Alejandro A. Riera
@alejandroariera.bsky.social
Writer, editor, critic, movie lover, Doctor Who fan, proud to be a boricua, a cubano and a gallego. Curmudgeon extraordinaire. You can find my writing here https://alejandroariera.substack.com and at times at outlets like the Chicago Reader.
Yep, the Supreme Court really is just a House of Lords—a purely political branch with bizarre veto power, wielded capriciously and without accountability. Time for massive reform.
December 5, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Folks, vote for Cynthia...vote for the Chicago Latino Film Festival...vote for Destinos...shit, vote for every single Latino name you see. Great way to show your support and help us raise our voices in this most difficult of times for our community.
The Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago 2025 voting has begun.
I'm listed in the Best Novelist category with these stellar authors.
When you're done voting for all Chicago Arts and Culture, don't forget to vote in the other categories!
Vote: chicagoreader.com/best-of-chic...
I'm listed in the Best Novelist category with these stellar authors.
When you're done voting for all Chicago Arts and Culture, don't forget to vote in the other categories!
Vote: chicagoreader.com/best-of-chic...
December 5, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Folks, vote for Cynthia...vote for the Chicago Latino Film Festival...vote for Destinos...shit, vote for every single Latino name you see. Great way to show your support and help us raise our voices in this most difficult of times for our community.
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
Tarantino quickly turning into the David Mamet of his generation: a filmmaker that writes fantastic scripts, and whose dialogue I could listen to for hours, but every time they open their mouths I just think less of them.
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Tarantino quickly turning into the David Mamet of his generation: a filmmaker that writes fantastic scripts, and whose dialogue I could listen to for hours, but every time they open their mouths I just think less of them.
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed disastrous cuts to our city's libraries while setting aside $5M for a ShotSpotter replacement. As library associate Sara Heymann told me, “Libraries embody everything we need to fight back against fascism.” My piece on what’s at stake and how to fight back:
You Can’t Fight Fascism While Defunding Libraries
“Libraries embody everything that we need right now to fight back against fascism," says Sara Heymann.
organizingmythoughts.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed disastrous cuts to our city's libraries while setting aside $5M for a ShotSpotter replacement. As library associate Sara Heymann told me, “Libraries embody everything we need to fight back against fascism.” My piece on what’s at stake and how to fight back:
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
Had a conversation with a famous actor last night who got right into it and bemoaned the extinction of film criticism as a viable profession. Understood the loss to culture. Said it’s how he *learned* as a young man what cinema and acting could do. Nice to be seen by someone used to being looked at.
December 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Had a conversation with a famous actor last night who got right into it and bemoaned the extinction of film criticism as a viable profession. Understood the loss to culture. Said it’s how he *learned* as a young man what cinema and acting could do. Nice to be seen by someone used to being looked at.
What the man said (cont.).
Yep, I'm a CD guy and it bugs the shit out of me when some of my favorite recording artists, especially jazz musicians, release their new material only through streaming platforms.
Yep, I'm a CD guy and it bugs the shit out of me when some of my favorite recording artists, especially jazz musicians, release their new material only through streaming platforms.
You can’t be pro-physical media for one thing while being ok with, and complicit in, the real time collapse of integrity in another. If we want physical media to survive, it’s not just Blu-ray’s. It’s also records/tapes/CDS, printed books, hard copies of video games. All of it is one ecosystem.
December 4, 2025 at 1:08 PM
What the man said (cont.).
Yep, I'm a CD guy and it bugs the shit out of me when some of my favorite recording artists, especially jazz musicians, release their new material only through streaming platforms.
Yep, I'm a CD guy and it bugs the shit out of me when some of my favorite recording artists, especially jazz musicians, release their new material only through streaming platforms.
What the man said...
I feel like the physical media narrative is lost. So many who champion analog in regards to movies, that advocate for Blu-ray and 4K discs over streaming of those films, have seemingly zero issue with using services like Spotify while not also buying records. Physical media is all of it.
