★★★ A romantic dramedy that uses the 2020 worldwide pandemic for its launching point is apparently going to be something we see quite often. Whether it’s Language Lessons, The End or Us, Songbird, or Locked Down, the fruitful new cinematic ‘COVID romance’ options are growing by the day. Enter: 7 Days. When a wonky pre-arranged … Continue reading Tribeca 2021: 7 Days
Film Review: 12 Mighty Orphans
★★★★ Set amongst the backdrop of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, 12 Mighty Orphans reminds us that orphans weren’t always looked upon favorably. In fact, at one time, they were completely stigmatized, considered second-class citizens, and referred to as nothing more than ‘inmates.’ Thousands of children were orphaned during this time period, and … Continue reading Film Review: 12 Mighty Orphans
Film Review: Infinite
★★ Feeling like it came straight off the generic action-movie conveyor belt, Infinite strands a talented ensemble amongst stilted dialogue and CGI-heavy slow motion. I thought this type of movie was all but dead, as box office numbers dwindled and audiences craved more visceral, bone-crunching action. If anything, it feels like Infinite comes straight from … Continue reading Film Review: Infinite
Film Review: Gully
★★★★ Sometimes having low expectations is key to finding the biggest surprises. In a movie heavily inspired by Clockwork Orange, three promising young men spiral out of control, fueled by drugs and video game violence. Gully was a selection at 2019’s Tribeca Film Festival, and its delayed release undoubtedly has a lot to do with … Continue reading Film Review: Gully
Film Review: Awake
★★★ Imagine for a moment a world in which you cannot go to sleep. No, I don’t mean a demon that will haunt your dreams like Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street. You literally can’t sleep. The phones aren’t working, the power is out, and the military shows up… There is no such … Continue reading Film Review: Awake
TV Review: Kevin Can F**k Himself
I was dying to see what Annie Murphy’s first project would be after she finished her run on the excellent Canadian comedy, Schitts Creek, with a well-deserved Emmy win. It turns out that AMC’s new half sitcom/half dark drama, Kevin Can F**k Himself, was the answer. With constantly clashing tones in its two distinct halves, … Continue reading TV Review: Kevin Can F**k Himself
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival, an exclusive celebration of the best queer films from Canada and around the world, brought a unique selection of (mostly) foreign indie films rich with specificity. I had already seen a few of their selections, including the excellent Boy Meets Boy, Moffie, and Potato Dreams of America, so I was … Continue reading Inside Out LGBT Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
Brooklyn Film Festival 2021: Kringle Time
★★★ (Written by Freelancer, Dan Grote) Kringle Time follows Jerry (Benny Elledge) as he comes to terms with a sinister truth about his childhood idol, a creepy Frosty the Snowman knockoff named Kringles. Matthew Lucas directs his debut feature, with a screenplay penned by Zan Gillies, in this dark comedy about the adored children’s show that … Continue reading Brooklyn Film Festival 2021: Kringle Time
Film Review: Flashback
★★★★ Flashback, formerly titled the much more distinct The Education of Frederick Fitzell, is strange, bizarre, stunningly edited and complexly scripted. Dylan O’Brien, one of my favorite young actors, gets another starring vehicle in a role decidedly different from anything he has done before. The timeline doesn’t hold hands with the audience, but would certainly … Continue reading Film Review: Flashback
Film Review: Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog
★★★ Although I love dog-related cinema in all its schmaltzy glory, not every film can be the next Homeward Bound, Marley & Me, or A Dog’s Purpose. It’s easier to make an aggressively average doggie flick that a truly great one. Thankfully, Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog, directed by Lynn Roth and based … Continue reading Film Review: Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog