In the Best International Feature Oscar race, all films nominated by their countries are whittled down to a "shortlist" of twenty, a few months before the final 5 nominees are announced. Today's films were all on the shortlist but did not end up with a nomination.

For now, in lieu of screenings, I will invite everyone out to meet-up at a public screening that we can attend together. German director Wim Wenders' (Paris, Texas) new film is representing Japan for Best International Feature at the Oscars. And more importantly, it promises to be a soul-nourishing

In theaters this week: Lisa Frankenstein USA, 2024, d. Zelda Williams, 1h41m, **1/2 Lisa Swallows is a quiet high school girl who likes hanging out at an abandoned cemetery since witnessing her mother's brutal axe murder. Her new stepmom - a psych nurse - thinks she belongs

Inspired by the new documentary/video essay by Amanda Kramer, So Unreal, which is still on the festival circuit, this series will look at how the movies of the '80s and '90s depicted computers, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. I was struck by how many of these movies

On January 20, millions of Indians joined hands in a line reaching hundreds of miles across the state of Kerala in an act of political protest. ✊🏻️❤🔥#dyfikerala #humanchain #kerala pic.twitter.com/oVMOoqLey5 — Pazuzu (@ra5esh) January 20, 2024 A view of the 620 km long human chain happening right now

Overview: Killers of the Flower Moon - Recommended ***** The Zone of Interest - Recommended ***** What I'm Watching: TV January 2024 Edition Perspectives on Evil: The audacious filmmaking of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE ZONE OF INTEREST Warning: There are mild spoilers for both of these films

Overview: Thunivu - Recommended, *** Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam - Highly Recommended, **** Thunivu India (Tamil language), 2023, d. H Vinoth, 2h26m, In theaters now A bank heist in Chennai is immaculately planned. 6 heavily armed men will strike the front and the back of the bank at once, placing bombs to prevent

I still haven't seen every notable release of 2022, and an extra-busy December means I'm behind on "awards season" viewing. But, as usual, a lot of releases won't make it to our neck of the woods until as late as February, so

For after Thanksgiving, three movies about what food means to us: BIG NIGHT USA, 1996, d. Campbell Scott & Stanley Tucci, 1h49m, Amazon/iTunes Tony Shaloub and Stanley Tucci play Italian brothers, Primo and Secondo, named as only their ultra-traditional restaurateur father could name them. Their American venture is struggling.

During the week it's hard to find time to watch movies. On Fridays I try to make up for that with a 6-hour deep dive. I hope my destinations might help inspire your own journeys. Don't Bother to Knock USA, 1952, d. Roy Ward Baker, 1h16m,

Overview: Ponniyin Selvan: Part One - Recommended The Legend of Maula Jatt - Not Recommended Kantara - Recommended Ponniyin Selvan: Part One India (Tamil language), 2022, d. Mani Ratnam, 2h47m, In theaters now Ponniyin Selvan is a seminal work of Tamil literature. Now collected in 5 volumes and totaling over

Overview: Brahmastra Part One: Shiva - Not Recommended The Woman King - Recommended Brahmastra Part One: Shiva India, 2022, d. Ayan Mukerji, 2h47m, In theaters now Indian cinema is having a moment. In March, the Telugu-language action spectacle RRR opened worldwide. The director - S.S. Rajamouli - has a