Fringe Toronto: Becoming Burlesque

Last night was the opening night, at the Al Green Theatre, for the cabaret/revue/burlesque narrative, Becoming Burlesque. Working with the Love Letters Cabaret Dancers, director and writer, Jackie English (who shares directing credit with Sebastian Marziali), brings to life a glimpse into the burlesque world, featuring scintillating choreography from Pastel Supernova. The bare bones of a…

Inside Out (2015) – Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen

  Pixar has a strong track record, and I’m eager to see each of their films as they get released, all I knew about this one before going into it was that it dealt with a young girl’s emotions, we would be inside the character… And what Pixar has given us is a beautiful and…

Abaddon’s Gate (2013) – James S.A. Corey

  The third book in the brilliant Expanse series is just as strong, entertaining and involving as the previous two installments, and I have one more to go before the long wait until next June starts! I love the way they craft their stories, our loyal crew of the Roci are all here, Holden, Naomi,…

The Rules of the Game (1939) – Jean Renoir

  The next drama title to be highlighted in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Movies book is the French film Rules of the Game, an examination of passion, etiquette and class. Andre Jurieux (Roland Toutain) has just flown across the Atlantic solo, allowing him to claim a level of celebrity, but all for…

Hot Docs 2014: To Be Takei (Jennifer Kroot & Bill Weber)

I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this film last night at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, if you missed it, please find time to see it today at 6 at the same location! This is hands down my favorite film of the festival to date. And I can’t be the only one…

Afflicted (2013) – Derek Lee & Cliff Prowse

  Opening today is this found footage film that falls into the could-have-been-great category. It manages to take a fairly exhausted genre and do something new with it, which is great, but the entire second half of the movie seems to be too long, and the film’s climax seems to take forever. That’s saying something…

A Fish Called Wanda (1988) – Charles Crichton

  The final recommendation from Kind Hearts and Coronets in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film is a personal favorite of mine. This was Charles Crichton’s last film, but I’m so glad the recommendations allowed me to see two more of his films I had never even heard of, Hue and Cry (now…

Hitchcock (2012) – Sacha Gervasi

Good evening. I love movies. I love movies about making movies. I also quite love Hitchcock movies. So this one seems like a winner all around, and I was not disappointed. Featuring a script by John J. McLaughlin working from the book “Alfred Hitchcock and The Making of Psycho” by Stephen Rebello, Gervasi, marking his first…