Now on Canadian Netflix: January 2018

February 4, 2018 flawintheiris

Here is a cross-section of a number of mildly-to-firmly recommended films now available on Canadian Netflix. (You can click on the movie titles to read my original reviews where I’ve written them in the past.) Bright Director David Ayers and screenwriter Max Landis. What a pair. They've got to be the most divisive creative team…Read More

Flashback Film Fest, and another new podcast episode!

February 2, 2018 flawintheiris

Running from Friday, February 2 until Thursday, February 8, is the Flashback Film Fest, Cineplex's week-long retro party of classic, semi-classic, and fairly sketchy pictures of yesteryear, all with some pop-culture credibility in their bones. You can go here for Park Lane's week ahead where the films will all screen. Amongst this year's selections is…Read More

New FITI: THE FILM PODCAST episode, CTV Morning Live, LENS ME YOUR EARS, and more…

January 29, 2018 flawintheiris

A busy week of film-related fun is in the can, with another up ahead. Thanks to everyone who came to the Halifax Central Library screening last Thursday of the Wes Anderson film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. It was a real treat to see so many people turn out, and to say a few…Read More

A second visit with Lady Bird

January 28, 2018 flawintheiris

I do this with a few features in the cinema—see them again with someone who hasn't seen it, and thereby gather another impression—partly just for checking out something I think is worthy of another look, and partly for hashing it out after the lights come up, which often brings fresh revelations. And what better time…Read More

The 2018 Academy Award Nominees (A partial list avec les links)

January 23, 2018 flawintheiris

So, those award nominations were announced this morning. You ever get the sense the nominations are a bigger deal than the actual ceremony? If you hold your breath you can actually hear the gears of Hollywood turning as the studios rush out to promote the hell out of their anointed pictures. I don't really have…Read More

Phantom Thread review — An elegantly twisted romantic drama

January 21, 2018 flawintheiris

Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson | 130 min Having seen what is reportedly the final performance of Daniel Day-Lewis on screen, I can say with some confidence he goes out having maintained a standard to which few others can compare. He's earned three Academy Awards, his creative instruments have been honed through years…Read More

Paddington 2 review — The sweet return of the marmalade-loving bear

January 20, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Paul King | Written by King and Simon Farnaby, from the Michael Bond character | 104 min The return of the warm and literally fuzzy, marmalade-loving bear, and a welcome return it is. The first film showed up in North American cinemas in January 2015, which seems incredible to me. I was half…Read More

PODCAST-PALOOZA! Someone Else’s Movie, Lens Me Your Ears, and FITI: The Film Podcast new episodes!

January 20, 2018 flawintheiris

When I was in Toronto last year I was fortunate enough to sit down with Norm Wilner. The Now Magazine reviewer is my favourite voice for film in Toronto, and his thoughts (and links to thoughts) on the movies can regularly be found here. He and I spoke about a favourite picture of mine, Truly,…Read More

I, Tonya review — Totally nails that triple-axel

January 15, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Craig Gillespie | Written by Steven Rogers | 120 min I was never one of those folks who believed Raging Bull was one of the greatest films ever. But if you read film criticism in the 90's, that picture was often thrown out as one of the best ever, up there with Citizen Kane…Read More

The Post review — Great story, uninspired telling

January 13, 2018 flawintheiris

Directed by Steven Spielberg | Written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer | 116 min It's hard to know what the average American is thinking these days about the nation's administration and its boorish Commander-In-Chief, but despite polls suggesting he's unpopular, it's fair to say his rage at the pillars of the American First Amendment,…Read More