my favs, like We Own This City and The Chair Company, didn’t make the cut, but it’s still a pretty fun project.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Just watched Matt Johnson’s Tony about Anthony Bourdain, and it’s terrific. The cast, with Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, and sexy as hell Stavros Halkias, is fantastic. The soundtrack packed with hidden ‘70s gems is killer. And the coming-of-age story is so cute it’s irresistible.
September 25, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Just watched Matt Johnson’s Tony about Anthony Bourdain, and it’s terrific. The cast, with Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, and sexy as hell Stavros Halkias, is fantastic. The soundtrack packed with hidden ‘70s gems is killer. And the coming-of-age story is so cute it’s irresistible.
It might seem strange at first glance that The New York Times, a news outlet, wants to buy a film discovery platform, but they’ve been adding watchlists and reading lists to their articles for a few years now, and this acquisition would make those features much more useful.
Letterboxd Sees Acquisition Interest From A24, Sony and the New York Times
A24, Sony and The New York Times Company all registered their interest in acquiring the cinephile’s paradise.
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2026 at 9:50 AM
It might seem strange at first glance that The New York Times, a news outlet, wants to buy a film discovery platform, but they’ve been adding watchlists and reading lists to their articles for a few years now, and this acquisition would make those features much more useful.
The word is that Zach Cregger's Resident Evil producer, Roy Lee, is now working on a new Silent Hill film. Considering how bad Christophe Gans' Return to Silent Hill was, that would be really good news. This franchise needs a fresher approach than just a blunt rip-off of games.
September 24, 2026 at 1:31 PM
The word is that Zach Cregger's Resident Evil producer, Roy Lee, is now working on a new Silent Hill film. Considering how bad Christophe Gans' Return to Silent Hill was, that would be really good news. This franchise needs a fresher approach than just a blunt rip-off of games.
Nothing to see here. Just Anya Taylor-Joy reading The Fellowship of the Ring, getting ready for The Hunt for Gollum.
September 24, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Nothing to see here. Just Anya Taylor-Joy reading The Fellowship of the Ring, getting ready for The Hunt for Gollum.