On Screen

Smart reviews for the visually obsessed. On Screen features film reviews and festival coverage, spotlighting cinematic craft, storytelling and standout performances.

  • Review: ‘Downhill’ doesn’t get a high score from the judges (Includes first-hand account)

    Even seemingly strong relationships can be rattled by a significant event, while already shaky ones can be knocked out by it. If both parties are interested, they can try to recover and recapture the feelings that brought them together to start… and there’s also the children to think about, in some cases. But some things can’t be forgiven and others can, but with great difficulty. Every couple has their limits and sometimes you don’t find them until they’re challenged. In Downhill, a family trip is thrown off course when their bonds are tested and one member fails the exam.

  • Review: ‘The Assistant’ bears everything that brought about the MeToo era (Includes first-hand account)

    As various industries and organizations remove their blinders to acknowledge the systemic sexism, harassment and abuse that’s existed for decades without consequence, the types of narratives being told are also changing. Rather than movies that portray this as the norm, films in the MeToo era are now giving voice to the victims and demonstrating such behaviour elicits harm in ways beyond the obvious. These accounts also illustrate the many obstacles to filing a complaint, pressing charges and/or getting people to even believe the accusations. In The Assistant, a young woman is burdened with being a bystander to her boss’ many transgressions.

  • Review: ‘Birds of Prey’ knocks it out of the park (Includes first-hand account)

    Portraying unique characters adapted from the page can be a difficult task. Consequently, even if the first attempt is only moderately good, it becomes the benchmark against which all others are compared. This is especially true for comic book personalities, where imaginations have produced distinct heroes and villains that also undergo a number of transformations over their lifetimes. But actors can have a lot of fun with these roles if they embrace the world and its rules… or lack thereof. In Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, everyone is set to have a good time.

  • Review: ‘The Gentlemen’ elevates the criminal element (Includes first-hand account)

    The world learned Guy Ritchie‘s name when he casted Brad Pitt in Snatch as a gypsy boxer whose accent was so heavy and English so contorted, he needed subtitles. Though it was only his second feature film, it put him on the map. In addition, that movie and his debut, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, proved he had a talent for gangster pictures and their dialogue. Then he made a bunch of other movies over the next 20 years, branching off into similar genres and adapting his skills while refining his penchant for action. Now, he’s returned to write, direct and produce a new, original gangster film, The Gentlemen.

  • Review: ‘Dolittle’ is fluent in dog and fun (Includes first-hand account)

    Even though we know animals probably don’t think the way we do, it’s nonetheless fun to project human reasoning and emotions onto them. People have imaginary/one-sided conversations with their pets and add humorous narrations to nature videos. Consequently, anthropomorphism is very prevalent in fiction as animals can be used to tell stories of social commentary as well as entertaining ventures. The more amusing narratives usually fall into the drama or comedy category, and have been presented in live-action, animated and the ever more popular CGI formats. Dolittle is a mix of these as it puts its personal twist on the tale of a doctor who can speak to animals.

  • Review: ‘Bad Boys for Life’ haven’t lost their touch (Includes first-hand account)

    The latest trend is to pick up a narrative some decades after the franchise’s last picture was released. This involves getting most of the actors to reprise their roles — not just the protagonists, but some of the supporting cast too if the film is to really feel like a continuation of the previous one. It also requires the performers to slip back into personas they likely haven’t visited for many years and make it seem like they never left. Audiences enjoy the trip down memory lane as much as those in the picture and, if done correctly, everyone has a good time. Next up, the renegade cop duo from Miami returns in Bad Boys for Life.

  • Review: ‘1917’ puts audiences on the battlefield (Includes first-hand account)

    Period war dramas still tend to resonate with audiences. Films set during the First and Second World Wars are especially effective, though most of the viewers were not yet alive during the former or, in many cases, even the latter. The less technologically-sophisticated combat strategies and weaponry seem to correlate with greater personal risk to the soldiers, who were generally young men asked to fight and die for their countries. Bouts of fear are mixed in with acts of heroism as they march over the bodies of their fallen friends to finish the task they started together. 1917 follows two British soldiers on a mission to limit the bloodshed.

  • Review: ‘Underwater’ responds well to pressure (Includes first-hand account)

    “Leave no rock unturned” certainly has its pros and cons. As humans scour every inch of the Earth, they turn their sights to the deepest depths of the ocean. Once where no man could survive the pressure, it’s only a matter of time before exploration becomes excavation. But what hides in the dark or deep below the ocean floor? What may our meddling awaken and how will it react to our intrusion? For years, movies have proposed previously undisturbed, uncharted areas were home to creatures ready to exact Mother Nature’s revenge. Consequently, they’ve unleashed something in Underwater and it’s not feeling very welcoming.

  • Review: ‘Twin Peaks: From Z to A’ is the ultimate mystery collection (Includes first-hand account)

    When Twin Peaks premiered in 1990, it was one of the strangest mysteries to takeover network television. Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch, the series drew on elements of detective fiction, as well as daytime serials and the horror genre. However, as with Lynch’s other projects, it had a quirky sense of humour, countless moments of surrealism and a distinguished look. Although it only lasted two seasons, the show gained a cult following and a permanent place in the pop culture zeitgeist. Consequently, it also produced a prequel movie, Fire Walk with Me, which was accompanied by nearly 90 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes titled, “The Missing Pieces,” and a 2017 limited event series (or third season) written by Lynch and Frost, and promoted as Twin Peaks: The Return. Now fans can own all of these narratives in one attractive boxset called Twin Peaks: From Z to A.

  • Review: ‘Spies in Disguise’ has fun with the spy’s love of camouflage (Includes first-hand account)

    The secret agent is an appealing character in fiction because they’re human, but capable of accomplishing amazing feats. They’re constantly in mortal danger, but almost never really at risk of dying because they always find a way to escape. They have the best tech money can buy and imaginations can create, making difficult situations easily manageable. They’re also able to blend into any environment, using the most meagre to incredibly elaborate disguises to avoid detection. However, even when things go wrong, they still have to get the job done as demonstrated in Spies in Disguise.

  • Review: ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ provides thrilling closure (Includes first-hand account)

    After four years, the latest Star Wars trilogy is finally coming to an end. While the death of major characters were expected, some were still shocking and others were difficult to accept. However, the real-life passing of original franchise star Carrie Fisher hit everyone hard as it meant she would never see the end of the series to which she was such an important contributor. Yet, General Leia Organa would still play a major role in the final chapter as the latest Skywalker saga comes to an end in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

  • Review: Clint Eastwood delivers a great film in ‘Richard Jewell’ (Includes first-hand account)

    While the American justice system is supposed to be built on the idea that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, it often doesn’t work that way. For one, law enforcement can become so focused on a single suspect, they view all the evidence through a lens of bias. Second, many suspects are often tried by the media and public opinion before they even step foot in a courtroom. Finally, if it turns out the prime suspect is innocent, it’s often decided only after their reputation has suffered irreparable damage. For Richard Jewell, his 15 minutes of fame turns into a never-ending nightmare overnight in this true story.