In today’s world where almost every studio movie is connected to some kind of extended universe, it’s only natural that one would long for the days when film franchises were simpler. A time when there were no multi-verses, spinoffs or reboots, just a popular film getting a sequel or two.
Movies to get into the Halloween spirit
Here’s a look at some of the best movies to watch to get into the Halloween spirit.
Top five movie trilogies
Are you looking for something that will distract you from thoughts of homework, auditions or exams? Watch some of the best film trilogies.
Critic finds film ‘light-hearted, cute and hilarious’
They Came Together may not change the way you look at romantic comedies, but it will at least give you a sense of appreciation when you watch a good one.
Critic disappointed by Krampus, finds it inconsistent
The film tries to do too much and ends up with a middling movie that doesn’t quite know what its message is.
Deadpool puts a ‘fresh, filthy spin’ on superhero films
This film gives audiences a fresh, filthy and most of all funny new spin on superhero movies.
Mississippi Grind strikes critic as ‘not incredibly memorable’
Mississippi Grind lets you observe the highs and lows of the addiction, but, in the end, the film itself does not stand out in any special way.
Critic finds film surprising
Whether it’s your cup of tea or not, Bone Tomahawk will surprise you.
Critic finds film far from director’s best, but worthy
The Hateful Eight is a frustrating film, but one worthy of your time.
Critic finds film ‘hilarious’
A movie like Major League goes beyond the traditional baseball story and delves into these little intricacies gives fans of the genre a little breath of fresh air, and makes you wonder why more sport films don’t follow its example.
Critic finds lead’s performance ‘desperate for an Oscar’
For anyone who needs a reminder of how easy this generation has it, look no further than The Revenant.
Critic finds film ‘hard to predict’
During the past decade there has been an uptick in movies and television with anti-heroes in the lead role. A lead with questionable morals isn’t a new development. Watching characters struggle to live with their imperfections on screen helps us feel better about ourselves and our own problems. The question is, how far can a…
Critic finds film ‘perfect for all ages’
It’s funny to think about how many of the most heartfelt, touching films I have seen come from an animation studio. Movies such as Wall-E, Toy Story 3 and Up strongly affect me into my adult years. Pixar Animation Studios always knows how to touch an audience. Their newest movie, Inside Out, written and directed…
Critic sees film ‘worth Red Box price to rent’
What Marvel Studios has done with its movies in the past couple of years is impressive. The first Avengers film served as a culmination of both Marvel Studios and Joss Whedon and was a commercially–and critically acclaimed–success. Expectations for the sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron, were a little on the high side and, in the…
Critic finds Mad Max to be intense and exciting
Mad Max: Fury Road 10/10 There’s something to be said about a movie that is so intense it will cause you to jump up from your seat in the theater in excitement, spilling whatever candy you happened to have on your lap at the time and then not caring because what you just saw was…
Short film round-up
Batz, a seven-minute animated short from Max Maleo and Aurélien Prédal, is a fabulously original tale of unlikely friendship. It follows two bats whose vastly different lifestyles collide in a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. While some of the visuals are a bit squirm-inducing – it is, after all, a short about bats – the whole thing…
Short film round-up
Minka Farthing-Kohl’s seven-minute Stray Dogs is a very strange short about a very strange summer day. It follows “Frank,” whose mundane wait at the bus stop turns into something much more dramatic when a distraught woman asks to borrow his phone. Much of the film feels like a very obvious Tarantino knockoff, but there’s enough originality to keep…
Short film round-up
Based on a short story by Ádám Bodor, Hearth (Otthon), a five-minute short from director Bálint Gelley, is a typhoon of surreal images, death, and rebirth. It follows a man who is trying to save a young girl and three old women from drowning after an unexplained natural disaster. The short is visually stunning – despite its muted, watercolor-like…
Short film round-up
In Ngendo Mukii’s six-minute short Yellow Fever, the filmmaker uses real-life interviews, animation, and striking images of the human body to explore issues of race, identity, and self-image. Her main topic is the use of skin-lightening creams by African women. The short deals with the issue of feeling uncomfortable in one’s own skin – literally – and…
Short film round-up
Leonard in Slow Motion, an eight-minute film from director Peter Livolsi, is a lovely example of what a short film should be. It follows a man whose life is lived entirely in slo-mo and his struggles with love, labor, and legerity. It’s simple but beautifully executed. Watch it here. Seven-minute La Petite Maison, from director Isaac Holland,…
Entertainment news round-up for Jan. 15: Oscar Nominations
This year’s Oscar nominations brought a few surprises. Notable snubs include Selma, which was nominated only in the Best Picture category, and A Most Violent Year, which was heavily lauded by the National Board of Review but got no love from the Academy. Similarly ignored was The Lego Movie. As for pleasant surprises, the inclusion of Marion Cotillard (Two Days,…
Critic finds “Whiplash” underdeveloped
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, Whiplash does a great job with its main storyline but fails to flesh its world out effectively. Though its two lead characters are full of life, the rest feel like afterthoughts.
Critic delights in modern classic “The Secret of Kells”
Despite its lack of a strong ending, The Secret of Kells is a charming story told beautifully – and bravely. Directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, it may be aimed at a younger audience, but it pulls no punches in content or quality. The film follows “Brendan” (voiced by Evan McGuire), a young boy…
Critic disturbed and fascinated by “Mysterious Skin”
Watching Mysterious Skin is like waking up on a bright, sunny Saturday morning, making yourself a perfect cup of coffee, turning on your favorite cartoon, and finding spiders in your cereal. The nostalgic familiarity of the setting puts us at ease, but the subject matter rips us right out of our comfort zone. Written and…
Critic finds classic “American Psycho” disturbingly good
Almost 14 years after its release, American Psycho still holds up. While its heavy satirization of yuppie culture may not ring quite so many bells with audiences of today, the performances and artful treatment of disturbing subject matter still shocks, horrifies, and utterly captivates. Directed by Mary Harron based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel of…
Critic disappointed by inconsistency of “Horns”
I used to think that there was nothing worse than a painfully bad movie, but I now know that there is a new circle of movie hell: a good movie that turns itself bad. Horns is one such film. Directed by Alexandre Aja based on Joe Hill’s novel of the same name, the movie follows…
