#TIFF14: “CUT BANK”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
While filming an Audition Tape outside of the titular Cut Bank, Montana, Dwayne (Liam Hemsworth) and Cassandra (Teresa Palmer) inadvertently witness a murder. Dwayne shows the tape to Sheriff Vogel (John Malkovich) and await the next move – which may include a $100,000 reward. But circumstances change quickly, and Dwayne quickly realizes he may be in a little over his head.
Cut Bank has an intriguing set-up, but after a few fun twists and turns, it ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “CUB”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Sam (Maurice Luijten) is off with his Cub Scout Troupe on a camping trip in the woods. He is a troubled young boy with no friends and an overactive imagination. His Counselors keep telling the group the tale of Kai, a Monster who kills people in the woods. The Boys laugh it off, but Sam believes it to be the truth. And when he encounters a feral masked Child in the woods, the story may actually be more real than imagined.
Clocking in at 85-minutes, ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “RED ARMY”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
From Executive Producer Werner Herzog, this Documentary provides insights on the differences between the Soviets and the Americans in their training regimes. In this heart-wrenching Story, we learn that anyone playing for the Soviet Team was not allowed to live at home, they had to live on a Training Camp. Aside from the mental anguish that would inflict on anyone it was a proven strategy that worked to win games. However, it desecrated the hope ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “GOOD KILL”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
As a Fan of most of Andrew Niccol’s work I can confidently say that Good Kill is a riveting Drama that truly shows the chemistry Niccol and Ethan Hawke possess. The Film focuses on Major Thomas Egan (Ethan Hawke) and his difficulties of being grounded and working as a Drone Pilot who takes down Al-Qaeda through Drones. However when the CIA enlists the help of Egan and his team, Egan’s feelings towards the fight against terror becomes ...
Read more
#REVIEW: “THE IMITATION GAME”
Based on the true story of Mathematician Alan Turing and his ascension as a brilliant student at Cambridge University, to the groundbreaking Intellect who guided a Team to cracking the Enigma Code, a pivotal component in the British Allies prevailing in World War II, The Imitation Game certainly is a Film which will garner much consideration this Awards Season. Norwegian-born Director Morten Tyldum crafts a deeply-engaging journey here for us with an unconventional Hero whom is no stranger ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “MOMMY”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
French-Canadian Filmmaker Xavier Dolan in his quick rise to the Cinematic Elite, has redefined the way people look at Cinema and does so once again in his latest effort, Mommy. At the center of the Film is Diane (Anne Dorval), her Son Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) and their Neighbour Kyla (Suzanne Clément). Diane, struggling to keep it together herself picks Steve up from a Government Institution and this proves to be quite the ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “WHIPLASH”
One of the best Films we'll see at TIFF '14 happens to be the first one we screened this year, the riveting WHIPLASH. After making a huge splash at Sundance earlier this year, the Musical-Drama still resonates and we predict some high notes come Awards Season. Writer/Director Damien Chazelle crafts a rapturous ride into the mind of aspiring young Jazz Musician Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller). The Drummer is handpicked by the no-nonsense and well, outright abusive Conductor Terrence Fletcher ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “FOXCATCHER”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Bennet Miller certainly knows a thing or two about an Oscar Campaign, his Capote and Moneyball having garnered Festival Circuit success en route to successful Awards Season Trails. With his newest venture, the biographical Foxcatcher, he delivers exactly what his established Fanbase is looking for. The Wrestling Drama is the Story of the USA Olympic Gold Medal-winning Brothers Mark (Channing Tatum) and David (Mark Ruffalo) as they train and coach ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS”
Review by Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
Simon Pegg plays Hector, a successful therapist living in London with his Girlfriend Clara, (Rosamund Pike). Despite the spoil and splendor he basks in, all is quickly overshadowed by unhappiness. Present in his work and as persistent as his past, Hector seeks escape from everything and everyone. And so around the world he goes with a journal and a query: what makes one happy?
He seeks answers in numerous places; finds several from luminous people. ...
Read more
#TIFF14: “HEARTBEAT”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Heartbeat is meant to be this inspiring Comedic Story about getting your life together after it all falls apart. However the way that Director Andrea Dorfman and the Movie approach this subject, the message gets lost. The Film unfortunately never finds its true voice throughout, and makes the experience more strenuous than enjoyable.
The Story focuses on Justine (Tanya Davis) and her struggle to accept that her Boyfriend dumped her, and then after ...
Read more