Author’s Note: This review was previously published during Dumbo’s theatrical run this spring, and is being re-run with notes about the BluRay’s visuals, audio and special features. Tim Burton’s Dumbo as an eccentric, wondrous film, with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies of its beloved director on display. It’s at once a family film and a…

The central problem with Ma isn’t the gore, violence or the unhinged nature of Octavia Spencer’s character. It’s the lack of reason. We learn — through flashbacks — that SueAnn (Ma) had a troubled, traumatic childhood and was bullied mercilessly. Like many young kids, she fell victim to the whims of the popular kids in…

Watching Samuel L. Jackson as a hard-nosed P.I. in Shaft is as special now as it was two decades ago in the 2000 remake. What gets lost in translation are the changing views on misogyny, homophobia, and what constitutes humour. After 20 years, much of Jackson’s foul-mouthed observational humour as a former cop above the…

In a summer of slumping sequels, Keanu Reeves’ John Wick 3: Parabellum blasts bullets across multiplexes North America-wide, proving the rare exception to the rule. This third in the trilogy that began with the death of an assassin’s dog has spun into a revenge tale for the ages, and the kills and carnage just get…

Disney’s classic Aladdin is brought to life in this live-action, breathtaking picture. Through the fantastical colours, smooth singing voices and stylish bombast, it’s a delight for the senses, even if the iconic characters sometimes falter in this remake. In the hands of Guy Ritchie — yes, the man behind Snatch and Sherlock Holmes — this…

The runaway animated hit Secret Life of Pets delighted adults and children alike in 2016. It imagined the motivations for the insane, hilarious things our animals do, and followed the misadventures for instantly-lovable characters. Max (now voiced by Patton Oswalt after Louis C.K.’s ouster) ambles through life protecting the humans he loves, nervously avoiding difficult…

Ah, if 12-year-old me could have seen my  face during the screening of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu I gleefully attended. A thrill for anyone aged eight to 28, Detective Pikachu capitalized on the love and goodwill Gen X moviegoers had for their beloved TV show to make this incredible feature. Featuring the voice of Deadpool himself,…

Last year’s runaway Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody shone in spite of its myriad of flaws. I’m happy to report that Elton John’s journey film Rocketman succeeds by raising the camp dial to 11 and filling in the gaps Rhapsody couldn’t. Taron Egerton, of Kingsman fame, owns the screen in a captivating, surreal performance in which…

Writer’s Note: This review first appeared during FIN, the Halifax film festival in September 2018. It is being re-run to coincide with Mouthpiece’s theatrical run. Elegant director Patricia Rozema has delivered another unique, human portrait with Mouthpiece. The film portrays Cassandra as two women whose competing voices pull her in two different directions as she…

High Life is the kind of concept-driven arts piece film that will cater to the film snobs and existentialists in all of us. It’s a dreary. visually striking film that meanders along at a snail’s pace, and squanders a plot that could have been interesting. In a future world where felons are sent to space…