Keith’s Weekend Film Recommendations Come to a Close

Five years ago today, I for some reason decided to recommend a classic movie (Bullitt) to RBC readers. It was fun to do and I kept on doing it, week after week except for the occasional guest reviewer. I felt my energy flagging after 150 or so movie recommendations, but then the site was blessed with Johann Koehler’s arrival, who lightened the load with his own recommendations several times a month and thereby kept me going for a time.

I know it’s a popular feature and many people have written me over the years to thank me for recommending a film that they saw and enjoyed,which is always a good feeling. I have also learned some intriguing details about movies and actors from the film buffs who read the site, and I am grateful for that.

But a few months ago, I realized it was starting to feel like a job, even at the reduced level of work made possible by Johann’s contributions, so I have decided to end my recommendations here on this fifth anniversary.

Thanks for reading, and happy movie watching. And with that, over to Porky…

Author: Keith Humphreys

Keith Humphreys is the Esther Ting Memorial Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and an Honorary Professor of Psychiatry at Kings College London. His research, teaching and writing have focused on addictive disorders, self-help organizations (e.g., breast cancer support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous), evaluation research methods, and public policy related to health care, mental illness, veterans, drugs, crime and correctional systems. Professor Humphreys' over 300 scholarly articles, monographs and books have been cited over thirteen thousand times by scientific colleagues. He is a regular contributor to Washington Post and has also written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian (UK), The Telegraph (UK), Times Higher Education (UK), Crossbow (UK) and other media outlets.

8 thoughts on “Keith’s Weekend Film Recommendations Come to a Close”

  2. Porky!!!

    This is good, now you can relax and let your mind wander, and that will lead perhaps to … more recs. Btw it's okay to make shorter ones. Anyhow, thanks.

    1. What he said.

      And when there's no commitment to a deadline, I bet (from personal experience) you'll occasionally just feel like sitting down and banging one out. And if you do that (as "guest reviewer") I'll surely look forward to seeing it.

  3. Oh dear…that's too bad…but entirely understandable. Off the top of my head I could think of piles of movies….but after a while it would be like now what….especially weekly.

    Anyways I did enjoy the reviews!

  4. Many thanks for the wide-ranging, thoughtful and well-reasoned reviews. They brought to my attention many movies I had overlooked, pointed out aspects of movies I'd already seen that deepened my appreciation of those films, and even helped me cross off my list a few films that are pretty clearly not going to be my cup of tea. With much appreciation and a hope that you enjoy to the fullest that most wonderful thing: the elimination of a deadline.

  5. As the Earl of Seafield remarked when he signed the Act of Union between England and Scotland in 1707, "Now there’s ane end o’ ane auld sang." Thanks for it all to you and Johann.

  6. Rex mortuus est; vivat rex!
    Time for me to take the film recommendations in a new direction, chaps. Buckle up. Michael Bay hasn't made nearly enough appearances at RBC.

    Seriously, though, well done to Keith. I couldn't be happier to have been brought on board. I will intermittently continue the WFRs, but it'll be in full knowledge that it simply won't be the same in his absence.

Comments are closed.