film

Watermark Review

Filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal and photographer Edward Burtynsky have truly outdone themselves artistically, narratively, philosophically, and visually with the stunning documentary Watermark.

Interview: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Dork Shelf talks with recent Emmy winner and TV icon Julia Louis-Dreyfus about her starring role in the comedy Enough Said and creating chemistry with the cast, how she brought her own personal feelings about her eldest leaving for college to the production, why she never really actively sought out work in film prior to this and stuck to TV, and what sports movie contains her favourite cinematic moment.

Red Obsession Review

Red Obsession can’t really be described as anything more than a functional documentary. Not to say that it isn’t a well informed or researched look into how wine has become one of the hottest monetary commodities in the world, but it’s really only interesting enough for viewers to retain small facts and tidbits of knowledge if they aren’t keenly in love with talking about everything related to the world’s most sought after alcoholic beverage.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Review

While Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 might not be directly created by the same writers and directors as the first incredibly delightful and hilarious animated outing, the sequel might actually be a tad bit better than the previously high set bar.

Baggage Claim Review

A jetlagged stream of rom-com clichés, Baggage Claim arrives at the theatrical gate like a plane that was lost somewhere over the Bermuda Triangle since 1991.

Rush Review

While occasionally overblown in terms of the melodrama being employed and a tad overlong, Ron Howard’s Rush is a strong sports drama with a pair of exceptional leading performances.

Interview: Dion Conflict

Dork Shelf talks to all nigh B-movie maven and host of Shock and Awe (happening at Toronto's Revue Cinema this Friday at 11:30pm) Dion Conflict about this year’s selections, the work that goes into the festival, his love for Shock and Awe crowds, spaghetti westerns, sex flicks being on the cutting edge of technology, being duped into seeing Mac and Me a second time in theatres, programming shorts between the features, how the mystery feature stays under wraps (with a slight tease for this year), and finding the right times to run certain movies that might not have gone over as well a year or two prior.

Metallica: Through the Never Review

The IMAX 3D experience Metallica: Through the Never won’t win over anyone who hasn’t already been tickled by the band, but for those who enjoy metal at its heaviest and don’t mind seeing their rock gods with grey chest hair and receding hairlines, it is one hell of a night in the theater and the best way to make your eardrums ring without mortgaging your house to Ticketmaster.

Interview: Nicole Holofcener

Dork Shelf talks to Enough Said director Nicole Holofcener about how she draws inspiration from real life, the passing of James Gandolfini, how the late actor wasn’t her first choice, why it took so long for anyone to give Julia Louis-Deryfuss a starring role, and the difficulties of modern filmmaking as a female director who likes making age appropriate movies about real women.

Interview: Toni Collette & Catherine Keener

Dork Shelf talks to Enough Said co-stars Toni Collette and Catherine Keener about the differences between female characters written by men and those created by women, the reality that writer-director Nicole Holofcener brings to her productions, and why they see both of their characters’ professions as somewhat crazy.

Interview: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Dork Shelf talks to Don Jon writer, director, and star Joseph Gordon-Levitt about how he came up with the message for his debut feature, how much pornography he thought was appropriate to show, creating the film’s unique family dynamic, producing this film outside of a major studio, and how the casting of Scarlett Johnansson fit into his particular vision for the film.

Interview: Scarlett Johansson

Don Jon actress Scarlett Johansson talks to Dork Shelf about the differences between pornography and romantic comedy, her collaboration with Joseph Gordon-Levitt for the first time, how her decision making process has evolved over the years, what it’s like watching a sexualized film in front of family and loved ones, and her own (somewhat surprising) addiction.

A Single Shot Review

While a great showcase for the acting talents of star Sam Rockwell – an actor who needs more leading roles than just the character work he knocks out of the park every time – the backwoods thriller A Single Shot misinterprets “slow burn” as “illogically stalling.”

BGM Episode 10: The Mirror Has Two Faces

Despite the fact that it’s about a verbally abused woman who hooks up with a sex-addicted modelizer, it’s a romantic comedy. Go figure! To celebrate reaching our tenth episode, we at BGM have decided to branch outside the norm and review a movie that, while not particularly heavy in gay in content, is fully gay […]

Salinger Review

If there’s anything that would make J.D. Salinger turn over in his grave, Shane Salerno’s documentary Salinger would be it. The film presents a problematic view of the author—voyeuristic, highly manipulative and perverse—that's poorly disguised under its flurry of superficially impressive formal elements.