On Screen

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

  • Review: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2’ is awesome like your fave mixtape (Includes first-hand account)

    Taking a chance on a lesser known Marvel property paid off in spades a few years ago when the studio introduced mass audiences to the Guardians of the Galaxy. A flawless cast endeared viewers to these previously unfamiliar characters and the old school soundtrack had them grooving in their seats, all while writer/director James Gunn‘s script entertained, engaged and left everyone wanting more. With the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, their calls have been answered with glorious humour, action and dancing.

  • Review: ‘The Lost City of Z’ pits ignorance against elusive evidence (Includes first-hand account)

    To this day, archeologists continue to discover evidence of previously unknown civilizations, and biologists regularly find new animal and plant species in formerly unexplored lands. But just more than a century ago, the most cultured societies were convinced those found living beyond the borders of establishment could not have developed any level of sophistication worthy of acknowledgement or examination. Referring to these people as “savages,” their value to humanity is dismissed and they are relegated to servants and slaves. In The Lost City of Z (pronounced “zed”), one man tries to convince the world of the existence and value of the yet undocumented Mayans.

  • Review: ‘The Fate of the Furious’ is difficult to predict after this film (Includes first-hand account)

    The Fast and the Furious franchise established itself on a principle of fast cars, crazy stunts and good-looking people. The storylines are generally pretty thin, but that’s not really why audiences go to these movies. The death of one of the stars, Paul Walker, hasn’t slowed their momentum, but whether it’s affected the quality of the movies is another matter. The latest picture, and the first in what is expected to be a closing trilogy, is The Fate of the Furious, which separates the team and replenishes its numbers.

  • Review: ‘Maudie’ paints a complex but fulfilling picture (Includes first-hand account)

    There have been a number of movies based around characters who are underestimated or overlooked because they have a particular mental or physical challenge; frequently the person is faking a debility specifically for this purpose, but other times it’s real even though their abilities have been misjudged. More often than not, it’s outsiders who recognize their aptitude for something before those closest to them even notice. In Maudie, the main character’s talents are acknowledged by strangers and most of the world before her own family accepts she has any.

  • Review: ‘Going in Style’ has considerable flair (Includes first-hand account)

    There’s an intriguing phenomenon occurring in Hollywood at the moment: a generation of accomplished, acclaimed actors and filmmakers are getting old. In spite of being over the traditional age of retirement, they are still flourishing and working well into their 70s, 80s and even 90s. However, in order for them to do so, the types of narratives being told had to mature with them. Consequently, there has been a perceptible increase in the number of films made featuring older protagonists — the trick is to make them appeal to all ages. The latest in this series of films is Going in Style.

  • Review: ‘Gifted’ has a touching and undeniable authenticity (Includes first-hand account)

    Stories that centre on a child’s well-being are always interesting because its constitution often seems to be a matter of opinion. Of course there are minimum standards regarding food, shelter, safety, education and other necessities on which most people can agree, but beyond that things begin to become subjective – particularly when it comes to matters of money and who has more of it. However, a child’s happiness is reliant on much more than just material things and their best interests are not always served by bigger wallets. In director Marc Webb‘s Gifted, a young girl’s future is debated by the courts after seven years of no one taking an interest.

  • Review: ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife’ puts humanity at the forefront of war (Includes first-hand account)

    Before Germany invaded most countries in World War II, people of all creeds lived harmoniously. Yet when they arrived, those same people watched their neighbours be rounded up at gunpoint and first taken to ghettos then concentration camps. Yet there were some who could not stand by and watch as friends and strangers were led like lambs to the slaughter. They’re the subjects of countless stories of courageous souls risking their lives to save others. The latest is The Zookeeper’s Wife, which chronicles a dangerous underground railroad for Jews escaping Poland.

  • ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ trailer is packed with villainous mayhem (Includes first-hand account)

    Considering the number of Spider-Man movies that have been released in the last 15 years, including two reboots, it wasn’t entirely surprising they decided to introduce the new actor in a Marvel team-up instead of a standalone film. But now it’s time for Tom Holland to don the blue and red suit in his own picture… with a little help from Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). One of the most reassuring things about the Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer is it doesn’t appear audiences will be forced to sit through yet another origin story.

  • Review: ‘Broken Mile’ is literally a non-stop thriller (Includes first-hand account)

    One of the side effects of being an addict is you can’t always remember what happened while you were under the influence. Sobering can raise a lot of questions related to where you are, who you’re with and what transpired that led to current circumstances. Unfortunately, depending on the company you keep during these sessions, they may not be able to provide any answers. The resulting confusion is bewildering and occasionally dangerous as in Broken Mile, when one character awakens to the worst possible discovery.

  • Review: ‘Personal Shopper’ is Kristen Stewart’s best thus far (Includes first-hand account)

    Living one’s life on what feels like borrowed time and spending it looking for something doesn’t make for much of a life. The former causes a person to feel like anything they might try to do of significance will ultimately be pointless, while the latter keeps them preoccupied and consequently distracted from ever trying. The result is constant uncertainty and listlessness. Thus in Personal Shopper, the protagonist is on an aimless path that is hijacked by a self-serving force.

  • Review: ‘Life’ draws from similar past experiences (Includes first-hand account)

    The exploration of life on other planets has always held the possibility of encountering a hostile species. Many movies have depicted monstrous creatures that seem to have a malevolent streak and are hell-bent on destroying the intruders that disturbed them and/or invaded their home. Some move in the shadows, only fully revealing themselves nearer the end; others have various camouflaging abilities that allow them to hide in plain sight. But the bottom line is always the same: these things pose an imminent threat to humanity and must be eliminated before they can obliterate our Earthly existence. Life has isolated its threat in space and they aim to keep it there.

  • Review: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ makes the fairy tale a reality (Includes first-hand account)

    For each generation, there is a group of animated Disney movies which they grew up watching repeatedly. Continuing to view the studio’s offerings into adulthood, one appreciates the advances they’ve made in technology and storytelling, but those movies that were “your movies” still hold a special place in your memories. Recently, Disney has begun reaching back into their vaults seeking properties they can translate to a live-action format. Their latest endeavour is Beauty and the Beast, which definitely made fans somewhat uneasy — after all, can you really replace Mrs. Potts?