1st Reviews

Well, I guess we know who the goofy Coen brother is. Drive-Away Dolls throws the vibe back to the directing duo’s classics, like Raising Arizona and Fargo. However, Ethan’s first solo effort is all slapstick and no nuance, missing the balance necessary to reach that Coen brothers classic status.  Clocking in at a breezy 84 minutes, there’s a lot of ground covered (literally and narratively) in such a short amount of time. This lesbian road trip crime caper fires out plot points and dialogue in rapid succession, without skipping a beat. It’s relatively well paced and straight to the point, but it also doesn’t give the narrative time to unfold in a natural way. I appreciate a lean movie as much as the next person, but this one basically rushes itself through its own story. The film is finished with plenty of wacky transitions and trippy psychedelics in an attempt to replicate a particular style, but these choices are more gimmicky than they are effective. I’m a huge fan of Margaret Q...

  Melancholic and sentimental to a fault, Spaceman is an etherial space odyssey that’s running on fumes by the time it reaches its destination. Although it doesn’t always achieve the profound impact it’s aiming for, this moody science fiction resonates with enough meaning to get by.  Now, when I call this science fiction, know that those elements only serve as a vessel to tell a very human story. Yes, Sandler’s character Jakub is on a year long mission across space, but at its core, this film is about a strained love between him and his earthbound wife. It touches on regret, broken promises, and how we don’t always have easy answers to the decisions we make. To be honest, I wish the space mission played a lesser part in this story, so we could deeper explore these themes.  The meat of the narrative involves a look back at Jakub’s life on earth, and how his pregnant wife (Carey Mulligan) is coping without him. Through brief memories, we are given bits and pieces of his chi...

  There’s a feeling that comes with watching a film on an epic scale that is indescribable. Not only has Denis Villeneuve done this three times in his career, but each film has become grander than the one before it. Villeneuve has mastered the sci-fi genre as he expertly weaves the human condition into space wars and the exploration of planets. He grounds his films with human emotions and universal themes anyone can relate to. Villeneuve’s vision for   Dune: Part Two  has set a new precedent for sci-fi filmmaking. Frank Herbert’s novel is dense with political jargon and the exploration of religion with the Fremen. Villeneuve expertly dissects the conflict in the book series in lament’s terms, so it’s not as difficult to follow. It may feel that   Dune: Part Two  is too straightforward, but the performances take this tragic story to another level. The journey we go on with these characters is transformative and alters the way of life of the Emporium for the futur...

  True Detective premiered a decade ago, with one of the greatest seasons of television ever made. It was always going to be near impossible to follow, and season two collapsed under the pressure. Season three saw a partial return to form, but still fell short of greatness. After a lengthy five year hiatus, Night Country finds the series chasing that high once again, with mixed results and a major identity crisis.  The benefit of anthology storytelling is the ability to tell unique, separate stories that fit the style and tone of the series. Atmospherically, Night Country feels right at home under the True Detective umbrella, but  narratively it takes departures that don’t quite fit. There are spiritual and supernatural elements that play a big role this season, but they’re an out of place addition to this long established series. The show feels torn between a detective thriller, and a drama rooted firmly in native culture. There’s potential for something interesting...

  There’s a reason why they say two heads are better than one. Sometimes you need a partner to bounce ideas off of, balance you out, and share the overall load with. In the case of Ethan Coen and his solo feature directorial debut, “Drive-Away Dolls,” it’s clear that he needs his brother Joel with him. Now, would having yet another heterosexual man in his 60s work on this movie about two lesbians in their 20s have helped the quality of “Drive-Away Dolls?” Probably not. Nor would having another Coen brother on this movie make it any less pretentious, overly-stylized or occasionally nonsensical.   The premise of “Drive-Away Dolls” (that two friends unknowingly rent a car with precious cargo in the trunk and are pursued by criminals) is a fun one that has the potential to be hilariously memorable. Just think of “Dumb and Dumber” or “Twins.” Sadly though, even those movies are more entertaining, thought out, and satisfying than this. The crime aspect of “Drive-Away Dolls,” the imp...

  Season two’s finale of the Bad Batch was an emotional rollercoaster and some of the darkest moments in the series. Season three has some big shoes to fill but leave it to Dave Filoni to give us yet another proper sendoff with this upcoming season.  T aking place directly after the dramatic events of season two’s finale, the team is separated and in desperate need of finding Omega. Omega is captured by an empire research facility and is at the same facility that Crosshair is captured in. Luckily, Omega is not a captive per se, her knowledge on clones being put to good use in some unknown test program as an assistant to Kamino Cloner, Nala. Meanwhile, Echo, Hunter and Wrecker are searching the galaxy for any information on Omega’s whereabouts. Omega has grown the most out of any character but rightfully so as she was the least skilled at the beginning of the series. She has grown into a much more commanding leader and skilled fighter and it is evident at the start of the ...

