Welcome back everybody to The Year I Became.
Next week we’re starting a brand-new summer series: Thrift Picks – Speed-Thru Summer Edition.
These episodes will drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
Each one is quick—around 10 minutes or less—just a little mid-week dose of cinematic joy. ✨
Now, as you know, I’m currently in the middle of a major blowout/closeout over at Crazy Deals Thrift Shop in Union City, NJ (between 8th and 9th on JFK Blvd). If you’re local, swing by and say hey. It’s been wild.
A Quick Note on How I Collect
If you’re new here and wondering how I go about collecting, you can find the full breakdown in the archive. But the short version:
Films I know and love
Films I haven’t seen in a while (rewatch value)
Films that’ve been on my watchlist
Blind buys
Factory-sealed pickups (instant yes)
New—Collection upgrades or backups (e.g. Criterion editions, better condition, slipcovers)
Every once in a while, I’ll grab a second copy of something like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button—because I’ve got different versions, and backups are clutch.
Let’s get into this first haul.
🎞️ VHS Finds
Ridicule – Blind buy. Dir. Patrice Leconte.
Anna Karenina (1948) – Starring Vivien Leigh & Ralph Richardson. A classic I didn’t have.
💿 DVDs
The Social Network – David Fincher. Double dip for the slipcover.
Annie (1982) – Finally found an acceptable copy for the collection. My daughter asked about it after seeing the Jamie Foxx version.
Jeremy Jones’ Deeper – 2-disc snowboard doc. Needed more sports docs.
Queens – Blind buy. Dir. Manuel Gómez Pereira (Spanish ensemble dramedy).
John Mayer: Any Given Thursday – A big personal favorite from when I was 19. Not the best condition, but watchable.
Running with Scissors – Blind buy. Great cast: Joseph Cross, Annette Bening, Gwyneth Paltrow, Evan Rachel Wood.
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit – DVD upgrade from my VHS copy. Still on the hunt for part 1!
Couples Retreat – Vince Vaughn comedy. Great condition with slipcover.
The Wedding Date – Blind buy. Starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney.
📀 Blu-rays
The Incredibles – Double dip. Already have DVD with features, now comparing editions.
The Lion King – FINALLY in the collection after 2,000+ films. This one’s the Walt Disney Signature Edition.
Peter Pan (Diamond Edition) – Blu-ray/DVD/digital set (digital code likely expired).
The Little Mermaid (Anniversary Edition) – Another Signature Collection title.
Toy Story 1–3 – Had none of them until now. All in great shape. Major score.
🧾 Watch or Buy These Films (U.S. Availability – June 2025)
Ridicule – Streaming on Tubi (free); also available for purchase on Amazon and Apple TV
Anna Karenina (1948) – Not currently streaming; DVD available on Amazon
The Social Network – Streaming on Netflix; available to rent or buy on all major platforms
Annie (1982) – Streaming on Prime Video; also available on all major platforms
Jeremy Jones’ Deeper – Available to rent on Vimeo; DVD copies on Amazon
Queens (2005) – Not available for streaming; DVD copies can be found on eBay
John Mayer: Any Given Thursday – Some clips on YouTube; full DVD available on Amazon
Running with Scissors – Streaming on Starz; available to rent or buy on all major platforms
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit – Streaming on Disney+; also on all major platforms
Couples Retreat – Streaming on Peacock; available everywhere digitally
The Wedding Date – Streaming on Freevee (with ads); available for rent or purchase online
The Incredibles – Streaming on Disney+; available for purchase on all platforms
The Lion King (1994) – Streaming on Disney+; available on all major platforms
Peter Pan (1953) – Streaming on Disney+; available to rent or buy everywhere
The Little Mermaid (1989) – Streaming on Disney+; widely available for purchase
Toy Story (1, 2 & 3) – All three streaming on Disney+; available to own digitally and physically
Let me know in the comments which titles you’d like me to dive deeper into for future videos or posts. And if you’re building your own thrifted film library, I’d love to hear your latest pickups.
Until next week,
🎥 Keep watching, keep collecting.
— E.A. Bland
🏎️ Bonus Quick Take Review: F1 the Movie
Last night I saw F1 the Movie, starring Brad Pitt as Sonny Haynes. For brevity, I’ll link the trailer below.
I wish I saw this with my dad. He would have loved it. (Don’t worry, he’s still alive, just living in a different state. 😂)
Joseph Kosinski is easily becoming one of my favorite directors. Especially after realizing he directed two of my other favorite movies: Oblivion, and Tron: Legacy.
Top Gun: Maverick was great, but it’s the storytelling that takes the cake in those two for me, and now in F1.
Brad Pitt was firing on all cylinders! No pun intended. Him and Javier Bardem are incredible to watch on screen by the way! And that chemistry with Kerry Condon? It’s like that sometimes! 😋
Can we also talk about the costume department and the wardrobe styling?? Oof😮💨🥵
Wait, wait, wait! Shoutouts to the friggin’ editor of this thing as well! I can’t imagine it was an easy job.
Finally, I loved the subtext and question posed throughout the film that truly speaks to me, and I’m quite sure any other artist or individual with unbridled passion—the ones willing to risk it all for the thing(s) that make them feel most alive, regardless of the system, position, or status they find themselves in…
“If it’s not about the money… what is it about?”
To which we’d all reply…
If you have to ask… you wouldn’t understand.
First watch score: 9/10
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