Quantum Leap: The Wall (1994) – Ashley McConnell

Ashley McConnell turns in another Quantum Leap novel, and except for a quick moment when we are given another limbo moment for Sam between leaps it is a really powerful tale about domestic abuse, alcoholism and breaking the cycle. Sam leaps into Missy, a six-year-old girl (something that couldn’t have been pulled off believably in…

The Da Vinci Code (2006) – Ron Howard

Director Ron Howard pairs with Tom Hanks to bring Dan Brown’s incredibly popular novel, The Da Vinci Code to the screen. Hanks portrays symbologist Robert Langdon, who previously popped up in Brown’s novel Angels and Demons, but it was the subject matter, and the way it tied into art and some historical moments that really…

TIFF 2021: Dear Evan Hansen dir. Stephen Chbosky

Mental health. Suicide. Depression. Loss. Grief. Loneliness. These issues are usually trapped in the individual, and though a number of us share in these things, it’s never a shared experience. We are held in the prison of our issues, in a society where social media presentation, the illusion of life being better than it is…

Murderers Among Us (1946) – Wolfgang Staudte

The Directory of DK Canada’s The Movie Book continues to provide exemplary titles, despite the fact that they didn’t make the cut for the main body of the text. And Murderers Among Us is a moody, brilliant watch that reminds us of the horrors of war, humanity, and the cost of terrible events. A German…

The Sweet Hereafter (1997) – Atom Egoyan

Atom Egoyan’s heartbreaking, and powerful film (something I was fortunate enough to be able to tell the director in person) is the next stop in DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Based on the novel by Russell Banks, which Egoyan adapted as well as directed the film features great performances by Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Bruce…

Shivers (1975) – David Cronenberg

David Cronenberg’s first feature film is the next entry in the Mad Scientist chapter of DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book. That being said the mad scientist in this film doesn’t survive the opening credits, though his foul plan does. Set in a lone apartment building, the Starliner, which owns the island it is…

TAD 2018: The Inhabitant (2017) – Guillermo Amoedo

It’s unfortunate that The Exorcist is considered the gold standard in horror films, because the film having its Canadian Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre as part of the Toronto After Dark film festival is no doubt going to draw comparisons because of it’s subject matter. And that is unfortunate, because the Mexican/Chilean coproduction of The…

Miami Vice (1985) – Bushido, and Bought and Paid For

Castillo (Edward James Olmos who also serves as the director of the episode) takes center stage in the first episode up this week. Bushido was written by John Leekley and first aired on 22 November, 1985. The Lieutenant is asked by an old friend from the CIA, Jack Gretsky (Dean Stockwell) to help get his…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – Cardassians, and Melora

Station log: stardate 47177.2 Written by James Crocker from a story by Gene Wolande and John Wright, this episode first debuted on 24 October, 1993. Doctor Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and the Cardassian tailor (and possibly spy) Garak (Andrew Robinson) investigate Cardassian war orphans left behind on Bajor after the occupation, and those that have been…