1st Reviews

  Directors, Danny and Michael Philippou will surely be on everyone's radar after Talk To Me hits theatres. The youtubers turned directors incorporate many elements of their styles visible in their years of filmmaking youtube shorts, into a horror film that is incredibly unique to the genre.  Friends, Mia, Jade, and Daniel attend a house party with other high school friends. Two of Jade's friends, Hayley and Joss, bring  a mysterious and creepy embalmed hand that allows people to connect with the dead. This hand and its powers have been making its way around social media and are piquing teenagers' interest to try it out themselves.  After loving the feeling of the first spiritual connection, they test their luck again just a few nights thereafter at Jade’s house and this time, Jade’s brother Riley is also present and this is where the story takes a hard sharp turn.  The film is not overly scary but is one of the best horror films of the year so far because ...

  Hi Barbie! The day is finally here. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is one big summer party, packed full of fun, laughs, heart and every shade of pink imaginable. It’s silly and lighthearted, but also a joyous celebration of feminism that cleverly challenges the patriarchy. She is Barbie. He is Ken. I cannot think of two better actors than Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling for these roles, as both of them capture the essence of the iconic toys flawlessly. The whole ensemble is spectacular for the most part, with standout supporting performances from America Ferrara, Simu Liu, and Kate McKinnon. Will Ferrell’s Mattel CEO is amusing, but comes across as a bit of an afterthought the movie doesn’t really need to convey its important themes.  This movie has a lot to say, and it sure says it loud. It isn’t the least bit subtle in getting its point across, but it rarely feels heavy handed. The biggest flaw is that it’s perhaps got too much to say, touching on themes of feminism, consumerism, se...

It has been a long wait but Oppenheimer is finally in theatres and it is magnificent. Christoper Nolan delivers what many can make the argument is his best film ever made. Considering his track record, that is not a simple feat but he accomplished this in many ways by building on what make Nolan films so special. Beautiful visuals, impeccable acting, an engaging story and a stellar score from the incredibly talented Ludwig Goransson. It has all of the ingredients you want in what will arguably be the movie of the year.  Oppenheimer is Nolan’s most grounded film, which makes sense since it is a biopic that recounts a major moment in human history but that does not mean it lacks any Nolan flair.  This film does not celebrate the creation of the Atomic bomb as this achievement that they thought it was during its inception, in fact, It does the complete opposite by focusing almost one third of the film on the repercussions and the weight Oppenheimer must bear with t...

  Maggie Q has and always will be a badass and has starred in some of the biggest action franchises including, Mission Impossible and Die Hard. In Fear The Night, Maggie plays Tess; a war veteran who has endured a lot of trauma and clearly has trust issues. Tess is home for her sister's bachelorette party with six of her sister's friends . She is the standout amongst the rest dressed in casual wear compared to the seven women who are all dolled up and ready to party. They are spending the weekend at their parents' old house that is now under the care of locals. Tess is always in defence mode and rightfully so because trouble finds their way in the form of home invaders looking for a big pay day.  The cast of partygoers includes Highdee Kuan as Rose and Kat Foster as Beth, Gia Crovatin as Mia, Kirstin Leigh as Esther, Ito Aghayere as  Noelle, Brenda Meaney as Bridget and Roshni Shukla as Divya. They all have a history with Tess and do not make her return from service any e...

  I have never understood the fascination with extreme sports and those who risk their lives to attempt something that most would consider dangerous. As someone who is deathly afraid of water,  The Deepest Breath is the closest I have ever come to understanding the fascination with both extreme sports and free diving.  The story follows Italian free diver, Alessia Zecchini and her story from a young age of 13, to World record setting free diver. This sounds wonderful when put like this but the sport that Alessia loves so dearly, has taken many lives, including some very close to Alessia.  At the age of 13, she already began breaking records but had to wait until she was 18 to compete in competitions for official records.  Molchanov held the record for many years for farthest free dive, set at 100 meters; Molchanov was Alessia's inspiration and idol in the sport and beating Molchanov's record was always Alessia's goal.  Filmmaker Laura McGann takes us on the...

  What do a pimp, a prostitute and a drug dealer all have in common? They are our unlikely heroes trying to get to the bottom of a cloning conspiracy that has been secretly operating without anyone's knowledge. This story is bizarre to say the least but there is just some magic happening that keeps you wanting more. The characters, the acting, and the writing just pull you in on the adventure that is basically Stranger Things for adults; that alone should sell you on this movie.  The story follows Fontaine, played by John Boyega; the local drug dealer and all around nice guy. Boyega gives a solid performance and great chemistry with his co-stars, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris. This is by far, Jamie Foxx’s funniest role of his career. His character, Slick Charles, is the local pimp who buys drugs from Fontaine. I can not remember the last time every line spoken by an actor has genuinely made me laugh like he did in this movie. He had so many quotable lines, ...

  They Cloned Tyrone is sociopolitical satire wrapped up in science fiction, presented as a ‘70s style blaxploitation film. Sound weird? It really is. It’s also one of the most original exclusives Netflix has given us, and among the most purely entertaining movies I’ve watched this year.  This satirical, exaggerated depiction of hood life is dripping with a style of its own. One foot firmly planted in reality and the other somewhere almost etherial. The production design wisely pulls from multiple decades, making for a cool retro ride that feels lost in time, giving only the haziest idea of when it’s supposed to take place. Complete with a gritty film stick look and a funk filled soundtrack, it’s old-school and modern all at once.  This is arguably Jamie Foxx’s funniest performance. The quips he makes, even about the most minute observations, had me absolutely howling. Pairing Foxx’s ridiculously unserious pimp with John Boyega’s no-nonsense drug dealer makes for a great ...

