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Holiday Gift Ideas to Captivate the Movie Lover in Your Life

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A man in a white space suit and helmet walks across mounds of grey and white gravel.
Matthew McConaughey in a scene from 'Interstellar.' (Paramount Pictures via AP)

Do you have a someone in your life who plays Vulture’s Cinematrix game every morning? Or maybe they have the kitchen television turned to Turner Classic Movies all day and make a point of organizing Oscar polls at work? Hate to break it to you: They might be a hard-to-please cinephile.

But while you might not want to get into a winless debate over the Juror No. 2 release or the merits of Megalopolis with said person, they don’t have to be hard to buy gifts for. The Associated Press has gathered up some of the best items out there to keep any movie lover stylish and informed.

‘Interstellar’ 4K UHD

While Christopher Nolan dreams up his next film, fans can tide themselves over by revisiting his modern classic Interstellar, which will be back in IMAX theaters on the weekend of Dec. 6, followed by the home release of a new collector’s edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray ($59.95). A third disc in the set, available Dec. 10, contains more than two hours of bonus content, like a never-before-seen storyboard sequence, and new interviews with Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and famous fans Peter Jackson and Denis Villeneuve.

A ‘Matrix’ hoodie

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has an exclusive new Matrix sweatshirt for sale in conjunction with its Cyberpunk exhibition. Brain Dead Studios designed and created several items, including the black hoodie ($140), a white rabbit tee ($54) and a pint glass ($18).

An Academy Museum exhibition catalog

If you can’t make it to Los Angeles to check out the Color in Motion exhibit for yourself, the Academy Museum also has a beautiful new companion book for sale ($55) charting the development of color technology in film and its impact. It includes photos from films like The Red Shoes, Vertigo, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and images of rare prints from the silent era. The Academy Museum Store is having a sale (20% off everything) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2.

A biography of Elaine May

A book cover featuring a black and white photo of a white woman with dark hair, deep in thought.
‘Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius,’ by Carrie Courogen. (St. Martin's Press)

Elaine May does not give interviews anymore. But thankfully that didn’t deter writer Carrie Courogen, who did a remarkable job stitching together the life of one of our culture’s most fascinating, and prickly, talents. Miss May Does Not Exist is full of delightful anecdotes about the sharp and satirical comedian who gained fame as one half of Nichols and May and went on to direct films like The Heartbreak Kid and Mikey and Nicky.

Sponsored

Courogen writes about May’s successes, flops and her legendary scuffles with the Hollywood establishment. It’s a vital companion to Mark Harris’ biography of Mike Nichols. Macmillan. $30.

A status tote

Want to look like a real film festival warrior, the kind who sees five movies a day, files a review and still manages to make the late-night karaoke party? You’re going to need the ultimate status tote from the independent streaming service MUBI. Simple, to-the-point and only for people in the know. $25.

‘The Metrograph’ magazine

Film magazines may be an endangered species, but print is not dead at The Metrograph. Manhattan’s coolest movie theater is starting a biannual print publication “for cinephiles and cultural connoisseurs alike.” The first issue’s cover art is by cinematographer Ed Lachman (Carol), and contributors include the likes of Daniel Clowes, Ari Aster, Steve Martin and Simon Rex. There’s also a conversation with Clint Eastwood. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be in bookstores Dec. 10 for $25 ($15 for Metrograph members).

Director style

A book cover featuring a photo of a woman in a director's chair wearing an oversized suit.
‘How Directors Dress: On Set, in the Edit, and Down the Red Carpet,’ by A24. (A24 Editions)

This is not a book about filmmaking styles, camera angles and leadership choices. It’s literally about what directors wear. How Directors Dress: On Set, in the Edit, and Down the Red Carpet ($40) has over 200 archival photos of filmmakers in action: Spike Lee in his basketball caps, Sofia Coppola in her Charvet button-ups, Steven Spielberg’s denim on denim and many more. With a forward by the always elegant Joanna Hogg and writing from some of the top fashion journalists, it’s a beautiful look at how filmmakers really dress for work — and might even be a source of inspiration.

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