Author: Nicholas Olsen
-
In The Fade Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
Fatih Akin’s In The Fade is a montage of a mother’s pain and grief, an odyssey through chapter-like pieces — the beginning, middle and end of one woman’s personal destruction and how she comes to deal with it. Akin (The Cut) also looks at the rise of far-right extremism in Germany and the repercussions that… Read More >
Written by
-
Woman Walks Ahead Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
A modest yet challenging look at a legendary warrior and the woman who resurrected his formidable spirit in time of great injustice — Woman Walks Ahead is a snippet of history crafted with unforgiving purity by director Susanna White (Our Kind of Traitor). From the nightmarish conditions experienced by the Sioux people to the violent… Read More >
Written by
-
Hostiles Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
Scott Cooper (Black Mass) returns to dark, brooding territory with Christian Bale vehicle, Hostiles. A Western so harrowing and bleak that it will leave you stone faced exhausted, struggling to get through the very first act, where things begin with a sprinkling of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly then quickly turn sinister. Bale… Read More >
Written by
-
The Disaster Artist Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
Tommy Wiseau’s mystery has captivated the underbelly of pop culture for more than a decade, ever since he unleashed The Room on audiences in 2003. A twisted, undecipherable romantic drama, hailed as the “best worst movie” of all time, it has left a unique footprint in cinema, one that brings folks together, gets them laughing… Read More >
Written by
-
The Shape of Water Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is a true labor of love for the filmmaker. We’ve seen him tackle mainstream blockbuster material with Pacific Rim and Hellboy, but this new, surreal love story has more in common with his adored 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth. It holds the same gentle dark fantasy backbone, using dense… Read More >
Written by
-
The Current War Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
There is something to be said about a late 19th Century period drama that holds attention and meanders around three of the most influential men in history. Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch), George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) and Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult) — all iconic giants of race to illuminate the world. A brisk, pivotal slice of… Read More >
Written by
-
Stronger Review – (Toronto International Film Festival)
When tackling a film like David Gordon Green’s Stronger, certain aspects need to be refined; it must treat the real life source with respect and honesty. At the same time exuding a sense of humour and solid performances to break the predictability of events in which we already know the outcome. Green’s somber look at… Read More >
Written by
-
Suburbicon Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
Seeing the names Joel and Ethan Coen attached to a film is an instant cause for excitement — place George Clooney in the director’s chair and you’d be lying to yourself if Suburbicon weren’t high on your list this festival season. Clooney behind the camera is comfortable and clean cut, perhaps too subdued for a… Read More >
Written by
-
The Killing of a Sacred Deer Review (Toronto International Film Festival)
There is a torturous, biting audio that surrounds Yorgos Lanthimos latest surreal picture, The Killing of a Sacred Deer. It drones on from scene to scene, sometimes leaving completely, but lurking alongside the visual, ready to add that piercing sonic climax. We follow cardiologist Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell in full black comedy form, wearing a… Read More >
Written by
-
Who are we supposed to side with on Game of Thrones?
Game of Thrones‘ seventh season has been nothing short of extraordinary. The intricacies, tangled subplots and huge cast of characters that once seemed so overwhelming have simmered into a full-scale war. For years we’ve been following Daenerys Targaryen as she rose up from literal ashes, with feeble dragon eggs in hand, to witnessing her shock… Read More >
Written by
