HUDSON VALLEY CRUCIAL VIEWING: December 5 - 18

Your Guide to Repertory Movies in the Hudson Valley

Author

Bel Simek
December 04, 2025

Intro Paragraph

Happy first snow of the winter guys! I’ve been telling everyone that I think this is gonna be a season of heavy snowfall with no proof besides the Farmer’s Almanac and my wrist that I like to pretend acts up when pressure systems change. I think Wednesday is one point in my court! Anyway, we’re entering the perfect season for cozying up with a good movie, as I’ve been telling you all for the last few weeks. Though it can be hard to motivate to get out of the house, especially when the roads are bad, hopefully we’ll have enough clear days that you can make it for a few. There’s some great, seasonally appropriate flicks showing around the area (as expected) as well as some non-holiday fare. KFF is showing a series of “Dysfunctional Family” films at Upstate Midtown, and we hope you’ll make it out for a few of them! Criterion Channel was on the same wavelength as us with their “Family Reunions” series last month (which is fantastic and worth a skim) and there’s no crossover (amazing!). Anyway, enough with the yadda yadda, here’s the films! And stay tuned, we’ve got some fun holiday recommendations of our own coming at you in two weeks ;)

THE LIST

Friday, December 5

Saturday, December 6

(Not a formal Bel Rec but I would be remiss not to point out that you should absolutely try to make it for this one-night-only screening in Catskill. Slacker x 90s indie rockers? It’s every Tubby’s regular’s dream. Starring Tara Jane O’Neil (of Rodan, The Sonora Pine, etc…) and a slew of other musicians from the era, this is such a fun, frenetic portrait of a different decade of music. Not to be missed.)

The Hidden Fortress — Community Theater, Catskill — 9pm
(Runs Saturday, December 6 - Tuesday, December 9)

Friday, December 12

It’s a Wonderful Life — Orpheum, Saugerties — 4:45pm / 7:30pm 
(Runs Friday, December 12 - Thursday, December 18)

First Cow — Community Theater, Catskill — 4:15pm
(Runs Friday, December 12 - Monday, December 15)

Saturday, December 13

Wolfwalkers — Community Theater, Catskill — 3:30pm
(Runs Saturday, December 13 - Tuesday, December 16)

This is another informal Bel Rec but if you have kids PLEASE take them to see this movie. Animation is one of my not-so-secret special interests, and I really don’t think anyone is doing it quite like Irish studio Cartoon Saloon. Their films are incredibly rich visual tapestries that embrace a versatile, kaleidoscopic approach to animation which weaves deep, mature children’s films that are fun, heartfelt, and intelligent. Their three features (the previous being Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014)) draw out narratives informed by Celtic folklore, and are visually influenced by traditional patterns and illustrations from the time. Just, honestly, google some stills. If you have any interest in animation, or you need a new hyper fixation for your kids so you can stop watching Bluey, you should go see this while you can.

Eyes Wide Shut — Community Theater, Catskill — 8:30pm
(Runs Saturday, December 13 - Tuesday, December 16)

Bel’s Pick: I mean… Guys… C’mon. Do I even need to say why you need to go see Eyes Wide Shut in theaters? I don’t think I do. I had to deep dive to make sure I hadn’t already written about this film for y’all, because in my heart it feels like I have. Apparently, my heart was wrong, though our lovely board member Steven did mention it in his Christmas recommendations last year. This has become a once a year watch for me in recent memory. I could go on a tangent about how it feels much more prescient now; in the wake of the #MeToo movement, following Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest, etc etc. But I won’t! We can talk about that if you see me in person. More than that, I think I’ve finally aged into appreciating this work more than I had the capacity to when I was 17, watching it stoned out of my mind on a crush’s twin-sized, dorm bed. Imagine that. We also just got the 4K Criterion release of the film and, though I am the last person to advocate for duplicating your physical media collection for the new and improved (I love the flaws of analog media! I don’t care about image crispness that much! Did you hear about what happened with Mad Men????) I actually do think that this movie more than deserves, and probably needs, the added detail and depth the new and improved can offer it. I can’t wait for all the newest hot takes, deep reads, and off-the-wall theories it will hopefully inspire.

Sunday, December 14

KFF: This is also technically a Bel Pick I’m just sick of typing my own name out. This was my selection for our “Dysfunctional Families” series and I’m so glad it made it into the rotation (shoutout to Sophia for the suggestion, by the way!). This is the debut feature from Danish director Thomas Vinterberg, probably best known in the states for his Oscar winning 2020 film Another Round. Vinterberg has a particularly biting voice as a filmmaker, but I find that bite is not sacrificed for his deep sense of humanity. He understands how to create flawed characters that you still feel for, even through disgust, disdain, and (sometimes) hatred. Celebration is one excellent film in the long history of the “wealthy family reveals dark secret at family gathering” subgenre of filmmaking. It’s also, notably, the first film in the Dogme 95 movement, founded by Vinterberg and Lars von Trier. I feel like a lot of people haven’t seen this movie, and I really think you should. It’s funny, it’s deranged, it’s challenging, and it’s so worth it. You have two chances! Sunday the 14th or the following Wednesday.

Tuesday, December 16

Bel’s Pick: Is anyone surprised that this is on the Bel’s Pick? If you are a loyal reader, I would imagine you are not. If you aren’t, well, sorry. I am limiting myself here, because I could easily write probably 10 pages about why I love this movie, and why very few Jane Austen adaptations have ever reached the emotional and visual heights of this film. Joe Wright is such a funny filmmaker to me because, besides this and his adaptation of Ian McEwan’s Atonement, I find him to be a kind of lackluster filmmaker. (If you disagree, please let me know, I would like to discuss.) Here, though, he has such a light touch, and there is evidently so much conversation between him, his actors, cinematographer, composer, costume designer, et al. The film is alight with elegance and has an incredible respect for the material. I feel like this film gets its laurels every few years on social media, especially as romance novels have taken more of a cultural limelight, and I think that’s nice! But, beyond it being a swoon-worthy portrait of female desire and the enemies-to-lovers romance to end all others, I think it’s an incredibly well made film. I’d particularly like to point to the subtle changes in Matthew Macfayden’s wardrobe as Darcy over the course of the film as an example of the eye for detail Wright deploys here. The story is conveyed in all facets of the film, not just through the script. Guys, it’s so good. And it’s okay if period pieces aren’t for you, but, like... Maybe give this one a chance? It also has a legendary cast of British actors, from the powerhouse Donald Sutherland to the amazing character actor Tom Hollander. Plus, there are so many funny lines to quote at your loved ones. “Excellent boiled potatoes. It’s been many years since I’ve had such an exemplary vegetable.” I mean! C’mon!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 17

Thursday, December 18