REVIEW: King Richard (LFF 2021)
When I say ‘representation matters’, these are words that I do not take lightly. It’s not just to be ‘seen and heard’. True equality comes from the value we contribute and the respect gained through opportunities that get us a seat at the table. It’s…
REVIEW: Ron’s Gone Wrong (LFF 2021)
For the feature-length animated debut for studio Locksmith Animation, Ron’s Gone Wrong certainly leaves its mark. It’s charming, wonderful, and full of delight. Starring Zach Galifianakis and Jack Dylan Glazer (as Ron and Barney respectively), the story revolves around Barney, a lonely and socially awkward…
REVIEW: The Harder They Fall (LFF 2021)
When the opening credits appear with all the cool swagger, its sharp, stylistic editing and curated music choices, you would think you were watching a Quentin Tarantino movie. After all, his trademarks and isms have dominated popular movie culture since his introduction with Reservoir Dogs. But The…
The Monsterverse and its Lack of Compelling Human Characters
WARNING: This contains spoilers to the Monsterverse films: Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). There’s a clever ode to Planet of the Apes in Adam Wingard’s Godzilla vs. Kong, the fourth film in Legendary’s…
REVIEW: Fugitive Dreams (MANIFF 2021)
It’s hard to accurately summarise Jason Neulander’s Fugitive Dreams. On the one hand, watching the film is like being thrown into a surreal, Kaufman-esque, tripped out, biblical fever dream. On the other hand, (as its synopsis states) it’s a road trip through rural Americana, with…
REVIEW: Trouble Will Find Us (MANIFF 2021)
Films about romantic relationships can be challenging to get right. There are several factors for this – dialogue and the emotional stakes, for example, leaps to the forefront. But the obvious one comes down to believability. Characters have to feel authentic and genuine. And no…
REVIEW: The Catch (MANIFF 2021)
“You can’t keep running away” – and yet that is the central theme that sums up Beth McManus (Katia Winter). We’re cryptically introduced to Beth – in a dazed and panic frenzy, she packs her things and travels back home to her estranged family in…
REVIEW: Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
I recently watched an interview with director Shaka King, talking about what defines his latest film Judas and the Black Messiah – history. It’s a great point of reference when placed in context. The stories we’re frequently exposed to, are stories we’ve grown accustomed to….
REVIEW: The White Tiger (2021)
It’s safe to say that Netflix films can be a bit hit or miss. For every Scorsese’s The Irishman, Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story or Remi Weekes’ His House, you get unsatisfactory duds like Outside the Wire or Extraction (minus the brilliant one-take shot). Thankfully, The…
REVIEW: One Man and his Shoes (LFF 2020)
There will be numerous conversations as to whether Yemi Bamiro’s investigative look into the legacy of the Air Jordan sneakers serves as the perfect companion piece to this year’s outstanding documentary The Last Dance. The Netflix series was an examination into Michael Jordan – the man,…
Die Hard Trilogy: The Movie Tie-In Video Game That Deserves a Comeback
It’s fair to say that video games based on movies have not always had the best reputation. For every Nintendo’s GoldenEye, PlayStation’s Ghostbusters, or Sega’s Aladdin, we get visual atrociousness in Bad Boys: Miami Takedown, Charlie’s Angels, or Street Fighter: The Movie. Most games in…
