Octopus Tentacles #3: I Still Haven't Watched 'Melania'
In which I change the name of this segment and watch some trans cinema.
In trying to find a name for this segment, I think I’ve finally settled on “Octopus Tentacles”, which makes sense because each item I share is like I’m holding it in one of my different octopus arms? Now imagine that instead of bullet points they were little tentacles because I don’t know how to make that actually happen.
This past Friday, I wrote about a formative home video experience. The week prior, I published a long-delayed piece on director Joe Begos.
Videohell
Alex Ross Perry’s recent film Videoheaven is a comprehensive, omnibus documentary about the history of the video store, as told through the depictions of the video store in film a…
Eleven Groothuis
The Joys of Joe Begos
Saturday July 19th, 2025, at the Sie FilmCenter in Denver, the long-running Scream Screen program offered up a 35mm double feature: a hyper-manic brain-destroying ritual comprised of Joe Begos’ 2019 film Bliss, followed by his latest film Jimmy and Stiggs
Eleven Groothuis
Here’s a selection of other people’s work that I’ve been enjoying:
- I admittedly had not listened to Lindsey Jordan’s music before reading this interview with Ella Kemp on Letterboxd, but the interview is great and I’m diving into Snail Mail’s Ricochet as I write this and I really like it.
- The Criterion Channel is hosting a collection of trans filmmakers called Tramps, Troublemakers, and Trailblazers, curated by Corpses, Fools, and Monsters authors Caden Mark Gardner and Willow Catelyn Maclay. Films include Louise Weard's Castration Movie, Jane Schoenbrun's We're All Going to the World's Fair, and Sydney Freeland's Drunktown's Finest.
- Speaking of Criterion, you can check out Robin D. G. Kelley’s interview with Jess X. Snow and watch several of Snow’s films on the Criterion Channel.
- In their latest live recording, God Awful Movies tackles the Melania movie. I still haven’t watched it but now I feel like I have.
In the news:
- Alamo Drafthouse workers in Colorado went on strike over the QR code phones-out ordering policy. Apparently they've now returned to work.
- Variety brings Guy Lodge into the role of chief film critic.
Upcoming:
- I will be seeing The Serpent’s Skin very soon, so be ready for a piece on that film and perhaps Alice Maio Mackay’s entire body of work.
- I am also excited to catch an early screening of Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, so look forward to something about that film as well.
