TIFF 2013 – Hateship Loveship – Liza Johnson

I knew almost nothing about this film going into it – just that it had a wonderful cast and was based on a short story by Alice Munro, which I’ve yet to read. As such, it was nearly impossible for me to predict anything that was going to happen, and before long, I found myself…

TIFF – Short Cuts Canada Programme 1

  TIFF is under way, and screening today and tomorrow at the Lightbox is the first full programme of shorts. This collection features some amazing visuals and camera work, some odd stories, and a dazzling compilation of talent. Comprised of 6 titles, there’s a little bit of everything in this collection, and I was quite taken…

Bad Boys (1995) – Michael Bay

  Michael Bay brings his quick-cutting MTV style of filmmaking to the 101 Action Movies list as Will Smith and Martin Lawrence take to the streets of Miami as narcotics officers trying to stop an international drug ring. The story is basic, with a little mistaken identity thrown in for fun, and a cast that…

True Lies (1994) – James Cameron

  The 101 Action Movies list gave me a chance to revisit a James Cameron movie that I seem to constantly forget about, but love to watch every time it is on… True Lies. Cameron directs this actioner which has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, and amps up the action sequences that come…

Speed (1994) Jan De Bont

  Jan De Bont’s directorial debut lands him squarely on the 101 Action Movies list as well as garnering Oscars for Best Sound and Sound Effects Editing. Keanu Reeves is back, this time he’s Jack Traven, a LAPD cop playing a dangerous game with a bomber, Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) who’s making things personal after Jack foils…

Leon – The Professional (1994) – Luc Besson

  Luc Besson returns to the 101 Action Movies list, bringing the exemplary Jean Reno with him in a role that was inspired by his turn in Besson’s Nikita. Mathilda (Natalie Portman) is an 11 year-old girl living with her family in a New York apartment building, she smokes, swears, and flirts with her blossoming sexuality, and…

Toronto After Dark Spotlight – V/H/S/2

  I should totally have reread my review for the first film in this series, because I went in with some high hopes for this installment in the series, because a couple of the segments looked like they could be really good! I settled into my seat for the second half of the first Toronto…

Toronto After Dark Spotlight – Bad Milo (2013) – Jacob Vaughan

  The Toronto After Dark film festival is one of my favorite film festivals that Sue and I cover, the films cater to the dark, the scary, the weird, and the undeniably fun. Festival creator Adam Lopez and his crew are gearing up for the 2013 festival in October, but wanted to spotlight some highly…

Men In Black (1997) – Barry Sonnenfeld

  The cult favorite comic book, created by Lowell Cunningham, hits the mainstream as a popcorn delight in this entry on the 101 Sci-Fi Movies list. Using the conspiracy of the MiB as a launching point, and incorporating all manner of UFO stories, rumors and possible sightings, Barry Sonnenfeld as director guides Will Smith and…

Fist of Legend (1994) – Gordon Chan

  The 101 Action Movies brings us another classic, as Jet Li takes center stage in this martial arts stunner. A remake of the Bruce Lee classic, The Chinese Connection, Li is absolutely stunning in the title role of Chen Zhen, a Chinese student studying in Japan during the Japanese occupation of China. Receiving word…