2024 New Releases, New Discoveries, and Theatrical Experiences. We'll see you at the movies in 2025!
Executive Team
Kat Trout-Baron, Executive Director
Top 5 New Releases (more than 5 sorry):
- La Chimera (2023) Directed by Alice Rohrwacher
- All We Imagine as Light (2024) Directed by Payal Kapadia
- Janet Planet (2023) Directed by Annie Baker
- The Beast (2023) Directed by Bertrand Bonello
- Nickel Boys (2024) Directed by RaMell Ross
- Perfect Days (2023) Directed by Wim Wenders
Top 5 New Discoveries (more than 5 again):
- The Dekalog series (1989) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski
- Ordet (1955) Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer
- The Last Picture Show (1971) Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
- 11 x 14 (1977) Directed by James Benning
- Birth (2004) Directed by Jonathan Glazer
- The Sacrifice (1986) Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
- Affliction (1997) Directed by Paul Schrader
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Magnolia on 35mm with my sister. My favorite movie in a special format– I had to pinch myself to believe it was really happening. The film discusses fate and if anything is really a miracle or just feels mythical because of its timing– I felt that way about this screening. My first theatrical experience in my future home– what a lucky happenstance <3.
- Sherlock Jr. and One Week with a live score. I love Buster Keaton and find his physicality incredible to witness. His films played so well in theaters.
- Almost Famous on 35mm at After Hours. A reminder why I love my job so much– it is amazing to see people come out to our screenings and interact with our events. I love to see people love film and the theater experience. Totally F***ed Up was also a highlight of the After Hours slate… Bijou is on a mission to play the entire Araki filmography.
- A Woman Under the Influence at FilmScene. Cassavetes is the greatest filmmaker who has ever lived. Seeing him in theaters is an honor.
- Cruising at the Philadelphia Film Society with my brother. Pride month and Al Pacino was doing poppers. Love wins.
Ben Romero, Programming Director
Top 5 New Releases:
The Beast (2023) Directed by Bertrand Bonello
Last Summer (2023) Directed by. Catherine Breillat
Anora (2024) Directed by Sean Baker
The Human Surge 3 (2023) Directed by Eduardo Williams
Youth (Homecoming) (2024) Directed by Wang Bing
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- La Vie nouvelle (2002) (dir. Philippe Grandrieux)
- The Gospel According to Matthew (1964) Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Trash (1970) Directed by Paul Morrissey
- Love & Pop (1998) Directed by Hideaki Ano
- The Holy Girl (2004) Directed by Lucrecia Martel
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Youth (Homecoming) w/ Wang Bing in attendance. Wang Bing gang 4-ever… very honored to be in the presence of one of the 21st century’s greatest filmmakers and experience his work in a theatrical setting. Made a heart sign at him while he was smoking outside and he smiled back.
- Refocus 2024 screenings (highlights include Orson Welles’ THE TRIAL introduced by Jonathan Rosenbaum and me presenting Catherine Breillat’s A REAL YOUNG GIRL)
- The restoration of Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s MILLENNIUM MAMBO at Bijou After-Hours.
- PASSING STRANGERS @ FilmScene. Gay porn lol, Arthur J. Bressan Jr. is very important.
- INSIDE OUT 2 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. My parents dragged me to this and we got rear-ended at an intersection.
Grace Pignolo, Partnerships Director
Top 5 New Releases:
- La Chimera (2023) Directed by Alice Rohrwacher
- The Wild Robot (2024) Directed by Chris Sanders
- The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) Directed by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte
- Small Things Like These (2024) Directed by Tim Mielants
- Lisa Frankenstein (2024) Directed by Zelda Williams
Top 5 New Releases:
- Pom Poko (1994) Directed by Isao Takahata
- McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) Directed by Robert Altman
- Anastasia (1997) Directed by Gary Goldman and Don Bluth
- Interview with a Vampire (1994) Directed by Neil Jordan
- The Birdcage (1996) Directed by Mike Nichols
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
A Special Day (1977) Directed by Ettore Scola—this was my first time seeing this movie all the way through and on the big screen which made it even better. So glad we could collaborate with the Italian Department to put the film on and do a Q&A!
