At the red carpet event of the film No Other Choice, at the New York Film Festival 2025, I got the opportunity to talk to Park Chan-wook and main star Lee Byung-hun about the genre-bending masterpiece they had created.
Ishan Wankavala
Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is a darkly comic and visually stunning thriller about a laid-off paper factory worker whose desperate fight to preserve his identity spirals into absurd violence and moral collapse. By far my favorite film at NYFF 2025, it cements the South Korean film industry as a new behemoth not only in commercial success, but critical as well.
Stepping onto the red carpet at the 2025 New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, I had the opportunity to interview the cast and several members of the creative team behind this year’s Sentimental Value, a film by Joachim Trier.
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is a beautifully crafted exploration of family, memory, and the fragile artistry that binds generations. It is one of the best films of this decade, if not ever.
Time Out Market NYC hosted an exclusive media event by the National Honey Board last week to celebrate National Honey Month, featuring chef-driven honey dishes and a curated menu from top restaurants before public release. Attendees will also enjoy a sensory honey tasting from Chef Ian Ramirez and insights from NYT bestselling author Carolina Gelen, all celebrating honey’s flavors while supporting bees and beekeepers.
Big Deal Speakeasy Casino, from Mastermind Wendy Rubin, Lives Up to its Name
Big Deal Speakeasy Casino, founded by entrepreneur Wendy Rubin, is New York City’s only 1920s-themed speakeasy casino and licensed dealer academy, offering hands-on gaming instruction by day and glamorous private casino events by night. With vintage design, craft cocktails, and professional dealers, the venue delivers a uniquely immersive experience for corporate groups, private parties, and anyone seeking unforgettable entertainment.
Buckle-Up: The Future is Here
The Tensor Robocar is the first Level-4 autonomous vehicle for personal ownership built from the ground up with advanced sensors, redundant systems, and Tensor’s proprietary AI. It introduces consumer-ready autonomy with self-maintenance and on-vehicle data privacy to usher in a new era of personal self-driving cars that outdo anything else on the market right now.
Pizza, Pickles, and Pop-Stars—Wild Honey Pie and Spindrift Host a Pizza Party, with a Surprise
Creative agency Wild Honey Pie and soda brand Spindrift hosted a Pizza Party at Paulie Gee’s last week, complete with a constant stream of unlimited freshly-baked pizza (with several amazing vegan options), as well as a sampling of various partnered brands, such as the delightful Grillo’s Pickles and the tantalizing Maker’s Mark whiskey, among others. The highlight of the night, however, was an intimate private concert performed by alt-pop singer BENEE, who enticed fans with glimpses into her upcoming album.
Disaronno — An Italian Liqueur of Half a Millennia That’s Not Quite Finished Yet
I was allowed the unique opportunity to celebrate Disaronno‘s 500th anniversary at rooftop Mr. Purple, try some craft cocktails made from this ancient elixir, as well as learn a little about the brand’s role in history and how it continues to uphold many of its original values today.
M3GAN 2.0 Is Ridiculous Over-The-Top Fun, but Also Poses Important Questions About AI
M3GAN 2.0 is a genre-jumping, scary-yet-funny adventure that surprisingly also delves into concerns that many have today about technology and AI. It truly has something for every sci-fi geek and horror movie nerd, and makes for one of the best movies this year.