The Best Films of 2024

Top 15 Films of 2024

2024 was the year of sequels: Beetlejuice 2, Alien 9, Despicable Me 4, The Omen 5, Ghostbusters 4, Twister 2, Rebel Moon part 2, A Quiet Place 3, Beverly Hills Cop 4, Bad Boys 4, Dune 2, Planet of the Apes 4, Kung Fu Panda 4, Gladiator 2, Joker 2, Moana 2, Smile 2, Venom 3, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, etc.. Thankfully there were some original films. Here are my top 15 and everything else which made the blog (it's got to be at least an A- to make it). Followed by blog-worthy films from last year I only got to watching this year. Then you get blog worthy films from further in the past. Then we have honourable mentions and guilty pleasures of 2024. Finally the worst of and most disappointing films of 2024. 

There are a lot of big movies I haven't seen yet, "The Brutalist" for example. It could very well be in my top 15, top 10 - who knows? I can only comment on what I've seen.

Letterboxd tells  me I watched 284 films this year to bring you this list. 

Enjoy!      

These are the best 15 films of 2024

1.The Substance  

2. Anora

3. Bird

4. Civil War

5. His Three Daughters

6. Red Rooms 🍁 - Released only international this year, it gets its proper place on the top 15. 

7. Caligula The Ultimate Cut

8. Kinds of Kindness

9. Saturday Night 

10. Hundreds of Beavers

11. The Promised Land

12. Strange Darling

13. Late Night with the Devil

14. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

15. Love Lies Bleeding 

And here is everything else (in no order) that made the blog for 2024 - all worthy of your time. 

16. Dogman

17. American Star

18. Land of Bad

19. Seven Veils

20. Immaculate

21. Knox Goes Away

22. Arcadian

23. Monkey Man

24. The Movie Man 🍁

25. In a Violent Nature 🍁

26. The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed 

27. The King Tide 🍁

28. Trap

29. Cuckoo

30. Rebel Ridge

31. Speak No Evil

32. Mother, Couch

33. The Idea of You

34. Thelma

35. Woman of the Hour

36. The Deliverance

37. Smile 2

38. Ghostlight

39. The Bikeriders

40. Challengers  

41. Memoir of a Snail

42. Babygirl

Great Films of 2023 I only watched in 2024

1. Society of the Snow

2. Memory

3. Perfect Days

4. Red Rooms 🍁 (released only in Canada in 2023)

5. Origin

Other great films I watched this year from previous years

1. The King

2. Jojo Rabbit

3. The Empty Man

4. Fish Tank

5. Nocturama

6. Le Trou (The Hole)

7. We Need to Talk About Kevin

8. Stalker

9. The Rover

10. Cure

11. Mikey and Nicky

12. Coraline

13. A Pure Formality

14. Rat Race

Guilty Pleasures/Honourable Mentions of 2024

Dramas

The Old Oak - Ken Loach's last film about a small town coming to grips with foreigners 

Silver Haze - Another gritty British drama reminiscent of something by Andrea Arnold 

Seagrass 🍁 - A Japanese-Canadian woman and her husband go to B.C. for couples' therapy during the 1980s along with their two kids. Full of moments of honesty and sadness. 

Wicked Little Letters - Olivia Colman is receiving nasty letters she believes is coming from her next door neighbour  

My Old Ass  🍁- A touching and comedic Canadian coming-of-age romance involving psychedelic mushrooms, sci-fi communication with a future-self, and cranberry farming. 

The Apprentice - Sebastian Stan as Trump is fabulous and this film as a portrait of a young, hungry, capitalist-monster on the rise just missed getting a full entry on the Marquee. 

A Real Pain - Jesse Eisenberg wrote, directed, and stars alongside Kieran Culkin in a film about two cousins who go to Poland on a holocaust guided tour trip. It's funny, heartfelt, and I found it far more moving than "The Zone of Interest."

Small Things like These - Cillian Murphy give a great performance in a film about bad nuns running a laundry sweatshop in 1980s Ireland. 

Nightbitch - Amy Adams plays a visual artist who has given up her life and identity to raise her son. And she is also turning into a dog. This one has some funny bite to it. 

Animated

Flow - Post climate disaster, a cat finds its way with other creatures when a tsunami like flood occurs. Kind of like "The Impossible" but with animated animals. 

Thrillers

The Last Stop in Yuma County - A fun Tarantino style stop at a gas station. Try the rhubarb pie, it's to die for. 

The Order - Jude Law plays an FBI investigator hunting down white supremacists who are also bank robbers - "Skin" meets "Hell or High Water."

Sci-Fi

The End We Start From - Mass Flooding hits the U.K. and we follow a woman and her new baby through this imagined environmental disaster. A visually gorgeous film. Think "28 Days Later" but replace the zombies with water and add starvation into the mix.   

Documentaries

Enter the Clones of Bruce - about the Brue Lee exploitation craze which occurred after he tragically passed away. Staring Bruce Le, Bruce Li, Bruce Lo, The Black Dragon and many more. Over 200 Kung-Fu Bruce Lee style films were made! 

Faye - Faye Dunaway, iconic American actor is interviewed about her film roles and her challenges with mental illness. Famous for her roles in Chinatown, Network, Bonnie and Clyde, The Eyes of Laura Mars, Mommie Dearest and many more. If you are a fan, it's must viewing.

Will & Harper - Will Ferrell and his close friend of 30 years, a writer from SNL go on a cross America road trip once he transitions to become a woman. It touching, heartfelt, and worth a your time.  

Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare - Netflix doc about a woman in an online relationship for nine years with somebody who wasn't who she thought. It's completely bananas. Up there with Baby Reindeer. 

Horrors

Suitable Flesh - It's actually a 2023 film, but I didn't want it missed. From the folks who gave us "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond."

Abigail - it's a bloody good vampire movie

I Saw the TV Glow - two teenagers have an unhealthy relationship with a TV show. This small film almost got a full entry on the blog. If you are looking for something different, seek this one out. It's something right from the Twilight Zone.

Heretic - Hugh Grant gives a great performance and I LOVED the first half of this film. Unfortunately I lost my faith in the second half. Still, it gets an honourable mention here on the Marquee.   

