— by ROB COX — If you have read Stephen King’s short story upon which this 2010 straight-to-video release is based, this film is probably best avoided. Your time might be better spent, in fact, rereading the King story or listening to the audio version — splendidly narrated by Rob Lo[...]
Archive for the ‘Opinions’ Category
‘Twilight’: Please Explain the Appeal
— by RACHEL COYNE — There are plenty of popular things that I’m not into, but I can at least see why they might appeal to someone else. Graphic novels. The Kindle. Sports. But when it comes to the rabid popularity of “Twilight,” I’m honestly at a loss. After years of wond[...]
Under Review: ‘After.Life’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — We hear about it everyday, yet we cannot stop it. It happens to the best of us but it is almost never anticipated. Some may see it as a time of rebirth — a period of cleansing where one’s sins are forgiven. Others look at it as an escape from [&hellip[...]
Trailer Talk: ‘The University of Nuclear Bombs’
— by BEV QUESTAD — “It’s almost inconceivable to realize that every nuclear weapon the U.S. has ever had has been designed by one university, the University of California.” Any documentary featuring Daniel Ellsberg gets my attention. He’s the primary loan star whistle blower from[...]
Under Review: ‘Blood Into Wine’
— by JOEL CRARY — I had a cat named Maynard when I was a teenager. I would pick strands of his orange fur from my forest green “Ænima” t-shirt, banging my head to “Stinkfist” all the while. Tool was one of my top five favourite bands for a good number of years, considering their[...]
Under Review: ‘Date Night’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — Considering a human has the potential to live more than a hundred years, it’s no surprise that there are periods of time where one becomes disenchanted with the pleasures of life. These stalling moments can be caused by prolonged depression, lack of accomplishm[...]
Taking a Bite Out of ‘Food Inc.’
— by BEV QUESTAD, Ph.D., in conversation with ROBERT YUEN, M.D., related to the documentary “Food, Inc.” — Some things are just important to know. So declare a monthly Family Smart Night. Fix a wholesome meal, let the kids lead 15 minutes of exercise and then pop in the[...]
Who Might Assemble ‘The Avengers’?
— by BEN FOWLER — When it comes to the dream directing gig of the decade, it doesn’t come much better than helming the planned Avengers film. But who of the top Hollywood filmmakers should be getting a call from Marvel sometime soon? I’ll start off by saying who I feel is the[...]
A Short History of the Jutra: Quebec’s Very Own Oscars
— by JOSIANE OCHMAN — The Jutra is the French-Canadian equivalent of the Oscars and is intended to celebrate all aspects of French-Canadian cinema, which happens to be a thriving industry in Quebec. It was named for Claude Jutra, one of Quebec’s most celebrated filmmakers who died [...]
What is Going on Behind the Scenes of ‘Thor’?
— by CAM SMITH — Any film production can be a magnet for controversy and conflict. Creative types, as a rule, don’t always see eye-to-eye, business sometimes interferes with artistry and it’s a constant struggle to realize the boundless potential of the page on celluloid. And the mor[...]
Under Review: ‘Cooking with Stella’
— by JOEL CRARY — “Cooking with Stella” is a smug, uneven little film that pulls us in with its wacky misunderstandings and musical score out of a Friday night sitcom to knife us in the back with a venomous, loaded social message. If Ruba Nadda’s “Cairo Time” served as a Canadi[...]
If I Was Making … ‘The Flash’
— by BEN FOWLER — The Scarlet Speedster is, I feel, one of the most under-rated DC Comics properties. The character is ripe for the silver-screen treatment and, thanks to comicbook legend, Geoff Johns, The Flash may be finally getting what he deserves. If, in the style of Dr. Sam Beckett[...]
Trailer Talk: ‘When You’re Strange’
— by ROB COX — When I first read about this film and saw Johnny Depp’s name attached, I didn’t realize it was a documentary. Johnny Depp as Jim Morrison? It’s hard to imagine anyone giving a more interesting, more uncanny portrayal of Morrison than Val Kilmer did in Oliver Stone’[...]
Review: The Eclipse
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — The romance genre is known for being feminine. Its reoccurring themes include newly-discovered love, passion and, of course, heartbreak. When watching any sort of romantic film, one can expect to see at least one scene where the protagonists intensely kiss in the[...]