  The Sony Marvel universe has had its ups and downs. But the one commendable thing is that they’ve always stood independently and tried to do something different. Sony is going against the grain by exploring under-appreciated characters in the Spider-Man universe and having fun with their powers. From Venom to Morbius and now Madame Web, Marvel has had an extensive catalogue, and it’s nice to see these lesser-known characters come to life on the big screen. Many people have dreaded the Sony Marvel films, but I have always appreciated how different they’ve felt from other MCU or DC films. The studio has never been afraid to try something different or even stick to their guns and make some dumb fun out of it. A movie can still be entertaining if it’s not good. That’s why the   Venom  films have always worked for me.  However, Madame Web is one of the worst films in the SPUMC. The introduction of Cassie Web (Dakota Johnson) was weak because there isn’t much development...

  When we think about Bob Marley, we remember his everlasting impact on music. What started as an outlet to express his feelings towards the violence and corruption in Jamaica became a global protest for peace and unity. His music has been associated with freedom fighters and peaceful protests for years. It’s important to note that Marley felt he had a purpose for his community and the universe to be a messenger for all people to come together and live in harmony. Director Reinaldo Marcus Green captured the very essence of Bob Marley with the help of Kingsley Ben-Adir in   Bob Marley: One Love . The more we stayed with Ben-Adir, the more the spirit of Marley shined through him. It felt like an evolution of character, much like Marley’s progression in the music industry. He lived a different life in Jamaica and became more outspoken when he moved to London to pursue his music career. Ben-Adir changed with Marley’s journey and became him once he hit the stage to perform....

  Much like its titular couple, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is more than it appears to be on the surface. This series is a sharp deconstruction of a marriage, that doubles as an exciting, star studded espionage thriller. Step aside Brad and Angelina, there’s a new John and Jane in town.  For the show to work, the chemistry between the Smith’s needs to be not only believable, but magnetic. Donald Glover and Maya Erksine are a match made in heaven (or hell depending on which episode you’re watching), with sparks of passion and aggression flying constantly.  Their on-screen dynamic through their evolving relationship is exceptional, from awkward flirtatious beginnings to explosive spousal shouting matches. The series is jam-packed with some big name guest stars too. From Paul Dano, to Sarah Paulson, to Wagner Moura, the acting talent here is sublime.  Each episode breaks down critical parts of a relationship - the excitement of new love, the importance of communication, a...

  Lisa Frankenstein,” the directorial debut of Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody’s return to the horror-comedy genre, successfully adds the occasional flourish of macabre humour and homage to 1980s comedies that viewers would expect from a movie like this, but fails to fully satisfy. Williams might not pack as dynamic a punch as say Jordan Peele or Greta Getwig did with their directorial debuts (then again they both also wrote extremely personal screenplays) but there’s nothing glaringly terrible to fault her with. It’s clear she has plenty of potential and more of an artistic vision than the average first time director. Her debut is uneven but it isn’t without promise. That being said, it’s disappointing to think about how much more entertaining and unique this movie could be in the hands of a more experienced director. The inspiration of a director like Tim Burton is all over “Lisa Frankenstein” from tone to production design, and this is exactly the type of movie Burto...

  The Promised Land is a sprawling nordic western, fuelled by an escalating dispute over barren farmland. Gorgeously shot, impeccably acted and brilliantly tense, this stunning period piece is worthy of your time. The film follows Ludvig Kahlen - a war captain (Mads Mikkelsen) who sets out to cultivate an untameable wasteland where it’s seemingly impossible to grow crops. His goal is to start a colony in the name of the King, which will grant him the noble title he seeks. I realize on paper, that doesn’t sound all that thrilling, but know there’s more to this film than a man attempting to yield crops. It’s a story of perseverance, survival and pride, with a touch of melodrama, plus a few shocking bursts of violence.  Mads Mikkelsen is unsurprisingly excellent once again. His character is relatively subdued and quiet, but Mads is always able to convey so much while saying so little. He makes sure you feel every moment of devastation, rage and pride through his stoic performance...

  It’s always a blessing when Matthew Vaughn gives us a glimpse into his twisted mind with his witty and bombastic action scenes, and Argylle has a few of those, but it’s everything else that disappoints. Vaughn directs with a love for spy material and cartoonish entertainment mixed with modern, meta flare. The script, however, completely misses the mark and lacks the commanding energy that his Kingsman had. Even Sam Rockwell, whose charm and goofiness often comes effortlessly, has to work with dialogue that falls flat and the attempts at humor don’t manage to illicit a response. Though Henry Cavill has some fun and Bryce Dallas Howard tries her best in the leading role, there’s more left to be desired in Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson’s screentime. Bryan Cranston’s villain may be the weakest link of the cast, as everything he’s given to do is annoyingly generic. The movie’s downfall is also its ambition, which is often what lifts Vaughn up above the rest. The ludi...

  The action spy thriller has come a long way since the early days of   007 . Since then, we’ve had   Mission: Impossible, John Wick  and   Kingsman . These franchises have developed their unique style to keep audiences glued to the characters and action on screen. Some prefer one franchise to the other, and it’s because it comes down to the director's style. Director Matthew Vaughn has an eye for action. He orchestrates unique sequences that highlight the strengths of his characters. From   Kick-Ass  to   X-Men: First Class  to   Kingsman: The Secret Service,  Vaughan has consistently grown as an action director. The use of swift camera movements, quick cuts, obscure weaponry combinations and incredible sound design combined made for pivotal moments in his films. Once Vaughn settled into the espionage with the Oxford-esque   Kingsman: The Secret Service,  it seemed he found the perfect balance of camp and bloody, violent ...