Cat Person

“Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.” - Margaret Atwood

This quote is at the start of "Cat Person," a film directed by Susanna Fogel. It stars Emilia Jones as Margot, a college sophomore who works the popcorn stand at the local rep cinema. She meets older man Robert (Nicholas Braun - you may know him a cousin Greg from TV's "Succession") and they start a texting relationship followed by, well, something more. This movie is straight up smart. It's uncomfortably realistic at times. I'm sure it will open up all kinds of conversations about male/female power dynamics, social norms, and a shift in perception about romantic male movie leads, in particularly, Harrison Ford. Last year I showed my twenty something niece, "Blade Runner" for the first time. When Harrison Ford gets all aggressively kissy face with Sean Young, my niece was somewhat horrified. I wasn't expecting her reaction. I had never given a whole lot of thought about that scene before until I watched it with her (and I have seen "Blade Runner" over thirty times). This very scene is brought up in "Cat Person." The movie isn't just about male/female power relations - it plays with movie thriller tropes. I just loved everything about it. Catch this feminist thriller movie now on streaming platforms. 

Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis

I'm a Gen-Xer. I grew up in the 80s but I loved the music of the 60s and 70s. In my day, we had records. Album cover art was just that, it was ART. The album covers were part of the reason you bought the record. "Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis" is the fascinating documentary about Hipgnosis, a record design company and its two founders, Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey "Po" Powel. They are the creative geniuses behind the covers of some of the world's most iconic rock albums of all time: Pink Floyd, Wings, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel and many, many more. There are interviews with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, and many others. If you every wanted to know how these album covers came to be, this documentary is the answer and boy did I find it captivating. It's also the story of the relationship between Po and Strom and how these two would work together. Their story is one of artists, visionaries, and collaborators as they worked with these legendary musical artists. At the end, I found myself rather emotional about their partnership - always a good sign for me. Catch this absolutely wonderful documentary on streaming platforms. 

Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire

Merry Christmas! As I look at Rotten Tomatoes today, December 25th, 2023, "Rebel Moon: Part One" has as 23% fresh rating from critics. It also has a 66% fresh audience score. My opinion is my own and I take pride in sometimes disagreeing with the masses. However, I do like to see how my opinion stakes up to others. Movie critics have this in common, they all love movies. I personally don't care for superhero films and I haven't been a fan of any of the "Star Wars" films except the last one "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." It baffles me that a good chunk of Marvel Universe has received high praise from the majority of critics and yet they have dumped on this film. Why is that? Maybe because Zach Snyder is associated with D.C.? Maybe. There seems to be a hate-on for this super stylized director ("300," ""Army of the Dead"). Snyder is the new master of the slow-motion action sequence. I would say the pioneer is John Woo, whose 1989 action masterpiece "The Killer" is the template for such visual work. As Brian De Palma is to Hitchcock, Zach Snyder is to Woo. So let's get to it, what's "Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire" all about? Snyder has given us a "Star Wars" rip-off version of "The Magnificent Seven"/"Seven Samurai" where Sofia Boutella plays Kora, a bad-ass warrior who’s hiding out amongst a farming community. Galactic baddies show up and threaten its existence, Kora goes on a quest to assemble a team of fighters to protect the humble villagers. Yes, Snyder has recycled from all kinds of films and TV here, including "The Matrix," "Doctor Who," "Star Wars," and many others. He seems to have grabbed the Nazi like villain from "Inglorious Bastards." Is this great cinema? No. Did I enjoy myself way more than I should have? Yes I did. Looking to turn off your brain and be entertained, then slow-mo dive onto your couch while pointing the remote at the TV and find the trash masterpiece streaming on Netflix.  

A Murder at the End of the World

"A Murder at the End of the World" is a new series streaming on Disney+. Emma Corrin plays Darby, an anxiety filled millennial as a kind of Nancy Drew type character who is usually the smartest person in the room. Darby grew up the daughter of her autopsy performing dad who liked to drag his little girl along to crime scenes - it's a little messed up for sure. As a young adult, Darby filled her days tracking down serial killers, one in particular. Along the way she meets love interest Bill (Harris Dickinson), another brilliant kid whose skin is marbled in tattoos like blue cheese is freckled with mould. They go serial killer hunting together - aww, sweet. All this is told in parallel with their present day situation about eight years later. The present day story is about a Jeff Bezos type character (Clive Own) who brings the world's smartest people together to help fight climate change at a remote hotel/billionaire-bunker in Iceland. There is an Agatha Christie style murder and one of the the guests or host or staff is the killer. Set in the near future, AI has taken a believable step forward and it's part of the fun of the series. The flashback serial killer bit gives off a David Fincher Lite vibe and it's pretty darn good. The two leads, Emma Corrin and Harris Dickinson have great chemistry and their performances are the reason to watch. I loved it all. Found it to be smart, timely, and captivating. Catch this killer, now streaming on Disney+. 

Godzilla Minus One

So, it might be the best Godzilla film I've ever seen. You can't even see the wires - hey, wasn't that part of the charm? What we have here is an authentic, Japanese (with English subtitles), Godzilla film. I have a love for the big lizard - I'm currently wearing my Godzilla t-shirt and Godzilla hoodie as I type. What's so good about this one is they have built a real story with real characters - things you need in any movie! Hollywood, take note! (Although the good folks at Apple+ seem to have understood this fact for their excellent "Monarch" Godzilla series currently streaming - go check that out). What is the plot you ask? It's set at the end of WWII, in Japan. Failed kamikaze pilot, Koichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki) lets his fellow soldiers down by freezing up when he should have been shooting at a baby Godzilla. This result of Koichi's inaction is the death of his squad and Godzilla growing up to become very, very, large. Koichi finds himself with an adoptive daughter, a woman to love, and a reason to live despite all the guilt he has accumulated for his shortcomings. Along comes the stopping, crashing big lizard - will Koichi be ready this time?? The best part of "Godzilla Minus One" is the soundtrack - parts stolen as homage to the black and white original - it's both sinister and silly at the same time and I loved it. I had a lot of fun watching Thick-Lizzy squishing people and eating passenger trains. Catch this one in theatres now. 

