my soderbergh watch diary: 2024
learning from the greats
Happy new year, all!
One of my favourite New Year’s traditions is the culture diary that hyper-prolific director and general legend Steven Soderbergh publishes from the previous year, which is always equal parts classic cinema and episodes of Below Deck. As a new year begins, I am thrilled to present to the world my own version, collected over the past year, for your reading judgement and/or interest.
It’s not 100% exhaustive, but I think it is close - certainly, at least, to my One Piece viewings.
All caps, bold: MOVIE
All caps: TV SERIES
Quotation marks: “Play”
01/01 PRISCILLA
02/01 THE GOLD (2), BLACK DYNAMITE, F1: DRIVE TO SURVIVE
03/01 THE GOLD (2), GODZILLA (‘14), THE TRAITORS
04/01 THE TRAITORS (2)
05/01 “The Unfriend” Wyndham’s Theatre
06/01 FOR ALL MANKIND, THE GOLD, TWO LOVERS
07/01 ANYONE BUT YOU, LE HAVRE
08/01 AGE OF PANIC
10/01 THE TRAITORS
11/01 ARIEL, THE TRAITORS
12/01 FOR ALL MANKIND, THE TRAITORS
13/01 CRIMINAL RECORD, “Dear England” Prince Edward Theatre, SOCIETY OF THE SNOW
14/01 THE BEEKEEPER, BEYOND THE LIGHTS
15/01 I HIRED A CONTRACT KILLER
16/01 “The Lion King” Lyceum Theatre
17/01 THE MARVELS, THE TRAITORS
18/01 JURY DUTY, THE TRAITORS
19/01 KONG: SKULL ISLAND, THE TRAITORS
20/01 JURY DUTY (2), THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
21/01 THE HOLDOVERS, JURY DUTY, IN BED WITH VICTORIA
22/01 PREDATOR
23/01 “Guys and Dolls” Bridge Theatre
24/01 THE TRAITORS
25/01 FALLEN LEAVES, THE TRAITORS
27/01 THE TRAITORS
28/01 THE KITCHEN
29/01 RUSTIN
30/01 THE CURSE, ALL OF US STRANGERS, THE TRAITORS: UNCLOAKED
31/01 THE GREATEST NIGHT IN POP
02/02 BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
03/02 AMERICAN FICTION
04/02 MR. & MRS. SMITH (2), THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (‘99)
05/02 THE COLOR OF MONEY
06/02 Julia Masli “ha ha ha ha ha” Soho Theatre
07/02 MR. & MRS. SMITH
08/02 MR. & MRS. SMITH
09/02 UPGRADED
10/02 MR & MRS. SMITH, THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST, ONE DAY (3)
11/02 ONE DAY (6), THE IRON CLAW
12/02 ONE DAY, “This Might Not Be It” Bush Theatre
13/02 BASIC
14/02 THE TASTE OF THINGS
15/02 OKJA
16/02 ONE DAY (4)
17/02 THE PROMISED LAND, BLUE EYE SAMURAI, MR. & MRS. SMITH
18/02 MR. & MRS. SMITH (2), MEN IN BLACK
19/02 CORPO CELESTE
20/02 MENACE II SOCIETY
22/02 “The Motive and the Cue” Noel Coward Theatre
23/02 BLUE EYE SAMURAI, MEAN GIRLS (‘24)
24/02 BLUE EYE SAMURAI, MADAME WEB
25/02 THE MATCH FACTORY GIRL
27/02 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE
28/02 SHŌGUN
29/02 “Bonnie & Clyde”, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
01/03 CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.
