THE GOOD FILMS (@the_goodfilms)

Gary Oldman was born to deliver Jackson Lamb’s best lines Slow Horses Season 6 is streaming now on @AppleTV #AppleTVPartner #SlowHorses

“The One Where We All Lost A Friend” 💔 Rest in Peace Chandler 🕊️ (1969-2023)

Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) is one of the most beautiful stop-motion animated films ever made. The amount of work behind this film is incredible. Every character was brought to life using handmade puppets, miniature sets, and frame-by-frame photography. The animators even used tiny mechanical gears inside the puppets’ heads to control their facial expressions. One of my favorite details is how the world of the living is cold, gray, and gloomy, while the world of the dead is surprisingly colorful and full of life. With Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter’s voice performances, Danny Elfman’s wonderful music, and Emily’s heartbreaking story, Corpse Bride is a film that deserves to be revisited every Halloween. And even after 21 years, the animation still looks incredible.

The cast of 10 Things I Hate About You reunited on Dancing with the Stars in 2026, following Julia Stiles’ emotional tribute to Heath Ledger. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, and Susan May Pratt joined Julia for a reunion that brought back memories of the beloved 1999 film. Julia honored Heath with a contemporary dance alongside Ezra Sosa, set to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the same song Patrick Verona famously sang to Kat Stratford from the school bleachers. Twenty-seven years later, seeing the cast together again was a beautiful reminder of the film’s lasting impact and the person who remains such an important part of its story. ❤

One of the greatest films ever put on a screen! Cinema Paradiso is partly based on director Giuseppe Tornatore’s own childhood in Sicily, where he first fell in love with movies. It’s a nostalgic love letter to cinema, telling the story of Salvatore, a successful filmmaker who returns to his small Sicilian hometown after many years. There, he recalls his childhood during the late 1940s and 1950s, when he discovered his passion for film at the local movie theater, Cinema Paradiso. As a boy nicknamed Toto, Salvatore formed a deep friendship with Alfredo, the projectionist, who became his mentor and father figure. Alfredo taught him about movies, life, and the importance of following his dreams - even if that meant leaving the town. The film’s famous ending - a reel of censored kissing scenes — was inspired by real Italian censorship laws that once banned intimate moments from films. Originally 173 minutes long, the movie was cut down to 124 minutes for its international release, a version that went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and the Grand Prix at Cannes. Its heartfelt celebration of the magic of cinema even inspired the restoration of old Italian theaters that were in danger of closing.

For the role, Wahlberg underwent a major transformation, spending hours in the makeup chair with facial prosthetics, including an altered nose and chin, along with a wig, thick sideburns and 1960s-style costumes. The goal was to make him disappear into the role of Scarpa, one of New York’s most dangerous mobsters who secretly worked as an FBI informant. And the story behind the movie is just as unbelievable. Set in 1960s Mississippi, By Any Means follows a young FBI agent, Wayne Strider, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, as the FBI struggles to solve the murder of civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer. Dahmer had helped Black residents pay their poll taxes so they could register to vote. After his murder, investigators found that nobody in the community was willing to talk to the FBI. So they turned to Scarpa. The real-life mobster was brought from New York to Mississippi and partnered with the FBI to help crack the case using methods that were far outside the bureau’s usual playbook. It’s a bizarre true story about two completely different men working together for the same goal — and now it’s been turned into a crime thriller. By Any Means is now available to watch digitally at home #ParamountPartner

La Haine (1995) is one of those films that stays with you long after it ends. Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, this French classic follows three friends, played by Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, and Saïd Taghmaoui, over 24 hours in the Paris suburbs after a violent clash with the police leaves a young man fighting for his life. Shot in black and white, the film captures the frustration, racism, police brutality, and hopelessness surrounding these young men without making their world feel like a distant reality. The conversations feel natural, the performances are raw, and the tension keeps building even when nothing seems to be happening. Kassovitz was just 27 when he directed the film, winning Best Director at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. More than 30 years later, its message still feels painfully relevant. La Haine isn’t just about anger. It’s about what happens when people are pushed to their limits and nobody seems willing to listen. “It’s about a society in free fall.”

