Pablo Larraín, the director behind the American biopics Jackie and Spencer, is back in his native Chile to poke at the horrendous dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The infamous man ruled ruthlessly from 1973 to 1989. As seen in his Oscar-nominated docudrama No, Larraín is not afraid of looking back into his country's troubled past. Even … Continue reading Film Review: ‘El Conde’ – A Fascist Vampire Still Living On Blood And Death
TIFF 2023: ‘Summer Qamp’ – A Free-Flowing Portrait of LGBTQ+ Youth
While some states have seemingly taken on war against young LGBTQ+ individuals, other locations have become havens. In the case of Camp fYrefly, some youth in Canada have the freedom to find their voice. The documentary Summer Qamp examines a seeming paradise for teens who will have to return to the difficult lives they lead. … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘Summer Qamp’ – A Free-Flowing Portrait of LGBTQ+ Youth
TIFF 2023: ‘Toll’ – Carolina Markowicz Sensual Tale of Repression
We often rely upon parents to create a nurturing environment. Yet discovering our parents are flawed human beings comes as a shock to most. Sadly, many others come to this realization earlier in life. The emotional abuse suffered by LGBTQ+ people often comes at the hands of bullies and parents. It's upsetting how often the … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘Toll’ – Carolina Markowicz Sensual Tale of Repression
TIFF 2023: ‘God is a Woman’ – Memory and Tradition Framed Through Cinema
The power of film on the collective memory of a community can rarely be understood. Documentary remains one of the most impactful ways to remember a place, a time, and a culture. Yet the true power of these films stems from the emotion that rises naturally over their runtimes. While God is a Woman begins … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘God is a Woman’ – Memory and Tradition Framed Through Cinema
Review: ‘Smile’ – Trauma Exploration Falls Short of its Marketing Campaign Promise
Rejoice! For spooky season is upon us once again. Last year’s annual cinematic celebration of the macabre was kicked off by a new offering in the horror canon, Smile. A creepy trailer accompanied by a clever viral marketing campaign that saw random people eerily smiling in public venues such as sporting events helped catapult Smile … Continue reading Review: ‘Smile’ – Trauma Exploration Falls Short of its Marketing Campaign Promise
TIFF 2023: ‘Fair Play’ Shines a Light on Power, Work, and Entitlement
While Wall Street has been a fruitful location for storytelling, the business world has become a hotspot of creative activity. The high-stakes world has often served as a microcosm for larger issues in America. Director and writer Chloe Domont utilizes this approach, as well as audience awareness of Wall Street and Industry, to deliver a … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘Fair Play’ Shines a Light on Power, Work, and Entitlement
TIFF 2023: ‘The Umbrella Men: Escape From Robben Island’ – A High Energy Crime Sequel
In 2022, The Umbrella Men surprised as a wildly entertaining heist film. The South African caper gave strong Ocean’s vibes and was one of the most rewatchable genre films of TIFF 2022. To our surprise, a sequel to that fun film landed at TIFF 2023. With Director John Barker returning, The Umbrella Men: Escape From … Continue reading TIFF 2023: ‘The Umbrella Men: Escape From Robben Island’ – A High Energy Crime Sequel
Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ – It’s No Mystery, This is Branagh’s Best Poirot Yet
It seemed that after the critically and commercially lukewarm Death on the Nile, the case closed on Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot franchise. However, the famed star and director has reinvigorated the series with the fresh and smart A Haunting in Venice. Boasting a new cast, new locale, and a looser adaptation of Agatha Christie’s source … Continue reading Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ – It’s No Mystery, This is Branagh’s Best Poirot Yet
Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ – Branagh’s Poirot Goes Dark In A Supernatural Crime
The third of his series featuring Agatha Christie's legendary detective is off-the-bat a tone changer compared to Orient Express and Death On The Nile. Immediately, it had me intrigued because Kenneth Branagh's choice to adapt Christie's Hallowe'en Party instead of another previously adapted book (Evil Under The Sun was the original sequel to Nile under … Continue reading Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ – Branagh’s Poirot Goes Dark In A Supernatural Crime
Review: ‘Bottoms’ – Revenge Of The Ladies With A Can Of Whoop-Ass
Most hormone-raging high-school sex comedies have mainly involved teenage boys looking to get laid for the first time. Porky's and the infamous peephole, Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Phoebe Cates, and American Pie with the use of webcams. None of them included sex and creating plans to make their own fight club, as one … Continue reading Review: ‘Bottoms’ – Revenge Of The Ladies With A Can Of Whoop-Ass