James Bramble

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -supporting actor #OctoberMovieChallenge -subway The French Connection (1971) Roy Scheider is great as detective Buddy Russo. A great scene of pursuit through the NYC subway station. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -supporting actress #OctoberMovieChallenge -shootout True Grit (2010) Multiple shootouts including the climatic showdown with Ned Pepper’s gang. Flawless delivery of dialogue by the young Hailee Steinfeld. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChalllenge -undeserved Oscar #OctoberMovieChallenge -fictional band Ray (2004) I failed to think of an exact match so I went to with a real band. I liked Ray and Fox’s performance. But Cheadle should have won for Hotel Rwanda that year (imo). @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MoviePerformance -male performance 1990-2026 #OctoberMovieChallenge -waterfall Last of the Mohicans (1992) Daniel Day Lewis can transform into and humanize someone else about as good as anyone ever has. He is truly the best actor of his generation. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -good soundtrack #OctoberMovieChallenge -elephant Lion King (1994) Elton John stayed relevant for decades by evolving. 70s classic rock, pop/blues of the 80s and showtunes in the 90s. Always excellent including in this film. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -everyone should see post 2010 #OctoberMovieChallenge -skydiving Away (2019) Beautiful dialogue free film from the Latvian director of Flow about a young man who parachutes onto a mysterious island. 100 RT score. Streaming on criterion. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -based on a fav novel #OctoberMovieChallenge -a mine October Sky (1999) Jake’s most endearing performance. Based on the awesome novel-like true story Rocket Boys, set in a WV coal mine town. Fun trivia: October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -YouTuber or substacker. #OctoberMovieChallenge -mythological creature. Odyssey I’m going with podcast as I don’t know any YouTubers. I love MovieFriends podcast. In August Seth and guest Aaron covered the Odyssey @omacolt.bsky.social

Pascal’s Law in action Original post

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -female performance 1990-26 #OctoberMovieChallenge -video rental store Ghost World (2001) Several great performances but the stand out is Thora Birch as Enid. Great lampooning of film snob culture in the Masterpiece Video scene. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -a war movie for those that don’t like war movies #OctoberMovieChallenge -political hearing Paths of Glory (1957) No gore and not graphic, but a deeply human story about the absurdity of war. Grossly unfair court martial hearings. @omacolt.bsky.social

From a distance we all have enough, and no one is in need. And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease, no hungry mouths to feed.

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -character role model #OctoberMovieChallenge -prison Sing Sing (2023) Divine is wrongly imprisoned. But rather than becoming hardened, he leads a rehabilitation theater to help others. Deeply inspirational field. Colman Domingo is 🔥 @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -male performance 1939-60 #OctoberMovieChallenge -something raided 400 Blows (1959) Antoine steals a typewriter from his step-dad’s workplace. Jean-Pierre Léaud gives one of the all-time best child performances. Natural & restrained. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -1970-90 everyone should see #OctoberMovieChallenge - frog The Muppet Movie (1979) Christmas carol is the best muppet movie, but the OG is the most iconic and magical. Funny, heartwarming, chaotic. & 🎶the 🌈 connection🎶. Something for everyone. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -cinematography #OctoberMovieChallenge -hit in face (not a fist) Howard’s End (1992) Gorgeous cinematography (Merchant Ivory so expected) by Tony Pierce Roberts. Charles slaps and then hits Leonard with a sword. Then he is hit by a bookcase. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -1950-1970 #OctoberMovieChallenge -White House Advice & Consent (1962) Excellent boundary breaking film. Progressive for 1962 as it attacks political weaponization against a gay senator. White House scenes filmed at a hotel. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026moviechallenge -foreign film #OctoberMovieChallenge -explorer Castle in the sky (1986) I believe this magical film about two adventurers searching for a lost civilization was my introduction to Miyazaki. The beginning of my love affair with his amazing films. @omacolt.bsky.social

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#Bales2026MovieChallenge -underrated actor #OctoberMovieChallenge -SNL member Ed Wood / Rushmore (Bill Murray) Murray is known for cynical, deadpan humor. But he is brilliant and can also be campy and hilarious (Ed Wood) or restrained and somber (Rushmore). @omacolt.bsky.social

Good morning from Salt Lake City. A nice run through downtown. Having finally dropped the shackles of a couple years of scaffolding, the newly renovated temple is showing off.

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -a favorite male performance 1960-90 #OctoberMovieChallenge -postman Three Days of the Condor (1975) Robert Redford is outstanding as an ordinary intellectual out of his depth. The assassin disguises himself as a postman delivering a package. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Fav female performance 1930-60 #OctoberMovieChallenge -at the theater Sunset Boulevard (1950) Norma and Joe watch her films in her private home theater, her loyal butler as the projectionist. Swanson’s performance is masterclass. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -film people hate that I love #OctoberMovieChallenge -something on fire Everything everywhere all at once (2022) It’s trendy to hate it, but I find it emotionally deep and lovely. Both Joy and Evelyn burn things in the climax.  @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -a book for film lovers #OctoberMovieChallenge -something assembled Miyazakiworld: a life in art (Susan Napier) The wind rises Excellent look at the life & beliefs of Miyazaki and how they shaped his films. Jiro builds airplanes.  @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -overrated actor #OctoberMovieChallenge -something stolen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Costner kind of bugs me at times. Even in films I love I don’t think he is the best of all time. Same for when he was Prince of thieves. @omacolt.bsky.social

IZ had a once in a generation voice. When I’m down I find that listening to this always brings me up. Then I get sad again because I miss him. It’s a vicious cycle. youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I?...

