It’s hard to believe Amadeus is over 40 years old, because from its sharp pacing to its energetic editing, this Best Picture winner feels like it could have come out just last year. Whether watching the theatrical or director’s cut, both versions absolutely fly by, driven by a riveting exploration of jealousy and genius as we witness Salieri’s bitter envy of Mozart twist into a personal war against God himself. With fully realised characters and pretty much every scene striking a perfect balance between humour and drama, it’s no wonder this movie remains endlessly entertaining. F. Murray Abraham’s portrayal of Salieri in particular stands as one of the great performances ever captured on film, anchoring a masterpiece that still resonates as a modern classic.Join a crew of wannabe film critics review a different movie every week, and discuss other nonsense. Listen to new episodes every Monday.Record your own podcasts with Zencastr at https://zencastr.com/?via=cinemaeffect to get 30% off today.

F1 flies onto the big screen with exciting, practically filmed racing sequences shot entirely in-camera. Exactly the kind of visceral spectacle you’d expect from Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, the film captures the raw speed and adrenaline of Formula 1 in a way that lives up to its summer blockbuster status, even if we found ourselves a bit less invested in its story and characters. As our resident F1 expert, Jayden also breaks down how the movie both succeeds and stumbles in representing the sport (despite it basically playing like a giant ad for it). After the review, we’ll dive into our thoughts Danny Boyle’s much anticipated 28 Years Later and, in our Question of the Week segment, pitch which sport we think Kosinski should tackle for his next big budget film.

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E.T. showcases so many of Steven Spielberg’s trademarks: fractured family at its heart, a soaring John Williams score. But what makes it truly enjoyable is just how lean and precise it is. Every scene serves a purpose, delivering simple yet deeply effective visual storytelling, which explains how it became the highest-grossing film of all time for over a decade. Henry Thomas shines as Elliott, a clever and easily likable protagonist whose tender bond with E.T. anchors the movie’s emotional power. Revisiting it now, you might be surprised by how eerie and even melancholy it is at times, especially for a family film. This is Spielberg at his most stripped-down and whimsical, crafting a timeless story full of wonder and heart with only the essential details needed to sweep audiences away. It's when you start delving into the greater lore (as we unfortunately do in this episode) that some of the lustre can be lost.

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Dìdi (2024) is a charming and sometimes painfully relatable coming-of-age story set in the mid-2000s, complete with MySpace profiles, low-res YouTube videos, and all the awkwardness of adolescence. Written and directed by Sean Wang, the film is clearly a deeply personal project inspired by his own youth, and even features his real-life grandmother playing Nai Nai. Izaac Wang stars as Chris, a teenage boy stumbling his way through friendships, family, and first crushes, while we laugh and cringe at his consistently bad choices (but hey, teenagers gonna teenager). And in our Question of the Week segment, we go over our top picks (and make an official bet) on who we think should take over the role of James Bond.

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Mountainhead is the latest satire from Jesse Armstrong, in large part tackling the terrifyingly current intersection of AI, generative content, and the existential threats they pose to modern civilisation. Written in November of last year and fast-tracked into production at an astonishing pace, the film stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, and Ramy Youssef as tech billionaires bros with way too much power on a weekend retreat. We found the film funny in the moment, though we’re not convinced it’ll have long-term staying power. Still, the ethical and technological questions it raises sparked one of our more pessimistic discussions yet, as we confront the unsettling implications this story has for the future of humanity. Apologies for the doom and gloom in advance. That's before we discuss which media/tech companies ourselves and the audience want to take over.

Join a crew of wannabe film critics review a different movie every week, and discuss other nonsense. Listen to new episodes every Monday.Record your own podcasts with Zencastr at https://zencastr.com/?via=cinemaeffect to get 30% off today.

For the second week in a row, we’ve recorded the longest episode in the show's history. Because The Last of Us: Season 2 brings out the passion, the debates, and some very strong opinions. As long time fans of the Part II game, we were deeply curious to see how HBO would tackle its already divisive story, and the result is as polarising as expected. Prepare for an at times contentious discussion packed with full spoilers, where we dive into the big character death, Ellie’s evolving characterisation, Kaitlyn Dever’s introduction as Abby, and the most memorable scenes and performances of the season. We also break down the similarities and departures from the game, and assess whether the show’s incredible production values and strong acting can live up to its ambitious source material. It’s a loaded question. And one we’re not entirely aligned on. Question Of The Week: If you could make yourself the CEO of one tech or media company, which would it be?Record your own podcasts with Zencastr at https://zencastr.com/?via=cinemaeffect to get 30% off today.

After a long production wait, it’s finally time to return to the oppressed galaxy of Andor for its second and final season. A massive 12 episode journey that inspired our longest podcast episode ever. Diego Luna leads an outstanding cast alongside Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgard, and of course the returning Ben Mendelsohn mate. This season offers some of the most unique writing and narrative structure we've seen from Star Wars. With jaw dropping production values that rival any theatrical experience, the series leads beautifully into Rogue One, the film which functions as the story's true finale in many ways. We break down the show’s most memorable episodes and moments, following the evolving arcs of Cassian, Mon Mothma, Luthen, Dedra, Cyril, and many others in ways that are both satisfying and surprising. Join the Rebel Alliance, and experience Star Wars at perhaps its most sophisticated and unforgettable.Join a crew of wannabe film critics review a different movie every week, and discuss other nonsense. Listen to new episodes every Monday.

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We’ve watched and reviewed every Mission Impossible film on the podcast, and it’s all led to The Final Reckoning, the apparent last chapter in this legendary franchise. Directed once again by Christopher McQuarrie, the film delivers several standout moments, including two impressive action set pieces. One of which (as teased on the poster) is so absolutely, undeniably insane, it surely has to be the culmination of Tom Cruise one upping himself with each stunt. While the movie offers plenty for long-time fans to enjoy, its bloated runtime and some underwhelming ancillary elements sap the punch and energy needed to reach true greatness. Still, for anyone who’s followed Ethan Hunt’s journey, this finale remains a worthwhile ride.

Join a crew of wannabe film critics review a different movie every week, and discuss other nonsense. Listen to new episodes every Monday.

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