ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD - Historically dubious, thematically brilliant, QT finds his form in film that could win Palme d'Or or be picketed by audiences, or maybe both. Thrilling, provocative, blackly comical, intensely unsettling masterwork.
#cannes2019
THE LODGE - Bone chilling slow burn - echoes of last year's HEREDITARY are there, but this uniquely morbid family drama with religious furor maintains a precision that would make Hitch and Kubrick proud. Exceptional pacing, a frigid bit of horror that's top notch
#Sundance
I had joked previously that Trump would invoke 1812 to Trudeau to justify the "National security risk" Canada poses to the U.S.
I find that joke less funny now.
WHEN YOU FINISH SAVING THE WORLD - Writer/Director Jesse Eisenberg
@a24
gem tells unique, awkward, affecting tale of a mother and son. Standout performances by Finn Wolfhard and ever remarkable Julianne Moore makes for a wonderful, comedic, awkward,moving piece
#sundance2022
Between TITANE and THE SUBSTANCE can we please applaud the French education system that fosters the minds of little girls so that when they grow up they're able to channel their inner Cronenberg?
#cannes2024
LAST NIGHT IN SOHO - Supremely stylish thriller with a swinging soundtrack that literally kills, taking Wright's penchant for musical flourishes, genre dives and deep character beats to craft something immesely pleasurable and impeccably presented. Plus, Clark's Downtown!
#tiff21
Loud applause for
#HalloweenMovie
- a clever redux that takes the slasher film in modern directions without losing any of its classic bite. A film by fans that works for general audiences as well, it's the best of both old and new
#tiff18
EMILIA PÉREZ - Audiard's audacious crime musical - think COP ROCK meets SICARIO with a dash of telenovela melodrama - should be an absolute mess. Yet somehow, despite the heightened reality and struggles to suspend disbelief, I kind of adored every moment of it.
#cannes2024
MISS AMERICANA - Another strong music doc from the braintrust at
@TremoloDocs
, this intimate, provocative look at
@taylorswift13
will thrill fans.More than that it's a remarkable look at an artist that generates respect, going behind the gloss and forming a nuanced take
#sundance
Cooper's A STAR IS BORN is a moving, muwical, extremely well executed variation on a story sung with same 12 notes numerous times. Inclusion of
@ladygaga
is inspired, her own story reflected in the narrative in ways that inject an even higher level of impact.
#tiff18
"Nobody asked Gene Kelly why you wanted to do your own dancing?" - On why Tom Cruise fights to do his own stunts. "I take dance and singing lessons, I fly aerobatic helicopters, I skydive...I want to immerse audiences in a unique way"
#Cannes2022
THE IRISHMAN - Audacious, epic, a film that feels like it spans lifetimes yet whisks by. Technically bold, performances raw and darkly humourous, it is the culmination of Scorsese's genre fascinations, and a late career triumph. Truly cinematic, demanding to be seen big
#nyff57
THE ZONE OF INTEREST - Flat out masterpiece from Jonathan Galzer . Went in unaware of source material, immediately drawn to its immaculate execution, pitch perfect performances and nightmarish scenario. Arendt's banality of evil presented in purest cinematic form.
#Cannes2023
"There's a very specific way to movies for a cinema. You hope to make a movie that will entertain an audience not just on opening weekend. It is a different skill writing a movie than writing a TV show. Cinema is my love, my passion" - Tom Cruise
THE FRENCH DISPATCH - A glorious explosion of Wes Andersony whimsy, it's more movie than a season of cinematheque retrospectives, jammed with tricks and travails sure to dismay those refusing the ride, but for those open they'll be in literary heaven. Bravo!
#Cannes2021
#Dune
Part 2 - Villeneuve amps up the operatic elements in this dense, beautiful, brash second chapter. The messy messianic message is filtered through modern eyes to its benefit, and in the end this game of thrones is as bloody and brilliant as hoped for
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY - A glorious, beautiful puzzle box that's a shwer cinematic delight. Beautifully written and structured, its anchored by performances that ooze fun and wit. Takes no sleuthing to know this one of the most fun film experiences of the year
#TIFF22
Look forward to getting home tomorrow night and walking the
#Danforth
and spending money at some of the amazing shops and restos that populate the street. This lunacy will NOT hamper this vibrant area known as
#Greektown
. Condolences to those hurt, courage to others to rise above
"The gates of
#Megalopolis
are open and the world will never be the same" - Part fever dream, part excercise in indulgence, not since BABYLON has such bonkers boldness been birthed, here reared without any pesky studio help. A cri de Cœur about a dying empire, the death rattle of
THE FABLEMENS - Spielberg mines his childhood for this warm, nostalgic, funny, beautifully calibrated tale of love of family and love of film. Many terrific performances, but Judd Hirsch and David Lynch come in to steal the show, taking nothing away from rest of ensemble
#TIFF22
@mattzollerseitz
The LOTR "bigatures" are supremely epic, and kudos to Xanadu in KANE, but is there a better miniature shot in cinema history than this?
