Jared Mobarak
@jaredmobarak.com
Graphic Designer • Rotten Tomatoes-Approved Critic: @thefilmstage.com & heyhaveyouseen.com • Art Director: cultivatecinema.com (RIP) • Member: @ofcs.bsky.social & @gwnyfilmcritics.com • Curates @cinematicfbombs.com
Buffalo, NY • jaredmobarak.com • 🇱🇧
Buffalo, NY • jaredmobarak.com • 🇱🇧
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Jared Mobarak
@jaredmobarak.com
· Jan 6
Jared Mobarak’s Top 10 Films of 2024
Following The Film Stage’s collective top 50 films of 2024, as part of our year-end coverage, our contributors are sharing their personal top 10 lists. Besides my annual trip to the Toronto Internatio...
thefilmstage.com
Still working through my watchlist, but confident it will take a lot to knock any out of this line-up.
I go long on only seeing two on the big screen (the industry's choice, not mine) and brief on each film.
My Top Ten of 2024 at @thefilmstage.bsky.social:
thefilmstage.com/jared-mobara...
I go long on only seeing two on the big screen (the industry's choice, not mine) and brief on each film.
My Top Ten of 2024 at @thefilmstage.bsky.social:
thefilmstage.com/jared-mobara...
Reposted by Jared Mobarak
SAVE THE DATE: The nominees for our 2025 GWNYFCA Awards will be announced next Wednesday, December 24th starting around 10am.
#GWNYFCA2025 #filmsky #awardsseason #fyc
#GWNYFCA2025 #filmsky #awardsseason #fyc
December 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
SAVE THE DATE: The nominees for our 2025 GWNYFCA Awards will be announced next Wednesday, December 24th starting around 10am.
#GWNYFCA2025 #filmsky #awardsseason #fyc
#GWNYFCA2025 #filmsky #awardsseason #fyc
Reposted by Jared Mobarak
Latest newsletter is out with thoughts on:
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
Week Ending 12/19/25
GWNYFCA Nominations next week
www.heyhaveyouseen.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Latest newsletter is out with thoughts on:
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
Latest newsletter is out with thoughts on:
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
Week Ending 12/19/25
GWNYFCA Nominations next week
www.heyhaveyouseen.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Latest newsletter is out with thoughts on:
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
• Hedda (Prime)
• Is This Thing On? (limited)
• Predators (Paramount+)
• Rental Family (theaters)
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (limited)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen #filmsky
December 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Zaslav is VERY good at his job. His job (expanding shareholder wealth) is just not what his job used to/should be (fostering the creation of great art).
"Zaslav will receive $30 million in "Golden Parachute' compensation along with $537 million in equity for a total of $567 million in a transaction-associated pay."
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
half a billion dollars for being terrible at your job
Warner Bros. Golden Parachutes Revealed: What David Zaslav and C-Suite Will Get In a Deal
The CEO stands to gain $567 million if a deal is sealed to sell the WB empire while longtime lieutenant Gunnar Wiedenfels will see $144 million in cash and stock considerations if a transaction close...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Zaslav is VERY good at his job. His job (expanding shareholder wealth) is just not what his job used to/should be (fostering the creation of great art).
I think I'll be able to fit in four more movies before submitting my @gwnyfilmcritics.com nomination ballot Friday night. These are the ones I'm targeting:
• HEDDA
• TRAIN DREAMS
• THE PLAGUE
• SORRY, BABY
Trying to pick those on my watchlist that might need a push: letterboxd.com/jaredmobarak...
• HEDDA
• TRAIN DREAMS
• THE PLAGUE
• SORRY, BABY
Trying to pick those on my watchlist that might need a push: letterboxd.com/jaredmobarak...
Jared Mobarak’s Watchlist
Jared Mobarak’s Watchlist
letterboxd.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:57 AM
I think I'll be able to fit in four more movies before submitting my @gwnyfilmcritics.com nomination ballot Friday night. These are the ones I'm targeting:
• HEDDA
• TRAIN DREAMS
• THE PLAGUE
• SORRY, BABY
Trying to pick those on my watchlist that might need a push: letterboxd.com/jaredmobarak...
• HEDDA
• TRAIN DREAMS
• THE PLAGUE
• SORRY, BABY
Trying to pick those on my watchlist that might need a push: letterboxd.com/jaredmobarak...
Sad, but unsurprising. Went a lot when Dipson ran it and showed arthouse fare (Pedro retrospective, Cremaster series, Crispin Glover visit) and went a fair amount when I had AMC Stubs pre-pandemic for titles not at Maple Ridge.
I think I've only gone to downtown events three times total since 2020.
I think I've only gone to downtown events three times total since 2020.
The AMC movie theater at the Market Arcade downtown will close by the end of the year, as ticket sales and patron traffic still haven't recovered from the pandemic and
Market Arcade AMC theater to close at year's end
The AMC movie theater at the Market Arcade downtown will close by the end of the year, as ticket sales and patron traffic still haven't recovered from the pandemic and
buffalonews.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Sad, but unsurprising. Went a lot when Dipson ran it and showed arthouse fare (Pedro retrospective, Cremaster series, Crispin Glover visit) and went a fair amount when I had AMC Stubs pre-pandemic for titles not at Maple Ridge.
