The Rolling Tape

In our continued conversation on Queer cinema for Pride, we look toward POC and International Cinema, two topics that often get left out of the Western canon. POC and International Queer cinema provides a platform to explore diverse identities and experiences, often absent from the dominant Western narrative with examples dating back to 1919. These films challenge stereotypes, broaden perspectives, and invite audiences into the lives of those who have often been sidelined. Understanding these...

With the release of Toy Story 5 (and its estimated $160 million+ opening weekend box office), we're focusing on examining a specific category in the 2027 Oscars race that perhaps has gone through the most interesting evolution over its 25 year history: the Best Animated Feature category. Here we discuss how we feel about the category itself, the animated race that's shaping up this year for the 99th Academy Awards, and what animated films we've seen so far this year and are looking forw...

How many hours has it been since you've been scrolling on your phone or tablet? Did you forget that the toys you once played with are now collecting dust and feeling neglected? It's one of the pressing themes we'll discuss with today's review of Toy Story 5, the 31st feature-length film from Pixar Animation released by Disney on June 19th. It's been seven years since we've hung out with the Toy Story gang since Toy Story 4. Toy Story 5 is co-written and co-directed by Andrew Stanton and McKen...

Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up. Let’s dive into the films. RETRO//RANKED is a Rolling Tape network series ranking the individual entries of beloved franchises and filmographies, timed to major new releases. For season 7, we're diving into the complete filmography of Christopher Nolan, building episode by episode, two films at a time, toward the release of his latest film, The Odyssey. Insomnia is the third feature film from director Christopher Nolan. It was released on ...

Christian Sprenger has spent eighteen years in television, but his collaboration with director Hiro Murai is in a category of its own. Together they have built a creative language across more than fifty episodes of television, from Atlanta to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and now to Widow's Bay, the Apple TV+ comedy horror series created by Katie Dippold that has become one of the most talked-about shows of 2026. On Widow's Bay, Sprenger serves not only as cinematographer alongside co-DP Cody Jacobs, b...

If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? That is one of many questions we approach today while discussing Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day which has been theatrically released by Universal as of June 11. We’ve been in eager anticipation of the film which is directed by Spielberg and written by David Koepp since April of 2024 when news first hit that Spielberg’s next film would be a UFO movie. The world stands poised on the bri...

We are finally talking about the cult classic show, AMC's Interview With The Vampire. The AMC series first premiered in 2022 and is based on the beloved novels by Ann Rice. Over two seasons, it becomes one of the most acclaimed genre shows on television. Thanks to standout performances from Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, and Asad Zaman, and an incredible supporting cast with the Vampire Lestat right around the corner. Today we are taking a step back to look at the first two seasons as a whol...

Founded in 2013 by Sarah Mueller, cinéSPEAK has built a reputation in Philadelphia through public screenings, artist support, and accessible film events across the city. That mission returns to Clark Park this summer with the organization’s annual festival, Under The Stars. Running every Friday from May 29 through June 19 in West Philly, the free festival combines live music and outdoor screenings of acclaimed nonfiction films fresh off the festival circuit. Jake Fittipaldi is joi...