Charles Bradley: Soul of America – A KinoSmith Release http://charlesbradleyfilm.com Release Date: May 31st, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated PG for mild language and mature themes Running time: 74 minutes Poull Brien (dir.) Charles Bradley (music) Charles Bradley as Himself Elizabeth “Mother” Bradley as Herself Thomas Brenneck as Himself Neal Sugarman as Himself… Read More Movie Review: Charles Bradley: Soul of America
Epic – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.epicthemovie.com Release Date: May 24th, 2013 Rated PG for some scary scenes and animated action Running time: 102 minutes Chris Wedge (dir.) James V. Hart (screenplay and story) William Joyce (screenplay and story) Daniel Shere (screenplay) Tom J. Astle (screenplay) Matt Ember (screenplay) Danny Elfman (music) Beyonce Knowles… Read More Movie Review: Epic
By Erin V. Right from the opening track I loved this score. The layers that composer Michael Giacchino is able to add, seamlessly weaving old and new themes with underlying elements really works. A prime example of his masterful use of mixing themes is track 3 ‘Sub Prime Directive’ – taking his themes for ’09’s… Read More Score Review: Star Trek Into Darkness
Today, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the 1963 classic Cleopatra for the first time on Blu-ray, in honour of the 50th anniversary. A sprawling historical epic of impressive costumes and production design, the film tells the story of Egyptian queen Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) and her romance with Mark Antony (Richard Burton). Directed by Joseph… Read More Blu-ray Release: Cleopatra
Stories We Tell – A Mongrel Media Release http://www.storieswetellmovie.com DVD Release Date: May 21st, 2013 Rated PG for language and tobacco use Running time: 108 minutes Sarah Polley (dir.) Sarah Polley (writer) Jonathan Goldsmith (music) Sarah Polley as Herself Michael Polley as Himself Diane Polley as Herself (archival footage) Harry Gulkin as Himself Our reviews below:… Read More DVD Review: Stories We Tell
By John C. How do you deliver a satisfying threequel to a sequel that was a disappointment compared to the instant classic that started it all? This tricky question is answered by director Todd Phillips with The Hangover Part III, a surprisingly satisfying finish to a series that has already hit a record high and… Read More Daring to be Different, “The Hangover Part III” is an Entertaining Finale
Quality Balls – A Nightingale Company Release http://bloorcinema.com/movies/Quality-Balls Release Date: May 24th, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Broadcast Premiere: May 25th on HBO Canada and Movie Central Rated 14A for coarse language Running time: 80 minutes Barry Avrich (dir.) David Steinberg as Himself Johnny Carson as Himself (archive footage) Larry Charles as… Read More Movie Review: Quality Balls – The David Steinberg Story
By John C. Director Baz Luhrmann’s much talked about adaptation of The Great Gatsby finally came to theatres last weekend, becoming a genuine hit with audiences, in the wake of receiving a mixed response from many critics. After missing the screening, I finally caught up with the film during the week. Like many people, I… Read More Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” is a Good Adaptation of a Great Book
Star Trek Into Darkness – A Paramount Pictures’ Release http://www.startrekmovie.com Release Date: May 17th, 2013 Rated PG for violence and language Running time: 132 minutes J.J. Abrams (dir.) Roberto Orci (writer) Alex Kurtzman (writer) Damon Lindelof (writer) Michael Giacchino (music) Chris Pine as Kirk Zachary Quinto as Spock Zoe Saldana as Uhura Karl Urban as… Read More Movie Review: Star Trek Into Darkness
Fight Like Soldiers Die Like Children – A White Pine Release http://www.whitepinepictures.com/all-titles/fight-like-soldiers-die-like-children/ Release Date: May 17th, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated PG for mature themes Running time: 82 minutes Patrick Reed (dir.) Mark Korven (music) Roméo Dallaire as Himself Michel Chikwanine as Voice of Child ©White Pine Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Roméo Dallaire… Read More Movie Review: Fight Like Soldiers Die Like Children
The We and the I – A 108 Media Release http://www.partizan.com/films/film/we-and-i-film/ Release Date: May 17th, 2013 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox Rated 14A for coarse language, nudity and sexual content Running time: 103 minutes Michel Gondry (dir.) Michel Gondry (screenplay) Jeffrey Grimshaw (screenplay) Paul Proch (screenplay) Michael Brodie as Michael Teresa Lynn as Teresa Laidychen Carrasco… Read More Movie Review: The We and the I
By John C. Last week, the musical duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward released their latest collection of songs. Aptly titled She & Him: Volume 3, this is their fourth collaboration after the excellent A Very She & Him Christmas, and this latest set provides the perfect soundtrack for the summer in the same… Read More The Excellent “She & Him: Volume 3” Sounds Like Summer
The Manor – A KinoSmith Release http://www.themanordocumentary.com Release Date: May 10th, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated 14A for coarse language, nudity and sexual content Running time: 78 minutes Shawney Cohen (dir.) Mike Gallay (co-dir.) Jim Guthrie (music) Shawney Cohen as Himself Roger Cohen as Himself Brenda Cohen as Herself Sammy Cohen as Himself… Read More Movie Review: The Manor
By John C. I saw forty films throughout the 20th edition of Hot Docs and published a review for every one of them, an achievement that I am proud to have accomplished. The fact that many of them still stand out so clearly in my mind is a testament to the quality of the films… Read More Hot Docs Celebrates Twenty Years with an Outstanding Festival
By John C. We are now at the final day of Hot Docs. The festival has been going strong since April 25th, and I’ve seen a lot of great films over the past eleven days. The other day I shared my thoughts on 12 O’Clock Boys, Blood Relative, Blackfish, The Crash Reel and Quality Balls… Read More Hot Docs 2013: Five Capsule Reviews, including “Mistaken for Strangers”
Iron Man 3 – A Walt Disney Pictures’ Release http://marvel.com/ironman3 Release Date: May 3rd, 2013 Rated PG for violence Running time: 129 minutes Shane Black (dir.) Drew Pearce (screenplay) Shane Black (screenplay) Brian Tyler (music) Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts Don Cheadle as Colonel James Rhodes Guy Pearce as… Read More Movie Review: Iron Man 3
By John C. Hot Docs started exactly a week ago today and closes on Sunday, but I am still discovering films that are absolutely worth seeing. Yesterday I published my thoughts on Rent a Family Inc., Blood Brother, Brothers Hypnotic, The Great Hip Hop Hoax and Free the Mind. Below are my capsule reviews of… Read More Hot Docs 2013: Five Capsule Reviews, including “The Crash Reel”
By John C. We are now at the halfway point of Hot Docs, with the festival going strong until Sunday. The line up in general has been really great this year, and on Monday I shared my thoughts on Special Ed, Junior, Menstrual Man, Finding the Funk and Alcan Highway. Below are my brief reviews on… Read More Hot Docs 2013: Five Capsule Reviews, including “Blood Brother”
The Joy of Movies 