1st Reviews

  The Last of Us: Part 2 is arguably the best video game story of all time. With exceptionally written characters and a beautiful, thematically challenging story - it rivals (and often surpasses) the quality seen in prestige film and television. Adapting it faithfully was always going to be a tall order, but season two mostly succeeds, even if some of the strongest elements are lost in translation.  The toxic visceral reaction the game brought out in “fans” only reinforced the core message at the heart of its story, and judging by much of the online discourse, season two seems to have done the same. The narrative approach is a little more watered down, and lacks the nuance seen in the game, but the themes surrounding revenge are well preserved. The framing of the narrative - including key punctuating scenes - is restructured to fit the show’s format. Some of the changes are for the better, trimming gameplay sections into more narratively concise scenes. Sadly, there are also s...

  Four close friends and renowned filmmakers in 1959’s Yugoslavia are out to make a feature film of the war. They have a unique perspective and are able to discuss the war as decorated war veterans. Lovro, Nenad, Stevan and Ivan use film to express themselves and criticize society but that doesn’t sit well with the Yugoslavian Communist Party. As The Party steps in to control the film for propagandistic reasons, the four filmmakers fear it may be to gain insight on their sexual orientation. Emir Hadžihafizbegović is entrusted by the head of the Communist Party to oversee the films production but is also told by the party to sabotage the film by any means necessary. Emir as well as our four filmmakers are all exceptional in this film. The dynamic between these five actors is a wave of emotions as Emir hides his true intentions and the filmmakers hide their sexual orientation from the world. The film is in a gorgeous black and white and boasts absolutely stunning cinematography from ...

  One of the most notoriously enormous franchises ever in scale comes to a close with its most ambitious instalment yet. Tom Cruise’s practical commitment to the action is again breathtaking, especially the set pieces including planes and submarines. Christopher McQuarrie and Cruise are again dedicating everything to creating something gigantic that warrants the moviegoing experience, with nail-biting stakes, jaw-dropping sets, and stunning direction. It’s got a genuine feeling of danger, that the team’s loss could result in truly destructive consequences. It also pushes Ethan to the brink of his values and abilities, as each last film before it has challenged how impossible of a mission he can actually go up against, as well as personal decisions he is faced with. The ensemble cast surrounding him is great, particularly Simon Pegg, while Hayley Atwell sometimes feel pushed too far into the mix to stand out as much as she did in  Dead Reckoning  and Esai Morales’ villain ...

  If the mission was to end this iconic film series on a high note, then it seems it really was impossible. The Final Reckoning is an overlong, messy and nostalgia-heavy conclusion to Ethan Hunt’s three-decade-long saga. Still, it manages to deliver just enough adrenaline fuelled thrills, while providing fitting closure for the IMF rogues.  Dead Reckoning (Part One - when that was its original title) served as exciting setup for this long-awaited conclusion, so why is the first hour of this movie plagued with drawn out exposition and further setup? Seriously, over a third of its runtime is wasted on characters explaining things to one another that we kind of already know. It absolutely kills the pacing, and by the time the film eventually arrives at its first big set-piece, I was exhausted and half checked out. The other issue, is the over-reliance on the series’ past as a narrative crutch, rather than a true focus on its conclusion. There are so many flashbacks to previous M:...

  “Our lives are the sum of our choices. And we cannot escape the past.”   After thirty years of watching Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) accept his missions and running towards the next threat, his final reckoning is finally here. Or we can hope it’s his final mission.  As a diehard  Mission: Impossible  fan, the franchise has consistently exceeded its predecessor to make this one of the best action franchises in history.  Audiences have grown fond of Cruise’s death-defying stunts and have enjoyed the thrilling narratives Christopher McQuarrie has conjured since  Rogue Nation . Cruise and McQuarrie have reflected the international sociopolitical climate in each of their films, which made them grander in resonance and scope.  No matter the mission, Hunt has always had an intimate connection with the leaders of these world-ending ideologies, like the Syndicate and The Entity. Hunt has reflected on his past because of his mission time and time again.  ...

  After 14 years, the horror franchise that made a generation afraid to drive behind logging trucks is back. Up until now, I’d call most of these movies guilty pleasures, but Final Destination: Bloodlines delivers all the gnarly deaths you’d expect, pairing them with a far more interesting story and characters. This is undoubtedly the best instalment yet, and some of the most fun I’ve had at the theatre this year.  These movies are built to fuel our twisted morbid curiosities in the most entertaining ways possible. Bloodlines delivers some of the franchise’s most elaborate deaths yet, with plenty of clever fake-outs to keep audiences guessing how and when these characters will kick the bucket. The writing and performances from the cast ensure this group is likeable, but not so likeable that we don’t enjoy see them killed off in wild ways. Because we care about their plight, it gives the movie a sense of stakes that we can actually invest in, even if we know many of the charact...