  Season one of The Bear left me full. I was so entirely satisfied that I didn’t want any more. I didn’t need it. A second season couldn’t possibly reach the bar set by the first, right? Well… I’ve never been so happy to be wrong. Season two expands on everything the first did so well, without ever losing sight of what made the show special to begin with. The series’ trademark chaos is cranked beyond the boiling point, but amidst that chaos is a group of beautifully complex and layered characters. Whether it’s the ones we’ve already come to know and love, series newcomers, or even single episode guest stars, every person in this show is exceptionally written and realized. The performances, once again, are stellar. Jeremy Allen White shows us why he deserved that Golden Globe win last year, but every member of this ridiculously talented ensemble gets a chance to shine. The higher episode count and longer runtimes really allow us to dive deeper into these characters’ lives. In fact, ...

  Over the past 8 years, Happy Madison’s partnership with Netflix has blessed us with a ton of awful movies, a few mediocre ones, and one surprisingly really good one. If you look at those stats, I’m sure you can make a calculated guess which group The Out-Laws falls into. It’s a movie that, even with low expectations, still manages to underwhelm and disappoint.   The first problem stems from a lazily written script that feels like little more than an idea scribbled on a cocktail napkin at 2am. So much of the plot structure relies on a lack of logical communication between characters, and plenty of nonsensical decisions. The premise is razor thin and the execution is extremely sloppy for the most part. I say “for the most part”, because this movie is billed as an action comedy, and while almost all of the comedy falls flat, the action is surprisingly fun.  That brings me to the next, and also biggest issue - Adam Devine. He can be really funny in the right projects (...

    We have been blessed with action movies this summer between John Wick and Mission impossible. The mission impossible series has aged like fine wine and only seems to be getting better as the series goes on. That trend continues with Dead Reckoning which will go down as one of the best in the series.  Tom Cruise has solidified himself as the king of action in recent years promising some of the greatest action set pieces ever displayed on screen. We have been teased with some really insane stunts leading up to the release as part of the promotional campaign for this movie and boy, he did not disappoint. All of the major action set pieces knock it out of the park in all aspects. They are built up so well and all stick to the landing in terms of execution, delivery and believability.  The best action still warrants a solid story and that is another element to this film that really delivers. Ethan Hunt and his band of MIF members are going rogue yet again to face the ...

  Between “No Hard Feelings” and now “Joy Ride,” summer 2023 is shaping up to be a season filled with wildly entertaining, raunchy original comedies. Comedies that also manage to clock in around 90 minutes, AKA the perfect runtime for a movie!  In her directorial debut Adele Lim fashions a movie that masterfully balances between being an all out laugh-riot and a surprisingly poignant and heartfelt  look at the Asian American experience. I say “surprising” only because you wouldn’t expect such thought-provoking and moving conversations to be featured in a movie that also includes vomit sight gags, cocaine being hidden in the most uncomfortable of places and a full frontal vaginal tattoo. “Joy Ride” is anchored by rapid-fire jokes that are sure to have audiences enjoying the movie, but the heart is what’s going to make them fall in love with it.  Each cast member delivers a fantastically funny performance but the standout is undoubtedly Stephanie Hsu. Her performa...

  In her directorial debut, Celine Song asks a simple, yet profoundly affecting question - What if you reconnected with your soulmate, years after you built a life of your own with someone else? Past Lives is a moving portrait of lost love, showing the ways in which someone from your past can play a pivotal role in shaping the present and future versions of yourself.  This is not a Hallmark romance. There are no sweeping romantic gestures that’ll make your heart flutter. This movie rarely gives you what you might be hoping for, and is all the better for it. This is a deliberate slow burn, taking the necessary time to develop a complex relationship between two people who come and go from each others’ lives over the course of two decades. It’s grounded, and everything about it comes through as raw and genuine.  That’s especially true regarding each of the characters. Nora and Hae Sung are written with a beautiful kind of maturity you rarely see in films like this. This is j...

 Nimona was not even on my radar until I noticed it was coming out on Netflix in just a few short weeks. This sleeper hit will surprise many as one of the best animated films of the year.  The film boasts a really flashy setting of a walled kingdom of knights and queens but if that kingdom takes place with modern computers and technology. This setting makes for a really cool story that adds many elements to the deep rooted backstory of the kingdom and how they have evolved over time. The allegories of the story are always relevant as societies evolve and adapt to the times but many feel threatened by the changes. One of those changes comes from a knight named Baliister Boldheart who is the first knight being knighted outside of nobility. Not knowing he is being targeted by many, Ballister must clear his name of murder and in turn, discover many hidden secrets of the Kingdoms past.  Nimona is a shapeshifter who comes to Ballisters aid, th...

  Many of today’s animated films are steeped in allegories, and chock full of metaphors with deeper meaning that often go over young audiences’ heads. Nimona takes a bold step forward for mainstream animation, with themes that may be allegorical, but a message of inclusion it shouts loud and clear.  Compared to movies from studios like Pixar and Sony Animation, It can be difficult for lower budget animated features to really wow you. Nimona’s visuals won’t dazzle you through attention to detail or smoothness of animation, but rather with an eye catching cell-shaded aesthetic and a wholly unique setting in which its story unfolds. Set in a future where medieval traditions are still upheld, this world feels like nothing I’ve seen before. Think Game of Thrones meets Cuberpunk - yeah, it looks awesome and the two styles work surprisingly well together.  The real standout here is how flawlessly the film incorporates themes of inclusion and queer representation. The progre...