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Delroy Lindo my God...absolutely electric performance...I can't get over it. I'm also glad Spike gave Isiah Whitlock Jr. his contractually obligated opportunity to get at least one "shiiiieeeeeeeet" into everything he's a part of.

“Boy I got vision and the rest of the world has bifocals.” - me to my toddlers every day when they ask me questions continuously.

This was a really fun film about friendship. Redford and Newman look like they’re having a blast and it shows in the performances. I enjoyed watching the back and forth of it all. Add that with the great shootout at the end and you’ve got yourself a certified banger.

“I don't read novels. I prefer good literary criticism. That way you get both the novelists' ideas as well as the critics' thinking.” A+ stuff.

Whip smart writing with some very great dialogue where none of the characters know that they don’t actually know anything. This film walked so that Kicking and Screaming could…also walk, probably at the same pace, which is a solid pace because I quite enjoy both of these films. 

I’ll be honest, the “so you’re one of those public transportation snobs” line/following conversation did hit closer to home than I want to it.

This review may contain spoilers.

I loved the world building, I could really feel the grimy, seedy underbelly of LA that Bigelow was going for here, it was really impressive. The way that people tap into a world that is not their own, taking in moments and experiences that are not authentically theirs also seems prescient for our modern times.

And then came the last 20 or so minutes of the film... it turns out that the only thing that could save Fiennes and Bassett was..."one of the good cops." The film makes the point of exposing police brutality and the deleterious effect it has on the world/the way it is accepted in society and then pulls the rug out from under you by using one of the cops as the reason for their survival? I'm not sure if it was because Bigelow and Cameron painted themselves into a corner with the end of the film or what, but it took a very good film and made it a fine film.

This review may contain spoilers.

And I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to knowingly eat poisonous mushrooms..

Notting Hill nonsense aside, this film is funnier than I . It sneaks up on you too. “Are you a special agent sent here to ruin my evening and possibly my entire life?” Is just one of the line readings/looks/tones that really push this up into the upper echelon of films made in the last decade or so. Daniel Day-Lewis is of course masterful, but Vicky Krieps matches him in every scene. It’s the film that on the surface shouldn’t work for me, and yet…everything about it does.

Sometimes the people are right, this film is incredible. Gets better with every watch. Pesci is moving a hundred miles a minute and it’s utterly captivating to see, Liotta is phenomenal and De Niro is an absolute monster.

Goddamn there are just way too many great things about this film that can’t be encapsulated in a short Letterboxd review so I’ll just say this…

Scorsese is the 👑

Barbara Stanwyck just pops off the screen here, she’s magnetic (as she is in most of her films). Now do I buy her character falling for Potts?…not really, but it’s an entertaining and funny enough trip along the way that somehow I’m able to mostly overlook it.

So fun, so sexy, so charming and so well done. The chemistry between Clooney and Lopez is out of this world. It's a delight to see. This film succeeds on so many levels, it's a heist film, it's a romantic comedy and it's a thriller/action film. Soderbergh is at the top of his game in this one. I love that the man just tries new things every couple of years just because he can.

Sidenote: Always love an Albert Brooks sighting that at first I forgot existed from one viewing to the next.

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

1 Alien down, 8 to go…if half of them are as good or close to as good as this one, it’ll be worth it.

Peak Denzel, with a great Clive Owen performance and Spike going into genre mode…makes for an excellent heist film that keeps you (or at least me) guessing until the end, even if the end gets a little messy. Jodie Foster also on 🔥 in the role.

“Who are we, and who do we want to be?” 
Goddamn this film hits even more different now…

The more I watch it, think about it, marvel at the stop motion animation of it, the further it creeps up my Wes rankings.

Sarah, out here combining the humor associated with and the ultimate inevitable darkness surrounding the death of loved ones in a really thoughtful, heartfelt and often humerous way.