December 4, 2025 at 1:06 PM
What the man said...
And yet, the city's hoi polloi still celebrate him. Screw 'im.
ugh this mf’ing parking meter deal:
“Chicago’s inspector general confirmed in 2019 that the city had sold out for far less than the lease’s value. A report by Bloomberg Business said CPM [the company the city sold to] stood to earn about **10 times what it paid** over the life of the contract”
“Chicago’s inspector general confirmed in 2019 that the city had sold out for far less than the lease’s value. A report by Bloomberg Business said CPM [the company the city sold to] stood to earn about **10 times what it paid** over the life of the contract”
December 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
And yet, the city's hoi polloi still celebrate him. Screw 'im.
Finally watched it and it's…oh…so…brilliant!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxz...
'Forks Out': A Benoit Blanc Sesame Street Mystery | Wake Up Dead Man | Netflix
YouTube video by Still Watching Netflix
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Finally watched it and it's…oh…so…brilliant!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxz...
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
One hundred percent correct.
And if you want to whine about vote shaming, then it’s on you to learn to vote in a way that is not shameful.
Pretty fucking simple.
And if you want to whine about vote shaming, then it’s on you to learn to vote in a way that is not shameful.
Pretty fucking simple.
If you didn't vote for Harris, you voted for what's happening. Don't be mad. You wanted this. 75m of us tried to stop it but the rest of y'all were fine with it. My empathy is reserved for those who tried to stop this by voting Harris. Everyone else deserves what they voted for.
December 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
One hundred percent correct.
And if you want to whine about vote shaming, then it’s on you to learn to vote in a way that is not shameful.
Pretty fucking simple.
And if you want to whine about vote shaming, then it’s on you to learn to vote in a way that is not shameful.
Pretty fucking simple.
THIS ISLAND, is I am not mistaken, is the first Puerto Rican film to be nominated to the Independent Spirit Awards!
Three Latin American films have scored Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations!
ESTA ISLA, A POET and THE SECRET AGENT Score Spirit Awards Nominations — Cinema Tropical
Three Latin American films—from Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Brazil—were announced this morning as nominees for the 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards, presented by Film Independent in celebration of t...
www.cinematropical.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
THIS ISLAND, is I am not mistaken, is the first Puerto Rican film to be nominated to the Independent Spirit Awards!
Love it!
Dedham Priest pissing off all the right people by removing Jesus from the church's nativity scene and putting up an ICE WAS HERE sign in His place.
www.boston25news.com/news/local/i...
www.boston25news.com/news/local/i...
‘ICE was here’: Dedham church sparks outrage over nativity scene with political message
A Dedham church is causing controversy over another political statement in their Nativity scene this holiday season.
www.boston25news.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Love it!
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
Historic win! Wagner Moura is the first Latin American Best Actor by the New York Film Critics Circle, and THE SECRET AGENT is named Best International Film. Parabéns, Wagner and Kleber!
Wagner Moura Makes History as First Latin American Best Actor at New York Film Critics Circle — Cinema Tropical
In a landmark moment for Latin American cinema in the United States, Wagner Moura has become the first Latin American performer to win Best Actor from the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC), thanks ...
www.cinematropical.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Historic win! Wagner Moura is the first Latin American Best Actor by the New York Film Critics Circle, and THE SECRET AGENT is named Best International Film. Parabéns, Wagner and Kleber!
The man, the myth, the legend.
Bom dia
December 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The man, the myth, the legend.
A theater that makes it easier for residents of the city's far North side and even Northwest side to access these sorts of films without having to go to Lakeview or downtown is a more than welcome addition.
Rogers Park's New 400 Theaters, once the city's oldest continuously running movie house, is reopening.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/01/r...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/01/r...
December 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
A theater that makes it easier for residents of the city's far North side and even Northwest side to access these sorts of films without having to go to Lakeview or downtown is a more than welcome addition.
Motherfuckers.
