Category: Mini Review
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Mini Review: Ballad of a Small Player
Edward Berger’s #BalladOfASmallPlayer is a stylish & kinetic look at gambling addiction & a window into the glitzy world of Macau. As a portrait of a struggling gambler it’s well executed. And Colin Farrell is all in. But it doesn’t quite transcend it’s premise further than that.
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Mini Review: Frankenstein
Guillermo Del Toro’s #Frankenstein is truly a match made in heaven, giving the monster that much needed dose of humanity. That said, the conclusion doesn’t quite land for me, and the monster design is a bit of a miss, but you can’t deny the technical prowess of this team.
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Mini Review: Good Fortune
Aziz Ansari’s #GoodFortune feels like a return to form for the big screen comedy, marrying some surprisingly relevant social commentary with good helping of real heart, tons of jokes & a pitch perfect Keanu Reeves. Well worth a watch. Seen at #TIFF50, in theatres this weekend.
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Mini Review: If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Rose Byrne is outstanding in #IfIHadLegsIdKickYou, in a tense and at-times intentionally frustrating look at modern motherhood. Truthfully, the thesis of the film didn’t quite land for me, leaving me wondering what lessons we’re meant to learn. But maybe that’s the point.
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Mini Review: Roofman
#Roofman is an excellent vehicle for Channing Tatum, that combines some levity, charm & Tatum’s penchant for physical comedy with a sprinkle of emotional nuance. But while the film is ultimately fun & engaging, it doesn’t quite feel like it achieves any real depth.
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Mini Review: The Smashing Machine
#TheSmashingMachine is certainly well crafted, and Dwayne Johnson is clearly committed in what is likely his best performance. But the letdown is the script, with a marriage subplot that feels meaningless, made worse by Emily Blunt’s character being written so paper thin.
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Mini Review: Peak Everything
#PeakEverything had elements that worked for me and others that didn’t. The focus on eco-anxiety is poignant and timely, and the main character sympathetic. The quirkiness is also welcomed. But the romance and the films conclusion just didn’t land for me. Seen at #TIFF50.
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Mini Review: Eleanor the Great
Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut #EleanorTheGreat reaffirms my love of June Squibb and the importance of honouring & giving a platform to older adults. The cast delivers on heavy emotion. And while the beats of the film are largely expected, the intent still hits home.
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Mini Review: One Battle After Another
Okay PTAs #OneBattleAfterAnother is indeed fantastic. It’s thankfully kinetic & fast paced (given its run time). Well acted. Leo is physical & zany. Topical in it’s terrifying depiction of radicalism. But still has heart. And while it didn’t quite resonate with me, I get the buzz
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Mini Review: Caught Stealing
Darren Aronofsky takes on something completely new in #CaughtStealing, that works as a tightly written action crime flick. It’s a fun ride, with some great work from Austin Butler. But it’s not nearly as offbeat, brutal, or zany as I had anticipated. It almost feels too safe.
Year in Cinema 