Sign in

Brandon Lewis

@blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com
2.7K followers 844 following 260 posts

Lifelong NYer and pop culture lover. Founder of www.whenthingsgopop.com. Critic for @GeekVibesNation. @DorianAwards member. 🍅-approved. My opinions are my own.

PostsRepliesMedia
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 23/05/2026
So, Cannes was everything and I wish I was there longer (I wasn’t giving Delta a $3k change fee). Some incredible films and wonderful encounters along the way (*waves at India, Toheeb, and Sebastian*). Can’t wait to do it again.
060
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 06/01/2026
Me several times while watching The Passion of Anna tonight:
020
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 02/01/2026
I didn’t think I’d be spending the first hours of 2026 writing about a pop culture discourse but I think Heated Rivalry and its forebear Fellow Travelers are tapping into the same side of the “sex scenes are unnecessary” debate. My first WTGP piece of the year: whenthingsgopop.com/2026/01/01/h...
whenthingsgopop.com
'Heated Rivalry,' 'Fellow Travelers,' and the Hard Limits of the Sex Scene Discourse
Although they appear to be different, Heated Rivalry and Fellow Travelers both challenge what we take away from explicit sex scenes in television.
071
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 29/12/2025
109 films, 3 film festivals, 12 months, and countless words later, I’m very happy to share my Best Film Performances of 2025 list. 32 performances that I haven’t stopped thinking about. Some expected picks, some not. I hope you enjoy! whenthingsgopop.com/2025/12/28/t...
whenthingsgopop.com
The Best Film Performances of 2025
From Timothée Chalamet playing ping pong to Amy Madigan stealing children's souls, dive into the best film performances of 2025.
020
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 17/10/2025
A couple of hours into Pokémon Legends Z-A and I think it works best as a slice of life game. The missions, especially when they have you seek out a Pokemon or play with one (Slurpluff and his macaroons) are a blast. Oh, and Alpha Pokémon continue to be my favorite mechanic. (Look at this big lug!)
020
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 15/10/2025
So…what’s good over here? Lol
020
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 23/07/2025
I thought Fantastic Four: First Steps was a very good film that expands the conversation around superheroism and their duties to the public with Superman and Thunderbolts. It loses its nerve a bit, but still makes for a charming effort. My full thoughts for WTGP: whenthingsgopop.com/2025/07/22/f...
whenthingsgopop.com
The Refreshing 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Strives to Solve the Heroic Sacrifice Equation
Freed from the mainline MCU timeline, Matt Shakman's take on Marvel's First Family seeks to grapple with the testy relationship between superheroes and the people they protect.
0104
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 08/07/2025
#Superman  is thrilling and earnest: a comic book brought to life, with James Gunn asking intriguing questions about heroism and self-actualization, alongside wildly creative uses of Clark's powers. Its narrative sprawl leads to some character shakiness, but the new DC hits hard.
080
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 05/06/2025
I’m officially calling the arrival of the Chris Evans Renaissance. Materialists aligns perfectly with his strengths, and Song helps him uncover new depths that stunned me. It’s soul-bearing work, refreshingly vulnerable and gentle. One of my favorite performances this year.
040
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 05/06/2025
Materialists is utterly charming and quietly soul-crushing in its observations about love and self-worth. Song’s script is marvelous, with lines that’ll make you laugh and shred your heart. A strong cast, but Zoe Winters and Chris Evans are stunning, with him turning in the best work of his career.
120
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 25/05/2025
I think three things can be true at the same time: NEON really wanted to win big at Cannes (even though the filmmakers are the ones winning), they genuinely want to distribute the films they think align with their sensibilities, and losing Hit Man to Netflix made them get overall more aggressive.
030
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 07/05/2025
The existence of Honey Don’t has been validated by this moment right here. I don’t care if it’s bad; this WILL be used as a meme. I’m ready for the Evans-sance!
