Category: Mini Review
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Mini Review: Jules
Well crafted & light feel good films are nowadays hard to come by, making #Jules a pleasant surprise. It’s genuinely funny, quirky & offbeat, and while it does explore some heavy themes like aging and loneliness, it does so with real sensitivity and tact. Truly simple & sweet.
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Mini Review: The Boy and the Heron
The latest (and maybe last?) from visionary director Hayao Miyazaki #TheBoyandtheHeron is as visually stunning, imaginative & emotionally layered as you can imagine. Sure to please any Ghibli fan, & entertain even a casual fan like myself. Seen @TIFF_NET, in IMAX theatres Dec 4.
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Mini Review: Maestro
It goes without saying that Cooper & Mulligan are absolutely incredible in their dedication to their roles in Netflix’s #Maestro. But their performances get lost in between emotionally jarring cuts, erratic time jumps & a script that lacks a point of view to elevate the biopic.
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Mini Review: Concrete Utopia
#TIFF23 Preview – Um Tae-hwa’s #ConcreteUtopia is a perfect blend of disaster epic, human drama, bloody action, dark satirical comedy, & absurdist commentary on societal inequities, all wrapped in a nice package! A strong take on genre filmmaking with a distinctly Korean flair. Seen @TIFF_NET, in theatres Dec 8.
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Mini Review: Frybread Face & Me
The gentle approach of writer & director Billy Luther’s #FrybreadFaceAndMe is a refreshing addition to #NativeVoices in film. It’s a simple premise, but delivers a powerful message about family, reconnection & acceptance that is filled with genuine warmth. Stream @netflix now!
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Mini Review: Napoleon
The #NapoleonMovie works on some level as a farce disguised as a war epic, turning its title character into a bit of a bumbling buffoon. But a lack of real direction (or any french actors) makes it seem like it’s not really in on its own joke. Battle scenes are pretty at least.
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Mini Review: May December
The hauntingly unsettling & nuanced performances in #MayDecember perfectly contrast its soap opera-y premise and campy score. Portman & Moore deliver, but its Melton’s portrayal of a deconstructed trauma victim that is top notch. A must watch @TIFF_NET now, on @netflix Dec 1.
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Mini Review: Saltburn
Wow! #Saltburn is indulgent, debaucherous & at times frankly weird. But with a cleverly concocted script and a fully committed cast, director Emerald Fennell takes us on one hell of a ride through the reckless & sociopathic lives of the young British elite. In theatres now!
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Mini Review: Fallen Leaves
There is a certain charm to #FallenLeaves, a film about two people finding love in bleak Helsinki. But it might get lost in the deadpan humour & quirk for those, like me, who are new to dir. Aki Kaurismäki’s work. Will have to stew on this one. Seen @TIFF_NET; in theatres Nov 24
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Mini Review: Monster
Kore-eda’s Monster is truly masterful, telling a simple-on-the-surface story of school bullying but highlighting the raw realities of human emotion & complexity. Kore-eda’s signature melancholy feels tempered by warm nuanced performances. This is one to watch!
Year in Cinema 