So Good playlist: October 9
Some really solid stuff in this week’s show. New tracks from locals Joanna Borromeo and Dragon Fli Empire were both great, and the SonReal and Rich Kidd track sounds like a potential crossover hit to me. I’ll try to talk about all of those in more detail on here in the next few days. But … Continue reading
The Impossible trailer: A tragedy of the white and privileged
Don’t worry, this isn’t the start of “cultural sensitivity watch” on The Consumption. But just take a look at the trailer for The Impossible (which is playing in front of The Master) and tell me it doesn’t make you at least a little uncomfortable. Of all the stories that can be told about the tsunami that hit the … Continue reading
Some thoughts on The Master
(Spoiler warning, inasmuch as the movie can be spoiled) Some filmmakers, you automatically give the benefit of the doubt. Before The Master, Paul Thomas Anderson already had somewhere between three and five masterpieces under his belt (Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood are hard to argue against, and I’ve heard cases made for Punch Drunk Love and Hard Eight); … Continue reading
Review: Looper
Beyond being a compelling sci-fi action flick (and an original one, too, which is frustratingly rare), Looper uses the genre to examine real anxieties. And not in the “let’s raise this issue so people think we’re deep, then drop it” way that the new Total Recall did, but with the same understanding of technology as an extension of humanity that writers like Philip K. Dick used to elevate the genre in the first place.
What to see on CIFF’s last weekend
Again, the disclaimer: I work for CIFF, so this isn’t exactly objective reporting. But The Consumption is my own opinions, not those of the fest. There’s still four days left of this year’s Calgary International Film Festival, so this seems as good a time as any to run down some more of my festival favourites. … Continue reading
So Good Playlist for September 25
I went back to the old-school soul today, for the most part. The Nick Waterhouse record is still blowing my mind, and probably will be for some time. And the new Heavy and Souljazz discs seem to be living up to their last releases which says a lot. But the one that’s creeping up on … Continue reading
Countdown to CIFF: #1. So many short films
For the 10 days leading up to CIFF’s opening gala, I’ll be posting a quick write-up per day on some of my favourite movies at the fest. I’m not exactly unbiased — CIFF does give me a paycheque, after all — but these posts are my own opinions and not those of the festival. And … Continue reading
Countdown to CIFF: #2. Grandma Lo-Fi – The Basement Tapes of Sigrifour Nielsdottir
For the 10 days leading up to CIFF’s opening gala, I’ll be posting a quick write-up per day on some of my favourite movies at the fest. I’m not exactly unbiased — CIFF does give me a paycheque, after all — but these posts are my own opinions and not those of the festival. This … Continue reading
Countdown to CIFF: #3. Sons of Norway
For the 10 days leading up to CIFF’s opening gala, I’ll be posting a quick write-up per day on some of my favourite movies at the fest. I’m not exactly unbiased — CIFF does give me a paycheque, after all — but these posts are my own opinions and not those of the festival. As … Continue reading
Countdown to CIFF: #4. Bliss
For the 10 days leading up to CIFF’s opening gala, I’ll be posting a quick write-up per day on some of my favourite movies at the fest. I’m not exactly unbiased — CIFF does give me a paycheque, after all — but these posts are my own opinions and not those of the festival. Bliss … Continue reading
The Consumption 