Pics of the Day

Rose of Nevada is the new "horror" film from Enys Men director Mark Jenkin -- if you've seen Enys Men then you probably understand why I put "horror" in quotes; it's because his movies are more surreal and uncanny than they are straight-up horror. They want to destabilize you in a way that's starting to feel wholly unique to Jenkin, two movies in -- I am a fan of them both, having seen Rose at NYFF last fall, and not just because this new one stars Callum Turner and George MacKay as ship-mates who look like they look in the photos seen here (via) from the set. The movie is hitting the UK on April 24th -- it comes out here in the U.S. in June so I'll try to say more then. Until then just spend some time today imagining being these boys' bunk-mate -- it's absolutely what I'm doing!

George MacKay Eight Times

I think I'd convinced myself that I was only attracted to George MacKay with short hair because he's had short hair for all the recent films he's been in where he won me over -- see The Beast, Femme (especially Femme), True History of the Kelly Gang, on and on. But now I'm looking at these new luxuriously-coiffed photos of George for Esquire UK and I'm realizing -- gee golly he's got some pretty hair doesn't he? What a man, what a mane! Anyway he's got two very good movies coming out this year, both of which I've seen but neither of which I've reviewed -- there's Rose of Nevada (with Callum Turner!) and Broken English (with Tilda Swinton!) and I recommend seeking both out when the time comes. Until then, seek of these fresh-locked photos of George right after the jump...

Sing Me a Song of Beautiful Men

Well here's some news tailor-made (heh see what I did there) for MNPP -- former designer turned movie director Tom Ford (now you see what I did there) has announced his next film and it's an adaptation of Anne Rice's book Cry To Heaven about 18th Century Italian Opera. None of those things are really the specific things that make this a tight fit onto our interests -- it's all about the cast, baby. Namely it will star (among others) Nicholas Hoult, George MacKay, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Mark Strong, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Phew! Several of those people have worked with Ford before: Hoult and Firth were both in A Single Man of course....

... sorry I can't mention that fact without posting that gif; it's written into my contract. And then Aaron Taylor-Johnson memorably wiped his ass while sitting on an outdoor toilet in everybody's favorite movie of the millenium Nocturnal Animals. Don't worry -- I am not sharing that gif. And the rest of those names will be served wonderfully by Ford's eye I have no doubt -- I especially can't wait to see how he shoots the outrageous angles of Pellerin & MacKay's faces. Oh and Daryl McCormack, who's just soooo dreeeeeeamy.

Wait what were we talking about? Oh right this is a movie. I have never read this Anne Rice book but one assumes that the big headline here is the person I have not yet named in the cast -- the singer Adele is making her acting debut in a movie about opera singers. I imagine she's the lead and all of these insanely good looking men will be circling around her? I don't know; maybe Tom will give her a light load on her first film and some of these gorgeous men will pick up the slack. Whatever. GIMME! Other names in the cast -- that kid Owen Cooper from Adolesence, Ciarán Hinds,  Thandiwe Newton, Hunter Schafer, and Lux "sister of Pedro" Pascal. This sucker's loaded up yo!

NYFF Make My Dreams Come True

Just a couple of weeks ago I shared the poster and a teaser trailer for Park Chan-wook's new movie No Other Choice starring his ol' pal Byung-hun Lee and I said therein, and I quote, "This movie's premiering at Venice  and I am keeping all of my assorted limbs knotted up in hope that it'll head to NYFF from there." Well unknot me cuz it came true! NYFF just announced their Main Slate this morning for their 2025 edition and Master Park's movie is up in its business -- as are several other movies I am champing at me bit to gnaw right into. So why not a list? Not counting the Opening Night film (which is Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt and so obviously my jam) here are the 10 movies out of the Main Slate that I'm the most anticipating...

My 10 Most Anitipcated NYFF63 Main Slate Movies

No Other Choice -- dir. Park Chan-wook

There's really nothing I can shriek in enthusiasm about this movie that I haven't been shrieking since it was announced. Park Chan-wook is a god, period, the end.

Jay Kelly -- dir. Noah Baumbach

Normally I try to steer clear of George Clooney vehicles but I tend to love Baumbach movies whatever he throws at me and most importantly he got his gal pal Greta Gerwig acting again. Gerwig seals the deal every time. Plus Patrick WIlson, Laura Dern, Riley Keough, Jim Broadbent, Emily Mortimer, Billy Crudup and Isla Fisher! Also Emily Mortimer co-wrote this! 

