Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

"Who are those guys?"

What is it about this movie? Why, nearly sixty years after its release, is it still so beloved, so often cited, and watched and rewatched by generations of filmgoers? Of course it’s because it’s a wonderful story brought to life by two iconic actors, but it is more than that. It is a story that resonates, that speaks to people on a level that touches their heart.

Star Trek Voyager: Revulsion

"I understand the concept of humour. It may not be apparent, but I am often amused by human behaviour."

The Doctor and B'Elanna answer a distress call from an alien hologram, and Harry and Seven of Nine learn to work together.

Insomnia

“You’re my job. You’re what I am paid to do.”

Halfway though Insomnia, I was wondering: Could Detective Will Dormer (played by Al Pacino) sleep better during the Alaskan midnight sun if he hadn’t been plagued by guilt, or could the darkness of nightfall have provided adequate passage to sleep, even with his guilt? It’s hard to say. This upside down kind of question is not only the sort of thing that Christopher Nolan likes to toil with in fiction, in the real-life lead up to being hired to direct Insomnia also lay an upside down question.

Following

"You take it away and show them what they had."

Inside Chris Nolan's Following are two wolves. (There are also two wolves inside of Chris Nolan, but we'll get to that later.) One is a scruffy, wannabe writer who lacks self-confidence (he calls himself "Bill" but is credited as "Young Man") and the other is a smooth, coiffed and dashing thief named Cobb. These two men represent a duality. Could the difference between them simply be defined by clothing and swagger? Well, yes, in a way. And also no.

The Post

Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press… –The U.S. Bill of Rights, Amendment I

The only way to protect the right to publish is to publish. –Ben Bradlee

The Post is an exciting and intelligent movie about the publishing of the Pentagon Papers by The New York Times (the most influential American newspaper at the time) and The Washington Post (an upstart, mostly local paper with an ambitious editor at the time). Brilliantly directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie turns this historical event into a gripping coming of age thriller even though we all know the ending. At least I am assuming you know the ending, so spoilers ahead.

Sense8: We Will All Be Judged by the Courage of Our Hearts

Nomi: “Cop guy, where are you? Someone help me.”

Things seem to be ramping up, especially on the conspiracy side of things. With Whispers actively hunting down Nomi after her fateful encounter with Dr. Metzger.

Jaws 3-D

“This one’s a fish. A simple, beautiful fish.”

A simple, beautiful, 3-D fish. With a bunch of truly beautiful, real mammals courtesy of SeaWorld. Because the most logical place to set a Jaws sequel is to move from a New England tourist town to a Florida theme park. Obviously.

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett (Discworld 38)

“People aren't just people, they are people surrounded by circumstances.”

The thirty-eighth book of the Disc is also the fourth Tiffany Aching book. Our young witch is a bit older, being sixteen years old now, and once again has to grow as both a person and a witch to deal with a threat to the chalk, and beyond.

Resident Alien: The End Is Here

"Humans think they need love from others to be happy. They do not realize they already have all the love they will ever need inside of them. Maybe the real magic happens when you give that love away."

This episode, the last of the series, is about love and how its impact can endure even after we are gone.

Invincible: Season 4

"Let the war begin."

This is Invincible’s biggest, most ambitious outing to date. That being said, my feelings about it are a bit mixed.

The Vampire Lestat: The Devil’s Road

"What now, Daddy Lou?"

This episode had a slightly different feel. It was a bit less chaotic and more emotionally charged. Lestat is unraveling, and it is both tragic and compelling to watch.

House of the Dragon: Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood

“Was this not always our purpose?”

We start things off with a bang. Yet, this still feels less like a premiere, less like a “we’re back” and more like a penultimate episode or season finale. Which is apparently what it was supposed to be before last season’s budget ran out. We were left with an ending meant to feel like a cliffhanger, but it mostly felt like a huge tease after a lot of buildup.