Tom Brueggemann
@tombrueggemann.bsky.social
Palm Springs/ex-IndieWire writer, Substack now/ex-film buyer in Chicago, New York, LA/world traveler, baseball (Cubs) fan/recovering cinephile/voracious reader /caregiver to 2 older bonded dogs/Northwestern U grad/political junkie
This just leaps off the page - LATimes article on murder of wife of agrobiz titan: The Abattis are among the largest landowners in the Imperial Valley. They’re also among the region’s largest water users, in 2022 using more water than the entire Las Vegas metropolitan area. (How is this possible?)
December 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
This just leaps off the page - LATimes article on murder of wife of agrobiz titan: The Abattis are among the largest landowners in the Imperial Valley. They’re also among the region’s largest water users, in 2022 using more water than the entire Las Vegas metropolitan area. (How is this possible?)
It likely has little relevance, but in the chat about Trump's role in the Netflix/WB deal, don't think to the extent it is important that it might not be good for theaters matters to him. He tore down the WH theater in the East Wing! I imagine he & his family watch movies via TV screen or laptop.
December 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
It likely has little relevance, but in the chat about Trump's role in the Netflix/WB deal, don't think to the extent it is important that it might not be good for theaters matters to him. He tore down the WH theater in the East Wing! I imagine he & his family watch movies via TV screen or laptop.
Loads to talk about this week, so later than usual, sorry... open.substack.com/pub/tombrueg...
'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' Starts December with a $63 Million Bang
An active specialized field includes some top 10 placers, plus big New York debut for "Rosemead" with Lucy Liu.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Loads to talk about this week, so later than usual, sorry... open.substack.com/pub/tombrueg...
Haven't seen mentioned: for all of the Ellisons' inside Trump connections, remember that John Malone, the real #1 at WBDiscovery, is also very tight with MAGA circles. This is something to keep an eye on.
December 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Haven't seen mentioned: for all of the Ellisons' inside Trump connections, remember that John Malone, the real #1 at WBDiscovery, is also very tight with MAGA circles. This is something to keep an eye on.
There are many reasons to ? the Netflix/WB deal. But included should be some context: Netflix is making more good movies than Par or David Ellison has (Rush Hour 4?); they makes comedies, films w female characters more than anyone; & post-theatrical revenue fuels riskier films.
December 5, 2025 at 5:33 PM
There are many reasons to ? the Netflix/WB deal. But included should be some context: Netflix is making more good movies than Par or David Ellison has (Rush Hour 4?); they makes comedies, films w female characters more than anyone; & post-theatrical revenue fuels riskier films.
Just checked - for 2025 among wide releases, WB has averaged a 35 day window, slightly above the industry average (which makes sense since they've had a bunch of big hits). The industry average is about 33 days.
December 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Just checked - for 2025 among wide releases, WB has averaged a 35 day window, slightly above the industry average (which makes sense since they've had a bunch of big hits). The industry average is about 33 days.
It just gets more insane - Nat'l Parks have several holidays with free admittance. They just dropped MLK Birthday & Juneteenth; but added June 14th, which they designate as Flag Day/President Trump's Birthday.
December 5, 2025 at 5:49 AM
It just gets more insane - Nat'l Parks have several holidays with free admittance. They just dropped MLK Birthday & Juneteenth; but added June 14th, which they designate as Flag Day/President Trump's Birthday.
It was Bloomberg that first reported this; Hollywood Reporter now confirms (the WB acceptance of Netflix's offer). There is still the fear than Paramount may yet buy CNN; if not, it might be some other right wing billionaire.
December 5, 2025 at 4:50 AM
It was Bloomberg that first reported this; Hollywood Reporter now confirms (the WB acceptance of Netflix's offer). There is still the fear than Paramount may yet buy CNN; if not, it might be some other right wing billionaire.
Wow. Deadline reports that Netflix now owns the studio part of Warner Bros., winning the bid. Concerning, sure, but better than Paramount. This is seismic.
