The Cinephile Mind

Brand New Film Publication & Podcast
Hosts: Miguel/Nic/Spenser/Hunter/Jack
Website/Podcast/Social links, below:

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

#TheOdyssey - WOW. While it took a little while for the movie to finally get going, once it did, it was perfection til the very end. Christopher Nolan has done it again. Matt Damon is the perfect Odysseus and Anne Hathaway is coming for another Oscar 👏 Full Review Wednesday.

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Here we go! #theodyssey

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

A24 sure knows how to create a proper teaser, and Primetime looks like another win for Robert Pattinson in what’s looking like a banner year for him.

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

With reception like this, combined with an unprecedented increase in box office the second weekend of its wide release, I wouldn’t be surprised if Focus Features start an Oscar campaign for Obsession. And I wouldn’t be mad about it either. Curry Barker is a generational talent.

[The Cinephile Mind @cinephilemind]

Part 2

[The Cinephile Mind @cinephilemind]

Happy Mother’s Day, Cinephiles!

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

I wanted to love Hokum. Saw it at SXSW and again last night, and while it worked better the second time, something still feels missing. All the right horror ingredients are there. It just never fully clicks for me. Still good overall.

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Project Hail Mary is a profound, emotional, and visually stunning piece of cinema. A dying sun, a one-way trip, and a man who finds the meaning of life in the stars after failing to find it on Earth. At its heart is the purest form of friendship between Grace and Rocky, echoing Chuck Noland’s emotional dependency on Wilson in Cast Away. The moment he realizes Rocky saved him, I completely lost it. Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller should absolutely be in the Oscar conversation next year.

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

They Will Kill You is the perfect crowd movie. See it opening weekend. Had me hooked from the first frame to the last, just pure, unfiltered, hilarious and gory af entertainment. #SXSW

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Campeón Gabacho shows flashes of something exciting, like Cuarón carving out his own voice with hints of his father’s influence. There are artistic flourishes and even internal monologue woven in, reaching for something personal and inspiring, but it never quite connects on a deeper level as it should. There’s a distance that’s hard to shake, likely because the central character never quite evolves in a way that pulls us in. You can see the vision. It just doesn’t quite come together yet. #SXSW

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Poetic License doesn’t always land and could’ve been tighter, but there’s still plenty to love here. A Judd Apatow/James L. Brooks blend that gives us a raw and career-best performance by Leslie Mann. Directed by Maude Apatow in her debut, there’s something special about watching her guide her mom to her best role yet. Messy, funny, and unexpectedly moving. #SXSW

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Holy shit. Obsession from Curry Barker is batshit insane. My anxiety was through the roof the entire time. Still recovering from the shock. Need to gather my thoughts but wow… what a film. #SXSW

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Leviticus is the best film I’ve seen at #SXSW so far. A coming-of-age story that doubles as a horror masterpiece set within a Christian community where desire itself becomes the monster. The demon appears as the person you most want, turning every moment of intimacy into terror. Devastating. Haunting. This one is a definite must-see!

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

That said, cultural impact alone shouldn’t be the bellwether for an Oscar win. What makes Amy Madigan’s performance the exception is that without Gladys, specifically her characterization of Gladys, Weapons simply wouldn’t have worked the way it did. It’s Madigan’s performance that elevates the film and transforms the character into something instantly iconic.

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

In a category stacked with incredible performances, Amy Madigan is a fully deserving Oscar winner. Conan opening the show as Gladys is proof of the cultural impact of Madigan’s performance. The character is already iconic. A massive win for the horror genre.

[The Cinephile Mind @cinephilemind]

The Cinephile Mind’s ranking of the Top 10 Best Picture nominees at tonight’s Oscars. https://t.co/KodeiEI5nA

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

John Carney’s Power Ballad is a 1000% certified hit and a sure-fire crowd pleaser. Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, and the entire cast are absolutely on fire. Big laughs, huge heart, and an ending that sneaks up on you emotionally. Is it too early to start predicting the Best Original Song winner at next year’s Oscars? #SXSW2026

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

The Sun Never Sets is the messy, complicated love triangle I thought Materialists was going to be, capturing the ups and downs and intricacies of relationships. Writer-director Joe Swanberg crafts characters that feel authentically, and frustratingly, real. Dakota Fanning truly shines in a natural, nuanced, and deeply felt performance you can’t take your eyes off; one I’ll be thinking about for a long time. #SXSW

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Being at SXSW surrounded by people who genuinely love movies is a much needed break from the toxicity of Film Twitter and the endless, unnecessary discourse from people who resemble stan culture more than cinephiles. The need to tear down filmmakers and twist their work to win arguments has become insufferable. A disappointing way to end an Oscar season that started on such a high note, especially when 2025 has been the best film year in over a decade. Can’t wait for this szn to be over.

[Miguel @miguelcmateo]

Family Movie is a fun, campy horror comedy that absolutely plays with a crowd. A true audience pleaser, with Kyra Sedgwick’s comedic talents shining throughout.