Category Archives: Recommended

I Am Heath Ledger review — Touching memorial to late actor

May 4, 2017 flawintheiris

Directed by Adrian Buitenhuis and Derik Murray |Written by Hart Snider | 90 min Heath Ledger was one of those Hollywood stars who seemed preordained, effortlessly talented and charismatic. This doc, narrated by the late actor's friends and family, and, to a degree Ledger himself via home footage and interviews, makes that presumption explicit. He…Read More

Colossal review — The sleep of sobriety produces monsters

April 26, 2017 flawintheiris

Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo | 109 min It may not make you feel as awkward or uncomfortable as, say, The Lobster or Swiss Army Man, two of 2016's most singular features—delightful in at least their resistance to easy categorization—but Colossal is the first of this year's indie films to reach for righteous individuality, and deserves to…Read More

New on Canadian Netflix: April 2017

April 24, 2017 flawintheiris

Here's a cross-section of a number of mildly-to- solidly recommended films recently made available on Canadian Netflix. (You can click on the movie titles to read my original reviews where I've written them in the past.) For me, Netflix is a go-to usually to watch films I’ve already seen or to give the odd TV…Read More

Personal Shopper review — Genre mash-up gives Kristen Stewart her best role

April 6, 2017 flawintheiris

Written and Directed by Oliver Assayas | 105 min My favourite film at last year's AFF, after which I wrote up its delicious contradictions. Watching it a second time I felt like it deserved a little more text. I think it's going to confound a few people, anyone going in expecting either some kind of…Read More

Kong: Skull Island review — Good Time Gorilla Warfare

March 9, 2017 flawintheiris

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts | Written by Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly, and John Gatins | 120 min Kong: Skull Island is as much a movie about movies as it is a movie about a big ape. It's a deeply self-reflexive summer blockbuster weirdly released in March. But, that's fine: It embraces what it…Read More

Logan review — Surprisingly moving conclusion to a superhero story

March 5, 2017 flawintheiris

Directed by James Mangold | Written by Mangold, Scott Frank, and Michael Green | 137 min Hugh Jackman's essayed the Canadian mutant superhero Wolverine in nine pictures since the X-Men in 2000. Logan is where he sheathes his claws. He saved the nearly best for last—X2: X-Men United remains my favourite movie of the franchise and its…Read More

Get Out review — Fear of a White Planet

March 2, 2017 flawintheiris

Written and Directed by Jordan Peele | 103 min | Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crave A cunning amalgam of horror and satire, comedian Peele has delivered an especially satisfying debut feature film. It manages to poke at a lot of the cliches of white liberal America—that some may call unacknowledged truths, especially the barely repressed racism…Read More

The Girl With All The Gifts review — The next, if not last, word in zombies

February 27, 2017 flawintheiris

Directed by Colm McCarthy | Written by Mike Carey adapting his novel | 111 min | On Demand The Girl With All The Gifts is a zombie picture that delivers on all fronts while advancing its genre into fresh new hard science fiction territory. In other words, a very early and surprising contender for one…Read More

Reviews: London Town, Alice Through The Looking Glass, Calvary, London Has Fallen

February 4, 2017 flawintheiris

London Town Directed by Derrick Borte | Written by Matt Brown, based on the screenplay Untitled Joe Strummer Project by Sonya Gildea and Kirsten Sheridan | 92 min | iTunes and VOD Shay Baker (Daniel Huttlestone) is a 14-year-old living in '70s Wanstead, an East London suburb. Dad Nick (Dougray Scott) moves pianos for a…Read More

Jackie review — A psychological portrait of power denuded

February 2, 2017 flawintheiris

Directed by Pablo Larrain | Written by Noah Oppenheim | 100 min | Crave Plus In 2016 we saw two other terrific films from this Chilean director, The Club and Neruda. This one is the third keeping the streak of quality alive, arriving here in Halifax a little late with a very much-deserved Academy Award nomination…Read More