Thank you! I loved reading your comments throughout. You’re right, the agony of choice when it comes to “best” films is immense. It honestly felt a bit sleazy to do a “best of” list, haha. Beyond being subjective, I often can’t 100% agree with myself on which I want to include. But so many people haven’t even seen most of these films! So sometimes I include a mix of what’s expected and unexpected, known and unknown, to try and pull people in.

My first job was working in this incredibly quaint video store. Very much one of the last of the 80s/90s-era video stores. Murals painted by employees past on the walls, an eclectic collection of foreign and cult films (even a section of films made by employees!), and a carpet that never stayed clean. It was magnificent. I feel like I learned more by simply working there, watching films, and talking with people, than half the people I met who went off and became film majors. When I did eventually take film history and theory classes, I found that so many classmates missed the joy of film, and it seemed that my experience at the video store had a huge role to play in why I experienced cinema differently.

Envious of your seeing Lawrence on the big screen. I’d love to experience it on one of the old massive extended/curved cinema screens (do any of those still exist, I wonder?). I did get to watch the original Star Wars on a full theater screen years ago, and that was a priceless experience.

Anyway, I’m so glad you enjoyed!