A remake of the 70’s film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, director Michael Noer (who has directed nothing you would recognize) updates the arguably true story of Henri “Papillion” Charriere with modern technology. “Papillion” is an epic story in the telling but not always in the watching. The introduction to our main character is […]
I’ll admit, when I first heard the title “Crazy Rich Asians”, I thought this was some insensitive comedy spoof. Turns out, it might be one of the most talked about and celebrated films of the summer. It’s based off a best-selling book that is the first part of a trilogy; something Warner Bros. hopes to
For far too long, Kelly MacDonald has been a supporting actress in award-winning films where she’s gotten little to no recognition. Performances in “Elizabeth” (the poisoned dress) or the innocence she portrays in the final scenes of “No Country For Old Men” are samples of her range. “Puzzle” brings the Scottish actress front and center, a lead role
Name me the last skater film you saw… Now name the last skater film you saw about female skateboarders. There are none, making “Skate Kitchen” something of a rarity. Crystal Moselle makes her feature film directorial debut here on a script she also wrote, based on her short film of the same topic with the same
Disney’s new film “Christopher Robin” is not to be confused with 20th Century Fox’s “Goodbye Christopher Robin” Last year, “Goodbye” showed us the dark origins of young boy Robin and how the famous characters like Pooh and friends came to be. The latest is a fictional story along the lines of “Paddington” where a grown-up
Gus Van Sant is the textbook definition of a hit-or-miss director. He’s had award-winning hits like “Good Will Hunting” and forgettable snoozefests like “Gerry.” The one thing you can always count on with Van Sant is a challenging film. “Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot,” perhaps the most obnoxious title of the year,
How long can you listen to someone who uses the word “like” in every sentence before it becomes annoying? Bo Burnham’s new film opens with a scene that will give you your answer, the lead character uses “like” 50 times or more in under five minutes. “Eighth Grade” might be this year’s “The Florida Project,”
The struggle is real in “Leave No Trace.” It’s another indie film from a child’s perspective, facing uncertainty from parental and societal nurturing. “Leave No Trace” doesn’t exude that kind of crowd pleasing energy that it’s wilderness cousin “Captain Fantastic” captured and captivated audiences with. “Leave No Trace,” Debra Granik’s subtle drama doesn’t cover any new ground
It was the TIFF film that held the most interest for me, because the subject matter was unlike anything else I read about. Even director Susana White (Our Kind of Traitor) admitted that the timing of this project, written by Steven Knight (Locke, Eastern Promises) 14 years earlier, was immensely surprising given the recent pipeline
It doesn’t take much for actor Simon Baker’s directorial debut to sweep you off your feet. His vintage surf drama overwhelms the senses with sight and sound. Based on the novel of the same name, “Breath” is a coming of age story which uses the rugged Western Australian coast as a setting for bravery and