Well, another year has passed, and what do I have to show for it? Hopefully, more than just a stack of watched movies. But what I’m here to discuss is a stack of watched movies. Over 200, in fact, and I think I will let that record stand as it was difficult at times to keep that pace.
One of my accomplishments was to complete the Criterion Challenge 2025. I picked one film from each of 52 categories of Criterion Collection movies I had never seen, and viewed them within the calendar year. Some were duds for me, but others were surprise discoveries and new favorites. Here’s my full list.
2025 releases
Marty Supreme is a propulsive 50s-set drama from Josh Safdie. It’s exciting, unnerving, and funny. Timothée Chalamet stars as an ambitious table tennis player, a description which in no way does justice to the role or his performance. He was excellent, and the film was my favorite release of 2025.
Wake Up Dead Man is the third film in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery series. His social commentary in these films don't quite land for me, maybe because it feels so broad. This movie, for example, deals with religious faith, and I’m not sure what it wants to say about it. This series is fun and funny though, and I’d gladly watch more.
Stranger Things season 5
Stranger Things has given me a lot of joy; the thrills, chills, and nostalgia have been a friend to me through years that brought difficult change. With this, its final season, I'm reflecting on those years and feeling glad the series was made. It's a "don't be sad because it's over, smile because it happened" kind of situation. It's always a bit of a let down having to say goodbye to friends, even if they're fictional.
Science Fiction
Stranger Things got me in the mood for period sci-fi.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 sci-fi by Steven Spielberg. It features wondrous special effects and sound. It also boasts unforgettable scenes of intimate family drama and spectacle. It’s hard to imagine this film coming from anyone but Spielberg.
It's easy to see why The Terminator entered the canon immediately. It's a hyper-violent sci-fi/action/horror film featuring a killer robot. Everyting men want, apparently. And I gotta say, it does work. Linda Hamilton stars in a break out role, and coincidentally, I had just seen her for the first time in season 5 of Stranger Things. What a odd thing to become aware of someone by seeing two of their performances separated by 40 years.
Misc
City Lights is a delightfully choreographed bouquet of laughs, heart, and right hooks directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. I can see myself watching this again when I need a pick-me-up. Five stars.
The Big Sleep is a classic ‘Bogey and Bacal’ noir from 1956. For me the story was incomprehensible, but the vibes were strong. Evidently one reason for this is that Bacal was quite new to Hollywood, and the director wanted to manifest a certain career for her, so he cut scenes that would fill in the plot in favor of ones that would show her off. Steamy scenes between her and Bogey, which I have to admit, are worth the price of admission.
Tokyo Story is a drama by Yasujirō Ozu about an older couple who travel to the big city to visit their family. It’s a challenging and thoughtful portrait of family dynamics and stages of life.
The 400 Blows is François Truffaut’s directorial debut, and evidently its autobiographical nature was revolutionary. I have to say, it was a challenging sit for me because the material is difficult. Good art isn’t always palatable, though.
Ghost World is a 2001 film based on a comic story of the same name by Daniel Clowes. I have to admit, I find his work off-putting, but I did appreciate this adaptation.
Christmas movies
Nearly every year I rewatch these Christmas classics. Okay, maybe the Flintstones one isn't a classic, but I like it.
