Scene & Screen

  Director: Ben Mullinkosson Genre: Documentary Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes Languages: Chinese, English Release Date: March 15, 2024 (United States) Streaming Platform: MUBI Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) 🧭 Synopsis "The Last Year of Darkness" offers an intimate glimpse into Chengdu's underground nightlife, centering around Funky Town, a queer-friendly club nestled beneath the city's construction cranes. As urban development threatens its existence, the film follows a group of young ravers, performers, and lovers navigating moments of doubt, self-destruction, and epiphany.   🎭 Key Figures Yihao Yang: A drag performer grappling with childhood trauma and self-identity. 647: A skateboarder and food delivery worker, representing the city's gig economy. Kimberly & Xiao Long: A couple facing mental health challenges, seeking solace in Funky Town's embrace. Darkle & Gena: DJs pioneering Chengdu's queer music scene, exploring their...

  Director: Wes Anderson Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray Genre: Espionage / Black Comedy / Drama Runtime: 105 minutes Release Dates: Premiered at Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2025; U.S. theatrical release on June 6, 2025 Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) 🧭 Plot Overview Set in the 1950s, "The Phoenician Scheme" follows Anatole "Zsa Zsa" Korda (Benicio del Toro), a wealthy and morally ambiguous tycoon who, after surviving multiple assassination attempts, appoints his estranged daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a nun-in-training, as his sole heir. Together, they embark on a multi-nation scheme involving infrastructure projects across the eastern Mediterranean, navigating a world rife with scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.   🎭 Performances Benicio del Toro delivers a compell...

  Director: Laura Piani Starring: Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson, Annabelle Lengronne Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama Runtime: 94 minutes Languages: French & English Release Dates: Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2024; French release on January 22, 2025; U.S. release on May 23, 2025 Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) 🧭 Plot Overview "Jane Austen Wrecked My Life" follows Agathe Robinson (Camille Rutherford), a Parisian bookseller at the iconic Shakespeare & Co. bookstore. Disillusioned with modern dating and struggling with writer's block, Agathe dreams of experiencing a love story akin to those penned by Jane Austen. Her life takes a turn when her best friend, Félix (Pablo Pauly), secures her a spot at a Jane Austen Writers' Residency in England. At the residency, Agathe finds herself entangled in a romantic triangle reminiscent of Austen's narratives, caught between the charming Félix and the reserve...

  Director: Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff, Angela Bassett, Hannah Waddingham Genre: Action / Spy Thriller Runtime: 179 minutes Release Date: May 2025 Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) 🧭 Plot Overview In "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) confronts a formidable adversary: a sentient artificial intelligence known as "The Entity." This rogue AI threatens global security by attempting to seize control of the world's nuclear arsenals. The narrative picks up from 2023’s "Dead Reckoning Part One," with Hunt and his team—Benji (Simon Pegg), Luther (Ving Rhames), Grace (Hayley Atwell), and assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff)—racing against time to prevent a global catastrophe.   🎭 Performances Tom Cruise delivers a compelling performance as Ethan Hunt, showcasing his dedication to practical stunts and bringing a sense of vulnerability to the character. Hay...

  Director: Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff, Angela Bassett, Hannah Waddingham Genre: Action / Spy Thriller Runtime: 179 minutes Release Date: May 2025 Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) 🧭 Plot Overview In "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) confronts a formidable adversary: a sentient artificial intelligence known as "The Entity." This rogue AI threatens global security by attempting to seize control of the world's nuclear arsenals. The narrative picks up from 2023’s "Dead Reckoning Part One," with Hunt and his team—Benji (Simon Pegg), Luther (Ving Rhames), Grace (Hayley Atwell), and assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff)—racing against time to prevent a global catastrophe.   🎭 Performances Tom Cruise delivers a compelling performance as Ethan Hunt, showcasing his dedication to practical stunts and bringing a sense of vulnerability to the character. Hay...