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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My favorite first-time watches of September: THE APPLE THE DRAMA (2026) HOPE (2026) MOTHER MARY A PAGE OF MADNESS

Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review of BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL — a documentary that can't quite decide whether it wants to laugh at or laud "Exorcist II: The Heretic" but finds its strength in the details. Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/10/01/b...

midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social

Midwest Film Journal (@midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social)

Our goal is to provide thoughtful critical essays on new & classic films. If you're interested in contributing to our group projects, reach out to us at midwestfilmjournal@gmail.com

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My contribution to Midwest Film Journal's (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) monthlong celebration of John Woo's 80th birthday. I rewatched the theatrical cut of WINDTALKERS & watched anew its director's cut and found the flawed film worthy of the revisit. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/09/24/w...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Woo!: Windtalkers

Woo!, Midwest Film Journal’s monthlong celebration of John Woo’s 80th birthday, continues with Nick Rogers’ look back at his World War II epic, “Windtalkers.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The latest in my Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) Coming Around Again series, where I revisit films I didn't like much, is 1996's LAST MAN STANDING & it doubles as my monthly Class of ... essay (films w/ 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/09/18/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Class of 1996 / Coming Around Again: Last Man Standing

Nick Rogers combines his “Class of … ” and “Coming Around Again” series for September with a look at Walter Hill’s 1996 film “Last Man Standing.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A great first act & strong performances help THE WEIGHT suffice as overly fussy & distracting aesthetic choices bog it down. My review of the film, in theatres Friday, at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). Read. comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/09/17/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

The Weight (2026)

Like an excellent cut of meat drowned in bland sauce you can’t entirely scrape off, “The Weight” suffices but doesn’t stun.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Good ideas worth interrogating in THE FIX. But doing that wouldn't have warranted thanks to the Department of War, which tells you the frequency at which this underwhelming thriller is tuned. My review at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/09/10/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

The Fix (2026)

The hoped-for vibe is “Homeland” meets “Heat,” but “The Fix” is just a torturously tangled transmission at a fairly dumb frequency.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

MAYDAY is a genial, good-natured action comedy w/ a valuable message. Odds are, though, you won't be inclined to rewatch to reinforce its lesson. My review of the film, streaming Friday on Apple TV, for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/09/02/m...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Mayday (2026)

“Mayday” is a genial and good-natured action-comedy, but it’s the sort of single-serving entertainment you won’t return to often to reinforce its lessons.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Favorite first-time watches of August: COLONY (2026) THE END OF OAK STREET HOLIDAY (1938) Lots of stuff that rose to the 3.5/5 level, but these were my faves!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

My review of THE WHISPER MAN, a serial-killer thriller starring Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan and ... SOMEONE ELSE streaming Friday on Netflix. Read, comment, share and enjoy my piece at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/08/27/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

The Whisper Man

The secrets Netflix wants to keep about “The Whisper Man” are solid, but it’s the relatable truths that make it worth watching.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

While its full-horror feints don't quite work, IT ENDS offers a compelling consideration of connection we crave but often take for granted or fumble. My Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review of the film, in wide release Thursday. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/08/26/i...

midwestfilmjournal.com

It Ends

Setting aside some feints at straight-ahead horror, “It Ends” offers a compelling consideration of the connection we crave but often take for granted.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

A silver medal is the highest possible honor for a zombie film set (largely) inside a shopping mall, but COLONY easily clears it. My Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review of the film, in theatres Thursday. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/08/26/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Colony (2026)

A silver medal is the highest-possible honor for any zombie film set (largely) inside a shopping mall. But “Colony’ easily takes it.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Here's my Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review of THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER, in which Kiyoshi Kurosawa forgoes his usual horror leanings to explore something akin to what the unrelated Akira Kurosawa might have made in his heyday. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/08/04/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

The Samurai and the Prisoner

In “The Samurai and the Prisoner,” Kiyoshi Kurosawa diverts his studied observational formalism away from psychological horror into metaphysical angst and mystery in feudal Japan.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

My "Coming Around Again" entry for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) for August, in which I revisit films that didn't quite click for me the first time is a double-feature of THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK and JURASSIC PARK III. Did I feel differently? Find out in the reply!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Favorite first watches of July: DHURANDHAR / DHURANDHAR: THE REVENGE THE ODYSSEY THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER SOYLENT GREEN

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

In MOTOR CITY, someone finally made the action film I've been curious about—driven almost exclusively by existing songs. Somebody else will have to make a good one. My Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review. Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/07/25/m...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Motor City

Someone finally made an action film driven almost exclusively by existing songs. Someone else will have to make a good one.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Good afternoon! My July essay for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in my "Class of ... " series — which looks back at films with 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries — tackles the 1996 Farrelly Brothers comedy KINGPIN. Still their best movie. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/07/24/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Class of 1996: Kingpin

