[TIFF 2020] REVIEW: ‘Shiva Baby’ unleashes charming but brutal cringe comedy

We’re treated (or perhaps subjected) to 60 minutes of non-stop social tension; think of the most intense moments of cringe comedy from a season or two of The Office, lined up into one wince-inducing package. No matter where Danielle goes at the gathering, she struggles to stay a step ahead of every fib she needs to tell - about her whereabouts that morning, her fake job as a babysitter, her program at school. The deeper the hole Danielle digs for herself, the more embarrassed we feel for her.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowSeptember 19, 2020shiva baby, emma seligman, rachel sennott, fred melamed, danny deferrari, molly gordon, polly draper, comedy, 2020, movies, tiff, tiff 2020Comment

[TIFF 2020] REVIEW: ‘Shadow in the Cloud’ is a wartime horror with a troubled origin

Garrett’s troubles increase with the arrival of two enemies: the Japanese air force, and a thoroughly supernatural addition, a gremlin. Yes, perhaps I forgot to mention: Shadow in the Cloud is also a creature feature. In an homage to the 1963 Twilight Zone episode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”, starring William Shatner, Garrett is plagued by a bat/monkey-like creature that’s trying to tear the plane apart in mid-air.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowSeptember 17, 2020shadow in the cloud, chloe grace moretz, roseanne liang, max landis, action, horror, movie, film, review, tiff, tiff 2020Comment

[TIFF 2020] REVIEW: ‘Nomadland’ offers unexpected shelter

Many of the people in the nomad community couldn’t be happier. They are free to travel as they please, without the responsibilities that come with keeping up a piece of real estate. It’s a lot grittier than the manicured illusion of #vanlife on Instagram - a quick scene lays out the benefits of different sizes of toilet buckets - but it’s the most free you can be without becoming a totally off-the-grid hermit.

DISCLAIMER

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