Villeneuve's
#DUNE
is a visual triumph with committed performances, hampered only by narrative that by its prophetic nature is predictable. Zimmer's score is a fascinating ethnographically diverse blend, and fans of book should be thrilled with its scope. See it in
@imax
!
#tiff21
"There were no more than two takes. You were always on your toes. When we said his words he was tickles. We were talking about fucked up shit but [Cronenberg] loved it" -
#KristenStewart
#Cannes2022
#CrimesOfTheFuture
@HamillHimself
refreshing to see your reticence about the direction of the character contextualized on the TLJ main doc. Occurred to me while watching that same conflict between what Luke is expected to be vs what he needs to be is echoed by your own understandable ambivalence.
ANORA - Another stunner from
@Lilfilm
- Sean Baker braves this Coenesque landscape with both tonal richness, caustic yet multidimensional characters. A stellar tragicomedic Russified romance w/ terrific performances, yet further evidence of his storytelling prowess.
#cannes2024
"I give my life to these films. I feel very privileged. And I know what I don't know. There's a dialogue with audiences, and certain characters they're invested in. Believe me, we are working our asses off to make it work." - Tom Cruise ON
#TopGun
sequel
#Cannes2022
THE LIFE OF CHUCK contains multitudes... Absolutely glorious telling of this rich tale, Mike Flanagan moonwalks through the tonal shifts with rapturous ease, bringing King's philosophical, joyful narrative to life. Brilliant, brilliant stuff
#TIFF24
I loved about 80% of THE CREATOR, and when it works, its sublime. As per most of the genre it can't quite stick the landing for such a big vessel of ideas, but it's got enough going for it to make it a must see, particularly on an
@imax
screen
THE SUBSTANCE - I want to believe this started with someone taking Demi Moore's name literally. Jazzercise body horror film is dark, funny, bloody and brilliant, Qualley brings quality, Quaid hasn't been this fun in years, a pure injection of delight into the
#cannes2024
comp
"We did a lot of takes. It was something Stanley, Nichole and I discovered. But I don't want the audience to see the work involved." - Tom Cruise on *that* scene in EYES WIDE SHUT
#Cannes2022
I -loved-
#DoctorSleep
, such a brilliant love letter to Kubrick's original, unafraid to be both thrilling and entirely worshipful of what came before. Equal parts nostalgia and axing it's own path, not unlike the (underloved) 2010, it's my most surprising gem of 2019.
To give sense about how mixed reaction will be decide for whether the inclusion of Charles Manson's music in the (stellar) sound track makes you feel.
If your stomach knots with ambivalent reaction to that idea, there's you're primed for
#OnceUponATimeInHollywood
#Cannes2019
DEAR EVAN HANSEN - Suspend disbelief beyond the musical tropes and snark about lead casting, it's a moving and effective take with exceptional performances, that takes a sticky story and makes it work within context of an emotional piece that earns its tears.
#tiff21
One of those career high delights - spent an hour with Thelma Schoonmaker, here in Toronto for
@HotDocs
. An hour long convo, soon to be up at
@povmagazine
.
THE APPRENTICE - Origin story for the Orange one, the relationship between Master and Student revealed with a darkly comedic bent and Shakespearean tragic scope. Beautifully acted, terrific production design, a deep and provocative film that still manages to humanize
#cannes2024
Three hours early for Eggers' LIGHTHOUSE and there is a line of 300+ people, and it already played this morning.
This baby is buzzing, alright.
#Cannes2019
#RobertPattinson
Only now, digging into the schedule, did I realize the one screening of SPENCER for public
#tiff21
audiences will be at the theatre named after Diana, former Princess of Wales.
DAMSEL - The Zellner Brothers riff on the Western, giving a DEAD MAN vibe a twist.
#RobertPattinson
and Mia W elevate this surreal dark comedy with a wicked streak
#Sundance2018
NEXT GOAL WINS - Taika's winning sports romp takes true story and injects enough playfulness and whimsy to make it score. Delightful performances throughout, the brisk telling provides a welcome new chapter in the feel-good sports film canon
#tiff23
Sat beside (and then in the seat of) John Woo front row while watching HARD BOILED on a funky but remarkably well preserved 35mm print.
Well done at creating memories of a lifetime,
@FantasiaFest
Claire Denis' STARS AT NOON is a hot wet mess, with line "suck me" causing derisive laughter from those still awake at the screening. I somehow found it tolerable, especially as Benny Safdie makes a fine "consultant". The cast try hard, but storyline is risible
#Cannes2022
Huge credit to
@TIFF_NET
for not pretending that Covid is over, treating patrons like adults and for informing without causing panic or spreading false info. I've been highly critical of lots from this year, but this is clearly a smart move that surpasses all other fests
#TIFF21
Just wrote my review for
#TheLighthouse
and I realize I love
#RobertPattinson
's affected accent in identical ways to my adoration of Daniel Day-Lewis in
#ThereWillBeBlood
.
