I loved Bugonia, which barely got any nominations. Nothing else like it: for example, it's the only (absurdist, black comedy) thriller I've ever seen where I couldn't decide which of the main characters to root for. So many shocks and subtleties.
I disliked Hamnet for most of the film. I found the character of Shakespeare's wife unbelievably anachronistic, and the magical-nature-child-woman fantasy repelled me. Also, SO MUCH SHOUTING! About two-thirds of the way through I began to enjoy it, and found the final segment on stage sublime. So I was disappointed in the selection of this character for the Best Actress award, while happy for the actress and Ireland.
I also enjoyed every second of Melania. Being a fly on the wall inside the bubble around a billionaire and a president! Seeing how the 0.000001% lives! So full of ironies. One day this film will be recognized as a subversive masterpiece, not merely a blatant bribe.
I also enjoyed Marty Supreme and am dismayed by those taking delight in Thimotee Chalamet losing. It's not so much cancel culture as take-down culture. What mean, joyless people some on the left have become. Everyone wants to be the first to come up with the meanest viral quote. This does not lead anywhere good. Also the film deserve the best casting Oscar for Mr. Wonderful as the villain, a real life rich MF whose reality TV and PR schtick is the a$$#ole playing an evil millionaire who turns out to be even worse than we knew -- perfection!
Regarding the Oscar’s, it is clear that they are genuinely prestigious around the world, and while we scoff, those nominated for foreign films or for any nominees not from the US we should feel proud that the US is still a nation that aspires to recognize the best. Thus the Best Actress winner is a win both for her but also for Ireland. RTE showed her family celebrating. That is enough for me.
I have never watched them. I happened to see a report about an episode in which it was explained why Angelica Houston won one one year, who won like the girl in an Andy Griffith episode who was the Potato Queen, it was her turn. Even in gymnastics in the Olympics , there's that kind of subjectivity, not the objectivity of the 100 meter race.
I still love the Oscars! When I was a kid, I used to beg my mom to go to the movies with her and my sister. I’d keep getting told no. I missed out on The Exorcist and The Godfather (when my sister told me about the horse’s head, this avid horse lover was kinda glad she missed that!).
But then it finally happened! I got to go with them to see Serpico! I was surely too young, but I was in heaven! And I got the gist of the story - fighting corruption (is this the basis for my disdain of this administration? Probably!). Shortly after, my bedroom wall was plastered with Al Pacino/Serpico posters and it began my obsession with the movie theatre. (Sad fact, our city lost our movie theatre after Covid - it bums me out and decreases my theatre viewing because I have to travel. Not conducive always in the winter months).
The other reason is the obsession that my BFF and I had in our teen years with seeing every Oscar film, and watching with our selections. She passed at the age of 28 from CF but I’ve carry on the tradition still.
So, I watch and raise a toast to mom and Devon each year, for gifting me this love of story telling.
Thanks for the column. That "Battle" won was really a disappointment. It wasn't even one of the three best films of the year, in my view. "Sinners" was, as you say, a truly spectacular work of creation, as well as a film that demands viewing on the big screen. I was disinclined to like "Hamnet," as I'd seen the RSC version in London and found it both flat and a bit trite. But that film--particularly the pivotal sequence with Agnes and Will at the Globe--was exceptionally moving, and communicated a new depth to the English language's greatest work of tragedy. And then there's "Train Dreams," which I felt a genuinely profound meditation on loss, not to mention silence. Against these, "Battle" was flat, bombastic, cartoonish, and utterly predictable--more like a Medieval morality play than anything created since Shakespeare redefined storytelling.
I don’t watch movies as much anymore, but I usually try to catch some of the Oscar noms. I was surprised that I genuinely enjoyed watching all of them this year, and although I have my picks for certain awards, I can honestly say they’re all good contenders for different reasons. Even F1 (a similar pick to Maverick).
They were all fun to watch and discuss, with the music playing a big role this year for me, and Train Dreams in particular felt like a balm. Same for Hamnet and Sinners and The Secret Agent. And DiCaprio in OBAA had me laughing hard.
Just a good reminder of how important art is, especially in times of turmoil.
Sonny, Agree 100% …..for me , watching the Oscars is all about finding gems in the “ lesser-seen, lesser-known” projects. Also, I can’t wait to see Project Hail Mary.
