Watch List Digest 11/2/25
Just one post this week, but some good stuff in it.
Latest
What to Watch: "The Summer Book," "The Perfect Neighbor," "Bugonia"
Glenn Close stars in a film adaptation of Tove Jansson's translucent memoir. Plus: A Florida tragedy documented and Yorgos Lanthimos' latest provocation.
What to Watch: "Deliver Me From Nowhere," "Blue Moon" & more
The Bruce movie is a brooder based on a good book about a great album. Plus: "Blue Moon," "The Mastermind" and more.
Lemmon Zest
The Newton-born actor gets a hometown festival this weekend – join me for a Saturday evening chat with his grown kids.
What to Watch: "The Baltimorons" & More
Plus reviews of the new "Frankenstein," Jafar Panahi's latest, Keanu Reeves as an angel, Rose Byrne as a mother of a mother, and a little soapboxing
Diane Keaton 1946-2025
An era's enchantress takes her farewell. Lah. Di. Dah. 💔
New Review: "A House of Dynamite" 🔒
What to Watch: "A Little Prayer" and "The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos"
Two new excellent, unknown films on VOD, plus new releases "Kiss of the Spider Woman " and "Roofman" and lots more.
New Reviews: "Anemone" and "The Smashing Machine" 🔒
A great actor returns in a less-than-great movie and a popular star goes indie-unrecognizable.
What to Watch: Windswept with Wolfhounds
A potpourri of streaming recs, including Powell and Pressburger's "I Know Where I'm Going!," a neat little Riz Ahmed thriller and a documentary compendium of Bob Dylan's Newport appearances. For starters.
New Reviews: "One Battle After Another," "The Lost Bus" 🔒
Paul Thomas Anderson's new movie is something to see. So you should see it.
Going Underground Part II
Following last week's post, a round-up of sites and newsletters with an eye toward an eventual unofficial news network. Oh, also a movie recommendation.
New Movies
What to Watch: "Souleyman's Story," "Undine"
Plus new reviews of "Steve," "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" and "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" (one hopes).
News
Going Underground
The news industry is in crisis. We need something new. A modest proposal.
Remembrances ⭐️
Robert Redford 1936-2025 🔒
This one hurts, doesn’t it?
Good Movies 📽
What to Watch When You're Hiding Under the Couch
Some movies to lighten your existential load this week -- or to confirm it.
Festival Reports
Toronto Report III: "Hamnet," "Frankenstein" and more
Reviews of the new Chloé Zhao, del Toro's monster movie, "The Smashing Machine," "Good Fortune" and "The Christophers"
Festival Reports
Toronto Report II: "Knives Out," "Ann Lee," "Bad Apples" and a "Lost Bus"
Coming to theaters near you: A darker, deeper (but still funny!) "Knives Out," an 18th-century rave about the founder of the Shakers, a new Saoirse Ronan and more.
Festival Reports
Toronto Report I: "Sentimental Value," "It Was Just an Accident," "Nouvelle Vague"
Joachim Trier's best movie to date? Richard Linklater's love letter to Godard and Truffaut? Peak Panahi? Read on.
Classics 🎞
Happy 75th, "Rashomon" (But Which One?)🔒
How Akira Kurosawa’s classic film became the model for truthiness as a cinematic and cultural point of view. (From the WaPo)
New Movies
New Reviews: "A Little Prayer," "Caught Stealing" and "The Roses" 🔒
One of the best movies of the year -- and two that aren't.
Film Festivals
"Highest 2 Lowest" Redux + Ty's TIFF Preview
Some second thoughts on Spike Lee's latest, and a baker's dozen of my most anticipated Toronto Film Festival screenings
New Movies
New Reviews: "Honey Don't!" and "Relay" 🔒
This week: A solo Coen joint and a tight little New York noir
New Movies
A Farewell to Movie Critics
Some jaundiced thoughts on the field in which I've spent my working life. Plus a few movie recommendations.