#5SecondReview

#5SecondReview: Starship Troopers

Less military sci-fi and more a manifesto for his idea of a future utopia—one that Voerhoeven rightly skewered in his film adaptation. He makes a case for earned citizenship that ignores the risk of creating second- and third-class humans. Fascinating, but flawed.

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#5SecondReview: The Pitt (S2)

Still brilliant. Wildly authentic, and it somehow hits just about every emotion every episode. About a dozen characters tie for my favourite. Not quite as thrilling as S1, but I’m glad they didn’t try to top the mass shooting scenario. That would’ve been folly.

#5SecondReview: Is This Thing On?

Will Arnett as a 50yo separated man using open mic comedy as a means of dealing with his marital issues is something I didn't know I needed. And Laura Dern as his unhappy wife? 100% authentic. Small movie, but a big win for director Bradley Cooper. Recommend.

#5SecondReview: The Drama

Zendaya and Pattinson are well cast in this vaguely Woody Allen-ish postmodern love story about a woman who is judged *very* harshly after revealing the worst thing she ever did just before her wedding. Loads of biting and insightful social commentary.

#5SecondReview: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

Set in the south c. 1970. Shamed parents send preggo teens to a secret home to have their babies and give them away. The girls become witches and rebel. Nicely written, but the magic takes a backseat to social commentary—not quite what I was hoping for.

#5SecondReview: Project Hail Mary

I honestly thought the book—one of my absolute favourites—would be unfilmable, but kudos to Lord, Miller, Goddard, and Gosling for managing to keep nearly everything (intelligently condensing some of the sciencier bits) that made it great.

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#5SecondReview: Starfleet Academy (S1)

Dig the adults (Jet Reno ftw!), but the kids are unwatchable. Exceptions: SAM has a solid growth arc, and Jay-Den Kraag could be great with more development.

The writers need to step it up. Episodes should be thrilling adventures, not emo black holes.

#5SecondReview: Little Amelie or the Character of Rain

Small and a bit melancholy in spots, but ultimately uplifting. Not sure it was worth an Oscar nom, but it’s a good little animated picture about a little girl who is either God or just super precocious.

#5SecondReview: Kokuho

Explores modern kabuki in Japan through the lens of a yakuza orphan who is taken in by a master actor and trained to be his adopted heir. Gorgeous costumes and makeup (worthy Oscar nom), and riveting performances from the whole cast—especially Yoshizawa as the grown orphan

#5SecondReview: Diane Warren: Relentless

This doc chronicles Warren's quest to earn an Oscar. Did not enjoy. But I don't want to be all hate-y. So here are three nice things I learned about her:

1. She has an animal rescue farm.
2. She is tenacious.
3. She's an Asperger's success story.

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#5SecondReview: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

It’s got a different vibe, but the characters are adorable and the writing is sharp. Love the relationship between Egg and Dunk. And the big battle? Small in scale but absolutely brutal and riveting. A nice change of pace for the GOT universe.

#5SecondReview: Viva Verdi!

A wonderfully feel-good doc about a retirement home in Milan constructed by the great composer Verdi over 100 years ago to look after the country’s aging and neglected musicians. Pity the song that earned it an Oscar nom has no chance against K Pop Demon Hunters.

#5SecondReview: 2026 Oscar Nominated Doc Shorts

Perfectly a Strangeness
I didn't get it.

The Devil Is Busy
Follows a heroic abortion clinic worker.

Armed Only with a Camera
The killing of a war journalist. Sad.

1/2

#5SecondReview: 2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts

Butterfly: Great story, meh animation.

Forevergreen: Weird religious overtones.

The Girl Who Cried Pearls: Vivid stop-motion. My pick.

Retirement Plan: A witty, melancholy life lesson.

The Three Sisters: Like a vintage Sesame Street short.

#5SecondReview: 2026 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Shorts

The Singers: Great vibe, characters, music.
A Friend of Dorothy: An ode to the power of plays.
Butcher's Stain: Dark and depressing.
Jane Austen's Period Drama: Basically an SNL digital short.
Two People Exchanging Saliva: French and weird.

