Strange Thoughts on Films. Turn Off Your Mind, Relax & Float Downstream.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Films That I Saw: June 2025
Well, I did not think I would see or experience World War III happening though it was close during the Cold War when I was a kid. Yet, I do not remember much about that period other than a bunch of no-nuke protests and bad movies about getting rid of nukes. Alas, it might happen now thanks to our dumbass dictator who decided to get involved in a conflict between Israel and Iran by choosing to bomb the latter. What happened is not just an abuse of power but also a decision made without the constitutional approval of Congress. That is right folks. America is fucked. It is already bad enough that there is a war between ICE and citizens while Los Angeles is being under siege by ICE and the National Guard. There was a nationwide protest towards are his birthday that drew millions while his dumb military parade bombed as he fell asleep during the fireworks. That is our dictator.
This is not good at all as news has become compromised with ABC firing one of its journalists for telling the truth and calling out a fucking asshole for his bullshit. Journalism is being compromised as I do not watch the news anymore. CNN sucks. MSNBC sucks. All news channels suck. The New York Times and whatever I can find on Reddit and other social media places along with whatever I can read are the only places where I can find something with some truth. It is a shame that news has now been bought with CBS also suffering the fate of being bought by rich assholes who do not care for the truth.
In the month of June 2025, I saw a total of 20 films in 15 first-timers and 5 re-watches with 1 film being directed/co-directed by a woman as part of the 52 Films by Women pledge. Same as last month although more first-timers this time around with the best film this month is my Blind Spot film in The Misfits. Here are the top 10 first-timers that I saw for June 2025:
Gints Zilbalodis’ 2014 short film does feel like a prototype of what Flow would become as it is a film about survival where a man and his dog are lost at sea as their plane crash on a rock as the dog tries to get the man’s attention. The short showcases a raw look into the drawing and animation like what Flow would look like. Yet, Zilbalodis does create a story that is entrancing to watch as he really does is present a film that is not afraid to look or feel imperfect. It is a short film that fans of Zilbalodis should see as he is someone with a unique vision as he is a filmmaker to watch out for.
Call Me Ted
As someone who lives near Atlanta for all his life, everyone knew who Ted Turner is as the man took his father’s billboard business and turned it into an empire that would including TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, CNN, the Cartoon Network, and World Championship Wrestling. Keith R. Clarke’s six-part documentary is a fascinating look into the man’s accomplishments and failures as he would struggle to deal with his father’s suicide while he was a young man as well as near-death experiences, three failed marriages including to one to Jane Fonda who is interviewed in the film. The film also plays into Turner’s life after the debacle that was the AOL-Time Warner merger of 2000 as well as what he has been doing in recent years as he is suffering from Lew-body dementia. He is still alive and doing what he can to make the world a better place as the one thing I want from him is to watch him kick Meekmahan in the balls as a final fuck you from WCW & Jim Crockett Promotions to the WWE.
Where are the Bananas?
The first of seven short films by David Lynch that I saw that was part of a series of experimental short films he made in the early 2000s highlighted a man that is just trying to do a lot of different things. The first of which stars Etsuko Shikata in her apartment in Tokyo as she asks a simple question in this 2-minute short.
Sign Up for Lunch with Lynch
Another short film from Lynch is a fictional contest that made me wished it were real. I am still upset about it as I would love to eat at this diner that was used for Mulholland Dr. as Lynch held a contest about eating lunch at this diner. I would totally love that to happen as I would have chosen the double-decker combo with a chocolate shake.
SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)
This month has been rough with the passing of many geniuses in music as one of them is in Sly Stone. Questlove’s documentary film is about not just Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart but also the burden of those who have created something original and be put into a pedestal for those to follow. The film features archival interviews from Stone dating back to the early 1980s as well as interviews surviving members of the Family Stone including an archival interview with the late Cynthia Robinson before her passing in 2015. Questlove creates a film that does a lot in not just explaining why Sly Stone was a genius and so ahead of his time but also was unable to manage the need to live up to outdo what he did before as it led to a descent into drugs and such. Andre 3000 and D’Angelo are among those who are interviewed as they too have been burdened with the idea of being a Black genius though both men have managed to survive and do well. The film also has interviews with a few of Stone’s children where it is comforting to know that Stone’s last years have been happy where he spent his time with his adult children and being with his grandchildren.
