By: Jessica Goddard A film that could’ve been a standard biographical piece turns unexpectedly investigative in Whitney, a new documentary from Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void, Life in a Day) about the life and legend of superstar Whitney Houston. This is the first and only Whitney Houston documentary to be authorized by the family, and their participation and exclusive footage adds credibility.
By: Jessica Goddard A well-paced timeline of the 1990s peace negotiations in the Middle East, The Oslo Diaries skillfully articulates the sense of both hope and skepticism in the period. Directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, the filmmakers use diary excerpts, historical footage, news clips, and participant commentary to paint a picture of simultaneous optimism and doubt surrounding the Oslo Accords.
By: Jessica Goddard Architectural opulence meets pop culture royalty in Matthew Miele’s Always at The Carlyle, a documentary about the literal ins-and-outs of the discreetly famous 88-year-old Upper East Side Manhattan hotel.
We’re halfway through the year, which means it’s time for Wylie Writes’ recap of the best and the worst films of 2018. Don’t forget to click the coloured titles to read a more detailed write-up about the film!
By: Jessica Goddard Charming and endlessly sensitive, Thomas Piper’s Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf presents an underacknowledged art form with patience, intrigue, and warmth.
By: Jessica Goddard Unfortunately, just calling itself Another Kind of Wedding isn’t enough; this film isn’t any different from all the other wedding comedies out there. After all, no one makes a movie about a perfect wedding where everything goes right and everybody gets along.
Jean-François Caissy’s look into the Canadian Armed Forces’ intensive training program is a slice-of-life style treat for those especially interested in modern military training practices. First Stripes follows a 12-week course in French Canada, from the time recruits are being told the rules of the facility and getting in shape to performing mission simulations and learning how to use their weapons.
1999 (DIR. Samara Grace Chadwick) A hauntingly dreamlike style of documentary and exploration of memory, Samara Grace Chadwick’s 1999 is artistically-conceived though low on information.
Playing Hard (DIR. Jean-Simon Chartier) Jean-Simon Chartier’s behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of video game development is engrossing, informative, and unexpectedly full of tension and drama.
By: Jessica Goddard Blandly written and clunkily delivered, I Feel Pretty has its moments but is mediocre to the point of vexation. A sort of cross between Shallow Hal and 13 Going on 30, the premise is probably well-intentioned as far as messaging is concerned, but it’s almost like this movie gives up on itself midway through. Indeed, it’s getting hard out here for those of us rooting for Amy Schumer’s film career.