Roughly thirteen months ago, most of us had to alter the way we live our daily lives when the pandemic shut everything down. A… lot has happened since then, but in March 2020 I was already in a state of change: after almost four years at the largest movie theatre in my city, I’d decided […]
Movies
All the latest movie reviews for films released in Canada.
HotDocs Review: DARK BLOSSOM
Now streaming at HotDocs 2021, DARK BLOSSOM, directed by Frigge Fri, follows the trio of Josephine, Mareridt, and Jay. This documentary focuses primarily on self-discovery and friendship, but also explores the changes that one can’t control, as well as community and acceptance. The three friends are into the goth lifestyle. They’re all in their early […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: PARASITE (2019)
Welcome to the final installment of Ten Decades of Oscars, and today’s film will be the latest Best Picture winner until later tonight when the awards are announced. What to say of the 2010s? The first half is fairly middling, the second half is a much better improvement. We saw gaffes of untold proportions with […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
Welcome back to Ten Decades of Oscars! Today it’s the 2000s, one of my favourite decades. CRASH (2005) is the only black eye in an otherwise distinguished lineup of winners. Even when my personal pick of a given year didn’t win, I was happy with the outcome. Films like THE DEPARTED (2006) and GLADIATOR (2000)? […]
SHIVA BABY Review – The Uncomfort of Mourning
SHIVA BABY (Emma Seligman) has its viewers attending a Jewish Shiva, a mourning period for immediate family, and this film excels at making everyone feel like immediate family. Primarily following the experiences of Danielle (Rachel Sennett), she is first seen having a sexual encounter, later revealed to be a paid arrangement. She claims to make […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999)
Hey, we’re making it! We’re getting there! Feels like I’ve been saying that for a while but this time I feel some semblance of truth in it! Welcome back to Ten Decades of Oscars, and now things are getting weird because now we’ve reached an era of film that I feel personally connected to because […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983)
After a lovely yet arduous Easter long weekend, I’m back with the next installment of my weekly feature: Ten Decades of Oscars. We’ve come a long way, covered a fair bit of ground, and now we’re here at the interminable 80s. And I must remind our readers that even though we’ve now reached the 80s, […]
NOBODY review – Bob Odenkirk Kicks Ass. Film at 11!
As NOBODY opens, we see our lead Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) sitting at an interrogation table smoking a cigarette and being asked to identify himself. Hutch calls himself “a nobody”. Suddenly, we go back in time and make his acquaintance. Hutch is a guy with his work and life routine. He’s a family man working a […]
SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Review – Retirement in Florida
Directed by Lance Oppenheim, SOME KIND OF HEAVEN begins with the sounds of a pipe organ, alluding to funerals or church services, as the title subtly suggests. The story takes place in America’s largest retirement community: The Villages in Florida. Introduced in an overview alike a promo for a tourist attraction, The Villages is a sort […]
GODZILLA VS KONG review – MONSTER SMASH!
I know it has been mentioned many times before on our site by yours truly but reader…I miss movie theatres. As much as I love my 4k TV at home, there is nothing like the cinema experience for particular movies that require not only a giant wide screen and a bombastic sound system to not […]
VANGUARD review – All The Jackie Chan!
VANGUARD is a recent Chinese action film, and the latest outing for the legendary Jackie Chan and his director Stanley Tong, one of Chan’s regular collaborators. The movie is named after the private army of its story. Vanguard employs military trained soldiers, and other uniquely talented individuals, to protect their clients. In this story, Vanguard […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)
Hello! And welcome to yet another installment of my ongoing feature: Ten Decades of Oscars. Well, we’ve done it: we’ve reached the 70s. It’s all downhill from here, folks! I joke, I joke. Kinda. The 70s isn’t my generation of films, but it’s one that’s heavily informed my desire to explore cinema as both an […]
SOUND OF METAL review – Oscar Nominated Awesome
SOUND OF METAL (Darius Marder) is an affecting journey from club stages to stillness in a quiet world. The film primarily follows Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed), a drummer for a heavy metal act called Blackgammon. Ruben and his partner Lou (Olivia Cooke) live in an Airstream motorhome that serves as a residence and travelling studio. […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
Hello! And welcome to another week of Ten Decades of Oscars, where each week I watch every Best Picture winner from a decade and then choose one to discuss at length. This week was the 1960s, and boy, the size and scale of these films have certainly started to strike upward. BRIDGE ON THE RIVER […]
Ten Decades of Oscars: MARTY (1955)
Welcome back! We’re a little late this week due to scheduling but that’s fine! I am totally managing this ten films per week thing! Managing it like Batman manages grief. And this year’s Oscar nominations came out today and I’ve only seen two of the eight Best Picture nominees—it’s fine! I’m fine! Let’s talk about […]