I tend to watch a lot of movies. Contributor at Next Best Picture and AwardsWatch. Member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. Massive James Bond fan and Ben Whishaw fanatic. (he/him)https://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvvvd5mgks2vCaught up with The Weight. Quite liked it. Very entertaining. And Ethan Hawke looks really hot too.20 Sep 2026 00:00 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvvd5mgks2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvsvkxxga22aRIP Beef18 Sep 2026 19:26 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvsvkxxga22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvsue77bys2vI go in and out of phases of obsessively watching tornado videos, and I’m now back in it.18 Sep 2026 19:05 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvsue77bys2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvrcwvsptc2tI find myself having a mix of emotions regarding LA BOLA NEGRA. Much of it is beautifully crafted, and its commentary on generational queer identity I found moving. But the narrative’s scope felt too wide and some themes pretty shallow. Liked it but didn’t love it.18 Sep 2026 04:20 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvrcwvsptc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvq6wvmhck2wOnce again, this year's Chicago International Film Festival lineup is sooo good.17 Sep 2026 17:36 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvq6wvmhck2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvobfiwmls2bI’m finding myself appreciating Austin Abrams16 Sep 2026 23:15 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvobfiwmls2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvnmcqodws2uAlready looking forward to next year when we’ll celebrate the 20th anniversary for a bunch of exceptional movies.16 Sep 2026 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnmcqodws2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvliejljcs2oSaw something about Zack Snyder talking about 300 and calling it pro-gay when I think that movie relies on every homophobic villain trope it can throw at its audience to make you hate the scary foreigners. Actually a deeply evil movie that gets worse the more I think about it.15 Sep 2026 20:41 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvliejljcs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvkzs4rapk2wFirst day back at the gym in nearly two weeks was predictably rough but also necessarily satisfying.15 Sep 2026 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkzs4rapk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvjco5tdlc2nNot watching the Emmys but it’s nice to see Jack Lowden there.14 Sep 2026 23:54 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvjco5tdlc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvitgkgftk2sI was watching some clips of Cesar Romero on the Batman show, and my controversial opinion is that I may prefer his Joker over Jack Nicholson.14 Sep 2026 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvitgkgftk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvimwsxkvs25Totally forgot that I’ll be seeing La Bola Negra this week!14 Sep 2026 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvimwsxkvs25https://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvghtbkhvs2mIt’s very funny when the moderation filter determines a guy showing a little bit of thigh in his underwear needs to be censored but a full hog will pop up in another post and that gets treated like it’s completely fine.13 Sep 2026 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvghtbkhvs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvg5hn24xs2mMaking this my new lock screen13 Sep 2026 17:43 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvg5hn24xs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvelfaeogc2zColin Coughlin is such a comfort13 Sep 2026 02:47 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvelfaeogc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvdtidhjy22dWoman Unknown has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. You can also read my review of it here: nextbestpicture.com/woman-unknown/ https://nextbestpicture.com/woman-unknown/12 Sep 2026 19:39 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvdtidhjy22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvdjigwd522eIt's been days later, and I'm still not over this12 Sep 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvdjigwd522ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mvbpaq3ytk2gMy personal top ten from what I saw at Venice: 1. NAZA 2. Wild Horse Nine 3. Possible Love 4. Woman Unknown 5. Queer Edward II 6. The Color of the Sun 7. Union Town 8. Ink 9. Look Back 10. Company11 Sep 2026 23:18 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbpaq3ytk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mva4lpd66k23And that's a wrap on Venice for me! Will admit that the lineup was indeed on the weaker side this year. But that doesn't mean there weren’t good movies seen. And, perhaps even better, good people that I only ever get to see at these festivals. That truly does make it worthwhile.11 Sep 2026 08:11 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mva4lpd66k23https://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mv6xf2pdys27I always want to make sure I'm properly acknowledging the important work he's doing, but I also always to highlight that I think Yuval Abraham is really hot as well.10 Sep 2026 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6xf2pdys27https://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mv6elmqcxc2jNAZA is another searing portrait of the genocide being committed in Gaza, one that analyzes the systems that which used for disturbing purposes. The revelations are unnerving but effective in their presentation. An engrossing and sobering document that needs to be witnessed.10 Sep 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6elmqcxc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mv3ugv66rk2jTHE COLOR OF THE SUN is a subdued coming of age drama that’s quite compelling. Explores intriguing emotional turmoil against a broader national anguish in Japanese culture. Exceptional cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. Tonally reminded me of Ira Sachs’s The Delta.09 Sep 2026 15:35 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3ugv66rk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mv22zeqg5k2kBUNKER is sadly yet another laborious effort from Zeller, examining a fragile relationship with the most obvious writing and commentary. Cruz and Bardem give decent performances for surface level material. There’s a line at the end meant to be insightful that I howled laughing.08 Sep 2026 22:27 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv22zeqg5k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3muximutduk2nARRESTED MEMORY is an entertaining ride that uses its premise of a cop with amnesia for both humorous and heartbreaking purposes. The narrative weaves threads together in an amusing way, and Ethan Juan is a compelling presence. Momentum wanes but still an engrossing watch.07 Sep 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3muximutduk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3muwtqflut22nLOOK BACK is a charming examination of friendship that is delightfully moving. Korreda’s builds a nice intimacy around the endearing performances at the center. Some dramatic elevations in the plot are less impactful, but there’s an effective sweetness that remains in the end.07 Sep 2026 15:39 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3muwtqflut22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3muwpsmwwq22zI'll have more to say about Arrested Memory later, but for now, I just want to highlight a discovery: its lead actor Ethan Juan.07 Sep 2026 14:29 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3muwpsmwwq22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3muwi6fqe7s2nThis Italian guy came up to a group I was in and said he was a fan of the site and my work, which was very flattering and also he was soooo hot.07 Sep 2026 12:12 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3muwi6fqe7s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3muuzqqzdwk2bIt was The Echo Chamber. Mostly, it’s just a dull drama about relationships and addiction with no real reason to care about the two leads outside of them being hot. The last twenty minutes take an insane turn. Genuinely baffling. Luca Marinelli still gorgeous, though. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Sep 2026 22:21 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3muuzqqzdwk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3muubzbknqk2bPOSSIBLE LOVE is another somber and meditative examination of human interactions from Lee Chang-dong that is captivating in its intimate portrait. The terrific ensemble brings life to these fascinating characters with intriguing dynamics. Much to sit with but satisfying to ponder.06 Sep 2026 15:17 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3muubzbknqk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jrparham.bsky.social/post/3mutyitkrzs2aOne of my screenings at Venice produced laughter from the crowd. And no, not the good kind.06 Sep 2026 12:26 +0000at://did:plc:b27juckiakphas5n3t3grdos/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutyitkrzs2a