2017

ALL I WISH: A Strong Stone Can't Save This Film From Mediocrity
ALL I WISH: A Strong Stone Can’t Save This Film From Mediocrity

Susan Walters’ All I wish offers a minimally interesting story, but serves up some fine performances from Sharon Stone, Ellen Burstyn, Liza Lapira, Tony Goldwyn, and Gilles Marini.

FATHER FIGURES: Drags On Despite An All-Star Cast
FATHER FIGURES: Drags On Despite An All-Star Cast

Father Figures is a swing and a miss, lacking enough entertaining or cogent material to sell this half-hearted comedy.

BEYOND SKYLINE: When A Guilty Pleasure Isn’t That Fun
BEYOND SKYLINE: When A Guilty Pleasure Isn’t That Fun

While better than its predecessor, Beyond Skyline is still a sequel to a thinly conceived film, and even the freshest coat doesn’t work to hide the issues underneath.

CUSTODY: A Social realist take on the home invasion thriller
CUSTODY: A Social Realist Take On The Home Invasion Thriller

Custody is an impressive debut feature from Xavier Legrand, that manages to avoid exploitation even as it generates untold amounts of tension from a realistic domestic drama.

CARDBOARD GANGSTERS: Irish Crime Thriller is Brutally Effective
CARDBOARD GANGSTERS: Irish Crime Thriller Is Brutally Effective

A searingly authentic piece of work, Cardboard Gangsters brings complexity and surprising humanity to a world of gangsters, persuasively evoking the lives of marginalized people.

THE THIRD MURDER: A Complex puzzle of a legal thriller
THE THIRD MURDER: A Complex Puzzle Of A Legal Thriller

Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest film The Third Murder is a complex, rewarding legal thriller that is a notable departure from his usual humanist approach to character studies.

FINDING YOUR FEET: Pensioner Dramedy Is Surprisingly Moving
FINDING YOUR FEET: Pensioner Dramedy Is Surprisingly Moving

Though it is too perfectly machine-tooled to appeal to British pensioners, Finding Your Feet is a charming and funny ride.

TERRIFIER: Elements of Horror, but missing Depth and a Point
TERRIFIER: Missing Depth & A Point

Director Damien Leone’s horror introduces us to the terrifying Art the Clown – it’s just a shame the rest of the movie doesn’t live up to the terrifying promise of its central big bad.

MIDNIGHTERS: A Perfectly Watchable Midnight Thriller
MIDNIGHTERS: A Perfectly Watchable Midnight Thriller

Midnighters doesn’t ask too much from the audience. Respectfully, it knows what it is: a popcorn thriller with style and a bit of substance, enjoyable for anyone who likes a thriller in the Hitchc*ckian vein.

AGAINST THE NIGHT: A Thoroughly Dull Horror Effort
AGAINST THE NIGHT: A Thoroughly Dull Horror Effort

Even though it promises a scary journey, Against the Night fails on all levels. The poorness of its plot, direction, and performances make this already short film more unbearable than it ought to be.

ALLURE: A Disturbing Story But An Impressive Debut
ALLURE: A Disturbing Story But An Impressive Debut

Lead by a powerhouse cast and brilliant directorial debut, Allure challenges and leaves a significant trail of destruction in its wake.

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON: A Unique, Historical Perspective on Transgender Rights
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON: A Unique, Historical Perspective On Transgender Rights

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson is a rewarding experience and a tragic story filled with heartbreaking real-life characters, but their own humor and joy helps to balance out the very grim tidings.

HAVE A NICE DAY: Money Makes the Story Go Round
HAVE A NICE DAY: Money Makes the Story Go Round

Set in the gritty underbelly of southern China, Have a Nice Day (Hao ji le) is a dark comedic commentary on greed and materialism and only a small peak into what director Jian Liu has to offer.

SEE YOU UP THERE: Post-War Problems
SEE YOU UP THERE: Post-War Problems

Despite some real imaginative sequences, which are illuminated by excellent production design and great costume choices, See You Up There’s lacklustre style isn’t consistent, never quite reaching the heights that the absurd tale requires.

LEATHERFACE: A Dull Beginning for a Great Character
LEATHERFACE: A Dull Beginning for a Great Character

Predictable and boring, Leatherface fails to give viewers and fans of the franchise a gripping, riveting, startling movie on how a serial killer family is born.