One of the few films I've seen in awhile that, at one point, when watching it by myself, I audibly said to no one except maybe my dog, "wow, this film is incredibly well done. I'm in awe." The production design, the cinematography, the vivid colors, the storytelling, the framing, the structure, it had it all. Not only that, but there were twists and turns that I gasped at (I swear I'm normally not this vocal when I watch a film), on at least three occasions. I feel like any time a film can do all of those things; you know the film is in rarified air.

Between this and Decision to Leave (the only two films of Park Chan-wook's I've seen before), I'm very excited to see to catch up with the rest of his filmography. (I know, I know.. I'm late to the game).

Better than I it being. While it is minor Wes, is there really any such thing as Minor Wes? 

“We haven’t located us yet.”

Goddamn it if that doesn't stick with you and grow as the film goes on. 

Shoutout to Jason Schwartzman in this one as well, really a delight to watch on screen.

Jimmy Stewart and a 6 foot imaginary/not imaginary white rabbit?! Yes, please. 

“In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.”

Goddamn Jimmy, why did you have to go so hard with that?

Paul Newman, band leader and standout jazz musician?... I mean I appreciate the swing, but I just don't know...Having said that, it is 4 talented actors set in one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world so of course I enjoyed it.

Just an incredible Murray performance here, the balancing act between comedy and drama that he has grown comfortable with is on full display here. He’s smarmy, self-deprecating, egotistical and charismatic in a way that only Murray can pull off. Combine that with wonderful Goldblum and Blanchett performances, as well as a standout Willem Dafoe (once again, the man elevates everything in), and you’ve got a truly special film. 

The jaguar shark scene…truly beautiful and moving. As I continue to rewatch some of his films before The Phoenician Scheme opens, I just continue to be reminded why he’s one of the best out there. The precision, the humor, the production design, and yes, the emotional resonance of all of his films is flat out masterful. Keep doing your thing Wes.

I suppose having 2 boys and being a father has probably impacted my enjoyment of the film but I dk…maybe I also just slept on it the first time I watched it. It’s just a beautiful story about the love that a parent has for their children and the lengths they’ll go to protect them. It’s a tried and true story that, when successful…can be special.

So much of this film hits close to home (what with me being a clownfish and all), Throw that in with me also being in the bag for all things Albert Brooks and you’ve got a certifiable classic on your hands. 

There are films that you are forced to watch with your children and there are films that you get to watch with your children…this film lives firmly entrenched in the latter of the two.

Absolute stone cold classic. Wes was really cookin during this time period (not that he ever stopped cookin). Schwartzman and Bill Murray acting like little children is pure comedic gold. Just a bunch of immature assholes out there trying to make it in this world…

Also Wes Anderson…king of the needle drop

Paul Newman, Julie Andrews, Alfred Hitchcock? How is this not an all-timer? I don’t get it. On paper this sounds phenomenal, but its execution left me wanting. I wish I bought Newman in that role a little more than I did…oh well, it was still entertaining enough. 

I will say, props to an all-time kill sequence, that was some next level filmmaking. It shocked me right up out of the mehhh I was feeling towards the film. It picked up steam, but never fully left the station from there (pardon the train analogy).

Sometimes you don’t have a ton to say about a film. I thought this was perfectly lovely. Really enjoying my trek into the Ghibli-verse so far.

Absolutely electric performances all around. Newman and Taylor might be the most attractive couple ever to grace the screen. In addition, Newman and Ives dialogue just crackles between each other, going toe to toe, getting the opportunity to share a great deal of the things that mostly go unsaid until a loved one is dying. There's something to seeing that on the big screen that gets to me, even when it's a little overwrought. This is especially true now that I've reached a point in my life where I've had the unfortunate opportunity to do just this for people I have loved (though not with this level of anger).

I also love a good film adaptation based on a play, I realized as I was watching that, when done correctly, can be one of the best types of film. Once again Paul Newman...just an absolute goat.

Nothing to see here, just a wonderful film about self confidence and the process of learning to become the person you want to be in the world.