Worst Films of 2024

1. Night Swim - as much fun as drying yourself off with your spouse's soggy towel and about as scary too. 

2. The Beekeeper - as fun as a kicking a hornet's nest naked

3. Madame Web - don't get caught in this web of boredom

4. The Watchers - Unwatchable

5. Wildcat - Ethan Hawke directed this movie and it's a boring mess

6. Janet, Planent - A pretentious and boring planet; do not visit. 

7. A Family Affair - awful, how Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron ended up in this Hallmark like puke is beyond me 

8. Humane - you will want to kill yourself

9. Mother's Instinct - A film critic's instinct - don't watch it.

10. Rumours - Guy Madden gives us a giant brain without much thought, plot, or characters. Rumoured to be awful. 

11. Emilia Pérez - A Mexican Scareface musical about a trans cartel boss is one of the most tonality bizarre things I've ever witnessed and makes awful musicals look great. 

12. Here - Go anywhere but here. 

Biggest Disappointments of 2024

1. Dune Part 2 - It lost its way in the desert. The guy down my seat-row was snoring. 

2. Bob Marley: One Love - The Music is great, the rest is weak weed

3. The Fall Guy - a stunt gone wrong

4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - The banana has blackened and turned to a mushy Pablum not even fit for apes or banana bread. 

5. Brats - A boring self indulgent documentary about brats which isn't even worth being an extra on a blu ray of "Pretty in Pink."

6. Longlegs - I was hoping to love it and didn't. Nic Cage does give a great performance but the film is surprisingly dull.

7. MaXXXine - the end of the "X" trilogy and it was a letdown. If it were made in the 80s it would have been released directly on VHS.

8. A Quiet Place Day One - After the first two were so good, this one landed without making any noise (see what I did there)

9. Alien Romulus - In space, nobody can hear you yawn. Fan service quickly moves from fun to tedious, eventually birthing out a cobbled Alien monster composed of the better films that came before it. 

10. Joker: Folie à Deux - To quote Fleck himself at the end of a boring and pointless film, "Stop signing and just talk to me."

11. Gladiator II - CGI monkeys, rhinos, tigers, and sharks, oh my. There was no fight left in it. 

Babygirl

Who ordered hot sex for Christmas? "Body Heat," "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (the 1981 one), "9 1/2 Weeks," "Fatal Attraction," Steve McQueen's "Shame," and last year's "Sanctuary" are all films relating to sexual obsession, affairs, sexual kinks, and shame. You can now add "Babygirl" to this list of films. Starring Nicole Kidman, (who has been in some dreadful stuff this year - "A Family Affair" and "A Perfect Couple") has come out with a brave and powerhouse performance, standing right next to Demi Moore from "The Substance" (both nominated for Golden Globes and I think they should both win). Kidman plays Romy, a successful, high-powered, business woman who is married with two teenaged kids. She has an affair with a young intern, Samuel (Harris Dickinson). Romy likes to be told what to do - this is her fetish, her shame, this is what she has been hiding her whole life from her husband (Antonio Banderas). Written and directed by Halina Reijn, I felt like she has given a fresh voice to women and their sexuality - it's not just men who are weird. Like "The Substance," although not as direct, "Babygirl" also tackles what it is to be an aging woman in today's society. The film is a pretty wild and steamy ride - somewhat by the numbers if you have watched some or all of the films I mentioned at the beginning. However there is enough new and fresh material here, combined with Kidman's brave and powerful performance, and the fact that the film looks amazing - the dance club scene was a particular highlight for me - makes it worth your time. The whole movie feels like a pair of lacy undergarments and handcuffs left under the Christmas tree for viewing audiences. Catch it in theatres this holiday season. 

Memoir of a Snail

"Memoir of a Snail" is an animated stop-motion film and it's not for kids. This is about as black a comedy as you will find and I enjoyed every minute of it. I even laughed out loud - a rare thing for me. What's it all about? It's a life reflected back upon by Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook, who you might know as the spicy ginger, Shiv Roy from HBO's "Succession"). Grace has a hoarding problem, all things snails. She even wears a snail hat, with two little snail-like antennae eyeballs. Grace recounts her life, narrating from birth with her twin brother. Grace was born with a cleft lip and this film embraces all things messy and strange and in some odd ways, normalizes them, which is the charm of the film and its beauty. This is a warts-and-all story of mental illness, sexual fetishes, an unflattering look at religion, dementia, and hoarding, however done with such love and silliness, these things don't feel so heavy. Grace meets Pinky (Jacki Weaver) an exuberant and quirky older woman who reminded me of a cross between Mrs. Roper and Maude (from "Harold and Maude"). Pinky smokes Cuban cigars and loves gardening and life. Pinky is a free spirit and this is exactly what Grace needed in her life. The details in this film are simply a joy. Pay attention to all the reading material - so much fun. "Memoir of a Snail" is anything from sluggish, it's a fun and fast ride. And it's not for kids. Catch it in a rep theatre now or rent it from Movies 'N Stuff if you are in Ottawa.  

Rat Race

 Are you kidding me? Am I kidding you? I'm not joking around here. This is a comedy from 2001 which I believe I promptly ignored upon its release. I'm not sure why I ignored it because it's directed by Jerry Zucker, who has given us, along with his brother David Zucker, such comedy classics as 'Airplane!" and "Top Secret!" - two films which I love. I was rooting around my local video store, Movies 'N Stuff and came across "Rat Race." I might have made some disparaging comment to owner and operator, Peter Thompson. He heard me and subsequently discovered I hadn't seen it. He insisted I should. I took it home and watched. I laughed out loud - a rare thing for me. It's a race for two million dollars. It stars Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green, Jon Lovitz, Breckin Meyer, and Amy Smart. Jon Lovitz has never been funnier. This movie will be proudly displayed on the McPherson Movie Marquee Shelf at Movies 'N Stuff - just ask Peter to point you to it. And if anyone ever asks you if you want to buy a squirrel, seriously considerate it. One of the best slapstick comedies you will every see. No joke.  

Bird

Andrea Arnold ("Fish Tank" "American Honey") has crafted another brilliant film about wayward youth living below the poverty line. The story follows 12 year old Bailey (Nykiya Adams) as her young father Bug (Barry Keoghan) announces his plan to marry to his new girlfriend. Bug would like Bailey to be a bridesmaid - pink leopard-skin, tight spandex is the wardrobe choice for bridesmaids. Bailey wants nothing to do with it. Outside her flat she discovers, Bird (Franz Rogowski "Passages") a grown man looking for his parents who used to live in Bailey's neck of the woods. Bailey's mother lives with an abusive boyfriend in a dirty flat with presumably Bailey's sisters or half sisters. The world of "Bird" is graffiti soaked; hallways, alleyways, and every building seem to be awash in hastily scrolled spray-paint. Barry Keoghan's topless frame matches: he is covered in bug tattoos; a centipede crawls up his neck and pokes onto his cheek. "Bird" is a harsh world, where vigilante justice comes in the form of a swarm of young men in clown masks armed with box cutters. But like Arnold's other films, there is a beauty here too. And humour - watching Bug and his mates sing Coldplay's "Yellow" to a toad so it excretes a psychedelic slime (Bug's get-rich scheme) is highly amusing. Arnold contrasts worlds of urban grit with almost idyllic shots of birds in flight, perhaps representing freedom, elegance, and perspective. "I wanted to see where I am," explained Bird to Bailey as to why he was standing on the roof of a tall building. This is a film, a world, where you get lost in it. It will give you a new perspective on the people living in it. Catch one of the year's best films in theatres now.   

