#REVIEW: “THE BEAR” SEASON TWO

By Mr. Will Wong

We’re unsure how it’s possible, but the second season of THE BEAR manages to outshine its previous season. We pick-up here with the closure of Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) family eatery THE BEEF, closing a chapter in his life, moving-on to open a new restaraunt a little closer to his Michelin-star past, THE BEAR. Relying on a skeptical Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) for a loan, Carmy and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) promise an incredibly-ambitious turnaround time to get this restaurant off the ground. A lot is at stake and this is all or nothing.

While we were just getting to know many of the Series’ central characters in its first season, this follow-up gives us a chance to really get to know them as their storylines are given the room to grow, and along their journeys, we meet several interesting new characters.

Carmy reunites with and old friend Claire (Molly Gordon) and their chemistry is off the charts without saying much at all. Much of the focus of their conversation is the subtext beneath their playful banter. We meet Carmy and sister Natalie‘s (Abby Elliott) mom, played by the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene-stealing performance as the erratic Donna. Just wait till you see that Christmas episode. Adding further to the Series’ starpower is Bob Odenkirk as Uncle Lee, appearing in a flashback. Sydney is on a mission with Carmy to help perfect this new restaurant’s menu, driven for it to be a success and to prove herself. And one of the biggest surprises of all is celebrity chef Matty Matheson as Neil, hired to help construct this new restaurant, proving he is a man of many talents. Marcus (Lionel Boyce) also heads off to Copenhagen, working with his mentor, a pasty chef named Luca (Will Poulter). And this experience will prove to be an important part of this new restaurant’s story as we end the season with its launch.

Though THE BEAR is set in the world of food, at its very core is the aftermath of grief and the unspoken. We are drawn to this world and its characters who thrive off the rush and anxiety of making it happen, and we are addicted to that thrill. That and some sublime work once again by White, who has cemented his place among the very top of his generation of Actors.

All ten episodes of THE BEAR Season Two are available on Disney+ Canada.

SXSW: “FREMONT” REVIEW

By David Baldwin

Donya (Anaita Wali Zada) has been living in the US for 8 months. In Afghanistan, she was a translator for American troops. Now she is working in a fortune cookie factory either packaging the cookies or writing the fortunes. She is struggling to adapt to her new life in America, and has trouble coming out of her traumatized shell. So she sets out to change that.

Co-Writer/Director Babak Jalali’s portrait of this young woman living in an Afghan diaspora is not going to be for everyone. It is slow moving, droll and only sporadically funny. It has a lot it wants to say about Donya and her journey, but does not always find the time or ability to say it. Jalali cribs from the work of Jim Jarmusch here (with a slight hint of Woody Allen), spending more time focusing on Donya’s isolation and the mundane, wordless moments of her day than it does on her as a character. When she does discuss her trauma with psychiatrist Dr. Anthony (Gregg Turkington), the conversations devolve into nonsensical observations and bizarre moments involving Jack London’s novel White Fang.

Hollywood It-Boy Jeremy Allen White (who was terrific on 11 seasons of Shameless before he struck gold with The Bear) shows up for a bit part that is more awkward than anything else, but what really impressed me about FREMONT was the way Jalali frames Donya’s story. He tells it in 4:3, in stark black and white with minimal music, which is an all too blatant reflection of her less than thrilling existence. Stripped of colour, we learn more about Donya than the dialogue ever attempts to tell us. That gorgeous cinematography and production design is what kept me invested in FREMONT. I just wish the story did too.

FREMONT screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 11 at 6:45pm at Violet Crown Cinema 2

Mar 11 at 7:15pm at Violet Crown Cinema 4

Mar 12 at 8:15pm at Alamo Lamar A

Mar 13 at 7:00pm at Violet Crown Cinema 2

Mar 13 at 7:30pm at Violet Crown Cinema 4

#SPOTTED: JEREMY ALLEN WHITE IN TORONTO FILMING “FINGERNAILS”

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE is having a phenomenal year. After having premiered this Summer on Hulu/Disney+, THE BEAR has gone on to receive many accolades, including nominations at the People’s Choice, Critics’ Choice, Gotham and Satellite Awards, thanks in large part to his leading performance as Carmen Berzatto. The character goes from working in New York City as an award-winning Chef, to having to take over his family’s business, an Italian Beef Sandwich Shop in Chicago, following the death of his brother. Prior to that, he graduated right out of high school to land the role of Phillip Gallagher on the very popular series Shameless.

White last came to Toronto at TIFF ’18 to promote series HOMECOMING alongside Julia Roberts and has continued to see his star rise these past few years. He’s in town again working on upcoming Apple TV+ Feature, FINGERNAILS. The Film centers on a woman (Jessie Buckley) who works at an institution which determines whether or not a couple’s love is real. The Sci-Fi Romance directed by Christos Nikou, also is co-produced by Cate Blanchett.

We’re so glad we got a chance to catch-up quickly with White after meeting him at TIFF ’18. The Film just wrapped and White simultaneously is working on THE IRON CLAW, which centers on a the Von Erich family’s wrestling dynasty. The Film also stars Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson and Lily James.

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