Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, Monster begins with the story of Minato (Soya Kurokawa), a young man who lives with his mother. Having lost his father as a young child, Minato begins behaving oddly, claiming that his brain has been switched with a pig. Confused and frightened for her son, Minato’s mother assumes that this is caused by…
An Iranian woman and her daughter hope for a new life while in an Australian women’s shelter. Noora Niasari’s Shayda is a story about escaping fear and finding new beginnings. It is also a story about finding strength and confidence to buld that new life. Shayda is Australia’s submission for Best Foreign Feature consideration. Shayda…
Directed by Todd Haynes, May December tells the story of Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman), an actress tasked with researching the subject of her next film. For her latest role, Elizabeth has been tasked with bringing Gracie Atherton (Julianne Moore) to life onscreen, a woman who notoriously romanced Joe, a young Jr. High boy while she was an…
It’s been a long time since we’ve unleashed Woo with the box office. For many years, John Woo was action’s greatest hero. Known for his penchant for bullets, blood (and doves), the director has a certain sense of pageantry about his films that have always made him unique and adored. In fact, titles such as The…
In some ways, it’s hard to believe that Eddie Murphy has never made a holiday film. One of comedy’s greatest icons, one would expect that some form of holiday hijinx would exist in his repertoire. (Even Arnold Schwarzenegger has Jingle All the Way on his IMDb page.) Nevertheless, Candy Cane Lane marks Murphy’s first foray into Christmas cheer as…
“Next time is next time. Now is now.” Those who have read many of my reviews will know that I have a special affinity for Ecclesiastes, a wisdom book in the Hebrew Scriptures. That book tells of the Teacher’s (aka Qoheleth) search for meaning in life. Films are never “about” Ecclesiastes, but several manage to…
Written and directed by Liz Whitmere, Cold is a powerful film that uses frigid temperatures to speak into the loneliest aspects of mental health. Although the concept seems almost otherworldly, Whitmere keeps the film grounded. Backed by powerful performances by Scrofano and Baek, Cold simply feels honest. And that’s what makes it most chilling. Cold tells the story of Jane (Melanie…
Can a song save your life? La Sombra del Sol (The Shadow of the Sun) tells the story of Leo (Carlos Manuel Gonzalez), a hard-working, blue-collar man who’s struggling to keep his family afloat financially. However, things begin to change when he encounters his younger brother, Alex (Anyelo Lopez). Having been deaf since birth, Alex has…
Fame can be a nightmare. In Dream Scenario, Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) is a family man and tenured professor who cares about his students and their education. Fumbling through middle age, he’s respectable, honourable and… barely noticeable to those around him. Suddenly, Matthews finds himself at the centre of controversy when he randomly appears in people’s…
Sometimes, the past can show us the flaws we carry in the present. Directed by Ridley Scott, Napoleon is a dramatic look into one of history’s most notorious leaders. Set in the late 1700s, Napoleon follows iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) as he begins his rise to power. As a young military leader, Napoleon shows much ambition and…
