The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 180

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian covered the following titles:

Brian also appeared on a new episode of The CineFiles, discussing The Bride!Project Hail Mary, and The Last Dragon (1985)And he returned to KARE 11 on Saturday to offer some Oscar picks and predictions.

If you’re interested in more of Brian’s work, show your support by joining his Patreon community.

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter published reviews for Project Hail Mary and Undertone. He also published his final Oscar predictions, which can also be read at the Eden Prairie Local News and the Woodbury News Net.

This week, you can find reviews for three new releases, including Project Hail Mary, which opens March 20th!

Eric Houston presses play on Project Hail Mary.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night, Jakob posts his Ranking of the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Feature Films (minus one!)

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

At his site, Liedke reviewed the recently released movie, “The Bride,” and wrote a column about iconic film studio logos. He also shared his predictions for the 98th Academy Awards. Check out how his predictions compared to what won.

Connect with FlixChatter on Letterboxd and social media » Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky

Paul is back with some new reviews!

PROJECT HAIL MARY – review

HOPPERS – review

THE MADISON – review

SCARPETTA – review

Paul’s Weekly Newsletter – Paul’s Oscar Predictions

Follow Paul across social media @PAULSMOVIETRIP, Letterboxd, and Patreon

Film Reviews:

Film Reviews: 

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews:

Reviews for Undertone and Slanted.

Interview with actress/model Joy Ford.


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 179

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

For his Patreon community, he posted an exclusive review of The Bride!.

For the Duluth News Tribune, Jay rounded up this year’s Best Picture Oscar nominees. For The Tangential, he reviewed Sirāt.

The Vern writes a review of a fun little noir thriller about a late-night security guard who suspects something foul of one of its tenants in Shift.

The Vern gets called by his real name and discusses the Oscars on the DDI Films Podcast. And later on, The Rotten Truth, The Vern and Donnie discuss the lowest-rated movie in Rotten Tomatoes’ history: Stephen King’s Graveyard Shift, which got a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.

On Press Play, Eric Houston talks murder babies and Michael Moriarty with his review of Larry Cohen’s It’s Alive Trilogy.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob reviews the new Disney/PIXAR film Hoppers and gives his Final Winner Predictions for the 98th Academy Awards!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Erik published 5 reviews this week, finishing his series ranking the 10 Best Picture nominees for the 98th Oscars. They include “Sentimental Value,” “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” “Hamnet,” and “Marty Supreme.”

At his site, Liedke reviewed recent releases “Psycho Killer,” “How to Make a Killing,” “Crime 101,” “Hoppers” and “Protector.” He also wrote about the films nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars, and penned a column about the closing of his hometown theater in International Falls, Minn.

Connect with FlixChatter on Letterboxd and social media » Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky

Film Reviews:

Film Reviews:

Blu-ray/UHD:

Film reviews for The Dreadful and The Bride.

Interview with film reviewer Jared Huizenga.


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 178

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

The MN Movie Man hopes you’re crossing the final titles off your Oscar list—he’s nearly completed another full sweep himself, catching every nominee from Sinners to Mr. Nobody Against Putin!

This past weekend also brought the return of America’s favorite toxic relationship: Ghostface and Sidney in Scream 7. You can read his spoiler‑free review for Loud and Clear Reviews, along with coverage of several new releases, including Dolly (opening this week), Honey BunchDreamsHow to Make a KillingBy DesignPillionThe Moment, and two of his most admired films of 2026 so far: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.

On the physical‑media side, he’s reviewed Jacques Tati’s Playtime and Reginald Hudlin’s House Party—both entering the Criterion Collection—plus new 4K editions of Death on the NileEvil Under the SunThe Mirror Crack’d, and more on the way. Be sure to follow him on Instagram and keep an eye out for upcoming giveaways of physical media and digital codes!

Be sure to follow The MN Movie Man on InstagramLetterboxdTikTok, and Facebook for his weekly early looks at upcoming films and other updates between newsletters!

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

For his Patreon community, he posted a new entry in his essay series, The Definitives, about Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia (1999). He also posted his Scream 7 review exclusively to Patreon.

Elsewhere, Brian returned to KQRS (92.5 FM), the Twin Cities’ classic rock station, to talk about what’s in theaters. And he co-hosted the latest episode of The CineFiles, on which he and KARE 11’s Chris Hrapsky discuss Ghost ElephantsHow to Make a Killing, and “Wuthering Heights”.

