I’m very excited about this year in movies, both what I’ve already seen and what’s to come, but I wanted to indulge in a little negativity before I get to the good stuff.
One of the most upsetting cinematic trends of the past 15 years is the Disney live-action remake, wherein the Mouse House picks over the bones of its beloved animated classics and turns them into soulless cash grabs devoid of artistic merit.
I know I recently spent nearly two months writing about the movies of 2025, but please indulge me for one more week of film talk.
Unlike most years, which see forgettable movies dumped in the first quarter, 2026 has started off with a bang. I wanted to write a bit about the best start to a movie year in recent memory and throw out some other odds and ends while I’m at it.
I’ll start with a look back at a truly great Oscars ceremony (not the show itself, which was decent, but the results).
The week of March 29, 1986, found two very 80s hits atop the Billboard Hot 100 in Falco’s ‘Rock Me Amadeus‘ and Heart’s ‘These Dreams,’ both of which have already been featured on the blog.
Just behind those tracks that week was R&B band Atlantic Starr’s hit ‘Secret Lovers,’ which peaked at #3. It’s a sign of my lifelong blindspot for R&B music that I can confidently say I’ve never heard this song before.
Throwing back to the week of March 28, 1976, we find Jonnie Taylor atop the Billboard Hot 100 with the sultry funk ballad ‘Disco Lady.’
This song spent a full month at #1 on its way to being named the #3 song of all 1976. It has the distinction of being the first single designated Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The final three 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees come in the Musical Excellence category, which is reserved for lesser-known talents who have little chance of making it in via a ballot. These entrants are inducted into the Hall by a special committee.
This year’s Musical Excellence additions are Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, and Thom Bell. And if those names are new to you, that’s why they made it in this way.
Meet Me In Montauk 