- The Secret World of Arriety (2010) Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi—saw this with my brother back home as a part of a Studio Ghibli series we’ve been trying to go to for years. We finally made it this summer and it was a treat to see the vibrant colors on the big screen!
- Wicked Little Letters (2024) Directed by Thea Sharrock—ran to the last screening at FilmScene in between two of my classes while it was pouring rain and got the last ticket! Amazing performance by Olivia Colman and a total case of infectious laughter in Theater 3.
- Monkey Man (2024) Directed by Dev Patel—went to see this with my friend who is a huge Dev Patel fan and every few minutes she’d poke me and point at the screen. The action scenes felt larger than life in the theater!
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) Directed by Pedro Almodóvar—such a fun Bijou screening with an electric crowd for a dramatic, quirky, classic movie!
General Board
Ava Nollen
Top 5 New Releases:
- Conclave (2024) Directed by Edward Berger
- Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve
- Challengers (2024) Directed by Luca Guadagnino
- A Real Pain (2024) Directed by Jesse Eisenberg
- Cuckoo (2024) Directed by Tilman Singer
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- The Holdovers (2023) Directed by Alexander Payne as a Christmas movie
- Tokyo Twilight (1957) Directed by Yasujirō Ozu(proving that it's possible for me to love an Ozu movie)
- Godzilla Minus One (2023) Directed by Takashi Yamazaki (my first godzilla movie!)
- The Planet of the Apes series
- Coherence (2013) Directed by James Ward Byrkit
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Dune: Part Two (IMAX)
- Alien: Romulus (IMAX)
- Anora (so many old people having the time of their life)
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (a wailing baby in IMAX)
- The Apprentice (Matinee screening, only two other old couples)
Dana Woolery
Top 5 New Releases:
- The People's Joker (2024) Directed by Vera Drew
- Hundreds of Beavers (2024) Directed by Mike Cheslik
- Youth (Homecoming) (2024) Directed by Wang Bang
- Nickel Boys (2024) Directed by Ramell Ross
- Anora (2024) Directed by Sean Baker
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- Skidoo (1968) Directed by Otto Preminger
- Les Siges de’ Alcazar (1989) Directed by Luc Mellet
- Hellzapopin’ (1941) Directed by H.C Potter
- The Patsy (1964) Directed by Jerry Leiws
- Sexetette (1977) Directed by Ken Hughes
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Doing an all day movie challenge with my friend
- Film Scream
- Blue Carpet Bash
- Refocus
- Bijou XXX Screening
Lynnette Darlene
Top 5 New Releases:
1. Challengers (2024) Directed by Luca Guadagnino
2. The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) Directed by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte
3. Longlegs (2024) Directed Oz Perkins
4. Lisa Frankenstein (2024) Directed by Zelda Williams
5. Monkey Man (2024) Directed by Dev Patel
Top 5 New Discoveries:
1. In a Lonely Place (1950) Directed by Nicholas Ray. Feels weird to call this a new discovery since it's a classic noir, but I somehow never managed to watch this all the way through until this year. Frightening and tragic portrait of suspicion seeping into and destroying the lives of broken people.
2. La Llorona (2019) Directed by Jayro Bustamante. This Guatemalan film is a perfect representation of modern folk horror that uses myths and legends to reconcile with historical wrongs.
3. The Night Walker (1964) Directed by William Castle. A bizarre William Castle film about a woman haunted by nightmares. One of the more unsettling Castle films I've seen with some genuinely creepy moments.
4. Freaky (2020) Directed by Christopher Landon. Slasher subversion has been growing more common. A gener that by nature is repetitive has now morphed into a sort of horror parody genre as well. Freak is a classic Freaky Friday body swap story, but with a serial killer twist. The humor and energy make for what feels like an honorary Scream movie.
5. Totally Killer (2023) Directed by Nahnatchka Khan. Another recent slasher film, but with a time travel twist. Again, there's fun and sharp humor that brings Scream to mind with the addition of some sci-fi elements.
