MUBI Notebook / Act Like a Man: The Defiant Individualism of Zbigniew Cybulski

In the second edition of my new column over at MUBI Notebook, I wrote about Zbigniew Cybulski, the 'Polish James Dean' and tragic young star of classic film Ashes & Diamonds (1958). The column is called Act Like A Man, and it's all about actors past & present and their relationship to masculinity, persona, desirability, and their viewers. Read it on the MUBI Notebook website here. 

BFI: Where to Begin with Elia Kazan

For the upcoming BFI Southbank retrospective of his work, I wrote a little primer of where to begin with the films of Elia Kazan, the great director who brought both Marlon Brando and James Dean to our screens for the first time. Check it out here, on the BFI website. 

You Must Remember This: Make Me Over Guest Series / Madame Sylvia of Hollywood

I'm so thrilled to be one of eight contributors to Karina Longworth's new guest series of the You Must Remember This podcast, on the forgotten history of Hollywood's first century. The series is called Make Me Over, exploring all the intersections of the beauty industry and American movies in the 20th century. My episode, which I researched, wrote, and voiced, was about Hollywood's first weight-loss guru and dietician to the stars, Madame Sylvia of Hollywood. In the 1920s and 30s, she literally whacked celebrities like Gloria Swanson and Jean Harlow into shape -- but she also released a catty tell-all memoir about their secrets! You can hear the podcast on Apple, Stitcher, or anywhere else you listen to your podcasts - just subscribe to You Must Remember This, or go here to listen!

BBC Arts / Inside Cinema: Cosmetic Cinema

I wrote and did the voiceover for another BBC Inside Cinema video essay, this time on the use and application of makeup in movies - from superheroes to glamourous women to drag queens. You can watch it here on BBC iPlayer if you're in the UK, or on the BBC Arts Facebook if not.

Empire Magazine: The Irishman Spoilers Section

In the Feburary 2020 issue of EMPIRE, I wrote a bit about the major plot points of The Irishman in the 'Spoiler Section' - with special focus on Anna Paquin's character and the excellent performance of Stephen Graham. Check it out on newsstands now. 

Little White Lies / Threads #13: The Priest's Habit

In the new issue of Little White Lies, my print column - Threads - continues with this edition on the priest's habit. You can find the latest copy of the magazine online here or on newsstands now. It's dedicated to Terence Malick's new film A Hidden Life.