02/03 SHŌGUN, DUNE: PART TWO, BLUE EYE SAMURAI
03/03 BLUE EYE SAMURAI, THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU
05/03 TRANCE
07/03 “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” Phoenix Theatre
08/03 AMERICAN PSYCHO
09/03 EXTRAORDINARY, SHŌGUN, “Hadestown” Lyric Theatre, BULL DURHAM
10/03 EXTRAORDINARY, SHADOWS IN PARADISE, RICKY STANICKY
11/03 FIREWORKS
13/03 SHŌGUN
14/03 “Till The Stars Come Down” National Theatre
15/03 THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR AND THREE MORE
16/03 EXTRAORDINARY (3), MONSTER, CITIZEN KANE
17/03 EXTRAORDINARY, GHOST IN THE SHELL
18/03 DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS
19/03 “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, Wyndham’s Theatre
20/03 X-MEN ‘97, SHŌGUN
21/03 “A Mirror”, Trafalgar Theatre
23/03 THE DELINQUENTS
24/03 X-MEN ‘97, EXTRAORDINARY (2), KILL BILL VOL. 1, KILL BILL VOL. 2
25/03 “An Enemy of the People”, Duke of York’s Theatre
26/03 IMMACULATE, 3 BODY PROBLEM (2)
28/03 BETWEEN THE LINES
29/03 3 BODY PROBLEM, GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE
30/03 3 BODY PROBLEM, “The Hills of California” Harold Pinter Theatre, “Underdog: The Other Other Brontë” National Theatre
31/03 3 BODY PROBLEM, DR. NO
01/04 3 BODY PROBLEM (3), LOVELY & AMAZING
04/04 “Red Pitch” Soho Place
05/04 GIRLS STATE
06/04 SHŌGUN, MONKEY MAN, ALONERS
07/04 BIG MOOD, THE FIRST OMEN, SCOOP
08/04 CROSSING DELANCEY
09/04 “For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy” Garrick Theatre
10/04 SHŌGUN, X-MEN ‘97
11/04 SILVIA PRIETO
12/04 FALLOUT, X-MEN ‘97
13/04 FALLOUT, “Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)” Criterion Theatre, CRUEL INTENTIONS
14/04 FALLOUT, CIVIL WAR, THE SIXTH SENSE
15/04 LIGHTS IN THE DUSK
16/04 SHŌGUN
17/04 FALLOUT
18/04 “Player Kings” Noel Coward Theatre
19/04 ABIGAIL, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY
20/04 SHŌGUN, NIGHT AND THE CITY
21/04 FALLOUT, DRAFT DAY
22/04 FALLOUT (3), THURSDAY TILL SUNDAY
24/04 “The Sleeping Beauty”, Sadler’s Wells
25/04 “Aladdin” Milton Keynes Theatre, BABY REINDEER (2), SHŌGUN
26/04 BABY REINDEER
27/04 BABY REINDEER (4), CHALLENGERS
28/04 BAD LUCK BANGING OR LOONY PORN, RIPLEY, FEMME
29/04 GO
30/04 “Much Ado About Nothing” Globe Theatre
01/05 X-MEN ‘97 (3)
02/05 RIPLEY
03/05 THE IDEA OF YOU
04/05 NOWHERE SPECIAL, PERFECT BLUE
06/05 LOVE LIES BLEEDING, THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
07/05 BLUE RUIN
08/05 “Machinal” The Old Vic
11/05 DOCTOR WHO (2)
12/05 X-MEN ‘97, KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, THE TERMINATOR
13/05 TOKYO GODFATHERS
15/05 SURGE
16/05 TASKMASTER
18/05 DOCTOR WHO, BAD BOYS, DOCTOR WHO: UNLEASHED
19/05 X-MEN ‘97, LA CHIMERA, HACKS (2)
20/05 LADY MACBETH
21/05 “Passing Strange” Young Vic
22/05 HACKS (2)
23/05 “The Glass Menagerie” Alexandra Palace Theatre
24/05 FOUR LIONS
25/05 DOCTOR WHO, FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA, GREEN ROOM
26/05 “Viola’s Room” Punchdrunk, DOCTOR WHO: UNLEASHED, THE FALL GUY
27/05 RIPLEY, HIT MAN, BLOW OUT
28/05 “Strategic Love Play” Soho Theatre
29/05 RIPLEY
30/05 “Boys from the Blackstuff” National Theatre
31/05 GASOLINE RAINBOW
01/06 DOCTOR WHO, “Bluets” Royal Court, THE BEAST
02/06 DOCTOR WHO: UNLEASHED, BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS
03/06 “Operation Mincemeat”, Fortune Theatre
04/06 MADELINE’S MADELINE
05/06 THE ACOLYTE (2)
06/06 “No Love Songs” Southwark Playhouse Elephant
07/06 GOING IN STYLE (‘79)
08/06 DOCTOR WHO, THE WATERMELON WOMAN, DOCTOR WHO: UNLEASHED
09/06 BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE, GROUNDHOG DAY
10/06 PARANOID PARK
11/06 “Romeo & Juliet” Duke of York’s Theatre
12/06 THE KILLING
13/06 “2:22 A Ghost Story” Gielgud Theatre
14/06 THE BOYS
15/06 DOCTOR WHO, BERNIE
18/06 ROAD HOUSE (‘24)