Anora

Writer, director, and editor, Sean Baker, who gave us, "The Florida Project" and "Red Rocket," has a brilliant new film out, "Anora." In the wheelhouse of films like John Cassavetes's "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie," Elaine May's "Mikey & Nicky," or Benny and Josh Safdie's "Uncut Gems," "Anora" is the story of Ani, a.k.a Anora (Mikey Madison - I hope she is nominated for all the awards) who is an exotic dancer in a strip club. She meets a Russian boy, Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn) who has extremely wealthy parents and seems to have an endless supply of money and appetite for drugs, alcohol, and Ani. He pays her for a private week (a kind of "Pretty Woman" scenario) and ends up in Vegas. Ivan's antics are discovered by his parents' keepers and what follows is a mob like intervention to detangle the relationship between Ivan and Ani. It's a long and often hilarious journey through bars, restaurants, candy stores, and strip clubs. It's a wild and messy ride, a broken vodka bottle soaked carpet and a double kick to the face. This is one of the best films of the year and it's now playing in theatres. 

Conclave

The Pope has died and Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is to run the conclave for selecting the next one. There are four main candidates vying for the position. John Lithgow plays a corrupt Cardinal. Stanley Tucci plays the left leaning, progressive voice. The far right is portraited by Sergio Castellitto. And there is a black Cardinal played by Lucian Msamati who quickly becomes disqualified by the dirty tricks of Lithgow's character. Days of voting go by, which looks like mostly white men in red robes folding pieces of paper, babbling out Latin, and going for smoke breaks in the courtyard. It does sound dull but it's rather exciting. This isn't edge of your seat stuff, however the film remains captivating throughout. There are some excellent little speeches about faith and doubt. Isabella Rossellini shows up looking pensive and slightly pissed off - yes, she plays a nun. I thought I figured out the end, and I did, but this one gives us an extra twist M. Night Shyamalan would be proud to own. Catch the holy moly in theatres now. Amen. 

The Promised Land

Fans of "The Man in the Iron Mask," "Tombstone," "The Count of Monte-Cristo," and this kind of historical period piece should check out co-writer and director, Nikolaj Arcel's film, "The Promised Land." This Danish film stars Mads Mikkelsen as Ludvig Kahlen, a 30-year, army-serving captain who wants to turn the vast wasteland of Jutland into a habitual farming community - in the name of the King! And Ludwig would like a noble title and some servants of his own in return. It's an underdog story. It's a story about class, racism, cruelty, and ego. It's about winning at the expense of those we love. Ludwig's neighbour, Frederik De Schinkel (Morten Hee Andersen) is a rich, spoiled drunk who wants Ludwig to fail at all costs. And the woman Frederik has his eye on for marriage, well she wants nothing to do with Fredrick and all to do with Ludwig. So there you have it. This film is a captivating drama and it's beautiful to look at. I'm not a huge fan of period pieces and I loved this one. Catch it on CRAVE or rent it from Movies 'N Stuff here in Ottawa. 

Smile 2

I loved the first one. I re-watched it and it was even better than I remembered. Something as good as "Smile" it's hard act to follow. If "Smile" is an A, then "Smile 2" is an A-, good enough for a proper entry here on the Marquee. The sequel picks up 6 days after the first film ends as Joel (Kyle Gallner) is trying to lose his inner demon. The demon ends up in global pop super-star, Skye Riley's (Naomi Scott) body as she is about to embark on her comeback tour. Skye is coming back from drugs and alcohol, and a car crash which has left her with a few large scars, not to mention some serious mental trauma. Naomi Scott's performance is utterly fantastic as the pop queen diva. Anyway, soon enough, fans are grinning at her in the most horrible way as Skye's inner demon grows inside her mind. Parker Finn is the writer and director of both films and understands what makes a good horror movie is the same as what makes a good movie: a strong central character - a fully living and breathing character with a back story. Finn has not only created a clever monster, he has now written two great female leads, robust and fully formed. Horror fans will grin. Film nerds should smile, twice. Catch this one now in theatres, just in time for Halloween. 

A Pure Formality

"Cinema Paradiso" is directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. It's probably my favourite film about film, the love of film. It came out in 1988 when I was eighteen. I never bothered to follow Tornatore's career or seek out his other work. I'm not sure why. Peter Thompson, owner and operator of my favourite video store Movies 'N Stuff recently told me I needed to watch, "A Pure Formality." Directed by Tonatore, it stars Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski. Depardieu plays a writer, lost in the rain in the French countryside, running away from what exactly, we don't know; a mystery. Polanski is a detective trying to solve a fresh homicide. This is a clever game of cat and mouse. It's a visual treat, a Hitchcockian thriller. For me, to watch a relatively young, Gérard Depardieu was also such a great joy. He was an actor who was a regular staple of my cinema watching (like Michael Caine or Gene Hackman) growing up. He is an unconventional leading man because of his hulking stature - it has always endeared me to him even more. Anyway, "A Pure Formality" is a cinephile's wet dream. The ending may be controversial - go see Peter at his store after you have watched it to talk about the ending. And you can thank me later. For rent at Movies 'N Stuff.  

The Deliverance

You might call it a black "Exorcist" film with the only white person hanging around being, Glenn Close. Close has been possessed by the demons of Russell Crowe and Nicolas Cage (viz. "The Pope's Exorcist" and "Renfield") in a performance which is brave, unflattering, and bananas. Close has never been shy to experiment with different roles and I applaud her choices. What's this film all about? It revolves around Ebony (Andra Day) and her three kids and her white mother, Alberta (Close) who have all moved into yet another new house. Ebony, a single mother, struggles with alcohol, anger, and regular check-ins from her social worker (Mo'Nique). Ebony is trying to keep it together. Her youngest, Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins) starts to uncharacteristically act out at school by doing some very unsavory things. We know how exorcism stories go, it's the house! GET OUT! Ha. Well, things go quickly from bad to worse and we get some pedestrian ghostly stuff. Here is the thing, this film would be great on its own without the added possession story, as a portrait of a family trying to survive in modern America. The Exorcist stuff doesn't bring it down - it's kind of like, the meal comes with dessert. So there you have it. Catch it now this Halloween season, streaming on Netflix. 