Dallas has one new review up on his website this week, and it’s for the new Jessica Chastain-starring romantic thriller, DREAMS.

A video review for SCREAM 7 can also be found over on his Instagram.

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed Dreams.

This week, you can find an early review for Michel Franco & Jessica Chastain’s follow-up to the excellent and underseen Memory from 2023! Does Dreams continue a strong partnership? [Early Review] Dreams (2025)

In case you missed it, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now available for digital purchase! You can find my review on the site as well! [Early Review] 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob has reviews for Scream 7, Michel Franco’s newest film, Dreams, starring Jessica Chastain, as well as a review for the new second season of Apple’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Erik published 5 reviews this week, part of his series ranking the 10 Best Picture nominees for the 98th Oscars. They include “Bugonia,” “Frankenstein,” “F1,” “The Secret Agent,” and “Train Dreams.”

Connect with FlixChatter on Letterboxd and social media » Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky

Film Reviews:

Film Review:

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews: 

Scream 7 Review

Interview with actress Georgia Reding


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 177

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

Eli has a few new pieces this week over on Cinephile Corner. In their movie reviews section, he has reviews for the following films:

He is also reviewing a different Hong Kong action movie every Sunday for the first half of 2026. This week, he wrote about Tsui Hark’s 1989 film A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

For his Patreon community, he posted an exclusive review of “Wuthering Heights”.

Finally, Brian appeared on KARE 11 to recommend three movies about the Olympics.

Over on his website, Dallas reviewed two new releases: Pillion and How to Make a Killing

You can also check out two video reviews over on his Instagram: Wuthering Heights and Crime 101

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed How to Make a Killing. He also published his extensive list of the Top 50 Films of the 2020s.

This week, there are several new release reviews available and a necessary Oscar-nominated documentary.

On this latest episode of Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac for Cinema Recall, The Vern reviews these movies: Send Help, How to Make a Killing, Sirat, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, Wuthering Heights, and The Moment.

In this week’s issue of the “Picturegoer” newsletter, thoughts on Sam Raimi’s “Send Help”, Federico Fellini’s “8 1/2”, Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlowe in “Farewell, My Lovely”, Charlie Chaplin in “A Night in the Show”, Lon Chaney Jr. as the “Son of Dracula”, and an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”.  Follow the link.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob finally finishes his Sundance Festival coverage with reviews for Rachel Lambert’s Carousel and NB Mager’s Run Amok! Also up on the site are his Final Winner Predictions for BAFTA (which will have already been announced by the time of this posting), PGA, WGA, and SAG (Actor Awards)!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Erik has one new film review this week, covering Kon Ichikawa’s sports documentary masterpiece,  “Tokyo Olympiad” (1965).

Check out what Paul has been working on!

Baz Luhrmann Interview – EPiC ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT

WUTHERING HEIGHTS – review

Fox9 Good Day – Your Next TV Binge

Follow Paul across social media @PAULSMOVIETRIP, on Letterboxd, on YouTube, and Patreon.

Film Reviews:

Film Reviews: 

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews: 

Film Reviews:

Interview with writer/director Wesley Johnson


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 176

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

Eli has a few new pieces this week over on Cinephile Corner. In their movie reviews section, he has reviews for the following new releases:

He is also reviewing a different Hong Kong action movie every Sunday for the first half of 2026. This week, he wrote about John Woo’s 1987 film A Better Tomorrow II.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

For his Patreon community, Brian posted a new entry in his essay series, The Definitives, about John Sturges’ Bad Day at Black Rock (1955).

Finally, Brian appeared on the latest episode of The CineFiles. He and Chris Hrapsky discuss Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, Nirvanna the Band the Show the MoviePillion, and Magnolia (1999).

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed Pillion and Crime 101. He commenced his series on the 50 best films of the 2020s on his Instagram page.

Jason “The Vern” Hemming releases another episode of Random Thoughts of a Movie Insomniac, with short reviews of: The Running Man (2025), Marty Supreme, The King of Comedy, The Testament of Ann Lee, and more.

On Cinema Recall’s website, you can read his review of the Oscar nominated Documentary, Mr. Nobody Against Putin.

