By: Addison Wylie I don’t normally write reviews for TV movies, but when I do, it’s for The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story. A film that only exists to peak curiosities and indulge Bell actor Dustin Diamond. As someone who grew up watching Zack Morris and the gang attend Bayside High and ensue in melodramatic hijinx, it’s hard not to write this review from a fan’s point-of-view. Jason Lapeyre’s biopic about Saved by the…
By: Addison Wylie There’s a world where rainbows cross the sky day in and day out, animals play in harmony, and shiny people joyfully smile without a care to be had. I know it exists because I’ve just seen Common People, a sweet British film that’s available right now on iTunes to rent or purchase. Stewart Alexander and Kerry Skinner’s film is one of these vehicles where movie goers are dropped off in tiny slices…
By: Addison Wylie You can’t start off discussing St. Vincent without leading in with everyone’s favourite movie buddy: Bill Murray. Bill Murray is a very tough actor to dislike. He has a charm – an aura – that draws you in and makes you grin like a madman. He’s one of those rare cases where you don’t mind if every character you see him play is – in fact – himself, because he’s immensely watchable…
By: Addison Wylie If you grew up watching teen movies or were exposed to the batch of PG-13 high school flicks that flooded cinemas from the 90’s to the early 2000’s, it’s natural to have a repellant reaction to Charlie Lyne’s doc Beyond Clueless. The documentarian intentionally takes your beloved guilty pleasures and dissects them to find running themes. An introduction using 1996’s The Craft tells us exactly what movie goers are in for, and…
By: Addison Wylie Wyrmwood charges through our senses. It’s easily the scariest, most effective zombie flick audiences will have seen as of late. Kiah Roache-Turner uses a dangerous form of filmmaking that is rarely seen in modern cinema. Mostly due to the fact that it’s an insane style that could go belly-up if the audience isn’t ready for its shocking invasiveness. Roache-Turner throws movie goers in the centre of the intense life-or-death face-offs. He positions…
By: Addison Wylie White Bird in a Blizzard hits you with a wallop pivotal enough to make you concussed. You walk away having appreciated Gregg Araki’s latest film, but it doesn’t entirely settle well, and its difficult to come up with reasonings as to why. Now thinking of it though, the Araki films I’ve caught (Mysterious Skin and Smiley Face) have had the same effect. Mysterious Skin is a distraught story of a troubled teenage…
By: Addison Wylie Alex Ross Perry’s Listen Up Philip is decently crafted by biting dialogue and watchable performances. However, I’m unsure what audiences are supposed to “get” out of the film. Perry certainly pulls us in with an atmosphere reminiscent of films made during the 70’s. He has the correct details lined within his style, as well as the rebellious glimmers in his filmmaking. However, once we’re invested and get on board with the film’s…
By: Addison Wylie Not everything in Eternity: The Movie works. However, filmmaker Ian Thorpe shows audiences that clean comedy leads to the best kind of laughs with this lo-fi send-up to the 1980’s. Barrett Crake plays Todd Lucas, because – I suppose – Jon Heder had a busy schedule. Lucas is new to the Californian lifestyle. Instead of one-night stands with bodacious babes, he wishes to escape the business and get to know a girl…
By: Addison Wylie Director Adam Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett are two filmmakers who love the horror genre. Furthermore, they’re filmmakers who understand the genre. They deserve a ton of success and praise. I hope The Guest finally gets them there. You might say, “Addison! What’re you talking about? These two have made a name for themselves already!” Sure, they have; I agree that the duo have established themselves in moviemaking, but Wingard and Barrett…
By: Addison Wylie The suspiciously released comedy Best Night Ever could easily be retitled Wedding Movie. Or, Hangover Movie or Bridesmaids Movie to be a bit more on the nose. The reason why the film doesn’t go by those titles is because (A.) those suggestions are terrible and (B.) the directorial duo are most likely trying to distance themselves away from schlocky spoof movies. That duo: Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Friedberg and Seltzer need…