Review: Aftershock
The separation of a family in after the Tangshan earthquake of 1976 begins a journey that takes place over 30 years, as a the lives of a brother and sister develop without each other to depend upon. Read more
Review: The Call (La Llamada)
I’ve said it before, Italian cinema is certainly hitting its stride once again. Writer and director Stefano Pasetto has offered another contribution in the love story genre with The Call which transcends countries and gender in this tale of two women who decide to transform their lives. Read more
Review: Barney’s Version
Going into this year’s Toronto International Film Festival the film adaptation of one of my favourite Canadian novels of all time, Mordecai Richler’s Barney’s Version, was the film I was most excited about. Starring Paul Giamatti as the lovable (to me at least) Barney Panofsky and Dustin Hoffman as Izzy it was impossible to think this film could fail. Read more
Review: Blame
Kudos to Michael Henry’s newest film, Blame, showing at this year’s festival for being a lesson in magic. Pulling the old “switcheroo” on audiences, the Australian director has created equal moments of pure ecstasy and pure disappointment in only a matter of minutes. Read more
Review: Potiche
Considering the rollicking comedic affair that is present in Francois Ozun’s newest film, Potiche, a film adaptation of a stage production of the same name, the French director has created an irreverent film that fans will go back to again and again. Read more
Review: Blessed Events
Blessed Events, the German film about a rather drab 30-something who one day becomes pregnant as the result of a one night stand has the feeling of a European version of Knocked Up, minus the humour, or overall enjoyability. Read more
Review: Norwegian Wood (Noruwei No Mori)
Norwegian Wood is not only the title of the Beatles the Rubber Soul cut, but also the name of one of the most celebrated contemporary novels in Japan by writer Hariuki Murakami. Often called the “Japanese Catcher In The Rye” by critics, the source material is very difficult to adapt to a feature-length film and it shows in director Tran Anh Hung’s work. Read more
Review: Roses On Credit (Roses à crédit)
Masterful Israeli director Amos Gitaï’s newest film, Roses On Credit is a film that hearkens back to one of the rarely cited (anymore at least) eras of film, with a relevant tale of the pitfalls of credit while exuding a level of confidence not often seen. Read more
Review: Amigo
John Sayles has chosen to focus on the infrequently mentioned American occupation of the Philippines to serve as the backdrop of the turn of the century war drama, Amigo. The narrative of the film itself delves into the psychological war American soldiers wage within a small village where their mission is “to win their hearts and minds.” Read more
Review: 127 Hours
Prior to reviewing Danny Boyle’s newest film, 127 Hours, I would like to first off apologize for the personalized nature of the writing which is typically not my style. That said, I feel it is necessary since I am in the minority who did not actually enjoy Boyle’s follow-up to the widely successful Slumdog Millionaire. Read more
