Articles by Shannon Page

Reviews

Almost Almost Famous

Almost Almost Famous is high energy and often kind of cheesy – much like the performers it follows.  While the film certainly isn’t terrible and there are a handful of moments that feel honest and genuine, this is a documentary that never quite manages to find its footing.

Reviews

Maria by Callas

Directed by Tom Volf, Maria by Callas examines the life and art of one of the twentieth century’s greatest opera singers, Maria Callas.  Through archival footage of Callas on stage, her personal correspondence to friends, and interviews with the singer recorder at various points throughout her career, the film attempts to show the personal, intimate side of a woman that was the subject of much media attention during her lifetime.

Reviews

Wylie Writes’ One-On-One with Jutta Brendemühl

The primary of objective of Goethe Films is to bring German cinema and television to Canadian audiences.  Though the series is known for showcasing contemporary art house film, the selection this October is of a slightly different flavour.  On October 4th, Goethe Films will host the exclusive Canadian premiere of Bad Banks, a co-produced German-Luxembourgish mini-series.  I had to opportunity to chat with Jutta Brendemühl, curator of the Goethe Films series, about Bad Banks, and…

Reviews

Bad Banks

Numbers aren’t my thing;  I never enjoyed math in school and thinking about RRSP’s makes me want to take a nap.  Yet only two episodes into creator Oliver Kienle’s financial thriller, Bad Banks, I found myself completely immersed in the twists and turns of the high-stakes world of investment banking.

Reviews

Astro

Director Asif Akbar (Smoke Filled Lungs) misses the mark with Astro, a sci-fi thriller that gets bogged down by its exposition-heavy script and convoluted plot.

Reviews

Madame

Despite a cast that boasts the talents of Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine), Harvey Keitel (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Bugsy, Pulp Fiction), Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction), and Rossy de Palma (Julieta, Kika), Madame is a flat and charmless romantic comedy.