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).