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
1. Longlegs. This movie scared me so much I was visibly shaking the entire time and I didn’t sleep for a second the night I saw it. Absolute masterclass in how spooky living in rural America is.
2. Challengers. Maybe the first time I'd ever literally been on the edge of my seat.
3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. I walked an hour to see this with my friend and it was worth every step. Giant monsters need a giant screen. 'Nuff said.
4. Venom: The Last Dance. This series is a guilty pleasure for me and although I can't pretend i didn't sincerely enjoy the film, I did have great time seeing the end of the trilogy with a friend of mine who hadn't seen the first two and spent the whole movie trying not to laugh.
5. Popcorn (1991). Not a new release, but the first film shown in the 2024 lineup of Filmscene's annual Filmscream marathon. Popcorn is an absolute blast to see in a packed theater. Laughs, thrills, kills, and a sick soundtrack made for a theater experience I'll never forget.
Maryl Rees
Top 5 New Releases:
- Lisa Frankenstein (2024) Directed by Zelda Williams.
- Good One (2024) Directed by India Donaldson
- Anora (2024) Directed by Sean Baker
- The Outrun (2024) Directed by Nora Fingscheidt
- Challengers (2024) Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- What A Way To Go! (1964) Directed by J. Lee Thompson
- The Red Shoes (1948) Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
- Kamikaze Girls (2004) Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima
- The Watermelon Woman (1996) Directed by Cheryl Dunye
- Fallen Angels (1995) Wong Kar-wai
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Almost Famous on 35mm.
- Eyes Wide Shut in Boston.
- A Real Young Girl at Refocus.
- Nightbitch at Refocus.
- Megalopolis at FilmScene.
Geoff Daniels
Top 5 New Releases:
- Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve
- I Saw the TV Glow (2024) Directed by Jane Schoenbrun
- Challengers (2024) Directed by Luca Guadagnino
- Sing Sing (2023) Directed by Greg Kwedar
- Red Rooms (2023) Directed by Pascal Plante
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- A Matter of Life and Death (1945) Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
- No Bears (2022) Directed by Jafar Panahi
- Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) Directed by Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Mahiro Maeda, Katsuichi Nakayama
- Kung Fu Hustle (2004) Directed by Stephen Chow
- She is Conann (2023) Directed by Bertrand Mandico
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- End of Evangelion. End of Evangelion in theaters changed my life (negative).
- 24 Hour Party People
- Dune Part Two in IMAX
- Godzilla -1.0 -Color
- The Zone of Interest
Charlie Hickman
Top 5 New Releases:
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Directed by George Miller
- A Different Man (2024) Directed by Aaron Schimberg
- Rebel Ridge (2024) Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
- Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve
- Sing Sing (2024) Directed by Greg Kwedar
- (Nosferatu, I Saw The TV Glow, and A Real Pain runner-ups because it was so difficult to pick just 5)
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- I caught The Verdict (1982) Directed by Sidney Lumet in a class this semester and it became one of my new favorites because of Paul Newman’s performance and the Boston vibes.
- I watched The Rock (1996) Directed by Michael Bay on Independence Day and it was a blast, Michael Bay is a misunderstood master.
- Watching Deathdream (1974) Directed by Bob Clark at FilmScream this year felt like watching something I will think about for the rest of my life.
- I rediscovered Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) Directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm at The Music Box in Chicago on 35mm and it felt life-changing. I've thought about it every day since.
- This Christmas I watched It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Directed by Frank Capra for the first time and it devastated me. I love Jimmy Stewart.
Top 5 Theatrical Releases:
- Zoolander Bijou Screening!
- Phantom of the Paradise Bijou Screening! Both were some of the most fun theater experiences I’ve ever had.
- Alien anniversary rerelease: seeing one of my all-time favorites in a theater was a highlight of the year.
- End of Evangelion rerelease: my roommate is a huge fan of the series and made me binge all of it before checking out the movie.
- I Saw The TV Glow in an empty theater at 10 am. I guess no one had been seeing the movie so they relegated it to the earliest time slot in the smallest theater. When I bought my ticket, they mistakenly gave me one for The Garfield Movie since it was the only other thing playing then. I just walked into the correct theater and closed the door for myself, it felt like a private screening. It was awesome.
