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Old Joy (2006)

Kurt: Sorrow is nothing but worn out joy.

This movie, the first Kelly Reichardt film I ever saw, is turning 20 this year -- technically it premiered during Sundance 2006 so I guess it already did, but it didn't hit limited theaters until August. So feel free to throw your Old Joy themed costume parties then! We're here right this minute though because today is the 62nd birthday of the brilliant world-class filmmaker behind it. We love you, Kelly Reichardt! One of the all-time greats of American cinema, period. 

Good Morning, World

Since Josh O'Connor doesn't take his clothes off in his role as the priest the latest Benoit Blanc mystery Wake Up Dead Man that landed on Netflix over the weekend, here are two gifs of him in a pair of period-appropriate boxer shorts in Kelly Reichardt's film The Mastermind. I think that one's been streaming on Mubi for a little while now? Anyway they're both good movies so do go watch both of them. And while you're at Mubi watch The History of Sound too! Make it a Josh O'Connor triple feature. (In related news -- anybody watch him on SNL? I did not but am curious if I should bother. Thoughts?) Any-what it's Monday, hi, hello, et cetera. Let's get to it!

Let's Steal Away With Josh O'Connor

I'm getting that warm feeling in my belly -- and no not just from that being a shot of Josh O'Connor in his underwear. It's that thing where the weather's cooled off a little bit (I'm wearing an over-shirt today!) and I'm planning for the fall fests and the movie trailers that are dropping are all for serious movies from real directors with perhaps some built-in awards prospects. Like this, the trailer for Kelly Reichardt's new movie! I've talked about The Mastermind a few times (see here) because of course I have -- it's Kelly Reichardt and I'd follow her around like a happy puppy if I could. It's set in 1970 and it's about Josh trying to heist himself a painting while also having a shaggy beard -- aka straight up pornography. 

Love the hazy filter look -- it really says, "Hey! It's 1970!" to me. Anyway this is screening at NYFF because of course it is, Reichardt's a welcome fixture here in New York and they show all her movies -- I will surely be all over it then. Here's that trailer:

The Mastermind is out on October 17th.

Oh and here's the killer poster too:

NYFF Make My Dreams Come True

Just a couple of weeks ago I shared the poster and a teaser trailer for Park Chan-wook's new movie No Other Choice starring his ol' pal Byung-hun Lee and I said therein, and I quote, "This movie's premiering at Venice  and I am keeping all of my assorted limbs knotted up in hope that it'll head to NYFF from there." Well unknot me cuz it came true! NYFF just announced their Main Slate this morning for their 2025 edition and Master Park's movie is up in its business -- as are several other movies I am champing at me bit to gnaw right into. So why not a list? Not counting the Opening Night film (which is Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt and so obviously my jam) here are the 10 movies out of the Main Slate that I'm the most anticipating...

My 10 Most Anitipcated NYFF63 Main Slate Movies

No Other Choice -- dir. Park Chan-wook

There's really nothing I can shriek in enthusiasm about this movie that I haven't been shrieking since it was announced. Park Chan-wook is a god, period, the end.

Jay Kelly -- dir. Noah Baumbach

Normally I try to steer clear of George Clooney vehicles but I tend to love Baumbach movies whatever he throws at me and most importantly he got his gal pal Greta Gerwig acting again. Gerwig seals the deal every time. Plus Patrick WIlson, Laura Dern, Riley Keough, Jim Broadbent, Emily Mortimer, Billy Crudup and Isla Fisher! Also Emily Mortimer co-wrote this! 

The Mastermind -- dir. Kelly Reichardt

Not only is it the never-steers-me-wrong Reichardt behind the camera and not only does the movie star Josh O'Connor but the movie stars Josh o'Connor looking like the raffish lit professor everybody, including the other teachers and parents, are all trying to fuck.

The Secret Agent -- dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho 

Wagner Moura is one of the greatest (and come on, look at the picture, sexiest) on the world stage right now, and his teaming up withthe genius behind Bacurau is white hot shit. Plus Moura won Best Actor at Cannes and Mendonça Filho won Best Director so hopes are obviously big.

Sentimental Value -- dir. Joachim Trier

And speaking of Cannes this follow-up from the director and star of the masterpiece The Worst Person in the World won the Grand Prix at that fest. I will follow these two anywhere, together or seperately, but together tastes best!

Peter Hujar's Day -- dir. Ira Sachs

It's Ben fucking Whishaw playing Peter fucking Hujar -- you think I'm not all over this? Anyway I was extremely annoyed I couldn't see it at Sundance so I'm happy to have been given this second shot, even if I wasted months -- months!!! -- of my life without it. I won't hold it against you, Ben!

