TIFF 25: Whistle dir. Christopher Nelius

Whistle is a light-hearted documentary from Christopher Nelius filled with delightfully eccentric characters. It takes behind the scenes of the Masters of Musical Whistling competition. An event that draws people from around the globe to a three day showdown of talent. Each day has a different category, Classical, With the Band and Self Accompaniment, and…

Northern Exposure (1994) – Grand Prix, and Blood Ties

Maurice (Barry Corbin) is having Cicely host a a wheel chair race that he is sponsoring in Grand Priz. Written by Barbara Hall, this episode was first broadcast on 9 May, 1994. But the racer he is personally sponsoring doesn’t want to be the person that Maurice wants him to be. While the town is…

Pitch Perfect 3 (2017) – Trish Sie

There’s, arguably, a good film and story in Pitch Perfect 3, something about the family we’re from and the family we find, but from the opening sequence, which involves an exploding yacht, I knew this one was going to be a mess. There’s some wonderful ideas, casting John Lithgow in the role of Fat Amy’s…

Pitch Perfect (2012) – Jason Moore

I adore Anna Kendrick. And I know I’m definitely not the only one. So throwing her in a comedy like Pitch Perfect simply rang all my bells. Kendrick plays Beca who is a freshman at Barden University, where her father teaches. She doesn’t want to be there, but she has a deal with her dad….

The Octagon (1980) – Eric Karson

Welcome to the 80s, the age of the ninja as Chuck Norris guides us through a haphazard adventure that sees him entering The Octagon! Scott James (Norris) is a world-class martial artist who is accompanied by an echoey voiceover almost everywhere he goes. He and his frenemy, A.J. (Art Hindle!) live a high roller life…

Magnum P.I. (2020) – May the Best One Win, and A Leopard on the Prowl

Despite saying he’s okay with it, Magnum (Jay Hernandez) seems less than thrilled that Higgins (Perdita Weeks) is going to fake marry T.C. (Stephen Hill) to secure her green card, and keep her from being dealing with immigration. Written by Gene Hong, this episode was first broadcast on 8 May, 2020. But, of course, a…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – City of Refuse, and Der Roachenkavalier

City of Refuse may be my favourite episode of the season so far. Written by Peter Silverman, it first debuted on 20 January, 1987. Hunter (James Sikking) gets to put on his tactical uniform for the first time since his demotion when he joins Goldblume (Joe Spano) in dealing with a hostage situation. Why was…

Family Ties (1984) – Lady Sings the Blues, Baby Boy Doe, and The Graduate

While Alex (Micheal J. Fox) and Steven (Micheal Gross) attempt to teach Mallory (Justine Bateman) how to drive, a prospect that scares and terrifies them, Elyse (Meredith Baxter) revisits her past by pulling out her guitar and playing some folk classics. Lady Sings the Blues was written by Alan Uger and Micheal J. Weithorn. This…

The Last Action Heroes (2023) – Nick de Semlyen

If you were wandering the aisles of the video stores in the 80s like I was, you were always looking for something fun and exciting to watch and a good percentage of the time one of the films that found its way home with me, or passed to me by a friend at school would…

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – Mike Newell

The fourth entry in the Harry Potter franchise is the first to get itself a PG-13 rating, reflecting the fact tht the stories themselves are getting darker, and dealing with heavier subjects. It also sees a new director behind the camera, Mike Newell, who continues the world-building of the series, embracing the visual aesthetic that…