‘Old Stock’ is an appealing coming-out-of-golden-age story
We live in a youth-obsessed culture. That much we know. We worship at the altar of infinite possibility, saying “youth must have its fling” – and we bemoan those lost opportunities to “make our mistakes”. But there’s nothing bracing or invigorating about living through a real folly of youth.
Read more‘Sarah préfère la course’ runs on maturity and a great sense of character
Sarah préfère la course (English title: Sarah Would Rather Run) Written by Chloé Robichaud Directed by Chloé Robichaud Canada, 2013 Some people are driven to accomplish a perfectly singular goal, even at a young age. Be it a professional career, an artistic endeavour, a pilgrimage to a specific place, the objective means everything to them. Most of the other tasks, obligations and activities they [...]
Read moreInside Out LGBT 2013: ‘Born this way’ informs, offends and touches deep
Born this way Directed by Shaun Kadlec & Deb Tullmann 2013, Cameroon This documentary follows Gertrude and Cedric, two LGBT people from Cameroon who share their experiences and opinions as they attempt to shed light on the extreme homophobia in their country. Also followed is Alice Knom, a human rights defense lawyer who’s often the only person is willing to defend LGBT people in Cameroon. [...]
Read more‘Frances Ha’ should appeal to more than just the few niche audiences
Frances Ha Directed by Noah Baumbach United States, 2012 Frances Ha, Noah Baumbach’s follow-up to 2010’s Greenberg, shot on the sly in New York City, has all the feel of the (sometimes) dreaded mumblecore tag in its first 15 minutes, but quickly shakes the comparison to be a sweet, funny film that leans heavily on its star and co-writer Greta Gerwig. Frances (Gerwig) can’t get [...]
Read more‘Now You See Me’ is mostly showmanship without the requisite wit
The term ‘movie magic’ has, alas, lost much of its once proud luster. Film savvy folks can now read in-depth articles, watch online interviews with filmmakers and dive into the ogles of behind-the-scenes content available on home media formats that reveal the tricks of the trade in impressive detail.
Read more‘Erased’ gives new meaning to the word generic
Erased Directed by Phillip Stölzl Written by Arash Amel USA, 2013 There’s a few distinct brands of action/thriller movie, and the most popular has always been “They Messed with the Wrong Man” (see also “Normal Guy becomes an Action Hero” and “Waaaarrrrr”) and Erased seems like an archetypal example. From the trailers and other advertisements, it looks like an absolutely hum-drum, boilerplate action/thriller of this [...]
Read more‘Black Rock’ falls back on disappointingly familiar ingredients
Black Rock Directed by Katie Aselton Screenplay by Mark Duplass Story by Katie Aselton 2012, USA Three best friends on a wilderness excursion find themselves in grave danger after an unfortunate encounter with a trio of x-war vets, on a hunting trip. Sound familiar? This indie, female-centric take on Deliverance features a great cast (Lake Bell, Kate Bosworth and Katie Aselton), decent cinematography and a tense [...]
Read more‘Epic’ a decidedly derivative, if colorful, new animated film
We are living in a golden age of animation, yet so many people working at Hollywood’s studio-funded animation companies are content working in the realm of the familiar. Too frequently, new mainstream animated films are like a big bowl of soup, with countless flavors that you’ve tasted before tweaked only slightly to not be total carbon copies of something bigger and often better.
Read more‘Fast & Furious 6′ is ridiculous enough to be fun despite being overlong
The cars are fast, as they always are, and the people are equally furious. In fact, they’re faster and furious-er now than they were before, but then, you already knew that. Be honest: if you’re reading this review, you do not need to be convinced or cajoled to hoof it to the theater to see Fast & Furious 6. You also don’t need encouragement to feel as if you, too, are like Dominic Toretto, Brian O’Conner, or their brothers- and sisters-in-wheels on the way home, pretending your Hyundai Sonata or beat-up pickup truck is a tricked-out muscle car.
Read more‘Frances Ha’ a triumphant portrait of modern-day young-adult angst
By now, young people scratching and clawing their way towards adulthood is a quintessential, clichéd story. The wide-eyed dreamer trying to make it in the big city is one of the hoariest tricks in the book, but Frances Ha is a welcome new variation on this theme, a striking and beautiful ode to youth and its many flaws. Headlined by Great Gerwig, Frances Ha is nothing short of a triumph, an endearing, unforced, and honest story of failures and frustrations.
Read more‘Leviathan’ overwhelms with its signature boldness and rigorous conceit
We’re cast right into the clanging of metal and the harsh winds of the North Atlantic. Though ostensibly advertised as an immersive look into the commercial fishing industry, our viewing lens is at first murky and dim. This sort of visceral thrust is at once foreign and familiar, a transporting non-linear journey keen on the laborious modes of living at sea.
Read more‘Mud’ feels like a modern day Mark Twain tale
Mud Written by Jeff Nichols Directed by Jeff Nichols USA, 2012 Mud feels like a modern day Mark Twain tale. The story is predominantly about two teenaged boys in search of adventure on the banks of the great Mississippi river, and the incredible journey that they embark on that summer. One day while on an excursion to a small deserted island which houses a boat [...]
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