Collin Souter

Christmas Movies Actually: 147 - A Merry Little Ex-Mas (2025) Every year, Netflix kicks off the Christmas movie season with a little trifle of a rom-com that stars an actress whose name used to be commonly above the title in past decades. This year, it's Alicia ...

Our latest episode is up! We typically do whatever brand new Christmas movie comes down the pike at this time of year and, well, it's another Netflix phone-in. It's a hit, though, as these things usually are. Enjoy!
Our next episode: THE ICE HARVEST (2005).
www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

Thanksgiving Movies Actually - Planes, Trains and Automobiles (feat. Ed Daly) Author Ed Daly (The Christmas Book) returns to talk about easily one of the most celebrated holiday movies ever, John Hughes' Thanksgiving classic "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

Our latest episode is up! Needs no introduction, really. You know it, you love it. We do, too. We talk a lot about the legacy of Candy/Hughes and the scenes that didn't make the cut that actually add context to key moments. Author Ed Daly returns. Enjoy!
www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

It's a Kino Lorber kind of day. Spent the day catching up with two powerful docs: "Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk" and "Refenstahl," two movies that could be written about together in a variety of ways. I'll be thinking about them a lot.

Next up: an out-of-print blu-ray of "Star Slammer."

Don't you love getting bad news just before a screening? A movie I think is probably very good, but I couldn't enjoy a single frame of it. Sometimes you gotta cut your losses, pick up the backpack, leave the theater and circle back to the movie with a clearer head later on. But I didn't. Wish I did.

There are too many movies.

Christmas Movies Actually: 145 - Don't Open Till Christmas (1984) (feat. Patrick Ripoll) With all the Silent Night, Deadly Night films complete (or are they?), Kerry, Collin and their frequent guest at this time of year, Patrick Ripoll, take a look at another slasher film from the same er...

Our latest is up! Patrick Ripoll joins us to talk about a slasher movie that is not part of a series. "Don't Open Till Christmas" is a sleazy genre film from 1984 doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but that's what makes it so intriguing. Enjoy!
www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

On Death And Dying: Diane Keaton's "Heaven" and "Unstrung Heroes" When Diane Keaton passed away, many of us who post regularly on the socials took to our keyboards and told the world about our favorite role of hers and what her presence on screen meant to us. The ra...

Happy to hear the news that Diane Keaton's doc "Heaven" has been fully restored and will hit cinemas in November. I wrote this a couple days ago and mentioned the movie needs rediscovery and a nice home on physical media. Yay! www.collinsouter.com/fbfdiane-kea...

CHAIR COMPANY: ep 2. Whatever...podcast?... they're listening to in the car, I have so many questions. At the same time, for absurdist comedy purposes, I hope it's never, ever explained. I can't stop laughing about it. Is it a podcast? When do they know they're done? Network? Show notes? Brilliant.

Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness (if you feel like it).

A trailer for "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" that leaves in all the narration and dialogue about "this is the music he needs to make right now", only the background track throughout the whole thing is Springsteen's version of "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town."

She also directed two great films (and directed a lot more, but these two are stand-outs): HEAVEN (1987) and UNSTRUNG HEROES (1995). Both extraordinary.

Halloween Movies Actually: Monster House (feat. Christine Sellin) Collin and Kerry correct a mistake from last year by focusing on a movie that actually does take place during Halloween. Christine Sellin returns to talk about "Monster House," a subversive and hilari...

Halloween Movies Actually is back! Christine Sellin returns to talk about an animated classic from 2006, "Monster House," which boasts a clever script and a subversive bent. We also get into our own memories of trick-or-treating. Enjoy! www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

There is one very satisfying moment on "Tron: Ares" where the designer is describing the titular character as "soulless, emotionless and 100% disposable" all while there's a close-up on Leto.

Oh cool, I'm glad they're releasing the "Kill Bill" cut in early December when there's not much going on with movies or awards voting and us film critics have more time to sit with an extended epic from 20+ years ago and really digest it.

(yes, I actually am excited for it. Calm down)

Anemone: I left before the post-film discussion on masculinity, which I can only imagine was along the lines of "Ay, did ya' see those strapping Irish men on the screen-yeh? Real men up there! 'at's what ya' gotta measure up to, laddies. Ya' film critics are all wee... gaunt. Paunchy! On yer feet!"

Christmas Movies Actually: 143 - Remember The Night (1940) (feat. John Zukowski) Unfortunately, our episode on "The Apartment" has to be postponed until next year. Our apologioes for that. Fortunately, author John Zukowski was able to step in at the last minute and introduce a new...

Our latest episode is up! An obscure movie, but an important one. "Remember The Night" is (very likely) the first Christmas Romance movie. Released in 1940, it stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray. Very funny, warm and unexpectedly dark in places. Enjoy! www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

Trader Joes’s every Sunday morning as we all sit and wait for the jagoff with the perfect parking spot to stop checking all his social feeds, put the damn phone down and BACK OUT already so we can all get on with our f%#*ing lives!

Christmas Movies Actually: The Baltimorons (2025) - Feat. Jay Duplass, Michael Strassner, Liz Larsen The director and stars of the wonderful comedy "The Baltimorons" (currently/soon in theaters) join the show briefly to discuss the film's evolution and its purpose as a Christmas movie.

Christmas movie season is starting a little early, with THE BALTIMORONS expanding to many cities this weekend. We had the director, Jay Duplass, and stars Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen on our show to talk about it. Go see this movie! www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

Short Films in Focus: Joe Hunting on "The Reality of Hope" | Short Films in Focus | Roger Ebert An interview with the director of the VR-set short.

If you need a feel-good distraction, this short doc might do the trick. We played it at @chicagocritics.bsky.social this year and it got a strong response. Watch the movie (scroll down about half-way through the article), then read my review and Q&A. Enjoy! www.rogerebert.com/short-films-...

YouTube video by U2VEVO U2 - Wake Up Dead Man (Lyric Video)

For all my TIFF friends: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXDC...

Phoebe Cates energy on this poster: “(sigh!) My boyfriend and his crazy pets again. One of these days I’m gonna throw one of them down a very thin chimney.”

How I Spent My Summer Vacation At The Drive-In | Features | Roger Ebert A writer journeys to see the country's drive-ins.

I'm quite proud of this piece I wrote for @ebertvoices.bsky.social. My wife and I visited six drive-in theaters and I got to write about it. Every one of these places is special. Seek out your nearest drive-in, go out there, enjoy a dbl feature and buy some food. www.rogerebert.com/features/how...

I know it's too early for this, but who will be the one to run onto the stage, "Weapons"-style, at the 2026 Academy Awards? Jack Black? Jim Carrey? Sean Penn? Will the entire opening build up to a large group running up there?

Am I to understand there are lots of kids in Mississippi trying to get on BlueSky to post their LastFourWatched while decrying the use of AI in everything?

Maybe rethink the green ones.

Christmas Movies Actually: 141 - The Sure Thing / Better Off Dead Kerry and Collin didn't plan on 2025 being a John Cusack-a-thon, but that's what ended up happening. After talking about "Serendipity" back in February and with "The Ice Harvest" coming up in December...

Our latest episode is up! We talk about TWO John Cusack movies "just for PLEASURE!" Both from 1985, both have Christmas in them, both products of their time, but worth revisiting. Enjoy!
www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmov...

Yes, I log everything. Not just movies. Can't help it. Pretty cool last 4, though. I enjoyed all of this. #lastfourwatched #letterboxd #filmsky