Josh Parham
@jrparham.bsky.social
I tend to watch a lot of movies. Contributor at Next Best Picture and AwardsWatch. Member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. Massive James Bond fan and Ben Whishaw fanatic. (he/him)
I find myself having a mix of emotions regarding LA BOLA NEGRA. Much of it is beautifully crafted, and its commentary on generational queer identity I found moving. But the narrative’s scope felt too wide and some themes pretty shallow. Liked it but didn’t love it.
September 18, 2026 at 4:20 AM
I find myself having a mix of emotions regarding LA BOLA NEGRA. Much of it is beautifully crafted, and its commentary on generational queer identity I found moving. But the narrative’s scope felt too wide and some themes pretty shallow. Liked it but didn’t love it.
Once again, this year's Chicago International Film Festival lineup is sooo good.
September 17, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Once again, this year's Chicago International Film Festival lineup is sooo good.
I’m finding myself appreciating Austin Abrams
September 16, 2026 at 11:15 PM
I’m finding myself appreciating Austin Abrams
Already looking forward to next year when we’ll celebrate the 20th anniversary for a bunch of exceptional movies.
September 16, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Already looking forward to next year when we’ll celebrate the 20th anniversary for a bunch of exceptional movies.
Saw something about Zack Snyder talking about 300 and calling it pro-gay when I think that movie relies on every homophobic villain trope it can throw at its audience to make you hate the scary foreigners. Actually a deeply evil movie that gets worse the more I think about it.
September 15, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Saw something about Zack Snyder talking about 300 and calling it pro-gay when I think that movie relies on every homophobic villain trope it can throw at its audience to make you hate the scary foreigners. Actually a deeply evil movie that gets worse the more I think about it.
First day back at the gym in nearly two weeks was predictably rough but also necessarily satisfying.
September 15, 2026 at 4:21 PM
First day back at the gym in nearly two weeks was predictably rough but also necessarily satisfying.
Not watching the Emmys but it’s nice to see Jack Lowden there.
September 14, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Not watching the Emmys but it’s nice to see Jack Lowden there.
I was watching some clips of Cesar Romero on the Batman show, and my controversial opinion is that I may prefer his Joker over Jack Nicholson.
September 14, 2026 at 7:21 PM
I was watching some clips of Cesar Romero on the Batman show, and my controversial opinion is that I may prefer his Joker over Jack Nicholson.
Totally forgot that I’ll be seeing La Bola Negra this week!
September 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Totally forgot that I’ll be seeing La Bola Negra this week!
It’s very funny when the moderation filter determines a guy showing a little bit of thigh in his underwear needs to be censored but a full hog will pop up in another post and that gets treated like it’s completely fine.
September 13, 2026 at 8:49 PM
It’s very funny when the moderation filter determines a guy showing a little bit of thigh in his underwear needs to be censored but a full hog will pop up in another post and that gets treated like it’s completely fine.
Making this my new lock screen
September 13, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Making this my new lock screen
Colin Coughlin is such a comfort
September 13, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Colin Coughlin is such a comfort
Woman Unknown has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. You can also read my review of it here: nextbestpicture.com/woman-unknown/
"WOMAN UNKNOWN" - Review
THE STORY – Marie, a former housekeeper, plans an extravagant dinner party for her engagement to the household’s patriarch. As preparations unfold, hidden aspects of her past begin to surface, threate...
nextbestpicture.com
September 12, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Woman Unknown has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. You can also read my review of it here: nextbestpicture.com/woman-unknown/
It's been days later, and I'm still not over this
September 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
It's been days later, and I'm still not over this
My personal top ten from what I saw at Venice:
1. NAZA
2. Wild Horse Nine
3. Possible Love
4. Woman Unknown
5. Queer Edward II
6. The Color of the Sun
7. Union Town
8. Ink
9. Look Back
10. Company
1. NAZA
2. Wild Horse Nine
3. Possible Love
4. Woman Unknown
5. Queer Edward II
6. The Color of the Sun
7. Union Town
8. Ink
9. Look Back
10. Company
September 11, 2026 at 11:18 PM
My personal top ten from what I saw at Venice:
1. NAZA
2. Wild Horse Nine
3. Possible Love
4. Woman Unknown
5. Queer Edward II
6. The Color of the Sun
7. Union Town
8. Ink
9. Look Back
10. Company
1. NAZA
2. Wild Horse Nine
3. Possible Love
4. Woman Unknown
5. Queer Edward II
6. The Color of the Sun
7. Union Town
8. Ink
9. Look Back
10. Company
And that's a wrap on Venice for me! Will admit that the lineup was indeed on the weaker side this year. But that doesn't mean there weren’t good movies seen. And, perhaps even better, good people that I only ever get to see at these festivals. That truly does make it worthwhile.
September 11, 2026 at 8:11 AM
And that's a wrap on Venice for me! Will admit that the lineup was indeed on the weaker side this year. But that doesn't mean there weren’t good movies seen. And, perhaps even better, good people that I only ever get to see at these festivals. That truly does make it worthwhile.
I always want to make sure I'm properly acknowledging the important work he's doing, but I also always to highlight that I think Yuval Abraham is really hot as well.
September 10, 2026 at 9:07 PM
I always want to make sure I'm properly acknowledging the important work he's doing, but I also always to highlight that I think Yuval Abraham is really hot as well.
NAZA is another searing portrait of the genocide being committed in Gaza, one that analyzes the systems that which used for disturbing purposes. The revelations are unnerving but effective in their presentation. An engrossing and sobering document that needs to be witnessed.
September 10, 2026 at 3:29 PM
NAZA is another searing portrait of the genocide being committed in Gaza, one that analyzes the systems that which used for disturbing purposes. The revelations are unnerving but effective in their presentation. An engrossing and sobering document that needs to be witnessed.
THE COLOR OF THE SUN is a subdued coming of age drama that’s quite compelling. Explores intriguing emotional turmoil against a broader national anguish in Japanese culture. Exceptional cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. Tonally reminded me of Ira Sachs’s The Delta.
September 9, 2026 at 3:35 PM
THE COLOR OF THE SUN is a subdued coming of age drama that’s quite compelling. Explores intriguing emotional turmoil against a broader national anguish in Japanese culture. Exceptional cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. Tonally reminded me of Ira Sachs’s The Delta.
BUNKER is sadly yet another laborious effort from Zeller, examining a fragile relationship with the most obvious writing and commentary. Cruz and Bardem give decent performances for surface level material. There’s a line at the end meant to be insightful that I howled laughing.
September 8, 2026 at 10:27 PM
BUNKER is sadly yet another laborious effort from Zeller, examining a fragile relationship with the most obvious writing and commentary. Cruz and Bardem give decent performances for surface level material. There’s a line at the end meant to be insightful that I howled laughing.
ARRESTED MEMORY is an entertaining ride that uses its premise of a cop with amnesia for both humorous and heartbreaking purposes. The narrative weaves threads together in an amusing way, and Ethan Juan is a compelling presence. Momentum wanes but still an engrossing watch.
September 7, 2026 at 9:53 PM
ARRESTED MEMORY is an entertaining ride that uses its premise of a cop with amnesia for both humorous and heartbreaking purposes. The narrative weaves threads together in an amusing way, and Ethan Juan is a compelling presence. Momentum wanes but still an engrossing watch.
LOOK BACK is a charming examination of friendship that is delightfully moving. Korreda’s builds a nice intimacy around the endearing performances at the center. Some dramatic elevations in the plot are less impactful, but there’s an effective sweetness that remains in the end.
September 7, 2026 at 3:39 PM
LOOK BACK is a charming examination of friendship that is delightfully moving. Korreda’s builds a nice intimacy around the endearing performances at the center. Some dramatic elevations in the plot are less impactful, but there’s an effective sweetness that remains in the end.
I'll have more to say about Arrested Memory later, but for now, I just want to highlight a discovery: its lead actor Ethan Juan.
September 7, 2026 at 2:29 PM
I'll have more to say about Arrested Memory later, but for now, I just want to highlight a discovery: its lead actor Ethan Juan.
This Italian guy came up to a group I was in and said he was a fan of the site and my work, which was very flattering and also he was soooo hot.
September 7, 2026 at 12:12 PM
This Italian guy came up to a group I was in and said he was a fan of the site and my work, which was very flattering and also he was soooo hot.
It was The Echo Chamber. Mostly, it’s just a dull drama about relationships and addiction with no real reason to care about the two leads outside of them being hot. The last twenty minutes take an insane turn. Genuinely baffling. Luca Marinelli still gorgeous, though.
September 6, 2026 at 10:21 PM
It was The Echo Chamber. Mostly, it’s just a dull drama about relationships and addiction with no real reason to care about the two leads outside of them being hot. The last twenty minutes take an insane turn. Genuinely baffling. Luca Marinelli still gorgeous, though.