At times, it feels like the filmmakers behind Coconut Hero had a genre grocery list handy and were checking off various requirements for their film. A lovable misfit from a small town? Check. Well-meaning parents who are frustrated with their incomprehensible social-outcast offspring? Check.
Ethan Hawke (Before Sunrise, Boyhood) stars as east-coast jazz legend Chet Baker in Robert Budreau’s biographical drama Born to Be Blue, which focuses on the musician’s comeback during the 1960s and his struggle with addiction. The film, which was written, directed and produced by Budreau, chooses to examine a specific period of Baker’s career rather than the entirety of his career – a decision that results in a more intimate experience than one might expect…
Based on an autobiography of the same name, Mark Craig’s The Last Man on the Moon documents the experiences and recollections of retired US naval pilot and NASA astronaut Eugene Cernan who, in addition to a couple of other trips to space, was commander of the 1972 Apollo 17 lunar landing. As the last one of his mission to re-enter the vessel, Cernan remains – to this day – the last human being to have set foot…
Addison Wylie 2015 cranked out a lot of great movies. I was actually able to form a “best of” list before even thinking of those cinematic duds. However, that doesn’t excuse the following films. These frustrating films put my patience to the test, even so far as to push me out of the movie altogether. Don’t worry though, I returned to finish that defeating film. And, yes, it was the worst film I saw all year.
Real-life couple Ryan K. Scott and Jeannette Sousa wrote, produced, and star as the leading couple in director John L’Ecuyer’s cross-cultural romantic comedy, A Date With Miss Fortune. The film also features appearances by two well-known Canadians: Grammy award-winning musician Nelly Furtado and George Stroumboulopoulos – consider it a Score: A Hockey Musical reunion for the celebrities.
On January 28th, Toronto’s Yonge and Dundas Cineplex Theatre hosted a red carpet media screening in preparation for the Canadian release of A Date With Miss Fortune staring Jeannette Sousa, Ryan K. Scott, Vik Sahay (TV’s Radio Active, American Reunion), along with special appearances by musician Nelly Furtado and television personality George Stroumboulopoulos. John L’Ecuyer’s romantic comedy about what happens when a struggling screenwriter clashes with his new girlfriend’s traditional and eccentric Portuguese family has already been released…
This weekend, the ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival hits theatres in the city’s downtown core – you won’t want to miss it. The selected documentaries hold their own importance against each other, and show how hopeful futures are still within reach against global issues. The selections are raw, but the filmmakers are and determined to be heard.
Addison Wylie 2015 was a great year for movies, and I hope returning readers will see those results on the lists below. However, I understand if my favourites at the tip of the iceberg aren’t surprising – they haven’t changed since the mid-year report. A couple of excellent documentaries, and an army of dogs set the bar astronomically high. On another note, I hope people will consider checking out the films that flesh out the…
Dirty Grandpa wasn’t a film that I expected to enjoy as much as I did. The casting of the two leads had me doubtful.
Though Svengali is a fun film with a few genuinely emotionally affective moments, it is difficult to predict whether or not it will be appreciated by North American viewers who – unless they have a pre-existing investment in British Rock ’n’ Roll – will probably feel like they’ve seen this kind of film before.