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.