As I get older, I am finding more things about my body that make me feel genuinely decrepit and gross. Whether it’s my newfound back pain, a new mole somewhere unexpected, or simply coming to the conclusion that my acne… Read More ›
Reviews
Explore every nook of “299 Queen Street West” with Sean Menard’s new documentary. [SXSW]
If you grew up in Canada, specifically Toronto, the address 299 Queen Street West most likely held a special place in your heart as more likely than not you either fought your way through the pandemonium of crowds OR you… Read More ›
The lesser-known aftermath of World War II is brought into the light thanks to director Mizuho Nishikubo’s “Giovanni’s Island,” now available from GKids Films and Shout! Factory.
Acts of aggression always come with unintended consequences. On the smaller scale, as when my children fight, it could be that the toy they’re fighting over takes a break for a bit and neither gets to use it. On the… Read More ›
With a giggle and a wink, Tomas Gomez Bustillo’s “Chronicles of a Wandering Saint” asks audiences whether we notice that heaven is a place on earth. [SXSW]
How do you know if you’ve lived a good life? That’s a hard question to answer objectively because of the various cultural and social rules that come to define what “good” is. Do intentions really matter if someone gets hurt… Read More ›
Bring the debauchery of Damien Chazelle’s divisive “Babylon” home, courtesy of Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.
Whiplash, La La Land, First Man — each one directed by Damien Chazelle, two of three written by him, and each one (love or hate them) makes a declarative statement regarding its subject. It shouldn’t surprise that the Oscar winner… Read More ›
Prequel “Furies” rages harder and asks tougher questions than its predecessor.
Content Warning: Sexual assault and violence against women are heavy visual and narrative themes throughout the film. Actor Ngô Thanh Vân has been working for nearly two decades across genres and countries. She’s known more widely in the U.S. by… Read More ›
Ally Pankiw’s “I Used to Be Funny” first feature is a provocative, intense, and deeply unsettling gut-punch. [SXSW]
In 2020, during the height of this pandemic were still finding ourselves in, I was sitting on my couch with my partner wondering what to do on the first night of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and Twitter was recommending… Read More ›
Director Vasilis Katsoupis’s “INSIDE” is a layered exploration of the things people value and how those things can separate us.
As with every generation, there is a separation in what’s considered normal or acceptable as one comes up into adulthood. Growing up, there was a sense that homes should be filled with photographs of posed family and pieces of art,… Read More ›
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment re-releases Wolfgang Petersen’s suspense-filled actioner “Air Force One” in a limited edition steelbook.
“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.” “Never tell me the odds.” “I know.” “Get off my plane!” An actor is lucky if they get even one line that stands the test of time, invading the zeitgeist and maintaining… Read More ›
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases Martin Campbell’s swashbuckling “The Mask of Zorro” in a limited edition 4k UHD Blu-ray steelbook.
As a child who enjoyed studying myths and legends from Roman and Greek culture, it wasn’t much of a leap to be fascinated by super hero stories. Typically, the ones that drew me came from DC Comics, specifically Superman. The… Read More ›
The waiting room from immigration hell awaits “Upon Entry.” [SXSW]
Nobody enjoys a waiting room. In a world accustomed to instant gratification, the experience feels intolerable, even if you have an appointment or assurances that your stay in that space is only temporary. Co-directors Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez… Read More ›
“Black Barbie: A Documentary” is a frustrating, fascinating documentary centered around the marginalized, underrepresented toy product. [SXSW]
Representation is a big pain point with many products in today’s consumer market, specifically those aimed towards kids. In walks Barbie, the iconic, independent, tall white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. The problem however lies with the young… Read More ›
Synapse Films offers up Dario Argento’s “Phenomena” in a special edition 2-Disc 4K UHD edition.
When it comes to Dario Argento, the highs are high and the lows are cavernous pits leading straight to hell. The Italian filmmaker, known for helping further define the later era of the giallo film, has made some of the… Read More ›
With “Creed III” in theaters, go back to the beginning and explore the first four films of the “Rocky” Universe in 4K UHD for the first-time in the newly released “Knockout Collection.”
On March 3rd, 2023, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) stepped into theaters with Creed III, the ninth film in the Rocky Universe. It’s a film that takes the character, the offspring of original Rocky (1976) character Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers),… Read More ›
“Pure O” stays raw in its showcasing of real-world impacts of mental health diagnoses. [SXSW]
Writing a screenplay is daunting in of itself; making it be semi-autobiographical is a whole other beast in of itself. Why make life easy though when you’ve decided to also direct your first feature while you’re the limelight of the… Read More ›
“Brooklyn 45” is a wonderful hybrid-genre film that brings war and trauma full circle. [SXSW]
The shadow of war, from the prehistoric days to the ultra-modern, technologically-advanced warfare of the present, has loomed large over the entirety of humanity. One could argue that war is the one thing seen consistently throughout history, seemingly touching every… Read More ›
Loevner and Kanter’s new romantic dramedy asks audiences if they plateau or keep rising when they hit “Peak Season.” [SXSW]
What is best in life? For some, it’s the ability to travel, to wear fine clothes, and eat exotic dishes. For others, to achieve greatness either professionally or personally. If one considers the ideas within filmmaking team Henry Loevner and… Read More ›
“The Long Game” falls short in its telling of an inspired by real life story. [SXSW]
To make a successful sports film, sometimes it’s better to have an exciting game in this film’s foreground. Of all the sports, golf is not the most exciting springboard to tell a story. However there have been good golf films… Read More ›
Documentarian Tracy Droz Tragos’s “Plan C” declares that there is no freedom when healthcare is criminalized. [SXSW]
One of the founding principles in the United States is the separation of Church and State. This concept is intended to ensure that the laws of the land are written without any one specific faith guiding how the country functions…. Read More ›
Tünde Skovrán’s pseudo-narrative documentary may not inform who you are, but it will strongly convey “Who I Am Not.” [SXSW]
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. – Genesis 1:27 – New International Version There are many versions of Genesis 1:27. They each carry the… Read More ›