Dumb Money

Similar in style to the "The Big Short," "Dumb Money" is the true story of how Game Stop stock grew into a monster and Wall Street lost its mind. Starring Paul Dano as Keith Gill, the man behind Game Stop's rising. Keith Gill, for most of "Dumb Money's" runtime was usually clad in the most geeky cat t-shirt you have ever seen while sporting a red bandana tied around his head like the Karate Kid, a mop of hair like a Pink Floyd band member, circa 1973. Keith offered financial trading advice on his internet channel about the  stocks he liked - Game Stop being the main one. People, students, nurses, some Game Stop employees, they actually listened. Hedge fund managers, they bet against the stock, thinking it would crash and die. It didn't. It kept climbing. Keith kept posting his investments and everyone kept buying. The little people were winning and the giants, they were losing. Without spoiling anymore, this is anther underdog story and as you know by now, I love an underdog story. How can you not cheer for the geeks and freaks, the people on the front lines, making nothing, while the fat cats who sit around doing nothing, raking it in, day after day? Go little guy! Make an investment of your time and catch this one on streaming services now.

Joyland

"Joyland" - there is really no clearer example of why I go to the movies. This is a film that is so wildly different from my life and yet I was so clearly made to understand everything happening to these characters, the repression in their society and the cultural expectations placed upon them. I understood it like it were a roadmap. Repressed feeling are just that - these things are universal. So are expectations and obligations. I felt all of it in this weighty film. There is not a lot a joy in "Joyland." This Pakistani film is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Set in contemporary Pakistan, it follows the story of  Haider (Ali Junejo) as a man who finally lands a job - he has been a house husband for many years to the shame of his father. However, Haider's new job is a backup dancer for surly trans woman, Biba (Alina Khan) at the local burlesque club. Haider is infatuated with Biba. They end up having an affair. At the same time, Haider's wife suddenly finds herself pregnant and unhappy. Haider's father is elated. Everything goes downhill from here. Let me stop there. It almost felt like a documentary, that's how real it all felt to me. It's a wonderful film. The IMDB website informed me "Originally banned in its country of origin, Pakistan, a censor board review committee ultimately cleared it. However, a ban remains in the province of Punjab, where the movie is set." Catch this gorgeous but tragic film at your local rep cinema or on streaming when available. 

 

Leave the World Behind

In 1996 a film entitled "The Trigger Effect" came out starring, Kyle MacLachlan, Elisabeth Shue, and Dermot Mulroney. I was somewhat obsessed by it. I would insist people watch it. The premise was simple - what happens if the power goes out? Chaos, panic, and mistrust of our fellow humans is what happens, at least in "The Trigger Effect." In 2003 the power grid in Ontario and a good chunk of the northeastern US actually went out for about 12-24 hours; longer in some places. 2003 being a recent post 911 world, whispers of terrorism were rumored - it was actually a software bug. Society remained intact and no mass lootings or deaths were reported. Now, 20 years after the North American blackout, Netflix has given us, "Leave the World Behind," staring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Kevin Bacon in another gripping apocalyptic thriller. It's kind of like an updated version of "The Trigger Effect" if you mashed it with M. Night Shyamalan's "Knock at the Cabin" (which came out at the beginning of this year). "Leave the World Behind" gripped me for the entire 2 hour and 20 minute runtime. Julia Roberts. Fantastic. I loved her in this. There are two scenes - one where she is dancing with Mahershala Ali and another where she is screaming at deer with actor Myha'la Herrold. Just fantastic. It's unfortunate Netflix has chosen to give the movie such a limited theatrical release when it's such a big screen film. You will be able to catch it streaming on December 8th, on Netflix. Don't leave this one behind. You can also grab a copy from your local video store. In Ottawa that would be Movies 'N' Stuff. 

Dream Scenario

Nic Cage plays Paul Matthews, a tenured professor of biology. He stands out as much as a zebra in a herd - a mostly bald, middle-aged man, whose wardrobe pallet is a mixture of brown, grey, and beige. Paul Mathews is your average Joe, married with two teenage daughters who has never stood out. Then, suddenly he does. Everyone in America starts to dream about him. At first he appears as an innocuous figure, just standing there, doing nothing. His sudden appearance in everyone's collective consciousness (or maybe unconsciousness) vaults Paul into going viral. PR firms want him to sell Sprite and everyone wants a photo with him. Paul seems to relish the attention, at first. However he wants to write an academic book, not sell soda. But then the dreams turn into nightmares and Paul becomes everyone's Freddy Krueger as he performs horrific acts in the minds of strangers. He becomes a persona non grata. People are traumatized by his very presence. "Dream Scenario" is a lucid, self-aware, wide-awake, dark comedy about contemporary societal norms and values. Nic Cage is brilliant, funny, and I hope he receives an Oscar nomination for this - one of his best roles to date. Catch this dreamy film in theatres now. 

She Came to Me

Peter Dinklage plays Steven, an opera composer who is blocked, can't seem to get his musical mojo on and his assistant just quit on him. He is married to his therapist, Patricia (Anne Hathaway), who he calls Doc. Patricia has a son, who is dating the daughter of their house cleaner. The house cleaner is married to a controlling man who likes to participate in American Civil War reenactments. Patricia also has a thing for cleanliness - close to godliness. Patricia has an affinity for nuns. So, if you can't follow all that, well it gets more confusing. Patricia kicks Steven out of the house to go find some musical inspiration. He ends up meeting sex and love addict, Katrina (Marisa Tomei) at a bar and they have an affair. Katrina is a tug boat captain. This accidental rendezvous gives Steven the inspiration he needs to finish his new opera. Does it all sound bananas? It does. And it is. That's the fun of it. It's chock-full of crazy characters and oddball situations - it's wonderful. As strange as these people are, they feel real, like somehow all this is possible and could actually happen. It's charming and funny and I loved spending time with oddball group of people. A film like this can often feel pretentious. This did not; it felt smart, funny, heartfelt, and earnest. "She Came to Me" - The movie won't come to you, you have to go find it - in rep theatres or catching it on streaming when available. 

The Holdovers

Let me begin by saying that "Sideways," directed by Alexander Payne and staring Paul Giamatti is one of my favourite films - easily in my top ten favourite moives of all time. "The Holdovers" sees Payne once again in the director's chair and Giamatti in front of the camera. If you were to take "Sideways" and smash it together with "Dead Poet's Society" you would have something which resembles, "The Holdovers." What's it all about? Set in 1970 at a boys private school, the students about to go on Christmas break, Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, senior history teacher, curmudgeon, and the chosen babysitter for all the boys who can't get home for the holidays. There is Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) who plays the school's cook, who has just lost her son in the Vietnam War. There is a handful of students who remain behind which dwindles down to only Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa). These three, with their suitcases of grief and pain make up the unlikely trio of this holiday story. It's good. I heard Payne wanted to make a film that felt like it was made in the 1970s. He did. It could be an hidden gem from that era. This is a funny and touching drama. If you are looking for something warm and personal for the holidays, then add "The Holdovers" to your holiday viewing list. In theatres now. 