One of the best racing movies ever made, and an incredible true story about two men who refused to give up. Ford v Ferrari (2019) tells the story of how Ford took on Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most demanding races in the world. After a deal to buy Ferrari fell apart, Henry Ford II decided to beat the Italian company where it mattered most: on the racetrack. Ford brought in legendary car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), who teamed up with fearless British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to develop the Ford GT40. After years of failures, Ford finally defeated Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966, with its cars finishing in first, second, and third place. But the real story behind that victory was even more complicated than the movie suggests. Miles was denied the win despite leading for much of the race, making the finish one of the most controversial moments in racing history. Christian Bale is another reason the film works so well. After gaining around 40 pounds to play Dick Cheney in Vice (2018), he lost approximately 70 pounds to portray Ken Miles in Ford v Ferrari (2019). But the transformation went beyond his appearance. Bale studied the real Ken Miles, learned his accent, and trained at a racing school to capture the driver’s personality and mannerisms. The result is one of his most convincing performances, bringing Miles’ stubbornness, dry humor, and obsession with racing to life. His chemistry with Matt Damon makes the film even better. Their characters feel like real friends who argue, push each other, and share a genuine love for what they do. With incredible racing sequences, practical effects, and a story about talent clashing with corporate politics, Ford v Ferrari is much more than a movie about cars. It’s about the people willing to risk everything to prove what they can do. Have you seen it?

One of the greatest debut performances ever and one of the greatest plot twists in cinema history. Primal Fear (1996) is the kind of thriller that keeps you questioning everything you see. Starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton, the film follows a high-profile defense attorney who takes on the case of a young altar boy accused of murdering a respected archbishop. For his very first feature film role, Edward Norton delivers a performance that’s almost impossible to believe. He holds your attention from the moment he appears on screen, bringing a level of depth and unpredictability that makes every scene more interesting. Richard Gere is equally compelling as a lawyer who believes he knows how the system works, only to find himself caught in a case far more complicated than he expected. But the real magic of Primal Fear is how it plays with your expectations. Every detail matters, every conversation makes you think, and the tension keeps building until the very end. If you love psychological thrillers that make you question everything, this is a must-watch. And if you already know how it ends, you know exactly why this film is still talked about today. Have you seen Primal Fear? What did you think of Edward Norton’s performance?

What movie makes you cry? The Elephant Man (1980), directed by David Lynch, tells the heartbreaking true story of Joseph Merrick, a man living in Victorian London who suffers from severe physical deformities and is treated as a spectacle because of his appearance. After being discovered in a traveling freak show by surgeon Frederick Treves, Merrick is brought to London Hospital, where he slowly begins to experience kindness and respect for the first time. Beneath the face that frightens strangers is a gentle, intelligent man who longs for something most people take for granted: to be treated like a human being. Starring John Hurt in one of the most powerful performances of his career, alongside Anthony Hopkins, the film is a deeply moving portrait of cruelty, compassion, and human dignity. Shot in haunting black and white, it captures the darkness of a society that judges people by what they see rather than who they are. The Elephant Man is a painful reminder that the real ugliness in this world is often found in the way people treat one another. More than four decades later, its message still feels just as important.

One of Hermione Granger’s most beautiful moments in the entire Harry Potter story. ✨ For years, Hermione had been the girl everyone knew for her intelligence, courage, and stack of books. At the Yule Ball, she walks down the stairs in a pink dress, and for a moment, even Harry and Ron barely recognize her. But the scene means more than Hermione simply looking beautiful. In both the books and the film, the Yule Ball marks one of those moments when the characters are beginning to grow up. Harry suddenly sees Hermione differently, while Ron struggles to understand that she isn’t just the bookish girl he’s known since first year. And yet, Harry and Hermione never needed a romance to make their friendship special. Through Voldemort, dangerous adventures, arguments, fear, and countless impossible situations, they remained there for each other. The Yule Ball doesn’t change their friendship. It simply reminds us how much they’ve grown since the first time they met. ❤️

Back when Disney wasn’t afraid to hurt us. 💔 Finding Nemo might look like a simple story about a father searching the ocean for his missing son, but underneath it is a story about fear, loss, and learning to let go. After losing Coral and almost all of their eggs, Marlin becomes terrified of losing Nemo too. His fear is understandable. He loves his son more than anything. But that love slowly turns into overprotection, making it harder for Nemo to explore the world and discover what he’s capable of. And that’s what makes Marlin’s journey so emotional. He doesn’t stop loving or protecting Nemo. He learns that sometimes loving someone means trusting them enough to take risks, make mistakes, and find their own way. Pixar actually built the entire ocean around that idea. The filmmakers researched real marine life, studied underwater footage, visited aquariums, and even looked closely at how jellyfish move. They also used the real East Australian Current as part of the story and visual design. Even Nemo’s character reflects the theme. His smaller, withered fin doesn’t stop him from wanting to explore, and by the end, he proves that being protected isn’t the same as being incapable. And there’s a beautiful detail behind Dory: Andrew Stanton wrote the character with Ellen DeGeneres in mind after seeing her sitcom. Her role became so important to the movie that it helped shape the entire journey alongside Marlin. Finding Nemo is really about a father learning the hardest part of being a parent: you can’t protect someone from everything. Sometimes, you have to let them swim on their own.

One of the most powerful moments in The Crown is when Princess Diana visits a hospital and hugs a young boy living with AIDS. To understand why this moment mattered so much, you have to remember what HIV/AIDS was like in the 1980s. Awareness was still very low, misinformation was everywhere, and fear of the disease was enormous. Many people wrongly believed HIV could be spread through ordinary physical contact, which led to people living with AIDS being isolated and treated with fear. In 1987, Diana opened Britain’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS ward at Middlesex Hospital. During the visit, she shook hands with a patient without wearing gloves, directly challenging the idea that simply touching someone with HIV was dangerous. The image quickly became one of the most recognizable moments of her humanitarian work. And Diana didn’t stop there. In 1989, during a visit to Harlem Hospital in New York, she met children living with AIDS and picked up a seven-year-old boy, holding him in her arms. Once again, the cameras captured a moment that showed millions of people something they desperately needed to see: there was nothing frightening about human contact with someone living with HIV. Diana’s actions didn’t cure AIDS or change public opinion overnight, and she wasn’t the only person fighting the stigma. Activists, doctors and public-health organizations had been working for years to educate the public. But her enormous visibility helped bring HIV/AIDS and the people affected by it into conversations around the world. She became one of the most recognizable public figures speaking openly against the stigma surrounding the disease. That’s what makes these moments so powerful. Diana used the cameras that followed her everywhere to focus attention on people the world was often afraid to even touch.

I wish they had kept this scene 😭

One of the greatest animated films ever made. 🏰 When Walt Disney was working on this film, he was taking a huge risk. Disney was considering stepping away from animation and focusing more on his other projects, including live-action films, television and, most importantly, Disneyland. If the film had failed, the animation studio could have been shut down. Instead, it became a massive success and helped prove that audiences still wanted Disney animation. The film didn’t just become a classic — its success helped keep the studio alive and shaped the future of Disney animation.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is one of those films that becomes even harder to watch once you know the story behind it. The film is based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiographical short story, which was heavily influenced by his own experiences during World War II. Nosaka lost his younger sister to malnutrition during the war, and he later described the story as an apology to her. That makes Seita and Setsuko’s relationship feel painfully personal. Their story follows two siblings trying to survive in Japan after their home is destroyed during wartime air raids. There’s no grand war narrative here. It’s mostly about two children trying to find food, shelter, and a little bit of normal life while everything around them is falling apart. There’s also an interesting story behind how the film was released. Grave of the Fireflies was paired with My Neighbor Totoro in 1988. The unusual double feature helped make Totoro possible after its original pitch struggled to get backed. The two films couldn’t be more different in tone, though. One leaves you with warmth and wonder, while the other can leave you completely devastated. And that contrast may have contributed to Grave of the Fireflies being overlooked by some audiences at the time. After watching Totoro, many people simply weren’t prepared for what came next. But decades later, the film’s impact hasn’t really faded. It’s a story about two children, but behind them is a real loss that Nosaka carried for the rest of his life.

