Ravenous (1999)

As an allegory for the United States of America, Ravenous is so fucking perfect that it needed to be a comedy. The idea of imagining early Americans as cannibals granted supernatural powers by feasting on human flesh – the extrapolation to the modern day left to one’s imagination – would’ve been hard to stomach played…

The Witch Reproduces a Bygone Era’s Fantastic Fear of Femininity

I’m somewhat uncomfortable with horror movies that take witches as their monster. The history of ‘witchcraft’ is inextricably tied up with horrific events like the Salem trials – events that repeat themselves today across developing countries, events driven primarily by a patriarchal fear of women as transgressors. Those accused of and punished for ‘witchcraft’ are…

Triple 9 (2016)

Modern day cops and robbers tales are all about blurring the lines between criminal and authority, which makes it a perfect fit for John Hillcoat, well known for his fascination with villians and anti-heroes. It’s a pity then that Hillcoat shortchanges himself with Triple 9, squeezing a three-hour story into a two-hour movie, and sacrificing…

Microbe & Gasoline (2015)

French director Michel Gondry is back for another misadventure full of charm, humour and heart. Microbe & Gasoline – screening at the upcoming French Film Festival – is a tale of two teens searching for their place in the world while realising their own independence. Microbe, a.k.a Daniel (Ange Dargent), is the film’s protagonist. He struggles with…

Sucker (2015)

Lawrence Leung is many things – writer, comedian, actor, magician – but most of all he’s a great storyteller. If you’ve watched any of his shows – at a comedy festival or on television – you’d be familiar with his knack for transforming a thin premise into a transfixing tale. Sucker is one such tale:…

Ride Along 2 (2016)

Director, Tim Story returns for another comedy-fueled ride-along with brothers “in-law” James (Ice Cube) and Ben (Kevin Hart). Right from the word go, we are reminded of the characters and their roles in the franchise – James, the tough-guy lead detective and Ben, the goofy sidekick seeking approval. In Ride Along 2, we follow the pair of…

Trumbo (2015)

For a film about a screenwriter’s perseverance for creative expression, Trumbo is rarely as inspired or diligent. Based on the life of Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), director Jay Roach’s biopic settles for a cordial yet straight-laced snapshot of 1950s Hollywood, unable to elevate political and libertarian motifs off the page. After being unjustly imprisoned for his…