A thread to discuss movies, TV shows, etc. that you’ve seen in 2025.
2 thoughts on “Movies 2025”
To Kill a Mockingbird (1959)
Dir. Robert Mulligan
Starring: Gregory Peck, etc.
75/100
Putting aside whether the film is a great work of art or not (at least for now), if the American entertainment industry made films and TV shows like this, they would fulfilling the responsibility they have to the larger society. To me, the entertainment industry are the storytellers and myth makers that provide answers to key questions in life–for example, what is really important in life? How should one live? What does it mean to be a man or woman? What do good friendships and romantic relationships look like? etc. I’m not saying they intentionally try to do this–I think these things occur, whether they intend to answer these questions or not–and for the most part they don’t handle this in a responsible way.
If they did, Mulligan’s film adaptation would be a good example, especially Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch, who not only provides a great role model for for males, but also convincingly portrays a quiet dignity that is admirable–something that I don’t think Jimmy Stewart, a great actor who turned down the role, could not do–at least not as effectively in my opinion.
Having said this, the film did have some flaws for me. For one thing, it did heavy-handed, didactic moments, a la Father Knows Best–moments when the patriarch literally imparts life lessons to his son or daughter. Also, I’m not really keen on the white savior motif. But Peck is so good in this that I can overlook these flaws.
This is a film and a novel that schools should require for American high school students.
One of the cool things about the Criterion Channel is discovering quality films and/or filmmakers I had never heard of. That happened recently with the films of Michael Roemer–Nothing But a Man and Vengence is Mine.
Nothing But a Man (1964)
Starring: Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, etc.
81/100
I had to recommend really good African-American movies, this would definitely make the list (although Roemer is not black). The film is a bit rough around the edges, with some limited acting. (Lincoln is a jazz singer, not a professional actor.) But in spite of this there were some really moving moments. Additionally, the print I saw was in a good shape, the black and white visuals were very satisfying.
The film is about a black man, Duff Anderson (Dixon), who meets and falls for Josie Dawson (Lincoln), a young, black school teacher and preacher’s daughter. The film follows them as they try to make a life together–specifically focusing the Duff’s struggles. You see Duff will not lower his self-respect and dignity, even if it costs him.
Vengence is Mine (1984)
Starring: Brooke Adams (Jo), Trish Van Devere (Donna), Jon DeVries (Tom), Ari Meyer (Jackie), etc.
78/100
A Lifetime Network film, although fans of the channel may not like this. (Larri hated it.) The plot is a bit too complicated to summarize, but I’ll just say the film follows Jo, who journey’s back to her hometown to visit her mother before moving across country for a new job. While visiting her mother, she meets the neighbor’s daughter, Jackie, and then gets caught up in her life as well as her parents’.
Particular aspects of this movie were fresh, and my liking of the film has a lot to do with this. Additionally, I liked the performance and handling of the characters, especially Trish Van Devere’s performance. I wouldn’t say it’s exceptional–unless you view it within the context of what feels like a made-for-TV-movie.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1959)
Dir. Robert Mulligan
Starring: Gregory Peck, etc.
75/100
Putting aside whether the film is a great work of art or not (at least for now), if the American entertainment industry made films and TV shows like this, they would fulfilling the responsibility they have to the larger society. To me, the entertainment industry are the storytellers and myth makers that provide answers to key questions in life–for example, what is really important in life? How should one live? What does it mean to be a man or woman? What do good friendships and romantic relationships look like? etc. I’m not saying they intentionally try to do this–I think these things occur, whether they intend to answer these questions or not–and for the most part they don’t handle this in a responsible way.
If they did, Mulligan’s film adaptation would be a good example, especially Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch, who not only provides a great role model for for males, but also convincingly portrays a quiet dignity that is admirable–something that I don’t think Jimmy Stewart, a great actor who turned down the role, could not do–at least not as effectively in my opinion.
Having said this, the film did have some flaws for me. For one thing, it did heavy-handed, didactic moments, a la Father Knows Best–moments when the patriarch literally imparts life lessons to his son or daughter. Also, I’m not really keen on the white savior motif. But Peck is so good in this that I can overlook these flaws.
This is a film and a novel that schools should require for American high school students.
One of the cool things about the Criterion Channel is discovering quality films and/or filmmakers I had never heard of. That happened recently with the films of Michael Roemer–Nothing But a Man and Vengence is Mine.
Nothing But a Man (1964)
Starring: Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, etc.
81/100
I had to recommend really good African-American movies, this would definitely make the list (although Roemer is not black). The film is a bit rough around the edges, with some limited acting. (Lincoln is a jazz singer, not a professional actor.) But in spite of this there were some really moving moments. Additionally, the print I saw was in a good shape, the black and white visuals were very satisfying.
The film is about a black man, Duff Anderson (Dixon), who meets and falls for Josie Dawson (Lincoln), a young, black school teacher and preacher’s daughter. The film follows them as they try to make a life together–specifically focusing the Duff’s struggles. You see Duff will not lower his self-respect and dignity, even if it costs him.
Vengence is Mine (1984)
Starring: Brooke Adams (Jo), Trish Van Devere (Donna), Jon DeVries (Tom), Ari Meyer (Jackie), etc.
78/100
A Lifetime Network film, although fans of the channel may not like this. (Larri hated it.) The plot is a bit too complicated to summarize, but I’ll just say the film follows Jo, who journey’s back to her hometown to visit her mother before moving across country for a new job. While visiting her mother, she meets the neighbor’s daughter, Jackie, and then gets caught up in her life as well as her parents’.
Particular aspects of this movie were fresh, and my liking of the film has a lot to do with this. Additionally, I liked the performance and handling of the characters, especially Trish Van Devere’s performance. I wouldn’t say it’s exceptional–unless you view it within the context of what feels like a made-for-TV-movie.