I just can't stand Interstellar, but I'm still planning to love PHM. The book was perfect, justifiably heartwarming. I hope the filmmakers just leaned into that rather than feeling they had to manipulate.
Loved Sinners, the story, the improbable addition of the vampries that make sense once you see the whole movie, the wonderful music, the Irish dancing, the great dancing scene the weaves in and out of time, the brother's relationship, the deep South in the 1930s, all of it. I hope it wins everything. It is a most unique movie.
At the beginning of this year, you issued your 10 (or So) best movies of 2025. To date, I have watched quite a few of them but the one that stayed with me for days is Train Dreams. The measured pace of the film allows the story to unfold with an unassuming gentleness that is mesmerizing. Thank you recommending this beautiful film.
It’s a favorite of mine, too. Just everything about it. I’d wished Edgerton got a nomination for Best Actor, even though I think someone else will get it.
Wild! I thought it was a really great lens for how people feel about the world right now. The ease with which people get sucked into conspiracy theories—that there *is* something wrong with the world and maybe the conspiracy theorists were closer to right than we thought, but still off the mark and flawed in their own ways. Then I think it spoke to the idea that the oligarchs think they’re trying to do something good, but then they just become a part of the problem. And with their power, they just get to decide the fate of the rest of us, and it’s just never going to be good.
I think the Plemmons character was remarkable. I was about to write out this description and realized it’d contain spoilers. So I’ll refrain.
I will say that it was pretty jarring at times, though. It wasn’t a pleasant watch, but I don’t think movies have to be comfortable to be good. Mostly I was a bit sensitive to the loud staccato music and the violence in a few places.
I loved Bugonia, which barely got any nominations. Nothing else like it: for example, it's the only (absurdist, black comedy) thriller I've ever seen where I couldn't decide which of the main characters to root for. So many shocks and subtleties.
I disliked Hamnet for most of the film. I found the character of Shakespeare's wife unbelievably anachronistic, and the magical-nature-child-woman fantasy repelled me. Also, SO MUCH SHOUTING! About two-thirds of the way through I began to enjoy it, and found the final segment on stage sublime. So I was disappointed in the selection of this character for the Best Actress award, while happy for the actress and Ireland.
I also enjoyed every second of Melania. Being a fly on the wall inside the bubble around a billionaire and a president! Seeing how the 0.000001% lives! So full of ironies. One day this film will be recognized as a subversive masterpiece, not merely a blatant bribe.
I also enjoyed Marty Supreme and am dismayed by those taking delight in Thimotee Chalamet losing. It's not so much cancel culture as take-down culture. What mean, joyless people some on the left have become. Everyone wants to be the first to come up with the meanest viral quote. This does not lead anywhere good. Also the film deserve the best casting Oscar for Mr. Wonderful as the villain, a real life rich MF whose reality TV and PR schtick is the a$$#ole playing an evil millionaire who turns out to be even worse than we knew -- perfection!
Regarding the Oscar’s, it is clear that they are genuinely prestigious around the world, and while we scoff, those nominated for foreign films or for any nominees not from the US we should feel proud that the US is still a nation that aspires to recognize the best. Thus the Best Actress winner is a win both for her but also for Ireland. RTE showed her family celebrating. That is enough for me.
I have never watched them. I happened to see a report about an episode in which it was explained why Angelica Houston won one one year, who won like the girl in an Andy Griffith episode who was the Potato Queen, it was her turn. Even in gymnastics in the Olympics , there's that kind of subjectivity, not the objectivity of the 100 meter race.
I wonder at your elevated perspective.
I still love the Oscars! When I was a kid, I used to beg my mom to go to the movies with her and my sister. I’d keep getting told no. I missed out on The Exorcist and The Godfather (when my sister told me about the horse’s head, this avid horse lover was kinda glad she missed that!).
But then it finally happened! I got to go with them to see Serpico! I was surely too young, but I was in heaven! And I got the gist of the story - fighting corruption (is this the basis for my disdain of this administration? Probably!). Shortly after, my bedroom wall was plastered with Al Pacino/Serpico posters and it began my obsession with the movie theatre. (Sad fact, our city lost our movie theatre after Covid - it bums me out and decreases my theatre viewing because I have to travel. Not conducive always in the winter months).
