Apocalypse Mal
@theladystranger.bsky.social
Host of Cinema 5000 podcast. Just logging what I see here
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Blitz, The Canyons, Nutcrackers, A Real Pain, The Order (2024), and more!
Cinema 5000 · Episode
open.spotify.com
My one-woman podcast is available most places. Just me, talkin’ movies, trying to figure out how I feel. Over 100 episodes so far! Check it out. open.spotify.com/episode/4yeO...
84. Stop! That! Train! - Comedy is back and she ready. Jujubee should have been given more material. Latrice Royale so funny. Rupaul is predictably good. Lots of good casting of smaller bit parts, however, the presence of abuser BJA hurts what should be a good, silly time.
October 3, 2026 at 3:13 PM
84. Stop! That! Train! - Comedy is back and she ready. Jujubee should have been given more material. Latrice Royale so funny. Rupaul is predictably good. Lots of good casting of smaller bit parts, however, the presence of abuser BJA hurts what should be a good, silly time.
83. Verity - you know what? it has some spice. Some good performances from Hathaway and Hartnett. Though sad to say it was almost good trash until the VERY stupid writing and Hoover-isms get in the way. Dakota Johnson is also not strong enough of a performer to do the lifting needed to end this.
October 3, 2026 at 3:04 PM
83. Verity - you know what? it has some spice. Some good performances from Hathaway and Hartnett. Though sad to say it was almost good trash until the VERY stupid writing and Hoover-isms get in the way. Dakota Johnson is also not strong enough of a performer to do the lifting needed to end this.
82. Primetime (2026) - Stone Phillips being the object of loathing is amusing. Whats not amusing is how lazy this movie is in its Moby Dick-ish Hansen pervo-catcher-for-the-clout storytelling. And yet Skyler Gisondo is fantastic, worth seeing despite whats around him being very slight and lame.
September 26, 2026 at 2:50 AM
82. Primetime (2026) - Stone Phillips being the object of loathing is amusing. Whats not amusing is how lazy this movie is in its Moby Dick-ish Hansen pervo-catcher-for-the-clout storytelling. And yet Skyler Gisondo is fantastic, worth seeing despite whats around him being very slight and lame.
81. Devil in a Blue Dress - Noir, baby. Easy-going Easy finds not all is that easy, thanks to LA politics and post-WWII hardships. Glad I could see this in a theater. I wish it was longer!! Very enjoyable.
September 24, 2026 at 3:04 AM
81. Devil in a Blue Dress - Noir, baby. Easy-going Easy finds not all is that easy, thanks to LA politics and post-WWII hardships. Glad I could see this in a theater. I wish it was longer!! Very enjoyable.
80. Splitsville - Familiar, zany, uhh the guys fighting stuff is very tired. But the overall dance this does is entertaining. I laughed and thats kinda all that matters.
September 23, 2026 at 2:35 AM
80. Splitsville - Familiar, zany, uhh the guys fighting stuff is very tired. But the overall dance this does is entertaining. I laughed and thats kinda all that matters.
79. Practical Magic 2 - Being straight is a curse, I agree! Truly a fuckin slog. Nicole Kidman is at least having fun. Sandra Bullock once again has seemingly lost all capabilities as a performer to have chemistry with an intended love interest (see also The Lost City). Script is so shit, urghhh.
September 22, 2026 at 3:12 AM
79. Practical Magic 2 - Being straight is a curse, I agree! Truly a fuckin slog. Nicole Kidman is at least having fun. Sandra Bullock once again has seemingly lost all capabilities as a performer to have chemistry with an intended love interest (see also The Lost City). Script is so shit, urghhh.
78. American Splendor - its alright, I kinda wish I just had a straight documentary on Pekar.
September 22, 2026 at 3:08 AM
78. American Splendor - its alright, I kinda wish I just had a straight documentary on Pekar.
77. The Weight - Good film, enjoyed the level-headed nature this brought to such a desperate depression era situation. Ethan Hawke is obviously suited for a movie like this at this point in his career and brings the gravitas.
