TIFF ’23: The Boy and the Heron

If anyone has ever said that animation isn’t an art form, they’ve never seen a Hayao Miyazaki film. Beloved by fans and critics alike, his films take viewers on journeys through strange lands populated with unusual characters and they always have an emotional core that connects to the audience. And you know you’re watching it…

TIFF ’23: Flora and Son

John Carney, who has delivered great musically-themed films like Once, Begin Again and Sing Street has the International Premiere of his latest film, Flora and Son at TIFF this year. Apple Films has its distribution and will be carrying it on Apple+ as of 29 September. So if you miss it at the Festival, be…

TIFF ’23: Riddle of Fire

I started my TIFF experience this year with a title that will be featured at this year’s Midnight Madness, the popular venue that explores unique genre titles. Riddle of Fire definitely falls into that category, in conversations with other critics I ended up describing this film in the following manner: it was as if someone…

Hill Street Blues (1986) – Das Blues, and Scales of Justice

Belker (Bruce Weitz) and Robin (Lisa Sutton) finally tie the knot at city hall, and Howard (James Sikking) suffers a fall, and believes he’s a prisoner on a Russian ship, one that has been spotted in the harbor, when in actuality he’s in the basement of the precinct, and causing a number of problems in…

Cocaine Bear (2023) – Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks settles into the director’s chair again and delivers a mostly entertaining comedy thriller, which is loosely based on a true story, Cocaine Bear. Featuring an all-star cast led by Keri Russell, the film swings from working brilliantly to just falling a little flat. But damn if Banks doesn’t swing for the fences. There…

Hill Street Blues (1984) – Fuched Again, and Low Blow

There’s trouble at the precinct and in Vegas with Fuched Again. Written by Jeffrey Lewis, David Milch, Mark Frost and Jacob Epstein from a story by Milch, Lewis and Steven Bochco this episode first aired on 22 November, 1984. While Belker (Brice Weitz) and a number of the guys are in Vegas, Furillo (Danel J….

Skinamarink (2022) – Kyle Edward Ball

What could have been a descent into a childhood nightmarish dreamscape is frustratingly held back by a gimmick that overstays its welcome and leaves viewers struggling to grasp at any strands to form some kind of coherent narrative. With unusual camera angles that prevent the viewer from seeing anything of import or creating a context…

The Expanse (2020) – Mother, and Gaugamela

Chrisjen (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is continuing her hunt for Inaros (Keon Alexander) from her place on Luna, and Naomi (Dominique Tipper) continues to look for her son, Filip (Jasai Chase Owens) in Mother. Written by Dan Nowak, this episode first dropped on 16 December, 2020. Naomi is able to have a brief conversation with Filip and…