On Screen

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

  • Review: ‘Luce’ defies expectations, but what’s going on behind that smile (Includes first-hand account)

    Everyone likes an underdog story. Seeing people/teams/animals succeed against all odds appeals to audiences because it makes them feel good by proxy. However, not a lot of thought is often given to the pressure these expectations can place on the one carrying everyone’s hopes on their shoulders. Of course they want to be successful for themselves, but there’s the added burden of potentially disappointing all their supporters if they don’t finish on top. Sure they say your best is good enough, but there’s always that little voice in the back of your mind that whispers it’s not true. In Luce, a young man faces all of these issues with mixed results.

  • Review: ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ is pumped to reinvigorate the franchise (Includes first-hand account)

    With eight movies under its belt and at least a couple more on the way, everyone knows what to expect when they go to watch the a Fast and the Furious movie: fast cars, high-speed chases, entertaining quips, an emphasis family and a “do or die” attitude. But with the franchise potentially coming to a close, the studio would understandably have an interest in branching out and extending its longevity. Thus, they approached two of the series’ side characters about starring in a spinoff together — they’re already well-liked by audiences, so they’re the perfect candidates for launching a new franchise in the same world. And this brings us to, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

  • Review: The West is fading in ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (Includes first-hand account)

    Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has consistently expressed an enthusiasm for the golden age of Hollywood, spaghetti westerns, grindhouse cinema and fresh opportunities, particularly for actors stuck in a rut. A trailblazer in the ‘90s with his unique, stylish blend of violence and parallel storylines, he’s recently been afforded the opportunity to indulge his passions and revive these types of movies with his own flair. Currently in a phase focusing on Westerns, he’s gone back in time to examine a day in the life of a former TV cowboy and his faithful stuntman. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is another variation for the director, though his signature style is still front-and-centre.

  • Review: ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ spins a web of action-packed fun (Includes first-hand account)

    Since Marvel came back into the fold, Spider-Man has flourished. No longer an emo man-child, he exudes youth and teenage sarcasm in a manner inherit to the character. In other words, Peter Parker really looks and feels like the boy next door now. Moreover, bringing him back into the greater MCU allowed for more interesting storylines as he built a paternal bond with the ever-aloof Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). If you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame, then you really should before watching this picture because it opens with a major spoiler (which also can’t/won’t be avoided for the remainder of this review — fair warning). Having announced this movie would close out Marvel Studios‘ phase three rather than Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home took the baton and slung away.

  • Review: ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ is a practised source of dread (Includes first-hand account)

    While some people love and collect vintage porcelain-faced dolls, others rightfully find them incredibly creepy. They inherently seem to have a certain level of sadness or malice attached to them. Long before Chucky took to the screen, people were suspicious of children’s toys. The Annabelle doll had many homes, but it all started when a grieving family adopted her as their surrogate and opened the door to a malevolent demon who terrorized them and all future owners. Eventually paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, were able to contain the evil. In Annabelle Comes Home, a girl learns the meaning of the old adage, “Curiosity killed the cat.”

  • Review: ‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ finds fun in hairy situations (Includes first-hand account)

    Change can be difficult for everyone, non-humans included. It can disrupt whatever you’ve come to perceive as normal, alter long-standing routines, and add or remove others from your life. Whether it’s for better or worse, change is inevitable so sometimes you just have to make the best of it even when it doesn’t feel like an improvement… but hopefully, with a little time, that sentiment can change too. In The Secret Life of Pets 2, Max is now glad to have his big pal Duke, but is he ready for a new baby to enter the mix?

  • Review: ‘Dark Phoenix’ goes up in flames (Includes first-hand account)

    Fans of the Phoenix saga generally came to the story in one of two ways: through the X-Men comics or via the ‘90s animated TV series. The last couple of attempts to incorporate the fiery narrative into the film franchise didn’t amount to very much and definitely didn’t do the epic storyline justice. Now, they’ve given the immensely powerful mutant her own picture in which to explore her abilities and unleash the rage that accompanies it. But it’s not all fire and brimstone as there’s a lot of complex emotions to deal with as well. Dark Phoenix tries to encapsulate all of these things while telling one of the superheroes’ most beloved narratives.

  • Review: ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ is a problematic ruler (Includes first-hand account)

    Since being introduced by Toho in 1954, Kaiju have fascinated movie audiences with their sheer enormity and devastating destructive abilities. Then they took it up a notch by shifting the beasts’ focus to each other as the giant creatures battle for supremacy while still obliterating everything in their paths. With dozens of pictures in their catalogue and fans all over the world, they’d essentially created a genre. Now, as Hollywood continues to reach back in time for inspiration, they’ve decided to reboot the stories and rebuild the world of “titans.” In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the giant reptile is in hiding but the government would prefer him dead.

  • Review: ‘Aladdin’ is a magical ride through a familiar world (Includes first-hand account)

    There are several arguments to be made for and against Disney reaching into their vaults to make live-action versions of their animated classics. On the one hand, it feels as if there’s a lack of new ideas and room for creativity as, arguably, the largest studio in the world rehashes their already bankable narratives. On the other hand, re-envisioning the original stories gives them the opportunity to address any criticisms that may have been leveraged at the movie’s release or over the years. The new live-action version of Aladdin takes a little from column A and a little from column B.

  • Review: ‘John Wick 3: Parabellum’ delves deeper and hits harder (Includes first-hand account)

    Action movies and thrillers driven by revenge have been commonplace since the ‘70s. When someone with access to a gun or other weapons is wronged, it seems to be a recipe for enacting cold, hard, brutal vengeance against everyone responsible. But “every action has a consequence” and unflinching, ruthless violence is bound to eventually draw blood from a forbidden pool. Running only gets you so far and then confrontation, surrender or – if you’re lucky – negotiation become the only options. In John Wick 3: Parabellum, the title character opts for all-out war against anyone who tries to stand in his way.

  • Review: ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ is the cutest film noir ever (Includes first-hand account)

    Even if they’ve never played any of the games, it’s likely most people have at least heard of Pokémon. Their cuteness turned the challenge into a global phenomenon that continues to attract and engage trainers of all ages. The phrase, “Gotta catch ‘em all,” is both a mantra and the reason the attraction has endured as long as it has with fans. It was only a matter of time before the magical creatures took over the big screen in live action and they’ve decided to do so with a sub-story of the main trainer narrative with Pokémon Detective Pikachu.

  • Review: ‘Tolkien’ is the tale of where it all truly started (Includes first-hand account)

    A successful saga is a true accomplishment as it requires the storyteller to captivate someone for an extended period of time, bridging multiple installments that may take years to complete. There’s a special kind of magic to that kind of tale, creating devout followers who must see their beloved characters to the end as they’ve stayed with them through thick and thin. Whether in movies or books (or both), these stories are the ones that stay forever in people’s hearts and minds. J.R.R. Tolkien was the writer of one of these great epics, but now fans can learn a little more about the man behind the words in Tolkien.