Watch List Weekly Recap 11/3/23

This is the Friday recap of Ty Burr’s Watch List postings for the week. If you’d like to cut down on in-box clutter and receive this weekly email ONLY, please go to your account page and under “Email notifications” uncheck every box except “Weekly Digest.” If you’d prefer to not receive it at all, uncheck just “Weekly Digest.”

Remembrances ⭐️

Matthew Perry 1969-2023

Ty Burr • Oct 29, 2023

Some brief thoughts, penned immediately after learning of his death. The man had some of the greatest comic timing in television history, and he created a character so witty, snarky, likable that he was the one Friend you actually wanted as a friend.

Read full story →

Good Movies 📽

Panic Rooms

Ty Burr • Oct 30, 2023

For Halloween, a quintet of horror movies centered around a single theme: No Way Out. Being trapped in a place that’s dark and spooky is burned right into the double helix of the genre, keyed to memories of being left alone at night as children, when we knew the Thing in the Closet was going to have us for dinner. (Paid subscribers)

Read full story →

Director Q&A: No Payne, No Gain

Ty Burr • Nov 1, 2023

A conversation with "The Holdovers" director Alexander Payne. "Getting financing with Paul Giamatti in the lead, [you sometimes hear], 'Well, you know, he's not a movie star.' I'm sorry, he IS a movie star. He's not one of the muscle-bound goyim named Chris and Ryan. He's unique, like Lon Chaney or Charles Laughton or, or Paul Muni. Somebody who can just do anything." (Paid subscribers)

Read full story →

Good Movies 📽

What to Watch: Free Radicals

Ty Burr • Nov 3, 2023

Reviews of new movies in theaters and on VOD: "Radical," "Rustin, "Fingernails," "Nyad" (above), and "Quiz Lady."

Read full story →

Thank you for continuing to read and support the Watch List! Feel free to comment

— or pass this newsletter along to your friends.

If you’re not a paying subscriber and want to sign up for additional postings and to join the discussions, here’s how:

Give a paid Watch List gift subscription to your movie-besotted friends —

or refer friends to Ty Burr’s Watch List and get credit for new subscribers! When you use the referral link below, or the “Share” button on any post, you'll:

• Get a 1 month comp for 3 referrals
• Get a 3 month comp for 5 referrals
• Get a 6 month comp for 25 referrals. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media with friends.

• There’s a leaderboard where you can track your shares, too. To learn more, check out Substack’s FAQ.