19/06 HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, THE BOYS, INSIDE OUT 2
21/06 THE BOYS
22/06 DOCTOR WHO, THE BIKERIDERS, THE BOYS, DOCTOR WHO: UNLEASHED
23/06 LE BONHEUR
24/06 HOUSE OF THE DRAGON
26/06 45365
27/06 “Next to Normal” Wyndham’s Theatre
28/06 PERSONAL SHOPPER
29/06 THE BOYS, KINDS OF KINDNESS, THE BEAR
30/06 THE BEAR (2), FANCY DANCE
01/07 PRIDE & PREJUDICE (‘05)
02/07 THE BEAR (2)
03/07 A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE
04/07 “I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire” Southwark Playhouse
06/07 THIS CLOSENESS, BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F
07/07 THE BEAR (3), KILL
09/07 THE BEAR
13/07 THE BEAR
14/07 DOUGLAS IS CANCELLED (2), LONGLEGS
15/07 LILTING
16/07 “Mnemonic” National Theatre
17/07 AN EDUCATION
19/07 TWISTER
20/07 CHAMELEON STREET, DOUGLAS IS CANCELLED
21/07 JANET PLANET, THE BOYS
22/07 DOUGLAS IS CANCELLED, TWISTERS, ERASERHEAD
23/07 “Skeleton Crew” Donmar Warehouse
24/07 KINDLING
26/07 “Please right back” Gulbenkian Arts Centre
27/07 THE BOYS, “Death of England: Michael” Soho Place, “Death of England: Delroy” Soho Place
28/07 THE BOYS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, THE GLEANERS & I
29/07 IN A VIOLENT NATURE
30/07 “Hello, Dolly!” London Palladium
31/07 I SAW THE TV GLOW
01/08 ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW
03/08 SPIDER-MAN (‘02)
04/08 BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER, SIGNS
05/08 THE VILLAGE
06/08 DÌDI
08/08 INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
09/08 SLOW
10/08 “Farm Hall” Theatre Royal Haymarket, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (2)
11/08 INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, SPIDER-MAN 2, STRICTLY BALLROOM
12/08 INDUSTRY
13/08 TRAP
14/08 BEETLEJUICE
15/08 “Shifters” Duke of York’s Theatre
16/08 PRESUMED INNOCENT
17/08 PRESUMED INNOCENT (2)
18/08 UNDERWATER, PRESUMED INNOCENT
20/08 INDUSTRY
21/08 PRESUMED INNOCENT
22/08 FLIGHTPLAN
23/08 7500
24/08 PRESUMED INNOCENT (2)
25/08 THE TRANSPORTER
26/08 INDUSTRY, PRESUMED INNOCENT
27/08 TRANSPORTER 2
28/08 RESIDENT EVIL
29/08 JACK AND JILL
30/08 THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE
31/08 AVP: ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
01/09 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER (3), ALIEN: ROMULUS
02/09 ONE PIECE (3), INDUSTRY
04/09 ONE PIECE
05/09 ONE PIECE, DICK
06/09 MY FIRST FILM
07/09 ONE PIECE (2), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
08/09 ONE PIECE (3), SLOW HORSES
09/09 INDUSTRY, ONE PIECE (2)
10/09 ONE PIECE, THE BOB EMERGENCY
11/09 SING SING, ONE PIECE
12/09 “London City Ballet: Resurgence” Sadler’s Wells
13/09 ONE PIECE, VARIETY
14/09 SLOW HORSES, ONE PIECE (4), SPEAK NO EVIL (‘24), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER
15/09 ONE PIECE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, SING STREET
16/09 ONE PIECE (3), INDUSTRY
17/09 “Waiting for Godot” Theatre Royal Haymarket
18/09 ONE PIECE, DAUGHTERS
19/09 ONE PIECE (2), THE FRENCH CONNECTION
20/09 ONE PIECE, “A Face in the Crowd” Young Vic
21/09 ONE PIECE (2), SLOW HORSES, THE PENGUIN, REBEL RIDGE
22/09 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, THE SUBSTANCE, ONE PIECE (3)
24/09 PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID
25/09 ONE PIECE (4), SLOW HORSES
26/09 ONE PIECE, HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
27/09 WILL & HARPER
28/09 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER
29/09 INDUSTRY, MEGALOPOLIS, ONE PIECE, OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL
30/09 ONE PIECE (2), INDUSTRY
01/10 “White Rabbit Red Rabbit” Soho Place
02/10 ONE PIECE, THE FALL
03/10 ONE PIECE, “My Mother’s Funeral: The Show” Royal & Derngate
04/10 ONE PIECE, IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE
