For Firsts I watched David Fincher’s feature directorial debut: Alien 3. It was okay, but didn’t come close to the first two in the series and Fincher would go on to make much better movies.
January 5, 2026 at 4:03 AM
For Firsts I watched David Fincher’s feature directorial debut: Alien 3. It was okay, but didn’t come close to the first two in the series and Fincher would go on to make much better movies.
Long list for me this week (11 total): Avatar: Fire and Ash, Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol, In the Mood for Love, Get Out, Jingle All The Way, Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Parasite, Inglorious Basterds, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Hateful Eight.
In what has now become a tradition, the final challenge of the year is to watch a movie that somebody else watched to complete one of this year's previous challenges.
Long list for me this week (11 total): Avatar: Fire and Ash, Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol, In the Mood for Love, Get Out, Jingle All The Way, Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Parasite, Inglorious Basterds, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Hateful Eight.
I went with To Have And Have Not. I have been digging into Howard Hawks movies since a collection of his films appeared on the Criterion Channel last month. I enjoyed this first Bogart and Bacall movie.
December 22, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I went with To Have And Have Not. I have been digging into Howard Hawks movies since a collection of his films appeared on the Criterion Channel last month. I enjoyed this first Bogart and Bacall movie.
Two for this week: Rental Family (the main character is invited to play a part in a family) and Knives Out (Benoit Blanc is invited to investigate the case).
December 8, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Two for this week: Rental Family (the main character is invited to play a part in a family) and Knives Out (Benoit Blanc is invited to investigate the case).
Train Dreams. There isn’t a lot of train in this movie but it’s there and right in the title. Also get a small but key plane appearance. As for the substance, this was a beautiful (and sad) movie both visually and in story.
December 1, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Train Dreams. There isn’t a lot of train in this movie but it’s there and right in the title. Also get a small but key plane appearance. As for the substance, this was a beautiful (and sad) movie both visually and in story.
Children of Men. A fantastic movie that begins in London. Also, the backdrop of the story (not the infertility but the rest of it) seems highly relevant in 2025 America.
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Children of Men. A fantastic movie that begins in London. Also, the backdrop of the story (not the infertility but the rest of it) seems highly relevant in 2025 America.
I went heavy on this one. Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2, Michael Clayton and the new Frankenstein. Enjoyed them all in different ways (including KB 2 being a shift from KB 1 as it’s more contemplative but wasn’t quite as much pure fun for me).
November 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I went heavy on this one. Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2, Michael Clayton and the new Frankenstein. Enjoyed them all in different ways (including KB 2 being a shift from KB 1 as it’s more contemplative but wasn’t quite as much pure fun for me).
Marie Antoinette. Masks are donned at one point. A delight for the eyes, a modern take while having period dress and conventions, lots of interesting casting with no regard for accent consistency, and a shining portrayal by Kirsten Dunst. If you’re expecting much political analysis, look elsewhere.
November 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Marie Antoinette. Masks are donned at one point. A delight for the eyes, a modern take while having period dress and conventions, lots of interesting casting with no regard for accent consistency, and a shining portrayal by Kirsten Dunst. If you’re expecting much political analysis, look elsewhere.
A House of Dynamite. When there has been a nuclear launch, time is of the essence. (Solid movie. The “reset” that occurred several times actually ratcheted down the tension so not ideal on that front.)
October 26, 2025 at 9:56 PM
A House of Dynamite. When there has been a nuclear launch, time is of the essence. (Solid movie. The “reset” that occurred several times actually ratcheted down the tension so not ideal on that front.)
The Tenant. The conclusion to Polanski’s unofficial apartment trilogy. I first saw this in 1999 in a film class in college and I loved it. I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about it this time but still a good and unsettling watch.
October 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Tenant. The conclusion to Polanski’s unofficial apartment trilogy. I first saw this in 1999 in a film class in college and I loved it. I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about it this time but still a good and unsettling watch.
Probably like many this week, I watched Robert Redford, joined by a stacked cast, in Sneakers. Hadn’t seen it since it was in theaters. A really fun movie. (I watched three other Redford movies this week but the others didn’t qualify for the challenge.)
September 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Probably like many this week, I watched Robert Redford, joined by a stacked cast, in Sneakers. Hadn’t seen it since it was in theaters. A really fun movie. (I watched three other Redford movies this week but the others didn’t qualify for the challenge.)
Scarface. Directed by Brian De Palma, who directed the first M:I movie. I don’t think it is a classic movie but it is definitely iconic in pop culture.
August 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Scarface. Directed by Brian De Palma, who directed the first M:I movie. I don’t think it is a classic movie but it is definitely iconic in pop culture.
Two for two in a poster: So I Married an Axe Murderer and Freaky Friday. I liked SIMAAM, but just liked it - not more. I realized that Mike Myers works better when wearing a wig (Wayne and Austin Powers) or being animated. FF was a fun family watch.
August 11, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Two for two in a poster: So I Married an Axe Murderer and Freaky Friday. I liked SIMAAM, but just liked it - not more. I realized that Mike Myers works better when wearing a wig (Wayne and Austin Powers) or being animated. FF was a fun family watch.