Goodbye 2023! It's time to prep for a sequel-heavy new year. Allison and I have compiled a list of the twenty-five films we are most looking forward to seeing. As with last year, a few of these are holdovers from 2023 that have still yet to be released, mainly due to the strikes that crippled … Continue reading Most Anticipated Films of 2024
Film Review: Candy Cane Lane
★★ Is it just me or are holiday-themed movies getting lazier each year? New Eddie Murphy vehicle Candy Cane Lane definitely fits the bill as one of the least inspired major holiday offerings to stumble along for quite some time, alongside slightly-more-terrible Melissa McCarthy flick Genie. While host to a few cute moments, Candy Cane … Continue reading Film Review: Candy Cane Lane
Film Review: Teddy’s Christmas
★★★ As the years go by, recapturing that same sense of whimsical delight once felt as a child for the Christmas holiday cinematically seems increasingly out of reach. Norwegian import Teddy’s Christmas, now dubbed to reach a wider audience, definitely encapsulates the spirit of the holiday for younger viewers to enjoy. The movie itself is … Continue reading Film Review: Teddy’s Christmas
Film Review: Genie
★★ A feel-great family movie, especially around the holidays, has the power to bring people together, and make them appreciate what they hold dear. Each and every year without fail, countless companies jump for the chance at their own new Christmas movie in the hopes that they will remain in the conversation for years to … Continue reading Film Review: Genie
TV Review: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Edgar Wright’s 2010 masterpiece, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, may have bombed at the box office upon initial release, but in the years since, it has leveled up into an endlessly rewatchable cult classic. As an audience member, I eagerly awaited a chance to see this story continue in one way or another. A sequel … Continue reading TV Review: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
NewFest 2023: All of Us Strangers
★★★★★ Over the last decade in particular, the evolution of queer dramas has been monumental to behold. With an over abundance of important stories finally being told, it becomes increasingly commonplace for the truly great ones to somehow slip through the cracks. This year alone, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and … Continue reading NewFest 2023: All of Us Strangers
Fantastic Fest 2023: The Animal Kingdom
★★★★★ A grounded, frequently disturbing sci-fi/fantasy drama, The Animal Kingdom tears into chilling body horror elements and complex commentary about embracing the animal inside. Set in the near future, a “disease” characterized by physical, animalistic transformations has spread across the world. Those infected face intense outward discrimination, not to mention asylum experimentation. Embracing the obvious … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: The Animal Kingdom
TIFF 2023: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
★★★★ In the most uniquely-titled movie of the entire festival, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person delivers a modern coming-of-age vampiric dramedy with a subtle and elegant flair. This unique film marks the directorial debut of Ariane Louis-Seize, who co-wrote the screenplay with Christine Doyon. Together, the duo craft a genre-blending feature spilling over with … Continue reading TIFF 2023: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Fantasia 2023: The Primevals
★★★★ Emerging out of its seemingly permanent slumber, Full Moon’s magnum opus (watch out, Puppet Master!) finally arrives nearly three decades after its initial production timeline. Taking some obvious inspiration from projects including Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and The Land of the Lost, The Primevals captures a similar lightning-in-a-bottle energy. Initially filmed in 1994, the … Continue reading Fantasia 2023: The Primevals
Tribeca 2023: Elemental
★★★★ Any new Pixar film is cause for celebration. While many modern animation studios have tried to keep up with the consistently excellent quality of the Disney/Pixar collaborative brand, few have resulted in their staggering frequency of masterpieces. Coming on the heels of Turning Red and Lightyear, Elemental reminded me most of Inside Out—definitely a … Continue reading Tribeca 2023: Elemental