One of the most heartbreaking performances ever given by a child actor. Ponette (1996), directed by Jacques Doillon, follows a four-year-old girl who loses her mother in a car accident and struggles to understand what death actually means. Instead of accepting that her mother is gone, Ponette keeps searching for a way to bring her back, turning grief, religion, childhood imagination, and hope into something deeply personal. What makes the film so powerful is how closely it stays with Ponette’s point of view. The adults try to explain death to her, but she understands the world in her own way, creating her own beliefs and answers. And then there’s Victoire Thivisol. She was only four when the film was made, yet her performance feels remarkably natural and emotionally raw. She won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 1996 Venice Film Festival, becoming one of the youngest performers ever to receive the award. Doillon also spent months talking with children while preparing the film, using their thoughts and ways of speaking to shape the young characters. Ponette is quiet, simple, and devastating. It doesn’t try to explain childhood grief from an adult perspective. It lets you experience it through the eyes of a little girl who simply cannot understand why her mother won’t come back. If you’ve never seen it, this one deserves a watch.

One of the most underrated Harry Potter moments was left out of the theatrical cut of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. When the Dursleys are forced to leave Privet Drive, the movie briefly shows them leaving without giving Harry and Dudley any real closure. But a deleted scene gives us something much more meaningful: Dudley stops, shakes Harry’s hand, and tells him that he doesn’t think Harry is a “waste of space.” Their relationship had always been one of the ugliest parts of Harry’s childhood. Dudley bullied Harry for years, while Vernon and Petunia encouraged the idea that Harry was a burden. But things slowly began to change after the Dementor attack in Order of the Phoenix. Harry saved Dudley’s life, and although Dudley initially blamed him, the experience clearly stayed with him. The books make this change even more subtle. Before leaving, Dudley leaves a cup of tea outside Harry’s bedroom. Harry initially assumes it’s another prank, only realizing later that it was Dudley’s awkward attempt to show that he cared. Then, when they finally say goodbye, Dudley admits that Harry saved his life. Harry is genuinely surprised because, for most of their lives, he had never imagined Dudley could feel anything but contempt for him. The deleted movie scene follows the book closely, but it still feels like a huge missed opportunity. It would have taken less than two minutes, yet it gave Harry something the films rarely allowed him to have: closure with the family he grew up with. It’s not a sudden friendship or a complete apology. Dudley doesn’t magically become a different person. It’s simply a small acknowledgment that he finally understands Harry was never his enemy. And after seven books and eight films of watching Dudley make Harry’s life miserable, that little moment means a lot.

Liberal Arts (2012), directed by Josh Radnor, follows Jesse Fisher, a 35-year-old college admissions officer who returns to his old Ohio campus for the retirement of his favorite professor. There, he meets Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen), a 19-year-old student who shares his love of books, music, and long conversations about life. What starts as a connection built around literature and classical music slowly becomes more complicated because of their 16-year age difference. Jesse is drawn to Zibby’s optimism and curiosity, but their relationship also forces him to confront how stuck he has become in his own life. Josh Radnor, who also wrote and stars in the film, keeps things quiet and character-driven. Much of the story comes through conversations, handwritten letters, campus walks, and small moments rather than major plot twists. Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, Zac Efron, and John Magaro add memorable characters around Jesse, each reflecting a different way of dealing with getting older, feeling lost, or trying to figure out what comes next. The film was shot at Kenyon College in Ohio, Radnor’s own alma mater, which gives the campus scenes a very personal feeling. Radnor has said the idea came partly from returning to Kenyon years later and suddenly feeling old among the students. At its heart, Liberal Arts is less about romance and more about nostalgia, growing older, and realizing that you can’t spend your whole life trying to return to the person you used to be. It’s a warm, thoughtful movie about accepting where you are instead of constantly looking back.

