Movie Reviews

(This review was originally published on August 31, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) Oftentimes when thrillers attempt to weave the realism of a historically relevant era into their plot, they get wrapped up in the mechanics of what the characters are doing instead of the characters themselves. “The Debt”, John Madden’s re-imagining of the 2007 Israeli thriller […]

(This review was originally published on August 26, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) For a film as dependent on visual texture as “Don’t be Afraid of the Dark”, it makes sense that Guillermo del Toro would choose graphic novelist Troy Nixey to direct his updated vision of the 1973 made-for-television horror classic. Stepping behind the […]

(This review was originally published on August 21, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) “Summer Pasture” is a keen, unimposing observation of Tibetan culture that finds an  emotional common ground with its audience, a curious comparison to our own  domestic lives and how we interact. Directed by Lynn True and Nelson Walker (with co-director Tsering Perlo), this 86 […]

(This review was originally published on August 19, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) If throwing caution to the wind and developing a few basic ideas for an inexpensive alien invasion comedy produces a film as entertaining as “Attack the Block” in the UK, it might be time for Hollywood to reach out to the Brits for […]

(This review was originally published on August 12, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) When a film franchise consistently attempts to deliver a greater spectacle than its previous installments, there is an inherent risk as the gap between a recycled premise and its ability to surprise the audience widens. The “Final Destination” series has had the potential […]

(This review was originally published on July 29, 2011 at The Rogers Revue) Mike Cahill’s ethereal tale of a young woman’s struggle for redemption, “Another Earth” is something of a visual poem, a minimalist rendering of a very large concept. The film’s ambition is laced with a quiet despair that feeds its ominous tone, effective in […]