051
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 15/02/2025
Brave New World was a decent MCU flick, but a disappointment of a Captain America flick, because it had little to do with Captain America himself. Sam Wilson (and a never better Anthony Mackie) deserve better than The Incredible Hulk’s reheated nachos. My review: whenthingsgopop.com/2025/02/14/c...
whenthingsgopop.com
'Captain America: Brave New World' Isn't Really About Captain America
Anthony Mackie tries to take flight in his first solo outing as Captain America, but a story with little to do with him clips his wings.
050
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 13/02/2025
Since it seems like everyone is discovering how great Better Man is now that it’s on digital, here are my thoughts on the Robbie Williams biopic, which is best when it leans into his self-effacing, pop anarchist nature. Also, Rock DJ is everything. whenthingsgopop.com/2025/02/13/r...
whenthingsgopop.com
Robbie Williams's Ego Lands Well in the Spirited Biopic 'Better Man'
The jukebox musical about Robbie Williams is best when it leans into the British pop legend's self-effacement and gleeful anarchy.
030
Reposted by Brandon Lewis
Amy @lolennui.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
he looks like the two banshees of inisherin guys combined
A very beardy Jason Kelce in a brown tweed and houndstooth (?) suit
1297616764
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 10/02/2025
This awards season has been chaotic as hell (hi Anora!), but there have been some nominee narratives/journeys that have intrigued me, and could intrigue Oscar voters. I dig into Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet, Sebastian Stan, and Fernanda Torres's stories for WTGP. whenthingsgopop.com/2025/02/09/2...
082
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 09/02/2025
Sebastian Stan on the importance of empathy and curiosity:
0168
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 07/02/2025
This is my favorite part of my conversation with Sebastian Stan. It perfectly captures his career’s rigor and intentionality, which ultimately led to this moment of acclaim and recognition (after years of being underestimated as an actor for different reasons).
0204
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 07/02/2025
I knew I’d have to cut a bunch out of my interview with Sebastian Stan for AwardsWatch. Luckily, there was more than enough to warrant publishing the full Q&A on When Things Go Pop, digging into A Different Man, The Apprentice, and his thoughtful career approach. whenthingsgopop.com/2025/02/06/i...
whenthingsgopop.com
INTERVIEW: Sebastian Stan on Curiosity, Confrontation, and His Oscar Contenders
An interview with Sebastian Stan on his Oscar-nominated work in 'The Apprentice' and his Golden Globe-winning work in 'A Different Man.'
23010
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 20/01/2025
Another A Different Man interview for @awardswatch.bsky.social, this time with director Aaron Schimberg, exploring what disability/disfigurement looks like on screen and how he's trying to shift what representation looks like. awardswatch.com/a-different-...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - ‘A Different Man’ Director Aaron Schimberg on Changing How Disability is Captured on Screen Through a Personal Lens
“All I can do is be true to my own experience and what I feel is ethical and right in the stories I want to undertake. It’s not up to me to correct the history of disability representation.” “He sh…
063
Reposted by Brandon Lewis
Erik Anderson @awardswatch.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
In 'Hard Truths,' Marianne Jean-Baptiste Reunites with Mike Leigh and Finds the Humanity in Pansy's Misanthropy by @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com awardswatch.com/in-hard-trut...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - In ‘Hard Truths,’ Marianne Jean-Baptiste Reunites with Mike Leigh and Finds the Humanity in Pansy’s Misanthropy
It was the reunion that set the hearts of cinephiles aflutter. In September, British filmmaker Mike Leigh returned to the silver screen with Hard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The film m…
031
Reposted by Brandon Lewis
Erik Anderson @awardswatch.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Sebastian Stan on How 'The Apprentice' and 'A Different Man' Tackle Comfort, Curiosity, and Confronting Our Fears by @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com awardswatch.com/sebastian-st...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - Sebastian Stan on How ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘A Different Man’ Tackle Comfort, Curiosity, and Confronting Our Fears
It’s an embarrassment of riches to have two transformative, awards-worthy roles in one career. But what does it mean when you have two in the same season? Sebastian Stan finds himself this year in …
074
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 11/01/2025
On winning the Golden Globe: "It's incredibly gratifying...For me, at 42 years old, having been around for 20 years, you're always hoping you'll be up there one day to thank some of these people who have contributed to my life. It was a nice moment for my mom."
