We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Nathaniel in Santa dragDear Readers, you may have noticed that Team Experience is on a wee break for the holiday so the posting is a bit sparse but we'll be back with more appropriate Oscar season levels starting on Tuesday/Wednesday! Lots more interviews, reviews, and year in review madness coming your way in just a  couple of days. Hell, there will even be a little something up for the holiday tomorrow because we're terrible about staying offline even though we really should rest the eyes (SCREENS∞!!!). In the meantime if you're eager for something new to read catch up on our favorite Christmas movies, or the early stages of our year in review party, or the re-ranked Oscar charts, or any 2018 reviews you may have missed. There should be a new podcast up tonight, too!

We're so thankful for you for reading so loyally! If you're thankful for us, drop a little something in our virtual beggar's cup.

If you look at the sidebar ➡️ you'll see a subscribe option (the price of a cup of coffee a month!) or make a one time donation if you can't do monthly). XO, Nathaniel 

July. It's a Wrap

July was the month of Emmy nominations, Ingmar Bergman's Centennial, Mamma Mia! melodies, old and new. It was also the month I failed to convince you to watch Harlots (your loss!). Here are 16 highlights from the month as we say goodbye to July.

Miscellania
• Almodóvar and Penelope - filming collaboration #6, Pain and Glory 
• Yes No Maybe So: Aquaman - another DC tragedy or wet fun?  
• The Dark Knight - a rewatch for its 10th anniversary 
• Rear Window -it's still perfect; We checked. 
• Best of 2018 - thus far at the halfway mark in all categories 
• Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood - Good dish or unethical or both? 

Most Discussed
• Amy Adam's 3 Best - Everyone has an opinion!
• Cats to become a movie - How on earth will that work? 
• Months of Meryl: The Hours - Streep unravels exquisitely
• Yes No Maybe So: Boy Erased - will it be one of the year's best?

Oh and 1943 was our Year of the Month
• Casablanca Quotes -Fun to hear all the different choices for "best," wasn't it?
• Mattes, Moons, and Mountains -on For Whom the Bell Tolls' production design
• Supporting Actress Smackdown -Katina vs Lucille vs Gladys vs Paulette vs. Anne 
• Vintage '43 - Magazine covers, happenings, and box office hits
• Soundtracking: Girl Crazy - Judy & Mickey & the American songbook
• The Seventh Victim - a 'polite' horror movie 

COMING IN AUGUST
New Films: Christopher Robin, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, BlackKklansman, Crazy Rich Asians, and The Happytime Murders. The podcast will return to a weekly schedule and we'll have a three part West Side Story retrospective for Leonard Bernstein's Centennial. Otherwise 1972 will be our Year of the Month and since Nathaniel has more time than usual (loss of a financially stabilizing side gig *sniffle* please donate to the site -- see sidebar!) expect a deeper dive into that particular film year. We'll start with Cabaret tomorrow! 

And now presenting the Cabaret girls...

...each and every one a wirgin. 

Life is a CABARET is life, old chums.
A three day retrospective at The Film Experience (Aug 1st-3rd)

Meet the Smackdown Panelists for 1943

by Nathaniel R 

The next "Supporting Actress Smackdown" arrives on Sunday July 29th so you have one last week to watch the movies / get your votes in! But before we get to that big event, it's time to meet this month's panel. We'll skip my introduction because you know me already but if you don't, here I am.

So without further ado, let's get to know the five panelists, most of whom are first-timers on the Smackdown!

PLEASE WELCOME...

Click to read more ...

June. It's a Wrap!

Our birthday month is just about over 😭 but you can still wish us a happy belated by supporting The Film Experience through likes, shares, tweets, follows, newsletter subscriptions, and a donation of a cup of coffee each month to keep us well-fueled. Here's a dozen highlights you might have missed if you're not online as much in the hot months.

7 Highlights
• A Repertory Renaissance New York movie theaters are killing it!
• Little Big Lies Goes Bowling - but who won?
• Rosemary's Baby 50th Anniversary Tag Team MiniSeries
• Nanette - will it be one of the year's definitive films?
• Hereditary - a new horror classic
• Muriel's Wedding - A Soundtracking episode
• Blueprints: Moonlight - Barry Jenkins retweeted! 

5 Most Discussed
• Supporting Actress Smackdown 1994 - Helen Sinclair "don't speak!", Olive Neal "charmed charmed charmed" and Mia Wallace *dancing gesture*. Jennifer Tilly retweeted the Smackdown ♥︎
• Best Actress 1994 - It was unsatisfying but didn't have to be
• Nicole Kidman Questions - for the queen's birthday
• All Time Fav Character Actresses? - an incomplete list
• Triple Crown List-Mania - Glenda Jackson joins!

Yes No Maybe So?
• As trailers go it was an insane month. So if you haven't already sound off on the following juicy forthcoming prospects (alpha order): Beautiful Boy, Christopher Robin, Creed II, Dumbo, First Man, Mowgli, A Star is Born, Suspiria, Welcome to Marwen, and Widows !

COMING IN JULY

Our year of the month will be 1943 so we'll be looking back at some of those films which is handy since it's the 75th anniversary of all of 'em. Also in July: Ant Man and the Wasp, Eighth Grade, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Anniversaries for The Dark Knight and Hocus Pocus. Centennials for director Ingmar Bergman and screenwriter Arthur Laurents. And more. Any requests?