‘Fast and Furious 6’ barrels full throttle into theaters this weekend
Crashing into theaters this weekend is the latest entry into the billion dollar franchise that has morphed from a gear head fantasy into all out crime caper action/comedy, but still keeping its fair share of vehicular mayhem intact, Fast and Furious 6. Or as the title card on the film suggests, Furious 6, keeping the ever changing moniker of the series intact. This time around the crew is on the right side of the law as the series goes back deep into the past to close any loose ties and connections that still exist, and even resurrect on character from the dead.
Fast and Furious 6
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, Michelle Rodriguez,Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Sung Kang, Gal Godot, Jordana Brewster, Gina Carano, Elsa Pataky
Written by Chris Morgan
Directed by Justin Lin
Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam has left their lives (more…)
‘The We and the I’ stop the bus at the TIFF Bell Lightbox this week
Starting an exclusive engagement at the TIFF Bell Lightbox this week is the newest film from the visionary director of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “The Green Hornet” Michel Gondry, “The We and the I”. The film carries a very experimental concept and feel to the screen, nothing new for Gondry, but also relies with on a very unconventional cast to tell this unique story. But does this long bus ride across the Bronx travel at a constant speed, or are their detours along the route?
The We and the I
Written by Michel Gondry, Jeffrey Grimshaw and Paul Proch
Directed by Michel Gondry
Director Michel Gondry applies his unique and dazzling style to yet another self-contained world, the back of a New York City school bus, populated by a group of teenagers riding the length of the Bronx on the last day of school (more…)
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ boldly goes for stellar box office
Arriving in theaters this weekend is the follow up film from J.J. Abrams to his 2009 eponymously titled reboot of the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, Star Trek Into Darkness. The film has been under heavy guard with cast members sworn to protect the secrets of the film as to not ruin any of the twists that lie ahead. Looking to rule the box office this weekend, with phasers set to stun the competition, will Star Trek Into Darkness be able to boldly go past Iron Man 3, this year’s early box office champ?
Star Trek Into Darkness
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Alice Eve, Peter Weller and Benedict Cumberbatch
Written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof
Directed by J.J. Abrams
‘I Declare War’ prepares to overtake the TIFF Bell Lightbox
Starting an exclusive run at the TIFF Bell Lightbox this weekend is the visionary new film from directing team Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson that will transport audiences back to those hazy summer afternoons of childhood where playing with your friends carried much more epic circumstances in your own mind. The film takes on that area of adolescence just as the characters arrive on the cusp of typical teenage school dramas, including girls, where a game of ‘War; could hold so much sway. They film adds a level of the surreal by removing the crude homemade weapons the boys possess and replacing them with actual guns and ammunition.
I Declare War
Starring: Siam Yu, Gage Munroe, Michael Friend, Aidan Gouveia, Mackenzie Munro, Alex Cardillo, Dyson Fyke, Spencer Howes, Andy Reid
Written by Jason Lapeyre
Directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson
‘Skull World’ rocks the Carlton cinema
Starting an exclusive run at the Carlton Cinema in Toronto this week is the newest film from Toronto based director Justin McConnell that impressed back in March at the Canadian Film Fest, “Skull World”. McConnell’s fun and engaging documentary about his friend Greg Sommer is some well-crafted film making though the film hints that there is a ton of footage left aside that will likely emerge on a DVD/Blu-ray release down the road. But this rare, unexpected chance to see the film on the big screen in a regular theatrical run in a opportunity most should take advantage of.
Skull World
Starring: Greg “Skull Man” Sommer
Directed by Justin McConnell
An enterprising man in his early 30s Greg, and his alter-ego Skull Man, is at war, ‘Box Wars’ that is. Step into Greg’s world full of warriors, magic, glory, and metal music. Greg is e founder and developer of the Canadian-chapter of Box Wars, an international (more…)
‘ChristCORE’ mildly rocks the Royal Cinema
Starting an exclusive run at the Royal Cinema on May 4th is the new documentary that goes on the road touring with the biggest bands in hardcore music, ChristCORE. Of course this isn’t your typical hardcore musicians, rather the deeply religious preachers of faith in the midst of the volatile vocals that is known as the ever expanding in popularity Christian based hardcore music scene.
ChristCORE
Directed by Justin Ludwig
Canadian filmmaker and atheist punk rocker Justin Ludwig goes on tour with two evangelical hardcore bands, driven newcomers ‘Messengers’ (more…)
‘Iron Man 3’ starts the summer box office off on the right foot
On the heels of last year’s mega smash hit “The Avengers” Marvel Studios and Disney, in partnership with Paramount Pictures, brings us the newest installment of one of the Avenger’s key players, Iron Man 3. With this film, Robert Downey Jr. fulfills his Tony Stark contract quota and has fuelled speculation that he may be done donning the iron suit for good. Whether this is the case or not, it would be hard to argue that he has not left the character in a far better place than he started with it.
Iron Man 3
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall, James Badge Dale, William Sadler and Jon Favreau
Written by Drew Pearce and Shane Black
Directed by Shane Black
Napster is dissected in the new Doc ‘Downloaded’
Downloaded
Director: Alex Winter
In 1998, teenage hacker Shawn Fanning cracked the code that enabled peer-to-peer file sharing online. In 1999, he partnered with his friend and fellow teen Sean Parker (later of Facebook fame) to launch a little service known as Napster. The music-sharing website transformed not only the music industry, but technology as a whole. It sparked a revolution and became the touchstone of a new, digital generation. Filmmaker Alex Winter is granted near unlimited access to Fanning and his collaborators, as well as to a roster of famous musicians including (more…)
Hot Docs 2013: Mini Reviews Part 1
The time has finally arrived and Toronto yet again will bask in the documentary glow that the Hot Docs Film Festival radiates every year. This year will mark the 20th edition of the now legendary festival and features a very strong line up, perhaps one of the strongest of all of it’s editions. Here’s reviews of 4 of the festival’s films, with more to come.
The coverage on Examiner for Hot Docs 2103 (more…)
Hot Docs 2013 – Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer is a must see
Meet Pussy Riot, the feminist punk collective that’s openly challenging the Russian Orthodox Church and President Vladimir Putin. They became infamous for invading the altar of St. Christ Church in Moscow and shocking worshipers with a raunchy song about a sexual coupling between Putin and the church. Three members of the collective were sentenced to three years in a penal colony. Such harsh punishment for a little disorderly conduct served as a clear demonstration of the church’s influence on the state and the state’s influence on the judiciary and brought Pussy Riot global attention.
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
Directed by Maxim Pozdorovkin and Mike Lerner
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer may turn out to be the most vital film playing this year at Hot Docs. The film is paced brilliantly (more…)
Hot Docs 2013: Dayani Cristal and Muscle Shoals
Hot Docs is upon us again! The 2013 edition marks the 20th edition and it looks to be one of the strongest lineups ever. Here is a couple of the films playing over the 11 days of the festival.
‘Wrong’ rolls into the Lightbox from ‘Rubber’ director Quentin Dupieux
Starting an exclusive run at the TIFF Bell Lightbox this weekend, infamous director and musician Quentin Dupieux, aka Mr Oizo, the director of the movie about a car tire on a killing spree ‘Rubber’, is back with his newest absurdist comedy ‘Wrong’. With Rubber being an extremely divisive film, and Dupieux’s penchant for the bizarre, Wrong is sure to not just be simple a story of a man trying to find his lost dog, but among the other distractions and flights of fancy from Dupieux it also is simply that story. But will the director’s latest opus be worthy of a trip down to the Lightbox for the experience?
Wrong
Starring Jack Plotnick, Eric Judor, Alexis Dziena, William Fichtner, Steve Little and Regan Burns
Written and Directed by Quentin Dupieux
Terrence Malick returns and takes us ‘To The Wonder’
Starting at the Varsity Cineplex Odeon this week is the latest from prolific and polarizing filmmaker Terrence Malick, To The Wonder. After decades where Malick was silent and not producing film his recent efforts have come in bunches with To The Wonder and Tree of Life only a year apart and Malick currently working on 3 projects all due by end of year 2014. To The Wonder has Malick pondering love and faith, and the loss of both of them.
