“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.”
― Audrey Hepburn
The marketing and trailers don't do this horror flick justice. Every ad makes 'You're Next' look like just another slasher - but this entertaining thriller is an exciting new entry into a very tired genre.
While the original 'Kick-Ass' was a refreshing blend of joyful violence, its sequel is a muddled, uninspired/meandering exercise in failed shock value and poor story narrative.
Woody Allen's latest dramatic comedy features a superb cast and is highlighted by one of the great acting performances of 2013.
This grim sci-fi flick amazes with its richly realized world and innovative ideas, however, it disappoints with a flat story at its core.
A potentially great comedic premise sadly resorts to cheap jokes and cobbling together a story out of a mountain of coincidental events.
Not quite a comedy and lacking enough plot to call it a drama, 'Prince Avalanche' is a slowly-moving film that defies convention or genre.
One of the strongest films of 2013 is a simple, brilliantly executed coming-of-age story of a teen's summer vacation to a seaside town.
This 90s-era comedy is essentially a girl version of 'American Pie,' only way less charming.
This robots-versus-monsters action flick will satisfy every fan of mecha, anime or the old 'Kaiju' Japanese monster movies.
Simply calling 'Stories We Tell' a documentary is quite reductive. This is a masterpiece of storytelling and a layered, captivating look back at the lingering effects of 30-year old family secret.
If you're able to turn your brain off for two hours, 'White House Down' is an incredibly fun summer action flick.
'Upside Down' puts its other foot in the grave wrapping its own convulted sci-fi premise with a thin story and even more meager screenplay.
It's apparent the intent was to create a scathing commentary on those obsessed with celebrities - but in doing so, 'The Bling Ring' sinks to the level of stupidity of those its critiquing.
The latest Pixar offering is a two-headed monster - one head is an unremarkable-to-cloying CGI kid's movie while the other head is a daring adventure and thoughtful story.
While the debate between 'running zombies vs. slow-moving/Romero zombies' may not be settled anytime soon, 'Z' opts for a borderline super-powered army of the undead.
'Before Sunrise' was one of the great romances of all time. Its sequel, 'Before Sunset,' ranks among the greatest film sequels of all time. Now 'Before Midnight' will cement the 'Before' series as one of - if not the - greatest film trilogies ever.
The most substantial Superman film to date is exciting, but not without some serious structural flaws.
I caught 24 films at the SIFF 2013 - here are my top 5 films from the festival.
Kitschy documentary succeeds in making the already internet famous Lil Bub - who suffers a myriad of physical disabilities - more amazing, while doing her weirdo, cat-obsessed fans no such favor.
Nostalgic without manipulation, funny without compromising dramatic elements and an overall fun adventure - 'The Kings of Summer' is a great addition to the coming-of-age genre.
