Ronn Burner

The inevitable Darth Vader in SWGE "TOLDJA!" I've been screaming from the Spires since Day 1 is coming - eventually! The writing is on the wall. The most popular global villain ever NOT being in a Star Wars land has always been bananas. Nobody cares about the timeline. Give the people what we want!

35 total films nominated for Oscar sans Shorts. I only saw 2 Int'l & 1 Doc so far but aside from that only NICKEL BOYS, SEPTEMBER 5, THE APPRENTICE, MEMOIRS OF A SNAIL & BETTER MAN remain.
Surprise: I'M STILL HERE
Bummer: CHALLENGERS shutout.
Fav: ANORA
Story: EMILIA PEREZ (13) & WICKED (10) slayed!

On Golden Globes night—far from Oscar night yet still a so-called precursing indicator—the films (in different categories) I can't stop thinking (my favs) & the best of 2024 are EMILIA PEREZ, ANORA, THE SUBSTANCE, DUNE II, WICKED, MUFASA, THE WILD ROBOT, GLADIATOR II, and CHALLENGERS.

THE SUBSTANCE (2024) turned me on & grossed me out. Made me laugh & freaked me out. Excited me & disturbed me. It's like a Miley Cyrus concert! It's wildly unique, brilliant social commentary on the privileges of being on the right side of vanity & aging vs not. Demi gonna get that Oscar nom love.

Just stop the Joe Burrow MVP talk. It's not happening. Burrow is great! The Bengals are bad. SEE: Dan Marino's entire career ffs. Accept Burrow is great & the Bengals are not. It's ok. Add overdue Josh Allen's superhuman year, Lamar changing the game & Saquon setting a sacred NFL record. Sorry, Joe.

Just watched THE BRUTALIST. Wish I didn't watch THE BRUTALIST. Worst Oscar year ever? Seen 7 of Best Picture Oscar nom favs. Hated most. Loved Anora & Wicked! Didn't love, but really liked Gladiator II & Dune II. Hated Emilia Perez, Conclave & The Brutalist. Sorry. Can't even kinda relate. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#1

All right, ur a reindeer. Here's ur motivation: Ur name is Rudolph, ur a freak w/a red nose & no one likes u. Then 1 day, Santa picks u & u save Christmas. No, forget that part. We'll improvise... just keep it kind of loosey-goosey. ACTION! HILARIOUS!
“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.”

Of the serious Best Picture contenders I've only seen CONCLAVE, WICKED, EMILIA PEREZ, DUNE II & ANORA so far. Liked some, didn't like some. But loved ANORA! Mikey Madison is great. Such a force. Wow. She brings it. And you can chalk her up as one of the 5 seats on Oscar Sunday.

#2

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)

The purest Christmas film of them all! There's not a single frame of magic, the supernatural or anything that can't be explained - but our imagination believes we're watching a fantasy. The end asks us to suspend disbelief a bit - and we're happy to!🎅🎄

#3

ELF (2003)

A sweet, funny, smart fantasy for all. Pure fairytale quality Christmas movie embracing the season with the eagerness of our inner-child!

Hilarious AND heartfelt?! That's everything!

Zooey's "Baby, It's Cold Outside" w/Ferrell in the film's climax is so good.

Other than that - it was perfect. The story was incredibly original (you know what I mean) and should have been what we got instead of THE LION KING (2019). I loved it and it's a 10/10 for me and I'm not going to apologize for it.🦁❤️🎞️

There were at least 2 highly dramatic moments that just broke into song completely breaking the tension and taking me out of the story that I didn't love - but it's Disney and that's what we signed up for.

Wow. Rotten Tomatoes (56%) & Metacritic (56) are broken. MUFASA (2024) was superb! I LOVED it! One of my fav Disney films ever.

#4

A masterpiece. The ultimate Christmas film with the most relatable & powerful message of them all.

We should all realize how much we touch the lives of others. We all matter & simple acts of kindness, generosity & selflessness count for everything in this world! Merry Christmas!🎄

#5

CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)

Best & catchiest Xmas film theme song ever! I pick friends based on their opinion of this film. "It's that time, Christmas time is here, Everybody knows there's not a better time of year. Hear that sleigh, Santa's on his way Hip, hip hooray, for Christmas Vacation!"