The Killer

"The Killer" is David Fincher's newest film and it stars Michael Fassbender as The Killer - a hitman that follows a self imposed set of rules so he doesn't get caught. He is a man of cold precision and finesse. He doesn't allow emotion into plans, he sticks to them. Until one day, he doesn't. Okay, let's a take a pause here for a second. This sounds like a plot to your average Liam Neeson film, something pedestrian, the plot of an action thiller we have seen so many times before. Do we really need to see this story again? I'm convinced after watching "The Killer" that David Fincher could make watching paint dry a riveting experience. In fact, Liam Neeson could have done this role, well maybe 20 year ago, so Fassbender is an excellent choice. And I'm saying nothing disparaging about either actor - I love them both. What I'm trying to say is, Fincher has elevated the source material from B thriller to an A+ Hitchcock masterpiece by simply being a superior director. Take his 2002 thriller, "Panic Room" for example. This is a B home invasion plot but Fincher elevates it to make it cinematic art the way Hitchcock or De Palma or Scorsese have. "The Killer" had me glued for it's entire two hour run time - felt like 90 minutes or less. I haven't had so much fun since I watched "The Accountant." "The Killer" is simply killer. Catch it in theatres now or streaming on Netflix in November.  

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person

"Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person" - The title alone is great. This is Quebec writer/director Ariane Louis-Seize first feature length film and it's lovely. The film has a sensibility of somewhere between Jim Jarmusch's "Only Lovers Left Alive" and Ana Lily Amirpour's "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night." What's it all about? It's about a vampire family, the youngest of which is Sasah. She has empathy towards humans. As a result, she can't seem to muster up the fangs to kill anyone. Her parents give her IV bags of blood to suck on and she wanders about drinking them like they were juice boxes. When she hits her vampire teenage years (something like 68 years old) her parents cut her off. They send Sasah (Sara Montpetit) off to live with her aunt - it's about time Sasah learned to hunt on her own. A chance encounter with suicidal teen Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard) leads to something of a teen romance. I found myself captivated by this film, charmed by it. And it's French Canadian, so there are great shots of people eating poutine. I smiled, with fangs, from beginning to end. Catch this one in your local rep cinema or on streaming services when it becomes available. 

Fair Play

I was glued to it. It had the sensibility of "Fatal Attraction," and "Wall Street;" an adult thriller, the kind they made in the 1980s. What's it all about?  Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) are lovers, secretly, for they are also coworkers as market analysts in an investment firm (run by Campbell and play by the Eddie Marsan (Ray Donavan)). Campbell promotes Emily to portfolio manager over Luke and then their relationship begins to take a turn. The performances of Dvnevor and Ehrenreich are outstanding. I would love to see either of them get a nomination for this. But it wasn't just their acting, it was the twists and turns of the script - it went places I didn't expect it to go. The story is about power relations, sexual relations, work relations; it's about money, ambition, and self worth. It's polished and riveting - sex, booze, and money; sign me up. It's a wild ride and you can catch it now streaming on Netflix. 

The Creator

When "Blade Runner" hit theatres back in 1982, the reviews weren't great. Roger Ebert gave it three stars. I feel like the lukewarm reception critics have given "The Creator" is very similar. I'm here to tell you, this is a five star film. It will be landing on my top ten list of the year. I don't think I've seen a science fiction vision as interesting since Neill Blomkamp's  "District 9" or his underrated "Chappie," George Miller's "Mad Max: Fury Road," or last year's overlooked film, "Vesper." Get your ass out to the theatre and see this on the big screen before it's gone. What's it all about? Artificial Intelligence has nuked L.A. and A.I. is now banned in the U.S. America is now involved in hunting down A.I.'s latest weapon produced somewhere in Asia. It's also a love story, a philosophical exploration on what it means to be a thinking and feeling being, an action film, and one of the most visually stunning sci-fi films I've seen in the last twenty years. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the man who gave us "Rouge One" and 2014's "Godzilla." He has created a masterpiece and I suspect "The Creator" will, like "Blade Runner" only be recognized in the future as one of the great science fiction films of our time. Catch this in theatres now. 

REVIVAL69: The Concert that Rocked the World

After spending a summer of watching some amazing concerts with my wife (Foo Fighters, Billy Talent, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Pitbull, BUSH, The Headstones, Iggy Pop, Shania Twain, Weezer, Daniel Lanois, Bran Van 3000, Tegan and Sara, Death Cab for Cutie, Mumford & Sons, and many more!) I realize that 2023 in Ottawa was one of the most spectacular musical events I will see in my lifetime. Maybe one day in the future, like 53 years into the future, there will be a documentary about the 2023 Ottawa Blues and CityFolk festivals that happened here in this little sleepy town. And  maybe somebody will be amazed about all the musical talent that was brought together. Maybe. This brings me to "REVIVAL69: The Concert that Rocked the World," the new CRAVE documentary about a rock concert that took place in Toronto in 1969 that involved some of the worlds greatest rock and roll artists of all time. I was amazed. The lineup included, Chicago, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chuck Barry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Alice Cooper, The Doors, and John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band, and many more. And Geddy Lee was there in the audience, on LSD! This is the concert that put the final nail into the coffin of The Beatles and freed John Lennon to go at it alone. This documentary is a time capsule and boy oh boy was it fun to open up and see what was inside. Travel back in time and let a motorcycle gang escort you to one of the most amazing concerts that you didn't know existed (at least I didn't) and almost didn't happen. Catch it streaming on CRAVE. 

Birth/Rebirth

If you told me David Cronenberg had made this movie as a modern remake of Re-Animator, I would almost believe you. Almost. It's far too feminine for Cronenberg, despite all the surgical shenanigans, autopsies, stapled incisions, and science beakers full of bloody liquids. Yes, "Birth/Rebirth" doesn't shy away like some stereotypical 60s housewife who nicked her thumb slicing a cucumber ("Is it bad? I can't look at it, I hate the sight of blood.") This is co-writer and director Laura Moss's first feature length film and she doesn't seem to be shy at all about showing us the insides of people. She certainly left a scar on me. What's it all about? Obstetrics nurse Rita (Monique Gabriela Curnen) loses her daughter to meningitis but mad-scientist/doctor, Rose (Marin Ireland) helps bring Rita's daughter back to life using her own aborted fetuses - as I'm typing this, I realize how insane and gross this sounds. Well it is and I loved it. Welcome to the fertile imagination of Laura Moss. She has birthed out a Frankenstein nightmare of pregnancy and motherhood. It's a tale about how far mothers would go to save their children; in the case of Rita, her actual child and in the case of Rose, her child of a science experiment. Marin Ireland as Rose, the wide-eyed, vegan, genius-on-the-spectrum, mad-scientist is so much fun to watch. The film is too small and likely won't get noticed but I would love to see Marin Ireland get a nomination for her performance. Do yourself a favour and get reborn - catch this one streaming now on Shudder.  

