Sam Van Hallgren

What is the single greatest film performance of the last 25 years?

Extra credit for giving me your five nominees, plus your winner.

You're right, I broke my own rule!

It's DDL or PSH, actually, but Leo is a solid pick :)

Just this century, Barry, I wouldn't dare take on all of movie history! 2000-2025.

Actor of the Century (So Far)
One and only one name.
And by actor I mean actor or actress.
But only one.
Best? Defining? Your criteria. But based only on their work this century so far.
One name, I mean it.

Caught this delightful (and probably accurate!) error in the Times before they fixed it.

6 Movies We Can’t Wait to Watch at the 2025 Chicago Critics Film Festival — Moviejawn by Lindsey Romain, Staff Writer For a movie fan, there’s almost nothing more rewarding than tucking into the crimson seats of the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and letting a spectacle of cinema wash o...

Here's a really nice piece by @lindseyromain.bsky.social at Moviejawn about six films she is excited to see at this year's Chicago Critics Film Festival May 2-8 at the @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social . www.moviejawn.com/home/2025/4/...

the joker is sitting on a throne holding a microphone in his hand . ALT: the joker is sitting on a throne holding a microphone in his hand .

The news is so insane every single day and then this morning I realized that it was also weirdly familiar. It’s Burton’s BATMAN without Batman. Just a comic book psychopath and his minions wreaking havoc.

Thank you, @stevenhyden.bsky.social, for recommending Fust’s Big Ugly. “Spangled” is ridiculously good.

Did you or your kids experience the Minecraft Movie thing? Or if you missed it, do you plan to seek it out?

I did and I thought it was fun, but things didn't get out of hand as I know they have in some locations.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Writer-director Rungano Nyoni ties an increasingly tightening knot.

ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL is out now on on-demand video; if you missed it in theaters, you should seek it out at home.

Criterion Channel isn't even putting a promo or "sign up now" message between the films on its Free Movie Week live stream, just a schedule.

I love that. The best marketing is a good product.

www.criterionchannel.com/events/free-... #FilmSky

Thank you for all the years of listening, Boaz!

Hi, there, @letterboxd.social. Due to a strange quirk in the system, Singin’ in the Rain is filed under the genres Comedy and Romance, but not Music. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Your humble servant, Sam

Weird because you gotta think morale has got to be at an all time high.

Warner Bros. posted Joan Micklin Silver's CROSSING DELANCEY (1988) to YouTube a week ago — and it already has 82K views.

These free full film posts are often up for a limited time, so don’t miss out on this gem!

youtu.be/Ow6F8KUZ_qo #FilmSky

Also mine.

Give me one 2025 Oscar snub outrage.

Under the Sycamore Trees: The Night ‘Twin Peaks’ Went Off the Air With the finale to the original run, David Lynch patched together pieces of a broken series and set the stage for the rest of his career.

For The Reveal I wrote about that last night TWIN PEAKS aired on broadcast TV, a finale that ended the show as daringly as it began and influenced the rest of David Lynch's career. (We're turning the whole week over to Lynch, so look for more soon.)

I was 27. Me neither! Still loved it.

Love that. You needed a hug after surviving Eraserhead.

I was 10 or 11. I didn't find it awesome, but it did make me nauseated. And thus memorable.

It might have been my first, too, Odie. Caught it on tv some lazy 80s afternoon. Didn't know quite what to make it of, but clearly never forgot it.

What was your first encounter with a David Lynch film and how did it go?

Can someone help me explain how I have never - to my knowledge - heard a single Robbie Williams song? He was much much much bigger in the UK than in US, I'm guessing? (I remain intrigued by Better Man.)

hi! my annual video countdown of the year's best movies will be up on monday, january 13.

on the advice of "No Other Land" director Basel Adra, the annual fundraiser i launch along with it is in support of The Palestine Red Crescent Society, and the fundraiser is now live:

gofund.me/ae3c2b9f

Not sure this can be topped, Josh. Go ahead and retire my number in the Blue Sky rafters.

NOSFERA2 when

6 days into 2025, Steven. Still waiting on that first review! :)