1st Reviews

  Harris Dickinson's promising directorial debut presents a destructive yet interesting main character who's equal parts fun and pitiful. Frank Dillane inhabits the role with plenty of sadness but also unexpected humor and a place for the audience to connect with him, even when his decisions continue to feel questionable and his journey goes more downhill than up.  The film's aesthetic feels grounded yet often colorful. Though the film often doesn't stand out or surprise, it also feels mature and realistic, even when it sets out to entertain, giving its character a reality that's painful yet true to his being. 3.5/5 Review by: Gal Balaban 

  This deeply disturbing experimental film takes an almost surreal look at generational trauma throughout four time periods at the same farm. The cinematography at times creates a fly on the wall effect, throwing the viewer into a time capsule full of dread and menace. The dark imagery unfolds as if you’re watching something beyond merely a nightmare, more like an awful dream that has now ended and the permanent consequences must now be suffered. Parallels between the timelines unfold in fascinating ways, as the film makes the point that in every generation, humans seem to build the same structures of power and abuse again and again.  Its sensitive screenplay touches in devastating ways, but may also test viewers’ mileage, as the violent imagery eventually goes from contributing to the film’s point to downright indulgent and gratuitous. It’s also at least half an hour too long, making its point and then repeating it over and over too often. The film won’t be for everyone, and ...

Despite their mostly awful decade-long track record together, Adam Sandler and Netflix had a lot riding on this legacy sequel. Happy Gilmore is a beloved staple of 90’s comedy, so the hype, and fans’ expectations for this long awaited follow-up were understandably high. The good news is, Happy Gilmore 2 is not a total piece of sh*t (like the ones Shooter McGavin allegedly eats for breakfast). The bad news is, it fails to live up to the original in just about every way imaginable.  This is a nostalgia bomb that banks on viewers’ love of the original. Between countless flashbacks, callbacks, cameos and needle drops, there’s no shortage of “hey, remember this” going on in this sequel. Did I belly laugh when Rob Schneider inevitably showed up for 5 seconds to say “You can do it!”? You bet I did. Was I hit with a rush of serotonin hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” again? I sure was. The nostalgia bait is everywhere, and it’s mostly effective, but it can’t mask the sheer level of...

 Your early teenage years are not easy; learning to understand your own body's development, developing new friendships and learning what love looks like are things that every teen has to experience. For 13-year old Maggie, it is a lot to learn already but she has more to deal with than an average teen. She has to deal with all of this  while having the shock of moving to a new town and learning that she has a rare condition called synaesthesia that allows her to see the world with many heightened senses including seeing color and numbers. This very sweet coming-of-age comedy stars Shayelin Martin as Maggie and Steven He as Travis. The two begin to build a bond around her father’s play that Travis is Starring in. Maggie, not fully understanding love, begins to develop feelings for Travis even though he is much older than she is. Both Shayelin and Steven deliver exceptional roles. Knowing Steven He from his social media comedy, it was a pleasant surprise seeing him in such a ple...

  In recent years, the fall of the superhero film has been studied by fans and critics alike. Fans have possibly been the worst critics when it comes to their favourite heroes not receiving the same tender love and care as others. It’s interesting to see the current state of criticism and how critics have approached the new wave of comic book films.   After the critical success of  Thunderbolts*,  Marvel seemed to have regained its spark. With a fresh set of creatives and a new edge to their B-class characters, the attempt to reform an Avengers-like team is dire. Phases four and five lacked direction and were created to gain the audience's approval of these unique characters. Unfortunately for Marvel, they haven’t had the opportunity to stand out until now.  With  The Fantastic Four: First Steps,  director Matt Shakman went back to basics in creating a character-driven story with Marvel’s first family. The Fantastic Four have always been misunderstood ...

  It seems like the third time’s the charm for Marvel’s first family — after three different iterations on screen, the Fantastic Four finally get a film that’s not only watchable, but irresistible. Since this film is set in a parallel universe to the 36 films preceding it in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it gets to build a new world from scratch. The eye-popping visuals will leave you in awe, including extraordinary costume and production design. The retrofuturistic approach to this new world recaptures that feeling of wonder of humanity embarking into space for the first time, while imagining a reality where all of humanity rallied together behind reason, morality, and science. This idealism and dream-like wonder bring a beautiful look and excitement that’s distinct from Marvel’s other outings that are set in a world with undertones much more like ours. Pedro Pascal gives his star-like charisma to Reed Richards, but the film wisely gives Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm much of the film...

