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Universal Language

February 17, 2025Addison Wylie0 Comments

Canadian filmmaker Matthew Rankin (The Twentieth Century) wraps his latest feature, Universal Language, in his admiration for fellow auteur Guy Maddin.  Described in the press notes as an “autobiographical fever dream”, and much like Maddin’s My Winnipeg, Universal Language pitches an absurdist vision of Winnipeg from different embellished perspectives – some of these stories work better than others. Universal Language peaks early on with a fine-tuned comedy featuring eccentric gradeschoolers, their disappointed French teacher (Mani…

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Paying For It

February 5, 2025Addison Wylie0 Comments

Last seen on screen in Close To You but more famous for her groundbreaking performance in John Cameron Mitchell’s sexually charged Shortbus, Sook-Yin Lee tries to match Mitchell’s knack for tender confrontations with her directorial effort Paying For It. The Shortbus filmmaker must approve. After all, Mitchell serves as an executive producer on this adult flick. The inspiration for Paying For It also comes from Chester Brown’s graphic novel that Lee is adapting, which drew inspiration from Lee and Brown’s real-life…

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Die Alone

October 1, 2024Addison Wylie0 Comments

Die Alone is the latest from WolfCop director Lowell Dean, but it’s a much more sombre effort from the Saskatchewan filmmaker.  Still firmly rooted in horror within an undead dystopia, Die Alone is a tricky thriller that challenges its characters in unorthodox ways.

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Backspot

June 3, 2024Addison Wylie0 Comments

My appreciation for Backspot moves like a teeter-totter.  While it’s worth congratulating the filmmakers for not giving in to sports clichés, the movie may have benefited from more melodrama.

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The King Tide

April 29, 2024Addison Wylie0 Comments

Newfoundlander director Christian Sparkes (Hammer) seems as though he dipped into A24’s back catalogue to draw inspiration for his effective east coast chiller The King Tide. While there may be stylistic similarities to David Eggers’ work (The Witch, The Lighthouse) and Ari Aster’s movies (Hereditary, Midsommar), Sparkes’ ominous dramatic thriller doesn’t necessarily resemble Canada’s usual output. At least, not since Denis Côté’s Ghost Town Anthology.

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The Movie Man

April 21, 2024Addison Wylie0 Comments

The Princess Diaries The Dark Knight The Secret Life of Pets Mission: Impossible – Fallout These are the four movies I’ve seen at Highlands Cinema in Kinmount, Ontario.  Four completely different movies with a ubiquitous moviegoing experience; provided by the theatre, its staff, and owner Keith Stata.  It’s only fair to present my bias before reviewing The Movie Man, Matt Finlin’s documentary about Stata’s legacy and the history of his DIY multiplex.  Located in the…

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Be Still

January 14, 2024Addison Wylie1 Comment

Based on the play of the same name by Canadian playwright Janet Munsil, Be Still is an experimental biopic about the work and emotional pain endured by Vancouver photographer Hannah Maynard.

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