Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly is a fast moving character driven comedy that follows the unravelling midlife detour of Jay Kelly (George Clooney), a world famous actor whose life begins to crack under the weight of regret. Including sharp dialogue and memorable supporting players, with Adam Sandler providing a great vulnerability. Baumbach’s signature humour is front and centre with an easy rhythm that keeps the story light on its feet. While Jay's character arc touches on the push and pull of personal relationships vs the pursuit of one's career, we couldn’t help but wish the film lingered a bit longer on some of those moments. The experience is engaging enough that it leaves us wanting more! After the review, we look to big 2026 trailers including Supergirl and Street Fighter. Plus a discussion on the most impressive directing efforts by actors.

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After 5 years we finally reach the holy grail white boy film, Interstellar. Nolan's, 9th directing effort and 4th appearance on the show and another unabashed glaze session, with minor restraint shown by one white boy. The film centers on Coop, a former test pilot who has to take on one last job to save humanity at the expense of raising a daughter he loved and a son he kinda liked. We also bask in the doom and gloom of Netflix buying out Warner Brothers and what that means for cinemaaaaa.

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Chris Columbus returns for his second and final outing in the series with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a sequel that embraces a darker and more dangerous tone as Harry, Ron, and Hermione uncover the mystery behind the attacks at Hogwarts. Even after countless rewatches, we still find plenty of entertaining moments to enjoy, and on this viewing we were surprised to find the central mystery and plot even more engaging than the first film. With fun performances from Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Isaacs and the always brilliant recurring supporting cast, this chapter hols its own in the larger saga to come. After the review, we share our thoughts on Rian Johnson’s newest Knives Out film after seeing Wake Up Dead Man in cinemas. And we discuss which animals we would most want the magical ability to speak to.

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It’s hard to believe, but this is actually our first time covering an Edgar Wright film on the podcast, and what a way to start with his new 2025 take on The Running Man. Starring Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, and many others, this Stephen King adaptation follows Ben Richards as he fights to survive a deadly televised game while navigating the constant manipulation of a corrupt media network. The movie delivers quick pacing and strong action in a fully realised cyberpunk world, making it a very entertaining action blockbuster to experience at the cinema. But did the humour always work? And can you still feel Wright's signature style on screen? Of course, we will also dive into the big question of whether the film contains truly GREAT scenes and characters that we genuinely LOVE as much as our pets. Then after the review, we have Zelda movie images to discuss, plus the new trailer for Project Hail Mary.

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We’re diving into Guillermo del Toro’s new and anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a dark retelling of the classic story about a brilliant scientist who creates life, only to face the horrifying consequences of his own ambition. As big fans of the novel (with one of us having just finished reading it this week), we were eager to see how del Toro’s version reimagines the source material. The film makes several notable changes from the book, which we unpack in detail as we explore how they reshape our understanding of the story and its characters. With top-tier production design, and a strong cast including Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz, the film tackles del Toro’s signature themes of humanity and monstrosity. Still, we debate whether its sleek aesthetic sometimes feels too digital and “Netflix.” After the review, stick around for a spirited discussion on whether actors are more impressive than athletes, and our picks for the best recasts in film history.

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We had the pleasure of sitting down with director Daniel V. Masciari to discuss his new film 'Stationed at Home', a sincere and personal debut feature set (and shot on location) in upstate New York. Daniel walks us through the film’s long seven year journey to being made, from its early development years to its festival premieres, and shares insight into crafting its cosy visual style and eccentric characters. We talk about his inspirations for the film, his collaboration with the cast and crew, and how his background shaped his perspective as both a storyteller and editor. This is a great conversation for anyone interested in independent filmmaking, and the many facets of the creative process. Please enjoy.

'Stationed at Home' is available to rent on November 11th wherever you get your digital movies.

We welcome our fellow Aussie Baz Luhrmann back to the show for the first time in 2025, this time diving into his bold and unconventional adaptation Romeo & Juliet. This stylish, fast-paced, and contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s tragedy keeps the original Old English dialogue intact, a creative choice that proved to be the most divisive element among us. Still, it’s hard not to admire the ambition of setting the story in a modern, 90s coated Verona Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes bringing intensity to their roles as the first star crossed lovers. Where we all agree the film truly shines is in Baz’s signature visual flair, his energetic direction, and a killer soundtrack that all contributed to a clear and admirable vision for the film.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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With HBO’s new Harry Potter series now in production, we decided there’s no better time to feed our anticipation (and scepticism) by revisiting the beloved film saga month by month, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or Sorcerer’s Stone for our US listeners). Chris Columbus’ 2001 adaptation remains a magical introduction to the wizarding world, overflowing with wonder, fun, and a sense of discovery that still feels special even after countless rewatches. Experiencing Hogwarts for the first time again through Harry’s eyes is a true delight, and the warmth of the supporting cast brings the story to life (particularly Robbie Coltrane’s Hagrid). As expected, we get caught up in the amusing little details that we notice as long-time fans, but ultimately agree this film remains a classic kids adventure which very effectively kicks off one of modern cinema’s great franchises.

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.