The Way, Way Back review

Written and Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim RashBeing 14 is no fun for most of us. There's this diabolical combination of feeling like you know everything about the world, it's all crystal clear in your pubescent brain, and feeling totally adrift and uncertain, especially around the opposite sex. Meanwhile, what you understand of adult…Read More

The Wolverine review

Directed by James MangoldWritten by Mark Bomback and Scott Frank (and Christopher McQuarrie worked on early drafts)Well, it'll surprise no Marvel Comics fan that The Wolverine doesn't come close to being as good as its source, the four issue Wolverine miniseries from the early 1980s it's based on, the one written by Chris Claremont and…Read More

Only God Forgives review

Written and directed by Nicolas Winding RefnOnly God Forgives is a bloody and relentless operatic noir set largely in nighttime Bangkok, bathed in neon scarlet, emerald, topaz, and gold. Imagine a film conceived by Gaspar Noe—he's thanked in the credits—written by David Lynch circa Lost Highway, and directed by Stanley Kubrick somewhere between The Shining…Read More

The Conjuring review

Directed by James Wan | Written by Chad Hayes and Carey Hayes | 112 min | On Demand Well, wasn't that terrifying. Excellent...? Well, not quite. But effective? Yes, right on the money. It's based on the purportedly true story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) and…Read More

Much Ado About Nothing review

Directed by Joss Whedon Adapted for the screen by Whedon from the William Shakespeare play For those who have been suffering from heat exhaustion or the pummelling that accompanies seeing large-budget action movies every week through the summer, this is for you. Delivered by one of those self-same blockbuster directors—though it's pretty hard to imagine…Read More

The East review

Directed by Zal BatmanglijWritten by Batmanglij and Brit MarlingThough it has a rising star in the lead (Marling) and an Oscar-nominee in support (Ellen Page), this eco-thriller is an underdog in the landscape of summer releases, and well worth seeking out.Marling has made waves in recent years, as an actor, writer and producer, on films…Read More

Pacific Rim review

Directed by Guillermo del ToroWritten by del Toro and Travis BeachamI've enjoyed a lot of what Hollywood has served up for the summer of 2013 blockbuster season. Superhero pictures like Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel have delivered, for the most part, as did the sixth Fast & Furious. But what I'm always looking for…Read More

Frances Ha review

Directed by Noah BaumbachWritten by Baumbach and Greta GerwigThe portrait of a hot mess, this is a self-conscious New York indie picture whose charm hinges on the lovely Gerwig. She coauthored and stars in this tale of a 27-year-old woman who can't quite get her act together.It's a treat to look at, Sam Levy's black and…Read More

CTV Morning Live, July 12 2012

Yesterday I was back on the CTV Atlantic Morning show talking movies. The always professional and friendly Heidi Petracek and I chatted about Much Ado About Nothing (out now) and Pacific Rim (which opened Thursday), as well previews of Frances Ha (opened yesterday in this town) and Blue Jasmine (arriving July 26 from all reports). Go here…Read More