One of those quiet movies that stays with you long after it ends. The Station Agent (2003), written and directed by Tom McCarthy, follows Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage), a quiet, reclusive man with dwarfism who has spent most of his life keeping to himself. He works at a model train shop in Hoboken and finds comfort in his obsession with trains. After his elderly friend and boss Henry dies, Fin discovers that Henry has left him an abandoned train depot in rural New Jersey. Fin moves there expecting complete peace and isolation, but his plans quickly change when he meets Joe (Bobby Cannavale), an outgoing food-truck vendor who won’t stop trying to befriend him, and Olivia (Patricia Clarkson), a grieving artist struggling with the loss of her young son and the breakdown of her marriage. Their friendship develops slowly and awkwardly, without either of them really knowing what to do with it. There are no big speeches or dramatic transformations just three lonely people gradually becoming important to one another. Dinklage later spoke about bringing parts of his own experiences into Fin, especially dealing with strangers staring at him or treating him differently because of his height. At the same time, he has said he was very different from Fin personally, describing himself as much more social and surrounded by friends and family. Interestingly, Fin wasn’t originally written specifically as a character with dwarfism. McCarthy had seen Dinklage perform and realized he was the actor who could bring the character to life. Made on a budget of around $500,000, the film became an acclaimed indie hit, earning multiple awards at Sundance and helping put Dinklage on the map long before Game of Thrones made him a worldwide star. A warm, funny and deeply human film about loneliness, friendship and the unexpected people who can change your life.

Some movies feel like nothing else you’ve ever seen. The Taste of Tea (2004) is one of them. Directed by Katsuhito Ishii, this wonderfully strange Japanese film follows a family living in the countryside, where everyone seems to be dealing with their own little obsession, dream or problem. There’s a mother trying to return to animation, a father who works as a hypnotist, a teenager experiencing first love, an eccentric grandfather, and a young girl who is followed by a giant version of herself. It’s funny, surreal, unpredictable and surprisingly heartfelt. The film jumps between everyday family moments, absurd comedy, animation and quiet emotional scenes without ever feeling like it needs to explain itself. It’s the kind of movie where you just sit back and let it happen. If you’re looking for something completely different, give this one a chance.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” was one of the greatest comic book movie experiences ever! 🕷️ For years, fans had dreamed about seeing Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland together in one Spider-Man movie. Somehow, Marvel and Sony actually made it happen. Even Tom Holland didn’t think it would work at first. When director Jon Watts pitched him the idea of bringing the three Spider-Men together, Holland thought there was no way they would all agree. But eventually, all three actors came on board. The secrecy around it was also insane. Andrew Garfield spent years denying that he was in the movie. He even had to lie to Emma Stone, his former Amazing Spider-Man co-star, when she asked him about it. He later revealed that only a few people close to him knew he was filming the movie. And when the three finally put on their Spider-Man suits together, Holland said they spent their first day swapping stories about the costumes — including how to get into them and where all the zippers were. Imagine being in that room. There was also a beautiful moment for Garfield and Maguire after the movie came out. The two secretly went to a packed opening-night screening together, wearing baseball caps and masks so they could watch the audience experience the movie without being recognized. And the audience reaction was enormous. Released in December 2021, No Way Home opened to $260 million domestically and eventually made more than $1.9 billion worldwide. It became one of the biggest box-office hits ever and the highest-grossing Spider-Man movie at the time. But the numbers only tell part of the story. For an entire generation of fans, seeing three different versions of Spider-Man standing together on the big screen wasn’t just another crossover. It was the moment three eras of Spider-Man finally became one.

It’s a random evening in the early 2000s, and you’re watching TV with your dad.

Brad Pitt was never better than he was as Achilles. Troy gets a lot of hate for straying from Homer, but as a movie about ego, glory, and the cost of chasing immortality, it hits harder than people give it credit for. Achilles isn’t a hero here. He’s a man who knows he’s going to die young and has decided the only thing worth doing with that is being remembered forever. That’s it. That’s his whole arc. And Pitt plays it with this mix of arrogance and loneliness that makes him weirdly magnetic, even when he’s being awful. The Hector and Achilles fight still holds up over 20 years later. No music, no cutting away, just two men who both know one of them isn’t walking away from it.