The other reason is the obsession that my BFF and I had in our teen years with seeing every Oscar film, and watching with our selections. She passed at the age of 28 from CF but I’ve carry on the tradition still.
So, I watch and raise a toast to mom and Devon each year, for gifting me this love of story telling.
Thanks for the column. That "Battle" won was really a disappointment. It wasn't even one of the three best films of the year, in my view. "Sinners" was, as you say, a truly spectacular work of creation, as well as a film that demands viewing on the big screen. I was disinclined to like "Hamnet," as I'd seen the RSC version in London and found it both flat and a bit trite. But that film--particularly the pivotal sequence with Agnes and Will at the Globe--was exceptionally moving, and communicated a new depth to the English language's greatest work of tragedy. And then there's "Train Dreams," which I felt a genuinely profound meditation on loss, not to mention silence. Against these, "Battle" was flat, bombastic, cartoonish, and utterly predictable--more like a Medieval morality play than anything created since Shakespeare redefined storytelling.
At The Movies, late night shows, and The Oscars were a great way for a kid to get a peek at film even if just 20 sec clips.
After Saving Private Ryan lost best picture to Shakespeare in Love, I didn’t see the point of watching the Oscars anymore.
Sinners?
Really?
"From Dawn Till Dusk" was more than enough the first time around.
I don’t watch movies as much anymore, but I usually try to catch some of the Oscar noms. I was surprised that I genuinely enjoyed watching all of them this year, and although I have my picks for certain awards, I can honestly say they’re all good contenders for different reasons. Even F1 (a similar pick to Maverick).
They were all fun to watch and discuss, with the music playing a big role this year for me, and Train Dreams in particular felt like a balm. Same for Hamnet and Sinners and The Secret Agent. And DiCaprio in OBAA had me laughing hard.
Just a good reminder of how important art is, especially in times of turmoil.
Sonny, Agree 100% …..for me , watching the Oscars is all about finding gems in the “ lesser-seen, lesser-known” projects. Also, I can’t wait to see Project Hail Mary.
I just can't stand Interstellar, but I'm still planning to love PHM. The book was perfect, justifiably heartwarming. I hope the filmmakers just leaned into that rather than feeling they had to manipulate.
What is PHM?
Project Hail Mary.
Loved Sinners, the story, the improbable addition of the vampries that make sense once you see the whole movie, the wonderful music, the Irish dancing, the great dancing scene the weaves in and out of time, the brother's relationship, the deep South in the 1930s, all of it. I hope it wins everything. It is a most unique movie.
The moment has probably gone, but it would have been interesting to hear the three of you talk about the Tourette’s case on Cons and Nons.
Helvetica Black Italic.
At the beginning of this year, you issued your 10 (or So) best movies of 2025. To date, I have watched quite a few of them but the one that stayed with me for days is Train Dreams. The measured pace of the film allows the story to unfold with an unassuming gentleness that is mesmerizing. Thank you recommending this beautiful film.
“Not enough vampires” lol.
"Train Dreams":
Too many white folks
Too many trees
Not enough vampires
It’s a favorite of mine, too. Just everything about it. I’d wished Edgerton got a nomination for Best Actor, even though I think someone else will get it.
Hi, next-door-neighbor (I'm in LA). Did you watch Bugonia? If so, what did you think about it? I just watched it last night.
Wild! I thought it was a really great lens for how people feel about the world right now. The ease with which people get sucked into conspiracy theories—that there *is* something wrong with the world and maybe the conspiracy theorists were closer to right than we thought, but still off the mark and flawed in their own ways. Then I think it spoke to the idea that the oligarchs think they’re trying to do something good, but then they just become a part of the problem. And with their power, they just get to decide the fate of the rest of us, and it’s just never going to be good.
I think the Plemmons character was remarkable. I was about to write out this description and realized it’d contain spoilers. So I’ll refrain.
I will say that it was pretty jarring at times, though. It wasn’t a pleasant watch, but I don’t think movies have to be comfortable to be good. Mostly I was a bit sensitive to the loud staccato music and the violence in a few places.
Sonny. Here’s a fun & different film POV! This link is for their recent post about “Sinners!”
https://youtu.be/zJzlICYuck0?si=DXA7lxVjltUPjKw1
Deb