Happy Saturday, and Happy 2025

Happy everything to you on this first Saturday morning of 2025. I hope you had a wonderful New Year’s Eve, whether you were drinking something bubbly at a spectacular party or cozying up in your jammies on the couch. We’re heading home today after spending the past week in Crested Butte, Colorado, where they had a surprisingly impressive fireworks display. I still can’t ski because of my knee injury, but I had a great time enjoying the scenery, drinking lattes and hanging out the with the sweet lobby dogs in an effort to fight the FOMO.

It’s hard for me to disconnect from work entirely, though. That’s something I plan to work on in 2025. So I also did a quick little livestream for our channel members, and I binged the first season of “Squid Game.” That is a LOT to take in over a short period, but Alonso and I are recapping season 2 of the Netflix series starting next week, so this was the perfect opportunity to catch up with it. If you’re not already a member of our Patreon, now is a great time to join us. Have you watched the new season of “Squid Game” yet? I’d love to know your thoughts, but please, no spoilers! I’ve only seen the first two episodes.

Speaking of livestreams, I’ll be doing one on another channel this upcoming Monday, Jan. 6 at 10am PST. Rob the Maritimer from Halifax, Nova Scotia, is someone I’ve really enjoyed following over the past year. He specializes in helping people over 40 start and grow their own YouTube channels, and he often brings in guests who are doing just that. You can join us here and ask any questions you may have.

Getting back to normal next week, Alonso and I plan to do a post-Golden Globes livestream at Noon Pacific time on Monday, Jan. 6. Join us at our Breakfast All Day YouTube channel and we’ll hash through everything that happened the previous night. The Globes still feel like kind of a joke, despite their recent efforts toward respectability. But comedian Nikki Glaser is hosting, which gives me hope that the show will at least be entertaining, regardless of who wins. “Emilia Pérez,” an ambitious Spanish-language musical that doesn’t totally work, leads all films with a record-breaking 10 nominations.

Also, Alonso and I will finally share our top 10 lists on Tuesday. You may have read our lists elsewhere, but this is always a fun opportunity to discuss our favorite movies of the year. We usually have some overlap, but we also tend to surprise each other, and I legitimately have no idea what’s on his list (although I can guess that it will include “Hundreds of Beavers”). We’ll also share our worst-of lists, which people seem to enjoy, so keep an eye out for all of that.

For now, here’s a peek into my best of 2024 list. This is alphabetical, because I don’t feel the need to rank them anymore. (How do you differentiate between Nos. 5, 6 and 7? By that point, they’re all pretty great.) And I’ve included links when we’ve reviewed these movies on our channel:

• ANORA. If I absolutely had to pick a favorite movie of the year, this might be it. Sean Baker’s comedy offers a masterful mixture of tone, and Mikey Madison is up for every bit of the high-wire act required of her. I can’t wait to present her with our LA Film Critics Association award for best lead performance next Saturday.

• THE BRUTALIST. A stone-cold epic masterpiece, complete with overture and intermission. This is a 3 1/2-hour movie that doesn’t feel like a 3 1/2-hour movie. Top notch in every respect, from the performances to the substantial production values.

• CHALLENGERS. The rare movie I found time to rewatch for the sheer joy of it, and to hear that Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross score again in context. Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor all dazzle in a twisted tennis love triangle.

• DUNE: PART TWO. More Zendaya in this overwhelming technical achievement. Austin Butler is chilling as Feyd-Rautha. Can’t wait for part three of Denis Villeneuve’s saga, which better be called DUN3.

• FLOW. We didn’t get a chance to review this, but it’s the best animated movie of the year, and it’s our LA Film Critics winner, as well. “Flow” had me screaming at the screen, “Oh no, kitty, look out!” But this wordless adventure tale is also surprisingly profound.

• THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE. We haven’t reviewed this yet, either, but we will if it gets an Oscar nomination for best international feature. This Danish drama about a single pregnant woman is exquisite and harrowing, with black-and-white cinematography reminiscent of German expressionism.

• KNEECAP. In a year full of inventive music biopics, this is the most daring and flat-out fun, with the members of the Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap playing themselves and telling their own raucous story.

• MY OLD ASS. A charming throwback to the high-concept, coming-of-age comedies of the ‘80s and ‘90s, with a star-making performance from Maisy Stella as a teenager meeting her older self, played by Aubrey Plaza.

• STRANGE DARLING. Playful with form while also being twisty and stressful, this thriller about a one-night stand gone wrong is bloody gorgeous, thanks to cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi.

• THE SUBSTANCE. Gonzo and heartbreaking in equal measure, Coralie Fargeat’s satire about society’s obsession with youth and beauty grabs you from the very first shot. Demi Moore absolutely goes for it in a gutsy, vulnerable performance.

Finally, I couldn’t let this weekend go by without remembering Josh Welsh, the Film Independent president who died on Dec. 31 after suffering from colon cancer for the past five years. Josh was an absolute sweetheart of a guy who generously shared his wisdom and passion for movies with everyone, newcomers and veterans alike. I had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit when I worked with the Spirit Awards for several years, and always enjoyed seeing him for his warmth and quick wit. Josh was so genuine, he made you feel like you’d been friends forever, no matter who you were. And it was clear from his Instagram feed that he spent his final weeks and months doing what he loved with the people who mattered most, including hiking, playing music with his band, Meatyard, and sharing time with family. I’m heartbroken for his wife and daughter, and for everyone who loved him. Josh was 62.

Thanks so much for sharing some of your time with me as we ease into this new year. Don’t forget about Monday’s Golden Globes livestream on our channel. And if you’re enjoying my Saturday Matinee newsletter, I’d be honored if you’d pass it along to family or friends. Have a great week, and I’ll see you back here next Saturday.