Good Morning, World

I didn't intend to take a Heated Rivalry break here on the site for however long it's been -- no you people who hated on the show in the comments constantly didn't win, sorry -- I've just been... let's say "scattered" lately. That's a nice word for it. Nicer than "wanting to crawl in a very deep dark hole and die" anyway which is far closer to the truth. There's no fun in that, though -- I'd prefer to try and be helpful at keeping everybody's moods up, everybody's minds off all the bullshit, be some sort of oasis in the desert of 2026. It's been a hard couple of weeks at managing all that, is all. Not doing great, Bob! Anyway I do have these photos of Connor Storrie looking ridiculously gorgeous for Vogue (via) so perhaps these'll slap some sunshine on me, you, somebody, this morning. And hey it's Friday! That's gotta count for something too. Hit the jump for the rest...

You Two Had a Nice Friendship

I have no idea why Regal is screening a certain little movie called Call Me By Your Name in theaters today -- for a second I thought we'd reached the 10th anniversary but somehow, insanely, that's next year. But I'm not complaining -- I grab at any chance to slip back into the sweet summer ryhthyms of Luca's romantic masterpiece any chance I can get, just as Elio grabs at any chance to slip back into the sweet summer rhythms of his favorite lil' fruit friend. Point being I'm leaving early today to go see CMBYN on the big screen for... well I lost track but we're definitely somewhere between 25 and 30 times now. It's been a couple of years since I've re-watched the movie at all so I'm hoping this viewing will gift me back some of the much needed escapism I luxuriated in during the similarly awful stretch of 2017 when it was released. Fingers crossed. And as always you can catch up on my writing on this movie at this link, which was... extensive. let's just call it extensive haha. See you tomorrow, peach-lovers!

GRAB THEM 🍑🍑 TODAY IS THE DAY

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— Jason Adams (@jamnpp.bsky.social) February 26, 2026 at 2:12 PM

Do Dump or Marry: Heated Rivalry Eats Paris

Three of the four main cast-members of Heated Rivalry were dolled up at the Saint Laurent show in Paris today -- left to right that's Robbie G.K. (making a feast of those leather trousers), Connor Storrie, and François Arnaud, with Hudson Williams as the odd man not to be seen for this go. (Click the picture to embiggen.) And obviously threesomes of this sort...

... always lend themselves to our favorite game of "Do Dump or Marry" (known to many as "Fuck Marry Kill")! So now you take to the comments down below and tell us which one you'd want to spend a single night of unbridled passion with, which one you'd toss in the trash, and which one you'd choose for your life-long (tonsil) hockey partner. And try not to be influenced by the fact that Luca Guadagnino has obviously already made his choice:

🚨 LUCA GUADAGNINO + CONNOR STORRIE SPOTTED IN PARIS 🚨

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— Jason Adams (@jamnpp.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 7:51 PM

My Top 20 Movies of 2025

A decade or so ago I was doing gigantic elaborate awards every year here that showcased my favorite movies, my favorite performances, and on and on and on... then the last decade happened and I'm lucky I can even get out of bed anymore y'all. Who has that kind of stamina anymore? Not I. Not I! So yes these things -- The Golden Trousers, as I've been calling them since 2007 -- have considerably narrowed. Tis what its. But I do feel proud that both last year and this year I'm at least getting these locked in before I dive head-long into fresh Sundance stuff, which basically marks the start of the next year of movies. (Apologies to the first three weeks of January releases every single year but you know what you did.) I'm doing Sundance virtually again this year but that still means that I'll be mostly off-line while I do that, so it's likely there'll be no MNPP for you starting this Wednesday, lasting about a week. And so it's best I get this done immediately, before that happens! Otherwise who knows, it could be months knowing me. So let us brush off these 2025 concerns as I head into the future, with one last glance back toward the past with 20 of '25s gifts and wonders....