Jeremy Laughery
Top 5 New Releases:
- Am I Ok? (2022) Directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne
- I Saw the TV Glow (2024) Directed by Jane Schoenbrun
- The Beast (2023) Directed by Bertrand Bonello
- Nickel Boys (2024) Directed by RaMell Ross
- The People’s Joker (2024) Directed by Vera Drew
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- The Seventh Victim (1943) Directed by Mark Robson
- The Devils (1971) Directed by Ken Russell
- Messiah of Evil (1974) Directed by Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck
- A Question of Silence (1982) Directed by Marleen Gorris
- Working Girls (1986) Directed by Lizzie Borden
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Nickel Boys at ReFocus Film Festival
- Prince of Darkness at Late Night at the Grindhouse
- Almost Famous in 35mm at Bijou After Hours
- Dead of Night & Popcorn at FilmScream
- After Life at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA
Grace McCabe
Top 5 New Releases:
- Matt and Mara (2024) Directed by Kazik Radwanski. I can count on one hand the amount of creative relationships I’ve had in my life where I’ve really felt artistically free and open and have felt heard so completely and heard them back in return. To have that current of inspiration running through the both of you is really a kind of rare magic, which sometimes lends itself to becoming romantic, which lends itself to the risk of being lost more easily. Those have been the losses I have struggled with the most— the loss of access to certain facets of myself, or at least gaining access to it in that specific way. A really brutal watch in my opinion and undoubtedly one of the best of the year.
- The Beekeeper (2024) Directed by David Ayer. This enjoyed the top spot for 10 months before being dethroned by Matt and Mara. I did what I had to do but it wasn’t easy.
- Red Rooms (2023) Directed by Pascal Plante. The most legitimately disquieting movie experience I’ve had in a long while. Would recommend to anyone.
- Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve. I saw this on opening night in IMAX, and afterwards my arms were crossed and I said I had a few problems with this. Then I saw it two more times in quick succession in the Chauncey Theater 1 and became a proud citizen of Giedi Prime.
- A Real Pain (2024) Directed by Jesse Eisenberg. This spot could have gone to a few films but A Real Pain was so fun, so sharp, so thoughtful, what could I do.
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- Phantom of the Paradise (1974) Directed by Brian De Palma. This absolutely blew me away and earned the coveted first-watch 5 stars. Truly unbelievable movie.
- American Movie (1999) Directed by Chris Smith. Tears ran down my face for a good amount of the runtime. Wow!
- Resident Evil (2002) Directed by Paul W.S Anderson. I had previously only seen RE: Apocolypse, and I was so excited to see the first one have such a uniquely beautiful cyber-core aesthetic. And I did make some fancams.
- Withnail and I (1987) Directed by Bruce Robinson. Long overdue.
- Secretary (2002) Directed by Steven Shainberg. I was between this, The Devils, Videodrome, and Cube for this last special spot, but at the end of the day it has to go to Secretary.
Top 5 Theatrical:
- Interstellar (2014). Seeing Interstellar in IMAX was on my extremely short bucket list, now I just have to travel back in time to see Panic! At The Disco Live in Denver in 2005 and I’ll have completed my goals.
- Saw (2001). I finished the Saw-thon for the first time this year and had to circle back around and end it on the best movie ever made— in theaters!
- Dune (1984). The theatrical experience made me completely reassess my previous opinion. I love this movie and I love Sting.
- Brazil in 35mm (1985). Thank you Doc Films.
- The Dark Knight in 35mm (2008). Thank you Music Box.
Padric Timp
Top 5 New Releases:
- Evil Does Not Exist (2023) Directed by Ryūksuke Hamaguchi. Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car is probably the film of the decade so far, and his follow-up here isn’t far off - beautiful, meditative, and finally shocking.
- Rap World (2024) Directed by Danny Scharar/Connor O’Malley. One of several terrific Connor O’Malley projects to come out this year. Many comedies would benefit from a 56 minute runtime.
