As the year winds to a close, we’re sharing lists of our favorite films we’ve seen (so far).
Year: 2025
EOY Catch Up: The Testament of Ann Lee is more musical adventure than religious awakening
In this fascinating journey of one woman and her pivotal role in bringing the Shaker religion to the United States.
Morgen’s Favorite Films of 2025
Late into the year I kept thinking to myself that I really hadn’t been floored by any one film. In the past I had one or two that I held onto as I saw them and could at least say “Yes, this one will definitely be on my list” but for some reason a lot of films fell flat for me this year. There were some contenders at SIFF of course, the sheer volume and diversity made that possible. Then, as the year neared its end, out came the the stars and I am left, yet again, with some tough decisions to make. Below are what I came up with, but I’ll probably wish I could change it again tomorrow.
Marty Supreme dreams big and delivers
Marty Supreme (2025 | USA | 150 minutes | Josh Safdie) From an explosive introduction — complete with a vibrant Alphaville-scored health …
Paul Feig’s The Housemaid finds Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried entangled in a domestic thriller
The Housemaid delivers twists is over-the-top and dramatic, but director Paul Feig, working with a script by Rebecca Sonnenshine manages to fill the film with humor, cleverness, and a refreshingly feminist message.
Seattle Film Critics name One Battle After Another best film of 2025
This afternoon, the Seattle Film Critics Society (which counts a few of us as members) announced nominations for the 2025 SFCS Awards. Dominating the nominations was Ryan Coogler’s Sinners with fourteen, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another with twelve, and Clint Bentley’s Pacific Northwest-set Train Dreams with eight.
Ella McCay is a lighter look at the dirty world of politics
Ella McCay (Emma Mackey), from the time she had a voice of her own, stood up for the people who wouldn’t or couldn’t stand up for themselves. She’s had a fire inside that pushed her, unfortunately, to become a civil servant, but she seemed to love it… most of the time. Add a husband that had potential but made the decision to walk the other way, a boss who cared more about himself than his constituents or staff, and a father that shouldn’t have become a father. Every man in her life proved over and over that she couldn’t depend on anyone to help her so she just had to help herself.
Notes from the Screener Pile: My Undesirable Friends, The Secret Agent, Resurrection
In this dispatch a trio of very long movies about life under authoritarianism: prescient, reflective, and futuristic.
Elf: The Musical ushers in the most wonderful time of the year at the 5th Avenue Theatre
But the concept of a thirty-something Will Ferrell playing an, uhh, elf, too large and too human for the North Pole being left alone in New York with only a sweet tooth that requires bidaily dental visits and a snow globe in search of the father who doesn’t know he exists, and that father is Sonny Corleone, is basically too irresistible to fail.
Josh’s Favorite Films of 2025
As the year winds to a close, we’re sharing lists of our favorite films we’ve seen (so far).