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Penguin Bloom – Review

This film was previously reviewed in September 2020 as part of our TIFF coverage. After becoming paraplegic following an accident during a family holiday in Thailand, adventurous Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts)...
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Luce – LFF 2019 Review

It is hard to explain exactly what Luce is. Initially a serious look at the pressure put on high-achieving black students in US schools, it shifts so many times – even into trashy thriller territory – that...
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The Glass Castle – Review

The Glass Castle doesn’t just beg the question of where the line between eccentric and irresponsible parenting lies; it dives headlong into the murky grey area in between. This is where we remain for the...
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The Book of Henry – Review

Gregg Hurwitz's screenplay for The Book of Henry has been searching for a director since the late 1990s. Watching the film, it’s not difficult to see why. Tonally, it’s all over the place. It starts as...
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The Bleeder – Venice 2016 Review

Taking a look at the life of Chuck Wepner, the real-life inspiration for Rocky Balboa, The Bleeder appropriately feels eclipsed by greatness. It stands in shadows that include the legacy of Muhammad Ali, the...
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Demolition – Review

With a performance that cements his standing as one of the most consistent leading men in Hollywood, Jake Gyllenhaal shines as the twitchy, introverted Davis, a banker struggling with the sudden death of his...
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While We’re Young – Review

While We’re Young is a natural progression from Baumbach’s Frances Ha, yet it breaks new ground by using older protagonists to provide a fresh perspective on twentysomething New Yorkers. Meanwhile, it...
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Insurgent – Review

The teen dystopian book adaptation trend continues with a vengeance in Insurgent. This tricky middle tome of the Divergent series, where (seemingly) lots happens with an impressive crash, bang and wallop on...
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Birdman – Review

I act therefore I’m not. Riggan Thompson (Keaton) is selfless in the middle of an identity crisis, and selfish in his egotistical pursuit of an impossible play. Shadows of the mask he once wore as Birdman...
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St. Vincent – Review

Equal parts heart-warming comedy and heart-breaking tragedy, St. Vincent is a retelling of a well-worn story which leaves the broad-strokes of the plot predictable from the start. Some salvation comes from...