#5SecondReview: Cutting Through Rocks

Great doc about an Iranian woman who becomes the first elected woman in her district. She's an absolute hero as she fights for girls' rights, helps wives achieve equality, and personally manages the construction of a town park (Leslie Knope would be so proud!).

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#5SecondReview: Zootopia 2

First one was pretty good. This feels more like a rehash full of fan service jokes. Funny and I suppose even clever (in a punny kind of way), but hardly worthy of Oscar gold.

#5SecondReview: Song Sung Blue

I liked this one more than I thought I would. Some nice, heartfelt moments. Still not a big Neil Diamond fan beyond the big hits, though. I’d have been one of the jerks in the audience wishing the band would just do “Sweet Caroline” rather than stuff like “Soolaimon.”

#5SecondReview: Arco

Better than I expected! Didn’t love the animation style, but I enjoyed the ideas and characters. And Mikki the robot (voiced by Ruffalo and Portman, speaking in unison) is the unsung cinematic hero of the year. It has an almost Iron Giant-level emotional moment near the end.

#5SecondReview: The Ugly Stepsister

This retelling of Cinderella is nominated for hair and makeup—which it deserves—but is simply a must-see for fans of body dysmorphia horror. Some amazing practical, in-camera effects. Would make an excellent pairing (both in themes and vibe) with The Substance.

#5SecondReview: Sentimental Value

Family! Drama! Universal human truths! A moving exploration of the creative imperative!

Anchored by Skarsgård & Reinsve—both acting their butts off—Trier’s look at an aging director’s attempt to reconnect with his family through his work was made to win awards.

#5SecondReview: The Secret Agent

One of the best of the year. It has a Scorsese-like visual language capable of conveying humour, drama, and horrific violence in a single frame. And it’s entertaining as heck. All of the characters feel lived in, like real people who just wandered onto the set. A+.

#5SecondReview: The Alabama Solution

This doc shining a light on inmate treatment in Alabama pens—largely shot by prisoners on contraband phones—is unreal. Lethal beatings, slave labour, solitary. They capture images of bodies lying in the open, dead, waiting to be carted away. It's like a gulag.

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#5SecondReview: Wonder Man

Sir Ben Kingsley is an absolute force reprising his role as Trevor Slattery (the Mandarin). He’s funny and flawed in one scene, then dramatic and wise the next. He brings such depth and authenticity. Maybe the first MCU performance worthy of some awards love. A+

#5SecondReview: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

A Russian documentary filmed from the perspective of a small town teacher rebelling against the regime's orders to indoctrinate his students with war propaganda. It gives us a glimpse of how Russia manipulates its population. Sad he had to leave his home. :(

#5SecondReview: KPop Demon Hunters

Another Oscar nom (song, animated feature) stroked off the list!

Not gonna harsh anyone's vibe with a proper critique. It's nicely animated and has some good visual jokes—like squeaking down a slide in tight pleather pants. But the music is just not for me.

#5SecondReview: Blue Moon

One night in a bar with drunken musical legend Lorenz Hart (Hawk), who dazzles with wordplay and celebrity anecdotes. He also tries to win back the respect of his partner (Scott) and the love of a young ingenue (Qualley). Objectively good, but not really my bag. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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#5SecondReview: Elio

It's the animated lovechild of The Last Starfighter and Galaxy Quest, with a smidge of Lilo & Stitch DNA thrown in. Enjoyable, but lacks the originality that once defined Pixar in movies like WALL-E, Up, and Ratatouille. Big-hearted and beautiful, but no imaginative spark.

#5SecondReview: The Great Flood

It’s kinda like The Raid meets The Impossible meets AI: Artificial Intelligence meets Groundhog Day. Not sure it works.

#5SecondReview: The Perfect Neighbor

This Oscar nom is made up of body cam footage.

It’s about a woman who regularly calls the police on kids playing in the empty lot next door. She ends up shooting their mom, then uses Florida’s Stand Your Ground law to try to get away with it.

Heartbreaking.