I think I've only gone to downtown events three times total since 2020.
I think I've only gone to downtown events three times total since 2020.
I’ve seen all BUT four on the International shortlist but I’ve only SEEN four on the Documentary shortlist. Quite the discrepancy.
And here I thought I’ve been keeping up with most of the big name doc titles. Time to fire up the queue.
And here I thought I’ve been keeping up with most of the big name doc titles. Time to fire up the queue.
December 17, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I’ve seen all BUT four on the International shortlist but I’ve only SEEN four on the Documentary shortlist. Quite the discrepancy.
And here I thought I’ve been keeping up with most of the big name doc titles. Time to fire up the queue.
And here I thought I’ve been keeping up with most of the big name doc titles. Time to fire up the queue.
I will say this about MARTY SUPREME:
It made me wonder whether Chalamet's Golden Globes-winning speech was a Joaquin Phoenix I'M STILL HERE type performance in character as Marty Mauser or if Josh Safdie cast him in the role because he knew it was his literal wheelhouse.
It made me wonder whether Chalamet's Golden Globes-winning speech was a Joaquin Phoenix I'M STILL HERE type performance in character as Marty Mauser or if Josh Safdie cast him in the role because he knew it was his literal wheelhouse.
December 17, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I will say this about MARTY SUPREME:
It made me wonder whether Chalamet's Golden Globes-winning speech was a Joaquin Phoenix I'M STILL HERE type performance in character as Marty Mauser or if Josh Safdie cast him in the role because he knew it was his literal wheelhouse.
It made me wonder whether Chalamet's Golden Globes-winning speech was a Joaquin Phoenix I'M STILL HERE type performance in character as Marty Mauser or if Josh Safdie cast him in the role because he knew it was his literal wheelhouse.
PREDATORS feels like more of a primer to its motivations than a successful execution of them, but it asks all the right questions.
boxd.it/c31o3t
boxd.it/c31o3t
A ★★★½ review of Predators (2025)
"Understanding is not a goal of the show." This is a fascinating look at the motivations behind turning real life into entertainment and the inherent exploitation a lack of nuance guarantees to inevit...
boxd.it
December 14, 2025 at 6:34 PM
PREDATORS feels like more of a primer to its motivations than a successful execution of them, but it asks all the right questions.
boxd.it/c31o3t
boxd.it/c31o3t
Insane
Today in “Dudes Rock”:
A dude playing Dire Straits’s “Sultans of Swing” guitar solo on…a recorder.
A dude playing Dire Straits’s “Sultans of Swing” guitar solo on…a recorder.
December 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Insane
Reposted by Jared Mobarak
What's your favorite poster for a December new release?
@jaredmobarak.com examines the poster art of the month: thefilmstage.com/posterized-d...
@jaredmobarak.com examines the poster art of the month: thefilmstage.com/posterized-d...
December 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
What's your favorite poster for a December new release?
@jaredmobarak.com examines the poster art of the month: thefilmstage.com/posterized-d...
@jaredmobarak.com examines the poster art of the month: thefilmstage.com/posterized-d...
My latest newsletter is out with thoughts on:
• Dust Bunny (wide)
• La grazia (lim)
• Hamnet (wide)
• It Was Just an Accident (lim)
• The Long Walk (VOD)
• Resurrection (lim)
• The Secret Agent (lim)
• Sentimental Value (lim)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen
• Dust Bunny (wide)
• La grazia (lim)
• Hamnet (wide)
• It Was Just an Accident (lim)
• The Long Walk (VOD)
• Resurrection (lim)
• The Secret Agent (lim)
• Sentimental Value (lim)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen
Week Ending 12/12/25
2025 in music
www.heyhaveyouseen.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
My latest newsletter is out with thoughts on:
• Dust Bunny (wide)
• La grazia (lim)
• Hamnet (wide)
• It Was Just an Accident (lim)
• The Long Walk (VOD)
• Resurrection (lim)
• The Secret Agent (lim)
• Sentimental Value (lim)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen
• Dust Bunny (wide)
• La grazia (lim)
• Hamnet (wide)
• It Was Just an Accident (lim)
• The Long Walk (VOD)
• Resurrection (lim)
• The Secret Agent (lim)
• Sentimental Value (lim)
www.heyhaveyouseen.com/week-ending-...
#heyhaveyouseen
Did Stuart Skinner lose the Stanley Cup for the Oilers the past two years? No. But he didn't necessarily help either.
Would the Oilers have gotten to those Stanley Cup Finals without Skinner the past two years? No. He stole playoff games.
Has Tristan Jarry ever done ANYTHING in the playoffs? No.
Would the Oilers have gotten to those Stanley Cup Finals without Skinner the past two years? No. He stole playoff games.
Has Tristan Jarry ever done ANYTHING in the playoffs? No.
December 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Did Stuart Skinner lose the Stanley Cup for the Oilers the past two years? No. But he didn't necessarily help either.
Would the Oilers have gotten to those Stanley Cup Finals without Skinner the past two years? No. He stole playoff games.