- Terrifier 3 (2024) Directed by Damien Leone. It’s been interesting to see Damien Leone’s slasher saga grow over the last decade from some pretty amateurish shorts to polished and professional feature films (and unbelievably successful ones - T3 is reportedly the most profitable film of the year, and Art the Clown is everywhere these days). I’ll show up for anyone making mean, old-school slashers these days, especially if they’re as good as this.
- Anora (2024) Directed by Sean Baker. Not much to add about this one. A great time at the movies.
- The Order (2024) Directed by Justin Kurzel. Hard-nosed based-on-a-true-story thriller wherein dirtbag workaholic FBI agent Jude Law takes on a white supremacist cult led by Nicholas Hoult (were there any movies that guy wasn’t in this year?). Steely, brooding tone, visceral and punchy heist/shootout sequences - a satisfying meat-and-potatoes sort of deal we don’t get enough of anymore. See it for Jude’s mustache.
*Sadly did not get around to La Chimera or The Beast or Nosferatu etc etc in time for this list - oh well.
Top 5 New Releases:
1. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Directed by Peter R. Hunt, 1969. Critically derided on release, George Lazenby’s sole outing as 007 has since been named a favorite by such talents as Christopher Nolan, Steven Soderbergh, and me. And for good reason - beautiful anamorphic photography, thrilling stunt sequences (the mountaintop helicopter raid!) and a heartbreaking romance that wouldn’t be rivaled until Eon could finally adapt Casino Royale almost 40 years later.
2. The Fall Directed by Tarsem Singh, 2006. See above.
3. Brief Encounter Directed by David Lean, 1945. Speaking of heartbreaking romances...
5. Dead of Night/Deathdream Directed by Bob Clark, 1974. In 1974 Bob Clark directed the best slasher ever made, but he also made this pretty damn good dirt-cheap horror about a GI who returns from Vietnam as a slowly deteriorating zombie/vampire and tears his loving family apart. Strange, bleak stuff - the highlight of this October’s FilmScream for me.
6. Heartworn Highways Directed by James Szalapski, 1976. Wonderful documentary about the Outlaw Country scene of the 1970s. Lots of good tunes from the likes of Guy Clark and the great Townes Van Zandt.
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
1. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (dir. Bruce Timm/Eric Radomski, 1993) on 35mm at the Music Box Theatre - My fourth go-round with this in theaters, and the second time I’ve been fortunate enough to see a 35mm print. Only gets better and better for me, a perfect gothic romance and the best Batman film. Very few movies I love more than this one.
2. The Fall (dir. Tarsem Singh, 2006) at the Varsity Cinema - Went into this almost completely blind and by the end had totally fallen in love. An insane 4-year production resulting in an incredibly imaginative, melancholy epic and one of the best child performances ever.
3. The Killing (dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1956)/McCabe & Mrs. Miller (dir. Robert Altman, 1971) at FilmScene - These were both my picks for After Hours and I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite so I’m counting them as one. Good movies.
4. Napoleon Dynamite (dir. Jared Hess, 2004) at the Englert Theatre - Probably my favorite comedy film. Lovely to see in a packed house with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, and Jon Gries in attendance.
5. Oppenheimer (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2023)/The Wizard of Oz (dir. Victor Fleming, 1939) at Cinemark Davenport 18 - This double feature happened to be possible one fine January afternoon at the Cinemark. Two classics…
Caitlin Lenz
Top 5 New Releases:
- Tótem (2023) directed by Lila Avilés
- Nickel Boys (2024) directed by RaMell Ross
- Janet Planet (2023) directed by Annie Baker
- Perfect Days (2023) by Wim Wenders
- Good One (2024) directed by India Donaldson
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- L’opéra-Mouffe (1958) directed by Agnes Varda
- Frances Ha (2012) directed by Noah Baumbach
- Fucking Åmål (1999) directed by Lukas Moodysson
- The Living End (1992) directed by Gregg Araki
- Phantom of the Paradise (1974) directed by Brian De Palma
Theatrical 5 Experiences:
- I did not have many notable theatrical experiences this year, but the one that really stood out to me was Ishtar on 35mm at the Music Box in Chicago. What made this viewing experience really special was how it reminded me of the fragility of film and the care and diligence you need to have while working with it. Throughout the screening the film cut out multiple times, not due to any error on the projectionist’s part, but simply because the film was beat up and torn. While in most theaters interruption would be means to anger the crowd, in this instance we all took it in stride and cheered loudly for the projectionists every time they fixed the issue. I think in general we have lost touch with the idea that going to the movies is a moment of communion between people, and it was nice to see so many people eager to be with one another in that moment who were respectful of the art form and of the projectionists work. I also just love any screening on 35 mm; I love the sounds of the projector, and all of the scratches and evidence of human hands on film.