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." -J.R.R. Tolkien

#Bales2026moviechallenge -favorite director #OctoberMovieChallenge -walking far Sansho the Bailiff (1954) Best I can do is one of my favorites (to many for one). Mizoguchi is a true master of film. Zushiō escapes the estate and walks to safety. This film broke my heart. @omacolt.bsky.social

But when I do, it’s generally to pay for my elaborate wedding.

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -favorite actor #OctoberMovieChallenge -wrongly imprisoned Malcom X (1992) My favorite living actor Denzel. Malcom was convicted of a real burglary, but his extreme and excessive racist sentence was based on his involvement with a white woman. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -robbed of best picture Dr Strangelove: or how I leaned to stop worrying and love the bomb (1964) Horrible ending aside, I like Oscar winner My Fair Lady, but the clear better film that year was Dr Strangelove. Mary Poppins was better also.

#OctoberMovieChallenge -podcast Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 1 (2010) The resistance communicates in code through an underground radio program called Potterwatch. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -romcom for those who hate romcoms #OctoberMovieChallenge -someone with AIDS Longtime Companion (1989) Early Sundance discovery. Light on comedy but definitely has romance. A quiet and deeply human snapshot of the 80s AIDS crisis @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -pre 1950 that all should see #OctoberMovieChallenge -old car Rebecca (1940) Hitchcock’s only film to win the best picture Oscar. Clever premise, brilliant performances, gorgeous gothic atmosphere. Olivier drives a 1937 MG SA Tourer @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026FilmChallenge -September #SeptemberMovieChallenge -dam  The Lion the witch and the wardrobe (1979) Lovely and nostalgic. The Pensive children arrive at the professor’s house in autumn and visit the beaver’s dam in Narnia.  Thanks for a fun month  @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026Moviechallenge-Ian McShane #SeptemberMovieChallenge -medicine Coraline (2009) Have I mentioned I love this film? Early on Coraline’s mom takes medicine for a cold. McShane is the energetic and strange Russian neighbor Mr Bobinsky. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Kris Kristofferson #SeptemberMovieChallenge -parade Big Top Pee Wee (1988) Burton’s Pee Wee is subversively genius. This one . . . is not. Kristofferson is Mace Montana, the circus ringmaster. He MCs (singing) the entrance parade. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Wilford Brimley #SeptemberMovieChallenge -environmentalist The Electric Horseman (1979) Gorgeous setting with a focus on corporate greed and consumerism. Brimley is an Utah farmer. Jane Fonda is an environmentally minded journalist. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Olivia Newton John #SeptemberMovieChallenge -a debate Two of a Kind (1983) 4 angels settle a debate with God with a wager. God won’t destroy the world if selfish thieves ONJ and Travolta can reform. Bad movie, excellent soundtrack. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -book #SeptemberMovieChallenge -school Where is the friend’s house (1987) I highly recommend this film about a boy who accidentally takes his school friend’s book and has a crazy journey through rural Iran trying to give it back. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Jim Henson #SeptemberMovieChallenge -court The Great Muppet Caper (1981) Just ok. But I’m always a fan of Henson, and this cast is all star. Kermit disguises himself as Piggy’s lawyer but she breaks out of prison before her trial. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -the Boss #SeptemberMovieChallenge -exploring Warm Bodies (2013) There is both literal and metaphorical exploring as the world changes for both R (Zombie) and Julie (human). 🎶Hungry Heart🎶 is used in a pivotal falling in love scene. I like this film. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -autumn #SeptemberMovieChallenge -friends gather The Trouble With Harry (1955) Hitchcock’s delightfully unusual autumn comedy. Friends and neighbors in a Vermont town gather to deal with a dead body. @omacolt.bsky.social

"You pray for the hungry . . . then you feed them. This is how prayer works." Pope Francis

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -summer #SeptemberMovieChallenge -betrayal The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) The film leans heavily into the Mediterranean summer atmosphere (beaches, outdoor cafés). No spoilers, but betrayal is central to the plot. Tommy Tommy Tommy. @omacolt.bsky.social

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Jim Croce #SeptemberMovieChallenge -battle of the sexes X-Men Days of Future Past (2014) Mystique is a serious feminist who fights the manipulation attempts of Magento and Prof X. Classic pentagon slo-mo scene to time in a bottle. @omacolt.bsky.social

“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks." Ruth Bader Ginsburg (quoting Sarah grimke)

#Bales2026MovieChallenge -Adam west #SeptemberMovieChallenge -time bomb Batman (1966) At the end, Batman races around trying to get rid of the bomb but encounters people & animals he can’t endanger everywhere. Life of a vigilante crime fighter is rough.     @omacolt.bsky.social