“Class of … ” — Nick Rogers’ monthly look back at films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries — continues with 1996’s under-heralded Farrelly Brothers comedy “Kingpin.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Perhaps a blast of cinematic blasphemy with which to start your week, but I revisited the only two Christopher Nolan movies I haven't really liked and ... well ... In the reply, find the latest in my Coming Around Again series for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social)!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Favorite first-time watches of June: AFTER DARK, MY SWEET BACKROOMS BRINGING UP BABY BUFFET INFINITY EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE: THE RISE AND FALL OF GOD THE FURIOUS (2026) GOLGO 13: THE PROFESSIONAL I LOVE BOOSTERS ORDINARY PEOPLE PIECES (1982) POWER BALLAD WAKE IN FRIGHT

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

In theatres Thursday, THE FURIOUS is a veritable outlet mall of scratch-and-dent martial arts, distilling pure physical ingenuity into one hell of a hoot-and-holler good time. Here's my review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/06/10/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

The Furious (2026)

One of this century’s best brawlers, “The Furious’ distills pure physical ingenuity into one hell of a hoot-and-holler good time.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Favorite first watches of May. (Turns out when you dig back into acclaimed films you've not seen, the getting is good!) BLUE HERON BURDEN OF DREAMS FITZCARRALDO GANDHI G.I. SAMURAI OBSESSION (2026) REDS THE SHEEP DETECTIVES and one I’m redacting so edossmfj.bsky.social won’t know what it is.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

In wide release Friday, TUNER is a contrapuntal composition of comedy, romance, drama and suspense that is mostly harmonious. Find my Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) review below. Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/05/26/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Tuner

A contrapuntal composition of comedy, romance, drama and suspense that is mostly harmonious.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

TOM CLANCY'S JACK RYAN: GHOST WAR is a risible film that undermines everything that made the streaming series effective. My review of the film (now streaming on Amazon Prime Video) at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/05/25/t...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War

A risible attempt to resurrect the most recent Jack Ryan saga, “Ghost War” undermines everything that made the streaming series effective.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

And in my monthly "Class of ... " essay at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) on films w/ 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries), I realized 1986's COBRA is Sylvester Stallone's take on Batman if he had neither billions of dollars nor a butler. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/05/22/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Class of 1986: Cobra

“Class of … ” — Nick Rogers’ monthly look back at films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries — continues with a reflection on Sylvester Stallone’s 1986 action film “Cobra.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Hello! Catching up on some pieces I published this week at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). As the site's resident ranker of franchises you forgot (or never knew existed), I ran through the DRAGONHEART series. Yes, there were five. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/05/21/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Coming Around Again / Rank Opinions: DragonHeart

Coming Around Again — in which Nick Rogers revisits films he initially didn’t like that much to see if he feels differently — intersects with Rank Opinions to look at the “DragonHeart” franchise.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Hello! As a general Guy Ritchie apologist (at least in this decade), it brings me no pleasure to report that his streak of reliably repetitive romps comes to a screeching, over-explained halt with IN THE GREY. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) is in the reply.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Semi-autobiographical coming-of-age movies are common. Writer-director Sophy Romvari's BLUE HERON is uncommonly excellent, navigating intersections of truth & memory and grief & absolution with accomplishment. My review for Midwest Flim Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in the reply!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Favorite first-time watches of April (another damn good month) A BRIDGE TOO FAR FACES OF DEATH (2026) KILLER CONSTABLE KOYAANISQATSI THE LION IN WINTER MS. .45 MODERN ROMANCE NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL RUMBLE FISH

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

It’s true: I rode a Waymo in L.A. … and competed alongside my loud-sweatered ride-or-die bestie Shane Whitlock on POP CULTURE JEOPARDY! We also met a serious news anchor named Colin Jost. Fire up Netflix.bsky.social on Wednesday, May 27, & see how we did by watching #PopCultureJeopardy!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Films like APEX succeed based on any elements of subtext, surprise & persuasive physicality they can introduce. Thankfully, it has enough of each to more or less work. My review of the Netflix film at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social): midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/04/23/a...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Apex (2026)

A dependable thriller that delivers what it promises.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

This month, Coming Around Again (where I revisit a film I initially disliked to see if I feel differently), continues with 1995's JADE. Find out how I felt this time at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/04/21/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Coming Around Again: Jade (1995)

Coming Around Again — a series in which Nick Rogers revisits films he initially disliked to see if he feels differently — continues with 1995’s “Jade.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Here's my latest "Class of ..." at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), where I look at a film celebrating a 20th, 30th or 40th anniversary. I had less to say about 1986's new-to-me AT CLOSE RANGE than I expected but still appreciated it. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/04/17/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Class of 1986: At Close Range

“Class of … ” — a series in which Nick Rogers looks back at films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries — continues with 1986’s “At Close Range.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

As the internet’s self-appointed keeper of the flame for ranking films in the SNIPER franchise, here’s where this week’s SNIPER: NO NATION fits into my piece at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2024/02/08/r...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Rank Opinions: The Sniper Franchise

