On Screen

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

  • Review: ‘Live by Night’ could have benefitted from greater focus (Includes first-hand account)

    The gangster movie has always been a staple of cinema, from the 1930s black-and-white Little Caesar and The Public Enemy to The Godfather, Scarface (remake) and Goodfellas. Audiences are fascinated by the career criminal and his rise to be king of the mountain… before he’s inevitably knocked down by another ambitious crook. The façade that they are simply businessmen that handle more “delicate” merchandise and take a keen interest in managing the competition has always been one of the more intriguing aspects of their personalities — the ability to compartmentalize, rationalize and, when all else fails, deny. Live by Night is slightly more complex as its protagonist has always had higher, more sensitive aspirations.

  • Op-Ed: Top 10 films of 2016

    Film critics watch a lot of movies. Previous attempts to keep track have failed, but between festivals, and theatrical and home releases the number easily climbs over 500 each year — and yet there are countless films still to be seen. Obviously the quality of these films vary greatly and most of them are not worth ever mentioning again, but there are a fraction of others whose praises should be shouted from the rooftops. Limiting the list to just 10 can be a struggle; particularly as one debates which picture is most deserving of that final place… thus we also have the honourable mentions section. The only basic restriction imposed here is the film must have played theatrically in North America in 2016; although the proliferation of streaming has generated at least one exception.

  • Review: ‘Hidden Figures’ is a testament of our ability to create change (Includes first-hand account)

    When one reviews humanity’s various achievements over the centuries, it becomes evident that our potential for great things has not evolved as much as our ability to accomplish them. Technological advancements have made it possible for even some of the most far-fetched dreams to be converted into reality. Accordingly, it’s not so much that the population is getting smarter but that they have the tools to fully realize their brilliance. Thus, when one looks at a historical drama like Hidden Figures, the wonder isn’t at what they could do but how hard they had to fight to do it.

  • Review: ‘Rogue One’ adds to the franchise as a standalone powerhouse (Includes first-hand account)

    Disney’s acquirement of Lucasfilm has put the studio on track for at least one film per year for the foreseeable future. They then made a promising statement with the acclaimed release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which met and in some ways even exceeded fans’ expectations. The film’s multi-faceted success created an aura of hope for future installments and a lot of curiosity around the previously announced standalone movies. The second picture to hit theatres from the new era is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which exists in the same universe but isn’t beholden to all that came before it.

  • Review: ‘Miss Sloane’ is unapologetic about her methods or gender (Includes first-hand account)

    Lobbying is a way of life on Capitol Hill, even if most would prefer not to acknowledge it. It should also come as no surprise that the most powerful lobbyists — i.e. the ones with the most money — represent some of the largest industries, including guns, oil, sugar and formerly tobacco. Though they’re prohibited from “buying” a senator’s vote, they’ve spent decades perfecting the workarounds that allow them to “earn” that allegiance. Miss Sloane is about a woman who decides to take those tactics and fight on behalf of the little guys.

  • Review: ‘Doctor Who — The Power of the Daleks’ is a must-see for Whovians (Includes first-hand account)

    Due to the nature of the show and the longstanding dedication of its followers, Doctor Who fans have repeatedly demonstrated a love for revisiting past plots and making old things new again. For the 50th anniversary, admirers rejoiced when favourite Doctors played by Matt Smith and David Tennant joined John Hurt’s War Doctor for a brand new adventure that incorporated decades of storylines. Now, for the first time in half a century, fans will have the opportunity to see the long lost story of the Second Doctor’s regeneration on the big screen. Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks will screen in theatres at a one-night only event Nov. 30.

  • Review: ‘Manchester by the Sea’ delivers greatness via its performances (Includes first-hand account)

    The death of a loved one, even when somewhat expected, is a very difficult experience. On top of all the emotions involved, there are a lot of arrangements to be made, legalities to handle and people to see. If you’re the one that needs to manage all of these things, giving in to grief is not an option. The responsibility can be a blessing and a curse as the need to concentrate on the details can act as a distraction, while the same details can wrench at your heart and bring long buried feelings to the surface. Manchester by the Sea takes place in the wake of a brother and father’s death as his loved ones deal with the particulars of his passing.

  • Review: ‘Moana’ isn’t letting anything stand between her and her mission (Includes first-hand account)

    Disney has always been ahead of the curve when it came to featuring female protagonists in their animated features. However, more importantly, the types of women portrayed and their narrative trajectories have evolved over the years; though it’s been most noticeable in the last decade. The princess is no longer hunting for a husband or waiting for a prince to save her from her evil relatives or a witch’s spell — she’s going on dangerous quests and vowing to save others. She has become the master of her own destiny and found the strength within herself to accomplish great things. Moana is the epitome of this evolution.

  • Review: ‘London Road’ is paved with innovation and a few potholes (Includes first-hand account)

    Combining genres can have mixed results, but when it works the effect can be profound. The 2000s has seen several mash-ups of horror or the macabre with the traditionally brighter and uplifting musical. Repo! The Genetic Opera and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street come to mind as examples of genre blending working out wonderfully. But what about less sexy narratives, such as a small town murder mystery? And what if creators took it one step further and used real-life scripts to compose their lyrics? London Road does this and more to produce a unique, tuneful account of a community’s shocking discovery.

  • Review: ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ keeps the magic alive (Includes first-hand account)

    First capturing the audience’s attention with the written word, the Harry Potter series then gained fans around the world with the film adaptations. Over 10 years, J.K. Rowling‘s beloved characters grew up on the big screen and the young actors that played them were immortalized as they grew into young adults before millions of eyes. But everything must come to an end, and eventually the final battle was waged and admirers said goodbye to Hogwarts’ brave students. However, many were later relieved to learn this was not just the end of the journey but the beginning of a new one, an earlier one. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a prequel to the renowned tale, taking place decades before the saviour’s birth.

  • Review: ‘Arrival’ is the sincerest type of science fiction (Includes first-hand account)

    As NASA regularly announces the discovery of distant planets with life sustaining environments, it’s easy to wonder what an encounter with alien life may look like. In addition to the aliens’ possibly strange appearance, how would we communicate with them? Would they come in peace? How would they arrive? Originally the answers to these questions were envisioned in science fiction books, then they moved to films. Without knowing anything about what may be out there, the possibilities of an encounter are infinite. Arrival is the latest picture to imagine what could happen if Earth received visitors from outer space.

  • Review: ‘Loving’ is a rousing yet refined look at unplanned courage (Includes first-hand account)

    It can be difficult to believe that many of the rights women and minorities possess today were only granted in the last 50 years or so. Prejudices permeated governments and authorities, and their discrimination was supported by the law. It takes courage to challenge those who inherently hold the power in a conflict, especially when the penalties threaten to tear apart your family. But it’s often for that same family people find the courage to fight back. In Loving, an interracial couple must go all the way to the Supreme Court to legalize their marriage in the United States.