It was Monday night, the night after the Academy Awards, feeling tired but also thrilled we could stop talking about the same ten movies that I decided, yes, I wanted to watch a movie. When the pandemic started here in New York City four years ago this week, I started a list of “movies I’m embarrassed I had never seen.” According to Letterboxd, as I type this – since March 14, 2020 – I have watched 1597 movies. Of these, 1080 have been first-time watches. (This is not a perfect science. Sometimes I forget to hit the “I’ve seen this before” button. Also, a good percentage of those would be new releases.) I mention this because I’ve been pretty motivated to watch movies I’ve never seen before over recent years. Anytime I feel guilty about not having seen a classic movie, I tell myself, “You know, if I watch right now, that feeling will be gone.” It gives me a sense of accomplishment. There’s still plenty I’d like to see, and will, but it’s gotten to the point I’m running out of movies I truly feel guilty having not seen.