JAPAN CUTS (and US release): CLOUD (Kiyoshi Kurosawa 2024). Initially a timely techno-thriller, this expose of criminal online sales unfortunately degenerates into a shootout. But still, maybe you should see it if you can. NY: IFC Center, FLC. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

UNICORNS (Sally El Huseini, James Krishna Floyd 2023). An Essex (England) garage mechanic's world expands when he begins dating a British Indian drag queen. Quad Cinema. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

NYAFF: SUNSHINE (Antoinette Jadaone 2024). Olympics gymnastics contender has an unplanned pregnancy that could dash her hopes. Abortion is illegal in the Philippines. So we have a quietly urgent issue picture that pulls its punches a bit. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

JAPAN CUTS: KAIJU GUY! (Junichiro Yagi 2025) Japanese comedian Gumpy plays a fan of "kaiju" (Japanese monster) movies who makes one as a promotionl film for Seki city Has fun with Japanese awe of authority, and DIY filmmaking. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

JAPAN CUTS: Toshioki Toyoda, RESURRECTION TRILOGY (2029, 20, 21). After seeing these I totally 'grok' why there's a cult around Toyoda. They are fierce, brilliant works, full of rage and a deep sense of Japanese history. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

Wong 2024). Surprising from Hong Kong, an intense, agonized film of moral and religious struggle with rape, suicide, a severe pastor, and a repentant young man. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

DICIANNOVE (19) (Giovanni Tortorici 2024) Italian intellectual coming of age film is a smart and unexpected charmer from Luca Guadagnino protégé Giovanni Tortorici. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

OH, HI! (Sophie Brooks 2025). Weekend rendez-vous bondage sex goes astray, and so does this movie. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

BEYOND POLITICS. Do you know about THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: AN UNNATURAL HISTORY by Elizabeth Kolbert? The essential book of our time. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

Watch A QUESTION OF ATTRIBUTION by Alan Bennett starring James Fox as Sir Anthony Blount (1991) directed by John Schlensinger. Stay tuned for the brilliant & hilarious turn by Prunella Scales as QEII. 70 mins.ok.ru/video/12032360…

Rashid Khalidi states why Columbia is no longer a university and he cannot teach there any more. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

The New York Film Festival (Sept. 26-Oct. 13) has announced its 34-film star-studded Main Slate. Here is is, with descriptions of all the films. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

WEAPONS (Zach Cregger 2025). Members of an elementary school class disappear one night and then we explore this from six points of view in this pleasingly told horror movie the critics are loving. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

WENT UP THE HILL (Samuel Van Grinsven 2024). Austerely beautiful New Zealand-set ghost story that's moving and uplifting for a few, slightly ridiculous for many. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

(Kate Beecroft 2025). This docudrama about a loose family of cowgirls in the Badlands has beautiful women, beautiful horses, and can grow on you in the rewatch because of the richness of its texture, look and atmosphere. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

EDDINGTON (Ari Aster 2025). Ari Aster's crazy, catchall 'Our Town' that ends in violence is a bore. chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, now the world's fourth largest economy, stands up to counter Trump's gerrymandering plan. From Heather Cox Richardson (who also interviewed Newsom yesterday). chrisknipp.com/writing/viewto…

Zeteo: This Week in Democracy – Week 30: DC Gets Troops While Putin Gets a Red Carpet. Documents more breathtaking moves toward authoritarian rule from Trump & Co. mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2…