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A still image from Boxcutter starring Ashton James and Zoe Lewis. | Credit: James Klopko
A still image from Boxcutter starring Ashton James and Zoe Lewis. | Credit: James Klopko
Film Reviews / Interviews / SXSW Film & TV Festival

BOXCUTTER: A Love Letter to Toronto (Interview with Director Reza Dahya)

If Boxcutter is anything, it is a film that could only exist in Toronto. Dahya captures the city's essence not just in its diverse locations but in its language, music, and references.

1 Comment
March 10, 2025
Tea Leoni, Will Poulter, Paul Rudd, and Jenna Ortega in DEATH OF A UNICORN | Courtesy of A24
Tea Leoni, Will Poulter, Paul Rudd, and Jenna Ortega in DEATH OF A UNICORN | Courtesy of A24
Film Reviews / SXSW Film & TV Festival

DEATH OF A UNICORN Film Review – Weirdness for the Masses

At its core, Death of a Unicorn takes a bizarre, high-concept premise and runs it through a mainstream filter. It has moments of gore and absurdity, but it never truly leans into its weirdness in a way that would push boundaries.

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March 10, 2025
Sadie Sink in O'Dessa | Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
Sadie Sink in O'Dessa | Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
Film Reviews / SXSW Film & TV Festival

O’DESSA Film Review – A Neon Critique of the Entertainment Industry

With O’Dessa, sound is everything. Right from the title card, Geremy Jasper and Jason Binnick’s score, coupled with a thundering sound design, announces that music is the heartbeat of this world.

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March 9, 2025
The True Story of Being Bitten By a Tick Poster | Courtesy of Exile PR
The True Story of Being Bitten By a Tick Poster | Courtesy of Exile PR
Film Reviews / SXSW Film & TV Festival

The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick – What It Means to be an Indie Film

At the heart of The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick is Pete Ohs’ now-signature approach to filmmaking, a method he refers to as the “table of bubbles.”

1 Comment
March 7, 2025
Emma Laird as Lola in the film Satisfaction, covered in blue with a sliver of light
Lola (Emma Laird) in SATISFACTION | Credit: Mate Herbai, Director of Photography
Film Reviews / SXSW Film & TV Festival

SATISFACTION Film Review – A Haunting Exploration of Power, Silence, and Reclamation

SXSW 2025 is packed with exciting debuts, but few films have been crafted with as much care as Satisfaction.

1 Comment
March 7, 2025
SXSW 2025 Films to Watch Thumbnail with the SXSW logo and actors from various SXSW movies
SXSW Film & TV Festival

10 Must-Watch Films at SXSW

10 Must-Watch Films at SXSW SXSW is always packed with films that demand attention — some fresh out of Sundance or TIFF, and others making their world premiere right here…

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March 3, 2025
The Assessment Film Review Thumbnail with Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen sitting opposite each other
Film Reviews / Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

THE ASSESSMENT Film Review (With a New Trailer)

The Assessment marks the feature directorial debut of Fleur Fortuné, a sci-fi thriller that takes a coolly detached approach to dystopian storytelling.

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March 2, 2025
Fernanda Torres in I'm Still Here | Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Film Reviews

I’M STILL HERE Film Review – An Unflinching Performance from Fernanda Torres

I’m Still Here has quietly emerged as one of the year’s most remarkable finds – a film that faced an uphill climb but now stands firmly in the spotlight, and rightly so.

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March 2, 2025
A photo of actors from all 10 Best Picture Nominees from the 2025 Oscars
Film Reviews / Lists

Every Best Picture Nominee Ranked | Oscars 2025

Every Best Picture Nominee Ranked | Oscars 2025 Oscar season is here, and with it comes the annual tradition of ranking every Best Picture nominee. Some of these films blew…

1 Comment
February 28, 2025
Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales in MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE | www.mydeadfriendzoemovie.com
Film Reviews / Interviews

MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE – More than a “Movie” (Interview with Kyle Hausmann-Stokes)

From my conversation with director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, one thing became clear: My Dead Friend Zoe is more than just a movie. It’s an exploration of Hausmann-Stokes’ personal experiences as an Iraq War veteran and the post-traumatic pain and growth that can result. But, it isn’t only his story.