Miroirs No. 3 -- Christian Petzold

Since 2012 Christian Petzold has made five straight up masterpieces in a row with Barbara, Phoenix, Transit, Undine, and Afire -- I'm hoping he hasn't broken that streak by daring to make a movie with a title that has more than a single word in it, but I think we might be in safe hands. I mean he's reunited with actress Paula Beer yet again. We're gonna be fine.

The Fence -- dir. Claire Denis

I tend to swing wildly on my opinion of Denis movies, but the main thrust seems to be I like her more recent work while her earlier, typically more lauded works have left me cold. I'm such a maverick! Anyway Denis regular Isaach De Bankolé is her leading man this time, which is always a good sign, but this also co-stars Matt Dillon and Tom Blyth? Mkay.

Rose of Nevada -- dir. Mark Jenkin

Yeah yeah okay it stars Callum Turner and George MacKay

as fisherman, obviously it was gonna make my list. 

That's literally all I know or need to know. Fish me good, fellas!

Landmarks -- dir. Lucrecia Martel

Since The Headless Woman in 2008 

I've been a Lucretia ride-or-die-for-lifer.

Not even reading what this is about. Sign me up.

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Runners-up:  It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi), A House of Dynamite (dir. Kathryn Bigelow), Resurrection (dir. Bi Gan), Romería (dir. Carla Simón), Kontinental ’25 (dir. Radu Jude), If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (dir. Mary Bronstein), Duse (dir. Pietro Marcello)

Just a footnote on the concept of "Runners-up" here -- I literally could have listed every single other movie that didn't make my top ten. The only reason there are runners-up at all is I limited myself to a list of ten. As happens with every NYFF there are titles that come out of nowhere to slam me onto the floor in the best of way, and sometimes the ones I'm most excited about don't totally land. Usually though I always leave NYFF happy, because as I've said before they might not get all of the big exciting world premieres but year after year they do an incredible job curating the movies from around the globe that are the most worth seeing. I love my hometown fest! Click here to buy passes -- general tickets go on sale on September 18th (and earlier for FLC members). The fest runs from September 26 through October 13, 2025. 

Cole Doman One Time

Seeing today this adorable sexy photo on Instagram of actor Cole Doman, formerly of the very fine movies Henry Gamble's Birthday Party (hey Stephen Cone whatcha up to?) and Mutt, reminded me of two things -- one, I don't think that his 2024 movie Haze (which co-stars Sense8 hottie Brian J. Smith and which I reviewed out of Fantasia Fest last year right here) has gotten a release yet, which is a damn shame. It's a good movie! Free Haze y'all! It would've been a smart drop for a streaming service during Pride Month but oh well. Hopefully we'll hear something soon. I'll keep my ears peeled. But this also reminds me that Cole is in the cast of Kelly Reichardt's next movie The Mastermind, which stars Josh O'Connor! That'll probably be Cole's most-seen movie to date and we can't help but root for this cute talented and out indie boy who stood in front of me in line waiting for a movie last year. Oh and this also reminds me that we got a new image of Josh in The Mastermind last week (click to embiggen) and god he looks goooood:

6 Off My Head: A 2025 Peek Ahead

Inspired by the Bugonia teaser I just shared (along with the fact that it's Paul Thomas Anderson's birthday today which reminded me he has a new movie out in several weeks) I decided to go ahead and make a list of the movies left to be released in 2025 that I'm most looking forward to. I did this (as with everything I do here) mostly for myself because I've been bad about keeping an eye on what's ahead -- I can be very much in the moment; planning ahead's not my strongest suit! So I will myself probably be referring back to this list often. But perhaps this will help you along the same lines! That'd be nice! So sans further ado I give you...

My Top 6 Anticipated Movies of 2025

Bugonia (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos) -- Oct 24th 

(more here)

One Battle After Another (dir. PT Anderson) -- Sept 26th

The History of Sound (dir. Oliver Hermanus) -- Sept 12th 

(more here)

After the Hunt (dir. Luca Guadagnino) -- Oct 10th 

(more here)

Sentimental Value (dir. Joachim Trier) -- Nov 7th

Pillion (dir. Harry Lighton) -- TBD

(more here)

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(Sidenote: There is no word on Gregg Araki's I Want Your Sex and any kind of release date for it yet, otherwise it would very much be listed above.) 

(Sidenote #2 - literally five minutes after I posted this list it was announced that Neon has bought Park Chan-wook's new movie No Other Choice for release and it's premiering at Venice so add that one too!)

Runners-up: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (dir. Rian Johnson), Marty Supreme (dir. Josh Safdie), Hamnet (dir. Chloé Zhao), A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (dir. Kogonada), It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi), The Roses (dir. Jay Roach), Avatar: Fire & Ash (dir. James Cameron), Together (dir. Michael Shanks)...

