THE DEBUT - Julianne Moore is completely off the chain in this irreverent, although uneven character study about a meek woman with big showbiz dreams. Very funny, but occasionally baffling. Giamatti, as expected, steals the whole thing. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

SEIZED - it’s establishment vs media when small town tea spills and becomes national news. The issues at hand are a microcosm of the larger conversation around the role of journalism. Also, fuck cops. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

HANGING BY A WIRE - an edge-of-your-seat doc about a perilous and unlikely rescue. The ubiquity of phones and drones results in a collection of absolutely astonishing footage. Humans, for all of our flaws, are fucking awesome. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

THE MATCH - a lightning paced sports doc that imbues a legendary and controversial football match with loads of historical context. While it’s slightly hampered by the necessary absence of footage, it remains utterly fascinating and informative. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

MINOTAUR - a shiny Joe Ezsterhas-esque thriller that thinks it’s so much classier than it actually is. Sleaze dressed as high art, delivered with icy detachment and humor as black as night.

EVERYTIME - a perplexing, beguiling treat that seems to posit that grief is powerful enough to be considered a form of magic. Gorgeously shot and performed, and like life itself, it refuses to hold your hand. Perfection. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM - a miraculous document of a single point in history. Essential education that is endlessly entertaining. A blessing, since we never learned about this pocket of American history in school. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

WILD HORSE NINE - Malkovich and Rockwell prove excellent vessels for McDonagh’s patented quippy dialogue as they bicker their way across Easter Island. Absolutely hilarious, with plenty of the playwright-turned-filmmaker’s pet themes. I loved it! #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

YELLOW LETTERS - a tale of artistic integrity vs. just paying the damn bills. Spottily paced but riveting nonetheless. Özgü Namal stuns. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

LABRADOR - AUTOPSY OF SILENCE - An oxymoronic “chilly slow-burn” that dissects a potential murder that occurred within the vacuum of a ship at sea. A tight wire of suspense and mystery, with an ending that, despite reflecting truth, feels incomplete #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

HALF - two half-vampires (which equals one full vampire if my math is correct) get carjacked, and now everyone has to die as violently as possible. Not much more to it than that, and that’s all you need. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

LOOK BACK - a cozy, whimsical tale of friendship, creativity, and loss. Frequently gorgeous, with a stunning score. The leads are perfectly cast as both children and young women. Based on the anime of the same name. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

THE MELTDOWN - all the pieces of a great movie are here, but the execution lacks punch. A handsome production and excellent central child performance do little to shake the feeling of insubstantiality. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

scullyvision.com/2026/10/22/… #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

VERTIGINOUS - Nobody does absurdism quite like Quentin Dupieux. His take on simulation theory is imaginative and silly as hell. It’s smart enough to roll credits just as the bit starts running out of juice. It’s a hoot, but you won’t like it. #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

LE FAUX SOIR - a historical heist-adjacent film about the mad rush by Belgian anti-fascists to supplant a propaganda newspaper with a parody version in 1943.

RIDER - a stirring and energetic Neo-musical that doubles as a music video. A strong central performance and inventive lighting fuel this sexy tale of crime and romance. One of the biggest surprises at #PFF35 @phillyfilmsoc

ARRESTED MEMORY - As silly as it is thrilling, this tale of a detective suffering from “stress amnesia” is a crowd-pleasing treat. Laughs and bone-breaking fisticuffs come in equal measure, all in service of a clever caper.

MOUSE - given recent events in my life, this tale of finding oneself in the turbulent wake of grief absolutely destroyed me. Yet it’s not a dour film. There’s joy and humor in every scene. The tonal balance is exceptional.