It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley

I struggle with how to assess documentaries in general. If you know nothing of the subject matter, then you should care about the subject matter by the end of the doc. At least that's how I feel about documentaries. Musical biographical docs are particularly tricky. Sometimes I worry that I'm biased. For example, earlier this year I blogged about Becoming Led Zeppelin. I love Led Zeppelin, so I was already invested. I still believe it to be a fascinating doc. Whereas I knew nothing about Jeff Buckley. I knew his name and I assumed I would know his music - I don't pay a great deal of attention to the names of songs and who sings what (or as much as should). I was expecting to hear songs that I knew and be like, "Oh yeah, so that's Jeff Buckley." However, those revelations did not come. I grew up in the grunge era, the same time Jeff Buckley was touring with his first album, Grace. Jeff's life is a fascinating one, trying to distinguish himself from his somewhat famous father, Tim Buckley, and yet wanting to have a relationship with a man who didn't want to have one with him. Jeff's musical tastes were all over the map, from Edith Piaf to Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, to his favourite, Led Zeppelin. Buckley had a friendship with Chris Cornell, and David Bowie called Grace the best album ever made. I had no idea about any of this. When Robert Plant told Buckley he was the next greatest thing since slice bread (I'm paraphrasing) Buckley turned white and disappeared for two days. Interviews conducted with ex-girlfriends and his mother tell a story of a brilliant young man with self doubt and lots of ambition. This is a portrait of a musical genius who left the world tragically too soon. This documentary will make you care, make you feel for a man you don't know, and that's the best a doc can do. Catch it in theatres now.  

Weapons

I’m confident, even with a bunch of October Halloween releases coming, that Weapons will be my favourite horror movie of the year. Not only a horror film, but it will be landing in my top ten movies of 2025. Writer/director Zach Cregger has crafted a very special film - it’s spectacular. If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, don’t. Just go. I won’t spoil a thing. All that I will share is that it’s about a small town and some kids who go missing - The Exorcist: Believer, Prisoners, Poltergeist, etc.  There have been lots. This is a fresh take. The story itself is told in a similar manner to Strange Darling. If you haven't seen that, then more film homework for you. What I mean is, Weapons is told through overlapping timelines and from six different perspectives of the same story. It's brilliant, it's riveting and it very, very slowly builds to one of the craziest endings I've seen in a while. There is an on-foot chase scene that is my favourite thing I've seen since Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break. Actor Amy Madigan - she was my favourite part of this movie. OMG did I love her in this. Best supporting actress nominations please. Julia Garner and James Brolin star and they are also both wonderful. Go get armed and get yourself to Weapons in theatres now. 

Sketch

I saw this at the St. Laurent Theatres here in Ottawa. Occasionally they have first run films, like this one, but mostly it’s second run stuff and a lot of Indian action movies. I didn’t want it to go past everyone without it getting the attention it deserves. It is distributed by Angel Studios, a Christian-themed entertainment company. As an atheist I have no problem watching anything put out by any religion, so long as I don’t feel like I am being judged or preached at. There is nothing preachy happening here. This is simply a great family film, a kid’s film, with a great concept. It’s about Amber (Bianca Belle), a young girl who channels her emotions into her sketchbook. Amber’s drawings are often dark, monstrously so. Her brother discovers a magical pool of toilet bowl blue water that can fix things. When Amber’s sketchbook accidentally falls in, her drawings come to life. The movie feels like something that would have been produced in the 80s. By today’s standards, it’s frightening - Pet Sematary, Jeepers Creepers, and Arachnophobia spring to mind, but not quite as visceral. It’s a family movie after all. First-time writer director Seth Worley has made a special film, touching, and delightful. Let this one draw you in and colour your day. In theatres now. Rent it from Movies’N Stuff when available. 

Together

Relationships are hard, especially for artists, and extra especially if they aren't hugely successful. Just read my review on Materialists and you will get an earful. Together is the horror movie version of Materialists. Well not quite, but close enough. Dave Franco plays Tim, a mid-thirties musician who still hasn't "made it" on the scene. His teacher girlfriend, Millie - played by Alison Brie - has accepted a job two hours away from the big city teaching in a small town. City boy Tim has agreed to move there, although he doesn't seem thrilled about it. Their ten-year relationship needs some work. They need some bonding time. Well they get it alright. This is a body horror picture and it puts together (see what I did there) different pieces of different horror movies - The Descent, The Shining, Alien, The Thing, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers to name a few. It glues aspects of these films together (wink) and gives us something that feels fresh thanks to writer/director, Michael Shanks. Together also has some outstanding and terrifying visuals. You should definitely get together for this one. In theatres now or go rent it from Movies 'N Stuff in Ottawa when it comes out.   

Materialists

I have a friend who told me when I was going to Algonquin College to get a "real" job, that women don't want a guy who isn't financially secure - long haired artist freaks are romantic, but women will eventually dump my ass because nobody wants to be poor. Was my friend right? I will admit that poverty sucks. I have managed to be an artist, a writer and have a full time job. I also got married and had kids. I know a writer who did not compromise, never got a "real" job and just wrote - he also got married and had kids. He suffered in poverty for decades and had just as much shitty writing success as me. What's my point? Most artists, writers, actors, painters, cartoonists, never reach the heights of George Clooney or Stephen King. Heck, even moderately successful writers here in Canada still have some sort of side job (teaching, etc.) to make ends meet. What has this all to do with the movie, Materialists you ask? Well this is the heart of the picture - do you marry the guy with money and have an easy life or do you marry the struggling actor, the love of your life and be poor? This is Lucy's (Dakota Johnson) dilemma. Lucy has given up her dream to become an actor and now she is a high-end Manhattan matchmaker for the wealthy. Along comes handsome, tall, and extremely rich Harry (Pedro Pascal) who doesn't want Lucy's services, he wants Lucy. Lucy likes money and eating in fancy restaurants. Will she end up with him or John (Chris Evans) who is at the top end of his 30s and still living with roommates and working a part time job to support his acting dream? Full confession, I didn't care for writer/director Celine Song's first film, Past Lives. However I certainly enjoyed this one. This is a smart film for adults and Song's writing is strong. I was impressed. All these actors I mentioned have been Marvel superheroes. I bet they all did it for the money. Catch this regular person movie at your local repertory theatre or if you are in Ottawa, rent it from Movies 'N Stuff.  

The Ballad of Wallis Island

It is very hard not to be charmed by this lovely little film which is a kind of mashup of Local Hero meets The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. What's it all about? Lottery winner and music fan, Charles (Tim Key) has a dream to bring his favourite folk duo, McGwyer & Mortimer - (Herb McGwyer and Nell Mortimer played by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan) back together after their break-up thirteen years prior for a private show on the remote island of Wallis. Charles and his late wife were huge fans of the duo. Charles is planning on having the concert of the fifth anniversary of her passing. There is a lot of what you might consider schmaltz, but it doesn't come off that way. And it goes in directions I didn't expect largely due to Charles himself. He has a personality like a goofy birthday card, the dialogue he spews is a rhyming sing-song of pop culture nonsense which you cannot help but enjoy. The music is great and the chemistry and tension between Herb and Nell is well done. These characters felt real. This was playing in theatres for a long time. If you missed it, it's now streaming on Prime. Or go rent it a Movies 'N Stuff here in Ottawa.