Category Archives: Recommended

Locke review

Written and directed by Steven Knight I make a big deal about it when a quality film doesn't get distribution in cinemas here in Halifax, but I also understand the reticence of distributors—some feature films just don't have that crowd-pleasing vibe. And I get that the people making decisions might consider Locke and wonder whether anyone…Read More

Boyhood review

Written and directed by Richard Linklater In December of this year when people like me consider the stand-out feature films of the past 12 months, Boyhood will distinguish itself from the pack for one undeniable reason: it took 12 years to make. Starting back in the GW Bush era, Linklater gathered a small cast together…Read More

Snowpiercer review

Directed by Joon-ho Bong, written by Bong and Kelly Masterson, based on the graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette In the sea of summer releases—many loud, over-budgeted and over-marketed—it's sometimes easy to miss a gem that only gets shown in a few cinemas in North America before settling into…Read More

Tracks review

Directed by John Curran, written by Marion Nelson from a book by Robyn Davidson Tracks is one of the summer's gems, and easily one of the best movies so far this year. I saw it last year at the Atlantic Film Festival, and am happy to see it a second time.  It's based on the true…Read More

Under The Skin review

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, written by Glazer and Walter Campbell, from a novel by Michel Faber | 108 min | On Demand Imagine Scarlett Johansson dropped in the middle of busy Glasgow, Scotland. She's known all over the world for her role in those Marvel Studios superhero movies, so she has an unlikely, de-glammed brunette…Read More

Only Lovers Left Alive review

Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch Ah, the welcome return of the godfather of American indie film. It's a real delight to see something new from Jarmusch.  For those who don't know his stuff, he's best known for languid, atmospheric features low on plot but high on characters skirting the margins of society. His films include Stranger Than…Read More

Captain America: The Winter Soldier review

For once, the marketing language about "the studio that brought you" is actually appropriate. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, based on comics by Ed Brubaker, Joe Simon, and Jack Kirby Been really looking forward to this, the ninth superhero movie in Marvel's current world-dominating series—one Hulk, three…Read More

The Grand Budapest Hotel review

Directed by Wes Anderson, Written by Anderson and Hugh Guinness, inspired by the writing of Stefan Zweig A new Wes Anderson film is always an event. The Texas-born filmmaker may be too precious for some, but show me one of his peers with such a distinctive, irrepressible visual and thematic style, a sweet-sad combination of nostalgia…Read More

Alien series review

Alien (1979) Directed by Ridley Scott | Written by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett | 117 min | Crave Plus Alien has been around so long it's kind of hard to imagine the world without those cute lil' exomorphs that kinda look like stainless steel dildos with teeth. When I was a kid I remember…Read More