On Screen

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

  • Review: ‘Guns Akimbo’ is a full-tilt, bloody riot (Includes first-hand account)

    While news articles and social commentators discuss the fate of humanity based on whatever debasement is currently trending, few are as convincing or impactful to mainstream consumers as film. A movie can either use genre to indirectly explore a topic and its consequences, subtly delivering its message to audiences; or, it can take the current fad to the extreme, illustrating the potentially slippery slope and worst-case scenarios. In the case of the latter, it’s typically entirely over-the-top and difficult to fathom — but it’s also not entirely out of the realm of possibility. In Guns Akimbo, the top-rated form of entertainment is murder.

  • Review: ‘The Invisible Man’ lives in that unshakeable, unsettling feeling (Includes first-hand account)

    Everyone knows the feeling that someone is watching you… even though you know you’re alone. Or something moves from the location you’re absolutely positive you left it a moment ago. Most people just chalk it up to their mind playing tricks on them. But what if you had reason to believe it’s not just your imagination, but in fact someone else playing a sinister game? A game that causes you to stop trusting yourself and makes other people think you’ve lost your mind? The Invisible Man is doing just that and it’s working dangerously well.

  • Review: ‘The Jesus Rolls’ barrels down the fast and loose lane (Includes first-hand account)

    As supplementary characters and supporting artists fill the screen, it’s uncommon for them to become the centre of attention. After all, their role is to help the protagonist(s) propel the story forward, not lead the way. But as actors prepare for these parts, no matter how big or small, it’s possible they create an extensive back story and character arc. Consequently, they may develop an attachment to this personality they nurtured even if their overall contribution to the film is minimal. Twenty-two years ago, John Turturro played an unhinged bowler with a foul-mouth and perfect form. He’s now returned to that character, writing and directing The Jesus Rolls.

  • Review: ‘The Lodge’ is a slow-burn attack on the mind (Includes first-hand account)

    Divorce can already be complicated, but even more so when children are involved. Things can become all the more difficult if one-half of the former couple is involved in a new relationship, especially if its grown serious and steps are being taken towards making the arrangement more permanent. Hurt feelings are almost inevitable, but in some cases, it’s much more than that. Trying to navigate all of these things at once can be challenging and forcing the situation can be disastrous. In The Lodge, a father is determined to move on with his new love interest, but his children feel differently.

  • Review: ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ is a love story for the ages (Includes first-hand account)

    The Kinsey scale suggests most people are not entirely on either end of the spectrum in regards to their sexuality. Therefore, it’s not surprising when men or women spend most of their time with the same sex, relationships can develop in spite of previous/current predilections… or more typically, in spite of people’s assumptions about their predilections. Unfortunately, various situations prevent people from pursuing these interests or from making them a long-term arrangement, so they’re enjoyed in secret for as long as possible. In Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a young woman is promised to a man she’s never met in spite of her protests.

  • 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.