Mob Land

"Dog Day Afternoon," "The Silent Partner," "Heat," "Blood Simple," "No Country For Old Men," "Hell or Highwater," "Good Time.," "Dragged Across Concrete" - these are some of my favourite heist pictures. Now "Mob Land" is on that list. I said it before (when I reviewed "Old Henry") and I will say it again, "I will watch anything Stephen Dorff participates in. If he feels like it's a worthy project, I'm in." This is co-writer and director, Nicholas Maggio's debut feature film and he has exploded onto the screen like a shotgun blast. The plot: Shelby (Shiloh Fernandez), who is scrapping to get by, is convinced by his brother-in-law Trey (Kevin Dillon) to rob a dodgy Oxycodone clinic in their small town. The problem is the dodgy clinic is owned by the mob and they send Clayton (Stephen Dorff) to get the money back. Travolta plays the town sheriff and is the uncle of Shelby. Dorff is absolutely riveting every single time he is on screen and is worthy of a best supporting nomination. Hell, so is Travolta - I loved him in this. And the dialogue in this movie is like Tarantino meets Jean-Paul Sartre. I am simply jealous of how good the writing for this movie was. And the music choices! Bravo. I'm certain this film will make my top ten of 2023. Catch it on streaming services or in a rep theatre near you. 

Painkiller

I confess, I often look at Rotten Tomatoes to see what other reviews are saying before I watch something, especially if it's a TV series where there is a potential for a large amount of my time to be consumed. Like everyone, I only have so much free time. It was my wife's recommendation to watch "Painkiller," based on her friend's advice. As I write this, currently Rotten Tomatoes has "Painkiller" at 49% and an audience score of 61%. Well I'm here to tell you, ignore this. It reminded me of "The Big Short" (the movie about the housing marketing collapse in 2008). I loved that film. "Painkiller" is about the Opioid crisis; more specifically, how Richard Sackler's (Matthew Broderick) pharmaceutical company, Purdue, turned OxyContin into one of the most prescribed drugs in America. OxyContin, the stuff is basically heroin. It has killed hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed as many families. I found this series to be just as riveting as it is heartbreaking. Each episode begins with a true tale of a person who has lost someone because of this drug. This is a story about power and greed and evil. It's worth every minute of your time. Catch this addictive show (oh I couldn't resist! - forgive me) now streaming on Netflix. 

Passages

"Passages" is a film about a narcissistic bisexual German film maker, Tomas (Franz Rogowski) living and working in Paris and the two romantic relationships he ricochets between. At the start of the film, Tomas is living with Martin (Ben Whishaw) in a flat which they both own. I kept wondering where I had seen Ben Whishaw before - he played the new Q in the the recent Bond films. Anyway, Tomas meets Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and they end up having an affair. Then it turns into much more. But Tomas can't seem to let go of Martin. So why did I like this melodramatic film so much it ended up on my blog? Good question. To me it felt like a Cassavetes's film. If you told me that Cassavetes was alive and well and he made this movie, I would believe you. The pacing, the earnest dialogue, the look of the film all reminded me of John Cassavetes. I don't think there could be higher praise. Director and co-writer Ira Sachs has crafted a little indie film that felt like it was from the 70s. The exchange between Tomas and Agathe's parents alone was worth the price of admission. And Tomas riding his bike! This was pure cinema. I loved it and didn't expect to. Catch it now in rep cinemas or on streaming services when it becomes available. 

Jules

Perhaps the comic theme of aliens to speak about aging is going to become a film subgenre? Ron Howard gave us "Cocoon." Marc Turtletaub ("Little Miss Sunshine") has given us "Jules," which is the story of Milton (Ben Kingsley) who is living in a small town in Pennsylvania. Milton's daughter is worried about her father's mental state after finding some canned vegetables in his bathroom medicine cabinet. Milton, when he is not too confused, likes to  expresses himself to his city council. His recommendation: they should change the town slogan from "A great place to call home," to "A great place to refer to as home," because of the confusion it causes because you might think it's a great place to get on the telephone and call home. E.T,, I'm sure, would like to call home from Milton's house. E.T. isn't around, but who is? Jules. Jules is the little blue alien who has crash landed in Milton's backyard. Of course nobody believes Milton because everyone already thinks old Milt has a few screws loose. Except for Milton's two other vocal citizens, Sandy (Harriet Sansom Harris) and Joyce (Jane Curtin). They find out about Jules and work to both keep Jules a secret and to help the little blue fellow get home. It's far funnier than I thought it would be. In fact, it's much smarter than I thought it would be. Jules surprised me. Delightful. Catch it in a theatre near you. 

Lola

If you had a time machine, would you go back and kill Hitler? I'm sure this drunken university philosophical question continues to bounce around, popping up at campus pubs from time to time. How about if the year were 1941 and you had a machine that could pick up radio broadcasts from the future, so you would know when and where the Germans were coming to attack your English country? Welcome to "Lola," Andrew Legge's first feature length film - although with a very short runtime of only 1 hour and 19 minutes. What's it all about? Two sisters have built, Lola, a machine that can pick up radio broadcasts from the future and they use it to help England fight the Nazis in WWII. For a low budget film, Andrew Legge and his crew have crafted a very special looking film, and one of the most intriguing and ingenious little stories to come along since "Memento." A lot of it looks like modified footage from WWII. Apparently "Lola" was shot on actual film giving this black and white picture a crackling-hiss-pop sensibility of a classic analog movie. Highly watchable and wickedly smart, this "The Man in the High Castle"/"Twilight Zone" story is well worth your time. Clever as all get-out. It put a smile on my face and definitely didn't overstay its welcome. The Kinks, David Bowie, and Bob Dylan are some high stakes we are dealing with - that and the future of the free world. Catch Lola on streaming services or at your local rep cinema when you can.  

