Art is one thing, arthouse sophistication is another; auteur wars all over again: Hitchcock, Hawks, Sirk, Lubitsch aren't arthouse sophisticates, either, just (like Scorsese) some of the great artists of cinema, despite working in commercial systems and popular styles.
May '26!
Best: MYSTERIOUS SKIN, TEENAGE SEX & DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA
Runners-Up: BASHU, THE LITTLE STRANGER, BLIND CHANCE
Rewatch: FURIOSA
Worst: THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU
Hon. Mtn.: TWIGGY, MORTAL KOMBAT II, OBSESSION, ODDITY, HOKUM, BACKROOMS, FINDING EMILY, POWER BALLAD
January 2020 was a pretty quiet month for me for films! Here’s a summary:
Best new watch: UNCUT GEMS
Runner-up: A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Best re-watch: ZODIAC
Worst watch: DOLITTLE
Hon. Mention: BAD BOYS FOR LIFE/GLORIA
April '26:
Best: ILLUSTRIOUS ENERGY
Runners-Up: BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY
Rewatch: FACE/OFF, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, TWIN PEAKS, MINORITY REPORT
Worst: SOLO MIO
Hon. Mtn.: HOPPERS, UNDERTONE, FUZE, MICHAEL, CIVIL WAR, APEX, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2
A key factor in this – I have been thinking about and litigating OBSESSION basically since I saw it. Saw BACKROOMS far more recently and haven’t thought about it nearly as much