Just scrolled through the NYT. GOP dictatorship plans, Ukraine war, a planet on fire… had to bail. Then opened this essay, which summed up my existential angst — including how I feel about seeking out distraction in movies and shows. Beautifully said! I greatly value your insights and guidance regarding what to watch. And that you feel my pain.
Ty- I hope you continue to produce the Watch List for many more years. I trust your judgment in helping me navigate through the flood of ‘content’ (I’ve come to despise the term. So dismissive of the artist.) In a world going mad, it’s the artist who will keep us sane. Thanks for being the connective tissue between your readers and the artists.
The past 2 years have been a gem….discovering and relishing films I knew nothing about, your thoughtful essays, learning about other opportunities out there ..,,keep going…we need your voice …when I see your name in my inbox, I know I’m in for something new and special..,happy anniversary!
Ty, I love reading whatever you write! Most of the time, I agree with your reviews. Your musings? Lovely. I'm so glad that I joined, back in when you began your Watch List. I'll continue reading as long as you're writing! Thank you for the past 2 years!!
Please don’t stop doing all of the different types of writing and musings - you’re on my must read list and I often save your posts for the weekend as a sort of special treat to read. I think the Globe reviewed one or maybe two movies last weekend - it’s so frustrating and so helpful to have your thoughts on all sorts of movies and media (music etc). One suggestion: can you set up another subscription price tier of maybe 10 a month between the 5 and 200? Just a thought.
Thanks so much for all you do Ty! Please hang in there. I love your beautiful insightful and witty writing. I’m trying to get others to upgrade their subscription.
Just shared this to FB with a strong recommendation to try - and, hopefully, to subscribe. Keep doing what you're doing Ty. (And thanks for the Merlin recommendation. I have been loving it!)
We may not always agree but you’ve long been a critic whose opinion I’ve always enjoyed reading. I look forward to your weekly pieces and hope you keep producing them.
I think your newsletter is great! We've seen a lot of good things we otherwise would have wanted to see. An idea for you: we rarely go see new releases in the theater, but often I'll be thinking - I want to see the new Mission Impossible (yes, a guilty pleasure, but enjoyable, and that marketing gets to you) -- what's something I can VOD that would scratch that same itch until its available for streaming? Of course an earlier MI works, but maybe something more off the beaten path? Or, e.g., I will eventually see the campy new Barbie movie, but what's something similarly campy and lesser known that would satisfy that same craving?
Ty, the calculus involving your advice and how I allocate scarce time to popular culture offerings just doesn't resonate with me. Why? I may be one of the few people on earth who, given the choice between either seeing movies or reading movie reviews, would do the latter. And that's what I do, to a first approximation. And yours in particular--I just love your writing, so keep doing what you're doing :)
For me, Ty, just keep doing what you're doing. I suppose for those who think it is too much, just be sure to have a synopsis at the top, but otherwise, I enjoy reading you and I don't think it is too much. Your's is the only newsletter I've ever renewed. For some reason, I get bored with them usually once I pay for them!
And I loved your "Dark Side of the Moon" article. I had a high school friend who was a Floyd fanatic even before Dark Side, so I knew of them. And I basically had my first kiss while slow dancing at a party to it, so you know it means a lot to me!
It is fairly routine for people feeling some sense of solidarity with labor to boycott the product or services being produced by the stuck company or companies, even if they are not a formal part of the striking workforce. So should those of us who have looked at the issues and feel that labor has the better case stop going to the movies? Why not? What does the union say?
It's a tough question, Fred. Should I not be writing about Barbie or Oppenheimer, especially when the actors are boycotting the premieres? I actually feel that it's a good way to call attention to the individual contributions that go into a film, and I hardly think I'm being a scab by going to a screening, as some arguments on social media would have you think. But this strike is going to go on for quite a while -- as it should, unless the producers come to their senses -- and it will ask things of critics, entertainment writers, and even audiences that we may not have fully considered.
One question: what is the relation between foreign production companies and foreign actors to this strike? Are our theatres going to fill up with British and Korean movies? Why not?
A second: it seems as though this action is going to go on for a long time. The visual entertainment world you and I grew up in looks like it is about to change and change drastically. I invite you to start thinking about what those changes might look like.
None of the unions have asked viewers to stop watching. Personally, I'd love to see a planned Cancel a Streaming Service Month as a way for viewers to show their solidarity. But 123 well-meaning people who stop watching movies and tv shows won't change anything.
With you all the way, Ty - even, surprisingly, with the bird watching. Those of us who love this newsletter will step up with getting others on board.
Thanks Curtis -- that's much appreciated, old friend.
Just scrolled through the NYT. GOP dictatorship plans, Ukraine war, a planet on fire… had to bail. Then opened this essay, which summed up my existential angst — including how I feel about seeking out distraction in movies and shows. Beautifully said! I greatly value your insights and guidance regarding what to watch. And that you feel my pain.