  

Saturday Night

Now into its 50th season, Saturday Night Live is a late night staple for North America and has been the birthplace of some of the most influential comedians: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon, Bill Hader; and the list goes on and on. SNL, arguably one of the most important television shows ever, "Saturday Night" is the story of how Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) managed to get the first episode to air (or almost didn't). It's riveting stuff. Jason Reitman's camera zooms and jumps from scene to scene with the manic energy of cocaine and too much pot. Part of the fun is seeing the impressions of the young cast of John Belushi (Matt Wood), Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O'Brien), Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), and Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt). Each actor did such a great job it felt like I was watching the real cast, an incredibly talented bunch of unknowns. How truly gifted these young people were. Reitman gives each of them time to shine while the tornado of the set swirls, the minute hand of the clock spinning towards 11:30, live showtime. Shout out to Nicholas Braun who plays both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson - Braun is great. It's a nostalgic ride with a whip smart and punchy script.  Catch one of the best films of the year, now in theatres.  

Woman of the Hour

Anna Kendrick. When I thought of that name I used to think: bubbly, smart, charming, rom-com type of girl. After seeing her in "The Accountant" (one of my favourite action films in the last few decades) and in "Up in the Air," my thoughts of Anna Kendrick began to change. This is a girl capable of bigger things and seems to desire more serious material. Well now, after "Woman of the Hour" I have a whole new and deepened respect for Ms. Kendrick. David Fincher has set the bar for serial killer movies, in my book. Do we need another one? Ms. Kendrick felt we did and after watching "Woman of the Hour" I can't say she is wrong. Women, so I have read, are the main consumers of true crime fiction. Maybe that's because men are dangerous and Ms. Kendrick would very much like to remind of us of that fact. There are few scenes from this film which have haunted me since it's viewing. Dark stuff here. What's it all about? It's the true story of rapist and murderer, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) as he sets foot on The Dating Game as one of three suitors for Cheryl Bradshaw(Anna Kendrick). It's also about the women Alcala meets and kills along the way, told in a jumping timeline. Anna Kendrick may not be Fincher (who is?), but she can hold her own and has proven she is capable of a lot more than maybe people thought (myself included). This is an engrossing thriller. Catch it in theatres now.   

The Idea of You

Goddamn it, I didn't want to like this movie. A romantic-comedy-drama with Anna Hathaway. I mean come on, I watch films, not this nonsense. Ah, who am I kidding, I pretty much watch everything to bring you this blog of only the best stuff. I wade through the Hollywood trash dump and occasionally I find a treasure. Like "Pretty Woman," "The Idea of You" is a gem found in a toilet bowl of romantic comedies.  Nicholas Galitzine plays Hayes, a world famous 24 year old star in a boy band. He accidently runs into Solène (Hathaway) who has taken her daughter to see Hayes' group perform at Coachella. This is the goofy setup. Paparazzo, internet gossip, dealing with an ex-husband and juggling a teenager: it all fuels the comedic fire of, "The Idea of You." If this sounds pedestrian and stereotypical of the genre, well it is. But here is the thing, it doesn't feel so by the numbers and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's co-writer and director Michael Showalter's really smart script and the fabulous performances of the two leads. They have steamy chemistry for sure. I found myself sucked into their relationship like a soap opera, waiting to see how it would all play out. Will it win any awards? Absolutely not. Well maybe a Golden Globe nod. Will you enjoy yourself? I think so. Catch it steaming and streaming on Prime or catch it on video when it gets released.    

Mother, Couch

Sigmund Freud would have loved it! Surreal, strange, the unconscious is working overtime here, or at least writer and director, Niclas Larsson is. What's it all about? Ewan McGregor plays David, a man who has found himself in a run down, bargain-bin, furniture warehouse, where large empty spaces are filled with boxes, lamps, and furniture is covered in plastic wrap. David's mother, played by the great Ellen Burstyn, has decided to take a seat on a couch on the second floor. She refuses to move. Why? It never becomes clear. Nothing here is clear. And yet, I found it compelling. David's marriage is on the fritz and he finds himself in all kinds of stressful situations. Maybe the film is a parlor trick? Compelled to watch arguably for characters and a story we don't really understand. But here is the thing, I don't feel duped. Just the opposite, delighted I was on the strange and compelling journey - maybe equally happy to see Ewan McGregor not doing dumb Disney Star Wars shit. F. Murray Abraham also stars in this. "Mother, Couch" - go check into therapy and catch this one at a rep theatre near you.   

The Substance

Bananas! This film is a sci-fi body-horror-comedy which gives nods to 80s horror films ("Dead Ringers," "The Thing," "Carrie," "From Beyond") and it's the wildest ride you will take this year, maybe this decade. What's it all about? Demi Moore plays an aging Hollywood star, Elisabeth Sparkle. We start with Ms. Sparkle doing a 20-Minute workout style class on TV, something out of Jane Fonda's playbook. The studio head, Harvey, played to perfection by Dennis Quaid, shitcans her. She's out. Then a mysterious opportunity arrives, a way to get her beautiful youthful body back. Her youthful self, who becomes known as Sue, is played by Margaret Qualley (who is also in the other strangest film this year, "Kinds of Kindness"). "The Substance" is a movie is about society's obsession with youth, and particularly Hollywood's obsession with it. Demi Moore, although she remains a beautiful woman, she is now 61 and for the last two decades has done mostly TV. Maybe it has to do with raising three kids. Or maybe it's because Hollywood has said she is too old? Watching Ms. Moore, it felt like she brought 20 years worth of fuck-you to the role - a powerhouse performance. A bold choice considering she had to do half the film nude. Remarkable. This is one of my favourite films this year. Catch this now in theatres. 

