Film Reviews

TIFF Review: With ‘Julia,’ Julie Cohen and Betsy West whip up a charming confit of cooking’s most fearless and unlikely personality [Grade: A]

Julie Cohen and Betsy West’s Julia opens with a clip of Julia Child introducing her TV audience to “the chicken… Read More

September 18, 2021

TIFF Review: ‘The Falls’ (瀑布) is a tense, touching portrait of love and empathy [Grade: A]

At the center of our story stands an apartment building, fully wrapped in blue tarp. We see many buildings of… Read More

September 17, 2021

TIFF Review: Alexandre Moratto’s ‘7 Prisoners’ is a compelling and harrowing look at modern-day slave trade [Grade: B+]

Brazilian filmmaker Alexandre Moratto creates a highly effective, if uneven, picture on the devastating working conditions in his homeland, capturing… Read More

September 16, 2021

TIFF Review: Pablo Larraín’s ‘Spencer’ is a riveting tale of isolation and loneliness with a stellar performance by Kristen Stewart [Grade: A]

One of the best films of the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, Pablo Larraín’s Spencer is a perfect example of… Read More

September 16, 2021

Venice Review: “Reflection” is a brutal, technically accomplished, but emotionally cold look at war and its consequences

Ukranian director Valentyn Vasyanovych won the hearts of many at the 2019 Venice Film Festival, when his Atlantis won the… Read More

September 16, 2021

TIFF Review: Darin J. Sallam’s debut feature ‘Farha’ is an effective socio-political thriller of the horrors of displacement in the Middle East [Grade: B]

Despite glaring pacing issues, Darin J. Sallam’s debut feature, Farha, manages to leave a strong impression. After a clunky first… Read More

September 16, 2021

TIFF Review: ‘The Survivor’ has a knockout performance from Ben Foster, even as it pulls its punches elsewhere [Grade: C+]

Weepy prestige biopics set during the Holocaust are nothing new; they’re the backbone of a robust subcategory of Oscar-hungry films… Read More

September 16, 2021

TIFF Review: A career-best Jack Lowden carries Terence Davies’ somber yet lyrical ‘Benediction’ [Grade: A]

Within his short filmography, rising Scottish actor Jack Lowden has shown immense acting range in films like Mary Queen of… Read More

September 16, 2021

TIFF Review: Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ masterfully captures the joys and agony of what truly makes a home [Grade: A-]

Undoubtedly his most personal film to date, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast is a quietly moving and universally resonating film about the… Read More

September 15, 2021

TIFF Review: Michael Showalter’s ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ is a fascinating character study led by a career-best performance from Jessica Chastain [Grade: A-]

A wonderful showcase for the incredible talent of Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye looks at opportunism and exploitation… Read More

September 13, 2021

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