053
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 11/01/2025
On A Different Man’s awards season journey: “A Different Man had an interesting journey. Aaron and I always kept saying, 'We're at the Gothams, the Globes, Berlin.' There were signs that this was connecting with people. But it felt like we had to be the cheerleaders to A24 to keep it going.”
173
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 11/01/2025
Some b-sides from my Sebastian Stan interview: On Trump’s response to the California wildfires: “Even in these horrific fires, [Trump], instead of offering solutions, is sitting there and using what’s happening in California to serve his story, point fingers and assign blame. It’s horrific.”
1186
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 11/01/2025
An excerpt from my interview with Sebastian Stan: how his childhood growing up amidst and in the aftermath of the fall of the Eastern Bloc and emigrating to the United States informed his performance in The Apprentice.
095
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 10/01/2025
For @awardswatch.bsky.social, I spoke with newly-minted Golden Globe winner Sebastian Stan about his awards season journey and how he approached his two films, A Different Man and The Apprentice, featuring two seemingly opposite but thematically linked characters. awardswatch.com/sebastian-st...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - Sebastian Stan on How ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘A Different Man’ Tackle Comfort, Curiosity, and Confronting Our Fears
It’s an embarrassment of riches to have two transformative, awards-worthy roles in one career. But what does it mean when you have two in the same season? Sebastian Stan finds himself this year in …
1178
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 09/01/2025
A very big day with a very big interview…
382
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 03/01/2025
You can read the full piece here: awardswatch.com/in-hard-trut...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - In ‘Hard Truths,’ Marianne Jean-Baptiste Reunites with Mike Leigh and Finds the Humanity in Pansy’s Misanthropy
It was the reunion that set the hearts of cinephiles aflutter. In September, British filmmaker Mike Leigh returned to the silver screen with Hard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The film m…
000
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 03/01/2025
An excerpt from my conversation with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, reflecting on what the reception to Hard Truths means to her and the broader film industry:
150
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 03/01/2025
Kicking off the New Year with my chat with Marianne Jean-Baptiste of Hard Truths for @awardswatch.bsky.social, where we discussed her reunion with Mike Leigh and how it “terrifying and exhilarating.” awardswatch.com/in-hard-trut...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - In ‘Hard Truths,’ Marianne Jean-Baptiste Reunites with Mike Leigh and Finds the Humanity in Pansy’s Misanthropy
It was the reunion that set the hearts of cinephiles aflutter. In September, British filmmaker Mike Leigh returned to the silver screen with Hard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The film m…
073
Reposted by Brandon Lewis
Angelica Jade Bastién @angelicabastien.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Okay, I am working on this list now. 22 films and counting.
1944658
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 20/12/2024
For @geekvibesnation.com, I spoke with Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova about her excellent performance as Ivana Trump in The Apprentice. The biggest surprise was that she and Sebastian Stan improvised the film’s best scene - Trump failing to grieve his brother. geekvibesnation.com/the-apprenti...
geekvibesnation.com
'The Apprentice's' Maria Bakalova On Crafting Ivana Trump As An American Monument (EXCLUSIVE)
Uncover the captivating story of Maria Bakalova's role as Ivana Trump in The Apprentice, a film about Donald Trump's rise in 1970s New York.
