By Peter Cameron I was rocket-ship-excited to attend the SIFF press launch for their 50th anniversary. With 261 films from all over the world, what’s not to be excited about? As I entered the beautiful Egyptian Theatre on Capitol Hill, my excitement grew. Then the programmers started to talk. Bless their hearts. These cinephiles put in work. Over 6,000 films were submitted, and the programmers had to sift through them all. That means 5,739 films were rejected, which is a monstrous task. They then divvied up the chosen few into categories based on content or place. These curated categories are ..read more

A Haunting in Venice (2023) Directed by Kenneth Branagh Starring Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan and Tina Fey Before I begin my review of Kenneth Branagh’s third Agatha Christie adaptation where he takes on the dual roles of director and lead actor, A Haunting in Venice, let me quickly recap my review of his second Christie film, Death on the Nile. The film was engaging despite numerous shortcomings, notably buoyed by Branagh’s strong lead performance and the allure of a classic whodunit. While I appreciated the ensemble cast’s efforts, some performances felt less convincing, and the CGI was notic ..read more

Crimes of the Future (2022) Directed by David Cronenberg Starring Viggo Mortenson, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart Am I a fan of David Cronenberg? I am not sure, maybe? Probably not? Sometimes? I have now viewed 10 of the director’s 22 films, and I find myself lacking a strong inclination to champion his work. While there are moments of beauty in Cronenberg’s films, they are often overshadowed by a sense of grime and self-importance. It seems likely that Cronenberg is exploring personal themes such as violence, sex, control, and beauty. Art, after all, serves as a medium for artists to navigat ..read more

Ambulance (2023) Directed by Michael Bay Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II & Eiza González Since 2005, action director Michael Bay has primarily focused on the Transformers film franchise, churning out a total of five of these blockbuster movies. The franchise’s extravagant premise, where intellectual property is “more than meets the eye,” aligns well with Bay’s penchant for prioritizing visual spectacle over a tightly woven narrative. However, what unfolds when this same director collaborates with talented actors instead of relying solely on CGI robots? Jake Gyllenhaal, know ..read more

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) Directed by Sam Raimi Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen & Chiwetel Ejiofor One of the aspects I truly appreciate about Marvel Studios and its leader, Kevin Feige, is their willingness to allow directors – and dare I say, ‘auteurs’ – to shine through amidst the intricate continuity and meticulous planning that define the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), now in its fourth phase. These talented filmmakers are given the freedom to express their unique vision while still contributing to the overarching universe. While the prevailin ..read more

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Directed by Martin Scorsese Starring Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons Film reviews: why we read them, and how I normally write them In the more than 150 film reviews I’ve shared on NadaMucho.com, I’ve yet to post a single SPOILER review. Why? Because my goal is to inspire you to discover films for yourself. My approach provides a hint of the plot, yet primarily draws you in with my thoughts and analyses, hopefully motivating you to watch the movie firsthand and form your own opinion. Many film enthusiasts turn to Letterboxd t ..read more

Return To Seoul (2023) Directed by Davy Chou Starring Park Ji-min, Oh Kwang-rok and Guka Han In April of last year, I had the pleasure of watching three new films in the theater, all of which were excellent. Among them, Return to Seoul was my favorite. In fact, this hidden gem was my pick for the best film of 2023 at the time. In her debut feature film role, Park Ji-min portrays Freddie, a young Parisienne of Korean heritage. Due to happenstance, she finds herself in Korea instead of her intended destination, Japan. Over the course of two weeks, Freddie explores her country of origin and forms ..read more

The Artifice Girl (2023) Directed by Franklin Ritch Starring Tatum Matthews, Sinda Nichols, David Girard, Franklin Ritch and Lance Henriksen I am a sucker for debut feature films, especially when they fall into the low-budget sci-fi genre. The Artifice Girl, directed by Franklin Ritch, fits this description perfectly. Released this year on May 1, it made its way to a handful of theaters and is also available on the Public Library streaming service, Kanopy. In the tradition of some of my favorite films—such as Primer (2004), Coherence (2013), Cube (1997), and Moon (2009)—The Artifice Girl relie ..read more

Dream Scenario (2023)  Directed by Kristoffer Borgli Starring Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson and Jessica Clement After years of being a mark for A24, it feels like the world has caught up to me. The small studio basically swept the Oscars in 2023, and now I spot kids wearing A24 sweatshirts as they stroll through airports. So, it’s no shocker that Nicolas Cage would take on a role in an A24 film during the third wave of his career renaissance. I have vivid memories of wearing out my Nirvana Bleach cassette tape just in time for Nevermind to be released on CD. Shortly thereafter, the ban ..read more

The Lost City (2022) Directed by Aaron and Adam Nee Starring Sandra Bullock,Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt So, there are these two brothers I had never heard of called ‘The Brothers Nee.’ Before releasing the film The Lost City in 2022, the pair had co-directed two feature films I’d never heard of, let alone seen. If those two films — The Last Romantic (2006) and Band of Robbers (2015) — are even half as funny and engaging as The Lost City, I will feel rewarded for seeking them out. For me, Sandra Bullock shines brightest as a full-on comedy star rather than a quirky leading la ..read more