New reviews: "The Apprentice," "Piece By Piece"
Plus a book review of Barry Sonnenfeld's new memoir "Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time"
Latest
Ten Decent Movies on Amazon Prime
Including "Blue Ruin," "Submarine," "This Must Be the Place" and others.
One Good Film: "Hale County This Morning, This Evening"
RaMell Ross's "Nickel Boys" opens soon; prepare for its brilliance with the director's Oscar-nominated first film.
Watch List Digest 10/5/24
This week: Recommendations for two great little movies and one ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐-star classic (plus WaPo reviews of "Saturday Night," "Joker: Folie á Deux" and "The Outrun").
Ty's Movie Club: "Rear Window"
Come to a screening and discussion of Hitchcock's classic of voyeurism and murder on Thursday 10/10 at the West Newton Cinema.
How to Get "Lucky"
A Watch List oldie: Harry Dean Stanton's graceful exit movie. PLUS: Reviews of "Joker: Folie á Deux," "Saturday Night" and "The Outrun."
One Good Film: "Blaze" (R.I.P. Kris Kristofferson)
Ethan Hawke's biopic of Blaze Foley is also a great actor-singer's onscreen farewell.
Watch List Digest 9/27/24
Lots of good film choices on demand ("Will & Harper," "Between the Temples") and in theaters ("Megalopolis," "A Different Man").
New Reviews: "Megalopolis," "A Different Man," "The Wild Robot"
For paid subscribers, my latest film reviews from the Washington Post.
Ten Movies to Stream/Maggie Smith R.I.P.
New on VOD, including "Grave of the Fireflies," "The Disappearance of Shere Hite," "Between the Temples," and more. PLUS: Farewell, Maggie Smith
What to Watch: "Will & Harper"
Will Ferrell and his close friend Harper Steele drive cross-country to find out how a trans woman (and a famous movie star) are greeted and treated in Middle America.
One Good Film: "Safety Not Guaranteed" (2012)
Calling all Aubrey Plaza fans: The actress's first starring role is a delightful cheap rental on VOD. Plus: A review of "The Critic" with Ian McKellen.
Festival Reports
TIFF 2024 Report, Part 2
Eleven more thumbnail reviews from the fall movie season's bellwether film festival. "Megalopolis," "The Brutalist," a new Almodovar and Guadagnino, and more.
Remembrances ⭐️
James Earl Jones 1931-2024
A giant of stage and screen, he was much more than the voice of Darth Vader and CNN.
Festival Reports
TIFF 2024 Report I
Brief reviews of 11 new films from the trenches of the Toronto International Film Festival, including "The Apprentice," "Anora," "The Substance" and "Nightbitch."
Events
"The Old Oak" at the West Newton
The critically acclaimed Ken Loach drama followed by a panel discussion on immigration issues with Joe Kennedy III, Marcela García, Wilfred Cherazard, and moderator Ty Burr
Festival Reports
What to Watch (at the Toronto Int'l Film Festival)
I'm reposting my WaPo TIFF run-up article from this past weekend because I'm at the airport right now about to embark for Toronto and will soon dive into my five-movies-a-day routine until next Wednesday, with occasional forays to the surface for air and to send out
Good Movies 📽
What to Watch: "Lime Kiln Club Field Day" outtakes
On Bert Williams, early Black film, and the road not taken.
Weekly Digest
Watch List Digest 8/23/24
Some notes on Paul Thomas Anderson's best movie (yes, I'm starting an argument here) and a heartbreaking Netflix documentary.
Good Movies 📽
What to Watch: "Daughters"
An emotional powerhouse about a father-daughter dance in prison, Angela Patton and Natalie Rae's documentary is one of the year's finest.
Events
Ty's Movie Club: "Phantom Thread"
Come see and discuss PTA's masterpiece with me this Thursday at the West Newton Cinema
What to Watch
Weekend Picks: Astronauts and Aristocrats
This weekend's best streaming bets: "First Man," "Little Men," "The Woman King," "The Aristocrats" and more.
Directors
Happy Quasquicentennial, Hitch
The Watch List celebrates the Master of Suspense on his 125th birthday. What's your favorite Hitch?
What to Watch
What to Watch: 6 for the Weekend
Newly on demand: "The Bikeriders," "Dandelion," "Daddio," "Ghostlight," "Janet Planet," "Tuesday," and the classic thriller "Leave Her to Heaven." Plus: "The Instigators" reviewed and "The Conversation" revisited.