September 22, 2026 at 3:06 AM
77. The Weight - Good film, enjoyed the level-headed nature this brought to such a desperate depression era situation. Ethan Hawke is obviously suited for a movie like this at this point in his career and brings the gravitas.
I went six times. I’ve felt a weird sadness since I left camp on Monday. I’ll never forget how fun and delightful it all was.
Camp John Waters was camp in every sense of the word. Its final session included debaucherous twists, all-out revelry and Ricki Lake. on.wsj.com/4y7K8zr
The Weird and Wild Send-Off to a Movie Director’s Summer Camp
Camp John Waters was camp in every sense of the word. Its final session included debaucherous twists, all-out revelry and Ricki Lake.
on.wsj.com
September 20, 2026 at 2:25 PM
I went six times. I’ve felt a weird sadness since I left camp on Monday. I’ll never forget how fun and delightful it all was.
Not exactly sure why I’m getting unsolicited text messages asking me to DJ at local NH campaign events. SO incredibly random.
September 19, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Not exactly sure why I’m getting unsolicited text messages asking me to DJ at local NH campaign events. SO incredibly random.
A DROUGHT but the drops are good
August 31, 2026 at 9:06 PM
A DROUGHT but the drops are good
76. Coyote vs. Acme - meep meep. Funny, mildly exciting. Will Forte quite great at acting with cartoons. Best part was when a little kid in the theater laughed a few times.
August 29, 2026 at 3:58 AM
76. Coyote vs. Acme - meep meep. Funny, mildly exciting. Will Forte quite great at acting with cartoons. Best part was when a little kid in the theater laughed a few times.
75. Shakedown (1988) - Peter Weller and Sam Elliott are a great pairing. The movie is ridiculous with touches of stability. Highlights the seedy side of NYC in the 80s with many crime and courtroom conventions, cliche characters. But its entertaining, most importantly.
August 22, 2026 at 4:02 PM
75. Shakedown (1988) - Peter Weller and Sam Elliott are a great pairing. The movie is ridiculous with touches of stability. Highlights the seedy side of NYC in the 80s with many crime and courtroom conventions, cliche characters. But its entertaining, most importantly.
74. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma - bit of a mixed bag here. Writing DESIRE on a notebook page one of the many very eye-rolling qualities to a film that feels too obvious and slight. But its not a bad watch. I had to accept the scripting and just roll with it.
August 21, 2026 at 11:20 AM
74. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma - bit of a mixed bag here. Writing DESIRE on a notebook page one of the many very eye-rolling qualities to a film that feels too obvious and slight. But its not a bad watch. I had to accept the scripting and just roll with it.
73. Q: The Winged Serpent - I was rooting for the serpent.
August 9, 2026 at 4:07 AM
73. Q: The Winged Serpent - I was rooting for the serpent.
72. Supergirl (2026) - Milly Alcock is pretty solid. The film around her, whatever. There are glimpses of design and ideas here but it reeks of bad intentions to set this character up for future side jobs with Cousin Clark. I was amused and frustrated, though thankfully not bored.
July 30, 2026 at 4:33 AM
72. Supergirl (2026) - Milly Alcock is pretty solid. The film around her, whatever. There are glimpses of design and ideas here but it reeks of bad intentions to set this character up for future side jobs with Cousin Clark. I was amused and frustrated, though thankfully not bored.
71. Her Private Hell - arty though woefully dull and empty despite attempts at dramatics. The music is nice. The rest of this just ticked me off because it struggles to do the bare minimum entertainment for the viewer. Redundancy abound from Refn.
July 30, 2026 at 4:31 AM
71. Her Private Hell - arty though woefully dull and empty despite attempts at dramatics. The music is nice. The rest of this just ticked me off because it struggles to do the bare minimum entertainment for the viewer. Redundancy abound from Refn.
