The Coffee Table
Named as one of Variety’s top horror movies of the year so far and hailed by shock comic Anthony Jeselnik, Spanish import The Coffee Table is one hell of an unforgettable and disturbing experience.
Articles by Addison Wylie
Protocol 7
Protocol 7 answers that scenario that we’ve all played out in our head – what if a doctor made a Hollywood legal thriller? Director Andy Wakefield, a former physician and documentarian who is also an adamant anti-vaccine activist, makes his feature-length narrative debut with Protocol 7. The movie may fare better than his menacing doc, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, but that’s also damning with faint praise.
Thelma
Quaint humour and wholesome gags about retired life collide with a character-driven, Coen Brothers-inspired thriller in Thelma. In her best role since her Oscar nominated work in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, June Squibb proves her chops as a late-career lead as the titular golden-ager. Lonely albeit confidently independent in Los Angeles, Thelma isn’t seen as a liability to her daughter (Parker Posey), her son-in-law (Clark Gregg), or her grandson (Fred Hechinger). However, a phone scam that…
The Exorcism
The Exorcism is a reminder that filmmakers have a “shot clock” when trying to map out their movies.
Dad & Step-Dad
Sporting an unstoppable slew of passive-aggressive, allegedly improvised, humour and a refreshing spin on man-child comedies, Dad & Step-Dad is one of the funniest films ever made. Don’t believe me? How about if I told you I’ve watched Dad & Step-Dad four times, and have doubled over with hearty laughs with each viewing? How about if I told you I’m worried that my fifth viewing will put me in the hospital?
A Hundred Lies
For aspiring musician Ricky (Rob Raco of The CW’s Riverdale), a career breakout would not only reassure himself of his personal aspirations but the fame and fortune could also benefit his sick mother. Unfortunately, as a bartender who is constantly disrespected by his boss and getting shorted on hours, he’s often discouraged and frustrated by the lack of hope.
I Used to Be Funny
With a fairly fragmented yet accessible narrative, I Used to Be Funny uses the past and present to supply audiences a work of comparison – what life is like before and after trauma.
Kung Fu Panda 4
Kung Fu Panda 4 feels like a fitting chapter in the animated action-adventure franchise, even to those who may not be up to date with the sequels that followed the 2008 family hit.
Handling the Undead
The iconic “crossing the streams” scenario, originally pitched by Ghostbusters, has served to be an effective comparison when describing debacles. Such is the case for another supernatural film, Handling the Undead. Norwegian filmmaker Thea Hvistendahl essentially”crosses the streams” by running a metaphorical subtext with more literal examples. Hvistendahl aims for nuance, but misses and creates heavy-handed deliveries and drawn out results.