Keke Palmer for president.

Can't be worse than certain alternatives.

Latham Arneson

Jan 16, 2025

THE QUOTE 🎬 💬

“Wolfman’s got nards!”

hint: not the same wolfman from Wolf Man!

THINK THOUGHTS 💭

So how’s the situation down there?!!, you might ask.

Depends on who that question is posed to, but better on my end!, I’d say.

Glad to hear it! Btw, why are we yelling!?, you’d ponder.

I don’t know! Just go with it, ok??!, I’d nervously clap back.

Ok!, you’d awkwardly respond, all the while looking for an exit from the discourse.

Jokes aside, the situation is different in the LA area, and yet also very much the same. Some of the fires are still burning, though far less in areas that can harm homes and humans. But the unknowns and uncertainties are still very active for too many folks.

The fires’ effect on movies feels fairly trivial, but they do exist - a few cancelled premieres, luncheons and voting for the Oscars was shifted to end this Friday (nominations will be announced next Thursday). Shucks.

As for me? Still lamenting the numerous mistakes I made in last week’s email, but also trying to get you to some movies faster than I have been the past couple weeks.

So let’s get to it, shall we?

NEWSY BITS 👾

Alamo Drafthouse Hit With Layoffs; Slow Box Office Season Cited - they say much of it is “seasonal,” but it sure isn’t great news. - The Hollywood Reporter

‘Babygirl’ | Anatomy of a Scene - sweet! no waiting to buy the DVD for the director commentary. Oh wait, people don’t do that anymore. So it’s nice to get a peak into director Halina Reijn’s thinking. Caution: I only recommend watching if you’ve seen the movie, which I strongly recommend! - NY Times

At the Movies: To Laugh, Cry or Cringe? - a fun dive into the subjectivity of reactions amongst strangers. I’ve been noticing these moments as well, especially with Babygirl (unsure how to react to highly charged sexual scenarios) and Nosferatru (unsure how to react to earnestness). I have no judgement, I mean, why should someone police their own emotional reactions? Plus, I’m the guy who laughs loudly at awful shit happening to people in horror movies, sooooo. - NY Times

EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE(S) 📝

Unstoppable - an athlete defies the odds. Yaaawn. Been there! …Or maybe not? Because this is a true story about a kid who was born with one leg, and yet pushes to compete as a wrestler and does pretty damn great at it. The reviews say the familiar formula is followed, but that lead Jharrel Jerome and Jennifer Lopez, who plays his mom, push it over into “worth it” territory. Streaming on Amazon Prime Today

The Room Next Door - Spanish director Pedro Almodóva makes his first English language movie and it’s about two friends, played by Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, reconnecting as one of them is dying (Swinton). The reviews say it’s a refreshingly direct rumination on death and mortality, but also friendship and connection. Expect a rather soft, thoughtful experience which some might find pleasant and cathartic while others become dreadfully bored. Playing in Limited Theaters Friday

I’m Still Here - a families father is taken by the Brazilian military dictatorship and the mother has to hold the family together as she tries to find out what happened to her husband. Based on a true story as well. The reviews say the movie is less about sadness and more about strength in the face of it. Critics also add that Fernanda Torres, who plays the mother, is an anchor both in the story and the movie for her performance. Playing in Limited Theaters Friday (expands wider February 14)

NOTABLE NEW RELEASE(S) 🎟 & 📺

One of Them Days

Funny movies are fun!

So why aren’t there more straight (not that kind) comedies released in theaters? I mean, do people even wanna laugh at the movies anymore (snickering at the awkward moments doesn’t count here - see above)?

Based on the amount of comedies released in theaters each year, let alone that do well, the answer is ab-so-fucking-lutely not. I mean sure, there are times when you feel a good chortle erupt from your diaphragm during a more dramatic movie. But I’m talkin, Superbad, Friday, Bridesmaids level of making you laugh and fearful you’re gonna release a little pee from the ol’ pee hole.

The last time I was potentially worried some urine might vacate my body at an inopportune time, a stranger and I connected over the madness that is Joy Ride— maybe the last pure “hijinks” comedy that I saw in theaters. Looking at each other as we both said “this is fucking hilarious!” with our eyes. The connection was brief, but it was meaningful. ❤️

And it’s crazy, because all you really need is a premise—for example, two best friends who need $1,500 for rent by 6 pm or they’ll be kicked out of their apartment.

I guuuuesss it’d help to have a solid script filled with good jokes. Fine, probably need some actors who are funny too.

Oh wait, what about Issa Rae of Insecure fame as your producer and Keke Palmer and SZA as your stars?

“Palmer, though she has the “straight” role, is so witty in her attack that she commands the screen. And SZA, in her film debut, simply sizzles. She’s a volcano of camp fury.” - from the Vairety review of One of Them Days

Palmer is the definition of a hard working actor who’s been around since her days starring in Akeelah and the Bee. But her appearance in Jordan Peele’s NOPE clearly brought her another level of attention, and by all accounts, we should’ve been watching this woman in far more movies like this a looooong time ago.

And SZA, who is navigating the classic but tricky singer to actor path, is apparently finding her way quite nicely.

Which is all to say, maybe you do actually like laughing. And if that’s the case, you should probably get your ass to see One of Them Days. Because if you want more laughing, you need more funny movies and to get more funny movies, studios need to make moneeeyyyyyy.

Watch the Trailer

Out: Friday

Where: Theaters

Details: 1 hr 37 mins | R | 🍅: 100%

Wolf Man

Should I do that thing? ?????!! Yeah, ya know, that thing where I say this movie seems simple on the surface, but is actually about something completely different — liiiike say a middle aged man who starts to take a look back at his life so far and realizes he’s not where he wants to be, so he starts to volunteer at a local wolf sanctuary after reading a pamphlet randomly handed to him by a stranger on the street, where he connects with a loner wolf called “Jackie,” and over the course of the story, Jackie starts to trust the man and the man starts to discover his true inner-self, all thanks to his relationship with Jackie and the movie ends with the dude stripping himself naked and joining Jackie on all fours as they run in to the forest howling, just as the film’s title finally fades onto screen… Wolf *beat* Man. Fin.

Oooooor do I just tell you it’s exactly what you think it is. A werewolf movie, based on the classic. Except this time, 🚨 deep shit alert! 🚨 it’s centered around a husband / father who assures his wife and daughter he’s going to protect them, only to become the thing they fear. 😧

Maybe I do both and just pretend as if I’m giving you a choice and add in that while it was originally set to star Ryan Gosling, it doesn’t. But he did still “produce it” (remember what we learned last week?) and in his stead, director Leigh Wannell, who also made the well liked and successful The Invisible Man, got Christopher Abbott (Poor Things), to step in to be the father-creature combo that chases Julia Garner (The Assistant) and their daughter.

Yup, I did both.

Watch the Trailer

Out: Friday

Where: Theaters

Details: 1 hr 43 mins | R | 🍅: 59%

Movies are better with (good) company.