Has Tristan Jarry ever done ANYTHING in the playoffs? No.
Would the Oilers have gotten to those Stanley Cup Finals without Skinner the past two years? No. He stole playoff games.
Has Tristan Jarry ever done ANYTHING in the playoffs? No.
Always a great list compiled by a wide-ranging group of critics. Happy to see five of my preliminary Top Ten are included alongside many titles I still need to catch.
I wrote a bit about THE SPARROW IN THE CHIMNEY, which just made the cut at #50. Glad I wasn't the only one who included it.
I wrote a bit about THE SPARROW IN THE CHIMNEY, which just made the cut at #50. Glad I wasn't the only one who included it.
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Always a great list compiled by a wide-ranging group of critics. Happy to see five of my preliminary Top Ten are included alongside many titles I still need to catch.
I wrote a bit about THE SPARROW IN THE CHIMNEY, which just made the cut at #50. Glad I wasn't the only one who included it.
I wrote a bit about THE SPARROW IN THE CHIMNEY, which just made the cut at #50. Glad I wasn't the only one who included it.
Former Ridley Scott disciple. Everyone saying he’s best known for RONIN 47 and forgetting about the “Parallel Lines” short film inclusion THE GIFT.
A Hollywood director was convicted on charges that he scammed Netflix out of $11 million for a show that never materialized, while he instead used the cash for lavish purchases that included several Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari and about $1 million in mattresses and luxury bedding.
Director convicted of scamming $11 million from Netflix and going on lavish spending spree
Carl Erik Rinsch, best known for directing the film “47 Ronin,” was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and other charges.
nbcnews.to
December 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Former Ridley Scott disciple. Everyone saying he’s best known for RONIN 47 and forgetting about the “Parallel Lines” short film inclusion THE GIFT.
From the press kit of ORDINARY PEOPLE:
Directed by Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, and Elizabeth McGovern.
#filmsky
Directed by Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, and Elizabeth McGovern.
#filmsky
December 12, 2025 at 1:33 AM
From the press kit of ORDINARY PEOPLE:
Directed by Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, and Elizabeth McGovern.
#filmsky
Directed by Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, and Elizabeth McGovern.
#filmsky
Reposted by Jared Mobarak
Company known for going after Etsy sellers making iron on sweatshirts without a licensing agreement says you know what? Fuck it let’s do fanfic
Disney and OpenAI sign a deal to bring 200+ Disney characters to Sora
Disney makes $1 billion investment in OpenAI and will become a "major" OpenAI customer
openai.com/index/disney...
Disney makes $1 billion investment in OpenAI and will become a "major" OpenAI customer
openai.com/index/disney...
December 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Company known for going after Etsy sellers making iron on sweatshirts without a licensing agreement says you know what? Fuck it let’s do fanfic
The script for THE LONG WALK isn’t as deep as it wishes it were (King was in his twenties when he began writing the source novel after all), but the performances are so good that you almost believe it is.
boxd.it/c0mPwH
boxd.it/c0mPwH
A ★★★½ review of The Long Walk (2025)
"Vengeance is not enough." Last I checked, Stephen King wrote The Long Walk well before both The Hunger Games and Battle Royale debuted. So, how come Quentin Tarantino doesn't have anything to say abo...
boxd.it
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
The script for THE LONG WALK isn’t as deep as it wishes it were (King was in his twenties when he began writing the source novel after all), but the performances are so good that you almost believe it is.
boxd.it/c0mPwH
boxd.it/c0mPwH
New double feature idea:
Damien Chazelle's FIRST MAN
Chloé Zhao's HAMNET
Damien Chazelle's FIRST MAN
Chloé Zhao's HAMNET
December 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
New double feature idea:
Damien Chazelle's FIRST MAN
Chloé Zhao's HAMNET
Damien Chazelle's FIRST MAN
Chloé Zhao's HAMNET
Another great international film in a year chock full of them. A deserved Palme d'Or win, but IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT also delivers one of the best acting ensembles of the year.
boxd.it/bY6ACv
boxd.it/bY6ACv
A ★★★★ review of It Was Just an Accident (2025)
"I have a doubt." To have shot this movie in secret is truly the big story here. That and the Palme d'Or win. Because it's not just about hidden cameras and night scenes in the desert. It's also the l...
boxd.it
December 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Another great international film in a year chock full of them. A deserved Palme d'Or win, but IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT also delivers one of the best acting ensembles of the year.
boxd.it/bY6ACv
boxd.it/bY6ACv
Reposted by Jared Mobarak
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Just watched LA GRAZIA. A real delight … and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t generally vibe with Paolo Sorrentino beyond his great visual style.
I'm putting Milvia Marigliano in the top Supporting Actress slot on all my awards ballots.
I'm putting Milvia Marigliano in the top Supporting Actress slot on all my awards ballots.
December 7, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Just watched LA GRAZIA. A real delight … and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t generally vibe with Paolo Sorrentino beyond his great visual style.
I'm putting Milvia Marigliano in the top Supporting Actress slot on all my awards ballots.
I'm putting Milvia Marigliano in the top Supporting Actress slot on all my awards ballots.