Over on Rabbit Hole Podcasts, check out a new episode of The Rotten Truth, a podcast that looks at low scores on Rotten Tomatoes to see how bad they really are. On this edition, Donnie Roberts and The Vern watch the feature film debut of controversial comedian Andrew “Dice” Clay, and his feature, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob reviews Gore Verbinski’s wild Good Luck, Have Fun, Dont Die, the Sam Riley-starring resort-set thriller Islands, and continues to catch up on Sundance reviews with Rock Springs!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Erik hosted the February edition of the Secret Movie Night at Emagine Willow Creek and selected “Ace in the Hole” (1951). Thank you to everyone who showed up!

Review: SCARLET (2025) – A medieval princess on a vengeful quest in this Hamlet-inspired action fantasy anime feature

Review: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die – Sam Rockwell lets it rip in this wild, wacky, chaotic anti-AI sci-fi satire

Review: CRIME 101 (2026) – Hemsworth & Ruffalo reunite in this stylish, moody Michael Mann-esque heist flick

Connect with FlixChatter on Letterboxd and social media » Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky

Paul is here with new reviews, articles, and a fun interview to share!

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die – Review

Crime 101 – review

Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry Interview – Crime 101

Paul’s Weekly Newsletter – Remembering James Van Der Beek

Book Review – The Last Kings of Hollywood by Paul Fischer

Follow Paul across social media @PAULSMOVIETRIP, on Letterboxd, on YouTube, and Patreon.

Film Reviews:

Film Reviews:

Blue-ray/UHD Reviews:

Film Reviews:

Podcast interview with actress Gael Palen

Tyler’s latest on Cinefied dives into pop chaos with The Moment and rides into Westeros lore with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, two very different worlds united by sharp storytelling and big swings.


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 175

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

Eli has a few new pieces this week over on Cinephile Corner. In their movie reviews section, he has reviews for the following past/classic releases:

He is also reviewing a different Hong Kong action movie every Sunday for the first half of 2026. This week, he wrote about John Woo’s 1986 film A Better Tomorrow.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

For his community on Patreon, Brian posted an exclusive review of The Strangers: Chapter 3.

Dallas has two new reviews over at his website that are actually for movies released last weekend, but they’re still playing in theaters:

You can also see some video reviews for a few newer releases on his Instagram:

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed Josephine out of the Sundance Film Festival. He also has an early review for Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.

He also made a list of predictions of who will be the jury president of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob catches up on Sundance reviews for Chasing Summer, Union County, and the Audience and Dramatic Prize winner Josephine!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Erik published two new film reviews this week:

He has also been invited by Emagine Willow Creek to host the February 11th edition of their Secret Movie Night series. Tickets are still available!

At his site, Liedke reviewed recent releases “Mercy,” “Shelter,” and “Send Help.”

Connect with FlixChatter on Letterboxd and social media » Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky

Paul is back with some new reviews and interviews

You can find Paul on social media @PAULSMOVIETRIP, Letterboxd, YouTube, and Patreon

Film Reviews:

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews:

Film Reviews:

Interview with writer/illustrator Dennis Vogen


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Individual Top Tens of 2025

The recent MNFCA Awards delivered a composite consensus for what our members deemed the best films of the year. But how would things look if we broke it down to an individual level? Well, that’s exactly what we’ve done with this article!

Each member of the MNFCA was asked to submit their individual film lists. We encourage you to use these lists as a jumping-off point for discovering some great films that came out in 2025, and appreciate the great work that all of our members do!

