Ezra | TIFF 2023 | Review by: Stefano Bove

Very few films have been able to properly educate viewers about living with autism but Tony Spiridakis' own experience co-parenting a child with autism, allowed him to properly communicate the struggles. He went on a nationwide search for a boy that best fit Ezra and he nailed it with William Fitzgerald.

Former late-night turned stand-up comedian, Max Brandal (Bobby Cannavale) gets his stand-up "mojo" from his son, Ezra (William Fitzgerald). Max Co-parents with ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne) but that does not mean they agree on how to properly care for their son and his autism. One evening, Ezra gets himself in harm's way and that causes Max and Jenna to discuss possible resolutions to the dramatic situation. Max has an impulsive tendency to defend Ezra from any opinion he does not agree with that eventually gets him into trouble as well. In his own twisted way, he thought the best way to defend Ezra from all of the drama was to remove him from the equation and take him on an impulsive road trip to LA to help his stand-up career without anyone's knowledge. Max's dad, Stan (Robert De Niro) is stuck in the middle of the family drama when Jenna asks for his help to find Max and Ezra. Jenna contacts the police out of desperation and in an effort to try backpedal on the police call, Stan and Jenna then begin their own pursuit in an effort to resolve the issue before the police do.

The dynamic between the four leads is wholesome and genuine. Bobby Cannavale reunites with Robert De Niro after working in the Irishman together and the two have perfect chemistry together as Father and son. Rose Byrne who plays Jenna, is Bobby Cannavale's real life wife so I am assuming the arguing comes natural to them. William Fitzgerald is an absolute delight as Ezra and Hearing that William improved a lot in the final cut brings a smile to my face because he was genuinely a wonderful presence and worked so effortlessly with his seasoned cast.

This unapologetic family drama has its heart in all of the right places. Even though I was not a fan of how certain things in the movie played out, the chemistry between the actors and their dialogue really sells it. I am happy I managed to catch a screening of it during the Toronto International Film Festival.

3.5/5

Review by: Stefano Bove

#tiff #tiff2023 #toronto

Boss Level Film Review

Boss Level is a new addition to the time loop genre, with a twist. Ex-special forces officer, Roy Pulver, played by Frank Grillo, relives the same day until he dies. Every day he is hunted by assassins and when killed, he wakes up back in his bed where he started, only to have to try and survive all over again. Roy has no idea why he is stuck in this infinite time loop but he must do what he can to survive, and the longer he survives, the more he uncovers about his particular situation. Unlike most action films that take time to build up, this film gets right into it and offers tons of non-stop combat sequences that would satisfy any lover of action films. Its erratic flow makes for some fun action scenes which come out of nowhere since Roy can expect the assassins to attack at any moment. If you play video games often and have ever been stuck on a level for hours or even days, you know the feeling of having to repeat the same thing over and over again u...

Godzilla vs. Kong Film Review

Godzilla versus Kong is the action movie we have been longing for since all major blockbuster films pushed back their release dates. After three solo films between Kong and Godzilla, we finally see the two titans clash on film for the first time in what is the culmination of the Universal Monsterverse. The story is split nicely in two as team Kong and team Godzilla each have their own mission. Team Kong is on a secret mission to the center of the earth to uncover the mystery of the titans. This team consists of Dr. Nathan, Dr. Ilene, Maia, and the Youngest character in the film, Jia. Team Godzilla consists of Madison, Josh, and Bernie who are also on a secret mission, to infiltrate Apex Cybernetics with the theory that they are up to no good and are the reason why Godzilla has been acting up recently. The dynamics of the teams are well balanced as the Kong story provides us with serious and more action-heavy bits in contrast to the Apex team story that ...

5Lb of Pressure | Review by: Gaius Bolling

5lbs of Pressure doesn't add anything new to the crime thriller genre but that's not to be meant as a detriment. By hitting on familiar beats, with the help of top-notch performances, writer/director Phil Allocco taps into what makes these films work. This is a tale of redemption and how being a product of your environment can shape you for better or worse. It's a story told across many films but that doesn't mean that Allocco's lens isn't still profoundly tragic and gripping. It's the sense of familiarity that makes the film work and as it reaches its tension-filled climax, anxiety hits a high hoping that the characters won't end up in an all too familiar outcome. Seeking redemption is Adam (Luke Evans). He's an ex-con, now sober, who is finishing his last month of probation for committing a crime that will continue to have a ripple effect through his life, even though he would like to leave it behind. He's attempting to forge a relationship w...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog