At Any Price – A Sony Pictures Classics’ Release http://www.sonyclassics.com/atanyprice/ DVD Release Date: August 27th, 2013 Rated 14A for violence and coarse language Running time: 105 minutes Ramin Bahrani (dir.) Ramin Bahrani (writer) Hallie Elizabeth Newton (writer) Dickon Hinchliffe (music) Dennis Quaid as Henry Whipple Zac Efron as Dean Whipple Maika Monroe as Cadence Farrow Kim… Read More DVD Review: At Any Price
By John Corrado The statement that “Edgar Wright is brilliant” would be enough to sum up my feelings on The World’s End, the director’s latest and unofficial closer to his excellent Cornetto trilogy that started with Shaun of the Dead in 2004 and Hot Fuzz in 2007. The film opened in fourth place at the… Read More Edgar Wright’s “The World’s End” is a Triumphant Mix of Genres
Lee Daniels’ The Butler – An eOne Films’ Release http://weinsteinco.com/sites/leedanielsthebutler/ Release Date: August 16th, 2013 Rated 14A for language and disturbing content Running time: 132 minutes Lee Daniels (dir.) Danny Strong (writer) Based on an article by Wil Haygood Rodrigo Leão (music) Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines David Oyelowo as… Read More Movie Review: Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Today, 20th Century Fox released Epic on Blu-ray & DVD. The latest from Blue Sky Studios, this is an agreeable animated film that is sure to keep younger audiences entertained by the characters and frequent action. We reviewed Epic in theatres back on May 30th, and our consensus was: “Although parts of Epic feel underdeveloped… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Epic
Today, Sony Classics is releasing Amour on DVD & Blu-ray. The film opens with firefighters breaking down the door of an apartment, only to find the body of Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) lying on a bed. After this shocking flash forward, we go back to find Anne living with her husband Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant). But then… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Amour
By John Corrado Earning rave reviews from many critics after playing at Sundance back in January, Prince Avalanche is finely reaching a wider audience and the buzz surrounding the excellent performances of Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch is absolutely deserved. Already enjoying a limited run across the border, Prince Avalanche opens in Toronto at Cineplex… Read More The Quietly Affecting “Prince Avalanche” is Carried by Excellent Performances
Call Me Kuchu – A KinoSmith Release http://callmekuchu.com Release Date: August 16th, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated 14A for mature themes and disturbing content Running time: 87 minutes Katherine Fairfax Wright (dir.) Malika Zouhali-Worrall (dir.) Katherine Fairfax Wright (writer) Malika Zouhali-Worrall (writer) Jonathan Mandabach (music) David Kato as Himself Naome Ruzindana as Herself… Read More Movie Review: Call Me Kuchu
Disney is releasing a “Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition” of The Muppet Movie for the first time on Blu-ray today. Telling the cinematic story of how Kermit the Frog went from playing his banjo in the swamp to getting the old gang together and finding legendary success in Hollywood, this is a joyous film filled with… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Muppet Movie
Last week on August 6th, Disney released a 50th anniversary edition of The Sword in the Stone, for the first time on Blu-ray. The story of a young boy named Wart who is destined to become King Arthur and taken under the wing of eccentric magician Merlin (Karl Swenson), the 1963 film was directed by… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Sword in the Stone
Today, VVS Films is releasing the action film Olympus Has Fallen on Blu-ray & DVD. When vengeful North Korean terrorists led by the evil Kang (Rick Yune) take over the White House and kidnap the President (Aaron Eckhart), it’s up to former guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) to use his inside knowledge and defend the country… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Olympus Has Fallen
By John Corrado Exactly four years ago, Neill Blomkamp literally exploded onto the filmmaking scene with the phenomenal District 9, a compelling science fiction allegory for apartheid in South Africa. The film was an instant classic, a breakout hit that went on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. This was a stunning debut… Read More Neill Blomkamp’s “Elysium” Delivers Solidly Crafted Entertainment
Planes – A Walt Disney Studios Release http://www.disney.com/planes/ Release Date: August 9th, 2013 Rated G for mild action and rude humour Running time: 92 minutes Klay Hall (dir.) Jeffrey M. Howard (screenplay) Mark Mancina (music) Dane Cook as Dusty Crophopper (voice) Stacy Keach as Skipper (voice) Brad Garrett as Chug (voice) Teri Hatcher as Dottie… Read More Movie Review: Planes
Today, VVS Films is releasing To the Wonder on Blu-ray & DVD. After his masterpiece The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick weaves together a deeply spiritual look at the figurative tree of love with his latest work of art. The director bares his heart throughout the film, using a fractured narrative of images to show us… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: To the Wonder
Back on July 9th, Phase 4 Films released the Canadian comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure on DVD. Jordan Abrams (Jonas Chernick) is bad in bed and his shallow girlfriend Rachel (Sarah Manninen) dumps him because she usually falls asleep during their “gentle time.” So he takes a trip to Toronto and has a chance encounter… Read More DVD Release: My Awkward Sexual Adventure
Oblivion – A Universal Pictures’ Release http://www.oblivionmovie.com/splashpage/index.php DVD Release Date: August 6th, 2013 Rated PG for violence and coarse language Running time: 124 minutes Joseph Kosinski (dir.) Karl Gajdusek (screenplay) Michael deBruyn (screenplay) Based on a graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski M83 (music) Tom Cruise as Jack Morgan Freeman as Beech Olga Kurylenko as Julia Andrea… Read More DVD Review: Oblivion
Because today is a civic holiday here in Ontario and the end of a long weekend, I’m taking the day off from writing my usual Monday article. I’m also trying to save up some of my resources for when the Toronto International Film Festival opens in exactly a month from today, which Cameron Bailey already… Read More No Article Today…
Terms and Conditions May Apply – A KinoSmith Release http://tacma.net Release Date: August 2nd, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated PG for language Running time: 79 minutes Cullen Hoback (dir.) Cullen Hoback (writer) John Askew (music) Cullen Hoback as Himself Max Schrems as Himself Leigh Bryan as Himself Joe Lipari as Himself Amy Cutler… Read More Movie Review: Terms and Conditions May Apply
Released August 1st, 2013 Page count: 139 pages Size: 6” x 9” Shakespeare for Screenwriter: Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama by J. M. Evenson Published By Michael Wiese Productions http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ Shakespeare for Screenwriters: Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama Review By Erin V. Providing something different, Shakespeare for Screenwriters… Read More Book Review: Shakespeare for Screenwriters – Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama
Released June 11th, 2013 Page count: 172 pages Size: 11.22” x 9.4” The Art of Monsters University By Karen Paik Preface by John Lasseter and Pete Docter Foreword by Dan Scanlon Published by Chronicle Books Distributed by Raincoast (Canada) http://www.raincoast.com/ http://www.chroniclebooks.com/ _________________________________________ The Art of Monsters University Book Review by Erin V. The Art… Read More Book Review: The Art of Monsters University
The 1997 classic The Ice Storm was released on Blu-ray last week, as part of the Criterion Collection. Set during Thanksgiving in 1973, the film follows a family on the verge of collapse, as Ben Hood (Kevin Kline) is having an affair with neighbour Janey (Sigourney Weaver), and his wife Elena (Joan Allen) is growing tired… Read More Criterion Release: The Ice Storm
The Joy of Movies 