-
The Greatest Hits: A Predictable Flick to Vibe With | ForReel
•
The plot is also a touch predictable but that doesn’t matter because The Greatest Hits is a vibes movie, and you have to vibe with it. If you can approach it with this mindset, you will likely have a good time. Sure, there’s definitely a scene where Boynton and Min connect via singing along…
-
Civil War Is a Timely, Must-See Cautionary Tale | ForReel
•
And yet, throughout the film, one clear choice is made: it doesn’t take sides. Early in the story, Dunst’s Lee tells Spaeny’s Jessie that they don’t decide; they document so that others can decide, and that’s the entire film’s approach. It’s never confirmed who started the war or why, or indeed, in many cases,…
-
The Classics Shelf: Cannes ’82 | That Shelf
•
Continuing on from the Criterion Shelf, The Classics Shelf is an ongoing retrospective of classic cinema produced monthly by writer Bil Antoniou and in collaboration with other writers in the That Shelf stable. This month’s theme is the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, and I contributed a review of the 1982 film Moonlighting, starring Jeremy…
-
Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Once Again Fumbles the Source Material | Exclaim!
•
As with any adaptation, Avatar walks a tricky line, seeking to please fans of the original material and appeal to new fans. Showrunner Albert Kim has publicly said that one of his goals was to broaden the appeal to an adult audience, citing Game of Thrones as an example of the tone he’d like to set — a…
-
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent Review: The Iconic Franchise Comes to Canada | That Shelf
•
[T]his reliance on archetypes and such a well-established formula is both the show’s biggest weakness and its greatest strength. It’s either “another Law & Order…” or “Another Law & Order!” That might seem like a fairly narrow distinction, but it’s true. Once again, this is a franchise with enough episodes under its belt that if…
-
‘Shōgun’ Is a Grand Epic Without Focus | Exclaim!
•
… [T]he series contains many great performances and an excellent production design that make it worth watching. Everything from the costumes to the CG cityscapes feel as considered and authentic as possible, and for those of us who appreciate stage violence, this has its fair share. Shōgun is a good show — but it sometimes…
-
Sight Unseen Review: New Canadian Detective Show Has A Unique Hook | That Shelf
•
Every excellent detective show needs a hook. Sometimes, the detective is a rogueish outsider or has a particular personality quirk or compulsion. In Sight Unseen, ace detective Tess Avery (newcomer Dolly Lewis) abruptly loses her ability to see. At first, in denial of this, she puts her partner Jake (Daniel Gillies) in peril and…
-
Echo Review: Marvel Tries To Answer Criticisms With Mixed Results | That Shelf
•
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…
-
The Criterion Shelf: Pre-Code Divas | That Shelf
•
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…
-
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review: New Series Adds Depth and Breadth To The Monsterverse | That Shelf
•
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…
-
The Marvels Is Out-of-This-World Fun | ForReel
•
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…
-
Reel Asian Festival: We Will Be Brave | That Shelf
•
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…
-
The Criterion Shelf: Grindhouse Gothic – Roger Corman Directs Edgar Allan Poe | That Shelf
•
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…
-
The Killer Hits the Mark | ForReel
•
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…
-
VIFF 2023: I Used to Be Funny: Rachel Sennott Continues Her Hot Streak in Ally Pankiw’s New Film | That Shelf
•
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…