  1. Train Dreams
  2. The Testament of Ann Lee
  3. Frankenstein
  4. Sinners
  5. Song Sung Blue
  6. Sentimental Value
  7. Sirât
  8. Weapons
  9. A Nice Indian Boy
  10. Friendship
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. The Phoenician Scheme
  3. Eddington
  4. Cloud
  5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
  6. Marty Supreme
  7. Weapons
  8. Final Destination Bloodlines
  9. Wick Is Pain
  10. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. Marty Supreme
  3. Sentimental Value
  4. The Mastermind
  5. Mickey 17
  6. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  7. The Long Walk
  8. Sinners
  9. The Shrounds
  10. The Life of Chuck
  1. Black Bag
  2. Train Dreams
  3. Warfare
  4. One Battle After Another
  5. Caught Stealing
  6. Freaky Tales
  7. Sinners
  8. The Life of Chuck
  9. Marty Supreme
  10. Twinless
  1. Hamnet
  2. April
  3. Marty Supreme
  4. Frankenstein
  5. Sentimental Value
  6. Train Dreams
  7. Resurrection
  8. Is This Thing On?
  9. No Other Choice
  10. Jay Kelly
  1. The Long Walk
  2. One Battle After Another
  3. Friendship
  4. Sinners
  5. 28 Years Later
  6. The Testament of Ann Lee
  7. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
  8. It Was Just an Accident
  9. Bad Shabbos
  10. Marty Supreme
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. Sinners
  3. Marty Supreme
  4. Weapons
  5. Frankenstein
  6. Train Dreams
  7. Hamnet
  8. It Was Just an Accident
  9. Zootopia 2
  10. Superman
  1. Marty Supreme
  2. Sinners
  3. Black Bag
  4. Sentimental Value
  5. Is This Thing On?
  6. No Other Choice
  7. Sketch
  8. Splitsville
  9. It Was Just an Accident
  10. Weapons
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. Friendship
  3. Sentimental Value
  4. Sinners
  5. Sorry, Baby
  6. Weapons
  7. Superman
  8. It Was Just an Accident
  9. Die My Love
  10. KPop Demon Hunters
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. Sentimental Value
  3. Weapons
  4. Bugonia
  5. The Naked Gun
  6. The Housemaid
  7. Eddington
  8. Nouvelle Vague
  9. The Toxic Avenger
  10. F1
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. Marty Supreme
  3. Sentimental Value
  4. 28 Years Later
  5. The Secret Agent
  6. Sinners
  7. Hamnet
  8. Weapons
  9. Black Bag
  10. Blue Moon
  1. Hamnet
  2. One Battle After Another
  3. Sinners
  4. Bob Trevino Likes It
  5. Sorry, Baby
  6. Come See Me in the Good Light
  7. All That’s Left of You
  8. One of Them Days
  9. Jay Kelly
  10. The Testament of Ann Lee

Insert text here

  1. No Other Choice
  2. It Was Just an Accident
  3. One Battle After Another
  4. Sentimental Value
  5. Rental Family
  6. KPop Demon Hunters
  7. Sinners
  8. Hamnet
  9. Superman
  10. Song Sung Blue
  1. Sinners
  2. It Was Just an Accident
  3. Twinless
  4. Train Dreams
  5. Weapons
  6. Sentimental Value
  7. Hamnet
  8. Marty Supreme
  9. Bring Her Back
  10. One Battle After Another
  1. No Other Choice
  2. Bugonia
  3. Sentimental Value
  4. Blue Moon
  5. Frankenstein
  6. The Phoenician Scheme
  7. Wake Up Dead Man
  8. Rental Family
  9. Sorry, Baby
  10. Rosemead
  1. Hamnet
  2. Sentimental Value
  3. Train Dreams
  4. Frankenstein
  5. The Secret Agent
  6. One Battle After Another
  7. Black Bag
  8. Sinners
  9. Rental Family
  10. Checkpoint Zoo
  1. One Battle After Another
  2. Sinners
  3. The Life of Chuck
  4. Hamnet
  5. Weapons
  6. Marty Supreme
  7. Jay Kelly
  8. Wicked: For Good
  9. Train Dreams
  10. Is This Thing On?
  1. Resurrection
  2. The Secret Agent
  3. One Battle After Another
  4. Sinners
  5. Frankenstein
  6. Marty Supreme
  7. Sentimental Value
  8. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  9. It Was Just an Accident
  10. The Long Walk

Unranked:

  • The Ugly Stepsister
  • If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  • Predator: Killer of Killers
  • Sovereign
  • Highest 2 Lowest
  • A Little Prayer
  • Twinless
  • Rebuilding
  • The Rule of Jenny Pen
  • Roofman
  1. Hamnet
  2. Sinners
  3. Marty Supreme
  4. Weapons
  5. One Battle After Another
  6. Frankenstein
  7. Train Dreams
  8. Sentimental Value
  9. Nouvelle Vague
  10. Eephus
  1. Jay Kelly
  2. Thunderbolts*
  3. Materialists
  4. Twinless
  5. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  6. KPop Demon Hunter
  7. Hamnet
  8. Elio
  9. Frankenstein
  10. The Fantastic 4: First Steps

Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: No. 174

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

Eli has a few new pieces this week over on Cinephile Corner. In their movie reviews section, he has reviews for the following new releases:

He is also reviewing a different Hong Kong action movie every Sunday for the first half of 2026. This week, he wrote about John Woo’s 1979 film Last Hurrah for Chivalry.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed Send Help and Shelter.

