Terrific additions to National Film Registry, including Richard Linklater’s BEFORE SUNRISE, John Carpenter’s THE THING, Lawrence Kasdan’s THE BIG CHILL, Christopher Nolan’s INCEPTION, and Wes Anderson’s THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. deadline.com/2026/01/nati...

The KOOP Radio interview with I TOOK THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED subject Diego "Bull" Avello + dir. J. Budro Partida: www.lightscameraaustin.net/diego-bull-a... The documentary, about the Bull y los Búfalos rock singer, screens Thursday during the Austin Revolution Film Festival. @koopradio.bsky.social

Join me 3-4:30 p.m. central for KOOP at the Movies Interviews - SHELTER director Ric Roman Waugh - I TOOK THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED Diego “Bull” Avello and director J. Budro Partida Preview - Austin Revolution Film Festival Listen at KOOP Radio 91.7 FM / koop.org @koopradio.bsky.social

BLOOD RELATIVES erasure. deadline.com/2026/01/the-...

My son wants to work in sports after he graduates. He’s one step closer today to his goal — he just started an 11-month internship with the Miami Marlins. Watch out for him at loanDepot Park! #prouddad

I fully support today’s statement by the Austin Film Critics Association. @atxfilmcritics.bsky.social @koopradio.bsky.social

The KOOP Radio interview with C. Robert Cargill, the Austin-based co-writer of BLACK PHONE 2: www.lightscameraaustin.net/c-robert-car... #BlackPhone2 is now streaming on Peacock and also is available on Blu-Ray/DVD. @koopradio.bsky.social @crobertcargill.bsky.social #Blumhouse #CrookedHighway

I’m all for more original films in theaters, good, mediocre, or bad. So if Amazon MGM saw fit to give MERCY a theatrical release, why not G20, HEADS OF STATE, and THE PICKUP? (I’ve not seen THE WRECKING CREW, but I assume this new Prime Video original is no better or no worse than MERCY et al.)

Congrats to Austin’s Greg Kwedar on his second consecutive Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination (sharing it again with his SING SING co-writer Clint Bentley).

Not a fan of 1 distributor buying as many awards contenders as possible. But Neon’s gamble has paid off at the Oscars and/or the box office. Hopefully audiences will support Sirât when it opens 2/6. (No Other Choice’s snub is understandable: can’t give 1 distributor all 5 noms in a single category.)

Amanda Seyfried gave one of the best performances of 2025. All-time fumble not securing Seyfried an Oscar nomination.

RIP Bruce Bilson. www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/b...

Join me 3-4:30 p.m. central today for KOOP at the Movies: Interviews: - GOOD NIGHT COLLEGE director Shyam Madhav - BLACK PHONE 2 co-writer/producer C. Robert Cargill Plus a tribute to the late Joe Ely. Listen at KOOP Radio 91.7 FM / koop.org @koopradio.bsky.social

The Harry Ransom Center has acquired the archive of two-time Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland, who died in 2020. www.hrc.utexas.edu/press/releas...

Congrats to Richard Linklater. Just wish NOUVELLE VAGUE received more awards attention this side of the Atlantic, especially for Guillaume Marbeck. variety.com/2026/film/gl...

RIP Roger Allers. variety.com/2026/film/ne...

Welcome news that A24’s gamble on MARTY SUPREME has paid off. But A24 still needs to find a balance b/w spending big $$$ on risky originals and setting aside enough $$$ to effectively support/market more modestly priced offerings such as SORRY, BABY and IF I HAD LEGS. variety.com/2026/film/bo...

RIP Mark Jones. variety.com/2026/film/ob...

Made my final trip to Recycled Reads this week. Picked clean. Will miss this vital source of physical media (THE PRISONER remains my prized pickup). Won’t have time or inclination to visit individual libraries for used Blus and DVDs, so the Austin Public Library system has lost a longtime customer.

The KOOP Radio interview with GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION dir. Ric Roman Waugh: www.lightscameraaustin.net/ric-roman-wa... The former Austinite’s sequel to the 2020 disaster film is now in theaters. @koopradio.bsky.social #RicRomanWaugh #Greenland #Greenland2Migration #GreenlandMigration @lionsgate.com

An argument can be made that Kathleen Kennedy’s tenure had as many lows as it did highs when it comes to STAR WARS and other Lucasfilm properties. But the harassment she received over the years from a small segment of SW fans remains inexcusable. Hope it now stops. deadline.com/2026/01/kath...

Fiennes is playing at a level no one else is this decade.