Shrinking

I have no idea why I didn't watch it sooner. I loved Jason Segel's last series, "Dispatches from Elsewhere." And Harrison Ford, my childhood movie action hero was who has starred in some of my favourite films. Why did I wait so long to watch this? I think it's because I didn't want to be disappointed. Perhaps mediocre "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" squeals played into my subconscious. Maybe that and Apple+ has made a bunch of things, only which "Ted Lasso," "Shining Girls," and "Servant" I have enjoyed. And I gave up Ted in the 3rd season. Well I'm happy to report, "Shrinking" is a fabulous new series; smart, witty, and pretty dark. It's about grief and trauma and despite the heavy themes, it remains feeling light - I believe it's the charming and slightly goofy soundtrack they laid over it like a Band-Aid. Harrison Ford plays a lovable curmudgeon and Jason Segel is a man in mourning trying to sort out his relationship with his daughter. The writing in this show is excellent; earnest, witty, cutting, and bloody clever. Catch one of best things Apple+ has put out. "Shrinking" - streaming on, you guessed it, Apple+.

Talk to Me

"It Follows," "Split," "Don't Breathe," "Heredity," "Get Out," and "Us" for me, rank as the best horror films of the last decade. "Talk to Me," is now too on this list of exceptional films. "I see dead people," the famous line uttered by Haley Joel Osment in "The Sixth Sense." There is a lot of seeing dead people in "Talk to Me." It's kind of the point of the film. What's it all about? Well there is this hand (more like hand and forearm) that looks like a store window mannequin hand that has been scratched up. Teenagers carry it around in duffle bag and pull it out for a good time of let's-talk-to-the-dead. When one of these kids shakes hands a kind of portal to an undead netherworld opens and they get to see the underbelly of hell. When this happens, the kid gripping the hand experiences a zombie like DMT trip while all the kids in the room film it on their cell phones. Everyone takes a turn except for young Riley. His sister thinks he is too young. Well when she leaves, Riley has a turn. It doesn't go so well. I don't want to tell you any more about this movie. Go see it! It's original, smart, and Australian! Oh, and it's scary as shit! In theatres now.   

Shortcomings

I recently watched "Joy Ride" (2023) which I had heard great things about - a feature film with Asian leads being touted as the next "Bridesmaids." It was raunchy and pretty much unfunny. Quite frankly, it was dumb and disappointing. However it did explore interesting material - what it's like to be Asian growing up in a white society. If you want to see one of the best films of the year about this, please watch "Riceboy Sleeps." So what does all this have to do with "Shortcomings?" Well it has three Asian leads and it's about living, working, and dating within a white culture; oh, and this film, well it's brilliant and funny. This little indie picture stars, Justin H. Min as Ben, a late twenties/early thirties Asian man who has fading dreams of being a film maker while he continues to toil away working at an independent movie theatre as the manager. The film starts off with Ben attending an Asian film festival with his girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki) watching what would be the equivalent of "Joy Ride" - a dumb mainstream movie to appeal to the masses. Ben's high-art snobbery is a problem for Miko (that and Ben's "thing" for white girls) and it marks the beginning of the end of their relationship. "Shortcomings" is honest, clever, and well made. If you are looking for a dramady, then please catch Randall Park's smart film at your local rep theatre or on streaming services when it becomes available. 

Sympathy for the Devil

It was when I watched the first and second season of AMC's "The Killing" that I developed my man-crush on Swedish born actor, Joel Kinnaman. I thought to myself, this guy is an amazing actor. Kinnaman is one half of "Sympathy for the Devil." The other half is Nicolas Cage. Everyone knows Cage. He's known for his over the top, crazy performances. So you might chalk up this performance as just that, just another wackadoodle one. I would argue it's not. Cage looks like he has lost weight for this role (hopefully intentionally). It gives him a mean look. I think his boyish face, besides from granting him the appearance of youth, had never giving him the gravitas I think catapults other actors into the spotlight. So I think the leanness of Cage's face (not to mention the flamboyant hair!), but also the leanness of the manic energy Cage expels, a kind of powder-keg waiting to blow, makes this performance one of his best since "Pig."  What's this movie all about? Two guys in a car with a possible case of mistaken identity. I don't want to say any more. It's a violent thriller and I loved it. You may have seen this story before but this version, it's a killer. Catch a ride with "Sympathy for the Devil" in theatres or soon on streaming services.   

Arnold

"Arnold" is a three part, three hour, Netflix documentary series on the life and times of Arnold Schwarzenegger. When I was a teenager, fifteen I believe, I remember watching "The Terminator" in the basement of my father's home with my stepbrother and cousins. The format was VHS and the year was 1985. I thought to myself, this movie is dumb, but it did pull me in. I also thought, this Arnold Schwarzenegger guy, what a meathead. It took a long time to change my mind about Mr. Schwarzenegger. I grew to like him more and more over the years, over many action films. I came to admire his environmental action when he was governor of California. When I finally watched "Pumping Iron" (about seven years ago) I had an all new appreciation of the man. Now this series. This is a warts-and-all portrait - although his infidelity and elevator groping are only dealt with in the last twenty minutes of the series. However, it lands as an ugly stain on the fabric of  Schwarzenegger's extraordinary life - hence, for me, it gave the series some emotional gravitas. I found the series to be fascinating and inspirational (although I don't think at this point in my life I need any inspiration to do the things I love). Catch this documentary series on one of the most influential people in the world of the last half century, now streaming on Netflix.

Barbie

It's not a film I expected to land on my blog. But here it is, in all it's pink plastic glory. "Barbie" is no dumb blonde. This movie is funny, smart, and self aware. Margot Robbie plays stereotypical Barbie and Ryan Gosling plays Ken. They are both really fabulous. What's it all about? Barbie must travel to the real world to find the girl who is playing with her who has thoughts of death before Barbie's feet go flat and she turns into a weird Barbie, like the one played by the hilarious, Kate McKinnon. Ken tags along for the ride and discovers The Patriarchy in the real world. Ken brings back such forward thinking to Barbieland and the next thing you know, all the PhD Barbies, and the Supreme Court Barbie Justices and the Nobel Prize winning Barbies are serving beers to all the Kens - chaos! The head of Mattel (Will Ferrell) and his board of directors need to set things straight. What a hoot. From the set pieces to the costumes, "Barbie" is a delight to behold. It looks amazing. Greta Gerwig (cowriter and director) has made a very special and funny film. Do yourself a favour and go beach yourself off by catching this one in theatres now. 