  There’s the inevitable point in any new relationship where labels start getting thrown around. Sometimes, people are simply looking for different things romantically, leading to an uncomfortable conversation. Oh, Hi! puts a darkly comedic spin on this idea, and although it doesn’t fully embrace its zany potential, it’s well worth watching for its small but immensely entertaining cast.  The chemistry between Logan Lerman and Molly Gordon is off the charts. The beginning chapter of this story sees the two of them caught up in the beginning stages of a new relationship. They’re adorable together, with flirtatious jabs and longing looks of affection. They seem like a match made in heaven, but the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) foreshadowing hints that this might not be the case. When confronted with defining what their relationship is, things begin to… escalate.  That escalation had me hooked, and once I had an idea of where the movie was headed, I was excited for the...

Oh, Hi!  is an out-there concept that partially works due to its talented stars and irreverent pace, though the overall story is often questionable. Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman both entertain and are very funny, clearly sharing chemistry in unexpected ways. Geraldine Viswanathan and John Reynolds are also hilarious supporting players here. The film starts off sweet, almost letting you expect a dark turn after a "too good to be true" setting of the scene. When that turn comes, it's probably not what anybody would have probably guessed. The audacious idea here never quite hits the bullseye it's hoping to, with moral murkiness that isn't always satisfyingly addressed. However, that's eventually the appeal here -- the movie basks in how ridiculous it's getting that it starts enjoying itself more and more and getting even funnier. Still, the back half also feels diminished by an underwhelming and predictable ending, even when -- or if -- you're finally ab...

  Kaiju No.8 season 1 was one of the best new anime of last year which left us on a massive cliffhanger with the capturing of Kafka and the reveal to the Defence Force that he is No. 8. Season two continues right where season one left off and immediately turns up the heat in terms of action and storytelling.  We obviously knew from the beginning of the series that there were more Defence Force divisions since the team we follow in season 1 is Division three. Very quickly this season we are introduced to the first Division and its captain. They are a strong bunch but we truly only get to see the captain's power display in the first two episodes.  Gen Narumo, is the Captain of the First Division and he has a wild personality. The most interesting dynamic so far is seeing him interact with Kikoru. It will be interesting to see how their relationship grows in further episodes. The new division focus so far espérâtes it from many other shows that stick to the same charact...

  Joachim Trier once again is drawn by the quirks, faults, and excellences that drive people towards and away from each other. Sentimental Value is very much about the need to express oneself and tell one’s story, often through art, or discover oneself through it.  Renate Reinsve shines in a role both subtle yet demanding though never reminds you it’s such. Meanwhile, Stellan Skarsgard finds himself in one of the most powerful roles of his career. He gives a richness to his role, the distant father who in most films would be painted as a humiliation, but rather Trier and co-writer Eskil Vogt make Skarsgard’s character’s journey just as valid as that of his daughters, never trying to make the audience judge whether any of these characters are “better” or “worse” than one another. Elle Fanning’s character enters this world with fascination, and her character is filled with empathy while avoiding predictable tropes the role could’ve easily fallen into. The film often lets us inha...

  Eva Victor’s revelatory debut film is raw, uncomfortable, and belly-laughing levels of funny. It provides a deeply personal look into a topic that’s far too real, and not only demands but earns the full attention and empathy of all watching. Victor’s leading performance as Agnes feels real and pierces into your heart, while their charm and comedic timing are always outstanding. Naomi Ackie gives a sweet turn as Agnes’ best friend Lydie, while Lucas Hedges also shines here, as well as John Carroll Lynch in an unforgettable minor role. Victor’s direction and storytelling brilliantly unveil the truth about this film in the first act, while the script continues to surprise you. The humor is sometimes informed by the serious or the awkward. The laughs hit so hard you’ll feel like you’re on your toes — the moment you feel a line will probably be the funniest and most memorable in the movie, its topped moments later. The film’s unflinching look at sexual violence and the culture around ...

