Last weekend I went to the 2026 edition of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival. It is a young adult oriented film festival programmed by a committee of Toronto area high school students put on by the Toronto International Film Festival. I saw a bunch of the films programmed. This bonus episode is about my thoughts on the films that I saw. All of them first or second features by exciting up and coming directors.

• Stella Markert's Thanks For Nothing
• Paloma Schneideman's Big Girls Don't Cry
• Thomas Percy Kim's Isle Child
• Walter Thompson-Hernández's If I Go Will They Miss Me
• Avalon Fast's CAMP
• Imran Perretta's Ish

I also discuss Chandler Levack's latest film for Netflix, Roommates, which had a preview screening at the festival.

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This week we are covering a comic book movie that divided critics upon its release. However, the unique visual style makes it stand apart from so many other homogenized super hero movies. The lead star, Keanu Reeves, has also been reclaimed as a performer leading to works such as Francis Lawrence's Constantine from being reevaluated in retrospective viewings.

I'm joined for the fifth time by Johnny Amizich! You can follow Johnny on Bluesky. He is also the host of Culture Dumpster and the founder of the new site that I also write for GG Tribune.

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This film that tried to capture the disco roller skate craze was released just outside of that zeitgeist. It's reception was negative to the point that it inspired the Razzie awards. But is the film that inspired The Golden Raspberry's really the worst film ever?

I'm joined again by Ethan to discuss a film that has had a cult following to the point where it has inspired a Tony nominated play.

Xanadu is directed by Robert Greenwald. It stars Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly and Michael Beck.

You can follow Ethan on Instagram. You can also check out the play he is in: 8 Minutes Left.

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For its 40th anniversary, I am joined again by Andrew Joe Potter to discuss one of his favourite films: the Jim Henson puppet fantasy film staring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie.

The film got mixed reviews when it came out and was not a box office hit. Home video releases and a generation that grew up on the film helped propel this fantasy journey into becoming a cult classic.

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With the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie on the way we are going back in time to the first live-action video game movie ever made: Super Mario Bros. with Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Samantha Mathis and Dennis Hopper.

The creative freedoms taken by the married director pair deviate wildly from the game and for decades people considered this to be one of the worst movies ever made. However, the liberties and production design are so excessive that it has a cult following and a very expensive boxset that die-hard fans can enjoyed.

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For its 15th anniversary, I brought Maeve back onto the show to talk about the most Zack Snyder film that Zack Snyder has ever made. Sucker Punch was critically panned when it came out but it has its shooters who appreciate Snyder's audacity and creative vision. People like myself find it sexist and dull, but people like Maeve are correct in believing the extended cut is better. She is a defender of the austereness of Snyder.

Tune in for a discussion on Zack Snyder as a filmmaker. Including #ReleaseTheSnyderCut discussion and our thoughts on his director's cuts in general.

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Award season is wrapping up so I brought Dalton Pike back on the show to celebrate the year of 2025 in cinema. The Teen Choice Awards are defunct and we are bringing them back. This is a 21+ event and no teens were involved in the voting process. However, this is the only place (maybe) you will find the exciting categories such as best kiss, best couple, best CGI Character That Awoke Something In Me I Didn't Know Was There Award, and sickest scene all in one podcast episode.

This is the only award show brave enough to nominate One Battle After Another, Ella McCay, Tron: Ares, and The Testament of Ann Lee. In which categories? You gotta tune in and find out!

You can find Dalton on Letterboxd. On top of being a top tier cinema programmer at Hyland Cinema he hosts Sick Flicks and Outside the Frame.

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It's the movie with the fake baby.

Clint Eastwood's depiction of the late Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in American history, was a smash hit. Immediately upon release articles came out pushing back on various claims of his life story. Mainly on how he made up events where he killed even more people outside of war.

I am joined by Jacob from the Workers' Lit Podcast to discuss this simplified story of an uncomplicated figure as well as the genre of war film that is patriotic, problematic and propagandic. The reception of the film is roughly the same but the events depicted are drastically more unpopular than ever.

On top of discussing American imperialism and Middle East Forever Wars listen for our pitch for a sequel series American Wife. Also, why is the rival sniper so hot?

You can follow Jacob on Bluesky. His podcast Workers' Lit is available wherever you get podcasts. His book They Called Her Rebel is on sale here.

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It was released against the original Star Wars and it's failure signaled a changed in tastes for an era. Critics hated it because it was a remake. Audiences did not show up to a movie called Sorcerer that's not about magic but about trucks full of unstable dynamite.

William Friedkin's follow up to The Exorcist was highly anticipated, overbudget, had undercover Mexican federales almost arrest the crew. had a terrorist bombing a street over from the set.

I am joined by Audens to discuss one of the best initially overlooked movies of the 70s. If you are listening to this while driving, be sure your nitroglycerin is stable before making any sudden stops.

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Get yer spinach ready, for what metinks is a great discussion.

An adaptation of a comic strip that was overbudget and fueled by cocaine. This musical comedy by the legendary Robert Altman was derided for being dull and bizarre. However, the film has it's shooters including me, the late Roger Ebert, and my special guest Kevin Tuck who appreciate the earnestness and impressive production design. There is no other movie like Popeye.

Kevin Tuck is an independent filmmaker. You can check him out on Instagram as well as his website.

Popeye is directed by Robert Altman. It stars Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Paul L. Smith, Paul Dooley, Richard Libertini and Ray Walston.

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