  Like Spaghetti sauce made without seasoning or love, Nonnas is inoffensively bland. Netflix’s new original goes through the motions, telling a heartwarming and passionate true story in a way that lacks any real heart or passion.  Listen - this is a cute story. A small Italian restaurant where all of the food is cooked by real Nonnas, rather than trained chefs. It’s really sweet, actually, but it’s not grounds for a feature-length movie. This is like a ten minute fluff piece your local station covers on a slow news day. There’s barely enough narrative meat here for an appetizer, let alone a full course, and Nonna’s clocks in at a whopping hour and 51 minutes. It goes through the standard beats you’d expect from this kind of movie, adding a dash of embellishment here and there to spice things up. It’s all just too predicable though, and maybe if the individual ingredients had a little more flavour, the end result would be less forgettable. Vince Vaughn plays the restaurant’s f...

  The Ballad of Wallis Island is a quiet little gem that really sneaks up on you. It’s delightfully funny, genuine and full of quirky charm, but also grabs hold of your heartstrings when you least expect it. This is a beautiful story about lost love, and the powerful role music often plays in our lives.  Charles (Tim Key) is an eccentric lottery winner who resides alone on a relatively remote island. Yearning for companionship and nostalgia, he orchestrates a reunion of his favorite defunct folk duo, McGwyer and Mortimer (Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan). Their past romantic relationship and unresolved tensions resurface, leading to moments of hilarity and heartfelt introspection as they prepare to perform together again.  This is a movie that invites you to slow down, listen, and feel. It might not be perfect, but it’s undeniably sincere. While the plot may occasionally wade through familiar waters, its sincerity and warmth are what set it apart. It doesn’t rely on grand g...

  Another Simple Favor  is way more frustrating than its predecessor, resting entirely on an unbelievable concept – are we really to believe Stephanie is so foolish that she’ll travel with her attempted murderer, a convicted first-degree killer, to an island halfway across the world just for clicks? Not only does it condescend unto its audience, but Blake Lively’s performance feels stale, especially in comparison to Anna Kendrick and Henry Golding. The conflict and mystery are uninviting, as the tone feels immature and the characters are hard to take an interest in. Worst of all, it reuses the same twists and turns of its predecessor while effectively undoing much of that film. The dynamic between the two leads is hard to buy, and the film is a mere excuse for its stars to go on vacation while never justifting its existence. 2/5 Review by: Gal Balaban 

  No, Thunderbolts* isn’t peak MCU. It doesn’t try to be the next Infinity War or No Way Home. What it does aim for - and largely succeeds at - is delivering a tighter, character-driven story with grounded action and a welcome return to the franchise’s earlier roots. This movie excels because of its characters and the performances that breathe life into them. This rag-tag group of anti-heroes and underdogs have exceptional chemistry and an immensely entertaining on-screen dynamic. From witty banter to more impactful, character focused conversations, the Thunderbolts* just may become your new favourite MCU team. There’s a camaraderie and tension between them that keeps things fun but also emotionally grounded. The movie doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter either. Depression, addiction, PTSD, and the fallout of violence are all prevalent themes that are tackled head-on, with surprising nuance and respect. These characters are broken in believable ways, and the film gives t...

  Thunderbolts*  is oozing with energy and a deep care for its characters, with a darker edge of corruption and death to its subjects. Contrary to this February’s  Captain America: Brave New World ,  Thunderbolts*  thrives by allowing its cast’s charisma to roam freely, led by the incredible Florence Pugh. This time around, Yelena is the film’s lead, and Pugh taps into the character’s core of depression and emptiness, including her tumultuous relationship with her father, former Soviet super soldier Red Guardian, played by the vivacious and hysterical David Harbour, longing for glory again. Wyatt Russell and Hannah John-Kamen are also utilized very well, while Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky, who leads many of the others through a similar emotional arc he’s learned his way through. Geraldine Viswanathan is also a standout as Mel, assistant to de Fontaine — played in such a juicy performance by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a menacing figure who will stop at nothing to ...

  The Accountant 2  embraces much what worked in the first film, even if its slow pace and complicated conflict threaten the runtime. The clearest difference between the two is the prominence of the bro-mance between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, who get much more humor and fun together — all while the film fully acknowledges that Bernthal’s character is still a psychopath, even though we’re rooting for him to find his way. The action scenes are great, with strong sound editing and gritty choreography, but the slower drama will sometimes leave you aching for more action, especially when there’s maybe too much exposition for its own good. Cynthia Addai-Robinson is also strong reprising her role, and the main character’s disability also proves for interesting and unique ways of seeing the main case, while also playing into his daily life in fun ways. The film has trouble establishing stakes as to why we should care about certain characters who are in danger, but also balances ta...

  For the past two phases, Marvel has struggled with figuring out what the audience wants from their characters. The critical reception, excluding   Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3  and maybe even   Spider-Man: No Way Home,  has been tough to watch as a fan. But, as a critic, it’s warranted. Superhero conventions have, unfortunately, become formulaic. So it’s important to have well-choreographed action sequences and a compelling character-driven narrative to make a strong film. When  Thunderbolts*  was announced, fans felt it was an odd choice to have the antagonists from the recent Marvel universe come together to form a team. Because most of them weren’t that strong, apart from Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and Red Guardian (David Harbour). One-off characters like Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) didn’t have much to do other than be part of the team because they still had no development lik...