The Mastermind -- dir. Kelly Reichardt

Not only is it the never-steers-me-wrong Reichardt behind the camera and not only does the movie star Josh O'Connor but the movie stars Josh o'Connor looking like the raffish lit professor everybody, including the other teachers and parents, are all trying to fuck.

The Secret Agent -- dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho 

Wagner Moura is one of the greatest (and come on, look at the picture, sexiest) on the world stage right now, and his teaming up withthe genius behind Bacurau is white hot shit. Plus Moura won Best Actor at Cannes and Mendonça Filho won Best Director so hopes are obviously big.

Sentimental Value -- dir. Joachim Trier

And speaking of Cannes this follow-up from the director and star of the masterpiece The Worst Person in the World won the Grand Prix at that fest. I will follow these two anywhere, together or seperately, but together tastes best!

Peter Hujar's Day -- dir. Ira Sachs

It's Ben fucking Whishaw playing Peter fucking Hujar -- you think I'm not all over this? Anyway I was extremely annoyed I couldn't see it at Sundance so I'm happy to have been given this second shot, even if I wasted months -- months!!! -- of my life without it. I won't hold it against you, Ben!

Miroirs No. 3 -- Christian Petzold

Since 2012 Christian Petzold has made five straight up masterpieces in a row with Barbara, Phoenix, Transit, Undine, and Afire -- I'm hoping he hasn't broken that streak by daring to make a movie with a title that has more than a single word in it, but I think we might be in safe hands. I mean he's reunited with actress Paula Beer yet again. We're gonna be fine.

The Fence -- dir. Claire Denis

I tend to swing wildly on my opinion of Denis movies, but the main thrust seems to be I like her more recent work while her earlier, typically more lauded works have left me cold. I'm such a maverick! Anyway Denis regular Isaach De Bankolé is her leading man this time, which is always a good sign, but this also co-stars Matt Dillon and Tom Blyth? Mkay.

Rose of Nevada -- dir. Mark Jenkin

Yeah yeah okay it stars Callum Turner and George MacKay

as fisherman, obviously it was gonna make my list. 

That's literally all I know or need to know. Fish me good, fellas!

Landmarks -- dir. Lucrecia Martel

Since The Headless Woman in 2008 

I've been a Lucretia ride-or-die-for-lifer.

Not even reading what this is about. Sign me up.

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Runners-up:  It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi), A House of Dynamite (dir. Kathryn Bigelow), Resurrection (dir. Bi Gan), Romería (dir. Carla Simón), Kontinental ’25 (dir. Radu Jude), If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (dir. Mary Bronstein), Duse (dir. Pietro Marcello)

Just a footnote on the concept of "Runners-up" here -- I literally could have listed every single other movie that didn't make my top ten. The only reason there are runners-up at all is I limited myself to a list of ten. As happens with every NYFF there are titles that come out of nowhere to slam me onto the floor in the best of way, and sometimes the ones I'm most excited about don't totally land. Usually though I always leave NYFF happy, because as I've said before they might not get all of the big exciting world premieres but year after year they do an incredible job curating the movies from around the globe that are the most worth seeing. I love my hometown fest! Click here to buy passes -- general tickets go on sale on September 18th (and earlier for FLC members). The fest runs from September 26 through October 13, 2025. 

Once You Go Femme...

Heads-up, horndogs -- I told you when the fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome dropped Sam Freeman and Ng Choon Ping's 2023 flick Femme (starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay, seen sweatily going at it above) onto blu-ray last year. Well Pride might technically have ended a couple of days ago but we're getting one more gift in the form of VinSyn's big sale going on this week, where today and today only you can get Femme for just 15 bucks-ish. Grab it here and then maybe look around -- there's a lot on sale plus they're releasing new titles every day. I'm not making anything off of this recommendation either, except  little goodwill in a world currently without it. Oh and an excuse to post that gif up top, which is truthfully plenty for me. Here is my original review of Femme in case you never read it. Hot dirty stuff, I love it. Here is the trailer which yes I did happen to be quoted in...

Say it With MacKay

Hey look it's two more photos of George MacKay in that mesh shirt everybody's wearing! May the mesh never rest. Aaaaanyway to get to the point (and prepare your bodies for a real exciting story of intrigue) -- there was a water main break outside my office yesterday and my office building hasn't had water for two days. So we're working from home today, i.e. I wouldn't expect much from me here on the site because if I'm not being forced to be strapped to my desk per usual I've got a million other things I could be getting done at home. So this'll probably be it for today. And looking at the calendar I've got another dentist (sigh) appointment tomorrow afternoon, and so tomorrow will probably be a half day as well. I have failed you all! When you tar and feather me just be kind. That's all I ask.

