Category: Canada First
Canadian Film Festival: ‘Material Success’ sells an experience that’s pure catharsis
Material Success Directed by Jesse Mann Canada, 2012 Greta Garbo and Monroe, Dietrich and DiMaggio. Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, on the cover of a magazine. Iconic, cherished, and often imitated, these figures serve as pedestals in the immovable institution that … [Read the Rest]
Canadian Film Festival: ‘Cloudburst’ relies on artificial melodrama to take it to its final destination
Cloudburst Written and directed by Thom Fitzgerald Canada, 2011 The story of two gay lovers battling against social stigma has become an old, tired genre, so it’s only appropriate that in Thom Fitzgerald’s lesbian road trip film, Cloudburst, the two … [Read the Rest]
‘Payback’ will have audiences thinking, even though it only skims the surface of its topic
Payback Directed by Jennifer Baichwal Written by Margaret Atwood (book) and Jennifer Baichwal (adaptation) Canada, 2012 Movies inspired on books are a dime a dozen, with almost every week there being something released in theatres which is based on some … [Read the Rest]
‘Intouchables’ is exactly the sort of film that will leave a smile on your face
Intouchables (English title: The Untouchables) Directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano Written by Oliver Nakache and Éric Toledano France, 2011 Fish out of water comedies seem to win a great many film goers each and every time a new … [Read the Rest]
Denis Côté’s ‘Bestiaire’ is a contemplative portrait of wildlife in captivity
Bestiaire Directed by Denis Côté’s Screenplay by Denis Côté’s 2012, Canada Denis Côté is Quebec cinema’s king of art-house filmmaking. Since his debut feature Les états Nordiques was released in 2005, Côté has, in a very short amount of time, … [Read the Rest]
After Dark 2011: ‘Redline’ is a surreal and incredible experience
Redline Directed by Takeshi Koike 2010, Japan, 102 minutes Lots of people are saying that anime hit Redline is like taking acid. Frankly, that doesn’t quite do the film justice. Let’s do better. If Speed Racer and Heavy Metal … [Read the Rest]
After Dark 2011: ‘Father’s Day’ is the best film about raping fathers ever! (Review #2)
Father’s Day Directed by ASTRON-6 2011, Canada/USA, 100 minutes Father’s Day has a half-naked stripper wielding a chainsaw. Review over. Okay, fine. I’ve got more. However, it’s safe to say that about ninety percent of you know whether or … [Read the Rest]
After Dark 2011: ‘Exit Humanity’ swings and misses again, and again, and again . . .
Exit Humanity Directed by John Geddes 2011, Canada, 114 minutes Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that there were six hundred people in the Toronto Underground Cinema for Exit Humanity. There may have been more. It was pretty … [Read the Rest]
After Dark 2011: ‘Monster Brawl’ blows hot and cold (Review #2)
Monster Brawl Directed by Jesse T. Cook 2011, Canada, 90 minutes Know what would improve wrestling? Classic movie monsters, that’s what. How would you get classic film monsters, such as Cyclops and Frankenstein, in the ring together? By saying … [Read the Rest]
TIFF 2011: ‘Monsieur Lazhar’ – A trenchant portrait of loss and light seen through the globalized lens of school culture
Monsieur Lazhar Directed by Philippe Falardeau Written by Philippe Falardeau Canada, 2011 Monsieur Lazhar arrives at TIFF within the Special Presentations programme from festival darling Phillippe Falardreau (La Moitié gauche du frigo, Congorama, C’est pas moi, je le jure!) in … [Read the Rest]
TIFF 2011: ‘i am a good person / i am a bad person’ – A film at once intriguing, intimate, and bold
i am a good person / i am a bad person Directed by Ingrid Veninger 2011, Canada, 82 minutes When it comes to Ingrid Veninger, I suspect that the time has come to invoke that pesky little word ‘auteur’, … [Read the Rest]
Fantasia 2011: ‘Beyond the Black Rainbow’ is a hallucinatory, audacious, and challenging debut
Beyond the Black Rainbow Written by Panos Cosmatos Directed by Panos Cosmatos Canada, 2011 There’s been a welcome rush of audacious first features recently – Evan Glodell’s incendiary Bellflower and Daniel Cockburn’s witty, touching thought experiment You Are Here spring … [Read the Rest]
Bloodied but Unbowed
Bloodied but Unbowed Dir. Susanne Tabata (2011, Canada, 75 mins.) When I was in high school, there were two types of punks. One type shopped at Hot Topic, listened to Good Charlotte, and tended to be chauffeured around by … [Read the Rest]
Fantasia 2011: ‘The Corridor’ combines high-concept horror and psychological depth
The Corridor Directed by Evan Kelly Written by Josh MacDonald Canada, 2011 Tackling a difficult premise is often the kiss of death for first-time filmmakers. Many get lost in their “high-concept” vision, losing track of the human element that is … [Read the Rest]
Fantasia 2011: ‘You Are Here’ is compulsively watchable and utterly unique
You Are Here Written by Daniel Cockburn Directed by Daniel Cockburn Canada, 2010 Equal parts video essay, fragmented “thought experiment,” and social satire, Daniel Cockburn’s You Are Here is one of the most audacious English Canadian features to come down … [Read the Rest]
