East Side Sushi (2014) – Anthony Lucero

  Starting a theatrical run in select cities State-side, is this perfect little concoction that delighted, entertained, and fired my appetite. Director Anthony Lucreo has whipped up a splendid little offering that is wonderfully cast, doesn’t cheat or talk down to its audience, and makes us feel for all of the characters involved. At the film’s…

Raging Bull (1980) – Martin Scorsese

  We move back to Drama in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, and take a look at Martin Scorsese’s biopic on boxing legend Jake La Motta, brought to visceral life by an Oscar wining performance by Robert De Niro. As succesful as La Motta would prove to be inside the boxing ring,…

TIFF 2015: P.S. Jerusalem (2015) – Danae Elon

  Having its World Premiere today at Scotiabank, and screening again on the 16th and the 19th is this poignant and powerful documentary from filmmaker Danae Elon. Elon invites us into the life of her and her family, as she documents a journey of the heart, and the search and discovery of home. Born in Jerusalem,…

Reservoir Dogs (1992) – Quentin Tarantino 

  The final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Rififi is Quentin Tarantino’s first film, Reservoir Dogs. Now, it’s been a number of years since I had watched this film, but it’s always there in the back of my head about how good a film it…

Revenge of the Creature (1955) – Jack Arnold

  I get to spend a little more time with Jack Arnold, the director, thanks to the Sci-Fi Chronicles book, and I also get to see the next installment in the Creature films… I’ll be completely honest with you, I’m with the Gill-man in this film. The guy is treated incredibly badly, and he’s made…

TIFF 2015: Fire Song (2015) – Adam Garnet Jones

    Having its World Premiere screening today at Scotiabank, with additional screenings on September 15th and 20th, is Fire Song. Writer/director Adam Garnet Jones has created a gentle, and undeniably, moving film that invites you into the lives of its characters, as each one becomes mired and trapped in realities that they seem unable…

TIFF 2015: Portal to Hell – Vivieno Caldinelli

  TIFF tends to be filled with hidden gems, each one tucked away and made all the more pleasing when you find it. So let Sue and I give you a little nudge in the right direction… Portal To Hell!!! is part of the Short Cuts Programme 4 and is nothing short of pure gold. Running…

The Italian Job (1969) – Peter Collinson

  The recommendations from my viewing of Rififi for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film keep coming, and this one was highly enjoyable. Michael Caine leads the cast in this comic caper that sees he and a group of thieves organizing a gold heist, worth four million dollars, by causing a traffic jam…