Footnote: This was directed by Coralie Fargeat, who directed one of my favourite films of 2018, "Revenge." It appeared in my very first movie blog post here: McPherson's Movie Marquee: Top Films of 2018 (mcphersonsmoviemarquee.blogspot.com)

His Three Daughters

Katie (Carrie Coon) and Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) have come to stay with their sister, Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) to be with their dying father who is living at home in hospice care. Rachel is an adult and has been living with their father in her shared New York apartment. Between smoking her daily weed, Rachel has been shouldering the heavy burden of looking after their dad, for the most part. The movie begins close to their father's end. Azazel Jacobs wrote and directed this smart and poignant film. Each character is given a full life. You know these people. The older A-type judgement sister, Katie, who pours and drinks red wine like she were stabbing someone. The peacemaker, Christine, the former deadhead, hoping everyone can just get along. And Rachel, the pot smoking piece of damaged goods who seems to have a chip on her shoulder. The actors here breathe full life into these characters and you feel them. These people are real. This is a meditation on family dynamics, identity, and death. "His Three Daughters" is one of the best movies of the year. Expect to see this one at all the award shows. Catch this now in theatres. Soon to be streaming on Netflix or wait and go rent it from Movies 'N Stuff here in Ottawa when it arrives on the shelf. 

Speak No Evil

If you have already seen the Danish original, then do you really need to see this American remake? This is the question I asked myself. Yes you do. They are very similar for sure, however James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis,  Scoot McNairy and the rest of the cast are so good in it and it's so much fun, it's must viewing in my opinion. What's it all about? Well, it's a remake of the Danish 2022 film of the same name. It's about a couple, Ben and Louise,  who meet another couple, Paddy and Ciara, on vacation and are subsequently invited by them later for a follow-up vacation at Paddy and Ciara's countryside home. Paddy and Ciara have a son who doesn't speak. Paddy, who purports to be a doctor, claims his son to have been born with an abnormally small tongue which prevents him from speaking. Everything is not as it seems at the farmhouse. Things go from odd to really strange quickly, and then move in the direction of terror. It's a fun and funny ride fingernail-marked with a white knuckling ending. "Speak No Evil" - shout loudly how much fun this one is! Catch it in theatres now.  

Rebel Ridge

Jeremy Saulnier. If you don't know who that is, he is the writer and director of "Blue Ruin," "Green Room," and now "Rebel Ridge." If you haven't see "Blue Ruin" it is must-viewing if you appreciate action crime dramas. All of his films have fallen, so far, into this category and Saulnier has proven himself to be a master of them. "Blue Ruin" is such a phenomenal film, make sure to go watch it. Almost as good, "Rebel Ridge." What's it all about? It's basically "First Blood" but repackaged. Instead of Stallone, we have Aaron Pierre (who is black, so we get some racism thrown into the mix with cops) who is just trying to get his brother out of jail on bail. Instead of Brian Dennehy, we have Don Johnson as the corrupt sheriff. It's a formula that has been well tread so to do it well, to make it interesting, it's almost a miracle. Hallelujah! Jeremy Saulnier has performed a miracle! "Rebel Ridge" is one of the best action crime dramas of the year and everyone in it does a great job, including co-star, AnnaSophia Robb. James Cromwell even has a role as a corrupt judge. Throw on you flack jacket and catch this blast of fun now streaming on Netflix. 

Coraline

It's a rare thing for me to watch animated films. I don't seek them out. "Coraline" came out in 2009 when my kids were three and five, so it was overlooked as something I might take them too. Fast forward to 2024 and my now eighteen year old son's girlfriend asks me, have you seen "Coraline?" To which my answer was a polite and simple, "No." I didn't bother to be snooty about it. In my head it was something like, "Little girl, I watch films, not cartoons." I kept my inner snob hidden. But then I was down at my local video store, Movies 'N Stuff, and the owner, Peter told me he had just gone to see "Coraline" in 3D. "Is it any good?" I asked. "What? You've never seen it? It's great." (I feel like this line has been used by me and every other film nerd a million times). Peter has movies for sale (and rent) at his store. There was a copy of "Coraline" for $5. I purchased. I watched. Now I blog about it because it was wonderful. What's it all about? This stop motion film is about a girl, Coraline who moves into a creepy old house with her writer parents who have no time for her. She discovers a hidden door to an alternate version of her world, where her parents are attentive to all her needs and cook her favourite foods. The only thing is they have black buttons for eyes. Then things get dark, so dark it's almost not for kids. But it is. This isn't Disney, so it isn't cutesy. The amination has this grungy DYI feel to it. It's so creative and interesting and thus felt surprisingly fresh. The closest thing I could compare it to is if you crossed Tim Burton with "Wallace and Gromit" and threw in a little Loony Toons. I loved the story and all the side characters. If you haven't see it ("What? You haven't seen it?) then this is something to watch during this Halloween season. Button up!

Mikey and Nicky

I have loved Peter Falk since I laid eyes on him in "Columbo" the TV series. And John Cassavetes, a good actor and an amazing director - if you have never seen a Cassavetes film, start with "A Woman Under the Influence" and "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie." This film, "Mikey and Nicky" has been on my to-watch list for some time. It was a banger. Directed by Elaine May (who is 92 years old as I type this) who made this wonderful film in 1976. She worked on "Tootsie," wrote "Heaven Can Wait," "Primary Colors," and wrote and directed "Ishtar." So what's this film all about? Cassavetes plays Nicky, a man wanted by the mob and there is a hit out on his life. He calls up his pal Mikey (Falk) for help, but Mikey really isn't his pal, he wants Nicky dead too. Ned Beatty plays the hitman who is always trying to catch up. There is crazed energy in this film and Cassavetes is manic. There was also a great joy for me in going back in time to the world of draft houses, pull-tab cans of beer, large cars, payphones, and non-stop smoking. This movie is a dance between Cassavetes and Falk, bringing them together on an inevitable death march - reminded me a little of "The Last Detail." M. Emmet Walsh shows up as a bus driver. I loved this movie. Go watch it on the Criterion Channel or rent it from Movies 'N' Stuff here in Ottawa.  

Strange Darling

Last year, "The Passenger" made my honourable mention list of the best films of 2023 because of the performance of Kyle Gallner, an actor I had never heard of before. His performance in that film was so good it elevated the material from a C to a B+, almost landing the whole picture to full blog entry. Well I'm happy to report, Mr. Gallner is back again this year in one of the most fun thrillers of the year. And his onscreen dancing partner in "Strange Darling" is Willa Fitzgerald, another powerhouse. I would love to see her get a nomination for some shiny award for her work in this one. What's it all about? I will tell you nothing except it's like a Tarantino style thriller if crossed with "Memento." The screwy order of the film really helps to keep the audience engaged and thinking. I think you could argue it's a cheap gimmick but I thought it was brilliant. This movie is pop rock candy, a bloody nose of cocaine. The dialogue and supporting characters are quirky - did I mention Barbra Hershey is in it? She is! This is all you need to know. Go hunt this one down in a theatre near you. 