Listen, I’ll watch these Ocean’s films for as long as they make them because they’re entertaining as hell, well constructed and have 🔥 scores, but for the love of God would someone tell Brad that he doesn’t need to have food in his mouth in what is seemingly almost every damn scene?!

Paul Newman out there doing, quite literally, "the lord's work."

Just a simple and humble story about a fish that wants to become a human, that turns back into a fish, that turns back into a human. Oh, and also there is some truly stunning animation. The way the waves and the water glide across the screen is something to behold. It’s like a beautiful painting that you just can’t look away from, nor do you want to.

Watching this with your kids really takes it to another level. Miyazaki is a real one.

I don’t know, this might be Newman’s best performance, which is really saying something considering he’s almost always fantastic. It’s that Newman smile that just communicates so much. He radiates cool, even as you can see who he really is from a mile away. You want to be near him. He’s magnetic. 

However, as the film progresses it’s quite clear that Hud has no redemptive story, no redeemable moment, there is only a man left on his own, as those closest to him either die or outgrow him. Some people just are who they are.

Sidenote: and I know it’s an obvious observation to make, but I’m a parent of 2 toddler boys so I’m going to make it anyways as I think about it frequently…fathers and sons man…fathers and sons.

As a Transit Planner, and as an ardent irer of this film, I will now officially be commissioning a study to explore the feasibility of the widespread implementation of live cat buses that have the capability to shape-shift, become invisible and take you anywhere you want to go, as long as you believe in them. The future of public transportation is finally within our grasp!

Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason and Piper Laurie, all cookin in this one.

Immediately makes me want to go out, buy a pool table, learn how to actually play pool, get good at it, then get really good at it, and then go from small pool hall to small pool hall until I really make it not so big…on second thought, maybe I’ll just watch The Color of Money now instead. 

Seriously though, Newman is the 👑

What a ride! Such a well-done film. An original one, filled with fantastic performances, that deals deftly with issues ranging from identity, race a sense of belonging and culture, all while being entertaining as hell...so impressive. I was blown away by the world-building, setting the stage perfectly for the evening horror section of the story. A bold, audacious swing that knocks it out of the park.

Let's talk highlights, Michael B. Jordan puts in an absolutely phenomenal performance as the Smokestack Brothers (incidentally also the coolest nicknames you could have). I wasn't sure how the dual role would work, but he nailed it. The musical sequences in the film...really great stuff. They work within the narrative framework, while also just being a spectacle, elevating it to another level. Beyond that, the sound editing is masterful. There is a sequence in the car-ride to the juke t specifically that I am thinking of that is haunting and powerful. Finally, the epilogue? One of the few end credit sequences that in my mind, absolutely works. It adds a great coda onto what has already been a great ride.

One more shoutout to Jack O'Connell and Delroy Lindo, two other standout performances from a film filled with standout performances.

Paul Newman, truly one of the best to ever do it. The man plays broken down men looking for some form of redemption so goddamn well…especially in his later years. He’s one of one.

I’m not the biggest fan of the Western genre, but I can respect a good line reading, and let me tell you that “I’m your huckleberry” is absolute 🔥

Wall-E had been a blindspot of mine for years, but when would I get a chance to watch it, I rhetorically asked myself? Ah, but then I had kids...and I realized I had no more excuse to put it off. I excitedly gave it a shot and goddamn was I rewarded with a top tier Pixar film. Now did I neglect my parenting duties for a little bit as my small toddler went back and forth between paying attention and playing with Emperor Zurg from Toy Story? Yea, maybe...but sometimes you do what you gotta do to watch a banger like this.

Next, I'll have to try it with my older toddler...I can only hope that he won't disappoint me by not being fully immersed in the Wall-E experience.

Jeremy Irons in absolute God mode here…

The brilliance of this film is that the music actually slaps…truly a gem of a music satire, the likes of which only Walk Hard can touch.