There was a point in Ari Aster’s Eddington, when I was dreading the fact that I had to sit through another hour of this. It is the moment when it felt certain that I was watching an Ari Aster movie. Few American directors, let alone ones with mainstream success, are more willing to fully embrace discomfort than Aster, the bad vibe cultivator behind Hereditary (2017), Midsommar (2019), and Beau is Afraid (2023) . His latest film Eddington, takes on the not-so-herculean task of finding bad vibes in the American experience circa June, 2020. Mission accomplished.  Eddington is set in the fictional small town of Eddington, New Mexico. Where three months of limited human interaction, doomscrolling, and burgeoning national outrage over the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, have taken a toll on the townspeople. At the centre of the film is the clash between Mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), a moderate liberal, and conservative Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoe...

  Ummm… Did Sony and Netflix just make me a fan of K-Pop music? Bursting at the seams with neon-infused style, and with a soundtrack that’ll quickly work its way into your regular playlist, KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s best new movie so far this year.  Word-of-mouth worked wonders in this movie’s favour, because upon first hearing about it, my interest was almost non-existent. Well, here I am keeping that word-of-mouth going, telling you to go watch it. Even if, like me, you have no interest in K-Pop culture, this has such an infectious energy and ultra-cool style, that it becomes so much more than its wacky title implies. It seamlessly weaves Korean music fandom and pop culture around an epic story of good vs. evil. The music flows flawlessly into the action and narrative, allowing two genres that should seemingly clash sing in harmony.  Its animation style is aligned with some of Sony’s other projects like the Spider-Verse movies or The Mitchells vs. the Machines. De...

  Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s James Gunn flying into theatres with his shiny new DCU in tow. Superman reinvigorates the Man of Steel with a complete 180 from Zack Snyder’s vision. This is an exciting, colourful, silly, emotional and just plain fun comic book movie. It’s also, most importantly, a bright beacon of hope for the future of this franchise.  The highest praise I can give Superman, is that it doesn’t just feel like a comic book movie - it feels like a comic that’s been brought to life. There are frequent moments, from action sequences to single frames of stellar production design, where I could practically see the source material leaping from page to screen. Unlike other pricey studio releases this year (Snow White’s $270 million, The Electric State’s $320 million) Superman is a big movie that genuinely fits the bill. This is exactly what a big budget superhero movie should look and sound like. There’s plenty of CGI, as you’d expect from a comic book movie, ...

  James Gunn’s reboot of one of the most recognizable and beloved stories and characters in pop culture history wisely ditches the origin story and hits the ground running, and the momentum never quite slows down. We’re thrown into a world where Clark is already Superman, dating Lois, and surrounded by Metahumans, and the movie greatly benefits for it. David Corenswet, first and foremost, is wonderful as the titular hero, giving us someone more tangible and relatable to aspire to, while actors like Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill played the character as larger-than-life figures bigger than any normal person could ever imagine to understand. This story is all about Superman’s flaws and embracing of his unique identity, as well as his immovable faith in humanity, even we can’t see it in ourselves or continue to turn on the guy. Corenswet’s performance is oozing with superstar levels of charm while bringing the character down to earth — no pun intended — while the script does the a...

  The  Jurassic  franchise began in 1993 with what’s still considered to be one of the greatest and most iconic movies ever made. Today, it continues to prove that its run its course and serves no purpose besides Universal’s cash cow. Only three years after  Jurassic World Dominion  supposedly marked the end of the franchise,  Jurassic World Rebirth  attempts to mark a new era for these films with a new age of global human-dino dynamics, and a new group of characters. Instead of utilizing this fresh start potential to breathe new light or direction,  Rebirth  is exactly what I feared — an unnecessary piece of nonsense that recycles the same tropes and quickly gets exhausting to watch. The characters are wooden and we aren’t given much material in order to understand or interact with them. Mahershala Ali is the definitive standout, always giving a lot of heart and likability to his role. However, a family that becomes a major subplot in the fi...