Oppenheimer

Almost 200,000 people died in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I think Nolan makes the case Robert Oppenheimer felt the weight of his creation and allowed himself to be abused at his security review in 1954. "Oppenheimer" uses the template of "Amadeus." Lewis Strauss ( Robert Downey Jr) is Salieri and J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is Mozart. "Oppenheimer" marks the 12th feature film Christopher Nolan has directed. I'm a Nolan fan, however the director has made a few turkeys, in my opinion; "Tenet" and "Dunkirk". "Oppenheimer" will rank up there as one of his best. It's a good film; solid enough to make a blog entry (as you know, only good stuff goes on the blog). Will it be good enough to make my top ten list of the year? Doubtful. Why? It lacks an emotional element - I felt like I should be feeling more at the end of the film. I didn't. There is a cold precision to Nolan's films which I both admire and detest at the same time (how can something be both a wave and a particle?). So what makes Nolan great is also his demise, fission and fusion. So let's talk about why "Oppenheimer" is great. This is a three hour film and I wasn't bored for a minute; it chugs along at a good clip for a film which is mostly a bunch of men standing around talking. The look of the film is gorgeous. The performances are all fantastic - Matt Damon always brings so much humanity to his roles. And the bomb sequence, well it's a masterpiece. For these reasons alone, "Oppenheimer" is must see cinema. Catch it in theatres now.  

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

So the last Mission Impossible film, Fallout, (the 6th in the series) to my utter surprise, made my top ten list of 2018. This series started back in 1996 with Brian De Palma as the director. If you told me it would still be going in 2023 and that it would be not only good, but amazing, I would have scoffed. But here we are. Welcome to what is likely to be the best action movie of 2023. I have watched so many action movies, so to impress me with a car chase, well it’s a rare thing. “Mission Impossible: Dead reckoning” (the 7th film) impressed me greatly. Contrast it with “John Wick 4,” a boring, relentless action picture that never stops to breathe - hence we don’t care about anything or anyone. “Mission Impossible” has moments of rest, characters grow; and it has a cast of likeable characters, played by Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Rebecca Ferguson. What’s it all about? A chatgpt like super computer entity has become sentient and whoever can control it can control the world! There are two pieces of a physical key that unlock something, and that something will control the entity - the MacGuffin! Tom Cruise and his band of merry force hunt for their key. It’s ridiculous but it’s also a ton of fun. Enough reading, go catch this one on a big IMAX screen. In theatres now.

Lynch/Oz

"Lynch/Oz" is for hardcore film geeks and/or David Lynch fans. If you aren't one of these people, you can stop reading and give this film a skip. If you are still with me, then let's get our geek on! I'm not a hardcore David Lynch fan. I confess, I have never watched "Twin Peaks" - I know, I know. However I have loved a good body of his work, "The Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet," "The Straight Story." and "Lost Highway." For this film, it's more than enough. "Lynch/Oz" is a nerd documentary broken into six video essays by six different individuals. It compares and contrasts Lynch's work to the "Wizard of Oz." I realize this sounds a tad dry and maybe for some, it will be. However the documentary is far more than just this. It's more about story templates and a small history of film in relation to the Wizard of Oz and other films. There is so much other film stuff discussed that even if you aren't a die hard Lynch fan, your inner film nerd will be delighted. It reminded me a little of Mark Cousins's "The Story of Film." So grab a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon (Heineken, you know what you can do with that) and follow the yellow dotted lost highway line to Oz, all your dork cinephile friends will be waiting there for you. Catch this in a rep theatre near you. 

The Flash

I'm a sucker for time travel movies. Love them. And if you have been following this blog you will know I'm also a lover of Batman. I have a soft spot for the caped crusader. "The Flash" is 65% Flash, 30% Batman, and 5% for other DC characters. It's also a time travel movie. You could geek out and argue all the multiverse stuff is really just time travel pathways or vice versa; time travel leads to a multiverse. But I'm not here for that, I'm here to tell you how good and how much fun "The Flash" is. Ezra Miller plays Barry Allen, aka The Flash, two versions of him. He moves so fast that he can go back in time and does so to save his mother but in doing so, breaks the universe. Batman is no longer Ben Affleck but Michael Keaton. Yes, it's heavy on nostalgia. Was it great to see Michael Keaton back in the bat suit? Absolutely! This alone was worth the price of admission. Keaton gives a warm, heart-felt performance; and some laughs. But it is Ezra Miller who is the star and sells the whole picture. He is really fabulous. The movie has a sincerity to it. It's also extremely funny at times - I loved the opening 30 minutes. The writing is clever with subtle time travel film references. I couldn't have written a better comic book super hero film. "The Flash" is 100% fun. Catch it now (in IMAX if you can) at a theatre near you.   

Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella

Generally I enjoy documentaries. I thought it was almost impossible to make a bad one up until about fifteen years ago when I began seeing a rash of terrible ones. These days, Netflix and Amazon's documentaries are mostly true crime outings (or at least how it feels to me). Apple+ has focused its documentary lens on the portrait; Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, and Michael J. Fox to name a few. These are well known names. A name you might not know is Rosalie (Rosie) Silberman Abella. She was the first Jewish woman to sit on the Supreme Court of Canada. She was appointed by Paul Martin in 2004 and is responsible for some ground breaking work in human rights, specifically when it comes to gay rights and gay marriage. "Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella" is an excellent Canadian documentary about this fascinating woman. It's also a tender love story between her and her husband Irving. There are interviews with Brian Mulroney, Joe Clark, and Margaret Atwood, to name a few. Rosie is a character and her love of colourful and strange art reminded me of my own - another charming part of this wonderful portrait of an important Canadian who brought humanity to interpreting the law. Get off the couch and get to the theatre to catch this well made documentary - this is my ruling.  

Bones of Crows

This Canadian Indigenous film about the Residential School System will no doubt become must viewing in Canadian high school history classes - one should hope. It's a tough watch and a powerful film. The story follows Aline Spears through her lifetime, played by three different actors: Summer Testawich (young), Grace Dove (middle and main focus), and Carla-Rae (oldest). The story is told in overlapping timelines but if you were to place it in chronological order, you would see Aline and her three siblings ripped from her family and placed into the Residential School System where they all receive physical and mental abuse. Later, after making her way out, Aline becomes a Wind Talker for the Canadian Army in WWII because of her ability to speak Cree. She gets married and has two kids of her own. Aline's sister, Perseverance, doesn't fare so well later in life. She falls into drug and alcohol abuse, then goes to prison, then becomes a sex worker, and then finally disappears as an Indigenous woman, likely murdered. Aline's husband also doesn't do well, post WWII - likely suffering from PTSD, becoming a drunk with a temper. There is a tremendous amount of suffering and abuse is this film. It begins and ends with a number you can call if you are a survivor and require help. A lighthearted comedy this is not. Bring some tissues for this one. The film itself might suffer a bit of bloat but it's a minor criticism. This is must see Canadian viewing. Along with "I Like Movies," "Riceboy Sleeps," "Brother," and "Blackberry," Canada has come out swinging hard with some great movies this year. Catch "Bones of Crows" in theatres now. 

