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Echo Review: Marvel Tries To Answer Criticisms With Mixed Results | That Shelf
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The television entries of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been, to date, mostly pretty good. While not 100% successful, they have each tried new genres and expanded the universe in interesting ways. While they have performed well with most audiences, there are some that have been dissatisfied with them. Aside from claiming they suffer…
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The Criterion Shelf: Pre-Code Divas | That Shelf
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Criterion Shelf is an ongoing collaborative retrospective of classic films, helmed by Bil Antoniou, tackling curated collections on the Criterion Channel. For November 2023, the topic was the curated list ‘Pre-Code Divas’, a list of films featuring strong women characters dealing with leering men and racy subject matter, at least by 1930s standards. Several…
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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review: New Series Adds Depth and Breadth To The Monsterverse | That Shelf
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And what of the Titans? Interestingly, the show isn’t really about the Titans per se, so they don’t show up quite as much as you might anticipate. However, when they do, they show up like the forces of nature they are. There are a few new monsters we are introduced to and, naturally, Godzilla…
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The Marvels Is Out-of-This-World Fun | ForReel
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The loudest, most vocal section of fans decrying that “the MCU is in shambles” is interesting because their analysis depth is inconsistent and shallow. In the former sense, they’ll watch something like Black Widow, Ms Marvel, or She-Hulk and loudly exclaim that the MCU is doomed while simultaneously looking at projects like Guardians of…
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Reel Asian Festival: We Will Be Brave | That Shelf
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It also follows them as they create art installations and experiences for their community, portrayed with noble intent. Unfortunately, the impact of these events is never investigated excepting how it affects the The Good Guise themselves. Herein lies the biggest problem with We Will Be Brave: its scope feels too limited. These five men are…
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The Criterion Shelf: Grindhouse Gothic – Roger Corman Directs Edgar Allan Poe | That Shelf
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Criterion Shelf is an ongoing collaborative retrospective of classic films, helmed by Bil Antoniou, tackling curated collections on the Criterion Channel. For October 2023, I contributed a write-up of the classic film Masque of the Red Death from the Roger Corman-directed Edgar Allan Poe cycle of films starring Vincent Price. If you grew up…
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The Killer Hits the Mark | ForReel
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Fassbender is excellent throughout, both on screen and in voiceover. His character speaks confidently in voiceover about the need for detachment and calm, cool, dispassionate professionalism. On-screen, the character appears to be that, except for all the moments the tumult of emotions beneath the surface peek through (which is a lot). Playing that contradiction…
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VIFF 2023: I Used to Be Funny: Rachel Sennott Continues Her Hot Streak in Ally Pankiw’s New Film | That Shelf
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The movie is ultimately Sennott’s show and she carries it with the confidence of a seasoned performer. The story sees her tackle more than a few complicated subjects. Through it all, she makes Sam believable, sympathetic, and, when the script calls for it, hilarious. It is an excellent performance that anchors I Used to Be…
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VIFF 2023: “Anatomy of a Fall” and the Anatomy of an Exceptional Courtroom Drama | ForReel
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The cast is universally excellent, […] Samuel Theis and Sandra Hüller, in one of the film’s best scenes, have a violent argument (which is recorded and the audio played for the court) in which they discuss the balance of their lives and responsibilities. This scene feels like it could be taken from almost any…
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“The Creator”; A Visually Beautiful Yet Narratively Deficient Sci-Fi Film | ForReel
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If there has been an inescapable topic of 2023, it has been Artificial Intelligence (AI). We’ve seen large language models grow by leaps and bounds in the last year, and Hollywood writers and performers striking – at least in part – over the idea of using AI in creating film and television. AI has…
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VIFF 2023: “The Royal Hotel”; A Feminist Tale Of Harrowing Proportions | ForReel
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So Liv and Hanna are left to fend for themselves among these horrible men. Three stand out: Matty (Toby Wallace, Finestkind), the fun one who wants to be friends but also wants to get Hanna into bed. Teeth (James Frecheville), the slow one who thinks he’s being chivalrous by sitting at the bar and…
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Loki Season 2 Review: More Fun Shenanigans in the MCU’s Sacred Timeline | That Shelf
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For his part, Hiddleston slips back into Loki like a glove he’s been wearing all his life, this time with more concern for both Sylvie and the universe at large. Di Martino as Sylvie gets to play with relief and frustration as she’s dragged back into the fray. Their relationship after last season’s betrayal…
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VIFF 2023: ‘Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person’ Brings Fresh Blood to Familiar Themes | Exclaim!
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The coming-of-age story is a well-worn tale, but one that still has a lot of mileage if a filmmaker can find a new angle. Director Ariane Louis-Seize has found one with her new film Humanist Vampire Seeing Consenting Suicidal Person, casting the existential angst and ennui of being a teenager onto the eternal youth of a 68-year-old…
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The Fall of the House of Usher Review: Mike Flanagan Remixes Edgar Allan Poe with Excellent Results | That Shelf
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Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most influential and vital voices in horror, penning some of the most influential works of the genre in his short 40 years of life. His work drips with emotionality, love, loss, regret, fear, and longing. He helped establish the damp, decaying tone and mood that we now…
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‘Ahsoka’ Thankfully Transcends ‘Star Wars’ Nostalgia | Exclaim!
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It’s fair to say that Disney+‘s various Star Wars shows have been a mixed bag. While the fan base remains rabid, the shows have not all been met with acclaim — some are critically loved (such as Andor), and others not so much (The Book of Boba Fett or Obi-Wan Kenobi). What the best of them have in common is…