On Screen

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

  • 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?

  • Review: ‘T2 Trainspotting’ is a pitch perfect exercise in nostalgia (Includes first-hand account)

    Nearly twenty years ago, Danny Boyle and John Hogan adapted Irvine Welsh‘s visceral tale about friendship, drug addiction and death. Most of the actors, including Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner and Kelly Macdonald, would continue to experience varying levels of professional success. But for better or worse, these characters would follow them throughout their careers not only because they were memorable, but because their performances were outstanding. Fans were filled with excitement and trepidation when it was announced Boyle was reuniting the original cast for a sequel; particularly when it was revealed T2 Trainspotting‘s runtime would stretch to 20 minutes over the original, which was deliberately limited to 90 minutes. But it turns out there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

  • Review: ‘Kong: Skull Island’ gives the king due respect (Includes first-hand account)

    Before CGI and other technologies existed, filmmakers still sought ways to make the monsters of their imaginations a reality on the big screen. Thus, early creature-based narratives, such as King Kong and Clash of the Titans, were created using stop-motion animation and, later, animatronics were used. Obviously there were limitations to what was possible, particularly regarding the design’s interaction with the actors and sets, but they accomplished a lot with what they had at the time. However, technological advancements have all but made this practical art form archaic. Now that it seems simpler to make these types of movies, many of them have been made again (and in some cases, again and again). Kong: Skull Island is the latest depiction of the colossal ape that first captured audience’s attentions in 1933.

  • Review: ‘Table 19’ needed a better wedding planner (Includes first-hand account)

    For the single and newly single, a wedding invitation can be a source of stress and trepidation… what to wear, whether or not to bring a guest and the dread of everyone asking about your non-existent special someone. While copious amounts of alcohol seems like a good idea at first, it can often make the already awkward situation worse. The best and most difficult approach involves plastering a smile on your face and handling every inappropriate comment with grace — and, if possible, humour. But as Table 19 demonstrates, being seated in the dead zone doesn’t help matters.

  • Review: ‘Cirkopolis’ splashes a grey world with imagination and colour (Includes first-hand account)

    Conformity is the enemy of creativity, but unity is a symbol of strength. They can sometimes be confused, though the latter accomplishes wonderful things where the former suffocates them. To be completely synchronized with a partner or group of people requires absolute trust, precision and coordination. The results are displays of skill and beauty that are spellbinding and entertaining. Using a combination of acrobatics, theatrics and dance, Cirque Éloize’s Cirkopolis dramatizes the conflict between industry and imagination.

  • Review: ‘Logan’ finds a tormented soul beneath the epic bouts of violence (Includes first-hand account)

    There are some characters who through years of canon have become iconic. Their stories have taken many forms, but their essence remains unchanged. This allows for multi-generational fandom that can relate to one another because the focus of their esteem is essentially the same. Comic book characters top this list as almost everyone can hear the names of certain heroes and not only recognize them but conjure some feeling associated with them: Batman, Superman… Wolverine. Once in a while, someone entrusted with their tale does something truly interesting with the privilege, producing a new narrative that demands fans’ attention. Logan is that story.

  • Review: ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ exemplifies activist James Baldwin’s work (Includes first-hand account)

    When certain issues take centre stage in the world, at home or both, it’s not surprising to notice an uptick in the number films — fiction and non- — that address related subjects. Whether inspired by current events or a years-long project that can finally secure financing due to its sudden relevance, there can be a perceptible surge of these types of movies. It’s unimportant which category the Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro falls under, but rather that it was made and has some very important things to say.

  • Review: Comedian Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ may be year’s best horror movie (Includes first-hand account)

    Since the earliest silent pictures about monsters and murderers, the horror genre has been used to explore social and political issues. Whether highlighting the struggles of the poor, the consequences of war or the subsistence of racism, the surrealism of a scary movie can provide the perfect environment to create a metaphor that serves as intelligent commentary on reality. Whether subtle or overt, not underestimating the audience’s ability to identify and understand the film’s meaning can lead to outstanding works of fiction. Get Out is as thought-provoking as it is disturbing, continuing an optimistic start for genre movies in 2017.

  • Review: ‘The Girl with All the Gifts’ finds new way to tell tired story (Includes first-hand account)

    With the plethora of zombie movies that have been recently released, riding the waves of popularity of The Walking Dead, it can be difficult to find a unique story amongst all the noise. However, select indie filmmakers are discovering less can be more even in a genre now known for its bloody exuberance. If one considers the most successful and acclaimed undead narratives, it becomes apparent many of them shared a minimalist approach that focused on the characters rather than the grey hordes. The Girl with All the Gifts contributes one more distinctive voice to the din.