jdbrecords

once upon a time in harlem

2026-10-13T12:20:38.745-07:00

My review of the documentary Once Upon a Time in Harlem is now up at Film-Forward. Another excellent watch out of this year's New York Film Festival.

Images courtesy of Neon.

club kid

2026-10-09T15:45:22.630-07:00

My NYFF review of Club Kid is now up at Film-Forward. I really enjoyed this movie and Jordan Firstman's direction and layered performance.

a long winter

2026-10-07T12:53:47.341-07:00

It's been a long time since I last chimed in here, so perhaps it's fitting to post my Film-Forward review of Andrew Haigh's A Long Winter. The film was my first of many New York Film Festival press screenings I attended and because the film, based on Colm Tóibín's novella, is patient and so enveloping in its wintry atmosphere, I thought it was a nice way to kick off another rewarding fest.

Stills courtesy of Mubi.

re-animator

2026-08-10T07:29:26.858-07:00

My debut poetry collection, Re-Animator, is now available through Ingram!

You can also currently find it at the below online retailers:

been here stay here

2026-05-15T14:29:02.810-07:00

I've been really impressed by two thoroughly American climate change-minded documentaries from this year so far: the Tangier Island-set Been Here Stay Here, and the roaming rumination of Humboldt USA.

My Film-Forward reviews are here:

Been Here Stay Here

Humboldt USA

re-animator playlist

2026-05-13T13:24:06.130-07:00

Here is a Spotify playlist of music referenced in my poetry collection, Re-Animator.

Re-Animator is available to order from Indolent Books. Cover photograph by Michael Galinsky.

i swear

2026-04-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Both Robert Aramayo and Scott Ellis Watson as John Davidson in I Swear.

My Film-Forward review here.

Stills courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

interview with pine hills review!

2026-04-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

I answered a few questions on Re-Animator from Alex Tunney, up here at Pine Hills Review.

the christophers

2026-04-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

My review of The Christophers, starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, here at Film-Forward.

re-animator

2026-04-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Copies are in of my debut poetry book, Re-Animator!

Order here at Indolent Books.

poetry reading!

2026-03-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

Reading poems as part of Wayne Kral's long-running First Floor Walk Up reading series at One and One, Lower East Side, NYC. 4/6 at 7 PM, alongside Laura B. Weiss, Janet Rosen, and Coree Spencer.

poetry + coffee

2026-03-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Reading as part of Brad Vogel's Gowanustasia series alongside Oblivion Daybook, Seth Williams, and June Lei, at Principles GI Coffee House, Brooklyn, NY on 4/19 from 11 AM to 1 PM.

dream master

2026-03-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

My poem, "Dream Master," is now up at the lovely and scintillating, Disco Kitchen Mag.

undertone

2026-03-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

My review of the sound design-driven horror film undertone, here at Film-Forward.

epic: elvis presley in concert

2026-02-20T15:54:00.000-08:00

My review of Baz Luhrmann's bombastic, fairly dazzling concert doc EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, here at Film-Forward.

nirvanna the band the show the movie

2026-02-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised by the goofy, bittersweet, Canadian time-travel bromance, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. My review here at Film-Forward.

photography by robert pallesen

2026-02-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

Here is an array of Portland, Oregon-based Robert Pallesen's distinctive photography.

via Robert Pallesen

art by sophi odling

2026-02-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some vibrant murals from Australian artist Sophi Odling.

via Sophi Odling

paintings by sebastian blanck

2026-02-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

via Sebastian Blanck

kokuho

2026-02-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

I was moved by Lee Sang-il's sprawling Kokuho. The kabuki theater sequences are absolutely stunning.

My Film-Forward review here.

art and photography by peter solarz

2026-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

I always love sharing the art & photography of Peter Solarz.

singing

2026-02-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

New from Gia Margaret is the album Singing, produced by Guy Sigsworth.

Per Secretly Store,

"Led by soft piano lines and a voice that feels newly trusted, Singing is intimate without being fragile. It's an album about reconnecting with old parts of yourself, without pretending the years in between didn't matter."

Pre-order here from Secretly Store.