Cure

"Cure" is a Japanese film from 1997 - another recommendation from Peter Thompson, owner and operator of Movies 'N Stuff. This eerie thriller is about a cop, Det. Kenichi Takab (Koji Yakusho - who is the lead in this year's "Perfect Days") who is investigating a series of killings. Each victim has been killed by someone they know but then marked in a particular way, thus linking these otherwise unconnected murders. It reminded me of "Jacob's Ladder" and maybe a little bit of Wes Craven's "Shocker." It's got a great Japanese creepy horror sensibility to it - like "The Ring." Slightly gory at times, I was glued to this one. Feeling not great because you haven't seen any good thrillers lately, well this is the cure! You can stream it on the Criterion Channel or go rent it from Peter at Movies 'N Stuff. 

Caligula The Ultimate Cut

So the original film, "Caligula" from 1979 had this reputation of being soft core porn and an utterly stupid waste of your time. Big budget trash. A skin rag for the big screen. I had never seen it, the original that is, but was always curious about it; see the horror with my own eyes. It had become something of a cult film, then I think people stopped caring completely. Forty plus years later, this new Ultimate Cut has been released with a run time of almost three hours. I was never bored for a second. Being a film nerd, to see Peter O'Toole, Sir John Gielgud, Helen Mirren, and of course, Malcolm McDowell all young (relatively) and walking around was a thrill in itself. I've tried to separate my enthusiasm and be objective to what I witnessed, which was an absolutely wild ride. If you took The Twilight Zone's "It's a Good Life" (the one about the kid who has supernatural powers to control everyone including his parents) and turned it into a three hour movie set in the Roman Empire and it was produced by Penthouse in 1976, you would get this feral film, a completely unforgettable experience. I don't know if Malcolm McDowell would now be eligible for an Oscar (I'm sure there are rules against it) for this re-release, but I would love to see him nominated if such a thing were possible. What you see here cannot be unseen. If you remember the scene in "Rob Roy" where Tim Roth's character rapes Jessica Lange's, well McDowell's Caligula does one better. It's dark and crazy and I couldn't stop watching it. This is something to behold. Catch it in the theatre if possible. The Ultimate Cut is out now.  

Cuckoo

Air Aster brought us to Sweden in "Midsommar." Director and writer, Tilman Singer takes us to Germany in his new film, "Cuckoo." Being half Danish myself, I get the weirdness factor that Scandinavian/Germanic vibes can give off; cultures that feel somewhat OCD about cleanliness, clean furniture lines, and has a thing for pickled cabbage - sauerkraut. Like Midsommar," "Cuckoo" revolves around a young American girl, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) travelling abroad. She hits the Alps with her father, stepmother and mute half sister. She finds herself working in a hotel in the German mountains. The hotel and its owner give off an aura of uncomfortable and strange right from the outset. Things only get stranger and creepier as we go deeper in - hotel guests vomiting in the lobby. It's just what you want in a horror film, hitting the right dissonant notes putting the whole thing into the key of crazy. Cuckoo indeed. Check yourself in for a stay at this niffy little horror film, in theatres now. If you are in Ottawa, rent it from Movies 'N Stuff when it becomes available. 

Trap

Well this film has tanked on Rotten Tomatoes but I think M. Night Shyamalan gets an undeserved bad rap. My favourite director is Alfred Hitchcock and "Trap" is the most Hitchcockian thing Shyamalan has given us to date. What's it all about? A dad, Cooper (Josh Hartnett) takes his tween daughter to see a pop concert, Lady Raven (played by Saleka Shyamalan, M. Night's real daughter) at a large stadium. Police arrive in droves. They are there to set a trap for The Butcher, a serial killer who they believe will be in attendance at the concert. They will be checking all men leaving the show. They know who they are looking for and he looks a lot like Cooper. The fun is watching how Cooper struggles to get his way out of it. The film starts somewhat with a slow tempo but quickly builds. It's not "North by Northwest" but it's in the ballpark of that kind of fun. It was great to see Josh Hartnett back in a leading role. Saleka Shyamalan was fabulous as Lady Raven. I was highly entertained. Go get caught up in this one and see it in theaters now or rent it when it comes out on disc from Movies 'N Stuff if you're in Ottawa. 

Ghostlight

"Ghostlight" is one of the best films of the year and I'm sure you don't know anyone in it. Keith Kupferer (have you heard of him?) plays Dan - a construction worker, a father, a husband, and a man with a very short fuse. After Dan has a physical altercation with a driver at his construction site, a woman named Rita (Dolly De Leon - who you might know from "Triangle of Sadness") invites Dan to join her community theatre group. The group is putting on Romeo & Juliet. Dan is a man who is grieving, who is angry, who needs to find a release for his pain. As it turns out, this theatre troupe is exactly what Dan needs. Dan's family is also struggling and both his wife and daughter begin to suspect that he is having an affair; turns out he is just sneaking off to rehearsals. It's an emotional film, and like any Shakespeare, even tragedies, there are some comedic bits along the way. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Kupferer or De Leon were nominated, come award season, for some prizes. Maybe even Katherine Mallen Kupferer who plays Dan's daughter. If you are looking for an intelligent film in a summer of blockbuster stupidity, this is your next movie. Catch it in theatres now.

The King Tide

If Robert Eggers ("The Witch" "The Lighthouse") were to birth out something Canadian, I feel like it would look an awful lot like "The King Tide." Well Eggers didn't, director Christian Sparkes did. And it's weird. What's it all about? A tiny fishing community on a small island off Canada's East coast is gifted a child, Isla. She is a gift from the sea, granted to couple who just lost a child during pregnancy. Isla is no ordinary child - what magic ocean baby is, right? Isla has a power to heal others - from hangovers to cuts to life threatening poisonous berries, Isla can fix you up. She can also do things like kill bees and summon fish - Dr. Doolittle meets Wolverine. Once Isla is exposed to a traumatic event, her powers seem to wane. This is when the town begins to implode and things get interesting. Kids with superpowers is far from new  - "Let the Right One In," "The Innocents," "Firestarter," etc. Now add "The King Tide" to the pile. Like those aforementioned, this film is excellent. It's beautiful and haunting. It also has Aden Young (from the series "Rectify" (which I loved)). Catch this one on streaming platforms or from your local video store - Movies N Stuff in Ottawa. You will thank Isla.  

