We may have to, begrudgingly, accept certain behaviors in first run multiplex screenings now. But it’s wild to me how pervasive those same behaviors are at film festivals now, let alone press and industry screenings which should be, frankly, populated by the very people rallying against that.

The impulsive reaction to Kimmel returning is celebratory but it shouldn’t be. We all know that the reason is ultimately financial; the blow to the bottom line mattered more than his, and our, rights as americans. And, beyond that, the collateral damage of reporters etc that lost jobs still exists.

First day of fall means that I’m sharing my favorite @letterboxd.social list again, which has been updated a bunch since last October.

Put together a list of a few hundred deep-ish cuts for the season over on @letterboxd.social

I have seen hundreds of films at NYFF over the past decade plus and not until tonight have I heard multiple people scream in Walter Reade thanks to Sirāt, a movie that people will likely either love or hate (I’m in the former camp). Whatever you do, see it in a theater with good sound.

The TV networks that are willing to hastily cancel anyone who dares speak are owned by major conglomerates. These companies control so much of our media and can turn it off whenever they see fit, with or without cause. Now is a good reminder to make back ups of downloads & preserve anything you can.

Can’t wait for everyone to see Park Chan-wook’s NO OTHER CHOICE, a bonafide crowd pleaser that begs to be experienced with a packed house. It’ll be positioned as the next PARASITE but, for my money, it’s really the next OFFICE KILLER — pitch black humor and all.

Wrote about one of my favorite, and most often overlooked, Schrader jams for @screenslate.bsky.social today You should see it on 35mm at MoMA tonight, hosted by the inimitable @mayascade.bsky.social

Short stack of new arrivals this week which includes the much needed upgrade of Born In Flames from @criterion.bsky.social

We don’t, as a society, talk enough about this flurry of cameos in Casper (1995)

What are we even doing here? At best, this is some sort of misguided Saul Bass homage and at worst, well, it can’t get much worse.

Redford was one of the exceedingly rare filmmakers working in Hollywood that understood the power of quiet filmmaking.

RIP to Robert Redford, one of the best to ever do it (and a dozen other things on top of that) Here’s an excerpt from a 2017 interview that he did with Esquire, in which he discusses his career, the Trump presidency and a slew of other things all very articulately Remember him for the work

Was working on this list over the summer and it felt apt to publish it last week for various reasons but then I forgot to share it elsewhere. So, here it is.

We got Criterion 4K of Pee Wee’s Big Adventure before GTA 6 But, in all sincerity, this (and the new covert art) is very welcome.

This is going to all unfold like the plot of Shooter (2007)

Newest batch of disc arrivals, which includes the highly anticipated (by me) arrival of Coneheads on UHD.

Feels like the complete Akerman retro at MoMA isn’t getting enough shine even though it starts in two days and is a massive program. New Yorkers should be all over this.

Based on the amount of flash photography during the opening of my Conjuring: Last Rites screening, I think that the only way to curb this abhorrent trend is for new movies to drop opening title cards. Put them at the end, if needed. Just cease giving them a reason to snap photos as they won’t stop.

Wrote about David Lynch’s DUNE, which isn’t nearly as bad as you’ve been lead to believe, for @screenslate.bsky.social today It screens on 70mm, for the first time in NY in two decades, at @paristheaternyc.bsky.social and you shouldn’t miss it

I let Princess pick the movie tonight @88films.bsky.social

Don’t normalize this shit. It’s an affront. The last thing we want is for something like this to be financially successful or make waves in any way. If the “test case” benefits those bankrolling it, where does this stop? Do we get a fake “original” cut of GREED next?

If you want evidence that reading comprehension, and any sort of basic research skills, are at an all time low, you just need to quickly glance at any comments section about ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER being the first film to be projected in VistaVision since 1961. Key word here being “projected”.

Wearing this to all film festival events for the foreseeable future

The current NIN live show is an unholy cyberpunk amalgam of goth performance art, arena rock, expanded/live cinema and the greatest damn light show you’ve ever seen. A true spectacle that deserves the rare concert film treatment. Let’s get Gaspar Noé on it.

