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.