2. Twister at FilmScene in the Park
3. Punch-Drunk Love on 35mm at the Gene-Siskel Center in Chicago
4. Point Break on the FilmScene rooftop
5. Almost Famous on 35mm at FilmScene
Lydia Meth
Top 5 New Releases:
- Gladiator II (2024) Directed by Ridley Scott
- Monkey Man (2024) Directed by Dev Patel
- I Saw the TV Glow (2024) Directed by Jane Schoenbrun
- We Live in Time (2024) Directed by John Crowley
- Challengers (2024) Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Directed by Wes Anderson
- The Notebook (2004) Directed by Nick Cassavetes
- The Prestige (2006) Directed by Christopher Nolan
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Directed by Jonathan Demme
- Fargo (1996) Directed by Joel Coen
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
- Dune Part 2
- Wicked
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- (not a film but had to be mentioned) Arcane, Season 2
- Lady Bird
Gillian Carrington
Top 5 New Releases:
- Love Lies Bleeding (2024) Directed by Rose Glass
2. Janet Planet (2023) Directed by Annie Baker
3. Bird (2024) Directed by Andrea Arnold
4. Conclave (2024) Directed by Edward Berger
5. Challengers (2024) Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Top 5 New Discoveries:
- Crimes of the Future (2022) Directed by David Cronenberg
- Brief Encounter (1945) Directed by David Lean
- Alice in the Cities (1974) Directed by Wim Wenders
- Southern Comfort (1981) Directed by Walter Hill
- Cutter’s Way (1981) Directed by Ivan Passer
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
Strange Days in 35mm at Cinema Cosmos in Strasbourg, France (Jan 22nd). I’d gotten off the train at 4pm and the day was nearly over and miserably rainy. I had plans to see Blue Velvet much later that evening but I didn’t have it in me to wander around the unfamiliar city with the rain coming down like it was. I’d had this movie on my watchlist for a while now but hadn’t actually read much about it. Since it was playing at 4:45 I decided to just go for it. I ended up being the only person at the screening, and it was one of the most gorgeous theaters I’d ever seen in my life. Red velvet curtains, velvet seats, elegant decorative molding bordering the screen and along the balcony. I had skimmed the showtimes so quickly that I had no idea it was going to be a 35mm screening until the lights went dark and I heard the projecter click on and start whirring. Truly the most magical screening I’ve attended anywhere in years. Loved the movie so much that I saw it again in 35mm in Paris!
The Insider in 35mm at the Coolidge (Aug 13). Being from western MA, I normally don’t bother making the drive out to Boston for a movie unless I have company to go with (and chat with during the inevitable bumper to bumper traffic near Worcester). This time there was no such luck, but I love this movie too much to miss seeing it on film and so I ran to my car the second that work got out and drove across the state in peak rush hour traffic, and I made it! Beautiful experience.
- Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm at the Coolidge in Brookline, MA (Sept 15). One of the most anticipated screenings of any movie for me. I didn’t want to watch Lawrence of Arabia until I had the opportunity to catch it in theaters, specifically in 70mm. It absolutely delivered on all of its promises. I don’t even know how to put into words how much I loved this movie.