You’re Not Supposed to Be Here
This 12-second short also stars Etsuko Shikata that is about a woman asking a question in her apartment in Tokyo. The only thing about the short film that I do not like is that it is too short.
Do You Like to Read?
From Wes Anderson is a promotional short film he made to coincide with the release of his 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom. The four minute short that stars Bob Balaban as the narrator and featuring the voice of Kara Hayward is about the books that Hayward’s character Suzy would read to other characters throughout the film as it highlights some unique hand-drawn animation from various animators. Directed with Christian de Vita, the film is a gem that fans of Anderson should seek out.
Pussy
This 9-minute short by Renata Gasiorowska is an animated short that I saw on MUBI as I am glad to know that not all animated films are for children and this one is not for children at all. This short is about a woman seeking some form of sexual pleasure when something unimaginable happens. Notably as it relates to her genitals after smoking some damn good weed as there is a lot of humor that goes on. I really enjoyed this short.
Kitchen Window
The 2 ½ minute short by Lynch displays what happens in the span of an entire day from the view of his kitchen window. It seems like something that is typical of Lynch, but it is fascinating to see what happens during an entire day while some weird shit does happen.
Coyote
The first of two shorts involving a coyote from David Lynch as it involves an empty home where nothing is happening until a coyote walks. It is a three-minute, 46-second short that is shot in one entire static shot as it plays into strange things that happen.
Dining Room Window
Another experimental Lynch short that highlights what happens in the span of a day on a timelapse. This time, from the point of view of Lynch’s dining room window as it just extraordinary how a day goes by from that room.
Coyote #2
The second film involving a coyote is the same thing as its predecessor but a little longer with an added surprise for the coyote. It is a fun experimental short from Lynch as he often finds a way to present something ordinary and strange all at the same time.
4. Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
5. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Well, that is all for June. In July, I will begin work on the Auteurs piece on Robert Eggers while also be doing a review of James Gunn’s Superman as I have bought a ticket for the upcoming film. Aside from reviews of films I have pre-written though I will not have much time to watch many films since my sister is going to have surgery in the month as I will be watching over the kids for a few days. My Blind Spot for July is going to be The Public Enemy. Usually on July 5th, which is a holiday of sorts as it was the first time, I write a review for Epinions.com and begin my writing career of sorts. I would often have planned as an anniversary but not this year due to timing and other things that I want to do.
Before I bid adieu, this month saw the passing of several great people such as Sly Stone while another great musical genius that will be missed is Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys who like Stone was brilliant but also troubled though Wilson was able to beat his demons and give the world some great music including SmiLe which finally came out in 2003. This is a hole that will never be fulfilled as these were two men who really brought out great American music for the world to listen to as they should be regarded as among the standard bearers of what America should be.
Also, those who passed away this month include the composer Lalo Schifrin, theatre director Michael Brokaw, Oliver Gibson of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tim Pollard, Kylie Page, Shefali Jariwala, actor Rick Hurst of The Dukes of Hazzard, journalist Bill Moyers, Walter Scott of the Whispers, Bobby Sherman, Rebekah del Rio of Mulholland Dr., Lea Massari, Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople & Bad Company, Aki Aleong, Matt Murray of the Atlanta Braves, author David Boyle, Lynn Hamilton of Sanford & Son, Gail Sartain, Ron Woodridge of the Searchers, Lou Christie, screenwriter Mark Peploe, Anne Burrell, David Hekili Kenui Bell, Ananda Lewis of MTV News, Ayumu Saito, actor Paul Thomas, Harris Yulin, actor Chris Robinson, Bob Andrews of Brinsley Schwarz, Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr, Enzo Staiola of Bicycle Thieves, actress/singer Birgit Carlsten, and Jonathan Joss of King of the Hill. We will miss you all. This is thevoid99 signing off…
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