Cinema Effect

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 teen...

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...

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 discussi...

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...

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 t...

Fallout isn’t just the pinnacle of the Mission Impossible franchise... it’s peak cinema. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in this action masterpiece once again directed by Christopher McQuarrie, featuring multiple jaw dropping set pieces, including the epic Paris exchange scene (which Zac won’t stop gushing about). The film’s relentless pacing, outstanding score by Lorne Balfe, and countless fun m...

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation officially ushers us into the McQuarrie era of the franchise, delivering a masterclass in action filmmaking with Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt facing off against the sinister Solomon Lane, the coolest named villain played with chilling intensity by Sean Harris. This installment also introduces Rebecca Ferguson’s Isla Faust, whose presence quickly won over many Cinema Eff...

Since we've just returned from Japan, we have to stay on theme by talking about Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). This famous anime film is widely regarded as Hayao Miyazaki’s first major success, laying the groundwork for what would soon become Studio Ghibli. The story follows Princess Nausicaä as she navigates a toxic, post-apocalyptic world filled with stunningly designed creatures and...

Season 3 of The White Lotus once again delivers a sharp and sometimes shocking blend of satire, mystery, and drama, solidifying Mike White’s status as one of the most compelling creators in modern television. Set against another luxurious backdrop and featuring a phenomenal cast including Michelle Monaghan, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Parker Posey(!), Jason Isaacs, Carrie Coon, and so many more, the s...

Megalopolis is the long-gestating passion project from legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, who personally financed the film’s reported $120 million budget after decades of development limbo. Starring Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Giancarlo Esposito, among other Hollywood greats, the result is a bizarre cinematic experience that left us genuinely baffled. The f...

Coming in hot after Zodiac in 2007, David Fincher had another big swing the following year with his most expensive film ever. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button follows the life of Benjamin (Brad Pitt), a man born old who ages in reverse, and his decades spanning romance with Daisy (Cate Blanchett). With emotionally rousing scenes and some striking imagery, the film showcases its Oscar-worthy mak...

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is the point in the franchise where they finally realised its best to drop the numbered titles. This time around Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team are forced to go rogue after being framed for bombing the Kremlin! What ensues is the globe trotting espionage this franchise is known for, including its most heavily marketed set piece: the Dubai tower climb. Direc...

Yes, we have in fact now amazingly been doing Cinema Effect every week for 5 years! So for this 5th anniversary special, we’re taking on the ultimate challenge: pitting every movie we’ve ever reviewed against each other in a massive bracket tournament to determine the best film in Cinema Effect history. With so many incredible movies to choose from, the debates get heated as we’re forced to make i...

George Lucas' American Graffiti (1973) is a consistently entertaining ride through one night of cruising and teenage shenanigans in the early 60's. Featuring a sharp script and great performances from the likes of Richard Dreyfuss, young Ronnie Howard, and Harrison Ford, this is a defining work of Lucas’ early career before Star Wars. The film was a massive success at the box office and re...

Experiencing Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977) for the first time was fantastic, as Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi classic delivers a wonderful blend of atmosphere, mystery, and awe. Richard Dreyfuss stars as Roy Neary, an ordinary man drawn into an extraordinary encounter with extraterrestrial life. Also featuring in the cast is French auteur François Truffaut. And shout out of course to One T...

JJ Abrams makes an explosive feature directorial debut with Mission Impossible III, and proved he has the chops for the big screen. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, facing off against one of the franchise’s top villains, Owen Davian, played menacingly and memorably by Philip Seymour Hoffman. The film delivers thrilling set pieces, from a chaotic bridge attack to a high intensity helicopter extrac...

With Zac and Liam on an indefinite Hiatus, a new Cinema Effect crew was assembled and recorded one of the podcasts most perfect episodes yet for a discussion on Wim Wenders' Perfect Days. The slice of life film follows the rhythmic routine of Hirayama, a Tokyo toilet custodian working with some of the most architecturally famous bathrooms in the world. The film is meditative and stunning and s...

For our second Bob Dylan film review, we dive into A Complete Unknown, a very well crafted biopic directed by James Mangold. The film chronicles the formative years of Dylan's career with Timothée Chalamet delivering a phenomenally convincing portrayal of the iconic musician (the best performance of his career!). From the impressive singing to the subtle prosthetics (real or not, they’re worth...

Over two decades later, we recruited a special guest to revisit Disney Animation's Brother Bear, a deeply nostalgic childhood favourite that most of us haven’t seen in many years. The film follows Kenai (voiced by Joaquin "Wacky" Phoenix), a young man transformed into a bear as punishment for his ignorant actions, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and brotherhood alongside the...

Let's do our best to get through Mission Impossible II so we can get to the good stuff in this franchise. In this (arguably) campy sequel, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) teams up with Thandie Newton to stop a deadly bioweapon. But unfortunately their whirlwind romance feels contrived at best and cringey at worst. From an absurd car chase to melodaramtic villainous monologues, the movie delivers some...

Now that we're officially 25% through the 21st century, its time for Cinema Effect to return to your ears for another year. Our first episode back for 2025 dives into Conclave, a gripping conspiracy thriller that takes viewers inside the secretive process of selecting a new pope. With sharp dialogue and great performances from a stellar cast that includes Ralph Fiennes (the GOAT), Stanley Tucc...

Welcome to the grand finale of Cinema Effect’s huge 2024 season! It's time for the fifth annual Cinema Effect Awards, the most prestigious event in the world of movie and TV podcasts. In this special ceremony, we unveil our top picks for the biggest and most influential films and TV shows of 2024, setting the stage for awards season and beyond. Whether you're a fan of blockbusters, indie hits, or...

The countdown to The Final Reckoning has begun. Because we’re going back to where it all began with the first Mission Impossible (1996), the film that laid the groundwork for one of our favourite action franchises. Directed by Brian De Palma, this sleek and streamlined spy thriller follows Tom Cruise (played by Ethan Hunt) as he unravels a web of betrayal within the IMF after a mission goes catast...

This week we’re reviewing 2024's Drive-Away Dolls, a quirky road trip comedy from Ethan Coen. The film follows two mismatched women on a (barely) cross-country adventure that spirals into shenanigans when they cross paths with a couple of dull criminals seeking some thick cargo. Despite a cast featuring Margaret Qualley, Matt Damon, and Pedro Pascal, the humour often misses the mark, and the story...

We’re diving into Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, a huge adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel that immersed us in the extravagant world of the roaring 1920s in New York. With Baz’s confident direction and bold world-building, featuring lavish sets, a modern soundtrack, and extensive CGI, the film captures the opulence and decadence of Jay Gatsby’s quest for the American Dream. Leonar...