Author Archives: Kip

30
Jan

The Best Movies of 2025

10. The Secret Agent (dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho) The title is something of a misnomer. Wagner Moura’s Armando doesn’t really do much espionage. But as someone who refused to roll over to corruption in the authoritarian government of Brazil, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Film, Reviews | Tagged blue moon, bugonia, Eddington, it was just an accident, life of chuck, marty supreme, no other choice, one battle after another, secret agent, sinners | Comments Off

28
Jan

The Best TV Performances of 2025

ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES English Teacher This was already a tight ensemble, but promoting Carmen Christopher to series regular took their rhythm to another level. At any moment, one of them could say the most absurd, outlandish thing you’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Reviews, Television | Tagged abbott elementary, andor, apple, disney, english teacher, hbo, hbo max, last of us, lowdown, Pitt, platonic, rehearsal, righteous gemstones, task | Comments Off

27
Jan

The Best TV Shows of 2025, Part 2

Best Comedy Special Robby Hoffman: Wake Up (Netflix) Since Curb Your Enthusiasm ended last year, I’d been wondering who would step up to become the next Larry David. Having only seen Hoffman on this season of Hacks, I had no … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Reviews, Television | Tagged abbott elementary, bear, english teacher, hacks, handmaid's tale, hbo, hbo max, hulu, it's always sunny in philadelphia, last of us, netflix, pee-wee, pee-wee herman, righteous gemstones, Robby Hoffman, south park | Comments Off

26
Jan

The Best TV Shows of 2025, Part 1

The problem I had last year didn’t show up in 2025. In fact, there were way too many good shows. I even had to cut down my honorable mentions (coming soon). But before we get to that, here are my … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Reviews, Television | Tagged adolescence, apple, chair company, disney, hbo, hbo max, hulu, king of the hill, lowdown, netflix, Pitt, severance, studio | Comments Off

17
Jan

Final Oscar Picks 2026

BEST PICTURE F1 Frankenstein Hamnet It Was Just an Accident Marty Supreme One Battle After Another The Secret Agent Sentimental Value Sinners Train Dreams Dark Horse: Bugonia Long Shot: Avatar: Fire and Ash Total Shock: Weapons The skinny: After all … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Film, Oscars, Previews | Tagged 2000 meters to adriivka, alabama solution, apple, arco, avatar, blue moon, bugonia, cover-up, diane warren, elio, f1, frankenstein, hamnet, hbo, if I had legs I'd kick you, it was just an accident, Kpop demon hunters, little Amelie, marty supreme, my undesirable friends, netflix, no other choice, one battle after another, perfect neighbor, secret agent, sentimental value, sinners, smashing machine, sorry baby, train dreams, ugly stepsister, voice of hind rajab, weapons, wicked, zootopia | Comments Off

26
Dec

The Anniversary Albums Project: Best of 2025

New music has lost a lot of hold on me over the last few years. And seven years ago I decided that instead of trying to keep up with it all, I’d look back at music history and listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Music | Tagged bruce springsteen, hamilton, replacements, sufjan stevens | Comments Off

20
Dec

Oscar Picks: December 2025

We finally have a little bit of clarity, as most of the critics’ groups and some of the bigger precursors have unveiled their nominees. But it still feels like One Battle After Another is in pole position, even after its … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Film, Oscars, Previews | Tagged avatar, blue moon, bugonia, frankenstein, hamnet, if I had legs I'd kick you, it was just an accident, marty supreme, netflix, one battle after another, secret agent, sentimental value, sinners, sorry baby, testament of ann lee, train dreams, wake up dead man, weapons, wicked | Comments Off

11
Dec

Best Songs of the Decade… So Far

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve all but forsaken keeping up with new music. Sure, I’ll check out a band a friend recommends or listen to the latest release by some of my favorite artists. But by and large, it’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Music | Comments Off

16
Nov

Oscar Picks: November 2025

It’s been a weird year. A lot of films pegged as contenders early on have been met with shrugs. There hasn’t been a single runaway contender yet. Even One Battle After Another and Hamnet have their detractors. So who’s in … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Film, Oscars, Previews | Tagged avatar, bugonia, die my love, frankenstein, hamnet, it was just an accident, jay kelly, marty supreme, netflix, one battle after another, secret agent, sentimental value, sinners, smashing machine, testament of ann lee, train dreams, wake up dead man, weapons, wicked | Comments Off

13
Oct

The List: Top 10 ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sketches

This may have been my most foolish endeavor yet. How do you possibly distill 50 years of comedy greatness (and a lot of crap) into a top 10 list? You can’t do it. While I could have made a more … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of, Television | Tagged saturday night live, snl | Comments Off