To The Wonder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem
Written and Directed by Terrence Malick
‘Oblivion’ feels very familiar, but looks stunning
Starring: Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko, Zoe Bell, Melissa Leo andMorgan Freeman
Written by Joseph Kosinski, Karl Gajdusek and Michael Arndt
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
New in theaters this week is the new Science Fiction action/thriller from the director ofTron: Legacy starring Tom Cruise, Oblivion. The first of many apocalyptic earth films to be unleashed in theaters this year, this summer’s After Earth and fall’s Snowpiercer still to come; Oblivion is a beautiful looking epic that despite a small cast is very grand in scale. The question is will the film be original enough to outshine its competition?
2077: Jack Harper (Cruise) serves as a security repairmen stationed on an evacuated Earth with his partner Victoria (Riseborough) (more…)
‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ falls short of the mark
“Blue Valentine” director Derek Cianfrance returns, with his lead actor from Valentine Ryan Gosling in tow, to brings us his vision of an epic crime saga that spans a generation with the much hyped film that debuted at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, The Place Beyond the Pines. Also bringing along Bradley Cooper and rising star Dane DeHaan this time around, director Cianfrance is attempting a much larger in scope and scale story with Place Beyond the Pines, but will the film have more intention and purpose behind the script, or be more about observation and character like Blue Valentine?
The Place Beyond the Pines
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen, Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta, Bruce Greenwood and Harris Yulin
Written by Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio and Darius Marder
Directed by Derek Cianfrance
‘Hit N’ Strum’ is a swing and a miss
New in Toronto theaters this week, at the Cineplex Yonge & Dundas Cinemas, is the directorial debut from veteran Hollywood stuntman Kirk Caouette, Hit N’ Strum. The film, also written and starring Caouette, takes place on his native Canadian streets of Vancouver and features music expressly written and performed by Cauoette himself. After a successful run in Vancouver, Hit N’ Strum makes it Toronto theatrical debut looking to charm TO viewers as well.
Hit N’ Strum
Starring: Michelle Harrison, Kirk Caouette and Paul McGillion
Written and directed by Kirk Caouette
Worlds collide when Stephanie (Harrison) takes a wrong turn and runs down Mike (Caouette), a scruffy homeless street busker in Vancouver’s gritty Downtown Eastside. As Mike gets to his feet, Stephanie panics and speeds away from the scene. (more…)
Director Shane Carruth returns with ‘Upstream Color’
Indie darling filmmaker Shane Carruth finally delivers his long awaited follow up to 2004’s surprise hit “Primer”, as the film starts an exclusive run at the Tiff Bell Lightbox April 12, Upstream Color. Upstream is a bolder and larger in scope. A more diverse effort from Carruth that will challenge even the most patient audience with its abstract metaphors and nonlinear story telling that is never broken down and explained for the viewer. This is the type of film that will have audiences in discussion for hours and days after, and will either be loved or vilified in the process.
Upstream Color
Starring: Amy Seimetz, Shane Carruth, Andrew Sensenig, Thiago Martins
Written and Directed by Shane Carruth
Danny Boyle manages to get us in a ‘Trance’, but just barely
Trance Review
Starring: James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson
Written by Joe Ahearne, John Hodge
Directed by Danny Boyle
Director Danny Boyle takes a step back into the realm of the psychological crime thriller for the first time since his debut film “Shallow Grave” with his newest film set in the world of art crime, Trance. The film is the feature adaptation of writer Joe Ahearne’s television film from 2001 of the same name, with frequent Boyle writing collaborator Hodge helping out with script of this version of the story. With a stellar trio leading the film the only question that remains is how effective it is?
Simon (McAvoy) is a fine art auctioneer who gets mixed up with a gang led by Franck (more…)
‘Jurassic Park 3D’ brings the extinct back to the cineplex
Jurassic Park 3D Review
Starring: Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Richard Attenborough, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Richards, Joseph Mazzello, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, BD Wong, Wayne Knight and Samuel L. Jackson
Written by David Koepp and Michael Crichton based on Crichton’s novel.
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Back in theaters 20 years after its initial release, and yes that statement may make you feel really old, is the landmark summer blockbuster from Steven Spielberg that changed how movie theaters were equipped for sound and racked up major box office dollars, Jurassic Park. Being retro fitted for 3D for this reissue, Jurassic Park still remains the most realistic film to depict dinosaurs on screen but the question is how does the 3D transfer effect the film’s visuals and does it add anything to the experience.
