On Screen

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

  • ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ is a little off-key

    Although female-driven comedies are becoming less of a rarity, their quality still varies considerably. This is not a reflection of the talent available, but rather the material being produced. It’s been shown these movies, when made well, can turn a significant profit at the box office. Capitalizing on the popularity of the TV show Glee, producers greenlit the first Pitch Perfect, which had a bit of a Mean Girls tone with an awesome soundtrack. It was a huge hit and developed a loyal fan following, making the arrival of Pitch Perfect 2 a done deal. But the question at the back of everyone’s mind is, “Can it live up to the first movie.”

  • Review: ‘Phoenix’ is a compelling mystery and uneasy love story (Includes first-hand account)

    There comes a point in some people’s lives when the only answer is reinvention — whether by choice or forced circumstance. But starting over isn’t always easy. Shedding relationships, changing locations and creating a new life are difficult tasks. However, it’s made somewhat more or less complicated if one is also able to completely change his or her appearance. In some cases, being unrecognizable can be a blessing. In Phoenix, a woman’s altered looks provides an unexpected opportunity to discover the truth.

  • Review: ‘The 100-Year-Old Man’ has more fun than his younger counterparts (Includes first-hand account)

    When many people think of getting older, they equate it with life slowing down. Days of spontaneous escapades fade away, becoming nothing but memories shared with those who will listen. There have been a number of centenarians in the news recently, celebrating their 100-plus birthdays and divulging the secrets to long life. But none of them appear ready to go on a global adventure at a moment’s notice. However, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared isn’t your average senior.

  • Review: ‘Maggie’ is the civilized approach to a zombie picture (Includes first-hand account)

    While some zombie movies deliver commentary about the state of society, others simply set out to entertain audiences with tales of the undead. Typically, the one thing both of these kinds of films have in common is their emphasis of the gory aspects of an outbreak. Lifting elements from action movies, these horror pictures incorporate chases, swarms and battles that pit the protagonists against a relentless enemy with few weaknesses. The caveat is most of these films don’t seem realistic. Maggie takes a different approach to a zombie-like virus that gives it a sense of authenticity not often achieved in the subgenre.

  • Review: ‘Unfriended’ is more than just the latest gimmicky horror flick (Includes first-hand account)

    Bullying online is so much simpler and convenient than doing it in-person, which is now considered the old-fashioned way. Even better, you get a wider audience for your hurtful comments so everyone will know what you think of your victim. But what so many people, particularly teens, seem to realize too late is the Internet is forever and for the most part, you no longer control the content once it’s out there. What may begin as a prank can spiral and result in irrevocable repercussions, which in so many cases is suicide. The adolescents in Unfriended learn this lesson the hard way.

  • Review: ‘Beyond the Reach’ is grasping for solid ground

    There was a time when hunting wild game was a necessity of survival. Before grocery stores and butcher shops, people were required to kill animals in order to put food on the table. However, it’s since become an activity performed primarily for sport and amusement. Certain personalities are more inclined to find such a hobby entertaining; but there is also a certain category of these people you would not want to cross. In Beyond the Reach, a fatal mistake turns the hunter into the prey.

  • Review: ‘The Salt of the Earth’ combines the art of film and photography (Includes first-hand account)

    Photography is a magical medium. With the press of a button, it captures and preserves any given moment conceivably forever. A single image is made even more extraordinary through the skill of the person behind the camera. Their ability to frame a shot can be the difference between an ordinary photo and a remarkable one. The Salt of the Earth investigates the art of Sebastião Salgado.

  • Review: ‘The Longest Ride’ goes on far too long (Includes first-hand account)

    Good love stories are a hot commodity in Hollywood. It doesn’t always have to be realistic because sometimes it’s the unfathomable nature of their union that makes the couple so enticing. Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers theme consistently emerges in one way or another as two people fall in love in spite of every odd betting against their success or even compatibility. Yet they persevere and audiences are treated to an ending fit for a fairy tale. Many of Nicholas Sparks‘ romance novels follow this formula and have been adapted for the screen; The Longest Ride is one more to add to the list.

  • Review: ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ is a grand achievement times three (Includes first-hand account)

    Aging is a tricky business, both inside and out. Within someone may feel younger than their birth age, whether it’s a natural part of their personality or an effort to retain certain benefits of youth. Physically that person may be confronting the effects of gravity, lifestyle and nature; or perhaps it’s a younger appearance that actually informs their energetic personality. And then there’s the perception of others, which one can only influence but never fully control. In Clouds of Sils Maria, three women confront these issues and others while preparing for a notable production.

  • Review: ‘Danny Collins’ is a charmer until the end (Includes first-hand account)

    Every life consists of a series of “what ifs.” The product of any alteration can be as trivial as not missing the elevator or as monumental as a major career shift. While little can be done about the past, realizing what could have been can inspire change for the future. In Danny Collins, an aging pop star discovers a missed opportunity that causes him to re-evaluate his entire life.

  • Review: ‘Black Souls’ understands and resists its traditions (Includes first-hand account)

    Over the years depictions of the mafia have been centred in America, practically celebrating the notoriety achieved by local crime bosses. In spite of the death and destruction involved, the lifestyle is glamorized. Few films, however, have returned to the old country where it all started and where rivalries span generations. Black Souls tells the story of a mob family in Italy, but surprises audiences by not following the traditional narrative path.

  • Review: ‘Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter’ is a blur of fact and fiction (Includes first-hand account)

    Everyone dreams of something better no matter how content they may be in life. It’s the reason the lottery was invented — the promise of an enhanced future no matter how small the odds is enough to keep people coming back week after week. However, for the dissatisfied that wish can be a lifeline; the hope of improvement may be the only thing motivating them to keep going. But what happens if the pipedream is just that — an unattainable fantasy? In Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, a young Japanese woman clings to a goal that she can never achieve.