Last night, filmmakers, media (including yours truly) and esteemed industry professionals gathered at the AGO in Toronto with special guests Sundance Now curator George Schmalz and General Manager of Sundance Now and Sundance TV Jan Diedrichsen to celebrate the official launch of AMC Networks’ ad-free streaming platform, Sundance Now in Canada. As a special for […]
Category Archives: Streaming
November
29
Netflix Pick: Sour Grapes
posted by Courtney Small
One of the unheralded cinematic bright spots of 2016 is the wonderful wealth of stellar documentaries that have been flowing into theatres and onto streaming services. Though they may lack the fanfare that often comes with the release of most blockbusters, this year’s crop of non-fiction tales have featured storytelling that is far more potent […]
October
10
Netflix Pick: 13th
posted by Courtney Small
Back in March I mentioned the encounter my family had two years ago, one in which a complete stranger joked that my then three-year-old son would be chased by the cops one day. It is a moment that I think about often; knowing that it will not be the last time that my son is […]
August
03
Netflix Pick: The Invitation
posted by Courtney Small
There is a beautiful simplicity to Karyn Kusama’s latest film that is lacking in most thrillers nowadays. Instead of relying on jump scares to build its unsettling atmosphere, the film allows it characters to do all the heavy lifting. Conversation and subtle visual flourishes are mainly the tools Kusama uses to construct her tension filled […]
April
14
Netflix Pick: 13 Assassins
posted by Courtney Small
Adapted from Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film of the same name, Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins turns familiar tropes into one of the more memorable action films in recent years. Set in feudal Japan, the story involves a group of men joining forces to stop a Shogun’s tyrannical half-brother. As no one wants to disrespect the Shogun’s […]
August
10
Netflix Pick: Two Days, One Night
posted by Courtney Small
Election campaigning is in full swing, pundits are putting their nightly spin on the politics of the day, and a man named Trump is saying whatever he wants. While political junkies on both sides of the border are soaking in every second of the daily poll results, a different type of campaign is worthy of […]
July
05
Netflix Pick: Certified Copy
posted by Courtney Small
How does one define art? Is it about the form? Is it the emotion it evokes from the observer? Does it need to be a unique piece? Can a copy be artistically on par, if not supersede, the original work? These are just a small sample of the numerous questions raised in Abbas Kiarostami’s mesmerizing […]
July
03
Netflix Pick: Margin Call
posted by Courtney Small
As the entire world waits with bated breath for the outcome of the July 5 referendum in Greece, we are reminded once again that the aftershocks of the 2008 financial crisis are still vibrating. Watching the economic turmoil unfolding overseas, one cannot help but think back to J.C. Chandor’s drama Margin Call, which offered a […]
June
23
Netflix Pick: Sin Nombre
posted by Courtney Small
Prior to becoming a household name for his brilliant work on the first season of True Detective, director Cary Joji Fukunaga burst onto the scene with his intimate portrait of an unlikely friendship. Sin Nombre explores the adversities that many Mexican immigrants endure as they risk it all for a chance at a better life […]
January
14
Netflix Pick: Bill Cunningham New York
posted by Dan Heaton
It’s a challenge to wrap your mind around the singular focus of Bill Cunningham. The longtime New York Times fashion photographer spends his days shooting everyday people on the streets of the city. He stands at intersections with his camera and scans the crowds to find interesting looks. A Schwinn bike (his 29th) is his […]
December
22
Netflix Pick: Antboy
posted by Courtney Small
In an era where Marvel and DC will be releasing close to thirty films in the next six years, it is understandable that the mere prospect of seeking out yet another superhero film might cause audiences to cringing. Considering the glut of films that already exist, it is getting increasingly difficult for films not affiliated […]
November
05
Netflix Pick: I Know That Voice
posted by Dan Heaton
Voice acting can be a pretty thankless job with limited recognition, and the people involved wouldn’t want it any other way. When you venture beyond the celebrity voices that can sell a project, there are many skilled professionals working daily to make animated films and TV shows click. Their stories reach the forefront in I […]
October
08
Netflix Pick: Walking and Talking
posted by Dan Heaton
The film industry is still a world dominated by men, and we’ve seen little progress in recent years. This is especially true in the directing field, where successful women are an exception. Kathryn Bigelow, Sofia Coppola, Kelly Reichardt, and others have done well, but it’s a short list. This landscape doesn’t make it easy, but […]
September
03
Netflix Pick: Smoke
posted by Dan Heaton
There’s a relaxing charm to Wayne Wang’s Smoke that’s a real challenge to create on the big screen. Characters glide in and out of this airy Brooklyn world, yet it feels natural. The Brooklyn Cigar Co. at the center of the action feels lived in and doesn’t look like a movie set. Its owner Auggie (Harvey […]
August
21
Netflix Pick: Headhunters
posted by Courtney Small
We all have a Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie) in our lives, that guy who overcompensates for his lack in stature by driving an extravagant car and talking tough. Though the Napoleon Complex that people like Brown carry with them daily can be annoying, every so often we can take glee in the fact that their […]
August
06
Netflix Pick: Gimme the Loot
posted by Dan Heaton
We’re living in a blockbuster culture dominated by franchises, so it’s easy to grow disillusioned with movies’ future. Thankfully, there are more outlets than ever before for stories that aren’t involved with saving the world from massive destruction. Sometimes just following characters for a day in their lives is enough to leave a strong impression. […]
July
16
Netflix Pick: Fat Kid Rules the World
posted by Courtney Small
Adapted from the novel by K.L. Going, Matthew Lillard’s directorial debut Fat Kid Rules the World aims to provide a more realistic look at the complexities of youth. It conveys the universal theme of finding one’s own path, while subtly avoiding several of the conventions commonly found in teen-centric coming-of-age tales. The film tells the […]
July
02
Netflix Pick: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
posted by Red Georges
Set in 1987 Communist Romania, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a 2007 Romanian film that follows two college friends on their mission to carry out an illegal abortion. While the plot is fairly simple and straightforward, the movie is filmed in a way that you feel every emotion along with the two […]
