Reviews

This film is not good. At all. The best thing about this film is the two cute girls in the lead roles. I found them endearing, in spite of the film's many weaknesses. The writing is really bad and the performances of the adult actors are all too over the top and completely ineffective. The film isn't very funny or entertaining and feels longer than it is. It isn't well made and feels like it was thrown together by amateurs with a really low budget. Despite the pretty young leading ladies best efforts, this film doesn't work. 4/10 is my rating and that is me being nice because it has a couple cute kids in it.

Directed by Emily Renee Gold, this short film stars real life sisters and models, Lyla and Peyton Wesson. It's about a young girl who faces her fears with the help of a mysterious new friend. I thought both girls did a wonderful job. The story was interesting and well written and I was entertained from start to finish. BST FRNDS is a cute short film that should appeal to young girls especially, as well as anyone who is a fan of Lyla and Peyton. The girls are talented and charming. I hope they star in more films together in the future. If you are a fan of the Wesson sisters, you will enjoy this film.

I watched Themroc (1973) today for the first time. Directed by Claude Faraldo, the film has no understandable dialogue. There is only sounds and minimal grunts and gibberish. This is an interesting approach, but unfortunately did not work for me. At all. To pull this off, you have a really interesting story. I didn't find the story in Themroc interesting or entertaining on any level. I was not impressed by the performances and the found the characters dull and severely underdeveloped. The film dragged on and on for what felt like a long time and I was bored for much of it. This is one of the worst films I have seen in years.

This is a pretty silly movie. It's predictable and a little cheesy, but it has its charms. It's reasonably fun and amusing. There is a unicorn and a pig, so that's a win-win. And the two lead girls are cute and charming, both turning in fine performances. If you are looking for family fun and don't mind some juvenile silliness, go ahead and check out Wish Upon a Unicorn.

I just finished watching the film Cuties (2020) on Netflix. Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, the film stars Fathia Youssouf, as Amy, an 11 year old girl torn between her conservative, traditional family and a group of dancers at school who call themselves the cuties. The film is well written and beautifully directed. This feels like an honest depiction of a girl growing up and trying to fit in. Fathia Youssouf is fantastic, believable, and sympathetic. The other young girls in the film are very good too. The film has depth, heart, and is always engaging and compelling. Doucouré does a great job of bringing out the humour in some of the film's lighter moments. And for those who were concerned or confused by the marketing of the film, Cuties does not in exploit/sexualize children or condone pedophilia in any way, shape or form. If you have not seen the film, you should not be judging, rating, or reviewing it. Now that the film is available on Netflix, go watch it and decide for yourself! My rating is a 9/10.

Written and directed by Mitch McLeod, Silhouette stars April Hartman, Tom Zembrod, Jessica Dawn Willis, and Savannah Solsbery. It tells the story of a couple dealing with marital problems after the death of their young daughter. They move to the country, hoping for a fresh start, but are haunted by the sins of the past. The film is moody and atmospheric, a slow burn, building tension and suspense. April Hartman is quite good here, as the troubled wife and grieving mother, slowly unravelling. I liked the way the film's score helped to enhance the mood and add to the suspense. I think Mitch McLeod did an effective job in writing and directing the film and making the most out of a limited budget. If you are a fan of intelligent, well crafted independent horror films, then check out Silhouette. My rating is an 8/10.

I just finished watching The Rest of Us (2019). Directed by Aisling Chin-Yee, this Canadian drama stars Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse, Jodi Balfour, and Abigail Pniowsky. When her ex-husband dies suddenly, Cami (Graham) invites his second wife (Balfour) and daughter (Pniowsky) to stay with her and her teenaged daughter (Nélisse). The four women deal with their grief, while trying to navigate their complicated relationship and history. I was very invested in all four main characters and their journey. The film was well written and I thought all four lead actors did a good job. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who appreciates an intelligent, engaging female driven drama. My rating is an 8/10.

I just finished watching the new Valley Girl movie. Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, this version is a musical adaption of the 1983 romantic comedy of the same name. It is about a valley girl who falls for a punk from the wrong side of the tracks. I really enjoyed it. Valley Girl is a vibrant, fun, high energy blast from the past. The film celebrates the music, styles, and atmosphere of the 80s in a really charming and delightful way. The song and dance numbers are great and the costumes and sets are wonderful too. The cast includes Jessica Rothe, Joshua Whitehouse, Ashleigh Murray, Jessie Ennis, Chloe Bennet, Mae Whitman, and Alicia Silverstone. I rate this version of Valley Girl a 9/10 and recommend it to anyone looking for some musical fun.

This was the first film I watched on my 40th birthday. It might seem like an unusual choice for a middle aged English speaking Canadian male to watch a French film about a mother and daughter, but I'm glad I watched it. The film is lovely and charming, anchored by strong and believable performances from Sandrine Kiberlain and Thaïs Alessandrin. I would definitely recommend this tender and touching film to anyone who appreciates a nice film. My rating is an 8/10.

I just finished watching The Hate U Give (2018). The film is about a teenaged girl (played by Amandla Stenberg) who witnesses the fatal shooting of her friend, an unarmed young black man, at the hands of a white police office. The film is incredibly powerful and moving. Amandla Stenberg is fantastic and gives her best performance so far. She is a powerhouse, compelling and believable. The film is brilliantly directed by George Tillman Jr. with an excellent screenplay by the late Audrey Wells. The Hate U Give is a must see. My rating is a 9/10.

I just finished watching the film Black Cop (2017). Written and directed by Cory Bowles, Black Cop is a Canadian drama about a black police office, pushed to the edge, who over the course of one day, starts to profile and harass white people. The film is powerful, provocative, and bold, with a razor sharp screenplay. Bowles does an excellent job directing and the film is funny, moving, and disturbing all at once. Ronnie Rowe plays the unnamed black cop, in a ferocious and powerhouse performance. The character is complex and fascinating and really makes the viewer think and wrestle with thoughts and emotions about important issues that the film focuses on. Black Cop is an entertaining and unusual film that I would recommend to everyone, regardless of race, nationality, or political views. My rating is a 9/10.

Love the beautiful black and white cinematography. The score is wonderful too and helps enhance the mood of the film. It has a poetic, haunting quality to it. Björk is fantastic her. This film deserves to be more widely seen. Check it out if you get the chance.

I just finished watching Summer Eleven (2010). It is a family comedy/drama about four 11 year old girls who are best friends and their last summer before middle school. Even though I am not in the target demographic, I really enjoyed it. The girls are adorable and I was invested in their characters and their friendship. I think young girls would especially enjoy the film. My rating is an 8/10.

Empty Suitcases is an experimental feminist film that most people haven't seen or heard of. That is most unfortunate as this is a very interesting and unusual film that deserves to be seen and recognized. The story is not told in a traditional way, but instead uses different methods of narration, including voiceover and on screen text. The film is essentially about women's experiences and representation. I really liked the look of the film and the way the director uses colour, sound, and silence to help enhance the experience. Empty Suitcases is a smart and distinctive film and I would recommend checking it out. It is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel.