Scene These Reviews

Going into Pillion , I expected two things: another great performance from Alexander Skarsgård (one of the most consistently compelling actors working today) and a kinky BDSM adventure between two men. What I got was something far richer and more emotionally resonant. While Skarsgård may be the more recognizable name, it’s Harry Melling who truly commands the film. His performance is raw, vulnerable, and quietly courageous, grounding the story with an emotional honesty that l

2025 brought many highs; I became a member of the Portland Critics Association, we launched Scene This, our weekly movie podcast that has survived its first year, I attended my first film festival (TIFF), and lastly, the year 2025 gifted me the most new releases films from any given year that I've ever seen. Of the 370 films I watched this year, 130 of them were released in 2025. For the top 25 of 2025, there is a mix of big studio films, independent films and a variety of un

Rental Family  is a film with a huge heart, which may manipulate your emotions, but it earns every tug with genuine warmth and charm. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures As an American, it’s always refreshing to step into a story set outside the familiar, and it’s even sweeter when that story stars Brendan Fraser against the beautiful backdrop of Japan. Directed by Hikari , best known to many Western viewers for the acclaimed Netflix series Beef , Rental Family  follows Fr