#6

IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947)

We don't see a Christmas tree until the third act yet it's my favorite Xmas film nobody knows about. It's ridiculous. It's smart. It's silly. It's romantic. It's heartwarming. It's a true treasure & I love that it's my Christmas secret!

I just got approved for $1,345,500 to buy a house. I once ate dry Cheerios for a month to save money for rent and gas and needed my Dad to co-sign to get me into a two-story Doritos bag shithole apartment because I weighed more than my credit score. Crazy. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #Grateful 🎄

#7

THE SANTA CLAUSE (1994)

Tim Allen kills SantaSOLD! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ THEN he has to take Santa's place - CUZ the Santa CLAUSE!

The funny part was a given. But somehow it manages to have heart. Make us care about the characters. And remind us there really is such a thing as Christmas spirit- and elves.

#8

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)

My fav Christmas rom-dramedy. Like many of my fav 30s & 40s films – I'm emotionally connected to it. Janet Leigh is a shoplifting single mom. Robert Mitchum is a store clerk that can't turn her in & gets fired for it. Then – they fall in love – because Christmas!

Disney goes first - proves concept - the rest copy and follow.

#9

HOME ALONE (1990)

The most implausible Christmas film EVER! I can suspend disbelief for a real Santa, visits from 3 spirits, a Whoville & even a Cousin Eddie! But nobody in the family noticing the empty seat on the plane!? Next to them?! Doesn't matter - it's a Christmas staple & it's awesome!

#10

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)

Hidden Christmas gem! A witty but insufferable (Love him already!) author slips on ice injuring hip confining him to the couple's home over Xmas. Hilarity, wit, havoc ensue. Banter Gold! Refreshing Xmas irreverence. So fun! Legendary Bette Davis in a comedy!

#11

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)

Nothing more Christmas than annual 24hr marathons of this quotable, classic, hilarious & beloved vignette-told story of Ralphie Parker & his Red Ryder BB gun – by the helmer of the 1974 slasher BLACK CHRISTMAS. I KNOW! The leg lamp thing is so stupid - it's awesome!

#12

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)

Barbara Stanwyck writes one of the most famous columns in America about her life as a model homemaker w/perfect recipes, husband, baby & idyllic farmhouse – but it's all a sham. Classic RomCom showing the magic of Christmas & falling in love.

#13

YOU’VE GOT MAIL (1998)

Tom Hanks. Meg Ryan. A romantic comedy. AND a remake of the most beloved romantic Xmas film ever: THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)?

DEAL! The camera loves them.

No holiday viewing excuse is needed. It's a comfort film whenever comfort is needed.🎄

#14

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

The best of the many great romantic films set around Christmas! Smart, funny, touching & heartfelt. Two co-workers w/sensitive souls yearning for connection hate each other - but fall in love thru their anonymous Pen-Pal letters. The original You've Got Mail.

#15

The Night They Saved Christmas (1984)

The pre-Hallmark Christmas movie - Christmas movie. Only this one is good! Okay. It's bad but bad with heart! Santa hates "Jingle Bells!" The unique cheesy plot oozes Christmas spirit, fun & Jaclyn Smith. A hidden Xmas gem for the family.🎄🎅

#16

REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940)

A mysteriously under-the-radar Christmas classic! DA Fred MacMurray takes pity on the beautiful shoplifter he's prosecuting, Barbara Stanwyck. They fall in love. A snowy Xmas Eve - in B&W! Stanwyck on the piano. Singing. Christmas schmaltz oozes!🎄

#17

SCROOGE (1951)

Alastair Sim's three-dimensional performance is the quintessential Scrooge. Masterfully mixing horror, humor & tragedy – the gold standard of the iconic "A Christmas Carol" story. One is never too old to change, heal, or turn one's life around. *Takes notes*

#18

WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)

The postcard for Christmas movies! The finale alone is the most Xmas film iconic thing ever. It proudly flaunts the bestselling song EVER! An unapologetic Technicolor Cheese Whiz-infused audio-visual spectacular! Music, talent, costumes & score. Pure Xmas cheese bliss.🎄