Two new episodes! Elvis Mitchell on his new essay film on Black cinema + a quartet of films with Alissa Wilkinson
See above!
Dear Last Thing I Saw Fans,
I present to you two new episodes of The Last Thing I Saw.
First, a delightful conversation with Alissa Wilkinson, talking about She Said, Aftersun, and Women Talking, and catching up with Catherine Called Birdy. It’s Alissa’s first time on the podcast and she makes up for last time with this varied selection.
And then a hugely rewarding interview that was a long time in the making, in the sense that I read Elvis Mitchell’s criticism at formative moments in my writing career. He has directed a rich, insightful essay film about the history of Black cinema, Is That Black Enough for You?!? (title courtesy of Cotton Comes to Harlem).
Elvis Mitchell’s film is in select theaters now, but you’ll be able to watch it on Netflix starting November 11, which is handy because it’s quite dense in its use of interrelated excerpts, interviews with greats, and music.
Happy Halloween to all those who celebrate! Don’t forget to leave candy (a subscription) in the glowing pumpkin lantern by the door.
Thank you to all my supporters!
Your faithful host,
Nic
THE PODCAST
She Said, Women Talking, Aftersun, Catherine Called Birdy with Alissa Wilkinson (Ep. 144)
This episode is also available on Spotify, Soundcloud, and other podcast places.
Elvis Mitchell on Is That Black Enough for You?!? (Ep. 145)
This episode is also available on Spotify, Soundcloud, and other podcast places.
For more information on the podcast’s opening and closing music by The Minarets (gratefully used with permission), follow the band on Instagram:
@theminaretsmusic
RECENT WRITING
I had a lovely time talking with filmmaker Michael Almereyda about his new book, Tesla: All My Dreams Are True, and going through his storied career, working with Ethan Hawke, Sam Shepard, and David Lynch, among others.
A new Hong Sangsoo movie is (checks watch) now out—The Novelist’s Film—so why not read my feature on him for The New York Times from a few years back?
And in case you missed it, I talked with artist Martine Syms for The New York Times about representing her experience in art schools in her film, The African Desperate. I’ve had my eye on The African Desperate since watching it early this year—it’s really something. And funny. You can watch the movie for yourself here.
THIS CRITIC’S PICKS
Delectable selections for home viewing.
The Lair of the White Worm (Criterion) Plummy fun: Ken Russell directing Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, and Amanda Donohoe having a ball
Panique (Criterion) One of Ari Aster’s selections
Incredible But True (Arrow) Quentin Dupieux’s time-bender comedy, available on home video and apparently not coming to a theater near you (or me)
The Handmaiden (Amazon Prime)
Satan’s Brew (HBO MAX) Fassbinder. I’ll just leave this here
THE END
Here I may end with a song.
ABOUT ME
Welcome to The Last Thing I Saw! I’m your host, Nicolas Rapold.
Besides hosting a podcast, I’m a writer and an editor. My features, interviews, festival dispatches, and reviews are published in The New York Times, Sight & Sound, Artforum, Filmmaker, and W Magazine (and appeared in dearly departed publications such as The Village Voice, Stop Smiling, The New York Sun, and The L Magazine).
I worked as editor-in-chief of Film Comment, where I was for 15 years. I assigned and edited both web and print editorial, hosted its podcast and talks and screenings, learned from brilliant writers, curated Film Comment Selects, and wrote a lot, including interviews with Spike Lee, Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, and Frederick Wiseman. Film Comment was subsequently awarded the Film Heritage Award by the National Society of Film Critics (an honor historically awarded to the Museum of Modern Art and other institutions).
Feel free to get in touch re: writing, editing, moderating, programming, podcasting, etc.
nicolas.rapold@gmail.com