I've never seen him as a sparkly Vapire, just an actor that kills it in nearly everything of his I've seen
PARASITE - Bong Joon-Ho's symphony of sociopathy is no con, a brilliant family drama/social drama/grifters tale with highs if humour and depths of deadly despair. Just stunning, a fantastic, beautifully realized film that earns every turn it takes.
#Cannes2019
RED ROCKET - Sean Baker's return to fest is another quiet triumph, documenting a group of panhandle citizenry with comedic and dramatic precision that often startles. From N'Sync to delicious donuts to petty gangsterism and adult awards, the result is a dreamy delight
#cannes2021
This weekend Toronto residents finally get to see
@RealGDT
@shapeofwater
during regular release - opens throughout Canada over next few weeks. Go see one of the best films of this or any year and help support films made in Canada! My
#TIFF17
review:
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME - a delightful tribute by Eddie Murphy and co. to Rudy Ray Moore's tenacity and legacy. With the warmth of ED WOOD, a perfect foray into that era complete with committed performances and slick style, it's motherfuckin' fun.
#TIFF19
CRIMES OF THR FUTURE - Cronenberg leaves his blue period behind and leans back into red - Result of a tryst between EXISTENZ, DEAD RINGERS and CRASH, the master of body horror delves deep into human securities and need for storytelling to survive and arouse. Bravo.
#Cannes2022
FLOW - Fantastic feline fare, a purr-fect dialogue-free diluvian drama and buddy film rolled into one. This rare international film from Latvia, this is going to be a HUGE hit on that circuit, and maybe even Oscar contender for Animation.
#cannes2024
Almodovar will likely take
#PalmedOr
but there are a dozen better films more deserving. Oh for Bong to win for
#Parasite
! A real pleasant shock would be for Sciamma to take top prize. QT doesn't need it but it's a worthy film. And why not award Filho?
Answers soon
#Cannes2019
AFTER YANG - Beautifully executed near future examination of life, memories and family, complete with dance contests and moving moments of quiet contemplation. Tone dialed in perfectly, at each moment it eschews over-the-top drama for confident, precise storytelling
#cannes2021
BENEDETTA - Verhoeven once again displays his mastery of creating seductive tone, mixing the ribald with the religious, from farts to flights of fancy, all with an acerbic eye to faith, hypocrisy, lust and carnage. Beautiful to watch, it's a blessed work by a master
#Cannes2021
Of all the things fans of houston will lose their minds for it's the isolated vocal tracks that MacDonald incorporates in
#Whitney
. They're spinetingling.
#Cannes2018
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH A Coen Brother takes equal parts Bergman and Bard, crafting stunningly angular, taught take on Scottish play. McDormand is exceptional, Washington fierce, but it's Kathryn Hunter who is a revelation as the Sisters, while Alex Hansell slithers deliciously
Of all the revelations in Spielberg's
#WestSideStory
the biggest contribution may be the introduction of
@rachelzegler
. Of the dozen+ recordings I own she's best Maria I've ever heard, and she brings character to life with a dimension and honesty that's unparalleled.
So, Qatar got the two best players in football to perform brilliantly at one of the best finals of all time, both of whom currently play for PSG, a team owned by the Emir of Qatar who handed out the trophies.
Ah, footy...
THE LIGHTHOUSE - a sadistic sea shanty, a dark dive into the fathoms of madness anchored by exquisitely overboard performances by
#WillemDafoe
and
#RobertPattinson
.
Ups Eggers' WITCH in many ways, this bonkers film about inadvertent brotherhood soaks to the bone
#cannes2019
Branagh's BELFAST - reminded of ROMA, with its carefully realized look at tumultuous childhood and anchored by exceptional performances, particularly from lead Jude Hill. A warm fable about the time of troubles, it's both moving and provocative in its quiet dignity
#tiff21
Tár is ármazing. Blanchett is a tour de force, and its complex characterizations and ambiguities so welcome as they're so often missing from even the most austere of cinema. Musically rich to boot, it's an absolute triumph.
Just opened my
@eltonofficial
MADMAN box, and in context this Mick Ronson version that I'd heard as bonus track sporadically takes on new level of import - what a ridiculously amazing version that's a tossup with the released version, itself a masterpiece
If you had a little film festival with "snubbed" FIRST MAN, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, SHIRKERS, WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? and BURNING you would see some of the best of 2018 or any year...
It really was a hell of a year for film.
#OscarNoms
#Oscars
CASABLANCA BEATS could absolutely win Palme - ingredients of SCHOOL OF ROCK, GOODWILL HUNTING and even WHIPLASH, but with fierce hip-hop bent and contemporary political eye set on the youth of Morocco looking to raise their voice, being the noise and fight the power
#Cannes2021