CFTCA Digest: May 2024 - Cascadia Film & TV Critics Association

Welcome to CFTCA’s monthly digest for May 2024, a roundup of recent reviews, features, interviews, and more by CTFCA critics. In May, a handful of our members were busy covering the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), which celebrated its fiftieth edition this year. Take a look what our critics had to say about the films they watched and the artists they spoke with.

SIFF Coverage

Three Festival Dispatches from Eric Zhu

#1: Thelma, Terrestrial Verses
#2: NYC RGB, Rising Up at Night
#3: Close Your Eyes

Find more of Eric’s writing on The Insert.

Interviews by Nick Tiffany

#1: Thelma Interview – Josh Margolin, June Squibb, & Fred Hechinger
#2: Bob Trevino Likes It Interview – Tracie Laymon
#3: Resynator Interview – Alison Tavel

Find more of Nick’s work on his website.

I Saw the TV Glow | Reviewed by Taylor Baker | Read the full review

“While it does a great job of setting its mood and tone, its lack of commitment to what is real and what isn’t undercuts the strength of the narrative and feels like a cop-out of what the characters and the audience saw during the runtime.”

Find more of Taylor’s writing on Drink in the Movies.

AGGRO DR1FT | Reviewed by Taylor Beaumont | Read the full review

“But are we really supposed to engage with this film in such an analytical manner? Does Korine want us to? Does Korine even care? Or should we just take these children to represent Korine himself? Because it seems to me like AGGRO DR1FT is the result of Korine simply playing, fucking around.”

Taylor writes for ForReel.

Reviews by Michael Clawson

#1: The Major Tones
#2: Babes
#3: Seagrass

Michael writes for Drink in the Movies.

Ethan Simmie’s Best of SIFF

Check out Ethan’s picks for the best of the fest here.

Find more of Ethan’s work on Agents of Fandom.

Interviews by Thomas Stoneham-Judge

#1: Dìdi (弟弟) Costume Designer & I Think I’d Like to Say Writer/Director Brianna B Murphy
#2: Tim Travers & The Time Traveler’s Paradox and WA-based Filmmaking w/ Director Stimson Snead
#3: “Iti Mapukpukaw” (The Missing) Dir Carl Papa On Filmmaking, Animation In The Philippines

Find more of Thomas’ work on ForReel.

Contra Zoom Pod’s Festival Wrap-Up

Thomas Stoneham-Judge joined Dakota Arsenault on the Contra Zoom podcast to swap thoughts on a range of films, including Dìdi⁠, ⁠The Missing (Iti mapukpukaw)⁠, ⁠Tiger Stripes⁠, ⁠Terrestrial Verses⁠, ⁠Hitchcock’s Pro-Nazi Film⁠ and ⁠Bob Trevino Likes It⁠.

Find more episodes of the Contra Zoom podcast on their website.

New Releases

Hit Man | Reviewed by Darren Zakus | Read the full review

“Hit Man is without a question one of the most entertaining films of the year thanks to a well crafted, smart and hilarious screenplay, and a brilliant charismatic lead performance from Glen Powell!”

Darren writes for Movie Scene Canada.

Furisosa: A Mad Max Saga | Reviewed by Taylor Baker | Read the full review

“Despite its issues, Miller’s passion shines through. Watching the old master try painting with a different brush on his Wasteland canvas is intriguing, even when it’s an eyesore.”

Find more of Taylor’s writing on Drink in the Movies.

The King Tide | Reviewed by Matthew Simpson | Read the full review

“Combined with the performances and the stark but stunning landscapes of Newfoundland, The King Tide is an excellent character study, a shocking thriller, and a great Canadian film as a result.”

Find more of Matthew’s work on Awesome Friday.

The Last Stop in Yuma Country | Reviewed by Darren Zakus | Read the full review

“The Last Stop in Yuma County is a tension filled boiler pot of dark humour, crime and isolation in this single location bound thriller from writer and director Francis Galluppi that is wildly entertaining and nerve wracking thanks to a great screenplay and talented cast led by a brilliant turn from Jim Cummings..”

Darren writes for Movie Scene Canada.

Television

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire | Reviewed by Matthew Simpson | Read the full review

“In keeping with the franchise, Tales of the Empire is a mixed bag, albeit with a slightly more stark divide: one of these stories is thoughtful and interesting, and the other is just filler for the sake of filler.”

Find more of Matthew’s work on Awesome Friday.