Coffee and a Mike James Howard Kunstler #1279
Dec 31, 2025
James Howard Kunstler, a writer and blogger known for his insights on culture and urbanism, shares his sharp thoughts on Hollywood's shifting landscape. He discusses the looming Paramount and Netflix battle for Warner Brothers and critiques the decline of storytelling in cinema. From AI's potential to replace actors to the dwindling allure of theaters, Kunstler doesn't hold back. He dives into the legacies of Scorsese, Tarantino, and the Coen Brothers, pondering the future of film amidst streaming fatigue and changing audience habits.
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Structural Forces Outweigh Studio Deals
- Hollywood ownership changes won't fix deeper cultural and technological shifts undermining movies.
- James Howard Kunstler links streaming, AI, DEI politics, and shrinking attention spans to cinema's decline.
Rediscovering Amor Towles
- Kunstler describes rediscovering contemporary novelist Amor Towles and praising A Gentleman in Moscow.
- He uses Towles to show that strong modern novelists exist but are rare.
Theater Experience Is Losing Its Pull
- Theatrical exhibition is dying as audiences stay home and screens improve.
- Kunstler notes empty multiplexes and expensive concessions can't sustain cinema chains.