December 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Wow. Deadline reports that Netflix now owns the studio part of Warner Bros., winning the bid. Concerning, sure, but better than Paramount. This is seismic.
As usual, the NYTimes, which gives huge coverage to the Golden Globes, much to the Critics' Choice bogus awards, a long article on the Gothams today, has zero in print (nat'l edition) or online about the NY Film Critics. I know their writers aren't able to join, but WTF?
December 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
As usual, the NYTimes, which gives huge coverage to the Golden Globes, much to the Critics' Choice bogus awards, a long article on the Gothams today, has zero in print (nat'l edition) or online about the NY Film Critics. I know their writers aren't able to join, but WTF?
Reposted by Tom Brueggemann
My day and discussion with beloved Udo from 2014 when we drove around the desert and talked ... and went to thrift stores. And more: thesunsetgun.com/2025/11/25/t...
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 AM
My day and discussion with beloved Udo from 2014 when we drove around the desert and talked ... and went to thrift stores. And more: thesunsetgun.com/2025/11/25/t...
Reposted by Tom Brueggemann
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Epstein discharge petition news: NJ Gov-elect Mikie Sheriff is going to resign from the House shortly, which mean the election is earlier & vacancy shorter in winter. It means 1 less member name on the petition. Thus crucial for all on list now to stay. (Dems will have 2nd new member from TX also).
November 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Epstein discharge petition news: NJ Gov-elect Mikie Sheriff is going to resign from the House shortly, which mean the election is earlier & vacancy shorter in winter. It means 1 less member name on the petition. Thus crucial for all on list now to stay. (Dems will have 2nd new member from TX also).
I do think there's more than a non zero chance JD Vance is involved w leaking Epstein emails. 1 consideration - he may not want to become POTUS before 1/20/27. Why? Because before then he can serve only 1 more term. After, then 2 (10 year max for a president if already in office).
November 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I do think there's more than a non zero chance JD Vance is involved w leaking Epstein emails. 1 consideration - he may not want to become POTUS before 1/20/27. Why? Because before then he can serve only 1 more term. After, then 2 (10 year max for a president if already in office).
So Pope Leo lists It's a Wonderful Life as one of his four favorite movies? Funfact: the Legion of Decency, the official US Catholic church movie board, issued a "Condemned" rating for it in 1946.
November 12, 2025 at 3:00 AM
So Pope Leo lists It's a Wonderful Life as one of his four favorite movies? Funfact: the Legion of Decency, the official US Catholic church movie board, issued a "Condemned" rating for it in 1946.
Yes, I hate the capitulation & cowardice, & yes the 8 + Schumer deserve scorn, but moving forward - the Repubs have a worse problem ahead (this is not a bad piece from CNN). In a nutshell - the Rs now 100% own the health insurance/care issue. www.aol.com/news/trump-s...
Trump’s shutdown win just landed Republicans with a huge political headache
Trump and Republicans now own the issue of health care, with millions of citizens afflicted by rising premiums and high deductibles amid a wider cost-of-living crisis. Trump lacks a comprehensive plan...
www.aol.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Yes, I hate the capitulation & cowardice, & yes the 8 + Schumer deserve scorn, but moving forward - the Repubs have a worse problem ahead (this is not a bad piece from CNN). In a nutshell - the Rs now 100% own the health insurance/care issue. www.aol.com/news/trump-s...
Reading a 1954 novel (George Simenon's The Brothers Rico). The lead character buys a plane ticket from NYC to San Diego (I imagine not nonstop, prop plane). It costs $162. In 2025 terms, that's nearly $2000. One way, cross country. That was normal then.
November 11, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Reading a 1954 novel (George Simenon's The Brothers Rico). The lead character buys a plane ticket from NYC to San Diego (I imagine not nonstop, prop plane). It costs $162. In 2025 terms, that's nearly $2000. One way, cross country. That was normal then.
