Merry Christmas to all! youtu.be/20iB2jyB4Ec

A great present for all who attend this in about one month!

As much as I try to watch a lot of new movies, I try to keep up with new music as well too (probably why you always see me wearing headphones/earbuds). Here are my picks for favorite records of 2025 along with a podcast/playlist of a sampling of favorite songs too! www.jimlaczkowski.net/2025records

Bringing back Limewire to illegally rip copies of reporting suppressed by the government is definitely some cyberpunk shit

Henceforth this shall be known as the Shut the Fuck Up About Chicago decision. @harebrained.bsky.social

The Supreme Court's unexpected opposition to Trump unleashing federal troops on Chicago is less a legal or moral victory than an admission of political reality. The corrupt six have spent the last year watching their depraved master bleed out, and now they're thinking about a future without him.

Finally, some new podcasts and content in time for Christmas! Today, you get two music-centric episodes! The first is the third episode of B-SIDE ME featuring me and Sharon talking all about the extraordinary machine that is Fiona Apple! Can't wait for more in 2026! www.jimlaczkowski.net/fiona/

The 25 best films of 2025

This month's Beyond the Algorithm column over at the NYT is an annual tradition: we always devote December to movies that came out this year, are on the streamers right now, and are well worth a look over the holiday break. Gift link, no paywall: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/m...

A lot happening and on my mind this holiday season but I’m truly grateful my mom is in assisted living and doing much better now. It made me happy to see my mom happy and enjoying herself while being properly fed, medicated and looked after by a great staff. This is the best Christmas gift ever.

Congrats to @collinsouter.bsky.social for being a part of this amazing Blu-Ray release. It’s orgy time (when I have free time to watch it all). Greatest Christmas gift ever! This is a must own for cinephiles and lovers of @thejoedante.bsky.social of course. Overjoyed that I own this!

It’s that time of year to watch THE SILENT PARTNER.

One of my favorite movies, 'Broadcast News,' was released on this day in 1987. For @Slate.com I wrote about its deleted scenes, which show how easily a great film could've gone sideways:

Today on my @justthediscs.bsky.social, I’m talking about my favorite Discs of the year! youtu.be/W_rU7UsNemk?...

Look, of course I know the answer to this, but when you see a clip like this, you have to wonder why anybody interviews the president about anything. You would get more interesting and useful results interviewing a random person at a bus stop. Probably more informed, too.

For the afternoon drive - @jimlaczkowski.net and I got into the emotional construction of “Hamnet”…and the way movies ca make us feel #WomenInFilm #FilmSky #matineecast www.thematinee.ca/episode358/

Some cool new @vinsyn.bsky.social Partner Label arrivals including @thejoedante.bsky.social’s THE MOVIE ORGY which is absolutely one of my favorite releases of the year! @trailersfromhell.bsky.social

Trump's comment about Rob Reiner, a beloved American, really demonstrates the rottenness of his character.

this is one of the most psychotic things Trump has ever posted

SCROOGED isn't a great movie but any movie that gives us so many Karen Allen smiles is worth watching every once in a while

Thank you! @dekkoparsnip2.bsky.social Paul always knows how to put on a good show! Lots of laughs last night especially… letterboxd.com/film/santas-...

We library folk do a good job talking about all the free services we offer, but I don’t see many of us talking about how libraries are one or the only places where you can use services without being advertised to.

thinkin about her

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed disastrous cuts to our city's libraries while setting aside $5M for a ShotSpotter replacement. As library associate Sara Heymann told me, “Libraries embody everything we need to fight back against fascism.” My piece on what’s at stake and how to fight back:

"My Grandfather's Cat" is a cross-Canada organization that helps dying seniors find homes for their beloved animals. They also offer a senior's pet food pantry, to help support low income seniors. Please consider donating as a gift for the pet lover in your life. www.mygrandfatherscat.ca

Testing 1,2,3. My new website and newsletter is just about ready! www.jimlaczkowski.net

Chicago folks, @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social is showing Doris Wishman's masterpiece DILDO HEAVEN this coming Tuesday and Thursday! musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-ev...

Sooooo excited to enjoy an audience sing-along at the fabulous Music Box theater in Chicago. 🎶JOY to THIS world @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social

If you are having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, may I recommend watching the greatest Christmas special ever created: youtu.be/NRvtOGLzpvE

gonna see the hell outta this movie when I get home though

“I miss blockbuster video” the library has every dvd totally untouched and I never see you there

As usual, our four acting winners were just about perfect.

Seen in Uptown

When we talk about physical media, we are often only taking about personal collections but a big part of shunning the current digital ecosystem is supporting your local library. Not just for print books and periodicals but for movies, games and other medias too. Get. A. Library. Card.

My first commentary track is out and available; huge thanks to Bill Ackerman and @jlalibs.com for all their support and hard work. Grateful for this opportunity to share my love of AT CLOSE RANGE. Hope everyone enjoys this @vinsyn.bsky.social @cine-matographe.bsky.social release as much as I will!

“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.” Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻

One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential

FFC review: NO OTHER CHOICE, by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2025/12/no-o...

THIS

Hamnet is a superb film that shouldn't need defending, but apparently it does, so I'll just say that I can't count the number of Oscar seasons in which a movie labeled as "soft" or "manipulative" is attacked bc it putatively threatens the chances of a NOT-soft film that is at least as manipulative.

Terrific crop, and also hell yeah:

Officially announcing the Chicago Film Critics Association award nominees for 2025. Click here for more! Yay OBAA! chicagofilmcritics.org/blog/cfca202...

Wow, was not expecting The Shrouds! Great writing and an eclectic list!

I’ve waited the entire year to write about Carson Lund’s wonderful baseball film EEPHUS. I finally got to do so for the Top 10 films of the year on @ebertvoices.bsky.social, where it placed at #8!!! Read my blurb and many more: www.rogerebert.com/features/the...

What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.

Get in loser, we’re returning to the gothic. chloesnotscared.com/2025/12/06/t...

Stay tuned in an hour for CFCA nominations

Chicagoland - CPB and Kristi Noem didn’t like our Christmas caroling. Go home, ICE Barbie. Immigrants are welcome here. Hands Off Chicago. Melt ICE. @indivisiblels.bsky.social @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social @indivisible.org @aaronparnas.bsky.social @altnps.bsky.social @jesscraven101.bsky.social

The founders of Substack don't block Nazis bc they don't want "to be in the censorship business," but they *do* block adult content, just because. They've told us who they are.