Each year, The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) provides a platform for the fall and winter debuting films eager to become awards contenders. It’s also a swell of unpurchased smaller films looking for distribution. In its 48th year, TIFF is one of the largest film festivals in the world. It showcases well over 200 films […]
The film’s opening scene looks and feels like actress Cate Blanchett sitting down for an interview about her work. The two-time Oscar-winning actress has been doing lots of interviews for this film, which could land her a third Academy Award. Writer/director Todd Field blends the reality of Blanchett as a highly
Normally, Oscar-winning Director Guillermo del Toro would release something like “The Shape of Water,” “Pan’s Labyrinth” or even “Hellboy” during October, but his star-studded remake of “Nightmare Alley” has its eyes on prestige. For del Toro fans, his latest “Nightmare Alley” doesn’t include as much disturbing content, gore or monsters featured in previous films like
Adam McKay has become an auteur in the worst way. His films, boasting large casts and “important issues”, talk down to the viewer, patronizing his audience under the veil of entertainment. His latest “Don’t Look Up” for Netflix is the least articulate of his recent best picture nominated films (“Vice”, “The Big Short”). Early scenes
Known for his inventive indie films, Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”) takes aim at the mainstream, with his adaptation of the best-selling book Where’d You Go, Bernadette. The Oscar-nominated director from Austin cast Cate Blanchett in the lead role, a choice that fans of the book had long predicted and hoped for. It’s a return to greatness for her
Gender inequality: And the best way to fight this is? Of all the voices I appreciated in this documentary, it was Mel Brooks’ “This is their time (meaning women’s)!” It’s long past time, but this documentary shows that the battle is far from won. It traces the inching progress that women have made in finding a voice in film,
The opening of this film set me up for disappointment with an extended battle in dim light in which the characters are not recognizable. Suddenly, there looms a glorious, colorful view of the island of Berk, and things began to look up. What follows, however, is the least interesting story of the three Dragon movies. Here, the challenge for
Andy Serkis, actor, visual effects stunt genius and the vocal mastermind behind Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings,” has decided to add director to his list of credits. “Mowgli” was his first film, but it has taken years after filming principal photography, for the visual effects to be complete. His second film “Breathe,” came out
Often associated with the sick and twisted, director (and actor) Eli Roth (“Death Wish”, “Hostel”) trades guts and gore for family friendly entertainment with The House with a Clock in its Walls. When the story isn’t trying to be America’s version of Harry Potter (dead parents, magic, impending doom, talking furniture), it does offer some
The next time you are in your local theater, stop, take a look around. Pay attention to the posters that are currently displayed and how nearly every one of them are sequels, prequels, reincarnations or re-boots. Director Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Seabiscuit) has always been a dependable director, turning the usual into the unexpected.