Ty- I hope you continue to produce the Watch List for many more years. I trust your judgment in helping me navigate through the flood of ‘content’ (I’ve come to despise the term. So dismissive of the artist.) In a world going mad, it’s the artist who will keep us sane. Thanks for being the connective tissue between your readers and the artists.
The past 2 years have been a gem….discovering and relishing films I knew nothing about, your thoughtful essays, learning about other opportunities out there ..,,keep going…we need your voice …when I see your name in my inbox, I know I’m in for something new and special..,happy anniversary!
Ty, I love reading whatever you write! Most of the time, I agree with your reviews. Your musings? Lovely. I'm so glad that I joined, back in when you began your Watch List. I'll continue reading as long as you're writing! Thank you for the past 2 years!!
Please don’t stop doing all of the different types of writing and musings - you’re on my must read list and I often save your posts for the weekend as a sort of special treat to read. I think the Globe reviewed one or maybe two movies last weekend - it’s so frustrating and so helpful to have your thoughts on all sorts of movies and media (music etc). One suggestion: can you set up another subscription price tier of maybe 10 a month between the 5 and 200? Just a thought.
Your efforts are just what I am looking for. Great reviews and wonderfully wild errant thoughts. Please keep going.
Keep it up Ty, reviews, opinions and musings, all good.
I tried to sign up for an annual membership but I got stuck and blocked. What to do? I love your Watch List!!!!!! Deborah Harris
Deborah -- email me at ty@tyburrswatchlist.com and we'll figure it out! Grrr.
Thanks so much for all you do Ty! Please hang in there. I love your beautiful insightful and witty writing. I’m trying to get others to upgrade their subscription.
Just shared this to FB with a strong recommendation to try - and, hopefully, to subscribe. Keep doing what you're doing Ty. (And thanks for the Merlin recommendation. I have been loving it!)
We may not always agree but you’ve long been a critic whose opinion I’ve always enjoyed reading. I look forward to your weekly pieces and hope you keep producing them.
I think your newsletter is great! We've seen a lot of good things we otherwise would have wanted to see. An idea for you: we rarely go see new releases in the theater, but often I'll be thinking - I want to see the new Mission Impossible (yes, a guilty pleasure, but enjoyable, and that marketing gets to you) -- what's something I can VOD that would scratch that same itch until its available for streaming? Of course an earlier MI works, but maybe something more off the beaten path? Or, e.g., I will eventually see the campy new Barbie movie, but what's something similarly campy and lesser known that would satisfy that same craving?
Yeah, something like the pamphlets at the library saying "If you liked this book, you should check out these too".
VERY good idea. Stay tuned...
Ty, the calculus involving your advice and how I allocate scarce time to popular culture offerings just doesn't resonate with me. Why? I may be one of the few people on earth who, given the choice between either seeing movies or reading movie reviews, would do the latter. And that's what I do, to a first approximation. And yours in particular--I just love your writing, so keep doing what you're doing :)
For me, Ty, just keep doing what you're doing. I suppose for those who think it is too much, just be sure to have a synopsis at the top, but otherwise, I enjoy reading you and I don't think it is too much. Your's is the only newsletter I've ever renewed. For some reason, I get bored with them usually once I pay for them!
And I loved your "Dark Side of the Moon" article. I had a high school friend who was a Floyd fanatic even before Dark Side, so I knew of them. And I basically had my first kiss while slow dancing at a party to it, so you know it means a lot to me!
It is fairly routine for people feeling some sense of solidarity with labor to boycott the product or services being produced by the stuck company or companies, even if they are not a formal part of the striking workforce. So should those of us who have looked at the issues and feel that labor has the better case stop going to the movies? Why not? What does the union say?
It's a tough question, Fred. Should I not be writing about Barbie or Oppenheimer, especially when the actors are boycotting the premieres? I actually feel that it's a good way to call attention to the individual contributions that go into a film, and I hardly think I'm being a scab by going to a screening, as some arguments on social media would have you think. But this strike is going to go on for quite a while -- as it should, unless the producers come to their senses -- and it will ask things of critics, entertainment writers, and even audiences that we may not have fully considered.
One question: what is the relation between foreign production companies and foreign actors to this strike? Are our theatres going to fill up with British and Korean movies? Why not?
A second: it seems as though this action is going to go on for a long time. The visual entertainment world you and I grew up in looks like it is about to change and change drastically. I invite you to start thinking about what those changes might look like.
None of the unions have asked viewers to stop watching. Personally, I'd love to see a planned Cancel a Streaming Service Month as a way for viewers to show their solidarity. But 123 well-meaning people who stop watching movies and tv shows won't change anything.
I understand.
How about foreign movies? Will we be watching nothing but British and Korean movies in six months?? Easy to imagine, actually.