This film always deserved a bigger reception and wider audience than it initially received. Thankfully, slowly but surely, it is being vindicated as one of the best comedies of the 21st century (not hyperbole).

Incredible Thoughts…chills.

And on the eight day, God created Gene Hackman chuckles…and it was good.

Seriously though, I’m not sure if there is a more identifiable characteristic to be known for. It brings me joy every time, regardless of what follows.

It’s like they set up a camera in my house, observed my toddler’s behavior, and then transposed it up on the big screen. I don’t mind them doing it, but at least give me a screen credit for it…

Would make a hell of a double feature with Children of Men.

This one was surprisingly good and a real treat of a find. Thanks Criterion. Laughton is next level good as the heavy in this one. The script is captivating, and the dialogue is crisp. The noir envelops you, taking you on a ride through the twists and turns of the film.

I'll also say that the camera work is top notch. The way it helps to portray the inner turmoil and claustrophobic nature as the film closes in on its resolution is as good or better than a lot of modern films. Not only that, but it does it with a lot less.

This review may contain spoilers.

What a sneaky little gem of a film this was. I loved watching Pacino and Hackman play off of each other. The film could have been a lot less effective in the hands of lesser actors. Thankfully Hackman’s slow boiling anger and Pacino’s lackadaisical demeanor that belied a keen understanding of the world around him is up for the task. 

You kind of just glide along through this film until you don’t. The heartbreaking ending got to me. I get that she was angry but to say what she did…to lie like that…it single handedly changed his entire world with one response, one response that would break any man. Pacino doesn’t deserve that fate…

Make more public transit based thrillers! (He yelled Into the void). Loved this, give me Walter Matthau, George Constanza’s dad and Robert Shaw all day.

“I’m the man that stole your train”, is a 🔥 line reading and really prepares you for the ride (pun intended), that you’re about to go on.

I thought the controlled environment created within the confines of the film for most of the run time was incredibly well done, as was learning about the exploration of the political ramifications of saving people’s lives based on gaining new voters and the optics that go along with it…never change politicians…(but really change everything about yourselves). 

“What do they want for their lousy 30 cents, to live forever?” The idea of attempting to prioritize the efficient running of public transportation to saving lives is ridiculous and yet at the same time surprisingly believable to me, especially in a large urban center like NYC. And I gotta say, as a public transit planner, I respected the hell out of that guy. 

And that final shot!

All good things must ...If I could give this film 6 stars, I would.

Not the worst way in the world to get through your toddler’s first ride in an airplane.

Watched on Monday April 14, 2025.

This review may contain spoilers.

This film really grew on me upon rewatch. Leo is obviously incredible, Jonah Hill plays an ace pervert, and Margot Robbie really takes it to another level. The "Who, who..." "Hoo, Hoo, Hoo? What are you a fucking owl?" line reading is the funniest bit of the film, and it gets me every time.

As far as the message of the film...is there a little bit of navel gazing, maybe, probably? But I dk, I really think the clear takeaway here is that all of the behavior going on is abhorrent. I don't think depiction = endorsement. Now do I think some people will take the wrong things away from the film? Yeah, most definitely. But that's sort of the genius of it...while the behavior is horrendous and the people in this film are genuinely despicable, there's still part of you (or in this scenario, part of the filmgoing public), who see this as attractive, because of the lifestyle it enables Belfort and his shitbird friends to live. It's easy to be seduced by all of it, similar to the way Leo's character is at the beginning of the film.

And now the controversial ending, it can be read two ways to me, one as an indictment of the American judicial system and society to favor the rich and powerful (it does), and how they can essentially get away with anything, or how it depicts a desperate man pitifully trying to cling to what he had before. His family left him, he turned on everyone in his life that cared about him, and he ended up in New Zealand of all places doing a tacky self-help show. It reminded me of the ending of Tar where this formerly world-renowned composer ends up in Vietnam conducting an uncertain segment of the population with costumes on...In other words, it's a long way down from the upper echelon that both characters' previously resided in.