Who Wore It Best?

I'm kind of annoyed that the Instagram account Portiswasp beat me to this punch because it'd popped into my head last week when I saw actor Brandon Sklenar (above right) wearing this stylist-fave mesh shirt for Interview Magazine and realized I'd seen it everywhere lately and had since then been meaning to do this exact poll. Alas I was too slow and you can see the entire collection of menfolk who've rocked the shirt at their link. Me I'll focus in on four of the fellas, all of whom (save Skelnar until now) had already been featured  here at MNPP in this nip-barer of a fashion choice. (Glen Powell here, George MacKay here, and Kit Connor here.)

online polls

That said those four aside the correct answer is 

probably actor Ishaan Khatter, because goddamn.

Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

 ... you can learn from:

Pride (2014)

Bromley: They called us perverts.

Mark: Bromley, it's time for an
important part of your education.

Hands up, in this room, if you've ever
been called a name like that.

Now, there is a long and honorable
tradition in the gay community

and it has stood us in good stead for a very long time. 

When somebody calls you a name... am I right Jonathan?

Jonathan: Dead right.

Mark: You take it and own it.

A happy 33 to George MacKay today! He's certainly come

a very long way from Pride, but I gotta go re-watch Pride.

What a wonderful movie it is. Happy day, Georgie boy!

Pic of the Day

I don't know how this mo0vie escapes my eyeballs until now -- perhaps it's the fact that this movie isn't even listed on the director Mark Jenkin's IMDb page yet -- but there is apparently a movie called Rose of Nevada being made that co-stars George Mackay and Callum Turner! Two of my most favorite white boys of the moment, smooshing themselves like chocolate and peanut butter deliciousness -- I can hardly wait. The movie, according to The Film Stage where I found this photo, is called Rose of Nevada and it's a time-travel thriller -- if you've seen either of Jenkin's previous films Bait of Enys' Men then you know that prospect is hardly a simple one in his wildly weird hands. Here is their plot description:

"“In a forgotten fishing village, a boat mysteriously appears in the old harbour. The Rose of Nevada, lost at sea with all hands 30 years ago, has returned. For the few who remember, it’s a sign. The Rose of Nevada must go out to sea again, maybe then the luck of the devastated village will turn. Nick (MacKay) takes a job aboard the boat in an attempt to provide for his young family. Alongside him, newly arrived Liam (Turner) joins the crew, desperate to escape his past. They head to sea and after a successful trip return to harbour. But something is amiss. They’ve slipped back in time and the villagers greet them as if they are the original crew.”"

The 20 Best Movies of 2024

I have thought about dropping my year-end favorites list on Oscar Nom Day several times in the past, but timing-wise it just hasn't worked out before -- this year looks to be an exception, however! My reasons for thinking it's a good idea are 1) as stated in my earlier requisite post acknowledging that those nominations happened I just don't care about them and I don't want to spend all day reading people's brain-numbing statistics and theories all of which rob me of a will to live. So this gives me something else to focus on. Also today is the first day of Sundance and while I might not be there in person this year (sigh) I will be reviewing movies virtually, and I'm going to be very busy starting to do that almost immediately. So if I don't do this today it'll be a couple more weeks. 

Also -- I've had the list of movies on a spreadsheet for weeks now, and every other day I go onto the doc and I move them around a little bit depending on my mood, and... I could just keep doing that forever, or I could just say enough! And organize them into their final form, waffling be damned. That said 2024 turned out to be an especially amorphous year with no single frontrunner slam-dunk -- any of my top five on any given day could've been my number one. Which isn't to say I think 2024 was a bad year for movies -- quite the opposite! There's a lot of love spreading around here. But let's just stop our yammering and get to the goods. Here at last are...

My 20 Favorite Movies of 2024

20. Strange Darling (review)

19. Femme (review)

18. I Saw the T.V. Glow (review)

17. I'm Still Here

16. Love Lies Bleeding (review) 

15. Janet Planet

14. A Different Man (review)

13. Flow

12. The End (review)

11. National Anthem (review)

10. Kinds of Kindness (review)

9. Rumours (review)

8. Red Rooms (review)

7. Bird (review)

6. The Substance (review)

5. Challengers (review)

4. Nosferatu (review)

3. Hard Truths (review)

2. Queer (review)

1. Evil Does Not Exist 

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And here are ten runners-up: The Vourdalak, Babygirl, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Hundreds of Beavers, Blitz, Trap, The Brutalist, Memoir of a Snail, Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World, and Oddity.

Okay -- that's that! Onward and onward!

 Let's get 2025 rolling...