"I am not going to bury my son. My son is going to bury me." 💔 John Q (2002) was one of the most personal films Nick Cassavetes ever directed. Inspired by the real-life medical struggles of his daughter Sasha, who was born with a congenital heart defect, the film carries an emotional authenticity that extends far beyond its gripping story. Cassavetes would later revisit similar themes in My Sister’s Keeper (2009), once again drawing from his family’s experiences. While many viewers remember John Q for its powerful criticism of the American healthcare system, the filmmakers have said the story is ultimately about faith, hope, and the possibility of miracles. Denzel Washington’s deeply committed performance gives the film its emotional core, making it one of the most moving dramas of the early 2000s. What would you rate John Q out of 10?

They’re always getting themselves into the wildest situations. 😂 Minions & Monsters is an upcoming animated comedy from Illumination, arriving in theaters on July 1, 2026. The story follows the Minions as they accidentally unleash monsters across early Hollywood while trying to make a movie, forcing them to team up and save the world. Directed by Pierre Coffin, the film features the voices of Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, and Jeff Bridges, with a score by John Powell. Fans can also expect plenty of the Minions’ signature Minionese throughout the film. #MinionsPartner #ad

And who burnt Moscow to the ground? 🔥

Cowboy Bebop redefined what anime could be, blending science fiction, film noir, westerns, martial arts, and jazz into a style that felt completely unique. Rather than following traditional genre conventions, the series created its own identity—one where breathtaking action, quiet character moments, and unforgettable music coexist effortlessly. Its influence extends far beyond anime. From its cinematic direction and fluid animation to Yoko Kanno’s legendary jazz soundtrack, Cowboy Bebop inspired countless creators and helped introduce a new generation of audiences to Japanese animation around the world. More than two decades later, its visual style, storytelling, and timeless themes of loneliness, regret, and redemption continue to set the standard. Few series have left such a lasting mark on anime—and even fewer still feel as fresh today as they did when they first aired.

Up is one of Pixar’s most emotional and beloved films, blending adventure, humor, and heartbreak into a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Directed by Pete Docter, the film follows Carl Fredricksen, an elderly widower who sets out to fulfill a lifelong dream he once shared with his late wife Ellie by flying his house to Paradise Falls using thousands of balloons. What begins as a journey to honor the past quickly becomes something else when Carl unexpectedly finds himself traveling with an enthusiastic young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. Together, they encounter strange discoveries, unlikely friendships, and challenges that force Carl to reconsider what it means to move forward. The film is perhaps best known for its opening sequence, which tells the story of Carl and Ellie’s life together with almost no dialogue. In just a few minutes, it captures love, joy, disappointment, and loss in a way that remains one of the most powerful moments in modern animation. At its heart, Up is about grief, friendship, and learning that life’s greatest adventures are often the ones we never planned for. It’s a reminder that while we can cherish the past, happiness is found by continuing to embrace the present.

Spider-Noir feels like one of the most unusual Spider-Man adaptations ever made. Inspired by Marvel’s Spider-Man Noir comics, the series takes the character out of the bright superhero world and drops him into a dark 1930s New York filled with crime, corruption, detectives, and old-school noir atmosphere. Instead of a young Peter Parker balancing school and heroics, this version follows a worn-down investigator haunted by his past. Viewers can watch the entire series in either “Authentic Black & White” or “True-Hue Full Color.” The black-and-white version leans fully into classic noir cinema, with heavy shadows, cigarette-smoke lighting, and a look inspired by old detective films. The color version uses highly saturated tones designed to feel like a living comic book while still keeping the same noir mood. Nicolas Cage returning to the character is a huge part of the appeal. After voicing Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, he now brings the role into live action, mixing classic detective energy with the eccentric screen presence he’s known for. Cage even described the performance as partly inspired by actors like Humphrey Bogart, helping the character feel closer to a noir antihero than a traditional superhero. The original Spider-Man Noir comics were already a fascinating idea, reimagining Spider-Man during the Great Depression and drawing heavily from pulp fiction, crime novels, and film noir. The series seems to push that concept even further, creating something that feels less like a typical Marvel show and more like a detective story where a superhero just happens to exist in the shadows.