In case you need a refresher, Jurassic Park is the story of paleontologists Dr. Alan Grant (Neil) and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Dern), who along with ‘Chaotician’ (more…)
‘Ginger and Rosa’ arrive in Toronto this week for a limited engagement
New in theaters this week from Union Pictures is the newest film from acclaimed writer/director Sally Potter about coming of age in turbulent 1960’s London England, “Ginger and Rosa”. The film starts an exclusive engagement at the Varsity cinemas this week and hits Vancouver and Montreal next week. So with its limited engagements in Canada, is Ginger and Rosa worth seeking out?
Ginger and Rosa
Starring Elle Fanning, Alice Englert,Alessandro Nivola, Christina Hendricks, Timothy Spall, Oliver Platt and Annette Bening
Written and Directed by Sally Potter
It’s London 1962. Two teenage girls Ginger (Fanning) and Rosa (Englert) are inseparable friends; in fact the two have been linked together since they day they were both born, but the growing threat of nuclear war casts a shadow over their lives. Both rebel against their mothers: Rosa’s single mum, Anoushka (more…)
The ‘Spring Breakers’ want you in theaters this weekend
New in theaters across Canada this week from VVS Films is the tantalizing and titillating new film from “Kids” scribe Harmony Korine, the heavily buzzed about “Spring Breakers”. Starring a pair of former Disney child stars, a ‘Pretty Little Liar’ and Harmony’s own wife as bikini-clad bandits who desperately want to leave behind their humdrum college lives for sun, drugs and the allure of Spring Break. Korine has long searched for the right follow up to his landmark film “Kids” but has not quite achieved it yet. Will Spring Breakers prove to be it?
Spring Breakers
Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Selena Gomez, Gucci Mane and James Franco
Written and Directed by Harmony Korine
Four sexy college girls, Faith (Gomez) Candy (Hudgens) Brit (Benson) and Cotty (Korine), plan to fund their spring break getaway by burglarizing a popular fast food shack. But that’s only the beginning. At a motel room rager, fun reaches its legal limit and the girls are arrested and taken to jail. Hungover and clad only in bikinis, the girls appear before a judge but are bailed out unexpectedly by Alien (Franco) An infamous local thug and rapper, Alien takes them under his wing and leads them on the wildest Spring Break trip in history. Rough on the outside but with a soft spot inside, Alien wins over the hearts of the young Spring Breakers, and leads them on a Spring Break they never could have imagined. (more…)
Canadian Film Fest prepares to invade ‘Skull World’
Playing as part of this year’s Canadian Film Fest at the Royal Cinema in Toronto this week is the new documentary from the director of 2011’s The Collapsed Justin McConnell, Skull World. The film, playing Friday Mar 22 2013, is the tale of one man’s dreams and obsession over the growing phenomenon known as Box Wars.
Skull World
Starring: Greg “Skull Man” Sommer
Directed by Justin McConnell
An enterprising man in his early 30s Greg, and his alter-ego Skull Man, is at war, ‘Box Wars’ that is. Step into Greg’s world full of warriors, magic, glory, and metal music. Greg is e founder and developer of the Canadian-chapter of Box Wars, an international (more…)
‘Admission’ manages to avoid academic probation
New in theaters today, Mar 22 2013, is the newest film from the man behind Being Flynn, About a Boy and the original American Pie, director Paul Weitz, Admission. The comedy features Tina Fey hot off her final episodes of the smash hit TV series 30 Rock and comedy’s everyman Paul Rudd in a story about an admissions facilitator and a passionate teacher. So how does the film fare in making the grade?
Admission
Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff, Gloria Reuben, Wallace Shawn, Michael Sheen and Lily Tomlin
Written by Karen Croner based on the novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Directed by Paul Weitz
‘From Up on Poppy Hill’ looks to charm TIFF Bell Lightbox patrons
Starting an exclusive run this Friday Mar 22 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox is the latest animated film from Japan’s legendary Studio Ghibli is the latest film from Hayao Miyazaki’s son and protégé Goro, From Up on Poppy Hill. TIFF will be screening the film in both its original Japanese with subtitles and a new dubbed version featuring and all-star voice cast. With Hayao providing the script this time around for Goro, the question remains can Goro live up to the immense and vast legacy that his father has carved out through his many years of work?
Written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa
Directed by Goro Miyazaki
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