[VIFF 2021] REVIEW: 'Official Competition' produces a worthy competitor but not a winner

Sometimes, a film executes its message so flawlessly it works against itself. The film becomes an example of what it is trying to satirize, and I think that’s what ultimately makes Official Competition grating when the credits roll.

Film, New ReleasesJason ChenOctober 8, 2021official competition, spain, 2021, viff, review, antonio banderas, penelope cruzComment

[VIFF 2020] REVIEW: ‘Tales of the Lockdown’ won’t outlast the pandemic

Some credit has to be given to the filmmakers for the constraints they worked under: tight spaces, entry-level equipment, stringent health and safety protocols. But most of the stories still feel overly rushed, with unconvincing characters and scenarios that don’t rise beyond what’s been posted on platforms like TikTok or Twitter during this time.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowSeptember 30, 2020tales of the lockdown, spain, 2020, viff 2020, viff, short film, film, movies, review, comedy, thrillerComment

REVIEW: ‘The Trip to Spain’ is a hilarious, though familiar, Coogan/Brydon getaway

The age-old wisdom is that travelling is one of the best ways to expand your mind, giving you experiences that can’t be had elsewhere. But as any traveller will remind you, it’s easy to bring your bad habits with you on a journey. Perhaps that’s one of the keener observations in The Trip to Spain, the new theatrical cut of the TV series starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. No matter how much the fictional versions of the two comics learn about themselves in these stories, there’s always a new country to explore and play host to their middle-aged foibles.

DISCLAIMER

ALL NAMES, TRADEMARKS AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.