Charles Herald

A former banker inspired to celebrate the arts and the creators who, for centuries, have made our world a more interesting place.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

My ranking of this year’s Best Picture nominees.

1) Frankenstein
2) Bugonia
3) Sinners
4) One Battle After Another
5) Hamnet
6) Train Dreams
Have Not Seen: F1, The Secret Agent, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

Honorable Mention Most Anticipated Films:
Masters of the Universe
Michael
Digger
Ready or Not: Here I Come
Evil Dead Burn
Clayface
Resident Evil
Whalefall
Madden
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
Psycho Killer
Jackass 5

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2026:
1) Project Hail Mary
2) The Odyssey
3) Dune: Part Three
4) Avengers: Doomsday
5) Godzilla Minus Zero
6) Werwulf
7) Disclosure Day
8) The Social Reckoning
9) The Adv. of Cliff Booth
10) Spider Man: Brand New Day

1/2

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

I hadn’t yet shared my favorite First-Time Film Viewings during 2025. Finally watched IAWL in its entirety, which was the only perfect score I assigned. Two J. Stewart classics at the top of the list. I did get to check off some long neglected viewings that I enjoyed quite a bit.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

@RMBee I was shouting virtually the same words in the direction of my t.v., while in disbelief of the atrocious writing. Noah Hawley has shown he is better than this. I cannot imagine anyone calling this a great series after last night’s episode.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

I rank the Best Picture nominees like this:
1) Dune: Part 2
2) The Substance
3) Anora
4) Conclave
5) A Complete Unknown
6) Emilia Perez

I did not see: The Brutalist, Wicked, I’m Still Here, and Nickel Boys #AcademyAwards2025

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

I rank the Best Picture nominees like this:
1) Dune: Part 2
2) The Substance
3) Anora
4) Conclave
5) A Complete Unknown
6) Emilia Perez

I did not see: The Brutalist, Wicked, I’m Still Here, and Nickel Boys #academyawards

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

Another Oscars ceremony is set to begin. So, I took a moment today to reflect back on the films I saw that were released in 2024 - 36 in total. Here would be my picks if I were selecting the winners, as well as what my vote would be among the Academy noms, & the actual winners

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

@ThatOneShowBC Was not expecting TV on the Radio to appear in that lineup. I knew they had played a few shows at the end of 2024. One of the artists I most want to see live, but have not yet.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

Honorable Mentions: Presence, The Gorge, Death of a Unicorn, The Bride, The Long Walk, The Running Man, Thunderbolts*, Michael, Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson film, Ballerina, F1, and The Naked Gun

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2025:
1) Superman
2) 28 Years Later
3) GDT’s Frankenstein
4) Life of Chuck
5) MI: Final Reckoning
6) Fantastic Four: First Steps
7) Mickey 17
8) My Dead Friend Zoe
9) Avatar: Fire and Ash
10) Jurassic World: Rebirth

1/2

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

@imprint_films The release of The Prisoner set really went a long way toward making this one of my favorite years as a physical media collector.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

I didn’t watch a good deal of new t.v. seasons during 24, but the top pick was easy: The Penguin (Best in Pop Culture overall this yr. as well). House of the Dragon S2 was great, if not quite at the S1 level. I don’t consider anything else I saw to be great, but I must catch up.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

2/2 Honorable Mentions for Physical Media 2024 releases: White Christmas and Narc.

I own several other much praised discs that I have yet to watch myself.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

This is not a comment on film quality, just presentation/packaging. The Top Physical Media releases I viewed in 2024: The Hitcher (#1), Super Mario Bros. (thanks @UmbrellaEnt), Conan the Barbarian (@ArrowFilmsVideo), The Keep (@VinegarSyndrome), Major League, Southern Comfort.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

My number of books read in 2024 was not impressive. I did enjoy reading about the fictionalized history of the Targaryen Dynasty & the history to date of Marvel Studios. Also, must recognize the Dracula - Book 1 graphic novel from @MattWagnerComic & @kelleyjonesart.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

My final list of the Best Films of 2024 will be locked in on the day of the Academy Awards. I hope to see more contenders between now and then. But, my prelim list follows:
1) Dune: Part 2
2) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
3) The Substance
4) Smile 2
5) Deadpool & Wolverine

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

These are my favorite First-Time Catalog Title Viewings during the year (2022 releases and earlier only). No films I gave a perfect score, but Sorcerer was close (every bit the masterpiece I had heard). I was glad to see some true classics that were made decades earlier.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

Beginning a pop culture recap of 2024 by acknowledging I missed out on hearing much new music at all. I didn’t get to atrend any live shows either. The National dropped a live album at the end of the yr. I have enjoyed, but most of my listening involved catalog titles.

[Charles Herald @cbherald]

Films watched during 2024 that earned a 3-star rating from me - first-time viewings, as well as rewatches with fresh eyes. Here are the candidates, and the title that was judged to be closest to a 3.5 star score. @letterboxd