The film isn't perfect, it's about 30-45 minutes too long and I would have enjoyed a little more of Kyle Chandler's character and less obscene bacchanalia, but what're you going to do?

All pie is good pie.

“Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw”…this film exceeded my expectations in every way. Hell of a script that was sharp, biting and hilarious, and some great performances. What more could you ask for in this film? Never change Winona, never change.

A comedy that veers into the existential dread that goes along with being alive...funny at times, unfunny at other times. It's an uneven effort that I nonetheless mostly enjoyed. I did not realize that a young Lucille Bluth would show up, always a treat, even if I could have used more screen time from her.

"A second-rate talent of the highest order" is also the perfect epitaph for literally all of my friends, so at least I've got that to use down the line.

A twisty heist film that also weaves in Chicago political corruption and public transportation?! Sign me the hell up!

This film was absurd in all of the best ways, and even though it lost a step in the final third, the first two thirds of the film were good enough for me to mostly overlook it. Props to Donald Sutherland who was absolute 🔥 in his limited time on the screen. 

As always, 70s Gould is elite. His vibes and demeanor are immaculate and is perfectly cast for this type of film.

Why take this on? I don't know, maybe because I was bored at work one day and thought this would be a fun exercise. (No, the star ratings don't line up exactly where they're supposed to..) This list is also subject to change at any and all times based on how I feel at that particular time.

1. Fargo
2. Hail, Caesar!
3. Burn After Reading
4. Barton Fink
5. The Big Lebowski
6. No Country for Old Men
7. Raising Arizona
8. Miller's Crossing
9. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
10. True Grit

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Well, I figured I should provide the totally definitive ranking of the films of one of my favorite directors. Will it be accurate? Probably not. Will it matter? Definitely not. Is it a pointless exercise because art shouldn't be ranked like this? Yes. And yet, here we are because Letterboxd lets you makes lists, and I've got a little bit of free time on my hands.

1. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2. The Royal Tenenbaums
3. Isle of Dogs
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
5. Rushmore
6. Moonrise Kingdom
7. Asteroid City
8. Fantastic Mr. Fox
9. The Darjeeling Limited
10. Bottle Rocket

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A silly exercise that was impossible but also a ton of fun. Honestly, most of these films are interchangeable based on the day, but at least for today, this is the numbered list.

*One film per director

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
3. The Florida Project
4. Uncut Gems
5. Almost Famous
6. Petite Maman
7. The Master
8. In the Bedroom
9. C'mon C'mon
10. The Departed

...plus 15 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

This is a list of the Top 50 films I watched in 2024 for the first time, regardless of release year. An impossible task, but a mostly fun one. 

*Star Ratings May not actually line up with Rankings. It's more of a "Vibes" rating than anything else.

1. In the Bedroom
2. Wings of Desire
3. The Insider
4. Nickel Boys
5. All That Jazz
6. Shotgun Stories
7. Mikey and Nicky
8. Paris, Texas
9. Rachel Getting Married
10. The Silence of the Lambs

...plus 40 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

This is a list of the Top 50 films I watched in 2023 for the first time, regardless of release year. An impossible task, but a mostly fun one.

*Star Ratings May not actually line up with Rankings. It's more of a "Vibes" rating than anything else.

1. The Red Shoes
2. Tomboy
3. Sunset Boulevard
4. Cléo from 5 to 7
5. A Matter of Life and Death
6. Zodiac
7. Bamboozled
8. Lost in America
9. Killers of the Flower Moon
10. Ikiru

...plus 40 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Autumn Sonata
• The Blood of a Poet
• Bullet Ballet
• Cléo from 5 to 7
• Closely Watched Trains
• The Color of Pomegranates
• Disintegration Loop 1.1
• Earth
• Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution
• Goodbye, Dragon Inn

...plus 2110 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Every decade the Sight and Sound team asks critics to name the greatest films of all time. Here are the results of the 2022 poll – the largest ever, with 1,639 critics, programmers, curators, archivists and academics each submitting their top ten ballot.

