BLACK BAG: Koepp’s the kind of classically oriented writer whose scripts you were probably fed in Screenwriting 101. So of course this is very writerly/self-consciously clever. But who cares when Sodey’s having so much fun playing around in his toolbox of digital economy and light-genre exercise

New Natalia Lafourcade single left me spellbound, who’s surprised? A gobsmacking midpoint between sensitivity and grandeur. She keeps getting closer and closer to a masterpiece with each work. Is this gonna be it? music.apple.com/us/album/can...

Just wrapped up watching Spike Lee’s BAMBOOZLED with some friends. Forgive me for being reductive, but dare I say it, he’s the closest thing we’ve got to an American Godard? Maybe a masterpiece? I’ll sleep on it

I’m gonna kick around a crackpot NBA prediction, since we’re fresh out of all star weekend: Westbrook’s getting his ring this year

Just watched PINOCCHIO. Cried. An unimpeachable portrait of the human condition. The lighting, when you wish upon a star, the whale rescue, everything! Oh how I crave for a modern Disney script as economical and potent as this one

An Open Letter to Google:

Dear Google

Please let me turn off AI overview. Whenever I use your search engine there’s a high chance of your AI system giving me useless information, vaguely pertaining to what I’m actually looking for.

Thanks

Spent a decent chunk of my day relistening to Joe Hisaishi’s sublime Hana-bi score. Maybe my favorite in his whole catalog?

The everyday struggles of seeking out obscure foreign cinema. I couldn’t find a working torrent for the 2001 Argentinian film LA LIBERTAD. So now I’m watching a 480p version with built-in Turkish subtitles, while using the in-camera google translate feature whenever there’s dialogue

You know it’s a beautiful Saturday evening when the Applebees parking lot is full

music.apple.com/us/album/let...

NICKEL BOYS: An instantaneous benchmark for American cinema. Sobbed profusely through those final 5 minutes and all the way through the credits. Ghosts in the cupboards

Get Jerami off the court!

A friendly reminder that The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More is a masterpiece

Only two days away now, but I’m absolutely craving to re-experience that library montage in The Brutalist

Blazers basketball is dreadful to watch, night in and night out. Fire Chauncey

NOSFERATU: Lots of gorgeously empty formal maneuvers, and a narrative that I haven’t found involving after 5 hours and change, and still don’t after another 2. First time Eggers’ fastidious period focus’ have felt like table dressing and nothing more. It’s fine

Whatta run from the late 60s through the early 80s

Wishing a lovely day to my dear friend Larry Fong