Best films to watch 2022, Elvis movie review, Nitram reaction and new Netflix film Spiderhead - The Scotsman film podcast

Does Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis hit the right notes? Harrowing new Australian film Nitram leaves us speechless and we celebrate the first six months of 2022 by counting down our five favourite movies of 2022 so far. Join us as The Scotsman film podcast return to chat all things film!

The Hollywood blockbusters are coming thick and fast as summer approaches, with Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic launching in cinemas last week, while award winning drama Nitram launches in the UK, with the controversial film hitting cinemas this week after landing a host of awards at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Are either of this week’s release worth going to see? Join The Scotsman film podcast, (Not) Everyone’s A Film Critic, who give you the lowdown on the week’s big cinematic releases.

For those new to the show, our film vodcast is presented by our self confessed film fanatics, myself and Dave Hepburn, as we discuss which films we’ve seen this week, as we give our thoughts on what films are hot – or not, before picking apart our topic of the week.

The Scotsman film podcast react to cinema's new releases Nitram and Elvis, while we choose our best five movies of 2022 so far. Credit: Getty Images

And luckily for you viewers, this week is an extra special episode, as we count down are favourite films in 2022 so far to celebrate first six months as a show!

I have handed two films 10/10 already in 2022 – but which will win out as the ultimate film of the year so far? Elsewhere Dave is approaching close to 75 films seen already – but which five are going to be given the heralded pride of place in his top five?

"Odd-looking prosthetic make-up make for a surprisingly poor display”

Last week’s show saw us discuss our views on long awaited horror The Black Phone, whereas Dave reacted to Adam Sandler’s to form in Netflix hit Hustle.

Starring Ethan Hawke as an all new horror creep, known simply as ‘The Grabber’, the Blumhouse horror received a glowing review from myself, owing to some phenomenal cast performances and a superb combination of Stand By Me with added Babadook/Pennywise villain thrown in for good measure.

However, our attention turns to Baz Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby) and his highly anticipated Elvis Presley biopic, known simply as ‘Elvis.’

Starring Austin Butler (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) as the King of rock and roll, the film charts his rise to fame, as the music icon maintains a complicated relationship with his enigmatic and controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker, over the course two decades.

Hotly tipped for an Oscar nomination, Butler sparkles in the role of Presley, although Tom Hanks performance as Parker leaves a lot to be desired, with a strange take on the Colonel’s accent and odd-looking prosthetic make-up make for a surprisingly poor display from the American acting legend.

Is Elvis a hit or a miss? Have a watch, as we give our full, honest opinion on a film we both had looked forward to for some time.

Cannes Film Festival award winner

On the other side of the fence, controversial drama ‘Nitram’ gets its first review after this week’s Cineworld unlimited screening.

The Australian biographical psychological drama film sees an award winning performance from Caleb Landry Jones (The Dead Don’t Die) as ‘Nitram’, based on convicted mass shooter Martin Bryant, who murdered 35 people and injured 23 others in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre – still one of the world's deadliest shooting sprees.

‘Nitram’ revolves around the life and behaviours of the intellectually disabled young man and the events leading to his involvement in the massacre in Tasmania, Australia.

An uncomfortable watch, it was largely criticised in Tasmania due to the tragic nature of the real life events, however, Landry Jones’ performance and the film’s impact was widely praised at the Cannes Film Festival, where the movie won several awards – but how did we feel after seeing the film for the first time this week?

Want to listen to some previous episodes?

There are plenty more 30+ minute episodes to dig into if you enjoy this week’s show, and we have included a small list of them below – feel free to binge listen at your will.

The Black Phone review, Netflix new film Hustle reaction and the best movie biopic’s of all time

Jurassic World Dominion review, Top Gun Maverick reaction and to sequel or not to sequel

Firestarter review and reaction and our favourite Stephen King films ranked

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness review and reaction, Everything Everywhere All at Once, the best film and worst franchises

It is another jam packed, light hearted episode, packed to the brim with a passion for cinema and we’d love it if you’d join us. Want us to discuss something in particular? Let us know.