Check out Sight and Sound for the complete breakdown, including where films received the same number of votes.

Start watching today on BFI Player or on the big screen from January at BFI Southbank.

1. Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
2. Vertigo
3. Citizen Kane
4. Tokyo Story
5. In the Mood for Love
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey
7. Beau Travail
8. Mulholland Drive
9. Man with a Movie Camera
10. Singin' in the Rain

...plus 90 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The Criterion Challenge 2021
Welcome to the first annual "The Criterion Challenge" where we celebrate The Criterion Collection.

There are 52 categories - one for each week. Watch any Criterion related film released on Laserdisc, VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, or on The Criterion Channel between 1/1/21-12/31/21. The films can be watched daily, weekly, or monthly, and in any order! I would like for all picks to be first time watches but will leave that up to you.

Helpful links to view the entire Criterion Collection: The Complete Criterion Collection and Criterion Collection by Spine Number

Categories:

1. 1984 - watch a film released the year of Criterion's inception.
2. Directed by Akira Kurosawa
3. Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
4. Horror
5. Released on Laserdisc (Criterion Collection Laserdisc Titles)
6. Made in Spain
7. Wes Anderson's Top 10 (Wes Anderson’s Top 10)
8. Romance
9. A silent film
10. 1920s
11. 1930s
12. 1940s
13. 1950s
14. 1960s
15. 1970s
16. 1980s
17. 1990s
18. 2000s
19. 2010s
20. Directed by a woman
21. A film featured in the "Pioneers of African American Cinema" series (Pioneers of African American Cinema)
22. Documentary
23. Comedy
24. Any film on The Criterion Channel (Every Film Available on The Criterion Channel & Secondary List - if you don’t have this service then just choose any film featured on this list and watch however you please. Some may even be on other streaming services or available for rent.)
25. Martin Scorsese's Top 10 (Martin Scorsese’s Top 10)
26. Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
27. Directed by Federico Fellini
28. The Merchant Ivory Collection (Merchant Ivory Collection)
29. Oscar Winners (Oscar Winners)
30. Black and white
31. Directed by Charlie Chaplin
32. Watch any film featured in the Godzilla Boxset
33. Western
34. Made in Italy
35. Made in the Soviet Union
36. Made in India
37. A film from the Eclipse series (The Criterion Collection: Eclipse)
38. Kelly Reichardt's Top 10 (Kelly Reichardt’s Top 10)
39. Directed by John Cassavetes
40. Watch a film between spine #100-200
41. Film Noir
42. Samurai
43. A film featured in the "Queersighted: Queer Fear" series (Queersighted: Queer Fear)
44. A film featured in the "New Korean Cinema" series (New Korean Cinema)
45. Directed by Ingmar Bergman
46. Directed by Agnes Varda
47. Based on a book (Criterion Films Based on a Book)
48. Foreign-Language Oscar Winners (Criterion Collection: Foreign-Language Oscar Winners)
49. Josh and Benny Safdie's Closet Picks (Josh and Benny Safdie’s Closet Picks)
50. Watch a film with spine #1000 or higher
51. Watch a film featured in "Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits" (The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, Game of Death)
52. Any Criterion film on your watchlist

Please use the tags "cc2021" and “criterion challenge 2021” so that we can keep track of everything, and link your lists in the comments below. Have fun!

Started: 1/1/21

1. This Is Spinal Tap

   From 1984

2. Rashomon

   Directed by Kurosawa

3. Breathless

   Directed by Godard

4. Citizen Kane

   Criterion Collection on Laserdisc

5. All About My Mother

   Made in Spain

6. Au Hasard Balthazar

   Wes Anderson Top 10

7. Days of Heaven

   Romance

8. Metropolis

   Silent Film

9. The Cameraman

   1920s

10. The Lady Vanishes

    1930s

...plus 42 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.