Crime
Emily the Criminal
It’s odd to perceive the high stakes drama Emily the Criminal as a game-changer for star/producer Aubrey Plaza, but it absolutely is. Her role in John Patton Ford’s feature-length filmmaking debut requires the actor to channel her deadpan demeanour towards a more serious direction that details her character’s desperation, exhaustion and, later, her vindictive desires – it’s an incredible performance in an exciting dramatic thriller.
Ambulance
By: Jolie Featherstone [CW: child severely injured, violence, medical/surgical scenes] Ambulance is signature Michael Bay: action, melodrama, impressive stunt work and, of course, MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS! We would expect nothing less from the director of the Transformers series, Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, and Armageddon.
Canadian Film Fest ’22: The Last Mark
In this efficient “hitman with a heart” tale from director Reem Morsi, The Last Mark is a confined thriller starring a conflicted crook (Shawn Doyle) and a kidnapped call girl (Alexia Fast) reeling for a “job” that went sideways after the escort witnesses the murder. The characters hide out at a safe house arranged by a fixer (Ashgrove’s Jonas Chernick) to escape the hitman’s unpredictable partner-in-crime (Bryce Hodgson). The dynamic between the unlikely fugitives is deliberately…
Nightride
Based on style alone, Nightride is a movie made for fanatics of 2011’s Drive. Imagine a version of Nicolas Winding Refn’s movie where the introductory getaway never ended, and it was a feature-length uncut shot; all while the viewer got to ride shotgun with Ryan Gosling the entire time. Sounds great, right? That’s what I thought too…
The Comeback Trail
For as morbid as it is, I had a really good time watching The Comeback Trail, a dark comedy about a scheming film producer banking on the “accidental” death of his leading star. Think Bowfinger or The Producers with more slapstick and cynicism.
Pig
Michael Sarnoski’s feature-length directorial debut Pig is about a recluse truffle hunter (Rob played by Nicolas Cage) who is need of answers after his truffle-finding pig is stolen – the John Wick comparisons are unavoidable. Both movies feature an actor-turn-cult icon playing an enigmatic strong-but-silent type who has the main motivation of reuniting with their animal companion. It’s already been clarified by audiences who have embraced Pig that Sarnoski’s movie couldn’t be more different, with…
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
The premise for Spiral (better known by its full title Spiral: From the Book of Saw) is an interesting take on the traditional spin-off, and a sigh of relief for a movie goer like myself who hasn’t kept up to speed on the Saw horror franchise.
Wrath of Man
Wrath of Man is a good example of a movie exceeding expectations. Even if it’s just a slight change in elevation, it still counts in the long run.