September Film Notes

Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far.

an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing

And here's a playlist featuring music from the movies listed below for you to enjoy while you read...

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

AMC was playing this for it's 35th anniversary and it was my first time getting to see it on the big screen. It's also been quite a while since I last saw it at all, so one thing that leapt out at me is how, as much as it's a pretty much perfect action movie, is also plays so much like a horror film. And I'm willing to bet that's something that I'd thought on previous watches, but I didn't remember it and it felt fresh as a result. It's just so damn good.

Cinderella Man (2005)

So much of this is sentimental in a way that usually grates on me. Yet the film does such a good job of setting up Max Baer as not only the villain, but also a true and dangerous threat, that I can't help but get swept up in it as it moves along toward the final fight. And that final fight is thrilling stuff.

Oh, and for some reason, the shots of the kids sitting on the cellar stairs looking up into pools of light as they listen to the radio really struck me this time.

Nightcrawler (2014)

Early on in the movie, Jake Gyllenhaal reminds me a bit of Vincent Gallo. There's just something reptilian and otherworldly about him and his performance that is beyond compelling to watch. It's kind of insane that he and Rene Russo weren't up for Oscars that year.

Akira (1988)

I don't remember why this was in theaters in 2001, but I saw it for the first time then, and thought it was visually stunning, but made no sense. And I barely remembered any of it all these years later. But I recently started reading the source material and have been loving it, so I was pretty excited to get a chance to revisit it. And I don't really know how much of it has to do with reading two volumes of Akira in advance this time, but everything about this just really clicked for me on this viewing. Still a visual stunner. And the action and plot are so obviously influential on so much that's come after it, from animation to live action (Hello, Stranger Things) that's it's beyond interesting to go back and see how much it's a turnkey for today's pop culture.

Meet Me in the Bathroom (2022)*

It was cool seeing some of the places I used to go to back around the time I was going to them, but I don't know... I didn't think it felt very representative of the scene writ large. And it's a shame because the scene only grew from what you see here and what you see here is really a kind of grab bag of stuff that was happening. Some of the moments are thrilling to watch, though, for sure.

Finding Dory (2016)*

I actively avoided this for years because I found everything about Ellen Degeneres to be obnoxious by the time it came out. But my daughter and I recently watched Finding Nemo together and the recent Blank Check episode on this made it sound better than I'd imagined it could be, so we gave it a shot. And yeah, it's pretty good – a bit more melancholy than the first film, which when you think about the premise of Nemo is pretty impressive in its way. I also appreciated that Stanton and company mainly relied on a new supporting cast of charming characters rather than just bringing back all the familiar faces of the first film. I have a feeling we'll be putting both movies on again at some point and I'm totally good with that.

Hope (2026)*

If you really drill down into it, it's likely a narrative mess. That said, it sure is a lot of fun in its messiness. And the propulsiveness of the action (and humor) barely gives you much chance to drill down, anyway. It's like a movie thrillingly outrunning itself.

Final Destinations Bloodlines (2025)*

I have a lot more baseline appreciation for this type of movie than I used to, and for what it is, it's mainly a lot of silly, gory fun. But the artificiality of the FX and really the overall look of the film definitely took me out of it sometimes.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)*

This movie sucks.

The Informant! (2009)

So many faces!

This is better than I remembered. Of course, it may play more effectively now, 17 years after release, when we've fully entered the age of lies and disinformation. Mark Whitacre was living in that world long before most of us, and maybe, just maybe, Steven Soderbergh saw what was around the corner waiting for us all.

Resident Evil (2026)*

This really made me want to go and see Austin Abrams get eaten by a whale. I mean, it's just fun as hell to watch this guy get so far in over his head that all he can do is mutter and curse to himself in the most entertaining way imaginable.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)

The simple, matter of fact depiction of interpersonal violence and its aftermath in this is way more affecting than most serial killer or slasher films. The utter control and subdued nature of the filmmaking is deeply and astonishingly impressive.

Eastern Promises (2007)

The plotting is pretty clunky at first, but once hints of the more hidden plot begin to surface, it begins to lock in and gets a lot more compelling.

Primetime (2026)*

The direction is top notch, with a nightmarish, appropriately dawn of digital vibe throughout. And Pattinson does well with what's he's given, but man I think his fictionalized Chris Hansen was lacking some depth in how he was written. Merritt Wever's arc is somewhat familiar seeming, but she brings something to it that makes it shine more than a lot of actors probably could. Skyler Gisondo, though... Man, what a standout.

Green Room (2015)*

Really wish I got around to this sooner. It's quite good.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)*

Guy who's been asleep for 40 years: That Miyazaki guy had some real potential. Whatever happened to him?

Red Rooms (2024)*

Everything about this film is unnerving, but just like the main character, I couldn't look away from what was happening. It's a great portrait of compulsive voyeurism and obsession with trying to make some sort of personal sense of the dark things we see in the world.

Also Seen:

Apollo 13 (1995)
Finding Nemo (2003)
United 93 (2006)
Obsession (2026)

Current Favorite Films of 2026

Current Favorite Performances of 2026

an asterisk (*) indicates a new addition since last month

Best Lead Female Actor:
- Inde Navarrette, Obsession
- Rachel McAdams, Send Help
- Olivia Wilde, The Invite
- Anne Hathaway, Mother Mary
- Michaela Coel, Mother Mary
- Keke Palmer, I Love Boosters

Best Lead Male Actor:
- Ralph Fiennes, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- Ryan Gosling, Project Hail Mary
- Seth Rogen, The Invite
- Matt Damon, The Odyssey
- Austin Abrams, Resident Evil*
- Bill Skarsgård, Dead Man's Wire

Best Supporting Female Actor:
- Sandra Hüller, Project Hail Mary
- Penélope Cruz, The Invite
- Gillian Anderson, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
- Samantha Morton, The Odyssey
- Merritt Wever, Primetime*
- Erin Kellyman, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Best Supporting Male Actor:
- Skyler Gisondo, Primetime*
- James Ortiz, Project Hail Mary
- Jack O’Connell, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- John Leguizamo, The Odyssey
- Edward Norton, The Invite
- Robert Pattinson, The Odyssey