Carrie Courogen

It’s extremely frustrating to see a new biographical work about the same subject choosing, of all the titles in the world, to use the same one as my very recent heavily publicized and critically acclaimed book.

Yes, a title is not copyrightable, and Elaine May is a public figure. But if you’ve read my book, you know how many years of work and deep research went into uncovering a public figure with very little publicly available information about her life.

Screenshot of a play breakdown for Miss May Does Not Exist by Beth Kander for the 2026 Contemporary American Theater Festival

I want to make it clearly known that I am not affiliated with this play in any manner, much as this implies my association.

My publisher and agents are aware of this ongoing situation. The rights to Miss May Does Not Exist are already spoken for and in ethical, talented hands.

The Best Actress in the World: Jane Fonda in Klute (1971) If much of Fonda’s life both before and after 'Klute' was marked by losses of her own identity, 'Klute' captures a rare and specific transitional moment.

"To be a woman is to be a performance artist."

- @carriecourogen.bsky.social on Jane Fonda and KLUTE

goodbye to a great actress 😎 On Catherine O'Hara

i wrote about catherine o'hara: a hero who did delusion like no other.

goodbye to a great actress 😎 On Catherine O'Hara

i wrote about catherine o'hara: a hero who did delusion like no other.

A Woman Under the Influence (1974): Tomorrow's Gonna Be Better A Woman Under the Influence endures as a statement on womanhood not because it is a film-as-time-capsule—a relic of the women’s lib era—but because it’s just as relevant now as ever.

"We can’t wait for someone to approve of the stories we wish to tell, can’t allow a suit to tell us there’s no market for it. We have to take matters into our own hands, have to do the hard and unglamorous work, have to grin and bear it and just fucking do it." - @carriecourogen.bsky.social

and thanks as always to @chadperman.bsky.social, editor extraordinaire, who takes my half-pitches and puts up with my frantic “i think this is bad and I don’t know how to write anymore!!!” slacks every time i file!!!!

This is about A Woman Under the Influence but it is also a lot about saying fuck corporations, be uncomfortable, make independent art—even if it doesn’t pay off in your lifetime

A Woman Under the Influence (1974): Tomorrow's Gonna Be Better A Woman Under the Influence endures as a statement on womanhood not because it is a film-as-time-capsule—a relic of the women’s lib era—but because it’s just as relevant now as ever.

New today on the site!

@carriecourogen.bsky.social on Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, and the enduring power of A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE

a shot of Rob Reiner in This is Spinal Tap

"Reiner may not have been showy, but that’s the other thing about genius: he didn’t have to be."

@carriecourogen.bsky.social on the work of Rob Reiner, who made work you "want to crawl inside and live in." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/he-understood-us/

It's Always Winter in 'Reds' (1981) It’s always winter in Reds, and someone is always fighting, someone is always hoping, someone is always gritting their teeth and doing the work.

"It’s always winter in REDS, and someone is always thinking about the future. It’s always winter, and someone is always fighting, someone is always hoping, someone is always gritting their teeth and doing the work."

- @carriecourogen.bsky.social

not seeing nearly enough commentary about what the fuck olivia nuzzi did to her eyebrows

Io Capitano (2023): We Passengers Matteo Garrone’s Io Capitano surpasses documentary or reportage or neorealist cinema into something like a modern-day legend.

I was able to be a part of this latest issue at @bwdr.bsky.social and sit still with the unfinished journey of this film. Thanks to @carriecourogen.bsky.social and @eccantwell.bsky.social for helping the words along. I could be moved…
www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2025/11/24/w...

forgot the sincerity level on bsky please stop engaging lmao

it never occurred to me that the secret to becoming a wildly successful writer was to be a terrible writer

miss may does not exist is out in paperback out today if u even care bookshop.org/p/books/miss...

This week on @podcastlikeits The 1990s Patreon I started a brand new miniseries on Mike Nichols 90s films by talking Postcards From The Edge with @carriecourogen.bsky.social! We talk Meryl, Mike, Carrie (Fisher), Gene and of course Debbie! Great movie! Great episode!

The clearest "I do not actually live in New York City" sign is not knowing your own rent

Andrew Cuomo: I pay $7800 in rent
Andrew Cuomo's actual rent: $8242

i'm in new york straight up "globalizing it"............ and by "it" haha. well,,,,,,,......,,,let's just say "the intifada"

It's Always Winter in 'Reds' (1981) It’s always winter in Reds, and someone is always fighting, someone is always hoping, someone is always gritting their teeth and doing the work.

Wrote about something I've never talked about before (Warren Beatty's REDS) for @bwdr.bsky.social

I’m visiting my mom and it’s 10:30pm here which means the only way available to me to watch Reds is on my phone which I guess means I’m gonna watch Reds on my phone at 10:30pm, now

no :(

Slap Shot (1977): The Courage To Teach One could criticize Reggie Dunlop (Newman), “player-coach” of the Charlestown Chiefs in George Roy Hill's chaotically raunchy Slap Shot, for a wide variety of character flaws & professional failings—b...

New today on the site!

"The Courage to Teach" - @eccantwell.bsky.social on George Roy Hill's SLAP SHOT

(🎨 by @garymillsfineart.bsky.social)

a famine of beauty Robert Redford represented all that was good—and fleeting—about America

wrote about robert redford bit.ly/redfordfamin...

the greatest to do it.

on sneakers, for @bwdr.bsky.social: www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2023/08/23/s...

what do you MEAN everyone in the rilo kiley crowd is old as the audience of The Dance??? what do you MEAN?????

realizing the rilo kiley reunion tour is millennials' equivalent of boomers' fleetwood mac reunion tour i'm gonna be sick

New York’s hottest club is Lawrence of Arabia on 70mm at the Paris Theater. This club has everything: an honored intermission; elderly people standing up randomly before that; men’s room line of 520 women’s room line of 15; a Dimes Square girl saying “there aren’t any fucking women in this movie”