The KOOP Radio interview with Ben Masters, the Austin-based dir. of BORDERLANDS JAGUAR: www.lightscameraaustin.net/ben-masters-... The documentary screens at 7:30 pm tonight at the AFS Cinema. #BorderlandsJaguar is also streaming on AppleTV @koopradio.bsky.social @austinfilm.bsky.social #BenMasters

Matthew McConaughey’s THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH to open Aug. 14. Will need a strong marketing campaign from this new distributor to entice audiences and generate strong awards buzz for McConaughey and the film’s remarkable young lead, Angelina LookingGlass. deadline.com/2026/01/tune...

The KOOP Radio interview with Patrick Gregory and the Austin-based Sally O’Grady, the directors of THE TROUBLE I SEE: www.lightscameraaustin.net/sally-ogrady... The documentary screens at 7 p.m. tonight at the AFS Cinema. @koopradio.bsky.social @austinfilm.bsky.social #TheTroubleISee #TroubleISee

Join me 3-4:30 pm central today for KOOP at the Movies: Today’s interviews: - BORDERLANDS JAGUAR director Ben Masters - GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION director Ric Roman Waugh - THE TROUBLE I SEE directors Sally O’Grady, Patrick Gregory Listen at KOOP Radio 91.7 FM / koop.org @koopradio.bsky.social

Join me and my fellow AFCA members at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the AFS Cinema for our Austin Film Award winner screening of BLUE MOON, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke. Thanks to the Austin Film Society for making this happen. Details: www.austinfilm.org/screening/bl...

Fantastic Fest 2025 opener PRIMATE did as well as expected for an R-rated original aimed at teens. But I still don’t understand why it cost $24M. Isn’t the point of making a single-location, no-name cast horror film such as PRIMATE to keep the budget as low as possible?

The KOOP Radio review of Austin’s 2025 in film with Austin Chronicle senior staff writer/critic Richard Whittaker: www.lightscameraaustin.net/richard-whit... @rmwhittaker.bsky.social @austinchronicle.bsky.social @atxfilmcritics.bsky.social @koopradio.bsky.social

RIP Guy Moon. deadline.com/2026/01/guy-...

RIP Tom Cherones. www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/t...

RIP Bob Weir. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

ICYMI, the KOOP Radio interview with Deborah S. Esquenazi, the Austin-based director of NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS: www.lightscameraaustin.net/deborah-s-es... The legal documentary screens Sunday at the AFS Cinema. @koopradio.bsky.social #NightinWestTexas #InnocenceProject @austinfilm.bsky.social

RIP T.K. Carter. variety.com/2026/film/ne...

ICYMI, the KOOP Radio interview with CHAIN REACTIONS director Alexandre O. Philippe: www.lightscameraaustin.net/alexandre-o-... The TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE documentary is now streaming on #Shudder. #ChainReactions #TexasChainSawMassacre #TCM #AlexandreOPhilippe @koopradio.bsky.social @shudder.com

The stars looked very different 10 years ago today. And, sadly, things have been not the same since David Bowie’s passing. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...

Is it Nov. 6 yet?

In happier news, we announce the first wave of the SXSW program next week. It rules. Movies rule. Come watch movies that rule with us.

We’re pleased to announce a special screening of BLUE MOON to celebrate its receipt of our 2025 Best Austin Film Award. Jan 12th. 6:30pm. Tickets onsale now. Thanks to the fine folk at @austinfilm.bsky.social for graciously supporting this screening! austinfilmcritics.org/2026/01/06/t...

Only in the Magnited States of America …

First theatrical viewing of 2026. First of two January releases directed by Ric Roman Waugh. First theatrical sequel to a COVID-era original that bypassed cinemas to premiere domestically on VOD?

The KOOP Radio preview of the Austin Film Society’s January 2026 programming with Lars Nilsen and Jazmyne Moreno: www.lightscameraaustin.net/austin-film-... @koopradio.bsky.social @thelarsnilsen.bsky.social #AustinFilmSociety #AFSCinema

Listen 3-4:30 pm central today to KOOP at the Movies. The Austin Chronicle senior writer and the Austin Film Critics Association’s V.P. Richard Whittaker joins me to review Austin’s 2025 in film. @koopradio.bsky.social @rmwhittaker.bsky.social @austinchronicle.bsky.social @atxfilmcritics.bsky.social

RIP Béla Tarr. www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...

Factor out Best Actress and Best Comedy and I’m good with our Critics Choice Awards winners. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER definitely the film to beat this awards season. (For the record, I voted for Amanda Seyfried/Best Actress and THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME/Best Comedy.) deadline.com/2026/01/crit...

SXSW 2025 selection WE BURY THE DEAD scores $2.5M as the first moderate wide release of 2026. Represents Vertical Entertainment’s biggest opening. Solid result for a hit-and-run release that also shows a hunger for horror.

This communal event really was the best way to experience the finale.

Can’t believe 15 yo and I made it to our STRANGER THINGS finale fan screening without being exposed to any major spoilers. #StrangerThings