Gabrielle Special Presentation Director: Louise Archambault Quebecois director Louise Archambault tackles the delicate subject matter of a young woman with developmental disabilities trying to secure her independence. Newcomer Gabrielle Marion-Rivard plays the lead who deals with Williams Syndrome in real life. She’s a likable, warm-hearted individual falling in love with Martin, a fellow member of […]
The Invisible Woman Special Presentation Director: Ralph Fiennes Based on Claire Tomalin’s novel, and bursting with beautiful costumes shot in natural light, The Invisible Woman examines the quiet, but newsworthy affair between author Charles Dickens and Ellen “Nelly” Ternan. Assuming a dual role as leading man and director, Ralph Fiennes keeps things very Victorian and […]
Made by people not generally associated with making intense psychological thrillers, Black Rock stands out as a true hidden gem this weekend. A progressive and bone chilling survival drama with a trio of strong female leads, actress and director Katie Aselton teams with frequent collaborator and screenwriter Mark Duplass (Cyrus, Jeff, Who Lives at Home) for a lean and mean revenge flick that stays true to the mumblecore duo’s roots while delivering the genre goods.
This week at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, the summer closes out with a pair of docs about controversial artisans - Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story and How to Make a Book With Steidl - and a first person account of one of the most infamous presidencies of all time, Our Nixon.
There’s nothing particularly wrong with the action thriller Getaway except that it might be a bit too sanitized and video game-y for its own good. It’s an effective, no frills chase movie with some inventive set pieces, but there’s a distinct lack of grit or immediacy to the proceedings.
As one might guess One Direction: This Is Us (from already noted sell-out documentarian Morgan Spurlock) is more of a commercial for the band's success aimed squarely at fans who will never once admit their dreamboats are manufactured. That's fine. As is the manufacture music. Those 3D musical numbers, though, still aren't any interesting thanks to a clear and distinct lack of stage presence.
In only two short years, late night right wing talk show host Morton Downey Jr. changed the face of politically charged, trashy television forever. As chronicled in the fascinating and fast paced documentary Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie, the chain smoking, foul mouthed, sexist, confrontational, habitual liar had a meteoric rise and depressingly low key fall between 1987 and 1989, but his status as a pop culture icon gave rise to the Glen Becks, Jerry Springers, Bill O’Reillys, and even the Steven Colberts of the world.
Short on enthusiasm and originality, the legal thriller Closed Circuit wastes a talented cast, writer, and director on something that's been done to death. The film isn't merely ill conceived. It feels like it was cloned in a lab.
Much like Scream did almost 20 years ago now, You’re Next resurrects the oft derided slasher genre with demented, witty, and terrifying glee.
It's hard to review the North American, Weinstein approved cut of Wong Kar Wai's The Grandmaster since the half hour or so that's been cut from the film leave it feeling disjointed, but it's still a great kung fu, historical romance from one of the world's finest filmmakers.
As homages to Seven Samurai go, Rubicon is very well done: respectful to the source while still adding something new to keep it fresh and interesting.
Although somewhat uneven and sloppily assembled, the British "unromantic comedy" I Give It a Year gets some big laughs from marrying rom-com conventions with risque humour delivered by a game, talented cast.
Despite a jarring transition to its genre story this time out and not being the same laugh a second riot that Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz were, Edgar Wright's trilogy capping The World's End becomes the best of the trilogy simply through being incredibly thoughtful (on top of being hilarious).
The quiet, unsettling, and visually mesmerizing Canadian independent The Oxbow Cure might be one of the most thoughtful genre films in recent memory. There isn’t another movie like this that’s come out this year, this decade, or possibly will ever be seen again. It's that unique.
Though written with ages 9 -12 in mind, UK author S.F. Said's new graphic novel Phoenix has been one of my best reading experiences this year. A science fiction story with amazing and real characters, dramatic action, a fascinating mythology and incredible artwork by Dave McKean, I can't recommend this enough to any readers either with children of said age in their life, or for themselves.
