Hello Reader, When it comes to watching movies... There are the choices you want to be making for yourself (e.g., watching your cultural vegetables that will feed you emotionally and intellectually) And there are the choices you actually make (e.g., watching junk food)...which might be because you're not even sure which choice to make because your watchlist is so long that you're endlessly scrolling. If this predicament sounds familiar...you're not alone. The Good News? Watching your cultural vegetables doesn't have to be hard! You just need to curate a watchlist for 2025...and make sure it has three key ingredients that will keep you feeling secure and excited. Episode 154: Three key ingredients for a great year of moviesToday on the podcast, I discuss three key ingredients to ensure a great year of movies, which include:
On the podcast, I talk about what I mean by each of these criteria, and how you can meet them. Happy watching/listening! Alex P.S. Ready to curate your watchlist? Want help ensuring it has these three ingredients and more? Attend the Curate Your 2025 Watchlist workshop on Sunday! Set yourself up for a great year of movies without the decision fatigue that usually comes with sitting down to watch a movie.
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Seventh Row is a nonprofit Canadian film criticism publication and publishing house. We're dedicated to helping you expand your horizons by curating the best socially progressive films from around the world and helping you think deeply about them. This newsletter is run by Seventh Row (http://seventh-row.com) but features exclusive content not found on the website.
Some films change every time you rewatch them — not because they shift, but because you do. The mark of a great film is that it can meet you again — and offer more. Not just because your perspective has changed, but because the film is rich enough to hold what you couldn’t yet see. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years — and we’re celebrating it on the podcast because it’s one of the best films of the century. I’ve watched it at least once a year over the past...
Hello Reader, This week on the podcast, I’m digging into Celine Song’s new film, Materialists, which asks: Is love enough when money is tight? It’s got plenty going for it (that cast! that blocking!), but also tiptoes around the class and money dynamics it sets up. In this episode, I get into where it works, where it falls short, and how it stacks up next to films and shows that explore similar territory (Gossip Girl, Mansfield Park, and more). A few spoilers ahead, especially when I get into...
Hello Reader, What do a British political thriller, an Indigenous Canadian documentary, and a queer South African drama have in common? Honestly… I wasn’t sure at first either. I programmed them inside Reel Ruminators because they were different: crossing genres, continents, and perspectives. And yet, in hindsight, I realized they were all circling some of the same big questions. Watching and thinking about one film changed how I watched and thought about the others. And I have an inkling...