On Screen

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

  • Review: ‘Early Man’ has fun with one of the world’s oldest sports (Includes first-hand account)

    Since no one could have physically lived through the ancient past, particularly the start of humankind, it’s challenging to envision what life could’ve been like then… but it can also be fun to imagine the innovative ways people may have used the things around them to enjoy some of life’s current luxuries. The Flintstones was the prime example of this as prehistoric man co-existed with dinosaurs and built a pretty “high-tech” city, complete with amenities and primitive versions of various electronics. The latest imagining comes from the very talented team at Aardman Animations, as they present Early Man.

  • Review: ‘Black Panther’ excels by not compromising (Includes first-hand account)

    Even though Marvel Studios launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its better-known properties, they haven’t been afraid to take a chance on less mainstream characters. One of the reasons is each franchise is approached in a manner that best suits its unique personality. Of course, there are numerous similarities that can be seen across any number of stories, but it’s the elements that make them different that appeal to audiences (and make the many team-ups more attractive). All superheroes battle villains, but it’s how they do it that creates fans. Black Panther is the latest protector to get his own theatrical release and they didn’t cut any corners.

  • Review: ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ should’ve stayed bound and gagged (Includes first-hand account)

    The ultimate chapter in a trilogy dubbed the “anti-Twilight,” which titillated any reader who could tolerate E.L. James’ abysmal prose, is finally getting its big screen debut. Over three years, the controversial yet sultry adaptations of Anastasia Steele’s unsolicited sexual awakening and subsequent taming of the bully Christian Grey has unfolded in the shadow of jealous lovers, past and present. In spite of being made under the guidance of different directors and screenwriters, a lack of consistency was never going to be the series’ biggest problem as Fifty Shades Freed so plainly demonstrates.

  • Review: ‘Hostiles’ weaves a complex story in an equally complex setting (Includes first-hand account)

    The United States of America is a country born from conflict, so it’s not surprising that many of the films set in the 19th century reflect the countless struggles experienced by people gaining and losing land. In Westerns there’s frequently a backdrop of war, but also clashes with the indigenous people, which contribute to the tense, and generally violent, atmosphere. However, it’s not often that these encounters are used to tell a story in which an aggressive character evolves, gaining depth and respect as the narrative unfolds. Hostiles is one of these rarities, taking audiences through a perilous journey of racism and redemption.

  • Review: ‘Paddington 2’ continues to bring out the best in everyone (Includes first-hand account)

    For several years now, studios have been reaching into the past for inspiration with varied results. Trying to recreate the magic of something to which people may already have an emotional attachment is a difficult task as nostalgia is a powerful drug. Yet, occasionally they prove successful and the final product strikes just the right balance of respectful and fresh. This was the case with the first Paddington film, in which the most loveable bear in a pea coat finds a home in London. Now, in Paddington 2, the delightful cub’s happiness is threatened when he’s framed for a crime.

  • Review: ‘I, Tonya’ is a gritty story that no one could’ve expected (Includes first-hand account)

    It’s not often a scandal becomes engrained in pop culture or someone’s name becomes a verb. Conversely, these situations are almost always more complex than anyone realized and the “truth” is rarely an absolute. The curiosity of the public lends the central figures their 15-minutes of fame before they’re replaced by the next sensational news headline, but that doesn’t always mean they’re forgotten or that their stories are complete. Figure skating champion Tonya Harding’s legacy went from the first woman to complete a triple axel in competition to the woman who tried to handicap her biggest competitor — I, Tonya tells her tale.

  • Review: ‘Phantom Thread’ stitches a bizarre story of love and obsession (Includes first-hand account)

    In the last couple of decades, award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis has been clearly selective about the roles he accepts. As a result, it now seems he’s reached the moment in his career where his mere involvement in a picture makes it a must-see film. It also doesn’t hurt that the few projects he does agree to are frequently helmed by acclaimed directors and/or populated by other first-rate actors. Day-Lewis’ latest endeavour puts him at the centre of fashion in 1950’s London in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s Phantom Thread.

  • Review: ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ is what fans didn’t know they wanted (Includes first-hand account)

    Now that Disney is releasing a Star Wars movie every year for the foreseeable future, it’s somewhat hard to believe there were so many years between films prior to their purchase of Lucasfilm. Yet in spite of the many decades that have passed since audience’s first ventured to “a galaxy far, far away,” their appetites for sci-fi adventures and the Skywalker saga have not waned. With new creators taking the helm, and advanced technology and special effects techniques supporting their visions, the results have been magnificent — and they’re only getting better. And now we have the second picture in the latest trilogy, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

  • Review: ‘The Shape of Water’ is Guillermo Del Toro’s best film to date (Includes first-hand account)

    Put simply: Guillermo Del Toro makes interesting films. When he’s tackling a specific genre, the result is uniquely striking. Even when they incorporate conventions, the stories are spellbinding, and the visuals are frequently breathtaking. Just the announcement of his next project builds immediate anticipation for the picture, which is usually still years from release. Del Toro’s latest film is undoubtedly a project that was close to his heart, which he’s unmistakeably poured into this movie as well. The Shape of Water is one of the year’s best and most favoured films.

  • Review: ‘Coco’ is a striking story that shines brightly in many ways (Includes first-hand account)

    Even though many aspects of particular cultures have been monetized, it doesn’t mean everyone has a firm grasp of its original meaning or purpose. Some things are simply adopted because they have an appealing look that can be easily mass-produced while retaining only a loose association with its origins. Sugar skulls are a wildly popular decorative item, however its connection to the Day of the Dead and the reason for the celebration is only vaguely understood by various patrons. Pixar decided to explore the event via their typically accessible storytelling style in their latest picture, Coco.

  • Review: ‘Justice League’ demonstrates the power of teamwork (Includes first-hand account)

    When a studio or its filmmakers are devoid of original ideas or true creativity, they take what they have and compare it to what’s already out there; then they make adjustments in an attempt to produce a success rather than a unique and/or engrossing picture. DC carries the weight of decades of cinematic history to live up to, but looking at their narratives as a contest instead of a standalone entry into the zeitgeist is part of the problem. They need to focus on being good, not better. On the heels of the dismal Batman v Superman and the exceptional Wonder Woman, Justice League tries to find some middle ground.

  • Review: ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is the wittiest Marvel movie to date (Includes first-hand account)

    With Thor not being included in Captain America: Civil War, Marvel appeared to take to social media to explain his absence via hilarious short videos about him attempting to assimilate to civilian, human life in Chris Hemsworth‘s native Australia. This was followed by an amusing post-credit sequence in which the God of Thunder has an awkward sit down with Doctor Strange and a bottomless beer stein. While it seemed like the studio was just having some fun with one of its more popular characters, it turns out they were actually laying the groundwork for their latest superhero picture, Thor: Ragnarok, which takes a decidedly lighter approach to the franchise.