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February 21, 2025
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About Me

About Me

Adam Manery

From the classroom to the couch - a former teacher dives headfirst into the world of film.Occasionally insightful, but frequently full of existential dread and dry humour.
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YouTube

Points of Review

Film Reviews, Festival Coverage, and Interviews with Filmmakers

Points of Review
The Sun Never Sets is the latest film from writer-director Joe Swanberg, and stars Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle, Lamorne Morris, and Karley Sciortino. Set in Alaska, the film follows Wendy as her life is thrown into emotional chaos after taking space from her boyfriend Jack, only to unexpectedly reconnect with her ex, Chuck.Premiering at SXSW 2026, The Sun Never Sets is a return to the intimate, relationship-driven storytelling that defined some of Swanberg’s most acclaimed work, while using its Alaskan setting and 35mm texture to give that emotional volatility a striking visual backdrop.Cast of The Sun Never Sets:
Dakota Fanning as Wendy
Jake Johnson as Jack
Cory Michael Smith as Chuck
Debby Ryan
Anna Konkle
Lamorne Morris
Karley SciortinoMore from Points of Review
🌐 Website: https://pointsofreviews.com/
🎥 SXSW Film Page: https://schedule.sxsw.com/films/2241474
🔔 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXkV6g_6VFEZZqHFL7hxyw?sub_confirmation=1#thesunneversets #joeswanberg #mumblecore
The Sun Never Sets: FILM REVIEW | SXSW 2026
I Love Boosters is the latest film from writer-director Boots Riley, and stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore. Following a crew of professional shoplifters as they take aim at a ruthless fashion maven, the film blends crime-comedy chaos with Riley’s surrealist edge and sharp social satire.After opening SXSW 2026 ahead of its May 22 theatrical release from NEON, I Love Boosters arrives as one of the more intriguing American indie releases of the year.Cast of I Love Boosters:
Keke Palmer as Corvette
Naomi Ackie as Sade
Taylour Paige as Mariah
Poppy Liu as Jianpu
Demi Moore as Christie Smith
LaKeith Stanfield
Eiza González
Will Poulter
Don CheadleMore from Points of Review
🌐 Website: https://pointsofreviews.com/
🎥 Official Teaser Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnfTmSAnS3c
🔔 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXkV6g_6VFEZZqHFL7hxyw?sub_confirmation=1#iloveboosters #bootsriley #filmanalysis
I LOVE BOOSTERS: Film Review | SXSW 2026
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come brings Grace back into another blood-soaked game, but this time the sequel opens the world up beyond the Le Domas family and turns survival into a larger battle over wealth, power, and control. In this Ready or Not 2 review, I break down how Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett build on the original film’s horror-comedy chaos, how the new sister dynamic with Kathryn Newton changes the emotional core, and whether the sequel earns its bigger scale.Premiering at SXSW 2026 before its March 20 theatrical release, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come stars Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, and Olivia Cheng. Here is my spoiler-free review and analysis of what works, what doesn’t, and whether this horror sequel is worth watching.Cast of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come:
Samara Weaving as Grace
Kathryn Newton as Faith
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Ursula Danforth
Shawn Hatosy as Titus Danforth
Néstor Carbonell as Ignacio El Caido
David Cronenberg as Chester Danforth
Elijah Wood as the Lawyer
Olivia Cheng as Wan Chen Xing
Daniel Beirne as Kip Danforth
Antony Hall as Wan Cheng FuMore from Points of Review
🌐 Website: https://pointsofreviews.com/
🎥 Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K3sNRm8J0w
🔔 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXkV6g_6VFEZZqHFL7hxyw?sub_confirmation=1#readyornot2 #samaraweaving #filmanalysis
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come | FILM REVIEW (SXSW 2026)
What are the best movies from 2025?While this list is, in no way, absolute, here are some of the best films from this year. From The Mastermind through One Battle After Another, all the way to Sentimental Value and Sinners, I hope there is something for everyone.Check Out More: https://pointsofreviews.com/
Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf_2WXl6JaWabfNG2aVDARxKZL0bFSQ4c
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXkV6g_6VFEZZqHFL7hxyw?sub_confirmation=1Films Discussed:
Black Bag
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Starring Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Pierce Brosnan, and Regé-Jean Page
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du0Xp8WX_7IBring Her Back
Directed by Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Starring Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, and Jonah Wren Phillips
My Review: https://youtu.be/1JzdNdqJYZkBlue Moon
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo7gRHip0lIBunny
Directed by Ben Jacobson
Starring Mo Stark, Ben Jacobson, Liza Colby, Henry Czerny, and Richard Price
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU7-TlJjvKMBugonia
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Alicia Silverstone
My Review: https://youtu.be/Rgv4nTVsy7cDie, My Love
Directed by Lynne Ramsay
Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson
My Review: https://youtu.be/TvJ4Ago2dvYFriendship
Directed by Andrew DeYoung
Starring Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Meredith Garretson
My Review: https://youtu.be/8piaEUxZwR8Hamnet
Directed by Chloé Zhao
Starring Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, and Jacobi Jupe
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9FrQd8YEFcHallow Road
Directed by Babak Anvari
Starring Rosamund Pike, Matthew Rhys, and Megan McDonnell
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXGL49DpjJoIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Directed by Mary Bronstein
Starring Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, ASAP Rocky, and Christian Slater
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywFDoT7LBbQIt Was Just an Accident
Directed by Jafar Panahi
Starring Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, and Ebrahim Azizi
My Review: https://youtu.be/YMKW79IG4YkMarty Supreme
Directed by Josh Safdie
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, and Odessa A’zion
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9gSuKaKcqMNo Other Choice
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Starring Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, and Park Hee-soon
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njVI3uhuHNANouvelle Vague
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, and Aubry Dullin
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UufRzKVFsegOne Battle After Another
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFdemA5IZFYThe Mastermind
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
Starring Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, John Magaro, Gaby Hoffmann, and Bill Camp
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWokrf6yeEUThe Perfect Neighbor
Directed by Geeta Gandbhir
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMStPXclxSEPredators
Directed by David Osit
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fx52wd1QYISorry, Baby
Directed by Eva Victor
Starring Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, and Lucas Hedges
My Review: https://youtu.be/6cSh5DUkQp0The Secret Agent
Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Starring Wagner Moura, Udo Kier, and Maria Fernanda Cândido
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UfrzDKrhEcSentimental Value
Directed by Joachim Trier
Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKbcKQN5YrwSirat
Directed by Oliver Laxe
Starring Sergi López, Bruno Núñez Arjona, and Jade Oukid
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-IXHXvS70Sinners
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, and Delroy Lindo
My Review: https://youtu.be/DXmg5GMW-BUTogether
Directed by Michael Shanks
Starring Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Damon Herriman
My Review: https://youtu.be/REKowpAOtusTrain Dreams
Directed by Clint Bentley
Starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, and William H. Macy
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqdkHn4zY4QTimestamps:
The Top Films of the Year 00:00
25 00:37
24 01:52
23 03:12
22 04:31
21 05:43
20 07:04
19 08:20
18 09:35
17 10:57
16 12:23
15 13:37
14 14:53
13 16:27
12 17:51
11 19:04
10 20:16
9 21:37
8 22:56
7 24:02
6 25:26
5 26:53
4 28:12
3 29:39
2 31:13
1 32:36#filmrecommendations #indiemovies #2025
The 25 Best Films of 2025
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