He also posted an expanded version of his essay in The Definitives about Jules Dassin’s Brute Force (1947).

For more of Brian’s exclusive reviews and essays, please consider joining DFR’s community on Patreon.

Brian also appeared opposite Chris Hrapsky on the latest episode of The CineFiles, where they discussed Send HelpThe Rip, and Mercy.

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed Shelter and The Wrecking Crew. He also previewed all the films he planned on seeing at the (virtual) Sundance Film Festival.

GOAT Film Reviews has reviews for two new releases this week!

In this week’s “Picturegoer” newsletter, thoughts on “Mercy”, “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse”, “Evil of Frankenstein”, “Strike”, “There Will Be Blood”, and “Dropsie Avenue”.  Follow the link.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob reviews Sam Raimi’s return to horror, Send Help, and shares his Personal Awards for the films of 2025!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Erik has one new film review this week, covering “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (2025).

Connect with FlixChatter on Letterboxd and social media » Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky

Film Reviews:

Film Reviews:

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews:

Film Reviews:


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 173

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

The MN Movie Man has just returned from Las Vegas, where he sought out every movie-themed slot machine to play (pro-tip: go for the Willy Wonka one for max enjoyment) and caught the stunning new release of The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.

Despite much internal struggle, he’s finalized his annual wrap-up of 2025 with his list of the Best, Worst, and Surprises of the year.

2026 is off to a smashing start at his site, and if you’ve been waiting to catch up — now is the time. In addition to new reviews of The RipPrimate, and People We Meet on Vacation, you can plan your next binge with reviews of Season 2 of HBO’s blockbuster hit The Pitt and the new Netflix mystery His & Hers. A number of new ‘old’ reviews will be coming in the next week, and if you haven’t yet signed up to receive notifications, you can do that here!

Over at  Loud and Clear Reviews, check out his review of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials as well as Sleepwalker.

Be sure to follow The MN Movie Man on InstagramLetterboxdTikTok, and Facebook for his weekly early looks at upcoming films and other updates between newsletters!

Eli has a few new pieces this week over on Cinephile Corner. In their movie reviews section, he has reviews for the following new releases:

Matt took a look at two crime films this week: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Netflix release, as well as a Belgian film from 2024 that just dropped onto VOD:

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

Brian also appeared on “Gorman in the Morning” on KQRS (92.5 FM) to discuss several new releases in theaters right now.

On the latest episode of the streaming show The CineFiles, Brian and co-hosts Chris Hrapsky and Jamie Rogers discuss No Other ChoiceIs This Thing On?and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

Finally, on Brian’s Patreon, he posted a new entry in his essay series, The Definitives, about The Battle of Algiers (1966).

Over at Dallas Goes to the Movies this week, Dallas has three new movie reviews:

There are also two new video reviews for you to enjoy!

Looking forward to a great 2026 at the movies!

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Dead Man’s Wire, and The Rip.

Over on GOAT Film Reviews, you can find reviews for two new releases:

You can also find a new Dispatch, another set of mini-reviews for Reflection in a Dead Diamond, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, Predator: Killer of Killers, The Plague, and The Luckiest Man in America: Dispatches from 2025!

If you missed my Top Ten Films of 2025 or my Most Anticipated Films of 2026, you can find those as well!

Two new “issues” of the Picturegoer newsletter this week!  Issue 45 covers “28 Years Later”, “Dumb and Dumber”, “It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown”, “Love in the Afternoon” and “Stir Crazy”; issue 46 covers “The Bone Temple”, “The Blue Angel”, “Chi-Raq”, “The Mouse That Roared” and “Spaceballs”.  Follow the links!

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob reviews 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and presents his FINAL 2026 Oscar Nomination Predictions before Thursday’s big announcement. 