05/10 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, FROM BEYOND, “Brace Brace” Royal Court, SLOW HORSES
06/10 ONE PIECE (4), A DIFFERENT MAN, THE PENGUIN
07/10 ONE PIECE, FINAL DESTINATION 5
08/10 MY OLD ASS, ONE PIECE (2)
09/10 ONE PIECE (3), SLOW HORSES
10/10 “Signal to Noise” Southbank Centre
11/10 ONE PIECE, TROUBLE EVERY DAY
12/10 ONE PIECE (3), THE SURFER, THE PIANO LESSON
13/10 SWEETPEA (2), THE WILD ROBOT, BLACK BOX DIARIES
14/10 ONE PIECE (2), CAUGHT BY THE TIDES, SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY, SWEETPEA
15/10 ANORA, A REAL PAIN, SWEETPEA, ONE PIECE (2)
16/10 ONE PIECE (2), WATCHER
19/10 ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT, QUEER, SWEETPEA, ONE PIECE (3)
22/10 ONE PIECE (2), SWEETPEA
23/10 ONE PIECE (2), HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON
24/10 “Macbeth” Harold Pinter Theatre
25/10 ONE PIECE (3), THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN
26/10 THE PENGUIN, ONE PIECE (3), VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
27/10 THE WICKER MAN (‘73), THE PENGUIN, ONE PIECE, TRANSFORMERS ONE
28/10 ONE PIECE, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT
29/10 ONE PIECE
30/10 ONE PIECE (3)
31/10 ONE PIECE
01/11 ONE PIECE
02/11 “Giant” Royal Court, THE ROOM NEXT DOOR
03/11 JUROR #2, ONE PIECE, THE DAY OF THE BEAST
04/11 ONE PIECE (3)
05/11 “L’Addition” Battersea Arts Centre
06/11 ONE PIECE (3), WOMAN OF THE HOUR
07/11 ONE PIECE, “Roots” Almeida Theatre
08/11 ONE PIECE, NO OTHER LAND
09/11 ONE PIECE (4), WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, ARCANE (3)
10/11 ONE PIECE (2), HERETIC, FISH TANK
11/11 ONE PIECE (2), THE PENGUIN
12/11 POINT BREAK, ONE PIECE
13/11 ONE PIECE, BETWEEN THE TEMPLES
14/11 “The Buddha of Suburbia” Barbican
15/11 ONE PIECE (2), BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY
16/11 ONE PIECE (3), “Why Am I So Single?” Garrick Theatre, GLADIATOR II
17/11 ONE PIECE (3), SORCERER, ARCANE (3)
18/11 ONE PIECE, REWIND & PLAY
19/11 “If All Else Fails”, Battersea Arts Centre
20/11 ONE PIECE, SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT
21/11 ONE PIECE (3), THE APPRENTICE
23/11 ONE PIECE
24/11 ONE PIECE, ARCANE (3)
25/11 ONE PIECE (4), WICKED, BAD SISTERS
26/11 ONE PIECE (2), MOONRISE KINGDOM
27/11 ONE PIECE (2), CRASH (‘96)
28/11 “The Lehman Trilogy” Gillian Lynne Theatre
29/11 ONE PIECE (2), BEATLES ‘64
30/11 SAY NOTHING (2), ONE PIECE
01/12 ONE PIECE (3), CONCLAVE, SAY NOTHING
02/12 ONE PIECE, HUNGER
03/12 SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE
05/12 GRAND THEFT HAMLET
06/12 ONE PIECE (2), BLACK DOVES (2)
07/12 BLACK DOVES, “Dr Strangelove” Noel Coward Theatre, ONE PIECE, EVIL DOES NOT EXIST
08/12 ONE PIECE (3), RED ROOMS
09/12 ONE PIECE, HOT FROSTY
10/12 “Pan” Theatre Peckham
11/12 “The Little Foxes” Young Vic
14/12 ONE PIECE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM, 28 DAYS LATER
15/12 DAHOMEY, ONE PIECE (2), CARRY-ON
17/12 ONE PIECE, THE PENGUIN
18/12 ONE PIECE, GOOD ONE
19/12 NICKEL BOYS
20/12 ONE PIECE, CAROL
21/12 ONE PIECE (2), SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, “The Importance of Being Earnest” National Theatre
22/12 ONE PIECE (2), YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA
23/12 ONE PIECE (2), THE PENGUIN
24/12 THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
25/12 ONE PIECE (2), DOCTOR WHO, WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL
26/12 THE PENGUIN, BETTER MAN, ONE PIECE
27/12 ONE PIECE (2), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
28/12 ONE PIECE (2), “Oedipus” Wyndham’s Theatre, JOY
29/12 DUNE: PROPHECY, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
30/12 ONE PIECE (2), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
31/12 DUNE: PROPHECY, BABYGIRL, ONE PIECE
I'm exhausted just reading through this! Do you actually sleep? Do you read at the same time??