My 20 Favorite Movies of 2025

20 -- SIRAT

19 -- AFTER THE HUNT

-- Read my review here! -- 

18 -- LURKER

-- Read my review here! -- 

17 -- PETER HUJAR'S DAY

-- Read my review here! -- 

16 -- WAKE UP DEAD MAN

15 -- THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

-- Read my review here! -- 

14 -- BLACK BAG

-- Read my review here! -- 

13 -- DUST BUNNY

-- Read my review here! -- 

12 -- THE SECRET AGENT

11 -- MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1

10 -- SENTIMENTAL VALUE

9 -- GRIFFIN IN SUMMER

-- Read my review here! -- 

8 -- BUGONIA

-- Read my review here! -- 

7-- THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE

6 -- THE HISTORY OF SOUND

-- Read my review here! -- 

5 -- NO OTHER CHOICE

-- Read my review here! -- 

4 -- PILLION

-- Read my review here! -- 

3 -- PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF

-- Read my review here! -- 

2 -- MARTY SUPREME

-- Read my review here! -- 

1 -- ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

-- Read my review here! -- 

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I have like 20 runners-up but fuck it, 

I'm done. Goodbye forever, 2025! 

Challengers 2: Doubles or Nothing

Our tennis pallies briefly reunited at the Dior show in Paris earlier today so naturally we're dreaming of a Challengers sequel now -- where do you think Patrick and Art and Tashi ended up after that legendary final shot? (You're all going to say "in bed" aren't you?)

Tom Blyth Ten Times

I went looking to see if there was a sexy (sexy being a given, given the subject) new photoshoot of Tom Blyth just yesterday when I posted that his gay drama Plainclothes has hit blu-ray this week -- there was not a new photo-shoot yesterday, but whaddya know there is one today! Today he's been interviewed by Bustle magazine whilst sporting a sexy lil' stache as he's got a pair of interesting projects landing in the next several weeks -- there's a rom-com called People We Meet On Vacation based on a book apparently of some popularity which lands on Netflix on Friday of this week. And then there's a prison film called Wasteman that has Tom starring opposite Industry's own David Jonsson, hitting screens in February. 

Another thing I realized yesterday while posting about Plainclothes -- Tom didn't yet have a tag here on MNPP! So that's now rectified as of this here post. Congrats, Tom -- you've made it. Anyway the choice-iest bit of the interview for me (besides the moment he spells out "C-U-M" of course) was when he said that Luca Guadagnino was such a fan of his Hunger Games movie The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes that he insisted on meeting with Tom several times, and Luca admitted he'd seen Ballad three times in theaters! I loved Ballad too but Luca has such oddball taste -- did you see his Indiewire list of 2025 favorites? All over the map. (He included The Minecraft Movie ffs.) Anyway if I had the power I'd have also demanded lunch with Tom Blyth after watching him in that movie, but unfortunately I'm not Luca Guadagnino. I mourn that fact every day! All that said you can now feel free to hit the jump for more sexy Tom stache time...

Finally Queer in My Hands!

It's sexy boy Drew Starkey's birthday today, the fact of which knocked off a series of comments and clicks by your truly leading me to yesterday's tweet semi-announcement from Sony Music Soundtrack's socials that Trent Reznor & Atticus' Ross' criminally under-appreciated score for Luca Guadagnino's film Queer will really for real be getting a vinyl release! Huzzah! All the info we have thus far are these two cropped images -- presumably from the vinyl's sleeve -- and the small sum-total of what they said, which was "no use fighting it. QUEER vinyl news coming this week 👀" Not sure if this means it will be coming via Sony, or Milan Records (who released the Challengers score), or the Nine Inch Nails website, or A24's own shop -- it could be any or several or all of these locations! But as surely as I'll google gifs of Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey making out at least once a week I'll surely say something more about this news once we have more about this news to say. 

ETA of course five minutes after I write up this post they go and announce more news and pictures from the vinyl -- it still doesn't say where we'll be able to buy it but Sony says the Queer soundtrack is finally going on pre-sale on this Thursday, November 6th. You can see a few more photos on Instagram.  

Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

 ... you can learn from:

Nightmare Alley (2021)

Pete: When a man believes his own lies, starts believing that he has the power, he's got shuteye. Because now he believes it's all true. And people get hurt. Good, God-fearing people. And then you lie. You lie. And when the lies end, there it is. The face of God, staring at you straight. No matter where you turn. No man can outrun God, Stan.

Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley landed in the Criterion Collection this week on glorious 4K, where this gorgeous and deeply under-appreciated gem belongs -- I hope that people will go back and realize they were incorrect in their negative critical asessments now, mainly to prove that I was right and this movie rules. But for other reasons too! Bradley Cooper gives his best performance to date in the film for one, but it's also (as the above quote suggests) a savvy  dissection of our poisoned modern-day political situation without ever being too on-the-nose about it. It's like Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria in that way. It diagnoses the rot. Anyway we also see Bradley Cooper's dick so what have you got to lose? Go watch it! (Looking forward to an upgrade on the gif below with the 4K edition, you best believe it.)

Quote of the Day

I think whenever there's an new movie from Luca Guadagnino coming out -- as there is this weekend with After the Hunt, reviewed right here by yours truly -- I end up doing about five "Quote of the Day" posts involving him, because he's not shy about giving interviews and saying things I enjoy hearing. Today he spoke to GQ (thx Mac) and there are several bits inside this single interview I could've shared -- he goes on about Showgirls being a masterpiece for god's sake! But I'm choosing the bit below where the interviewer asks him about something I very much wanted the answer to after seeing After the Hunt twice -- a framed poster of Pedro Almodovar's movie The Flower of My Secret is prominently displayed in one scene, and here's what he had to say about that:

"I think Alma loves that movie. I think Alma is a cosmopolitan. I think her and Frederick have been traveling the world a lot. You see that alongside the work of art that hangs in the apartment, that belongs to the heritage of the family of Frederick, there is a lot of contemporary international art that maybe Alma has bought around the world and bought. A very smart idea that Stefano developed in the set of the apartment. 

I think she loves that movie because I think she admires Pedro the filmmaker, but I think she really loved the character of Leocadia [in the movie]. I think Alma is drawn to Leocadia’s crisis. She is drawn to the idea that she also secrets herself. And at the same time, I think that she loves the form of that movie. In fact, she listens to the soundtrack. She plays Miles Davis' “Solea,” which is one of the pieces of music that is in that movie. And lastly, because every movie that I do is about the characters, but every character in the movie in a way reflects part of myself, I love that movie. And I love Pedro Almodovar. 

One of the great, great, great moments of my life was when we were at the premiere of Queer in Venice last year, and the movie finished and we had this beautiful reception from the audience in the theater. And I was so happy, and looking around and turning to say thank you to the people. And there, I saw Pedro, and that was amazing."

Twas Only a Moment For You

Okay yeah that's it, I'm off to NYFF screenings again. As I said last time I scampered off keep an eye on my socials, you'll be able to find me there (especially Bluesky). By the time I'm back... uhh Thursday morning... I'll have seen new movies by Claire Denis, Richard Linklater, Pietro Marcello, Lucretia Martel, Noah Baumbach, Bi Gan, Luca Guadagnino (!!!!) ... and Alexander Skarsgård's gay leather romance Pillion! I love the movies. Oh and as an aside keep an eye on Pajiba because my review of Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another will also be dropping soon and that -- the movie and my review -- is not something you're gonna wanna miss. Anyway bye til later! And don't forget to celebrate this:

HAPPY 30 TO SHOWGIRLS

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— Jason Adams (@jamnpp.bsky.social) September 22, 2025 at 9:36 AM

Whose Hunt, His Hunt

Here is what I believe to be the first poster for Luca Guadagnino's higher education thriller After the Hunt, which is the Opening Night movie of the NYFF on September 28th and then opens in theaters on October 10th in limited release, surely hopping about from there. I shared the trailer here. And no joking -- I thought that was a picture of Luca himself in the upper left corner and not Michael Stuhlbarg at first haha. I was like, "Luca I know you're a director, you've got an ego, but come on." Anyway I'm praying there's a scene where Michael Stuhlbarg  gives his "Our hearts and our bodies are given to us only once" speech to Ayo Edebiri in this and she's just like, "Oooookay, ya weirdo." Make it happen!

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.