Reality

At the sparse running time of 82 minutes where not a whole lot happens, I was riveted, glued to it like I haven't been to a movie in some time. "Reality" is based on the three person play, "Is This A Room." It is also the true story based off of the actual audio recording of when the FBI busted Reality Winner (that's her actual name) for leaking NSA security info on Russian interference in the 2016 US election to the media. Reality Winner is played by Sydney Sweeney. She deserves a Golden Globe nomination for this one. And FBI agent Garrick, played by Josh Hamilton, well Josh deserves one too for best supporting. The punishment Winner received struck me as unnecessarily harsh. The entire movie speaks to the current American political system. The film's pacing, the music, it's intense. If you are looking for something short and riveting, then go get a dose of "Reality" now streaming on HBO/Crave; it's a winner (see what I did there).   

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

If you are getting tired of the multi-verse, I get it. "Everything, Everywhere, all at Once," "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," and the soon upcoming DC film, "The Flash." Do we really need all this multipoop infesting our multiplex theatres? Well in the case of "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," it's a universal yes. It will win an Oscar for best animated film, guaranteed; nothing will beat it. It will also likely be nominated for best picture, it's that good. It really is impressive. Heartfelt, original (commendable after a half dozen plus films and an abundance of animated shows), and visually dazzling (and often dizzying), "Spider-Man: Across the Sider-Verse" impressed me greatly. This, from a guy who doesn't like most Marvel films. In fact, this is the first Marvel superhero movie to land on this blog with a full review. What's it all about? Well it's the first of a two part sequel to 2018's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." The main character is Miles Morales, our first black Spider-Man. He does what any Spider-Man does, stops the bad guys and tries to live a normal teenager life. This time his enemy is Spot, a villain that has the power to create portals from one spot to another - sounds bizarre and it is; it's also extremely comical. And remember, this is the multi-verse, so popping from one earth planet to the next is a whole whack of Spider-People: a Sex Pistols U.K. Spider-Man, a chai drinking Indian Spider-Man, a Pam Grier motorcycle riding Spider-Woman, a blonde Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman, and even a Peter Parker dad with a Spider-Baby. Can Spider-Man do it all, save everyone, save everything? Stay tuned for the next installment. And catch this wildly entertaining, web slinging adventure in theatres now. 

The Boogeyman

So "The Boogeyman" is an excellent little horror film. It's a story about grief. Chris Messina plays Will; father, therapist, grieving husband who has lost his wife and now is left alone to raise their two girls, Sadie and Sawyer. Sadie (Sophie Thatcher - she was really terrific and kind of made the movie for me) is in high school and isn't doing great with the loss of her mother. Much younger sister Sawyer, she is worried about monsters in the bedroom closet and under the bed. She sleeps with a glowing ball/light. Along comes the seriously creepy, uninvited, without an appointment, Lester Billings (David Dastmalchian) to see Will, to get some therapy. Lester's story is also one of grief, tragedy, but also one of terror. Lester explains that the thing in the closet kids are afraid of, it's real and, well, it's coming for his kids. Based on a short story by Steven King, this movie will rank up there as one of the best from King. Better than being scary, the characters felt authentic; the grief felt raw, the fears palpable, and people behaved like real people. And the movie, yeah, it's pretty terrifying. Catch this one in a dark theatre near you. 

Blackberry

I keep blaming "Stranger Things" for kicking off the wave of 80s nostalgia we have seen in films and TV over the last seven years   We all like going back to the past, don't we? So far, this year, we have been given "Tetris" and "Air." With the arrival of "Blackberry," it feels like a natural trilogy. Not quite as good as "Air" but better than "Tetris," "Blackberry" gives us the very Canadian story of the first smart phone, capable of email and texts. There have been complaints about some of the film being greatly exaggerated or just outright fictitious - I don't really care, it makes for good cinema; truth be damned. Canadian, Jay Baruchel (born in Ottawa!) stars as Mike Lazaridis, the brains and co-founder of RIM (Research In Motion) with Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton). Jim is the power hungry executive and Mike, well Mike just wants to make a good product. It’s the story of unravelling ambition and you have seen it before but this one is very well done. And so Canadian! Jim, the evil one, he loves hockey and even wants to purchase an NHL team - there is a scene where he is screaming at Gary Bettman - everyone Canadian will love this. Canadian actor Michael Ironside even has a large role as corporate enforcer. Go get your geek on; for best reception, catch this one at your local theatre or on streaming services.  

The Covenant

The actual title is "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant." So let's talk a little about Guy Ritchie for a second. When "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" came out and then Ritchie followed his stunning debut feature with, "Snatch," I thought, this guy (See what I did there) is the Tarantino of England. This kind of mobster/action film was something I loved, at least during this particular time in film (early 2000s). His films felt fresh and bold and fun. Then came along Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films and my love of Guy Ritchie soured. He turned my intellectual cocaine shooting detective into a kind of MCU action star - really? Since then, I stopped being interested in anything the director went on to do; until now. And like a sniper shot out of nowhere comes, "The Covenant." Redemption. Based on a true story of an American solider, John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is rescued during the Afghanistan War by his language interrupter Ahmed (Dar Salim). The film then moves to John's subsequent rescue to get Ahmed out of Afghanistan. I hope Dar Salim gets a nomination for this, he's great. I'm not it's best picture material but it's a solid action picture and it's the best thing Guy Ritchie has done in decades. Go get rescued in a theatre near you or on streaming services soon.  

Beau is Afraid

I'm not afraid to tell you, this may be my favourite film of 2023. It will definitely be in my top ten of the year, however it would take an extraordinary film to knock it from its current first-place spot; this is because "Beau is Afraid" itself is an extraordinary film. This is writer and director's  Ari Aster third major theatrical film; his first two films were "Hereditary" and "Midsommar" - two horror films, both of which I loved. However, upon seeing the trailer for "Beau is Afraid" I knew this film was going to be a departure. What's it all about? Well it breaks into four parts/four acts, which I have named: 1) Beau's Apartment, 2) Beau's Recovery, 3) Beau's Theatrical Adventure in the Woods, and 4) Beau's Motorboat. Joaquin Phoenix plays Beau, a grown man in his late forties with an estranged relationship with his mother. Beau has phobias about everything and suffers from confusion and anxiety; the world is a scary place. The plot: Beau misses his flight to visit his mother; gets into an accident; people help him recover in a kind of "Misery" like home hostage situation, he escapes this and runs into a theatre troupe in the woods where he has an existential journey ("The Impossible") and winds up in a small motorboat in a theatre of judgment (something out of "The Truman Show"). I can't really do more to explain it and what I have told you makes little sense. The film for me is about sex and death, fears and anxiety, legacy, and Freud. There is a lot going on in this film. Last year's "Bardo" or "Everything, Everywhere All at Once" are the closest things I could compare it to. It's a juggernaut of creativity and I'm still digesting it all days later. It's darkly funny. Twisted. I can't say enough about it. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, and it's 3 hours long. I will gladly watch it again. Now playing in a theatre near you.  