70. Hail Satan? - an accessible, if limited, glimpse at the Satanic Temple. A doc of history at this point. Its thankfully thought provoking and entertaining.
July 30, 2026 at 4:14 AM
70. Hail Satan? - an accessible, if limited, glimpse at the Satanic Temple. A doc of history at this point. Its thankfully thought provoking and entertaining.
69. The Odyssey (2026) - Its fine. I think its too expected so its never as grandiose as its promise. Nolan doesn’t really take any chances outside some supporting players. Matt Damon brings this down a bit in contrast to the likes of Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, and Samantha Morton who wow.
July 30, 2026 at 4:12 AM
69. The Odyssey (2026) - Its fine. I think its too expected so its never as grandiose as its promise. Nolan doesn’t really take any chances outside some supporting players. Matt Damon brings this down a bit in contrast to the likes of Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, and Samantha Morton who wow.
68. Jackass: Best and Last - Sad to say its not the best, though its a reflective look at the gang of fools and how far they’ve come. Who is still around. And who has left them. Gags aplenty of course, but when the body seems to not be able to do the big stunts, there’s always the genitalia.
July 9, 2026 at 3:24 AM
68. Jackass: Best and Last - Sad to say its not the best, though its a reflective look at the gang of fools and how far they’ve come. Who is still around. And who has left them. Gags aplenty of course, but when the body seems to not be able to do the big stunts, there’s always the genitalia.
67. Parting Glances - a seemingly average story of relationships that, as it reveals itself, is grappling with the tragedy of how many bright souls will be lost to AIDS. Solid performances, writing. Steve Buscemi as Nick, who knows his time is limited, is tremendous. RIP Bill Sherwood.
July 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
67. Parting Glances - a seemingly average story of relationships that, as it reveals itself, is grappling with the tragedy of how many bright souls will be lost to AIDS. Solid performances, writing. Steve Buscemi as Nick, who knows his time is limited, is tremendous. RIP Bill Sherwood.
66. Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story - a trailblazer from the start, this made me love Robin. A total hoot, sex positive against a world that is cruel and determined to take care of her audience. How sad how the times have changed, there will only be one Robin Byrd.
July 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM
66. Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story - a trailblazer from the start, this made me love Robin. A total hoot, sex positive against a world that is cruel and determined to take care of her audience. How sad how the times have changed, there will only be one Robin Byrd.
65. Disclosure Day - LISTEN, this stinks. Not buying any of it will make-or-break. Its silly, absolutely the opposite of compelling, even when Emily Blunt is wearing herself out carrying the entire picture. Spielberg’s Epstein movie???
July 2, 2026 at 2:50 AM
65. Disclosure Day - LISTEN, this stinks. Not buying any of it will make-or-break. Its silly, absolutely the opposite of compelling, even when Emily Blunt is wearing herself out carrying the entire picture. Spielberg’s Epstein movie???
64. Original Cast Album: Company - I would’ve never watched this if someone didn’t recommend it to me. Not really a fan of the songs but this peek-behind-the-curtain filmmaking is very solid. Elaine Stritch, of course, is everything.
July 2, 2026 at 2:48 AM
64. Original Cast Album: Company - I would’ve never watched this if someone didn’t recommend it to me. Not really a fan of the songs but this peek-behind-the-curtain filmmaking is very solid. Elaine Stritch, of course, is everything.
63. Backrooms (2026) - hmm its ok. The scripting is not that great, the film feels like a few different movies spliced together. Thankfully Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve are terrific performers, they improve a picture that surely would have failed with different leads. Atmospheric, thin.
June 23, 2026 at 3:05 AM
63. Backrooms (2026) - hmm its ok. The scripting is not that great, the film feels like a few different movies spliced together. Thankfully Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve are terrific performers, they improve a picture that surely would have failed with different leads. Atmospheric, thin.