Max Siegel

Goodfellas

That Scorsese fella sure makes filmmaking look easy. This movie flies right by, despite all the murder and mayhem. And as a cinematography major, the camerawork here is just chef’s kiss Side note: I was pleasantly surprised to see Isiah Whitlock Jr. in a brief scene as a doctor. You know, the …

Why is no one talking about Google Meet’s filters, these are amazing lol

The Fabelmans

I had the exact same experience as the boy in this movie. It’s 1995. I’m six years old, and my parents are driving us by all the homes in the neighborhood with Christmas lights on them. I asked my parents why we didn’t put lights on our house. They said it’s because we’re Jewish. To which I replied: …

Auburn chonk 🐈‍⬛

John Wick: Chapter 4

How kids-in-mind-dot-com gave this movie only a 9/10 for violence is beyond me — it’s certainly a 10/10 in that regard. The Raid 2 and Mission: Impossible – Fallout are still my favorite action movies, because they’re better written, but this may be my favorite John Wick installment. The sequence in …

Check the Amenities Before Booking an Airbnb

Last week, I booked an Airbnb, but failed to note one key detail: A portable heater. The week of February 19 happened to be one of the coolest and rainiest in recent history, and the otherwise nice listing I’d booked for two nights had an underpowered portable heater for a guest house with a …

You Only Live Twice

In many ways, this is peak Bond: Ken Adam’s iconic sets, Blofeld with the white cat, and the score. And I appreciate that the hollowed out volcano inspired the hosts of one of my favorite podcasts, Bionic. But the pacing feels slow compared, particularly whenever spaceship models are on-screen …

I believe I’ve found a place to host an apocalyptic tea party 🫖

Disneyland: 'It's a lot smaller than I remember'

A silly assemblage of Disneyland footage featuring my dad and brother, when it opened early for hotel guests.

A candid moment, captured while setting up a Shopify LA event in July 2019.

This segment of Roderick on the Line is relatable for folks who love cats. Spoiler alert, but this awful cat that John talks about, finds his human in the end 💖 Timestamp in Overcast

Nothing beats cuddle time with my roommate 🐱

“Inglorious Basterds” is still entertaining 14 years after its release. The plot is revenge fantasy that lapses into revenge porn, so there isn’t much tension in the last act… I’m conflicted. Also, why is Christoph Waltz only good in Tarantino movies?

Stewie is the hero we deserve, but not the one we need… or something. 🦇

Rewatching 'Looper'

The plot is entertaining, but Pierce Gagnon’s gem of a performance makes that final act shine. (Rewatched at the Bay Theater with Other Max.)

Rewatching 'Blade Runner' for the First Time Since 2007

I was afraid “Blade Runner” wouldn’t hold up on rewatch, but it mostly does! The cinematography, visual effects, and production design are stunning. The protagonist sexually assaulting someone so they fall in love with him… not so much. I actually prefer the sequel, “Blade Runner 2049,” because its …

Stewie post-breakfast.

This fella sprawled across my desk and lightly bit my hand when I tried to type. What an angel 😻

My Work From Home Setup

In March 2020, Shopify’s leadership temporarily closed Shopify LA, where I was working, because of the impending pandemic. Shortly afterward, the entire company pivoted from being office-centric with just a few remote employees, to a fully remote company. They called it “Digital by Default,” or …

Stewie surveying the nonstop rain in Southern California ☔️

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love YouTube Shorts

I started my film career with traditional, long-form content. A few weeks ago, I decided to step out of my comfort zone, revive my YouTube channel, and start editing and uploading YouTube Shorts. It’s been a fun learning experience! Here’s my first Short, Terrible Matthew McConaughey …

Jason Snell and Myke Hurley answered my silly question on episode 440 of Upgrade! This made my day 😻 (Hint: it involves Eddy Cue) Link to timestamp in the episode Eddy Cue’s famous line at WWDC 2016

A brief review of 'Avatar 2'

We all know that screenwriting and dialogue aren’t Big Jim Cameron’s strengths. If the good guys checked their sixes and stopped getting themselves kidnapped, this movie would have been two hours shorter. I’m not exaggerating! Yet no one else — except possibly Spielberg — knows how …

My beast of burden 😴

Spot the difference: the Death of Stewie or The Death of Marat?