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Catherine has one new review on The Feed: “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” Additionally, she appeared on The Revisionist’s Almanac podcast for a special 2025 Year-End Collaboration.

At his site, Liedke has been busy reviewing award contenders and other movies from the film fest circuit. Recently, he’s reviewed “Arco,” “Die My Love,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Hedda,” “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” “Jay Kelly,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Marty Supreme,” “No Other Choice,” “Nouvelle Vague,” “Rental Family,” “Rosemead,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Song Sung Blue,” “The Testament of Ann Lee,” “Train Dreams” and “Wake Up Dead Man.”

Film Reviews:

Film Reviews: 

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews:

Podcast Reviews:


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿


The Minnesota Movie Digest: Issue No. 172

The Minnesota Movie Digest, from the Minnesota Film Critics Association, showcases film reviews, essays, and interviews, highlighting latest releases and classic films. Stay updated with film critiques through their social media channels.

Welcome to The Minnesota Movie Digest, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Minnesota Movie Digest features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now… The Minnesota Movie Digest.

Eli has a few new pieces this week over on Cinephile Corner. In their movie reviews section, he has reviews for the following new releases:

He also updated his ranking of Edgar Wright’s movies following the release of The Running Man and his ranking of Avatar movies following the release of Fire and Ash. Lastly, he listed the 50 best movies of 2025

Matt kicked off 2026 with both his annual Year in Review, discussing some of his favorite theatrical experiences, as well as a Newsletter where he goes into detail on three recent film adaptations of Donald E. Westlake novels (Play DirtyThe Actor, and No Other Choice)

Additionally, he knocked out a pair of reviews for two indie crime films that had been kicking around the festival circuit:

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the following titles:

Brian also appeared as a guest on two podcasts: First, he discussed Rental Family with Dr. Marcia Sirota on the Reel Mental podcast. Then, he appeared on the Movie of the Year podcast to discuss Ken Russell’s The Devils (1971).

For the streaming show The CineFiles, Brian and co-hosts Chris Hrapsky and Jamie Rogers shared their Top 10 Movies of 2025.

On January 10, Brian returned to KARE 11 Saturday to discuss two new releases in theaters: Is This Thing On? and Father Mother Sister Brother.

On Brian’s Patreon, he posted the following:

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter reviewed The Chronology of Water. He also published his Top 10 Films of 2025 at the Eden Prairie Local News and the Woodbury News Net.

For The Tangential, Jay reviewed Sentimental Value and Train Dreams. And then at the Duluth News Tribune, he reviewed Marty Supreme and The Hockey Mom’s Revenge.

Better late than never.  Over on The Cinema Recall podcast. It’s The Vern’s Top 10 Movies of 2025 and his 5 worst.

In this week’s “Picturegoer” newsletter, Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried in “The Housemaid”; the horror anthology “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors”; David Bowie in Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth”; James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland in “The Strawberry Blonde”; the silent classic “Waxworks”; and Peter Biskind’s Warren Beatty biography “Star”.  Follow the link.

Over at JakobTalksFilm, Jakob reviews Song Sung Blue and announces his picks for the Top 10 TV Series of 2025 and his Most Anticipated Films of 2026!

Be sure to follow him on TwitterBluSky, and Letterboxd!

Catherine shared her Best of 2025 lists: Movies Part One | Movies Part Two | Television

You can also check out her Letterboxd year in review. She watched nearly 500 films!

She finally finished a years-long project of adding the nearly 9,000 films she’s seen to genre listscentury listsdecade lists, and year lists.

Additionally, Catherine continued this year’s FYC Friday series with quick thoughts on some notable 2025 releases, including “Deaf President Now,” “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” and more. Her Wayback Wednesday series returned last week with a look back at 1926.

Paul McGuire Grimes is back with some new interviews, interviews, and media appearances this week!

Jon Bernthal & Tessa Thompson Interview – HIS & HERS

THE HOUSEMAID – review

Catch Me If You Can & Minority Report – 4K Reviews

A Spotlight on Rob Reiner – My Weekly Patreon Newsletter

The 2025 Actor Awards The Nominees Are… – Patreon

One Battle After Another – Oscar Frontrunner – My rundown of the CCA and MNFCA Winners – Patreon

Film Reviews:

End of Year:

Film Reviews: 

Blu-ray/UHD Reviews:


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Association! 🎬🍿