073
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 16/12/2024
For AwardsWatch, Michele Austin and I dig deep into Hard Truths, her bond with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, working within Mike Leigh’s improvisational style, and why the film was rejected by the Cannes and Venice film festivals. Very proud of this one! awardswatch.com/michele-aust...
awardswatch.com
AwardsWatch - Michele Austin on Feeling Safe to Explore the Complexities of Black Storytelling in Mike Leigh’s ‘Hard Truths’
When Hard Truths made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival in September, the film’s rapturous response inspired a deep well of emotion for one of its stars, Michele…
030
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 16/12/2024
It’s so refreshing to see Superman as a beacon of hope again. Excited to see what James Gunn and David Corenswet have in the hopper.
0120
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 13/12/2024
Welp, this Michele Austin interview is kicking my ass, which usually means it’s gonna be something I’m proud of after hours of procrastination and fretting over transitional phrases.
110
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 07/12/2024
Cases in point: Sebastian Stan and Saoirse Ronan. Saoirse has two studios who see strong opps, so her coverage has been even (slight edge to The Outrun). For Sebastian, Briarcliff has been pushing heavy for The Apprentice, while A24 hasn’t for A Different Man, so that’s where the coverage leans.
Sebastian Stan on the cover of VarietySaoirse Ronan in British Vogue
051
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 07/12/2024
That’s not to say an actor can’t mention their other contending work, but their messaging is shaped by the distributor that secured the opp. So, if you see a lot of headlines about one role versus another, there’s a reason for that.
121
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 07/12/2024
For what it’s worth, studios/distributors largely set the campaign priorities for awards season, not the actors. So, if an actor has two films in contention, it’s the distributor pushing the hardest that wins out in press coverage and visibility opps.
151
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 06/12/2024
It’s early days still, but I’m very curious about which Oscar acting category will have the surprise nomination?
020
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 04/12/2024
Seriously, this awards season feels genuinely exciting. There is no real consensus. Any and every thing seems to be on the table. Films that might’ve been swallowed up by the biggies are getting their moment to shine (like I Saw The TV Glow). It’s amazing.
040
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 04/12/2024
Fascinating tidbit about Challengers and Queer from talking with Justin Kuritzkes after the Queer Q&A in NYC: Luca Guadagnino took his figurative script notes and made them real (the tennis ball POV shot and Lee and Eugene’s dance/love scene). A lovely fusion of director and screenwriter.
060
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 03/12/2024
Well, it was a great night at the Gothams for Nickel Boys, a massive night for Sing Sing, and a "what the actual eff, could this really happen" night for A Different Man. All three films received a colossal boost in the awards conversation. Just extraordinary all around.
074
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 01/12/2024
I almost missed including her. But then I looked at my Letterboxd and saw Small Things Like These and felt a shiver go down my spine. 🤣
000
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 01/12/2024
The full list of my Best Film Performances of 2024:
0163
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 01/12/2024
With best-of-2024 and FYC season fully underway, I'm happy to share the 30 (or so) performances that stuck with me the most this year, some as far back as January and as recently as a week ago. These are my Best Film Performances of 2024: whenthingsgopop.com/2024/11/27/t...
whenthingsgopop.com
The Best Film Performances of 2024
From intimate indies to high-flying blockbusters, these 30 performances reflect the dizzying heights of 2024 in cinema.
0132
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 01/12/2024
Congrats to her? But even still, my point is that Wicked doesn’t need to be positioned as an underdog when it’s a box office success and Oscar pundits have it as a major front runner.
010
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 01/12/2024
As a critics group voter myself, I can tell you that isn’t necessarily true. Some distributors don’t have the access/resources that bigger ones have, and if you’re not located in big markets like LA/NYC, your access to in-person screenings is very limited.
110
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 01/12/2024
There are several awards-contending films that are under promoted, under seen by voters and general audiences, or don’t even have distribution in the US. Wicked doesn’t need to be treated like the little engine that could. It’s a fucking bullet train in every conceivable metric.
2120
Brandon Lewis @blewis1103.whenthingsgopop.com · 28/11/2024
This is a serve, Christopher.
050