Looking Sideways: 10 Things
One of cinema's great scenes, a new Hollywood surf film, and notes from the community.
1. I continue to be completely stoked on the amount of people signing up as paid subscribers - especially when they leave me brilliant, evocative notes like this one explaining why. Thanks Glenn!
It’s especially gratifying because the idea behind Looking Sideways was always to have a little weird, independent corner of the internet that didn’t rely on ads, and valued nuance and depth over clicks and ye olde hot takes.
As the years pass, and the current madness unfolds, it feels even more important to continue to plough this idiosyncratic little furrow. Notes like Glenn’s remind me that, actually, there’s a whole tribe of people out there who value the same things. So thanks for the motivation to keep going, Glenn.
2. “I don’t deserve this, to die like this. I was building a house!”
RIP Gene Hackman. I remain convinced that the end scene in Unforgiven, in which Gene faces off with Clint Eastwood, is one of the high points of modern cinema.
Use my code LOOKINGSIDEWAYS for massive ski rental discounts and snowboard rental discounts from my pals at Intersport.
3. Can’t wait to see this Face retrospective at the National Portrait Gallery. The Face (especially writer Gavin Hills) was such an influence on me when I was a kid.
4. This year’s Natural Selection Duels are here - and is that Tim Warwood I can hear on hosting duties?
5. One thing about Australian radio host Marty Sheargold’s comments about the Matildas, for which he has rightly been fired: how tediously unfunny they are.
6. Hands up who’s going to watch Nicolas Cage in The Surfer?
7. “There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen”.
Trump is over-turning the post-WWII global consensus in remarkable and deeply unsettling ways. This interview with ex-MI6 Head Alex Younger is the best analysis of the situation I’ve yet seen.
8. “But lets say Skater X just dropped an amazing part. And I’m like, “Dude, let’s talk about it.” And Chris is like, “Dude, I don’t know, what about the allegations and all the other stuff.” I’m like, “Who fucking cares? The dude just dropped an insane part.” Chris might not want to talk to him because he could be afraid that the internet would come after us. For me, it has gotten to that point where it’s like.. Are the cyberbullies winning?”
Roger Bagley from The Nine Club with a truly wild (and completely cowardly) take in this Jenkem interview.
9. I’m very excited about the prospect of speaking to Lucy Walker for a forthcoming episode, so a good excuse to share another of her works this week: the brilliant Mountain Queen.
Use Db Journey discount code LOOKINGSIDEWAYS for a whopping 15% on any purchase.
10. Finally, one for the Brighton ‘heads - my pals at Low Tide Heartbreak Club have a new art show happening this weekend. More above.
As always a great 10 things. SAS had a ten page feature in The Face back in 1990s
Any time I hear the name Gavin Hills I’m just filled him warm elation. I can think of another magazine journalist who I respected with such regard. Losing him so young was a true loss to society and youth culture. Big up for mentioning him.