Charlize Theron

  • Review: There’s only an outside chance ‘Long Shot’ won’t make you laugh (Includes first-hand account)

    While it can sometimes feel like a new relationship begins in a vacuum, eventually all the external factors that felt unimportant come crashing in. This is especially true for public personalities who may have enjoyed stealing away for an intimate evening, and keeping something shielded from the scrutiny of cameras and onlookers — but at some point, the secrecy becomes just another burden that is actually in their control. This realization leads to another question: is it just a casual thing you can both walk away from now, or do you step out of the shadows and find out where things might go? Now imagine one of these people is a politician and you get Long Shot.

  • Review: ‘Tully’ is an honest portrayal of the complexities of womanhood (Includes first-hand account)

    Being a hundred different things to multiple people without ever finding time for yourself is exhausting, particularly when “just say no” isn’t an option. It can also be incredibly unhealthy, certainly mentally but also physically. People spread themselves too thin all the time, but doing it for a prolonged period is where the danger lies. Sometimes finding help is the answer, if you can afford it and relinquish control to some degree to another person. In Tully, a mother being crushed by the added responsibility of a third child agrees to hire a night nanny to relieve some of the stress.

  • Review: ‘Atomic Blonde’ is the perfect secret weapon (Includes first-hand account)

    For a long time, strong female characters were usually relegated to the role of femme fatale — the male protagonist’s enemy and potential downfall. In spite of being equally lethal and attractive, she was rarely given the opportunity to lead the charge; instead she was defeated and discarded before the end credits so the hero can complete his mission and sweep his less threatening leading lady off her feet. But that’s all starting to change. Women are taking the lead in action movies and kicking butt in the process. The latest in this promising trend is Atomic Blonde.

  • Review: ‘Alien: Covenant’ gets closer to the truth (Includes first-hand account)

    As many fans learned thanks to George Lucas, going back to reimagine a beloved series’ origin story is a tricky business. While the creators have unrealized ideas regarding where it all could have started, these are not always in line with audience theories nor is it simple to recapture the essence of what drew viewers to the original films to start. Ridley Scott began this journey with 2012’s Prometheus, which now continues with its first sequel, Alien: Covenant.

  • 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.

  • No one messes with Charlize Theron in ‘Atomic Blonde’ trailer (Includes first-hand account)

    There is a long line of one-man wrecking machines who are able to takedown entire operations without assistance. Their backgrounds vary from government agents to experienced assassins to angry fathers or all of the above. Yet their female counterparts are almost non-existent. But that’s about to change with Charlize Theron‘s latest picture, Atomic Blonde, in which she portrays an elite MI6 spy.

  • Review: Can’t take your eyes off ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ (Includes first-hand account)

    Storytelling has taken many forms over time. While many now rely on movies and TV to deliver their narratives, before that books were key sources of entertainment. But even before the inventions of ink and paper that allowed for any of these tales to be recorded, they were passed on through word-of-mouth. Sharing ancient stories between generations was a favoured pastime and encouraged everyone to use their imaginations. With a touch of magic, Kubo and the Two Strings revives this tradition in Laika‘s latest stop-motion animated film.

  • Review: ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’ leaves audiences out in the cold (Includes first-hand account)

    Origin stories are a simple way of capitalizing on the success of an already existing narrative. With previously established characters on which to draw and a ready-made audience familiar with the premise, going back to a tale’s ultimate beginning seems like a no-brainer. However these advantages don’t automatically translate into a good movie as filmmakers are still required to combine these ingredients with a fresh, engaging story that incorporates old and new elements. The latest to try to use this formula is The Huntsman: Winter’s War, which is a follow-up to 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman.

  • Review: ‘Dark Places’ is an evocative well of deceit and despair

    Childhood trauma is often accompanied by deep regret. Moving forward is difficult, but one way is to accept what happened and in some cases, convince yourself you did everything that was in your power at the time. Revisiting those long past events, whatever the cause, can be as upsetting as the original incident — or it can reveal hidden truths that provide a new perspective on the affair, which were never considered or purposely concealed. Dark Places centres on such a mystery in which hindsight makes all the difference.