Listen to the single, "Everyone Around Me Dancing," below.

sentimental value character posters!

2026-02-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

New promo character posters from NEON of key cast members from Sentimental Value.

Sentimental Value was #2 on my top 10 2025 film list and won Supporting Actor, Ensemble, Original Screenplay, and International Film at the jdb awards.

dirtbag

2026-01-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

My poem, "Dirtbag," here at @poet_ryhole.

Photo source here.

the 2025 jdb awards!

2026-01-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Again, just for fun, here are my personal awards for 2025 films!

Picture

MARTY SUPREME

nominees:

HAMNET

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

THE MASTERMIND

MESSY

MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

THE SECRET AGENT

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

WEAPONS

Director

Kleber Mendonça Filho, THE SECRET AGENT

nominees:

Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Julia Loktev, MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW

Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME

Joachim Trier, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Actor

Timothee Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME

nominees:

Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON

Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT

Dylan O'Brien, TWINLESS

Actress

Tessa Thompson, HEDDA

nominees:

Jessie Buckley, HAMNET

Jennifer Lawrence, DIE MY LOVE

Renate Reinsve, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Alexi Wasser, MESSY

Supporting Actor

Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

nominees:

Benicio Del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET

Dylan O'Brien, PONYBOI

Alexander Skarsgård, PILLION

Supporting Actress

Kirsten Dunst, ROOFMAN

nominees:

Nina Hoss, HEDDA

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Amy Madigan, WEAPONS

Tânia Maria, THE SECRET AGENT

Ensemble

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

nominees:

MARTY SUPREME

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

THE SECRET AGENT

SINNERS

International Film

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

nominees:

ALL THAT'S LEFT OF YOU

BELEN

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

MISERICORDIA

MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW

THE SECRET AGENT

SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH

THE TALE OF SILYAN

2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA

Documentary

MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW

nominees:

COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT

FOLKTALES

LANDMARKS

MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE

THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH

STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR

THE TALE OF SILYAN

2000 METERS TO ADRIIVKA

Adapted Screenplay

Chloé Zhao & Maggie O'Farrell, HAMNET

nominees:

Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Nia DaCosta, HEDDA

Dolores Fonzi, Laura Paredes, Agustina San Martín, & Nicolás Britos, BELEN

Harry Lighton, PILLION

Original Screenplay

Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

nominees:

Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME

Kleber Mendonça Filho, THE SECRET AGENT

Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

Alexi Wasser, MESSY

Cinematography

Dong Jingsong, RESURRECTION

nominees:

Evgenia Alexandrova, THE SECRET AGENT

Steven Breckon, THE PLAGUE

Mark Jenkin, ROSE OF NEVADA

Manuel Dacosse, REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND

Editing

Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

nominees:

Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME

Viridiana Lieberman, THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Joe Murphy, WEAPONS

Michael P. Shawver, SINNERS

Score

Daniel Lopatin, MARTY SUPREME

nominees:

Nicholas Britell, JAY KELLY

Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Johan Lenox, THE PLAGUE

Kangding Ray, SIRĀT

Song

“Love and Obsession,” LURKER

nominees:

"Clothed By the Sun," THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE

"I Lied to You," SINNERS

"Last Time (I Seen the Sun)," SINNERS

"My Baby (Got Nothing At All)," MATERIALISTS

Art Direction / Set Decoration

MARTY SUPREME

nominees:

NO OTHER CHOICE

RESURRECTION

THE SECRET AGENT

SINNERS

Costume Design

Lindsay Pugh, HEDDA

nominees:

Rita Azevedo, THE SECRET AGENT

Miyako Bellizz, MARTY SUPREME

Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS

Jeriana San Juan, ON SWIFT HORSES

Make-Up & Hair

WEAPONS

other nominees:

BRING HER BACK

NO OTHER CHOICE

REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND

SINNERS

Sound

SIRĀT

MARTY SUPREME

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

ROSE OF NEVADA

SINNERS

Visual Effects

RESURRECTION

nominees:

MICKEY 17

NO OTHER CHOICE

SINNERS

WEAPONS

A look back at the 2024 awards where Mike Leigh's Hard Truths snagged Picture and Actress.