... Weapons (dir. Zach Cregger),  Jay Kelly (dir. Noah Baumbach), Caught Stealing (dir. Darren Aronofsky), Frankenstein (dir. Guillermo Del Toro), The Mastermind (dir. Kelly Reichardt), Highest 2 Lowest (dir. Spike Lee), A House of Dynamite (dir. Kathryn Bigelow), Die My Love (dir. Lynne Ramsay), The Running Man (dir. Edgar Wright)

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What movies are y'all most looking forward to?

Pics of the Day

Deadline has the first images from Kelly Reichardt's Vietnam-era heist film The Mastermind today -- it stars our big-eared boy savior Josh O'Connor as you can see,  alongside Alana Haim, John Magaro, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, Gaby Hoffmann, Amanda Plummer, and Cole Doman, among others. That feels like a big sweeping cast for Reichardt but then she's never done a heist movie before -- having seen her make an eco-terrorist thriller though I'm sure this movie will remain in the key of Reichardt. Thankfully! Anyway we'll hear more about it soon enough when the assholes at Cannes get to see it first. Assholes.

This is Magaro News

Score one for awesomeness today -- director Kelly Reichardt is re-teaming with her First Cow and Showing Up actor John Magaro for her next one! I'm surprised I didn't do a post on this movie when the news broke that it was going to also star Josh O'Connor -- I think that came when I was firmly enconsed in NYFF happenings and doings -- but we're here now doing it and that's what really matters. Tge movie is called The Mastermind and it's about an art-heist and it will also star Licorice Pizza's terrific Alana Haim -- I wasn't sure if she was going to keep acting after that (since she's originally a musician -- but I'm glad she's keeping it up! She's good at it. Anyway we're always seated for Kelly Reichardt and even more we've yet to be disappointed in so doing, and with this cast -- shut the front door et cetera. This plot, genre-tinted as it is, is giving me memories of Night Moves, her excellent 2013 eco-thriller of sorts with Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, and Peter Sarsgaard. God I love Night Moves! So underrated, that one. 

MNPP's 20 Favorite Films of 2023

Since I leave for Sundance in a couple of days -- have I mentioned that I'm going to Sundance enough yet? I'm going to Sundance! -- I have decided that it'll be the best for us all if I just go ahead and drop my favorite movies of 2023 list right now without a lot (or more, anyway) hemming and hawing on it. Lord knows I could put this off for a few more weeks as I try to get around to some outstanding movies, and rearrange this list every single day as my erratic mood shifts like the breeze, but I think I'll prefer to just not have this hanging over my head as I start reviewing 2024 films. 

Anyway as I've stated already I think last year was a marvel of a year for movies -- excellence abounded. And while I'm cool on several of the ones that seem to racking up a lot of the established awards out there (Barbie is fine and The Holdovers is mediocre at best) there's a lot to love even on the mainstream stages, and several movies in my Top 20 will probably have Oscar nominations come Oscar nomination time. Hell I even like the Nolan movie -- it's only a runner-up on my list and my least favorite thing about it (Robert Downey Jr.'s performance) seems to be the thing marching straight to Oscar gold, but since we're talking one of my least favorite, most overrated filmmakers, this is something!

Yadda yadda I've put off the list as long as I can with my rambling

so let's just do it. Here are my 20 favorite movies of 2023!

20. De Humani Corporis Fabrica

(dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor & Verena Paravel) -- my review

19. La Chimera (dir. Alice Rohrwacher) -- my review

18. Showing Up (dir. Kelly Reichardt) -- my review

17. El Conde (dir. Pablo Larraín) -- my review

16. Passages (dir. Ira Sachs) -- my review

15. Godland (dir. Hlynur Pálmason)

14. Past Lives (dir. Celine Song) 

13. Rotting in the Sun (dir. Sebastián Silva) -- my review

12. Beau is Afraid (dir. Ari Aster) -- my review

11. Godzilla Minus One (dir. Takashi Yamazaki) -- my review

10. Killers of the Flower Moon (dir. Martin Scorsese) -- my review 

9. Asteroid City (dir. Wes Anderson) -- my review

8. May December (dir. Todd Haynes) -- my review

7. Poor Things (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos) -- my review

6. Saltburn (dir. Emerald Fennell) -- my review

5. Skinamarink (dir. Kyle Edward Ball) -- my review

4. Afire (dir. Christian Petzold) -- my review

3. The Eight Mountains

(dir. Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch) -- my review

2. The Zone of Interest (dir. Jonathan Glazer) -- my review

1. All Of Us Strangers (dir. Andrew Haigh) - my review

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Runners-up: The Killer, Anatomy of a Fall, Oppenheimer, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Eileen, A Thousand and One, Infinity Pool, You Hurt My Feelings, Silver Dollar Road, Will-o'-the-Wisp, Fallen Leaves, Full Time, Bottoms, Priscilla, Return To Seoul, Robot Dreams