56 Comments

You’re a great critic. Period

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Reservation Dogs - Best TV show no one has seen -- Please watch this. Funny , poignent, makes you laugh and cry -- SO WELL Done. Peabody award, Gotham award, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POkrsNVkGNk

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What a wonderful writer you are. Beginning with Charlie Brown to Elvis & all the other characters. I must explain that no one can truly tell the Elvis story. He made such an impact & forever changed the face of music. He was so popular when I was in high school (of course I totally loved him), & at the same time horrified all the straight-laced parents, teachers, politicians with his hip gyrations.

Your insights into plots, storytelling, music etc. are so interesting & fun to read. It's like watching a movie as you write. You could do that. 😊

And to conclude, I hope your time here in SLC for All-Star weekend was fun for you. The silliness, sportsmanship, skill levels are totally amazing, especially the slam dunk contest. Surprise surprise. Dame winning 3 point contest, Jayson Tatum scoring 55 points. And even the winner, winner, chicken dinner from Giannis. What a character! Imagine the stories you could write. Big screen stories. Oscar!

Thank you for all you do. Sore knees and all. You make my morning.

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Thank you for the honest assessment of Tar, which as you note is at the top of every critic list ("nearly perfect!") and which I found to be aggravating, boring, pretentious and at least 30 minutes too long. Cate Blanchett will win the Oscar for best actress but the movie itself was pretty unbearable. Also a huge thanks for ranking The Banshees of Inisherin so high on your list. A surprisingly unique and deeply moving story about loss, friendship and love. I saw it weeks ago and am still thinking about it. The one film I loved and which hasn't made anyone's Oscar list, is Nope. Jordan Peele got robbed on this one! A totally original movie with a strong message. Loved it. Now everyone get to the movie theater to see the films on Kareem's "best" list that you might have missed!

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This article was fantastically written! A great start to the day and week. "The Fabelmans" is on my list, and I still can't wait to see it despite the reviews. "Barbarian" was so freaking good. I was not expecting such an excellent movie going into it. I watched 'Bullet Train" on a flight from California and was soooooo mad because I couldn't laugh out loud like I wanted to. Thankfully, the fiance hadn't seen it so I could loudly guffaw in the comfort of my own home. I absolutely can't wait to see "RRR". I've heard so many great things about it.

Thanks for this again!

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I meant to comment on your AF post but forgot until it was too late. So I’m writing here, partly even mostly for myself and partly for you. First, I hope you’re feeling well. Whatever that means for you as both a human being as well as for a former world class athlete whose body functioned at a superior level. Second, I hope you’re accepting the entire range of emotions around cardiac conditions that you may experience--hope fear anger loss confidence in your docs concern for your loved ones whatever they be whenever they may occur. It’s hard enough managing one’s body and illness--the energy it takes to repress one’s feelings taxes us that much more and it fails anyway. Sending you best wishes for healing, health and happiness. And lean into it all especially the good stuff. Xoxo

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Thank you so much for the Grace Of My Heart shout out! And I concur with Bullet Train way too overlooked as -- well, pure fun pure cinema! Again thank you, it means a lot now that we just lost Burt.

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I somehow managed to subscribe to your Substack page by accident but imagine my delighted surprise at how literate, literary, and always worth reading you are, to be honest I knew nothing about you except your name, your sport and what an amazing player you were/are ... I should have learned by now that I so often am wrong about so many things, especially about celebrities. Why did I think that intelligence and athleticism are mutually exclusive? Mea culpa.

Thank you for many hours of enjoyment exploring wide-ranging topics and ideas; your posts are always appreciated. And I especially liked your current one about the Best Picture Oscar nominees ... I watched the AARP Movies for Grownups awards and thought they did a good job separating the wheat from the chaff, for example recognizing Baz Luhrman for directing but not the movie. Everyone deserves a large popcorn, so I am now a paid subscriber. Thanks again.

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Must say his name. Like Shaq said to him, "No one knows who you are. Go out & show them." (not quite exact ). Mac McClung. Awesome performance. 3 perfect scores. 1 almost perfect. 1 try only. Watched over & over . 🏀

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Your opinions and comments are 1000% spot on. I will go to the movies with you anytime (just won't sit behind you!).

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Agree with you on basically on all your reviews of the good and mediocre films this year. However, you left out what I believe is the best movie of the year, by far: All Quiet on the Western Front. You could write an entire newsletter on this movie - it's profound and riveting and relevant.

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We have a toddler so we never get to actually watch all the movies that we want to watch. Thank you for doing the heavy lifting, based on the trailers of all these movies, I would bet that your assessment is something we would agree with had we the time. Since we don't have the time to watch, (and when we do, we never know where to start), your list will help immensely!

Also, I do not doubt that your reviews are spot on...I know this because in one of your weekly emails you recommended listening to Samara Joy. What a lovely artist, and sure enough, she won the Grammy for best new artist this year. We're on #teamkareem when it comes to entertainment!! Thank you <3

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I couldn't agree with your assessment of the "Best Picture" nominees. And your love of "Everything, Everywhere..." is sweet vindication in my argument with my in-laws about the film. They hated it and claimed 'its just not a movie for older audiences" (they're almost ten years your junior).

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My enthusiasm and appreciation for your writing and insights couldn't be greater. I also am so impressed by your range of interests and knowledge. Thank you. This could be a bit of vanity on my part as I find that my own opinions often mirror what you write.

I humbly would like to suggest the movie, "Living" with Bill Nighy. Like" Banshees of Insihiren", this is a quiet film (one could say it's a bit of a sleeper, the antithesis of an action film } however, it offers a sad but ultimately uplifting story with the most subtle and nuanced performance by Nighy. His acting is a revelation in this film. I haven't followed the nomination list but I do feel he deserves a nomination, if not the Oscar for best actor. I'd be curious as to your take on it.

Again, thank you for all that you bring here, so refreshing from all the other useless noise to be found on this format.

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as always - great insight and well written - agree with your selections

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❤️ I needed this list.

I also completely agree with your points on Maverick. Fun fun fun! Best picture, no way.

I grew up when silence of the lambs, Schindler’s list, etc were winning. Those movies still hold up.

That being said, Groundhog Day is the best movie ever. Groundhog day is the best movie ever. Groundhog Day did not win an Academy award for best picture.

Michelle Yeoh is over 60 years old. 🤯 I’m a fan, and yet I haven’t seen everything everywhere all at once. I know what I’m doing tonight. Thanks for reminding me.

Maybe at the end, I will have a new idea on the best picture ever.

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