The basis of an interesting short film is there, but not a nearly two-hour film in which characters constantly mope around and do practically nothing to advance the plot or develop its characters and world. As a result, Earwig may very well be the most interminable film of the entire Toronto International Film Festival and one of the most disappointing films of the year.
Read MoreAn all too familiar addition to an already oversaturated subgenre, director Rob Savage follows up his debut feature ‘Host’ with ‘Dashcam’, another pandemic horror film that seems to aim at audience’s patience, rather than their ability to be frightened.
Read More‘Oscar Peterson: Black + White’ is one of the great music documentaries, and an essential release out of TIFF 2021. Guided lovingly by Barry Avrich, this tribute to the extraordinary life and career of Oscar Peterson must be seen by anyone who loves music, and especially if they love Oscar Peterson.
Read MoreWhile Kenneth Branagh may only make a handful of artistic choices as director, every ounce of thoughtfulness went into the script of ‘Belfast’, and that remains enough. The film is shot in an intimate and small manner, the conflict is shrunk down, and eventually it’s all slow cooked into more delicious morsels about morality and love.
Read MoreCanadian cinema has always had an uphill road to climb, but this is especially true of films like ‘Wildhood’. Now being screened for the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, Wildhood draws heavily from Hannam’s own identity and experiences, telling the story of re-defining one’s family, rediscovering love, and recovering one’s sense of self.
Read More‘Titane’ is Julia Ducournau’s second feature length film and just like her last film, this on e isn’t for the faint of heart. A movie that will truly divide audiences with its disturbing imagery but one that will stand the test of time because of the method to it’s madness
Read More‘The Power of the Dog’ is Jane Campion’s first film in 12 years, since the release of 2009’s ‘Bright Star’, and tells the story of Phil Burbank (Cumberbatch), who runs a cattle ranch with his brother George (Jesse Plemons). Cumberbatch and Plemons are a phenomenon on screen, but its uneven script quickly degrades the film into a sappy melodrama.
Read More‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ is the twenty-fifth theatrical instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the second film in the MCU’s Phase Four. With Marvel fatigue high after the epic conclusion of the Infinity Saga, and multiple delays in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, how does ‘Shang-Chi’ fare compared to its predecessors?
Read MoreWhile ‘Vacation Friends’ contains decent performances, its story feels way too predictable, which combines with dull humor to produce a forgettable comedy.
Read MoreAudiences finally get to witness the latest horror cult-classic revival, Candyman. All the ingredients are there for this to be the next great film from recently prolific writer/producer Jordan Peele and director Nia DaCosta and bring the iconic character into the modern world. Instead, audiences are given an uneven mess that could have been so much more.
Read MoreThe entire premise of Lisa Joy’s directorial debut, ‘Reminiscence’, is enough to entice any fans of mind-bending sci-fi films, but in film, execution trumps everything else. An artist can have the greatest idea in the world for a movie, TV show, or book, only for it to be a mediocre experience if the execution of that said idea wasn’t successful.
Read MoreWhile the new formula of ‘Don’t Breathe 2’ explores new avenues in Norman’s character, it never truly commits to engaging with the potential complexity of his character, bypassing the monstrous acts of his past.
Read MoreIn this current, limited, cinematic world full of sequels, franchises, and adaptations, ‘Free Guy’ enters the game as a refreshingly original idea. Guy (played by Ryan Reynolds), a non-player character in the fictional video game, Free City lives a pleasant life as a bank teller, dreams of one day breaking free of his regimented video game existence. In doing so, ‘Free Guy’ crafts what can easily be considered a perfect summer film.
Read MoreWith James Gunn at the helm, The Suicide Squad is a self-aware, gore-filled, anti-Superhero comedy that was tasked with resuscitating the franchise and providing a shot in the arm to the DCEU. Being Warner Brothers’ and DC’s second stab at Task Force X, and with viral campaigns targeting the DCEU constantly, there was a lot of pressure for this film to perform and please audiences
Read MoreAdapted from a 14th century poem by an unknown author, The Green Knight is a medieval coming-of-age story that doesn’t center around the usual players, and has only been put on screen a few times (clearly, not often enough).
In doing so, A24 and Director David Lowry convincingly conveys to modern audiences what medieval fantasy films should and can be.
“Old” is the latest horror film from the King-of-Twists himself, M. Night Shyamalan, which premiered this Friday exclusively in theaters worldwide. But is Shyamalan’s fourteenth film a standout of the genre in the 2021 movie season or yet another blemish on M. Night’s controversial filmography?
Read MorePig is a masterful portrait of human fragility and the potential memories we find in cooking, while its theme of loss is lyrically paced and honestly portrayed by its leading stars.
Read MoreNavot Papushado’s Gunpowder Milkshake has plenty of flash and style, but forgets that story and character should come first before trying to expand their universe for multiple sequels and spin-offs.
Read MoreNatasha Romanoff’s solo film doubles as an origin story and a peek into what happened to Natasha following the events of 2016’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, but is it too late?
Read MoreWhile “The Tomorrow War” contains explosive action sequences, its undeveloped main story and characters quickly fizzle out.
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