How to Blow Up a Pipeline

It felt more like a heist film rather than a "Fight Club" manifesto on the need for radical environmental terrorists. So it's not as preachy as it could have been - quite frankly, I think it could have used a bit more Tyler Durden spice; but it's a minor criticism. "How to Blow Up a Pipeline" is pretty much what it sounds like, a group of environmental activists decide to take action and blow up an oil pipeline in Texas to help stop climate change. Will this film plant some potentially explosive ideas for people? For sure! Will it cause conversations on the environment to erupt? I certainly hope so. But is it a good movie? Absolutely yes! Think of  William Friedkin's "Sorcerer," or Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" combined with "American Animals" and  "Hell or High Water." It's an exciting film that will keep you duct- taped to your seat like an explosive device waiting to explode. Catch this one in the theatres before time runs out - trust me, it's the bomb. 

Evil Dead Rise

It's too early to say for sure but "Evil Dead Rise" might end up being my favourite horror film of 2023 (it's only April after all). If you are unfamiliar with the "Evil Dead" series of films, well it doesn't really matter; although if you are, your enjoyment factor will go up by at least the length of a chainsaw. What's it all about? A single mom and her three kids are living in a run down apartment building which was built atop a former bank. When an earthquake hits, it opens a hole into the bank vault where the book of the dead is discovered. Through old vinyl (just in time for Record Store Day!) the book is activated and EVIL is released. Blood, guts, and lots of vomit come next. With nods to past "Evil Dead" movies, it also pays homage to Kubrick's "The Shining" (elevators full of blood) and John Carpenter's "The Thing"  (bug-like mutated mushed monsters). The whole thing is a total bloody gross out and I loved it. Catch this elevator ride to hell in theatres now and don't forget to bring your cheese-grater (wink). 

The Lost King

Last year gave us a documentary film entitled "Jurassic Punk" about the life and times of computer animator, Steve 'Spaz' Williams. He is responsible for the ground breaking computer animation of "Jurassic Park." Oscars were handed out - not to Spaz. He didn't even get thanked in the speeches people made when they received their awards based on Spaz's work. What has this got to do with "The Lost King?" Well essentially it's the same story but with entirely different subject matter. The story is of the uncredited, the disbelieved, the discarded; someone who despite being ignored and/or dismissed, goes on to achieve something extraordinary and in the end, others take credit for their work ("Batman & Bill" is yet another great example). "The Lost King" is the story of Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) as an amateur historian looking for the grave site of King Richard III. Philippa is dismissed at every turn but she presses on, largely supported by her ex-husband John (Steve Coogan). Philippa is a tad bonkers, hallucinating King Richard sitting outside her bedroom window; eventually winding up having full conversations with him. Philippa didn't get the credit she deserved at the time but now she has this film. Catch this fascinating film in rep theatres or on streaming services when it becomes available.   

Beef

Have you been missing "The White Lotus?" Looking for another dark comedy about the lives of damaged people? Then look no further, "Beef" is your new show. What's it all about? What begins as a road rage incident between Danny (Steven Yeun) and Amy (Ali Wong) quickly devolves into a series of escalating acts of aggression post caught-on-doorbell-footage of their car incident. Amy has a successful houseplant business, a stay at home husband, and some mental health issues around sex, aggression, and self-esteem. Danny on the other hand is a petty criminal, with a brother, a serious criminal cousin, and a dream to build his Korean parents their dream home. Danny is a borderline sociopath; so is Amy really. This "War of the Roses" style comedy is a hoot if you take your comedies black (think "Fargo"). The show mocks the art world; it's also a satire on wealth and religion; and it's a commentary on what it's like to be Asian in a predominantly white culture. This show is smart, entertaining, and fast paced. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong are both bloody great. Catch this binge worthy, middle-finger-giving satire on Netflix now.    

Brother

I thought the Canadian Screen Awards would have a clear winner this year with "Riceboy Sleeps," but then I watched "Brother;" the new film co-written and directed by Clement Virgo. Here we have another immigrant story of a single mother, this time raising two boys in Scarborough in the 90s while she works full time; even doing late night shifts, leaving the boys alone - we do what we need to do. "Brother" is also about the relationship between older, confident, handsome, and charming, Francis (Aaron Pierre) and his younger, shy, timid brother, Michael (Lamar Johnson). Francis leads his brother into dangerous situations (climbing electric towers, leaving their apartment at night while their mother is working, etc.) but also gets him out of them (thwarting bullies, thwarting physical attacks, etc.). We know from the outset that something bad has happened to Francis and the film's journey is one of discovery (what happened?) and one of mourning and grief. "Brother" is also about being black and growing up on the tough streets of Scarborough. The film switches back and forth from different timelines, moving from childhood to adolescence, to post-Francis with surprising coherence and ease. "John Wick" can fire off thousands of bullets and nobody cares about a single one.  When "Brother" fires off a weapon, the impact of each shot is felt and noticed like somebody dropped a piano out a three story window. Catch one of the best Canadian films of the year in theatres now. 

Air

This is the true story of how the Air Jordan Nike basketball shoe became to be. If you were wondering how this could possibly be a movie, let alone a good one, a riveting one, well you're not alone. Even after watching the trailer, I thought, "I don't know about this." There is a nostalgia factor here at play for people my age or older. The mid 1980s, for the Gen-X crowd, well that's our youth, so to go back there, this is part of the charm of "Air." Every since "Stranger Things" came out, the flood of nostalgic 80s films and TV has developed into its own pipeline of material. "Tetris" currently streaming on Apple+ is another example. What makes "Air" so good are the performances of  Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Viola Davis, and Chris Tucker. Everyone here is fabulous. And Ben Affleck does more than just a competent job at directing, he's good. I think we could lump this film into the docudrama category of great films such as "Moneyball," "The Big Short," "Hoosiers," and "The Social Network;" these are big films to compare to - if the shoe fits. Catch this slam dunk at theatres near you.