The Film Maven Recommends For April 2025
Something old, something blue, something classic, and something new
This post is free but it’s worth it to become a paid member of The Film Maven community! Paid subscribers are the backbone of The Film Maven and becoming one shows support for independent journalism, as well as female- and disabled-created content. It also allows me to write really fun articles. And becoming a paid subscriber gives you access to The Trade, my examination and exploration of topics in the entertainment industry, my Popcorn Disability articles on disabled representation in film, and more. I also cross post these over at The Film Maven Patreon where you can subscribe, at the same price, without supporting Substack itself. Subscribe and show your support for independent journalism.
Also, with tariffs set to ruin everything I’m currently giving readers a 2-week free trial of the paid membership. Hopefully this gives you a good idea of the work we’re doing. Paid memberships allow me to hire freelance writers and do more in-depth content. Use this link to take advantage of my F*** Tariffs deal and redeem your free trial.
Wow, was April a whirlwind month! My deadline for my next book, But Have You Read the Book Vol. 2 is coming soon so that meant a lot of book reading and movie watching (though, sadly, just one book made the best of the month list). And this past weekend I spent watching movies as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival. Oh, and the movie theater finally shook the dust off itself because we have several new releases I’m still talking about weeks later. It’s time to dive into the month that was!
Nobody’s Fool (1994)
I’m slowly wending my way through Paul Newman’s filmography and made time for this 1994 drama. Newman plays the selfish Donald Sullivan, a man content to go through life pulling pranks and being a loner. But things change when his estranged son returns to town, carrying a host of problems new and old of his own. Maybe because of my own background but I’m a fan of the “bad dad” genre and Newman made it an art form. The way he plays Sully is as a man tormented by the ghosts of his own past and his own relationship with his dad. He desperately assumed his methods would fix his son, only to see that that’s not the case. It’s such a warm, gregarious performance that only Newman could bring. And it’s complemented by a host of other cozy supporting performances from the likes of Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis and Jessica Tandy. This is a comfort film at its finest and Newman was still able to charm the pants off man and woman alike.
The Accountant 2 (2025)
From my review: The Accountant 2 is another highly outlandish actioner but when it doesn’t take itself seriously it’s vastly entertaining. Affleck and Bernthal should continue to make movies together because their rapport is infectious and funny. The autism plotline still doesn’t work and the plot is far more nonsensical than the first go-round, but you’ll remember The Accountant 2 far more than the first.
Who knew completely ignoring the first film would actually be to this one’s benefit? I have found numerous reasons to bring up this movie since I watched it.
One to One: John and Yoko (2024)
I’m planning a more longform, in-depth exploration of why this movie is so special to me but, in short, it’s a documentary that is more than only being about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It’s not even necessarily about them, but more their One to One concert. Using that concert, director Kevin MacDonald deconstructs the couple’s image as well as the political turmoil of the time period. This is a marvel of editing, and there are several amazing sequences wherein war footage is intercut with commercials to illustrate how people continued to live their lives as atrocities were being committed, both here and abroad. It spoke to so much about how I’m feeling today regarding politics and entertainment. This is a must-see movie!
Sinners (2025)
From my review: Sinners is a movie that isn’t afraid to go for broke. This is a movie that has so many singing performances it’s officially a musical. (Also, as I said online, this movie is a great proof of concept for a Ryan Coogler-directed adaptation of Hadestown.) It’s weird — it’s got an extended step-dancing scene — and it’s horny. It’s brash. It’s exciting. Sinners is everything!
(I love how my Instagram algorithm is exclusively Sinners content these days.)
Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (1938)
This was a Criterion expire and what a fun one to watch! Director Ernest Lubitsch isn’t my favorite (gasp) but he knows his way around a wacky comic situation. Gary Cooper plays Michael Brandon, a hopeless romantic who drops women who don’t hold his interest. This has caused him to be married and divorced seven times. Enter Nicole De Loiselle (Claudette Colbert), the woman determined to be the last Mrs. Brandon. I didn’t love this as much as Midnight (my big discovery last month), but it’s another solid Colbert comedy. Gary Cooper is always good at playing a lummox, though I’ll still never like him and he knows why!
The Big Combo (1955)
As I mentioned, I spent the last weekend attending the 16th annual TCM Classic Film Festival. I saw 8 movies, mostly rewatches, but I’m so happy I made a last-minute change and decided to see the one new to me movie, 1955’s The Big Combo. This is a police thriller noir about a detective (Cornel Wilde) who attempts to take down a brash crime boss known only as Mr. Brown (Richard Conte). This was Wilde’s passion project and while he’s still duller than paint, the movie is so crackling and breathless in its pacing he works to provide an anchor. Really, though, The Big Combo works best for how subversive it is for 1955. Conte’s Brown is a loudmouth control freak, but he has such a potent magnetism to him. And his henchmen, Fante and Mingo (Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman, respectively) are definitely a couple! If this is ever on TCM you should definitely sit down and watch it.
Thunderbolts* (2025)
From my review: For all its flaws, Thunderbolts* is one of the stronger Marvel entities to come out in awhile and certainly the best of the year so far. Pugh and Harbour keep things afloat, while the ensemble nature is a lot of fun. This ain’t winning any Oscars but it understands what’s ailing us. Sponsored by Shane’s Tires (iykyk).
Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard
I read a lot of books this month but my first Elmore Leonard novel (gasp again) was fantastic! If you’ve seen Steven Soderbergh’s 1998 movie of the same name, the story is near identical. But where Soderbergh made a bubbly crime rom-com, Leonard is pure noir. There’s a darkness and tension to the story that’s absent from the movie. I consumed this book and I’m so glad I did.
What movies or books stuck with you throughout the month of April? Leave them in the comments below.