[A Pleasurable Headache] a subterranean white elephant
Not much up top this week. The plan for doing my usual 'Faves of the Year' is to include it in the next edition of the newsletter as there are still some movies I'm hoping to catch between now and then.
Links
You don't know Jack Reacher: How Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise defied expectations and paved the way for Top Gun: Maverick
https://www.avclub.com/christopher-mcquarrie-interview-jack-reacher-anniversar-1849801144
The first Jack Reacher movie is still a stone cold classic for many people, much forgotten now given the dire second film and the new TV show.
AV Club interviews director Christopher McQuarrie on the movie's ten year anniversary.
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Where is horror going? We asked Barbarian director Zach Cregger
https://www.polygon.com/23509279/future-horror-movies-barbarian-zach-cregger
If you've not yet seen Barbarian yet, go do that now. Moreso if you're a horror fan. Go in with as little knowledge as possible. The movie is currently streaming on Disney Plus. Director Zach Cregger chats with Polygon on the direction of the genre moving forward.
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“It’s Going to Be Epic”: The Oral History of James Cameron
https://www.theringer.com/movies/2022/12/13/23506177/james-cameron-oral-history-titanic-avatar
In the wake of the release of the new Avatar movie, The Ringer provide a quick oral history of Cameron's career. Whilst I'm a fan of his movies his recent comments about the indigenous people in North America are woefully misguided and offensive.
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How to buy a social network, with Tumblr CEO Matt Mullenweg
https://www.theverge.com/23506085/wordpress-twitter-tumblr-ceo-matt-mullenweg-elon-musk
Tumblr is king again. This is an interesting interview with Matt Mullenwegg at The Verge. Mullenwegg is CEO of Automattic, the company that currently owns Tumblr. The longform interview covers many aspects of owning, scaling and running a social media company. Contrast this with the birdsite...
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Cumbria Coal Mine‘A Subterranean White Elephant’ in the Works
https://bylinetimes.com/2022/12/14/cumbria-coal-mine-a-subterranean-white-elephant-in-the-works/
If you want to know how the UK's energy policy is dealing with the climate crisis here's your biggest clue - doubling down on what got us here in the first place. In this instance, giving the all clear on the country's first coal mine in almost 30 years.
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British empire killed 165 million Indians in 40 years: How colonialism inspired fascism
https://multipolarista.com/2022/12/12/britain-100-million-india-deaths-colonialism/
Sticking with the UK...
Next time a flag-nonce tells you how great Churchill was ask them about the Bengal Famine, an avoidable catastrophe in a list already littered with the death of millions.
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I'm off to remember to schedule this to send out on Christmas Day when absolutely no one will read it.
Merry Christmas and an excellent new year to all. See you in two!