- The Hitcher at Le Cinematographe in Nantes, France (April 18th). Probably my favorite queer coded horror film of all time. So deliciously sleazy and grimy and unapologetic about it. Extremely formative movie to me and was so thrilled when the opportunity came to watch this one on the big screen. I went to school in Nantes, and I spent almost all of my free time catching movies at this little cinema for €3. It’s a very special theater to me, and a beautiful one. It was built in 1643 as a Carmelite chapel, and has been operating as a movie theater (under several different names) since 1908. Being able to finally see this movie on the big screen, and at this theater at the very tail end of my studies meant a lot to me.
- A Woman Under the Influence at Filmscene (October 1). My first theatergoing experience in Iowa City after driving here from MA! One of my favorite movies ever, and my first time seeing it on the big screen. MY first time meeting some of the other Bijou board members in person as well. Magic!!
Gigi Bell
Top 5 New Releases:
1. Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Best part 2 ever? Brought the book to life for me and even improved upon the source material in my opinion. Timmy came into his own as the Paul of my dreams, and Austin Butler made every Friday Feyd-Rautha Friday from that point on.
2. Problemista (2023) Directed by Julio Torres. Massively underrated! Exactly the kind of feature debut I’d expect from the writer of the papyrus SNL sketch. Surreal and hilarious and I think will serve as the perfect time capsule of this era.
3. The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) Directed by. Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte Some may balk at the runtime but I never wanted it to end. Epic in every sense of the word. Actually made me want to read the source material. The lead guy is really fine. Have I convinced you yet?
4. Flow (2024) (Dir. Gints Zilbalodis). You know the dialogue-free first act of WALL-E that you wish they’d committed to for the full runtime? Well, they did it here! The animals are all more fleshed-out than some characters I’ve seen in big studio releases this year while also never speaking and sticking to animalistic mannerisms. Beautiful animation that made me think about the meaning of life.
5. Challengers (2024) Directed by. Luca Guadagnino. I bought a tennis skirt because of this movie. The soundtrack made my Spotify wrapped. We may not have had a Barbenheimer-level event this year, but we did have Challengers.
Top 5 New Discoveries:
1. Before Sunrise (1995) Directed by Richard Linklater. This has completely changed how I approach writing relationships between my own characters. Haven’t seen the other two yet because I’m scared of being sad, but we’ll get there…
2. Phantom of the Paradise (1974) Directed by Brian De Palma. Now that I’ve seen it, I’m shocked that I hadn’t seen it before, considering how much early 70s rock lives in my soul. Sublime. Stan Beef.
3. Peeping Tom (1960) Directed by Michael Powell. Still can’t believe this and Psycho came out the same year. To be there!
4. Psycho (1960) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. See above. Even though I’ve known the whole plot of this for a long time I was still taken for the whole ride!
5. Bound (1996) Directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski. The only one of my new discoveries listed here that I didn’t see in theaters; I watched this on my laptop while on the clock at my day job. I love the Wachowskis and I love lesbians!
Top 5 Theatrical Experiences:
1. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable – Part 1 (Dir. Takashi Miike, 2017). Technically not an in-theaters experience, but I watched this for my birthday with friends. Crazy how Takashi Miike brings the juice even when making a silly live-action anime adaptation that didn’t make enough money to ever finance the elusive “Part 2” the title implies.
2. Die Hard (Dir. John McTiernan, 1988). Got to see my favorite Christmas movie in theaters for the first time with friends. The jingle juice was flowing and we had a delightful time.
3. Audition (Dir. Takashi Miike, 1999). It’s always fun to attend a screening you pitched, but I had the added joy and trepidation of knowing that I’d forced this movie upon a largely unsuspecting audience. The collective sigh of relief when the credits rolled says it all.
4. Twisters (Dir. Lee Isaac Chung, 2024). Twisters somehow became a massive running joke among my coworkers at my day job in the lead-up to its release and we all got together to see it opening night. Tyler Owens Tornado Wrangler is my hero. If you feel it!
5. Howl’s Moving Castle (Dir. Hayao Miyazaki, 2004). Finally had the opportunity to see one of my all-time favorite films in theaters not once but twice after I realized that I accidentally booked the sub when I meant to book the dub. Two hours of joy and comfort into my veins.