Tom Hall
@tomhall
Artistic Director Montclair Film Cinemas + Festival Husband, Dad, U of Mich & Flint Central alum, LFC, Swag 4 Life for WFMU, true believer in empathy. backrowmanifesto.substack.com
THE DIRECTOR- Unsparing portrait of the way in which art seeks to subvert fascism by “getting by” as the world descends into authoritarianism. A devastating fictionalization of the filmmaking career of G.W. Pabst after a series of catastrophic miscalculations finds him and his family co-opted…
Congrats to Spike Lee, our 2025 Montclair Film Festival Honoree, on this Knicks title! He called it back in October at our festival! You define Knicks fandom... enjoy, king! 👑 (📸 by Neil Grabowsky for Montclair Film)
Congrats New York City! Love this city, loving the joy that brought everyone together tonight. Knicks deserve this one, Knicks fans deserve it, Brunson GOATed in NYC 4ever. 🧡💙
Best #USMNT performance that I have ever seen? Certainly in a World Cup! Tactics, positional discipline, circulating the ball quickly, passing forward into space, tackles, runs, finishing... what team was this? Amazing game, I've waited forever to see that, did not expect it! Poch delivered! 🙌
My 2026 World Cup Fantasy team Prediction: Portugal? Why is no one talking about them?
First time out of the house in 2.5 weeks? New knee brace? Bought a seat just for my leg? Must be another Joe McGinty & The Losers Lounge show Joe's Pub, this time celebrating the music of Duran Duran! Amazing performances & arrangements, an absolutely great show! See you again soon, Losers!
So my #Cannes ended early as I tore my quad tendon on the exit steps of the Lumière Theater just as I was about to exit. Surgery yesterday, lovely Drs and staff, pain, weeks in a cast, months of rehab ahead. But I am grateful for all of the support & kindness. Back home Friday… can’t wait for home.
My (last!) Day 8 at the 2026 #Cannes Film Festival: THE UNKNOWN by Arthur Harari FJORD by Cristian Mungiu MINOTAUR by Andri Zvyagintsev & if I am feeling up to it LAND AND FREEDOM by Ken Loach on the beach, simply because that is a one time opportunity for cognitive dissonance I cannot pass up.
Victoria Luengo is excellent in THE BELOVED, or as I will now be calling her, España Taylor-Joy. Dad joke brain aside, she is terrific in the film & should be in the conversation for the award here. #Cannes2026
My Day 5 at the 2026 #Cannes Film Festival: SHANA by Lila Pinell GENTLE MONSTER by Marie Kreutzer SHEEP IN THE BOX by Hirokazu Koreeda HEIMSUCHUNG (VISITATION) by Volker Schlöndorff Halfway through my festival time, and love being here with so many film loving people from around the world.
My Day 3 of the 2026 #CannesFilmFestival : A WOMAN’S LIFE by Charline Bourgeoise-Tacquet GABIN by Maxence Voiseux PARALLEL TALES by Asghar Farhadi 🤵♂️ Tuxedo is ready for tonight! Very enjoyable festival so far…
My Day 2 of the 2026 #CannesFilmFestival: BUTTERFLY JAM by Kantemir Balagov NAGI NOTES by Koji Fukada I might rush something else, we'll see...
Brilliant return after 30+ years for SUGAR tonight… deep cuts, rarities, and hits! FORTUNE TELLER! JC AUTO! CAN’T HELP YOU ANYMORE! TILTED! A *ton* of B-sides. Insane set list & the energy onstage was so overwhelming, I think Malcom fainted mid-song on CLOWNMASTER (which, whuut?) Unforgettable show.
Seeing SUGAR tonight & tomorrow for the first time in 30+ years. Can’t wait to hear @bobmouldmusic.bsky.social bring the thunder to NYC! A few keepsakes of mine from past shows, just to prove how old I am…🤣
Great performance tonight from Julia Cumming & her band, debuting songs from her new album JULIA. They sounded amazing and really captured the textures of the album in a live setting. Catch Julia when you can and get this record in your ears… so great!
...to be profoundly interesting & moving. There is something "primal" about them in particular that is about our limitations & how it ties to our own innocence. That is worth grappling with in a world filled with talent, polish, collaborative production, & digital perfectionism. Love to The Shaggs!❤️
Friends, JULIA, the new album from Julia Cumming, ABSOLUTELY RULES! If you are looking for timeless pop perfection, this album is IT!!! 🤯❤️
Really fun to be there at last, best possible guest, mission accomplished. Thank you, Evie, for being the absolute best and huge congrats to Stephen for an all-time run. Whatever is next, it will be great...
I got to see the singer of my favorite band world premiere his new song & it was a thrill to watch Stephen in his element, the wheels of a live recording whirling all around us, his calm & steady leadership of a huge crew setting the tone for a great experience for everyone involved
I told Evie I would go whenever she wanted and a few weeks ago, she told me to hold April 23. This week, I found out that the episode she held for me was with Michael Stipe as a guest & performing. Evie is the most thoughtful & kind person, I am so lucky to work with her.
Thanks to Evie Colbert, Jessica and I got to attend The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night. I had never been as I am not the type to ask for favors for myself, but after 12 years working with Evie, & with the show being ended for absolutely disgusting reasons, I wanted to go & show support.
Happy 50th birthday to one of the most important albums in the history of rock & roll!
Revisited SPEED RACER (2008) in IMAX tonight... what a movie! A visual thrill ride that knows more about how to place, move, & frame images than anything since. Every shot, every wipe is filled with kinetic joy-- miles ahead of its time. What a confection, a complete treat! 🏎️🚁🏁🩷