Cannes Winner Jafar Panahi Sentenced to a Year in Prison in Iran in Absentia, Lawyer Says
Jafar Panahi has been sentenced in absentia in Iran to one year in prison and a travel ban, according to his lawyer.
variety.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Motherfuckers.
TRAIN DREAMS: It may be too Malickian for its own good, but I couldn't help but see myself in Grainier, a man who hasn't stopped mourning the death of his wife & daughter just as I haven't stopped mourning my sister's passing four years ago. It did also tickle that itch I always have for Americana.
December 1, 2025 at 10:26 PM
TRAIN DREAMS: It may be too Malickian for its own good, but I couldn't help but see myself in Grainier, a man who hasn't stopped mourning the death of his wife & daughter just as I haven't stopped mourning my sister's passing four years ago. It did also tickle that itch I always have for Americana.
The Chicago Latino Film Festival is once again among the finalists for Best Film Festival. The ballot is remarkably simple: it consists of drop down windows per category. It would be nice if we once again ranked among the top three festivals in the city. Vote and share this post with your followers.
Best of Chicago 2025 - Chicago Reader
It's time for the Best of Chicago 2025! The ballot will be open for voting December 1 through December 31, 2025.
chicagoreader.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Chicago Latino Film Festival is once again among the finalists for Best Film Festival. The ballot is remarkably simple: it consists of drop down windows per category. It would be nice if we once again ranked among the top three festivals in the city. Vote and share this post with your followers.
Some trends in Latin American Cinema to keep an eye out for, my fellow film critics and programmers:
More Women Filmmakers and Greater Diversity at Ventana Sur’s Primer Corte, Copia Final Programs (EXCLUSIVE)
Fewer titles from Argentina has made way for more diversity among the entries to Ventana Sur’s Copia Final, Primer Corte industry centerpieces.
variety.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Some trends in Latin American Cinema to keep an eye out for, my fellow film critics and programmers:
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
Creating a military conflict with Venezuela gives this administration a legal "hook" to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. In other words, the foreign war is being manufactured in order to facilitate court deference for its domestic mass deportation policy. It's a Stephen Miller Special.
November 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Creating a military conflict with Venezuela gives this administration a legal "hook" to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. In other words, the foreign war is being manufactured in order to facilitate court deference for its domestic mass deportation policy. It's a Stephen Miller Special.
And THE RUSSIA HOUSE, one of the best film adaptations of a Le Carre novel.
Tom Stoppard. One of the great writers. An epic wordsmith whose craft was such that one only compares themselves to him aspirationally. ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD. SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. BRAZIL. EMPIRE OF THE SUN. BILLY BATHGATE. ANNA KARENINA. Stage, screen, print. A genius. Rest in peace.
Goodbye to the master.
❤️
❤️
November 29, 2025 at 6:04 PM
And THE RUSSIA HOUSE, one of the best film adaptations of a Le Carre novel.
Can 2025 please stop sucking already?
Oscar-winning playwright Tom Stoppard has died at the age of 88.
The Czech-born British playwright wrote the screenplay for 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Academy Award jrnl.ie/6889303
The Czech-born British playwright wrote the screenplay for 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Academy Award jrnl.ie/6889303
Oscar-winning UK playwright Tom Stoppard dies aged 88
The Czech-born British playwright wrote the screenplay for 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Academy Award.
jrnl.ie
November 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Can 2025 please stop sucking already?
Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera
Jesus Christ. JESUS Christ. Jesus CHRIST. Yes, this person is correct, remigration is a white supremacy term for ethnic cleansing, basically. And the Department of Homeland Security, WHICH SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST, just used the term. An official government account. That is...that is beyond fucked.
A reminder for those who are not aware: "remigration" is the process of deporting all non-white people from a country. It includes citizens and is, by definition, ethnic cleansing.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
November 28, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Jesus Christ. JESUS Christ. Jesus CHRIST. Yes, this person is correct, remigration is a white supremacy term for ethnic cleansing, basically. And the Department of Homeland Security, WHICH SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST, just used the term. An official government account. That is...that is beyond fucked.