Category: Films
James Earl Jones was movie royalty, a magisterial star who inspired both love and respect | Peter Bradshaw
James Earl Jones, who has died aged 93, was a massively accomplished and distinguished African American star of the stage and screen, an Egot titan [more…]
How to Save a Dead Friend review – moving Russian anthem for doomed youth
At the age of 16, in 2005, Marusya Syroechkovskaya was already certain that she would die young. “Everyone knows Russia’s for the depressed,” she would [more…]
Boonie Bears: Time Twist review – Chinese animation takes kids’ series into sci-fi yarn
If you’re a card-carrying member of the substantial fanbase of the Chinese animated television series Boonie Bears, which has already spawned half a dozen feature [more…]
The Assessment review – Alicia Vikander is future parents’ worst nightmare
First-time feature director Fleur Fortuné comes to Toronto with a high-concept sci-fi of the old school. It’s a speculative and futurist contrivance that’s elegant, amusing, [more…]
Eden review – Ron Howard’s nasty, starry survival thriller falls over the edge
The films of Ron Howard – usually polite, Oscar-aiming true stories such as A Beautiful Mind or Apollo 13 or solidly made, anonymous IP blockbusters [more…]
Elton John: Never Too Late review – thin portrait of a musical genius
In November 2022, Elton John took the stage for a final rousing US performance at LA’s Dodgers Stadium. The show was part of the Candle [more…]
The Fire Inside review – blazing boxing drama packs a serious punch
At a Toronto festival strangely heavy on middling dramas about either wrestlers (Unstoppable, uplifting yet routine) or boxers (The Cut, downbeat yet ridiculous), it’s easy [more…]
Unstoppable review – Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome lift routine sports drama
There are winks throughout the Matt Damon/Ben Affleck-produced wrestling drama Unstoppable suggesting that those involved are keenly aware of the archetypes that have come to [more…]
Venice 2024: Almodóvar’s first major festival win is richly deserved – and epically overdue
Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door is a tender, heartfelt drama about a driven former war correspondent who’s in search of the perfect final scene. [more…]
The Last Showgirl review – Pamela Anderson’s big comeback is a big disappointment
The desire to see Pamela Anderson receive her flowers after being mistreated and denigrated by numerous parties – from the media to men in the [more…]
