On Screen

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

  • Review: ‘The Editor’ is a stylish homage to giallo cinema (Includes first-hand account)

    There’s a fine line between imitation and inspiration, but the distinction is irrelevant if the project is executed with care. Admiring someone else’s style or talent and aspiring to replicate a fraction of their success is a worthwhile endeavour. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all. In film, homages and references are common as masters of cinema set the standard for techniques and aesthetics in particular genres. The team at Astron-6 has made a name for themselves embracing formerly popular movie types and The Editor is their latest project, recalling giallo cinema.

  • Review: ‘Big Match’ pits brawn against brains in a fight to the finish (Includes first-hand account)

    There is a significant amount of power wielded by a privileged few who lack integrity and possess enough wealth for them to believe they exist above the law. Consequently, everyone and everything else in the world is a means by which they can profit or be entertained. High-stakes gambling, big game hunting, exploiting resources and disregarding general civility are just some of the ways in which they exercise their perceived superiority. The degree to which these villains actually exist is uncertain but in the movies they are everywhere including Big Match, which chronicles an underground betting ring that turns the city into its game board.

  • Review: Silence is ‘The Demolisher’s greatest asset (Includes first-hand account)

    Most people are familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. However, the journey past the second step can be more difficult for some, leaving them in a prolonged state of madness. These individuals are more easily driven to bad decisions as they attempt to channel or bury their wrath, which can manifest in hair-trigger tempers or substance abuse. In The Demolisher, a man directs his pain into vigilantism.

  • Review: ‘Wild City’ drags corruption through the streets of Hong Kong (Includes first-hand account)

    There are a number of movies that begin with someone choosing to be a Good Samaritan. Whether they hesitate or immediately jump into action, their decision to do the right thing briefly or permanently links them to the person at the receiving end of their aid. Although in most films that use this as a plot device the kind stranger ends up in the line of fire, sharing the target on the other person’s back. In Wild City, this relationship is further complicated by a greedy brother and vengeful assassins.

  • Review: ‘Traders’ deals in humour and extraordinary enterprise (Includes first-hand account)

    Recession, unemployment, bankruptcy and general financial ruin. These are issues impacting people all over the world and there is no easy solution to the problem. As homes and belongings are threatened with foreclosure and repossession, people become desperate to find a way out. With the wolves at the door, even the most radical answer is better than no answer at all. In Traders, one man creates a gateway to an extreme resolution to people’s money troubles — though it doesn’t all go according to his plan.

  • Review: ‘Tales of Halloween’ is a first-class horror compilation (Includes first-hand account)

    For horror fans, Halloween is the greatest time of year. Beyond the costumes, haunted houses and parties, the tradition of sharing scary stories to celebrate the classic holiday is paramount. One of the most entertaining interpretations of this practice is the film horror anthology. Often produced by some of the genre’s best and most renowned creators, these pictures dispense ghosts, monsters, fiends and everything in between in just the right measure. The latest and highly anticipated compilation features 10 segments and 11 directors who are collectively going under the name “The October Society.” Tales of Halloween take place in the same town on the same night and there’s way more going on than the holiday’s usual antics.

  • Review: ‘Southpaw’s grit just isn’t enough (Includes first-hand account)

    There have been several good boxing films made over the years, some based on true stories and others emerging from the imaginations of talented authors and screenwriters. Directors such as Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, David O. Russell and Martin Scorsese have stepped into the ring and had an impact on the sports film subgenre. But no matter the trajectory of the story, it always comes down to one last fight. That’s part of the movie’s appeal — audiences know they are going to see a well-choreographed match that rivals some of reality’s best. Antoine Fuqua‘s Southpaw follows in its predecessors’ footsteps, which can be considered good and bad.

  • Review: Ian McKellen is the most relatable ‘Mr. Holmes’ (Includes first-hand account)

    It’s difficult to imagine our heroes growing older and becoming less competent. They often seem as if they would remain ageless and infallible forever. This is only true of fictional characters, but they also provide an opportunity to address these issues through a personality with which people are already familiar and perhaps attached. It allows for a different perspective on the story and negates the necessity to build a connection because one already exists. Mr. Holmes features an aged Sherlock desperate to solve one last case.

  • Review: ‘Ant-Man’ isn’t your typical big screen superhero (Includes first-hand account)

    If there’s something Marvel Studios has proven good at, it’s generating a world in which there is a small degree of separation between characters even though they don’t appear together on screen. The Marvel Universe is an intricately weaved space in which fans can be delighted, but not surprised, when storylines from other movies leak into a new picture. It’s a vital ingredient to their success and all part of the magic that audiences have come to expect. Though Ant-Man is not one of their most popular comic book characters, he is seamlessly incorporated into the thriving realm of admired superheroes while differentiating himself from the pack.

  • Review: ‘Tangerine’ is about more than a commonplace camera (Includes first-hand account)

    There was a trend in ‘90s and early 2000s cinema to build narratives around provocative characters without a specific or traditional story attached. The film simply chronicled a day in their lives in which they were forced to manage a certain uncommon situation or as they went about their daily routine, introducing viewers to other fascinating personalities and lifestyles. They often unfolded amongst society’s disadvantaged, and were the bread-and-butter of indie filmmakers. Tangerine revisits this story structure with style and energy while being shot entirely on the iPhone 5S.

  • Review: ‘Minions’ not quite up to the task of leading the charge (Includes first-hand account)

    When the story of a former villain turned unexpected foster father was released, it captured the hearts of audiences. Who could resist the sweet little girl and her fluffy unicorn, or the once evil man who can’t withstand the love of three intruders? But it wasn’t just the human characters that gained notice. At the same time everyone was introduced to this newly formed family, they fell in love with the Minions. Small, yellow, pill-shaped creatures who live only to serve their villainous boss. But where did they come from? The Minions movie answers that question and more.

  • Review: ‘Big Game’ confidently stakes its claim on the hero genre (Includes first-hand account)

    According to the movies, the president of the United States is in need of constant rescue. Assassination attempts, terrorist attacks and alien invasions keep the secret service and average Joe heroes on their toes. Whether s/he’s captured and requires saving, or is being pursued and needs protecting, the Commander-In-Chief is rarely capable of being effective in these situations alone. The heroes share common traits, the most important being their dedication to the task at hand. However, Big Game presents this classic scenario with a unique twist.