Toronto 2015: ‘Room’ review
★★★★☆ In his previous two features, Lenny Abrahamson has managed to coax sensational performances from Jack Reynor (What Richard Did) and, even beneath an enormous […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Mississippi Grind’ review
★★☆☆☆ The saying goes that when in a hole you should stop digging. Meandering road movie Mississippi Grind (2015), co-directed by the Half Nelson (2006) […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Our Brand Is Crisis’
★★☆☆☆ The inherent drama of political election campaigns have long proved effective oil for the cinematic narrative machine – both inside and outside the Hollywood […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Last Cab to Darwin’ review
★★★★☆ If there’s one thing that Australia has in spades it’s miles and miles of open road. Be it tarmacked or dust and dirt, lifelong […]
Toronto 2015: ‘The Idol’ review
★★★★☆ “People are dying, you’re singing,” come the words of recrimination as four kids with homemade instruments are drenched in water from a window. Of […]
Toronto 2015: ‘The Family Fang’ review
★☆☆☆☆ The Family Fang (2015) is Jason Bateman’s second directorial undertaking. Known predominantly for his work in Arrested Development, feature film comedies and oddball roles […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Evolution’ review
★★★★☆ Returning to screens over ten years after her memorable debut Innocence, Lucile Hadžihalilovic’s new film is akin to a beguiling and deeply unsettling siren’s […]
Toronto 2015: ‘The White Knights’ review
★★★★☆ In 2007, individuals associated with charity group Zoé’s Ark were charged with child abduction in Chad – their intention was to have the children […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Where to Invade Next’ review
★★★☆☆ It’s taken them long enough, but the Pentagon have finally turned to filmmaker Michael Moore for some sage advice regarding US foreign policy. At […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Office’ review
★★★☆☆ Adapted for the big screen by writer-actor Sylvia Chang from her own play Design For Living, attempting to pigeonhole Johnnie To’s latest effort Office […]
Toronto 2015: ‘James White’ review
★★★☆☆ The guys at Borderline Films are making something of a habit of striking, complex psychological dramas such as Antonio Campos’ After School and Simon […]
Toronto 2015: ‘In Jackson Heights’ review
★★★★☆ Another year, another Frederick Wiseman documentary, reaffirming his elegant mastery of his chosen medium. It’s always refreshing to see the veteran director continuing to […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Der Nachtmahr’ review
★★★☆☆ Der Nachtmahr (2015), the directorial debut of German multi-disciplinary artist Akiz, begins with a title card requesting that the following film is “played loud, […]
Toronto 2015: ‘The People vs. Fritz Bauer’ review
★★★☆☆ Given the subject and its original title, Lars Kraume’s The People vs. Fritz Bauer (2015) pits the irascible and implacable attorney general against the […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Men & Chicken’ review
★★★☆☆ The sanctity of life and the value of family are not necessarily two themes you might expect from a twisted black comedy filled with […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Chevalier’ review
★★★★☆ The famous Bechdel Test – taken from a 1985 comic strip by Alison Bechdel – has over the past few years become an ever […]
Toronto 2015: ‘The Whispering Star’ review
★★★☆☆ Sion Sono is nothing if not eclectic. Last year he dropped the gonzo bomb that was hip-hopera Tokyo Tribe (2014) on an enormously willing […]
Toronto 2015: ‘Sunset Song’ review
★★★☆☆ Earth is the fundamental element of Terence Davis’ sumptuous Sunset Song (2015), a lyrical adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s 1932 novel. Like an elegant […]