[TIFF 2022] REVIEW: 'Butcher's Crossing' leaves meat on the bone

Polsky’s film makes the mistake of not understanding how to use an actor like Cage. He’s either your expressionist, bombastic star, or he works in an ensemble of equally strong (yet obviously different) castmates. Here, Cage - sporting a thick beard and a bald head that he shaves with a straight razor - is frequently absent due to his quasi-supporting role.

New Releases, FilmRobert SnowSeptember 13, 2022tiff, 2022, butcher's crossing, nicolas cage, fred hechinger, xander berkeley, gabe polskyComment

REVIEW: ‘The Northman’ revels in raw Viking myth

Eggers’ film drags you bodily into a world where zombie kings, eyeless witches, and the talking severed head of Willem Dafoe are as real to the characters as their windswept settlements.

REVIEW: ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ lightens up its star

It’s a funny and occasionally touching story about male friendship and Cage’s character learning when to put his art aside for his family. But Unbearable Weight, for all its dedication to its gonzo subject, sometimes pulls its punches.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowApril 26, 2022unbearable weight, massive talent, nicolas cage, nic cage, tiffany haddish, pedro pascal, comedy, review, 2022Comment

REVIEW: ‘Uncharted’ finds only ordinary ideas

Without a consistent writer or director with a tangible style (a James Gunn or a Taika Waititi, perhaps), watching the movie is an exercise in identifying all the familiar screenwriting parts as they’re pulled from the shelf. Meanwhile, we wait patiently (or not) for Holland’s character to acquire the lived-in quality that propelled the games’ strong reputation.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowFebruary 19, 2022uncharted, movies, 2022, tom holland, mark wahlberg, video gamesComment

REVIEW: ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is a critical system update

The people behind the scenes are the same, but also different. Writer/director Lana Wachowski emerged as a trans icon (along with her sister Lilly), and has made a sequence of sometimes fascinating, sometimes puzzling work since the initial Matrix movies. Stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss have (oh so subtly) aged, enough that Reeves was able to fully revitalize his own career in the intervening years. What could The Matrix Resurrections do to remain relevant?

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowDecember 30, 2021the matrix, resurrections, sequel, the matrix 4, keanu reeves, carrie-anne moss, 2021, lana wachowskiComment

[VIFF 2021] REVIEW: 'The Worst Person in the World' is actually quite wonderful

The film is both charming and challenging, and has at least two scenes that were a visual delight.

[VIFF 2021] REVIEW: 'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' is low voltage drama

Even an A-list cast can’t save the film from becoming a cliched fable about an eccentric polymath, which glosses over some of the issues that plagued the life and legacy of the real Louis Wain.

Film, New ReleasesJason ChenOctober 15, 2021the electrical life, louis wain, benedict cumberbatch, claire foy, toby jones, review, period, 2021, viffComment

[VIFF 2021] REVIEW: A droning 'Benediction'

Benediction escapes most of the traps in a straightforward biopic – we don’t really see the events that turn Sassoon into a vocal critic of the war, nor do we see many scenes of him writing out poems. That can be a good thing, but what’s left behind are a smattering of sometimes incoherent scenes and little connective tissue.

REVIEW: ‘No Time to Die’ shoots for the heart of James Bond

No Time to Die proves to be one of the most surprising turns for the franchise since Casino Royale itself. And while it deconstructs and redefines the Bond character in notable ways, it also retains many of the touchstones we crave.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowOctober 13, 2021no time to die, 2021, daniel craig, cary joji fukunaga, ana de armas, lea seydoux, rami malek, james bond, reviewComment

[VIFF 2021] REVIEW: 'Red Rocket' takes off quickly but fizzles at the end

It’s pretty amazing how Baker manages to find all these local people to act in his projects. Rex, a former adult film actor and all-round thespian, is perfectly cast in this role, and without his manic hand waving and fast talking, Red Rocket barely gets off the ground.

Film, New ReleasesJason ChenOctober 12, 2021red rocket, sean baker, simon rex, drama, review, 2021, viffComment

[VIFF 2021] REVIEW: 'One Second' demands your time

It’s nice to get a reprieve from some of China’s big-budget films laden with special effects. Zhang’s films had grown to be more commercial than ever, reaching an unforgettable low point with The Great Wall (2016), but One Second is definitely worth your time

Film, New ReleasesJason ChenOctober 8, 2021one second, zhang yimou, zhang yi, liu haocun, comedy, review, 2021, china, viffComment

[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

REVIEW: ‘Copshop’ serves retro thrills

Copshop is a cops-and-criminals thriller with a funny streak that features a number of recognizable talents: Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo onscreen, and Joe Carnahan behind the camera. But more than anyone, it’s co-lead Alexis Louder who grabs your attention.