Thelma

June Squibb, at 92, does all her own stunts, just like Tom Cruise in all his "Mission Impossible" movies. Squibb stars as Thelma, a grandmother who is living alone. She is doted upon by her grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger). Daniel, who is always making sure Thelma is wearing her alert bracelet and helping her with her phone and computer. Thelma falls victim to a telephone scam and she mails off ten thousand dollars thinking she is helping her beloved Daniel. When the ruse comes to light and she realizes the police can do nothing, Thelma takes matters into her own hands; she is going to get her money back. Thus begins this action adventure comedy. Thelma employs the help of Ben (Richard Roundtree) and together they ride out of Ben's assisted living facility on his double red mobility scooter. Thelma is sweet in that Pixar "Up" kind of way. It's also very funny. I don't think I've been as amused at a film like this in quite some time. I loved it.  Clark Gregg, Parker Posey, and Malcolm McDowell all have supporting roles. Catch "Thelma" now out in theatres. 

Dark Matter

This sci-fi show streaming on Apple+ is a head-scratching, "It's a Wonderful Life", multiverse box of fun. Joel Edgerton (who continues to appear in interesting things) plays Jason, a mild mannered college professor of physics. He is married to Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), the love of his life and they have a teenage son. Jason's life might have turned out quite differently had he chosen work over family. But what if he hadn't? What if he didn't choose love? Maybe he would have gone on to do great things in physics, like building a giant box which could access the multiverse - sort of like time travel, except all these different realities are happening at the same time. And what if this ambitious, workaholic Jason wasn't happy with his life and used his magic box to find the quiet life he always wanted, maybe get rid of his doppelganger and step into a whole new life. This is "Dark Matter." This is a "Twilight Zone"  Tilt-A-Whirl-House-of-Mirrors and you definitely want to take a spin on this amusement ride. When I hit episode eight, I looked at the show like Jason looks at his wife, "I will never stop loving you." Jennifer Connelly, I will watch anything she decides is worthy of her time. Go watch this now. Streaming on Apple+  

Kinds of Kindness

Yorgos Lanthimos has followed up his brilliant masterpiece, "Poor Things" with, "Kinds of Kindness." Emma Stone, Margaret Qualley, and Willem Dafoe have come along for the ride. Jesse Plemons has joined in Lanthimos's brand of fun - let me tell you, it's a squirting sulphuric-acid, clown-flower brand of fun. "Kinds of Kindness" tells three separate tales with the same cast playing different characters. The first story revolves around a man, Robert (Plemons) in the employment of his controlling employer Raymond (Dafoe). Every action Robert makes, from what he wears, to when he should fuck, is dictated by Raymond. Then Robert is let go and the real fun begins. The second tale revolves around an "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" type scenario between a married couple (Stone and Plemons); a "Twilight Zone" gross out. The third installment might be the most interesting and completely weird. A couple from a bizarre water cult are looking for a twin who has the power to raise the dead. This one felt like Lanthimos was invoking the powers of David Lynch - Emma Stone driving like a maniac in a purple sports car and performing a wild and wacky dance. It's bananas. I can understand how some people might see the whole film as pretentious and strange without purpose. I will say this: the film is close to three hours and I was never bored for a minute - time flew by. It is likely to be the most interesting film you will see this year. Catch this one now in theatres.     

The Rover

On my recent film-nerd camping weekend, two of my good friends and myself watched, "The Rover." This 2014 Australian film by director David Michôd is gripping stuff. Its another post apocalyptic film set down under. Part "The Road," part "Mad Max," and part 1971 Australian film, "Wake in Fright." However "The Rover" is original enough to be well worth your time. It's a gorgeous looking film and the two lead performances by Guy Pearce (who I love even if he finds himself in something lousy) and Robert Pattinson (who has kept making smart choices, interesting choices, post "Twilight" (so has Kristen Stewart!)) are both fabulous in this. The story revolves around Eric (Pearce) wanting to get his stolen car back with an unconventional sidekick (Pattinson). The first ten minutes of the film has a wonderful way of tying two intersecting story lines - it will grip you and get you into the dusty car, which is "The Rover." It's a ride you will want to take. Catch it on streaming services or if you are in Ottawa, go rent it from Movies 'N Stuff.

The Bikeriders

Tom Hardy plays his character, Johnny like he was Marlon Brando in, "The Wild One." A kind of nonchalant, "Hey, don't fucking worry about it" emanates from his slouched posture. I read Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" when I was in high school. It was the first time I had discovered the world of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club: the Merry Prankers bringing Acid to the world of outlaw bikers. I followed it up with Hunter Thompson's "Hell's Angels." Real life Hell's Angel, Sonny Barger, is featured in both texts. His likeness shows up in this film as Funny Sonny, played by bike riding, "The Walking Dead's" own,  Norman Reedus. Michael Shannon even has a small role as a biker with some, perhaps, mental health issues. But its stars,  Austin Butler (my favourite "Elvis") and his wife, Kathy, played by Jodie Comer are really something fine. Butler has youth and charm and swagger. And Comer, well she seems to be channeling Winona Ryder - and I mean this in the best possible way. Not a whole lot happens in "The Bikeriders" but it has a "Goodfellas" quality to it, and it kept me glued to it. These were the bikers from the books I read. They seemed like the real deal. Go take a ride and catch this bad ass movie in theatres now. 

Stalker

When I first heard about Andrei Tarkovsky, it was in the context of his film "Solaris" (1972). Somebody (I don't recall who) said, "Do you know there is a Russian film which is the equivalent to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey?" Back in the early 1990s, there was no streaming. DVDs weren't even a thing! Films such as "Solaris" were not commonplace. I managed to find a two-cassette VHS package of the 166 minutes film for sale at HVM - it might have been Music World. Regardless, I bought it immediately. I watched this masterpiece with awe and reverence. It was remade by Steven Soderbergh in 2002 - not as good as the original - sorry Steven. For whatever reason, it never occurred to me to seek out other films by Tarkovsky. Seems like I was foolish. Which brings me to my friend Peter, owner of Movies 'N' Stuff. When he said on his Criterion Closet Video, he would pick Tarkovsky's "Stalker" over "Solaris" I was like, "What? He made more than one great film?" Tarkovsky has made many. "Stalker" is a science fiction film about three men going into the Zone, a forbidden place, walled off and which must be snuck into. The men are looking for The Room, which will grant their deepest desires. It's a slow and meditative film filled with poetry and existential contemplation. It's also a masterclass lesson on how to create tension in a scene out of nothing. Alex Garland's fabulous film, "Annihilation" I think owes a debt to "Stalker." This 2 hour and 42 minute slow moving Russian film flew by for me. Equally as good as "Solaris" and if you are a film lover, you need to watch it. Find it on the Criterion channel or if you are in Ottawa, rent it at Movies 'n Stuff | (moviesnstuff.com).

