Scene These Reviews

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

“Father, I often think about the wind, how it moves things and how God moves the wind to bring everything where it should be, where it belongs.” These opening words in Karla Badillo’s debut feature OCA  set the tone for everything that follows, a meditation on faith, doubt, and the mysterious ways belief shapes human lives. Photo Courtesy of Cinema Tropical The film follows Rafaela, a nun who claims to receive visions from God, visions that often come true, though those aroun

After the Hunt  is a rich, philosophical exploration of generational divides, brought vividly to life by a stellar cast. It’s a dialogue-driven film, a “people talking” movie, that engages the audience through sharp, witty writing that leaves breadcrumb trails along the way. These trails occasionally mislead, intentionally so, mirroring the confusion, guilt, and defensiveness that can surface when each generation is confronted with devastating accusations before all the fact

I’m usually the first to champion an abstract film that leans on allegory, but If I Had Legs I’d Kick You  is a big swing with too many...

The Great Eleanor  sets out to be sweet, charming, witty, and historically resonant, but its lack of dynamism leaves it striking only a...