How does one, specifically Edward Berger, follow up All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)? With one of the most interesting and captivating stories about selecting a new Pope and the events that happen during the conclave. For a task… Read More ›
Toronto International Film Festival
Drama “Really Happy Someday” captures how the process of becoming your true self is far from linear. [TIFF]
Having been a fan of musical theatre practically my entire life, I can only assume the trepidations, hardships, and sheer determination and power one needs to go through being a live performer and dealing with the day-to-day challenges. There is… Read More ›
Check out “Mr. K” any time you like, but you can never leave. [TIFF]
Remember actors who were in some of your favourite movies growing up or who are part of your core memory and you casually think whatever happened to them? Ever think that way about Crispin Glover (9; Charlie’s Angels)? If yes,… Read More ›
“Anora” writer/director Sean Baker does what he does best in bringing out incredible performances from his cast. [TIFF]
I want to preface this with the fact that I am a fan of Sean Baker (writer, director, producer, editor). I think his last three movies (Tangerine (2015), Florida Project (2017), and Red Rocket (2021)) are all incredible pieces of… Read More ›
Apocalyptic musical “The End” is both chaotic and balanced to mixed results. [TIFF]
Musicals about the apocalypse or the end of the world are certainly not new territory, but they all succeed to various mileage. While there is no world where a Mad Max-type movie is going to put to song, Joshua Oppenheimer’s… Read More ›
Actor Kaniehtiio Horn establishes herself as a fierce writer and director in her debut feature “Seeds.” [TIFF]
Directing and writing your first feature is certainly a daunting task, but to also star in the vehicle, making yourself a triple threat, is certainly a large task. However, Kaniehtiio Horn (Possessor; Alice, Darling) not only decides to grab that… Read More ›
29 films I’m excited to cover during Toronto International Film Festival 2024.
For the very first time, Elements of Madness has boots on the ground for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with me, EoM Contributor Justin Waldman, handling coverage. As such, I’ve been asked to share the list of films I’m either… Read More ›
John Barker’s follow-up track, “The Umbrella Men: Escape from Robben Island,” captures the magic of the first and pushes it further. [Toronto International Film Festival]
At the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), writer/director John Barker unveiled his third feature film, the comedic caper The Umbrella Men. Filled with the sights, sounds, and life of Cape Town, Barker invited audiences to see a few good… Read More ›
EoM Presents: A Conversation with “The Umbrella Men: Escape from Robben Island” director John Barker and actors Jacques De Silva, Shamilla Miller, and Bronté Snell. [Toronto International Film Festival]
In this edition of EoM Presents, Senior Interviewer Thomas Manning chats with the cast and crew of The Umbrella Men: Escape from Robben Island, a 2023 TIFF selection. Manning speaks with director John Barker and actors Jacques De Silva, Shamilla… Read More ›
“Toll (Pedágio)” explores the cost of individual actions and societal pressures. [Toronto International Film Festival]
Life has grown far more absurd in reality than any other satire could possibly conceive. We have states where the governor actively lobbies for (and signed into law) a reduction in the age to work so that adolescents and teenagers… Read More ›
Grab a seat, heist dramedy “The Umbrella Men” is primed to play. [Toronto International Film Festival]
Heist films come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. There’s the family comedy (The Bad Guys (2022)), the musical drama (Baby Driver (2017)), the superhero action comedy (Ant-Man (2015)), the save-yourself drama (Widows (2018)), the zombie survival action drama (Peninsula… Read More ›
A Conversation with “The Umbrella Men” director John Barker and actors Jaques De Silva and Shamilla Miller.
In this conversation, EoM contributor Thomas Manning speaks with director John Barker and actors Jaques De Silva and Shamilla Miller about their film, The Umbrella Men. An official selection for the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, The Umbrella Men is a South African… Read More ›