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something has Passed

Slow. Hilarious. Brave. Bold. Deadpan. Joanna Arnow. She is a name to remember. She is the editor, writer, director and star of her wonderfully oddball comedy, "The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed." Arnow stars as Ann, a woman who works a boring office job and squeezes prepacked curry from a bag to microwave for her lunch. She is also a kind of submissive sex addict, letting herself be controlled by various male Masters. From dull office job, to bizarre sexual encounters, these sections of her life are spliced with inane encounters with her parents and her sister (who might be going through a separation). There is a scene where Ann's mother tells her she should pack a banana for the trip home - it felt so honest and funny. Joanna Arnow plays eveything deadpan and for the most part, that's what makes it so funny. I'm sure this film is destined for the Closet over at Criterion. It's arty, strange, and Arnow has no problem showing herself off in the nudy-patootie. I loved this quirky little film. Catch it at a rep theatre, streaming, or at your local video store - in Ottawa, that would be Movies 'N' Stuff. 

In a Violent Nature

If Terrence Malick made a “Friday the 13th” movie, I suspect it would look an awful lot like “In a Violent Nature.” If you are unfamiliar with Malick’s work, he makes slow and arty films; some might say, cerebral films. They are for contemplation. This Canadian horror film gives you plenty of time to think about what horrific act is coming next. It begins with teenagers (of course teenagers!) bringing our monster, Johnny (instead of Jason) to life by nabbing a gold locket his mamma gave him - he's a momma's boy, like  Voorhees. He is also a child who suffered a cruel death and thus, as horror movie mythology goes, has grown into a monster which kills indiscriminately. Once he crawls out of the swampy ground and into the light of the forest, Johnny's bodily state of decay lies around "Friday the 13th VI - Jason Lives:" his clothes are tattered and wounds and sores scar his hulking frame and grotesque head. He slow-motions his way about the forest like the Terminator, killing everyone in his path. Often ridiculous but then again, often riveting, disturbing, and rather gross. I loved it all. I found myself captivated by the last ten minutes. In theatres now.   

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Welcome to the best action movie you will see this year. If you are already a fan of George Miller's Mad Max universe, I'm sure you will be delighted (I am and I was). This is the story of Furiosa, a child stolen from her mother and idyllic post apocalyptic community and raised by overlords Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and then Immortan Joe. This is a long, stretched-out (2.5 hours) revenge film and it's packed with modified supercharged eighteen-wheelers, Roman chariot motorcycles, skull-helmet wearing bike riders, who engage in epic warfare all while charging down the Fury Road at top speed. It's a dust, gasoline, and bullet ballet of nonstop action and violence and I enjoyed every minute of it. It's ludicrous and at times outright laughable but this is the mad world Miller has created for us and I'm still in love with it ever since hockey-masked Lord Humungus breathed into his 1981 microphone, "Just walk away," ("The Road Warrior.") Anya Taylor-Joy plays grownup Furiosa and Miss Taylor-Joy is a delight: She proverbially kicks ass. Catch "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" on the biggest, loudest screen possible - in theatres now. 

The Movie Man

This is a documentary about Keith Stata, a man who built his own multiplex theatre in the bush of Northern Ontario, one theatre at a time. He currently has five screens and something like forty plus cats he houses and looks after. Keith Stata is a man who loves movies, so it wasn't hard for me to relate to him, understand his passion and feel a deep sense of melancholy as he has time-travelled from 1975 to now. The documentary focuses on Keith's movie palace, The Highlands Cinema, located in Kinmount, Ontario. There is not a lot left in Kinmount - even the gas station has dried up. When movie theatres have been closing their doors for the last few decades, Highlands has kept going. Then the pandemic hit. "The Movie Man" largely focuses on its two year closer and its triumphant resurgence. Keith Stata is a workaholic and he is The Highlands Cinema. At 75 years of age, time is catching up to Keith. Maintaining a five theatre multiplex, 45 cats, a dog, a museum, staff, etc. - it's almost incomprehensible how he manages it all. And at 75! I plan on making a pilgrimage next month to see The Highlands Cinema in person. Catch this fascinating documentary in theatres now.  

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Well maybe I need to talk about, "We Need to Talk About Kevin." I have just got around to watching this film from 2011. I knew the subject matter was disturbing. Perhaps this is why I avoided it for so long? I can't really say. Some things just keep going to the bottom of the pile. Perhaps I was too busy raising my own kids to stop and watch a film which is about the struggles of Eva (Tilda Swinton - who gives a knockout performance). Eva is dealing with a child, Kevin, who is a sociopath. Kevin as a baby won't stop crying. There is a scene where Eva, with her baby stroller, stands beside a man with a jackhammer who is chipping away at the concrete road. The deafening noise drowns out Kevin's cries and for a moment, Eva has some peace - it rang true and heartbreaking. As Kevin grows into the monster played by Ezra Miller, we feel Eva's pain and frustration in every frame, especially when her goofy husband (the brilliant John C. Reilly) seems rather oblivious to Kevin's cruel nature. The film is a portrait of a monster who starts as a monster and the powerlessness of a mother unable to change the course of evil. I found it gripping, harrowing, and sad. It's an excellent film. Catch it on streaming services or go rent it from your local video store. In Ottawa, that would be Movies 'N' Stuff. 

Le Trou (The Hole)

Recommend by Peter Thompson from Movies 'N' Stuff, Ottawa's #1 video store! This was his first Criterion closet pick (His Video here). I confess, I had never watched it until just recently based on his recommendation - when Peter says a movie is good, you should listen! So, what's it all about? It's a French film from 1960 and four men are planning an escape and a fifth man joins their crowded cell. "The Great Escape" is one of my favourite films of all time. I'm a sucker for prison escape films. "The Shawshank Redemption," and "Escape from Alcatraz" float high in my film list. Stallone's "Lock Up" is far underrated if you ask me. As is Ray Liotta's "No Escape." Like I said, I love these films. Add "Le Trou" to the pile. It holds your attention because you get to witness the gritty details of digging, like you were there with these men - it feels real. Considering this came out in 1960, the realism depicted feels like it was ahead of it's time and still feels fresh 54 years later. Catch of one the best prison escape films streaming on the Criterion channel or go rent it from Movie 'N' Stuff here in Ottawa.