It’s a big month for me! In addition to the Cinématographe release, I also produced this collection of Hisayasu Satô films, the first volume in an ongoing series. Many thanks to @jaspersharp.bsky.social and @sarahappleton.bsky.social for the invaluable work on this as well as all collaborators!

Wrote a few paragraphs about CITY ON FIRE for @screenslatesf.bsky.social today, which is playing in a new 4K restoration in various theaters and is now available on UHD from @shoutstudios.bsky.social

One of my favorite things about @cine-matographe.bsky.social is the breadth of what can be offered via the label. Case in point: today's release of the massively overlooked 1997 neo-noir GANG RELATED, starring Tupac in his final screen performance alongside a stacked cast. It's great, trust me.

fave 1st watches of August The Naked Gun (2025) Freeze Me (2000) Holiday (1938) The Velvet Underground (2021) Diablo (2025) Highest 2 Lowest (2025) Confessions of a Psycho Cat (1968) Evolver (1995) Leila and the Wolves (1984) Honey, Don’t (2025)

If you ever get the chance to hear M. Night speak, don’t miss it. Far and away one of our most articulate, inspirational and truly funny voices. Huge thanks to @filmlinc.bsky.social for having him in NY.

New arrivals for the past week or so, a handful that I’ve never seen but mostly 4K upgrades of new and old favorites.

Seems like a good day to remind people what Brian Yuzna had planned for HOUSE OF REANIMATOR “…a Bush-like president would die in office, prompting the U.S. government to call Herbert West in to do what West does best: bring the dead back from the dead” bloody-disgusting.com/news/3413822...

Everyone involved in this should be ashamed

The last surviving movie theater in all of New Haven, which closed two years ago, is now available for lease. As much as I hope some enterprising theater operator takes it on, I imagine it will be turned into storefronts or apartments. Support your local theaters, before you don’t have them.

Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨

A brief window into my amazon media orders from 2012 (before I switched to ordering all of my media from better places)

As much as I love that more indie films are getting wide releases, these one show a night for one week runs just feel like an empty gesture from multiplex chains that need more programming. Industry people see them as service deals and the public often have no idea what the films are.

Major publications always feel snarky when reporting about physical media but I do like this piece: “But music fans are not ditching streaming. Rather, cassettes and other physical media are seen as complementary components.” This is the way. Digital and physical coexisting as one ecosystem.

I feel seen

Returned home to an embarrassment of riches after a week away. Truly the best time to be a physical media collector.

Before anyone gets too excited about there now being 13,000+ movies for sale on the Best Buy site again, note that they are not in stores and they’re not even being sold by Best Buy but, third parties like GRUV or Pop Market (an Alliance store) that you could just direct from for less.

Ahead of the @nitehawkcinema.bsky.social screening of DRIVE ‘97, sharing my pandemic era @screenslate.bsky.social piece from 2021 when it was a mere streaming recommendation. Now you can see it on a big screen if you’re in NY tonight! I’ll be introducing the film and would love to see you!

It’s not a trip to NH and ME if I don’t go to more than one @bullmoosestores.bsky.social and bring back a stack

I know that the Criterion hype for December will largely revolve around EYES WIDE SHUT but HOUSE PARTY has been on my short list of essential HD upgrades for well over a decade now and I could not be more excited for it.

Kind of obsessed with how Spike and Matthew Libatique work Super 8 and Super 16 film into HIGHEST 2 LOWEST. It never feels like a stunt, just an organic way to add texture to the film and it looks incredible on a big screen. Just god tier technical work all around.

I was initially lamenting seeing HIGHEST 2 LOWEST in Boston instead of New York this weekend but then the whole “Boston sucks” subway scene happened and I knew that being here to see it was fate.

If you’re in Boston this weekend, I’d love to see you!

It’s been hard keeping this a secret but I’m beyond stoked to have a @cine-matographe.bsky.social restoration in this years Revivals section at NYFF, in partnership with my friends at @hoperunshigh.bsky.social And, yes, more Jaglom is coming. Stay tuned!

Roll out! One of the best 90s action movies that you’ve probably still been sleeping on. It’s going to be a blast with a crowd.

Humbled to be included here and discover that Akiva is a fellow fan of Wild Things in the process.