Category: Mini Review
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Mini Review: Scary Movie
The way 2026s Scary Movie blitzes past some of its horror references but sits so uncomfortably long on its non-horror parodies is baffling. The best moments are the self-referential ones, but those are few & far between. Instead whats left is a mostly unwanted blast from the past.
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Mini Review: Power Ballad
The ads for Power Ballad are just terrible, framing it as a silly feud comedy when it’s anything but. Instead, it’s peak John Carney, taking a simple story & using songwriting to deliver a profoundly wholesome message. Cynics be warned, this one’s not for you. But for me, it’s😍.
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Mini Review: Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is solid summer entertainment, blending the campiness of Thor with the oddball energy of Guardians, with a dash of self deprecating humour. But does it do enough to stand out from those other franchises? Probably not. Cast is great though. Even Jared Leto.
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Mini Review: Backrooms
Woah! Who knows what I was expecting walking into #Backrooms. I can’t say the plot fully coalesced for me, and there’s still plenty to ponder, for better or for worse. But for a directorial debut, the mood, tension, score and production design are stellar. Well done Kane Parsons.
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Mini Review: Tuner
Tuner has something for everyone – its a story about aging & disability, there’s music, a little romance, some weighty moments, a healthy dose of crime & a dash of thriller-like intrigue. That itself justifies a watch, even if it doesn’t do any of those things exceptionally well.
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Mini Review: Michael
The spectacle of the performances is enough to justify the ticket price, and boy does the film really do the music justice. But the #Michael biopic does little else to justify itself as a film, & has little else to say outside of what we already knew. But I still had a good time.
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Mini Review: I Love Boosters
There’s such genius in the visuals of I Love Boosters, which uses its maximalist aesthetic, bold colours & fashion, & quirky production design to such incredible effect. Even though the narrative doesn’t fully coalesce for me, I’m thankful for Boots Riley’s bold artistic vision.
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Mini Review: Silent Friend
The fact that Silent Friend, a film about a ginkgo tree, kept me captivated for 2.5 hours is a testament to the filmmaking and it’s ability to establish a its interesting characters & situations. But I feel its reluctance to capitalize on any narrative makes it fall a bit short. https://x.com/yearincinema/status/2057684471738966401
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Mini Review: Blue Heron
I’m still trying to determine whether the midfilm shift worked for me, but what I can say about Blue Heron is that there are some incredible & deeply affecting moments that I truly felt to my core. This is not a light watch by any means, but the honest perspective is refreshing.
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Mini Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Netflix’s #RemarkablyBrightCreatures is like having a warm cup of coffee on a rainy Pacific Northwest day – a little moody but truly heartwarming. I don’t know if the film works without Field & Pullman, who deftly sell the melodrama. But it’s hard to not be comforted by this one.
Year in Cinema 