Watch List Digest 3/30/25
A public statement amid the usual film recommendations.
Latest
New Reviews: "The Penguin Lessons," "Thank You Very Much," "Death of a Unicorn" 🔒
10 Suggestions for 9 Good Films
New theatrical releases, your best streaming movie bets and one glorious stinker.
A Critics' Statement in Support of Hamdan Ballal
Watch List Digest 3/21/25
Movies to resist by, a new "Snow White" reviewed, and more.
New Reviews: "Snow White" and "Magazine Dreams" 🔒
A much-mocked remake turns out to be not half bad and a cursed film from Sundance 2023 finally surfaces.
What to Watch: "No" and two movies about The Janes
Some movies to stiffen the spine as we head into the wind.
New Reviews: "Eephus," "Opus," Black Bag" and more 🔒
A ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ baseball movie, a ⭐ 1/2 horror-comedy bomb, and a few things on the high end between, including ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ and a new Soderbergh.
News You Can (Actually) Use
I really do have some movie tips in this one, but first I want to talk about where we get our information. I am grateful for your indulgence.
One, no, TWO Good Films: “Crazy Love” and “Mother”
Resurfacing on VOD: A twisted New York love story and early Bong Joon ho -- plus the latest edition of Ty's Movie Club.
New Reviews: "Mickey 17," Seven Veils," "There's Still Tomorrow" 🔒
This week's reviews from the Washington Post.
What to Watch: Weekend Guide
More Oscar nominees come to VOD, along with a DIY Gene Hackman festival, a ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ foreign film and two intriguing oldies.
Good Movies 📽
One Good Film: "My Foolish Heart"
The one movie that J.D. Salinger allowed to be made from his work -- and the reason it was the last. Plus: My meeting(s) with Jerry.
Awards 🏆
Ty's Oscar Predictions 2025
Some years it’s pretty obvious which film and which performances are going to win an Oscar. This is not one of those years.
Good Movies 📽
"The Girl with the Needle" & "Grand Theft Hamlet" (& Gene Hackman) 🔒
Two reviews of new movies, one Oscar-nominated and the other fun. Plus, my WaPo Gene Hackman appreciation.
News
A Note to Readers
I’m on deadline for a newspaper for which I have little remaining respect. Why am I doing it?
What to Watch
What to Watch: Pre-Oscar Catch-up
Recent movies at affordable VOD prices! Plus: One to avoid.
Directors
The Whole Almodóvar
All 23 of the Spanish director's feature films are newly available on demand. I rate every last one of them and tell you where to find them.
New Movies
New Reviews: "Capt. America," "Armand," Oscar shorts
Are you tired of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies? Yeah, me too.
What to Watch
What to Watch: Stone'd Again
Questlove's "Sly Lives!" comes to Hulu, a powerhouse Marianne Jean-Baptiste double-bill pops up on Amazon, and more.
Good Movies 📽
Reviews: "No Other Land" and "Porcelain War"
Two stark Oscar-nominated documentaries of struggle and endurance in the West Bank and in Ukraine.
What to Watch
Fiddling (with the Remote) While Rome Burns
Five new releases just hitting VOD -- and seven sleepers hiding on your streaming platform menus.
Events
Ty's Movie Club: "Mulholland Drive"
This Thursday, February 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the West Newton Cinema, a screening and discussion of the late David Lynch's greatest film. (Arguably? Then come and argue.)
Festival Reports
Sundance 2025 Report III
Reviews of "The Wedding Banquet," "The Perfect Neighbor," "Free Leonard Peltier," "Peter Hujar's Day," "Gen_" and "Zodiac Killer Project"