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect the 2025 release of Sniper: The Last Stand and the 2026 release of Sniper: No Nation.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Good afternoon! Running a scant 78 minutes before credits, the shark creature feature THRASH, now streaming on Netflix, brings little beyond the bare, and barely there, essentials. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) is in the reply. Read, comment, share, enjoy!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

OUTCOME is a bit like if Judd Apatow made "Jay Kelly," & director / co-writer Jonah Hill's performance is a LOT. But this slight, pleasant comedy lets Keanu Reeves riff on himself AND get an interesting role to play. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in the reply!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

No less a watershed for self-referential slashers than 1996's "Scream,"FACES OF DEATH recontextualizes a classic video nasty for bracing here-and-now horror. My review of the film, in theatres Friday, for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social): midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/04/08/f...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Faces of Death (2026)

The fiendishly clever reimagining of “Faces of Death” proves no less a watershed among self-referential slashers than 1996’s “Scream.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Favorite first-time watches of March. Very, very good month: THE 4th MAN ALL THAT JAZZ BABY DOLL (1956) BASTARD SWORDSMAN BODY HEAT THE BOXER'S OMEN BUTCHER, BAKER, NIGHTMARE MAKER COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER CUTTER'S WAY FAST COMPANY PROJECT HAIL MARY REAL LIFE (1979)

media.tenor.com

a group of people are dancing on a stage in a club

ALT: a group of people are dancing on a stage in a club

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Time for another installment of my monthly "Class of ... " series at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), where I look at films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries. For March, it's Spike Lee's excellent 2006 hostage film INSIDE MAN. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/03/24/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Class of 2006: Inside Man

“Class of … ” — Nick Rogers’ monthly look back at films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries — continues with 2006’s hostage drama “Inside Man.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Forgot to post this yesterday, but in honor of Kurt Russell's actual 75th birthday, I wrote an essay on his work in EXECUTIVE DECISION for Midwest Film Journal's (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) monthlong Kurt Response series. Read, comment, share, enjoy! midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/03/17/k...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Kurt Response: Executive Decision

Kurt Response — Midwest Film Journal’s monthlong celebration of Kurt Russell’s 75th birthday — continues on his actual birthday with a look at his understated work in the over-the-top “Executive…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

At Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), I return to my Coming Around Again series to revisit films I didn't particularly care for the first time through to see if I feel differently. In the reply, you can find my surprisingly revised thoughts on 2000's sci-fi bomb SUPERNOVA.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

All month long at Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social), we're celebrating Kurt Russell's 75th birthday with a series called Kurt Response. My first of two pieces is the was-not-timely-when-we-planned-it-but-is-now look at 2004's MIRACLE. Find my essay in the reply below!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Netflix has been making its own films so long that searching WAR MACHINE gets you two results. This is the better one, even as its final five minutes are a complete whiff. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social). midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/03/06/w...

midwestfilmjournal.com

War Machine (2026)

Alan Ritchson delivers a thoughtful performance that proves his cinematic leading-man capabilities in a reasonably engaging sci-fi / action film that completely whiffs in its closing minutes.

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Favorite first-time watches of February: 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE THE AFRICAN QUEEN COME AND SEE THE NAKED SPUR SEND HELP THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

So proud today of Midwest Film Journal cohorts (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) & grateful to friend/colleague Lou Harry (louharry.bsky.social) for shepherding this project w/ the Society of Professional Journalists (spj-posts.bsky.social). Our ranking of 110 journalism films is now a list of 250!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

My February "Class of..." (films celebrating 20th, 30th or 40th anniversaries) is 2006's RUNNING SCARED. Not the bangin' Michael McDonald song one, the Paul Walker gets banged up one. Find my Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) essay in the reply, and read, comment, share & enjoy!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Good afternoon! Next in my Coming Around Again series, where revisit films I didn't like at first blush to see how I feel now: 1997's Nordic noir thriller SMILLA'S SENSE OF SNOW. My essay for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) is below. midwestfilmjournal.com/2026/02/18/c...

midwestfilmjournal.com

Coming Around Again: Smilla’s Sense of Snow

Coming Around Again — a series in which Nick Rogers revisits films he initially disliked to see if he feels differently — continues with 1997’s “Smilla’s Sense of Snow.”…

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE is a freewheeling odyssey to save the world that delivers no-fear, cavalier, renegade, steer-clear filmmaking to leave you feeling pretty psyched. My review for Midwest Film Journal (midwestfilmjournal.bsky.social) in the reply. Read, comment, share, enjoy!

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Favorite first-time watches of January: BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK FURY (1936) GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE MAN OF THE CENTURY (1999) SEIZED (2026) THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS

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Nick Rogers @nickrogers.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Here is (to me) the nexus of why Catherine O'Hara & Eugene Levy were all-time-great screen partners. Believable human emotion THEN whatever comedy or concern derived. Always humane, never settling for cheap gags. Awful news to read but so much to cherish. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwLZ...

youtube.com

Mitch & Mickey - A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow

YouTube video by mayhew7

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